@@Rountree1985 That's impressively incorrect. Wood wall behind me? Repurposed stained pallet boards. Stone pillar? Carved it myself out of styrofoam. (I have a video on that, btw.) Presentation table? My father-in-law's work-bench I repurposed. $20 tapastry on the wall behind me came off amazon. 90% of everything you see comes from a decade of thrift shops. But sure let's go with "infinite money".
I get chills just from the opening theme song. Chrono Trigger isn't just a wonderful JRPG but a beautiful experience that will stay with the player for life.
@@Walamonga1313 As someone who would rank it in my top 5 games of all time, yeah, that's the part I look forward to least. All smooth sailing after that, though.
The thought just popped into my head that Derek said on his latest hitpoint video he'd be releasing a video on chrono trigger today. So I turn off the ps4 to take a break from elden ring (120 hours in and only three bosses in the whole game left to tick off including all mini bosses and field bosses) and what do you know the video was uploaded an hour ago. Time to kick back with a coffee and enjoy dereks latest offering, awesome stuff dude keeping the old masterpieces alive with these videos!
@Scott Pilgrim it's been a beautiful, exasperating, frustrating, mesmerising adventure. I hate it, I love it, it might be a masterpiece. It's awesome. I'll never play through the single player again but proudly it will sit in my collection.
I find Chrono Trigger has a lot of similarities with Robert Heinlein's 1980 science fiction book The Number of The Beast. I read it about 20 years ago and was constantly reminded of Chrono Trigger.
This was the game that cement my love for JRPGs. It's very hard to find another game that captured my teenage years (as I was 16) when this came out. I have played this one more times then I can count and it kept me from playing it's successor Chrono Cross ( of which I have played and loved as well). There isn't another game in any series that comes close to the fantastic story telling and pacing of Chrono Trigger.
@@paulsmith9192 Remember this is strictly my opinion. Final fantasy 7 comes close, but the pacing in 7 slows down in the middle. Chrono trigger doesn't. Xenogears I don't remember enough to count, but for what I do remember the story was good. As for the others on your list, I cannot say cause I never got to play those. Again, Chrono Trigger (as I forgot to say in my last post "In my Opinion") resonates with me more than any other JRPG series.
This game is probably the best game on the SNES, the best JRPG, and has a very strong case for the best video game ever. I have yet to see a time travel story in a video game as well done as CT
@Sheldon Zamora-Soon well,games like suikoden 2,the legend of dragoon, Xzenogears, wild arms,lunar ff7 are close if not better by a little. But all are good
@@paulsmith9192 u smoking Crack. Legend of dragoon better than CT. Ok if you make a video describing why 10 minute simple battles are a good thing I'll agree with you.
Love your collection! I'm missing the Japanese release, sadly. As for the PC version, I was one of the modders that worked on the UI, and I remember a few people were looking in to restoring the Robo cutscene. IIRC the way events are triggered made it hard to implement, this was a good 4 years ago though so hopefully some progress has been made and we see it eventually.🤞 Thanks for the vid!
The greatest adventure ever told in an RPG. The perfect pacing. The "Fated Hour" is still the greatest example of all time of how to handle end-game side quests.
This is a game I still play at least once a year since the day it was released back in 1995. I will never forget my 13 year old self on that hill with Magus, and when given the option to fight him one on one with Frog, I said hell no, and then the absolute joy I had when he joins you right after. It was like striking gold lol. It is moments like this that now at 41 years old, this game will always be my number 1 game of all time, and I do not forsee any game overtaking it in my lifetime. Awesome video Derek. This made my heart happy.
This might be your best video yet Derek. It's hard to bring something new to the table when it comes to reviewing Chrono Trigger, but I actually left having learned and enjoyed this video so much.
Thank you! I held off on reviewing Chrono Trigger for the longest time because I wanted to be sure I'd have something unique to contribute to the discussion. :)
Chrono Trigger is legendary. I’d like a remaster or pixel remaster release on consoles and PC to compliment the upcoming Chrono Cross Radical Dreamer Edition.
@@SuperDerek Well updated visuals on the sprites, include remastered anime cut scenes, include the DS content that was added, and maybe add a cut scene or extra bit in the story that connects it to Chrono Cross.
No much just port the PC/DS version of the game with the Lost Sanctum/Dimensional Vortex intact but have the nearly useless Monster Arena battles REMOVED from the game for a PS4/PS5/Switch version. Also had in the FFF7 to 9 remaster cheats so that's 3x speed remove fixed encounters so that you only fight bosses and a infinite HP/MP cheat to just a remaster.
@@xxnike0629xx Read Radical Dreamers, if you want a sequel to Chrono Trigger; Chrono Cross isn't really one. Besides, the animated cutscenes already existed in the PS1 port of Chrono Trigger.
This video comes as close as any production could to interpolating how important this game is, was and how incredibly special it is. The memories of this title and its broad reaching appreciation are well deserved and it is a shame that so many have not been able to authentically experience this game in its own release timeline. If we were to create a new timeline to visit in Chrono Trigger, I would add 1995 to see and experience its release all over again. Thanks Derek, well orchestrated production!
I think you have to play it a number of times in order to really appreciate how great a game it is. First, there is a compelling and intriguing story, spanning multiple time periods and storylines. I love how some of the different storylines parallel with each other like prehistory and 2300 AD. Secondly, the gameplay was really streamlined here, making it a much more accessible than other more complicated JRPGs. The graphics were also nearing the peak of what the SNES was capable of. Then on top of that are the multiple endings, which add tremendous replay value to the game while providing some of the game's biggest challenges. Definitely a great game.
