Chrono Trigger DS Hands-on: Blast from the Past

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With such an extensive roster of remakes and revisions of classic titles both released and in development, it seemed inevitable that Square Enix would eventually return to its classic SNES RPG Chrono Trigger. Inevitability aside, it's a well-deserved retread.

As previously revealed, the title's Nintendo DS appearance is a straight port—no fancy 3D graphics, no voice acting. Simply the game as you likely remember it or a bit crisper, thanks to a sharp LCD screen.

Chrono Trigger DS takes advantage of the hardware in ways seen in other Square Enix DS RPGs, restricting the top screen to the game itself while map navigation, menu options and battle control are pinned to the system's touch screen.

While rooting through an unsuspecting neighbor's house or exploring a dungeon, a detailed map offering a full overview of the surrounding geometry will guide you on the bottom screen, surrounded by the various menu and navigation options. When engaged in battle, your characters' various attacks, spells, and tech abilities are mapped to buttons, as are the enemies you're targeting.

It might not seem like much, but with virtually every menu and informational tidbit on the touch screen, the top screen is free to display the field of battle with limited interference from a complicated HUD. Aside from the environment, characters and enemies, the only information displayed on the top screen are small indicators over the sprites designating turn order and available hit points, leaving a wealth of visual real estate over the game's original SNES counterpart.

Shacknews was assured by a Square Enix representative that all of the content available in the PlayStation port of the game—released in North America as part of Final Fantasy Chronicles—will be incorporated into the DS version, including the fully animated cutscenes directed by character designer Akira Toriyama.

Square Enix also noted that several new pieces of content are being planned for the game, though they could not specify what those elements may be.

The game's touted multiplayer element, meanwhile, is said to incorporate actual gameplay—I made a point to ask Square Enix if the game's wireless function would be a simple mail function or item trading, which they flatly refuted. More details were not be made available, but it appears that Chrono Trigger's multiplayer will be something substantial.

Chrono Trigger is slated for a release this holiday season at a $39.99 price point.

From The Chatty
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    July 16, 2008 3:27 PM

    I'm very excited. As someone who has never played this, but has heard so much about it, I'm really happy to hear that the graphics and the game its self remains untouched. The necessary tweaks for the DS will be of course be welcomed, and two screens is always better than one. I can't wait to have a similar great experience playing this, like many other Shackers here have.

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      July 16, 2008 3:33 PM

      Play. It. NOW.

      It is undeniably perfect.

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      July 16, 2008 3:34 PM

      Same boat here. Looking forward to finally getting to play this.

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      July 16, 2008 3:38 PM

      Honestly, it's not really my favorite game ever (though I do love it), but it's basically a perfect game. It's really unbelievable how fucking awesome it is.

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      July 16, 2008 4:07 PM

      I'm really glad they left this one 2D also, I haven't bought any of the new FF remakes for DS because I think the 3D style they used sucks. I know it's probably not going to happen, but I wish they would port FF6 to DS with it's original 2D artwork too.

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        July 16, 2008 4:08 PM

        That'd be kinda dumb given that it's available on the DS in 2D already, via the GBA version.

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          July 16, 2008 4:11 PM

          Yeah I know, but I can dream can't I? damn you!

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        July 16, 2008 4:15 PM

        Why not get FFVI Advance? Theres nothing wrong with it, it's just slow in certain areas and the music is redone. However it's still a good port.

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          July 16, 2008 4:38 PM

          That's probably what I'm going to do, but I'll wait until I see the DS version too. Hell maybe by then I'll change my mind about the newer remakes, but I doubt it.

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        July 16, 2008 4:49 PM

        [deleted]

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      July 17, 2008 1:22 AM

      Yep, me too. The interface sounds much better than the SNES one too, can't wait.

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