Square Enix seems determined to set old school RPG fans' hearts a-flutter. It also seems determined to show you that it isn't afraid to revisit a much-loved classic. Early 2009, and the company has gone back to Chrono Trigger. The game was originally released for the SNES back in 1995 by a crack team of RPG developers from both the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest series but, beloved as it was/is, never saw release in European parts.

It features exactly the kind of plot and gameplay that wi ... more >>

Square Enix seems determined to set old school RPG fans' hearts a-flutter. It also seems determined to show you that it isn't afraid to revisit a much-loved classic. Early 2009, and the company has gone back to Chrono Trigger. The game was originally released for the SNES back in 1995 by a crack team of RPG developers from both the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest series but, beloved as it was/is, never saw release in European parts.

It features exactly the kind of plot and gameplay that will mess your head right up. It stars a young chap called Crono (so named because dropping the 'h' in the SNES original freed up valuable cartridge space!) who must jump backwards and forwards through time to save his friend and (because time travel is never simple) the world.

The game is notable for its removal of many of the RPG conventions many non-RPG players so despise. The battle system is quick and fluid - there's no lengthy transition screen or overly-dramatic fanfare - you just get on with it. Likewise, the grinding and random monster encounters that get the collective goat of many RPG detractors are absent.

The game has been adapted from the original NES version and brought up to date. It's been made all portable and stuff, with dual and touch screen functionality 'de-cluttering' the main display. Also new for this version are a fresh ending and a multi-player monster battling mini-game.

This is a must-have for RPG fans and maybe even the as yet unconverted. << less