I've seen countless Chrono Trigger videos and I continue to watch them even if so many of them are similar. It's always a pleasure to revisit this game and hear others talk about it and you did a great job here Derek.
Great timing, as I just played through Chromo Trigger again for the 2nd time! However... both times I did not beat the game. Each time I get to the final act and get stuck in a rut of not wanting to finish it. This happens to me with quite a few RPGS. But each playthrough is always a blast up until that point, and I've been really digging the ost!
Another aspect of Chrono Trigger that isn't often talked about - how well it treats the female characters, especially for a game that was designed in the mid 90s. All of the women in the game are exceptionally strong. Lucca is the smartest, creating a teleportation device 1000 years ago. Ayla is the strongest physically, even moreso than Crono himself. And with Crono's silence, Marle becomes the dominant force driving the narrative (on that note, there is an absolutely hilarious page from a Chrono Trigger comic where Marle yells "Objection!" when they discover the Lavos 1999 recording). The tragic circumstances of Schala engender sympathy that has nothing to do with her gender. Even the most powerful of the human enemies - Queen Zeal - is a woman.
At 15:05 the banner says An Eduring Legacy. Probably not worth re-rendering to fix a typo, but I thought I was crazy when I saw it and spent 5 minute sskimming through the video trying to find it again, so I felt compelled to mention where it was.
The thing I like about Chrono Trigger is that it is a pretty short game compared to other RPGs but has a whole lot of replayablity due to the multiple endings and Game + option.
Being 15 and playing this as it came out had a vastly different affect on me. For it's time it was unreal just how GOOD it was. We all shared in the wonderment of it and what worlds awaited us. We silicon dreamers and digital Goonies. Such new and interesting ways to tell stories and tales. This game showed us the horizon of the new age in gaming and digital story telling. It was such a time of magic.
Great video. Like you, I've played this game so many times and loved it for so long that I take its greatness for granted and struggle to articulate why I like it and to see it for the groundbreaking achievement that it was in 1995. Your work here is valuable in helping me find words for what makes CT so special.
Hi, very nice video. You forgot to mention another common denominator Crono has: When people realize the actual time spent playing vs what they thought they played they always gets amazed how short it actually is.
Could. Not. Click. Fast. Enough. Great stuff Derek, you've done my favorite game of all time proud. I also fully agree that most of the additional content from the re-releases really drag the game's overall average down, and anyone thinking that was part of the main quest playing for the first time might sour on it. I always suggest the SNES original for that reason alone. Great video, much love.
Great to see you making new content. I also want to say you are looking healthier, did I notice a fitness watch? Good for you making headway in all aspects that we can see. Keep up the great work on your channel, but more importantly in your own life. Weighing in on Chrono Trigger: I think Chrono Trigger is a genuine adventure story and explores what makes a hero in subtle but surprisingly deep ways. It is genuine art, not the shadow that is produced nowadays, but a sort of digital shaman showing us something deeper in ourselves. To this day I still ponder the symbolism of the relationship between Schala and Lavos: how the want of power both creates and condemns innocence to a prison encircled by violence.
Personally, I'm more partial to Final Fantasy VI and IX, but Chrono Trigger is no pushover of a game. I mean, you start the game off with a well-executed subversion of one of the most common and used tropes of JRPGs, swiping everything and anything you find, which becomes evidence against you in a trial and demonstrating one of the key themes of the game, the long-term effects of choices.
I never even considered battle load times to be an issue on ps1. My gripes were always with the load times when entering houses from the overworld, and to a lesser degree how long it took just to open up the menu to save.
All of those load times are definitely noticeable, didn't keep me from beating Chrono Trigger several times with it though! Still, Square Enix should have done a better job of it at the time, I think.
You said, one of the questions I ask myself and everyone else every time it comes up. Which is to play through the game and watch the rest of the endings online. What is even the point of having in game choices and multiple endings if very few people will even bother playing through to see them? But not only that, in a lot of games the choices actually bring down the story development of the characters because they all have to be separated on their own choice routes. Maybe this is something you can touch on in a video or the podcast. It stops me from playing a lot of games because I hate thinking I have to play a 50-100 hour game just to see the full story and everything it has to offer. Plus the solutions to said problem usually mean not even playing the game be it new game plus skipping all story dialogue other than the stuff you want to see and one shoting every monster/boss or like you said just watching the alternate scenes online.
Great review Derek! I tuned into your Twitch stream a few times when you were playing CT and it's always fun to see perspectives on it that aren't my own. For me, despite the Toei cutscenes introduced in the PlayStation version the SNES original will always be the definitive version. Probably speaking through rose-tinted glasses of course, but I just love the way the menus were designed for that version. CT and FFVI are my two favorite games ever created, so much so that it's incredibly tough to pick a favorite. I tend to go FFVI because I played it first and I have so much of a history with that game but CT is RIGHT up there. Keep up the great work man! :)
I remember seeing Chrono Trigger for the first time in Nintendo Power magazine as a kid, and it looked so cool! I really wanted to give it a try, but could never find a copy. I eventually got the Final Fantasy Chronicles set years later, and ended up marathoning the game. It had been worth the wait, it was a joy to play all the way through. Chrono Trigger is astonishing in how effortless it feels, and as I've gotten older and learned more about games, how their made, and the history behind them, I appreciate even more how much work, skill and dedication it takes to craft something that feels effortless
I always knew about Chrono Trigger but never played it until last year. It is, by all accounts, a masterpiece and has become one of my favorites. Great video! A wonderful tribute to a wonderful game.
