Chrono Trigger is one of those rare games that stays relevant. Decades on, it’s still considered by many as one of the best JRPGs ever.
It was born from the same minds that built Final Fantasy, and in some ways, it outdid them at their own game.
Chrono Trigger isn’t officially a Final Fantasy game, but it feels like the Final Fantasy the series always wanted to be.
How Did the Dream Team Come Together for Chrono Trigger?
It feels connected to Final Fantasy not only because Square made it but also because its creators include Final Fantasy’s own Hironobu Sakaguchi, along with Dragon Quest’s Yuji Horii and Dragon Ball’s artist Akira Toriyama.
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+ 4They brought in some of the best composers and battle designers from Final Fantasy IV, VI, and beyond. That kind of talent lineup wasn’t normal, even back then. This one-off project found the rare middle ground between ambition and finish.
What Did Chrono Trigger Do Differently With Its Narrative?
And what they made wasn’t bloated or overwhelming.
click to enlarge + 4One of the most refreshing things about Chrono Trigger is how streamlined it feels. The story kicks off right away, with barely any downtime. You’re thrown into a world of time travel, alternate futures, and world-ending threats, but it’s all done with restraint.
The pacing is so tight that you can finish the entire game and see some of its best content in under 30 hours. Compared to the sprawling runtime of other JRPGs at the time (or even now), this was a breath of fresh air.
Why Is Chrono Trigger So Replayable?
That efficiency doesn’t come at the cost of depth.
click to enlarge + 4Chrono Trigger manages to include over a dozen different endings, most of which reflect decisions you’ve made and when you choose to face the final boss. Combat is also a big reason the game still works.
Chrono Trigger took the Active Time Battle system from Final Fantasy and made it better. Enemies are shown on the field, so battles occur exactly where you find them, not through random triggers.
Better still, the game introduces combo techniques between party members, rewarding experimentation and synergy in a way most FF games never attempted. It brought more movement and depth to battles without making them mindless button spamming.
Unlike many RPGs where party members get forgotten or barely used, Chrono Trigger makes every character count. The time-displaced Frog and the futuristic Robo both fight and help shape the game’s emotional storyline. Fighting with them isn’t all there is to it.
You care about them, and that is unusual for most ensemble RPGs, including Final Fantasy.
Why Isn’t Chrono Trigger a Franchise Like Final Fantasy?
I have to admit, Chrono Trigger feels like the best Final Fantasy game that never existed, and that opinion has only gotten stronger with time.
click to enlarge + 4Fans who have played most Final Fantasy titles would agree that Chrono Trigger came closest to perfecting the formula. It’s shorter, but that brevity brings clarity. It doesn’t waste your time, but it still manages to deliver one of the most unforgettable journeys in gaming.
And yet, for all its acclaim, Chrono Trigger never became a franchise. There was no long-running series, nor were there any annual entries. Its spiritual sequel, Chrono Cross, took a very different path and never achieved the same widespread acclaim.
In today’s landscape, where developers chase massive open worlds and endless expansions, Chrono Trigger reminds us what a well-crafted, complete experience looks like. This game endures not just for nostalgia but because even today few have matched its grace emotional impact and overall quality.
Final Fantasy builds its legacy on ambition through diverse stories and styles, while Chrono Trigger stands out for its precision. It’s what happens when the best minds come together once and decide to make a timeless classic.
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