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The gameplay is fairly typical for an RPG. Overall, the games visuals are of an incredibly high quality, exceeding the quality of some titles made specifically for the DS (which should be quite embarrassing for many of today’s developers?). There are also some nicely animated sequences included too, and these help enhance the storytelling. Sprites are brilliantly animated, environments are beautifully detailed and both of these elements come together to create a world which feels alive. The main designer contracted to work on the game was Akira Toriyama, and the design is still contemporary, with most of the characters looking like they stepped straight out of Dragonball Z or Blue Dragon (whether or not this is a good thing is up to you). Whats perhaps the most surprising thing about Chrono Trigger is that the graphics still hold up after almost ten years. Its a pretty decent story, and it feels very epic (especially for a handheld RPG), but what makes it even better is that there are now new areas to explore and some extra endings (that add on to the 14 available in the original) that tie into the sequel, Chrono Cross (which is just as good, mind you!). Chrono sees a terrible future and engages in a quest to prevent the events leading to the destruction of their world from unfolding. Naturally concerned for his friend, Chrono jumps into the same rift in an attempt to save Marle, but while hes there he discovers something much more sinister. Marle subsequently tags along to the demonstration, where Luccas device malfunctions and sends Marle into another realm, in a different time and space. On his way to Luccas showcase, Chrono runs into Marle, a very hyperactive girl who Chrono finds familiar. Chrono, the games protagonist, rushes to the celebration to witness his friend Luccas latest creation, a teleporter of sorts. The games main setting is the Kingdom of Guardia, which is celebrating its millennial with a huge festival. As such, it is good to see that Chrono Triggers story remains largely unchanged. Back when Chrono Trigger was first released on the SNES, it was not as readily available in the West as many other games, so sadly many gamers have never had the chance to try it out. To tell you the truth, it shapes up pretty darn well. So, just how well does the game shape up after all these years? Chrono Trigger for the Nintendo DS is a game that not only uses time as a key motif in its narrative, but it is a game that stands up well to the test of time, as one of Square Enixs best non-Final Fantasy RPGs. Sometimes it can alter our perception of games that we loved years ago, and sometimes it simply makes us realise that the games we all knew and loved are actually pretty damn bad.
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