Still one of the best games ever! I’ve played it multiple times. Yeah the game may play into lies of whole 65M years stuff, but man! So much fun! I’ll always love it! The music is so great! Thanks for telling me about Yasunori’s arrangements. I bought it!
You know an RPG is iconic when indie devs look at this game for inspiration to create their own games. Just look at games like Cosmic Star Heroine and the upcoming Sea of Stars.
I played Chrono Trigger for the first time last year on the DS and while I didn't really pursue all the alternate endings, I adored the game. It's got one of the best battle themes ever, a really tight and concise story, fantastic world building and is the right amount of challenge. I can definitely appreciate why it's so revered and I'm really keen to play Chrono Cross later when it comes to Switch. One sad thing as a PAL gamer is we never got these games until the DS verison of Chrono Trigger and this re-release of Chrono Cross so even though I came to it quite late, I can still see why it was such an important game for RPGs.
Great review. Game Collection is the best. I really enjoyed all of your takes on the game and it was one of the most thorough and honest reviews I've seen of Chrono Trigger.
can brag about finishing it the 5th of september of the year of its release, the New Game+ concept I didn't understand, fering to lose the file to the new game+ I used a level 7 secondary save instead of my end-game save as a source at first. Then I tried it with a high level save and understood how it worked. Was blown away by that concept. Loved it in Lufia II a well
Chrono Trigger will always be one of my favorite JRPGs. The really infuriating thing at the time as being from the UK was we didn't get it released in Europe, as with most JRPGs at the time. I didn't get to enjoy it until around 2002 under emulation and I was blown away. I picked it up for the DS as soon as it was released. Since then, I've moved to Japan and recently started playing through it in Japanese on my Super f`amicom, my language skills are still a huge WIP but it's refreshing to see it in its original language, and the slower play through is helping me enjoy it more rather than just romping through it :)
Borrowed my friend’s mom’s 3ds to play chrono trigger on a vacation. One of the best gaming experiences I’ve ever had. I am saving another play through as a treat for myself down the road.
Greatest game ever made. Also Chrono Cross might fall short but compare it to other ps1 titles and it's cream of the crop, killer music too. Sea of Stars is in development, draws inspiration primarily from Chrono and it looks amazing.
Thank you for this thorough review! As someone who only really got into gaming in the last two or three years, I would really love to play this game (thanks for the time stamp/spoiler warning ;)), since it seems to be so beloved by many JRPG fans. I didn't know there were so many versions, although most really aren't that accessible to me personally. My secret hope is also that the Chrono Cross remaster is kind of a hint at a potential HD-2D Chrono Trigger remake... a girl can dream, right?😅
Why it's so good? Because the whole development team believed in it and did their utmost best to create something remarkable. At least for me, this game breathes pure ambition.
I bought the Chrono trigger on the ds some years ago, but didn't get very far. At that time, I wasn't into RPGs and had never heard about the SNES game. I will buy it on the play store someday soon, and maybe I won't like it, but since so many gamers have praised Chrono trigger I feel I have to give it a chance. Keep em coming, Super Derek!
It's a fun game. I disagree about the endings. Since they are for fun. You can also get all of them in a second playthrough. And it's fun to keep playing just to finish your equipment in new game plus and see those stats go up. And it's EASY. The game has 2 definitive endings(and some minor variations). The 2 aren't drastically different or anything. It's just what method you use to kill lavos that determines it. I doubt anyone accidentally didn't bring crono back. It's essentially the next mission. It's optional but it's what they almost immediately tell you to do in the game. I remember when I first got an alternate ending. I had played this game in the mid 90s but didn't own it and I bought it. And it had a save file I didn't know what a new game plus right at the beginning. I was just playing and was like, what's this warp here... Got sucked in, and it's the final boss. I manage to kill lavos and just keep going. Anyway I got the dev room.
The music pulled me in, the story caught me off guard on many turns, wonderful little moments and bits of dialogue I didn't expect. The gameplay itself wasn't anything amazing imo, but the package as a whole easily one of my favourite titles ever played. I only recently played it for the first time, experiencing it via the NDS port.
Now that we got word that the chrono cross remaster is gonna be coming out soon me and my friend both agreed on this sort of fact: Now that you're released chrono cross bring back chrono trigger it's only fair. In fact it's because of this news that we are gonna be getting chrono cross that I'm actually gonna play it when it comes out because I only played at once and didn't get that far in. Great video!
It's worth noting that to get the PS2 to upgrade PS1 titles, you need to switch those settings on every time you boot the console. (tap triangle button at the main system menu: the mostly black screen which lists your OS version at the bottom) I've met people who had no idea the PS2 dis this at all, much less how to turn it on. It's a bit annoying to do every time, but the disc speed boost usually cuts load times in half, and I've always found that to be worth doing. The texture smoothing sometimes causes artifacting on 2D titles, though, so experiment with it to find what works best. That said, I think the PS2 does a much better job of running PS1 games than the PS3, which often has weird black specks floating about and can make the games seem obnoxiously over-pixelated. I don't think it even reduces load time like the PS2 does. A good rule of thumb is to play your PS1 games on a PS2, and play your PS2 games on a PS3.
