Occasionally in the history of video games, certain moments come along when the right people are in the right place. Such an event leads to the creation of the best video games of all time. In the mid-1990s, three creators came together for a project that would go on to affect countless players and have a lasting impact on the industry. This team was behind some of the most influential series, Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, and Dragon Ball, and their work can be seen in this iconic SNES game. Its legacy remains strong today, with many calling for a remake on modern consoles.
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In 1995, Hironobu Sakaguchi, the father of Final Fantasy, joined with Yuji Horii, the mind behind Dragon Quest, and Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, to work on a project that would go on to forge a masterpiece. This dream team of Japanese creators was responsible for the hit JRPG, Chrono Trigger.
Reinventing the JRPG Formula
Chrono Trigger immediately stood apart from its competition when it was released in 1995. JRPGs were defined by random encounters, linear storytelling, and rigid turn-based battle systems. Chrono Trigger aimed to break these trends. Its dynamic encounter system saw players run into enemies and watch as both sides took combat positions. Its story featured a narrative that crossed time. And its battle system reinvigorated the genre.
The seamless transition from exploration to battle was one of its most innovative features. Battles unfolded directly on the map, not only eliminating the jarring transition screen but making the battlefields feel diverse and alive. Combining this with the Active Time Battle system brought combat to life like few JRPGs did. This was expanded with dynamic combination attacks that added tactical depth, cinematic flair, and encouraged experimentation.
Chrono Trigger’s nonlinear storytelling was revolutionary at the time. Its narrative revolved around time travel, allowing players to encounter and recruit characters from different eras. This not only expanded combat, but also the choices players could make. These choices directly affected the story, resulting in different possible endings. These choices influenced events ranging from prehistoric times to a dystopian future, showing it was not just a gimmick, but a core feature.
The Power of Story, Art, and Music
Beyond its gameplay mechanics, Chrono Trigger’s enduring legacy rests on its story, art, and music. It has a simple enough premise of heroes banding together to save the world, but how it executes this is anything but conventional. Time travel allowed the narrative to explore themes of fate, consequence, and sacrifice through multiple eras. Actions in the past could be reflected in the future, and each character had depth to them. Frog and Robo’s stories are some of the most tragic in gaming to this day, and these are just two characters.
Toriyama’s art direction is a major part of these characters’ appeal. The cast is iconic not only because of their stories, but because of their designs. Crono in particular is so identifiable, even by those who haven’t played the game. The art extends into the world and environments as well, as Toriyama elevated these beyond just simple pixels and sprites. He nailed the different eras and reflected these in Chrono Trigger’s characters and world.
The last vital piece of Chrono Trigger’s success is its soundtrack. It was composed by Yasunori Mitsuda and Nobuo Uematsu and is cited as one of the best soundtracks in gaming. Tracks like Frog’s Theme, Corridors of Time, and To Far Away Times not only complement the action but also resonate with the emotional core of the story. The soundtrack captures the wonder of exploration, the tension of battle, and the melancholy of loss.
A Legacy That Refuses to Fade
Chrono Trigger isn’t just a great game; it’s nearly perfect. Numerous greatest games of all time lists put it there, not just for nostalgia, but because the game is that good. Its innovations remain relevant, from seamless combat to multiple endings. Few titles from its era could compare, and even some today fall short of it. For many, Chrono Trigger has become the quintessential JRPG, and there is a strong demand for a modern remake.
What cements its reputation, however, is the extraordinary collaboration behind it. Without Sakaguchi, Horii, and Toriyama, this project would never have happened. Their distinct strengths are what made Chrono Trigger possible. This convergence of talent created a product of its time, and that would have a lasting legacy.
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Image courtesy of Stage 6 Films -
Image courtesy of Lucasfilm.
