World Famous Comics: Final Fantasy Chronicles (Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy IV)
Final Fantasy Chronicles (Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy IV)
From: Square Enix Average Rating: Binding: Video Game ESRB Age Rating: Teen Label: Square Enix Manufacturer Minimum Age: 13 years Model: 9796 Platform: PlayStation Release Date: June 30, 2003
Features:
The Final Fantasy Chronicles set includes new opening and closing cinematic sequences for Chrono Trigger and re-creations of memorable sequences
New abilities include a "dash" feature, allowing players to move quickly through towns and dungeons
2-player mode allows players to participate in battles together
Improved localization of the original unedited story
Includes all the original monsters, abilities, items and scenes that were not seen in the SNES version
Product Description: This old school compilation from Square includes "Final Fantasy IV" (known as "FF2" as a 1991 US SNES release which introduced the Active Time Battle system) and "Chrono Trigger" (1995's precursor to the wildly popular "Chrono Cross").Format: PSX Genre: RPG (VG)/ Rating: T - Teen UPC: 662248901015 Manufacturer No: 9796
Amazon.com Review: Showcasing enhanced versions of the Super Nintendo classics Final Fantasy IV and Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy Chronicles is a must-have "retro" bundle for the serious role-playing game fan.
Originally released in the U.S. in 1991 as Final Fantasy II, the groundbreaking Final Fantasy IV introduced the "Active Time Battle" combat system that has since become a staple in the series. In addition to new computer animation sequences and minor gameplay enhancements, this reissue sports a new dialogue translation that is more faithful to the Japanese version and fleshes out the previously pared-down story of a conflicted knight and his quest for redemption.
Although not as well known as Final Fantasy IV--and not even part of the Final Fantasy series, for that matter--1995's Chrono Trigger is a nonlinear adventure game where players must travel across time to save a princess (and the world in the process). New Japanese cartoon cutscenes from animator Akira Toriyama (creator of Dragonball Z) grace the updated Chrono Trigger, and an extras mode (filled with game-related goodies that must be unlocked) has been added, increasing the already high replay value of this title with multiple endings.
Admittedly, the games' two-dimensional graphics and simplistic sounds are quite "last generation," which may turn off some younger gamers and recent converts to the genre, but their solid gameplay, deep storyline, and memorable characters are still first-rate by today's standards. --Joe Hon
Pros:
Brings together two classic Super Nintendo role-playing games
Retranslated text of Final Fantasy IV more faithful
Extras mode increases Chrono Trigger's replay value
New animated "movie" sequences
Cons:
In-game graphics and sounds are quite dated
Amazon.com Product Description: The two classic RPGs in this compilation not only represent hours upon hours of story, character, and action, they also present the background for two recent bestselling, critically hailed games: Final Fantasy IX and Chrono Cross.
With all the different names for the original 1991 release of the first title in this compilation (Final Fantasy IV in Japan, Final Fantasy II in the U.S.), role-players new to the game may get confused. Make no mistake, though: Final Fantasy Chronicles marks the first time this pivotal installment of the cherished game series has ever been available on the PlayStation. In Final Fantasy IV, players take on the role of Cecil, a loyal captain who questions the orders of his king, and for it is sent to slay a mysterious beast in a nearby valley.
In Chrono Trigger, Chrono must follow princess Marle's teleportation through time and locate her before an intergalactic parasite arrives to destroy the world. The original game, also on the PlayStation for the first time, was one of the first nonlinear role-playing games. The decisions that players make during the game will point them toward one of more than a dozen possible endings.
These new versions retain the authentic Japanese SNES stories and characters while updating their graphics and adding new full-motion video sequences and other features.
Strictly a Chrono Trigger review Since my semi-retirement from video games, I feel like I've lost touch with some of the new games of today. A lot has happened in my life (which is why you'll find a 2+ year gap between a couple of my reviews), and have focused on school and other things. But I've been meaning to get this review up for a long time, and it's high time I did that. I'll try not to go "nerdy" here, but this is my personal favorite video game, not only on the Super NES, but of all time.
I'm probably not the only one that shares this, as in a recent Nintendo Power magazine fans voted Chrono Trigger #3 most wanted game to be put on the Wii console, right behind #2's Super Mario RPG and #1's Terra-Gnigma. And it's also coming to Nintendo DS.
Chrono Trigger follows the tale of time traveling adventurers. Marle, the princess of Guardia, is whisked through time accidently by Lucca's transporter and Crono (the lead character who rarely speaks) decides to go and save her, which leads to a series of time altering events, new characters, and the ultimate final battle with Lavos. Lavos is the main villain, a parasitic life form that's been on the planet since the stone age and used the world's resources to allow mankind to evolve, thus empowering Lavos for millenia until 1999 A.D., when Lavos nearly wipes out the human race. We are introduced to awesome playable characters: Frog, formerly a knight named Glenn from the middle ages; Magus, a sorceror from the dark magical age that Frog seeks revenge upon; Robo, a robot from the future and turns against the evil robots and develops his own personality (a la Data from Star Trek). Lucca, Crono's friend, is a super smart inventor with a childhood regret. Ayla, a prehistoric babe that seeks retribution against the Reptites in the Prehistoric Age. And Marle, the future ruler of Guardia, and is swept up in a tale of high adventure and time.