Was there a shortage of this game when it was initially released in 95? I just remember searching everywhere and calling so many used game stores around late 96 into 97 to finally get my own copy of this.
I believe the game was only in production in 1995. However when Squaresoft moved their US office ifrom Redmond, WA to Costa Mesa, CA they cleaned out their warehouses to get more new copies to stores during Christmas shopping season 1996. So new copies were in stores in 1995 & 1996. Many people kept their copy of Chrono Trigger & never sold it to a game store.
How exactly is a rainbow made? How exactly does a sun set? How exactly does a posi-trac rear-end on a Plymouth work? It just does. But in seriousness, that chunk of time between 1993 and 96 produced so many great 16 bit rpgs. All classics now too. Chrono Trigger of course, FFVI, Lufia II, Earthbound, Super Mario RPG, Secret of Mana, Phantasy Star IV, Robotrek, Breath of Fire II…obviously the list can keep going but, man it was a great time to be an rpg lover.
Heads up, if you want a physical copy of the DS version and don't want to pay exorbitant prices, import the Japanese version. The English script is in the Japanese version and the DS is region free. Just set your DS console to English and the English script will appear.
I powered up Hogwarts Legacy a few weeks ago, and that "scent trail" that it shows leading you to every next step you need to take reminded me of the days of Chrono Trigger, where in 1998 (when i first played it), you just had to walk around, talk to every single NPC, and just pray you were going the right way. No computer and nobody I knew had a strategy guide. But one thing that forced me to do was completely immerse myself into the beautiful world that they created. I wish I still had my copy, I thought about buying it on Steam, but too many negative reviews.
I assure you, the PC version is far superior today than it was at launch, and is an affordable way to experience the game as good as you remember it. Initially it was a mess though. But it's all been made better. :)
I know it’s crazy never played chrono trigger or dragon quest games and only when younger got and competed the very beginning of Chrono Cross so these are now on my list to play next! Thinking to grab the ps1 version for cost!
My first time I did not realize I could bring Crono back to life. I did however recruit Magus and while I always planned to kill him in the next 2 playthroughs I just could not bring myself to do so. I'm currently in his castle on my 4th time playing...
Great video Derek. Though my one complaint is at the end if you deem the game worthy you should be in front of your game collection as a whole when you say it’s worthy.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Great game, but let's also take a moment to recognise Derek's recording studio & set are absolutely amazing.
Thanks a bunch, Hello! :D
here here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Because he’s rich and can afford those things. It’s amazing what you can do when you have unlimited money.
@@Rountree1985 That's impressively incorrect.
Wood wall behind me? Repurposed stained pallet boards. Stone pillar? Carved it myself out of styrofoam. (I have a video on that, btw.) Presentation table? My father-in-law's work-bench I repurposed. $20 tapastry on the wall behind me came off amazon. 90% of everything you see comes from a decade of thrift shops. But sure let's go with "infinite money".
@@SuperDerek Apprently he thinks you're PewDiePie.
I love the added anime cut scenes in the PS1 version. It really makes me wish that a full anime would be made for the game
I get chills just from the opening theme song.
Chrono Trigger isn't just a wonderful JRPG but a beautiful experience that will stay with the player for life.
Derek man the growth in scope of your content and rising quality is inspiring
Still the epitome of the JRPG genre.
I’d love a remaster of Chrono trigger with Modern 2D art and a killer symphonic soundtrack. Just leave everything else alone!
U just described dragon quest hahs a ct that looks like 11 would do things to me
💯
I think a lot of these games from back then should get the same treatment that Zelda: Link's Awakening got.
You probably meant remake not remaster, but I agree. Visuals like Octopath Traveler or Zelda like Spiqaro said.
Not if it's another horrible reimagining.
For me it's the near perfect pacing. It just never gets boring.
Legit why u can replay it time and time again
Unlike chrono cross 😅
It got boring for me after the first shock of going to the future. Robot factory and that sewer dungeon were so tedious for me
@@Walamonga1313 As someone who would rank it in my top 5 games of all time, yeah, that's the part I look forward to least. All smooth sailing after that, though.
I haven't played in years but I never remember being bored
SNES Chrono Trigger in the 90s was such an epic experience
The thought just popped into my head that Derek said on his latest hitpoint video he'd be releasing a video on chrono trigger today. So I turn off the ps4 to take a break from elden ring (120 hours in and only three bosses in the whole game left to tick off including all mini bosses and field bosses) and what do you know the video was uploaded an hour ago. Time to kick back with a coffee and enjoy dereks latest offering, awesome stuff dude keeping the old masterpieces alive with these videos!
@Scott Pilgrim it's been a beautiful, exasperating, frustrating, mesmerising adventure. I hate it, I love it, it might be a masterpiece. It's awesome. I'll never play through the single player again but proudly it will sit in my collection.
I find Chrono Trigger has a lot of similarities with Robert Heinlein's 1980 science fiction book The Number of The Beast. I read it about 20 years ago and was constantly reminded of Chrono Trigger.
This was the game that cement my love for JRPGs. It's very hard to find another game that captured my teenage years (as I was 16) when this came out. I have played this one more times then I can count and it kept me from playing it's successor Chrono Cross ( of which I have played and loved as well). There isn't another game in any series that comes close to the fantastic story telling and pacing of Chrono Trigger.
@Krinagar Gamer what about suikoden 2, the legend of dragoon, Xzenogears, wild arms, lunar and ff7?
@@paulsmith9192 Remember this is strictly my opinion. Final fantasy 7 comes close, but the pacing in 7 slows down in the middle. Chrono trigger doesn't. Xenogears I don't remember enough to count, but for what I do remember the story was good. As for the others on your list, I cannot say cause I never got to play those. Again, Chrono Trigger (as I forgot to say in my last post "In my Opinion") resonates with me more than any other JRPG series.
This game is probably the best game on the SNES, the best JRPG, and has a very strong case for the best video game ever. I have yet to see a time travel story in a video game as well done as CT
@Sheldon Zamora-Soon well,games like suikoden 2,the legend of dragoon, Xzenogears, wild arms,lunar ff7 are close if not better by a little. But all are good
@@paulsmith9192 I think both lunar and suikoden II are better, but thats just my opinion of course.
@@paulsmith9192 u smoking Crack. Legend of dragoon better than CT. Ok if you make a video describing why 10 minute simple battles are a good thing I'll agree with you.
This is my favourite game
Hasn't aged a second truly timeless
Love your collection! I'm missing the Japanese release, sadly. As for the PC version, I was one of the modders that worked on the UI, and I remember a few people were looking in to restoring the Robo cutscene. IIRC the way events are triggered made it hard to implement, this was a good 4 years ago though so hopefully some progress has been made and we see it eventually.🤞
Thanks for the vid!
The greatest adventure ever told in an RPG. The perfect pacing. The "Fated Hour" is still the greatest example of all time of how to handle end-game side quests.
I swear, I could listen to Derek narrate these reviews forever, lol.. Amazing video🙏
This is a game I still play at least once a year since the day it was released back in 1995. I will never forget my 13 year old self on that hill with Magus, and when given the option to fight him one on one with Frog, I said hell no, and then the absolute joy I had when he joins you right after. It was like striking gold lol. It is moments like this that now at 41 years old, this game will always be my number 1 game of all time, and I do not forsee any game overtaking it in my lifetime. Awesome video Derek. This made my heart happy.
This might be your best video yet Derek. It's hard to bring something new to the table when it comes to reviewing Chrono Trigger, but I actually left having learned and enjoyed this video so much.
Thank you! I held off on reviewing Chrono Trigger for the longest time because I wanted to be sure I'd have something unique to contribute to the discussion. :)
Chrono Trigger is legendary. I’d like a remaster or pixel remaster release on consoles and PC to compliment the upcoming Chrono Cross Radical Dreamer Edition.
What would you like to see in a Pixel Remaster that's not in the PC version? Besides, of course, the missing cut-scene I mentioned? :)
@@SuperDerek Well updated visuals on the sprites, include remastered anime cut scenes, include the DS content that was added, and maybe add a cut scene or extra bit in the story that connects it to Chrono Cross.
No much just port the PC/DS version of the game with the Lost Sanctum/Dimensional Vortex intact but have the nearly useless Monster Arena battles REMOVED from the game for a PS4/PS5/Switch version.
Also had in the FFF7 to 9 remaster cheats so that's 3x speed remove fixed encounters so that you only fight bosses and a infinite HP/MP cheat to just a remaster.
@@xxnike0629xx Read Radical Dreamers, if you want a sequel to Chrono Trigger; Chrono Cross isn't really one.
Besides, the animated cutscenes already existed in the PS1 port of Chrono Trigger.
We need a pixel remake with visuals like Octopath Traveler or Link's Awakening.
This video comes as close as any production could to interpolating how important this game is, was and how incredibly special it is. The memories of this title and its broad reaching appreciation are well deserved and it is a shame that so many have not been able to authentically experience this game in its own release timeline. If we were to create a new timeline to visit in Chrono Trigger, I would add 1995 to see and experience its release all over again. Thanks Derek, well orchestrated production!
I think you have to play it a number of times in order to really appreciate how great a game it is. First, there is a compelling and intriguing story, spanning multiple time periods and storylines. I love how some of the different storylines parallel with each other like prehistory and 2300 AD. Secondly, the gameplay was really streamlined here, making it a much more accessible than other more complicated JRPGs. The graphics were also nearing the peak of what the SNES was capable of. Then on top of that are the multiple endings, which add tremendous replay value to the game while providing some of the game's biggest challenges. Definitely a great game.
I have to say your background with all the props, figures, etc. is so cool! Jealous, from one big JRPG fan to another :)
I've seen countless Chrono Trigger videos and I continue to watch them even if so many of them are similar. It's always a pleasure to revisit this game and hear others talk about it and you did a great job here Derek.
Great timing, as I just played through Chromo Trigger again for the 2nd time! However... both times I did not beat the game. Each time I get to the final act and get stuck in a rut of not wanting to finish it. This happens to me with quite a few RPGS. But each playthrough is always a blast up until that point, and I've been really digging the ost!
What's the final act? Just fighting lavos?