The characters are very memorable and even if you were playing today, you'd be rooting for them during the game. Magus is out to destroy Lavos and is very narcissistic, especially towards Frog; Frog is a young heroic knight who carries the burden of failing to save Cyrus, his hero. Marle wants to be free despite her royal upbringing. Lucca yearns to correct her mistake of failing to save her mother from injury. Robo aspires to become more human and constructive, and by the end of the game, he'll be one of your favorite characters. Ayla's warrior-like personality may have you thinking impure thoughts about a Super NES character (and she's bisexual, in the original Japanese translation, LOL)... and Crono is the main hero and rarely speaks, but his heroic nature and adventorous spirit is the drive of the story.
There are many aspects of this game to appreciate. The intricate storyline with multiple endings might seem common now, but back then, it was practically unheard of. There's also some dark parts in the storyline (Frog having to avenge Cyrus because Magus killed him, Lucca feeling responsible for her mother's injury, etc.) as well as downright goofy parts ("Knights of the Square Table"? And what's with pouring soda on Toma's grave?). The music, mostly contributed by Yasunori Mitsuda, is considered a classic SNES gem and is actually the most covered game of all time on OCRemix.org (I think it's got 87 remixes, as of this writing). This soundtrack NEVER gets old. I read in an interview that Mitsuda had ulcers making the score and Nobuo Uematsu and Norika Matsueda had to finish the soundtrack (only a few tracks); he loved doing the score so much that he had ulcers. Hardcore!
Gameplay wise, it's relatively simple by today's standards. You've three of your characters in battle and depending on your combination, the double tech and triple tech combinations are different. I always found this to be unique, and haven't seen it utilized much in later games. The graphics were outstanding for the time; animated in a colorful and very Toriyama-esque style, its pretty smooth for a Super Nintendo game. The magic spells look fantastic, even in 1995 when this game first came out.
I didn't find this too harsh in difficulty growing up, and I still find it to be relatively easy. I think this is a definite plus because if you are a young pup and want a good dosage of RPG Heaven, then this would be a GREAT place to start. This is one of the rare games where the creators didn't want to make money off of it, nor did they want to make a turd for a quick buck. They spent time, energy, and enthusiasm on Chrono Trigger, and honestly, I think it shows. The storyline combined with awesome music, smooth gameplay, and emotionally-driven characters makes this a rariety. This game leaves you with a happy feeling and a sense of accomplishment for beating it (and if you're an old school gamer like me, nostalgia as well.).
Part of the reason I also love this game was because the friendships I've attained through this game, which might seem a little silly. But hey, it was 1996, and Chrono Trigger was caught in the "growing up" scheme of things.
Overall, I highly recommend this game, especially to the first-time gamer. It's not too difficult and it has a lot to offer. Now that it's coming to DS with a revamped translation (kinda like what they did with Castlevania Symphony of the Night...), it's easy to obtain. Or you can also find it on Final Fantasy Chronicles for PlayStation. Either way, this game is a must-buy... don't pass on the adventure of a lifetime!
Classic Final Fantasy IV (Final Fantasy II for SNES) is definitely reason enough to buy this package. The many characters of this game are woven together in an incredible storyline that remains one of my favorite RPG games of all time. The graphics suck compared to whats out there today, but if your looking for a game that will keep you interested all the way through to the end, than this is definitely a smart buy. Chrono Trigger is also a fun game with many alternative endings.
Great, but get the originals if you can afford them. Please don't take my three-star overall rating as an attack against either game; these classics are two of the greatest RPGs ever released.
However, keep in mind that these are (obviously) not actually the games in their original forms. There exist minor differences in the games, the controls, and notably in the load times caused by the disc system; on which note, these are also more easily broken than Nintendo's nearly-indestructible cartridges. Also, the fact that they're not originals counts for much on its own.
The only reason I would suggest buying this item is if you have a PlayStation already /and/ cannot afford the (very expensive) original SNES titles Final Fantasy II and Chrono Trigger. Not having an SNES is no excuse; if you're a serious classic RPG gamer, you have or are looking to obtain an SNES or Super FamiCom anyway. It remains home to some of the greatest RPG titles ever released, including FFII, FFIII, Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, Mother II (US EarthBound), Illusion of Gaia, Breath of Fire, Zelda: A Link to the Past, Lord of the Rings vol. 1, and more (particularly for the Super FamiCom), most of which do not exist for any other system.
So, in summary, if you already have a PS1 and want to play these two wonderful classics cheaply, get this. If you have money to spend and want quality, get the originals.
The Weak Link of the Re-Releases If I had enjoyed Final Fantasy IV a bit more than I did, the review would be 5 stars. There's nothing inherently wrong with the game, it just didn't give me the same feeling as the other classic Final Fantasies have. Along with 6, 4 is an FF that was well made but just inexplicably unable to draw me in (the opposite of FF7, which I got into while I played but seems so shabby when I look back at it). 4 is certainly for someone, but it's not for me, you'll have to compare it against your own tastes.
Chrono Trigger, on the other hand, is a prime example of a classic RPG. While the protagonist is silent, the other characters develop well along the storyline. The weapon and skill system is set up to nigh-perfection; everyone has a set role, but Square manages to pull it off without making the system too limited. The music, while a bit dated, is still rather pleasant and the graphics are vibrant compared to its contemporaries.
astonishing deal that you simply shouldn't pass up Even though that most people will overlook this game because it's a PlayStation game that's a re-release of a 16-bit game during a time when we've already moved on to the 128-bit generation, if you're an RPG fan that has yet to play either of these classics, it's a must-have title. With the multiple endings and fantastical game design and lovable characters, Chrono Trigger alone is worth the full price of admission. Add in Final Fantasy IV and you have an astonishing deal that you simply shouldn't pass up. Jody Bissoon
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