MAN,I an't believe I haven't played this until now! This should probably go on my *influencal retro RPGs that I have to play this year* list
Another aspect of Chrono Trigger that isn't often talked about - how well it treats the female characters, especially for a game that was designed in the mid 90s. All of the women in the game are exceptionally strong. Lucca is the smartest, creating a teleportation device 1000 years ago. Ayla is the strongest physically, even moreso than Crono himself. And with Crono's silence, Marle becomes the dominant force driving the narrative (on that note, there is an absolutely hilarious page from a Chrono Trigger comic where Marle yells "Objection!" when they discover the Lavos 1999 recording). The tragic circumstances of Schala engender sympathy that has nothing to do with her gender. Even the most powerful of the human enemies - Queen Zeal - is a woman.
Whoa! Solid observation!
I love this channel man. Not only is it all about my favorite genre, but Derek really gives these videos a comfy homey feel.
At 15:05 the banner says An Eduring Legacy. Probably not worth re-rendering to fix a typo, but I thought I was crazy when I saw it and spent 5 minute sskimming through the video trying to find it again, so I felt compelled to mention where it was.
Haha! Good catch. Man I wish Premiere Pro had spell check...
This video came out right as I’m beating it for the first time. Always wanted to play this game, and I’m totally glad I did.
Wonderful video! Thanks so much for making this!
This is in my top three favorite games of all time. Thanks for the great review.
The thing I like about Chrono Trigger is that it is a pretty short game compared to other RPGs but has a whole lot of replayablity due to the multiple endings and Game + option.
Being 15 and playing this as it came out had a vastly different affect on me.
For it's time it was unreal just how GOOD it was. We all shared in the wonderment of it and what worlds awaited us. We silicon dreamers and digital Goonies. Such new and interesting ways to tell stories and tales.
This game showed us the horizon of the new age in gaming and digital story telling. It was such a time of magic.
Great video. Like you, I've played this game so many times and loved it for so long that I take its greatness for granted and struggle to articulate why I like it and to see it for the groundbreaking achievement that it was in 1995. Your work here is valuable in helping me find words for what makes CT so special.
Hi, very nice video. You forgot to mention another common denominator Crono has: When people realize the actual time spent playing vs what they thought they played they always gets amazed how short it actually is.
This was such a well thought out video. Loved every minute of it.
Thank you Somber! :D
I love his "earned a spot...::pause:: in the game collection"
Could. Not. Click. Fast. Enough.
Great stuff Derek, you've done my favorite game of all time proud. I also fully agree that most of the additional content from the re-releases really drag the game's overall average down, and anyone thinking that was part of the main quest playing for the first time might sour on it. I always suggest the SNES original for that reason alone.
Great video, much love.
Found your channel recently, top tier content!!!
It was released in ‘95!
Whoops, looks like I was mistaken. Hmm. Good catch!
One of the all time greats. I’m do for another playthrough.
Thanks for this, great stuff.
@drunkendevil check out sea of stars, its a chrono trigger clone
Great to see you making new content.
I also want to say you are looking healthier, did I notice a fitness watch?
Good for you making headway in all aspects that we can see.
Keep up the great work on your channel, but more importantly in your own life.
Weighing in on Chrono Trigger: I think Chrono Trigger is a genuine adventure story and explores what makes a hero in subtle but surprisingly deep ways. It is genuine art, not the shadow that is produced nowadays, but a sort of digital shaman showing us something deeper in ourselves.
To this day I still ponder the symbolism of the relationship between Schala and Lavos: how the want of power both creates and condemns innocence to a prison encircled by violence.
Personally, I'm more partial to Final Fantasy VI and IX, but Chrono Trigger is no pushover of a game.
I mean, you start the game off with a well-executed subversion of one of the most common and used tropes of JRPGs, swiping everything and anything you find, which becomes evidence against you in a trial and demonstrating one of the key themes of the game, the long-term effects of choices.
Great video honoring a great game Derek!
I never even considered battle load times to be an issue on ps1. My gripes were always with the load times when entering houses from the overworld, and to a lesser degree how long it took just to open up the menu to save.
All of those load times are definitely noticeable, didn't keep me from beating Chrono Trigger several times with it though! Still, Square Enix should have done a better job of it at the time, I think.
so stoked for a game collection vid and this one was excellent!
@14:44 What brand of CD player was that?!
that was pretty cool 😎 😆
The game of my life. I simply love this game too much. The ost brings a lot of good memories. Thanks for the video.
Love these eps. Great video.
Great review of one of my all time favourites! Do you know if the double/triple mechanic has ever been used in other rpgs?
Kind of! The Suikoden series uses combo attacks too. :)
I am Setsuna also has it, and has some secrets directly related to Chrono Trigger in it.
The game solves many of the issues with many JRPGs by keeping a brisk pace and keeping the stakes high
You said, one of the questions I ask myself and everyone else every time it comes up. Which is to play through the game and watch the rest of the endings online. What is even the point of having in game choices and multiple endings if very few people will even bother playing through to see them? But not only that, in a lot of games the choices actually bring down the story development of the characters because they all have to be separated on their own choice routes. Maybe this is something you can touch on in a video or the podcast. It stops me from playing a lot of games because I hate thinking I have to play a 50-100 hour game just to see the full story and everything it has to offer. Plus the solutions to said problem usually mean not even playing the game be it new game plus skipping all story dialogue other than the stuff you want to see and one shoting every monster/boss or like you said just watching the alternate scenes online.
Great review Derek! I tuned into your Twitch stream a few times when you were playing CT and it's always fun to see perspectives on it that aren't my own. For me, despite the Toei cutscenes introduced in the PlayStation version the SNES original will always be the definitive version. Probably speaking through rose-tinted glasses of course, but I just love the way the menus were designed for that version. CT and FFVI are my two favorite games ever created, so much so that it's incredibly tough to pick a favorite. I tend to go FFVI because I played it first and I have so much of a history with that game but CT is RIGHT up there. Keep up the great work man! :)
Very nice review and Nice room setup
Thanks Nut! Appreciate it! :)
I remember seeing Chrono Trigger for the first time in Nintendo Power magazine as a kid, and it looked so cool! I really wanted to give it a try, but could never find a copy. I eventually got the Final Fantasy Chronicles set years later, and ended up marathoning the game. It had been worth the wait, it was a joy to play all the way through.
Chrono Trigger is astonishing in how effortless it feels, and as I've gotten older and learned more about games, how their made, and the history behind them, I appreciate even more how much work, skill and dedication it takes to craft something that feels effortless
I always knew about Chrono Trigger but never played it until last year. It is, by all accounts, a masterpiece and has become one of my favorites. Great video! A wonderful tribute to a wonderful game.
Very thorough. Do you archive content online for preservation, by chance?
I keep backups of all of my reviews, but that's all. :)
Still one of the best games ever! I’ve played it multiple times. Yeah the game may play into lies of whole 65M years stuff, but man! So much fun! I’ll always love it! The music is so great! Thanks for telling me about Yasunori’s arrangements. I bought it!
Excellent game. Every time I played it I got Chrono back and I recruited Magus. In my opinion, They are both must have characters in this game.
You know an RPG is iconic when indie devs look at this game for inspiration to create their own games. Just look at games like Cosmic Star Heroine and the upcoming Sea of Stars.
Really enjoyed the vid, Derek. Such a great game which, to me, will never get old
thank you! I didn't know about "The brink of time" album!
I played Chrono Trigger for the first time last year on the DS and while I didn't really pursue all the alternate endings, I adored the game. It's got one of the best battle themes ever, a really tight and concise story, fantastic world building and is the right amount of challenge. I can definitely appreciate why it's so revered and I'm really keen to play Chrono Cross later when it comes to Switch.
One sad thing as a PAL gamer is we never got these games until the DS verison of Chrono Trigger and this re-release of Chrono Cross so even though I came to it quite late, I can still see why it was such an important game for RPGs.
Great review. Game Collection is the best. I really enjoyed all of your takes on the game and it was one of the most thorough and honest reviews I've seen of Chrono Trigger.
can brag about finishing it the 5th of september of the year of its release,
the New Game+ concept I didn't understand, fering to lose the file to the new game+ I used a level 7 secondary save instead of my end-game save as a source at first. Then I tried it with a high level save and understood how it worked. Was blown away by that concept. Loved it in Lufia II a well
Chrono Trigger will always be one of my favorite JRPGs. The really infuriating thing at the time as being from the UK was we didn't get it released in Europe, as with most JRPGs at the time. I didn't get to enjoy it until around 2002 under emulation and I was blown away. I picked it up for the DS as soon as it was released. Since then, I've moved to Japan and recently started playing through it in Japanese on my Super f`amicom, my language skills are still a huge WIP but it's refreshing to see it in its original language, and the slower play through is helping me enjoy it more rather than just romping through it :)
Borrowed my friend’s mom’s 3ds to play chrono trigger on a vacation.
One of the best gaming experiences I’ve ever had. I am saving another play through as a treat for myself down the road.
Greatest game ever made. Also Chrono Cross might fall short but compare it to other ps1 titles and it's cream of the crop, killer music too. Sea of Stars is in development, draws inspiration primarily from Chrono and it looks amazing.
Half the reason I played CT is so I could get to Chrono Cross! :)
Thank you for this thorough review! As someone who only really got into gaming in the last two or three years, I would really love to play this game (thanks for the time stamp/spoiler warning ;)), since it seems to be so beloved by many JRPG fans. I didn't know there were so many versions, although most really aren't that accessible to me personally. My secret hope is also that the Chrono Cross remaster is kind of a hint at a potential HD-2D Chrono Trigger remake... a girl can dream, right?😅
An HD-2D remake of Chrono Trigger would be out-of-this-world!
Chrono trigger is my favourite game ever
I have never played another game as polished as chrono trigger
I don’t understand why Square won’t port it the Switch. It’s long overdue.
Why it's so good? Because the whole development team believed in it and did their utmost best to create something remarkable. At least for me, this game breathes pure ambition.
I only beat the game last month and it already brings the nostalgia vibes when I hear the soundtrack
I bought the Chrono trigger on the ds some years ago, but didn't get very far. At that time, I wasn't into RPGs and had never heard about the SNES game. I will buy it on the play store someday soon, and maybe I won't like it, but since so many gamers have praised Chrono trigger I feel I have to give it a chance. Keep em coming, Super Derek!
It's a fun game. I disagree about the endings. Since they are for fun. You can also get all of them in a second playthrough. And it's fun to keep playing just to finish your equipment in new game plus and see those stats go up. And it's EASY.
The game has 2 definitive endings(and some minor variations). The 2 aren't drastically different or anything. It's just what method you use to kill lavos that determines it.
I doubt anyone accidentally didn't bring crono back. It's essentially the next mission. It's optional but it's what they almost immediately tell you to do in the game.
I remember when I first got an alternate ending. I had played this game in the mid 90s but didn't own it and I bought it. And it had a save file I didn't know what a new game plus right at the beginning. I was just playing and was like, what's this warp here... Got sucked in, and it's the final boss. I manage to kill lavos and just keep going. Anyway I got the dev room.
Another great video!!! I was a bit worried Chrono Trigger would not make it into the Super Derek Game Collection....NOT!!!🤣🤣👍👍
The music pulled me in, the story caught me off guard on many turns, wonderful little moments and bits of dialogue I didn't expect.
The gameplay itself wasn't anything amazing imo, but the package as a whole easily one of my favourite titles ever played. I only recently played it for the first time, experiencing it via the NDS port.
Now that we got word that the chrono cross remaster is gonna be coming out soon me and my friend both agreed on this sort of fact: Now that you're released chrono cross bring back chrono trigger it's only fair. In fact it's because of this news that we are gonna be getting chrono cross that I'm actually gonna play it when it comes out because I only played at once and didn't get that far in. Great video!
Every human should play Chrono Trigger ☮️
Lavos will always be in my top 3 RPG villains
Chrono Trigger, Paper Mario, Star Wars: KotOR and LotR: The Third Age are my entry for RPGs, love each and every one of them
It's worth noting that to get the PS2 to upgrade PS1 titles, you need to switch those settings on every time you boot the console. (tap triangle button at the main system menu: the mostly black screen which lists your OS version at the bottom) I've met people who had no idea the PS2 dis this at all, much less how to turn it on. It's a bit annoying to do every time, but the disc speed boost usually cuts load times in half, and I've always found that to be worth doing. The texture smoothing sometimes causes artifacting on 2D titles, though, so experiment with it to find what works best.
That said, I think the PS2 does a much better job of running PS1 games than the PS3, which often has weird black specks floating about and can make the games seem obnoxiously over-pixelated. I don't think it even reduces load time like the PS2 does. A good rule of thumb is to play your PS1 games on a PS2, and play your PS2 games on a PS3.
Is there an optimal order in which I should do each character's side quest?
Was there a shortage of this game when it was initially released in 95? I just remember searching everywhere and calling so many used game stores around late 96 into 97 to finally get my own copy of this.
I believe the game was only in production in 1995. However when Squaresoft moved their US office ifrom Redmond, WA to Costa Mesa, CA they cleaned out their warehouses to get more new copies to stores during Christmas shopping season 1996. So new copies were in stores in 1995 & 1996. Many people kept their copy of Chrono Trigger & never sold it to a game store.
@@amazingeric97 maybe it wasn't until 97 when I tried getting this. The 90s are just a big blur to me now.
Oh you mentioned Mother which reminds me the books by author for Mother, Mother 2 are now translated to English
Hey Derek you going to do a new Retrospective Overview of the new Chrono Cross Remaster
You bet!
How exactly is a rainbow made? How exactly does a sun set? How exactly does a posi-trac rear-end on a Plymouth work? It just does. But in seriousness, that chunk of time between 1993 and 96 produced so many great 16 bit rpgs. All classics now too. Chrono Trigger of course, FFVI, Lufia II, Earthbound, Super Mario RPG, Secret of Mana, Phantasy Star IV, Robotrek, Breath of Fire II…obviously the list can keep going but, man it was a great time to be an rpg lover.
Heads up, if you want a physical copy of the DS version and don't want to pay exorbitant prices, import the Japanese version. The English script is in the Japanese version and the DS is region free. Just set your DS console to English and the English script will appear.
I powered up Hogwarts Legacy a few weeks ago, and that "scent trail" that it shows leading you to every next step you need to take reminded me of the days of Chrono Trigger, where in 1998 (when i first played it), you just had to walk around, talk to every single NPC, and just pray you were going the right way. No computer and nobody I knew had a strategy guide.
But one thing that forced me to do was completely immerse myself into the beautiful world that they created. I wish I still had my copy, I thought about buying it on Steam, but too many negative reviews.
I assure you, the PC version is far superior today than it was at launch, and is an affordable way to experience the game as good as you remember it. Initially it was a mess though. But it's all been made better. :)
I know it’s crazy never played chrono trigger or dragon quest games and only when younger got and competed the very beginning of Chrono Cross so these are now on my list to play next! Thinking to grab the ps1 version for cost!
That's why Crono looks like a Saiyan, same artist/designer :)
Some of the best music of any rpg! Robo's song is my favorite of all the characters.
My first time I did not realize I could bring Crono back to life. I did however recruit Magus and while I always planned to kill him in the next 2 playthroughs I just could not bring myself to do so. I'm currently in his castle on my 4th time playing...
Great video Derek. Though my one complaint is at the end if you deem the game worthy you should be in front of your game collection as a whole when you say it’s worthy.
I mean what can I add here. It's an absolute top tier 16bit game.
Brilliant presentation and summation SD. Cheers
I’m surprised there’s no remake at this point in time. I love Akira Toriyama’s art style.
I agree! Chrono's resurrection develops the character. I didn't know it was optional! 😧
Where did you get all that cool stuff
A lot of thrifting over the years, building up stuff slowly. :)
did you see the latest state of play? have a video about those announcements?
We'll be taking about it on tonight's episode of HitPoint :)
Been watching some of your old vids. You've lost a lot of weight, good job bro! I'm trying to do the same, but it's hard as nails.
I plan to start the Chrono Trigger Plus romhack soon. I've played this game all the way through more than any other RPG, and I'm still not sick of it.