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11:21 PM on 07.17.2008

53 comments
E3 08: Hands-on with Chrono Trigger DS
Chad Concelmo

E3 08:  Hands-on with Chrono Trigger DS screenshot

As I was watching Colette and Dale play Square-Enix's Infinite Undiscovery on the E3 show floor, I literally backed up and bumped into Chrono Trigger DS. "Oh, look, it's Chrono Trigger DS!" I exclaimed as I quickly pulled out the stylus from the DS display and began to play. "I'm so excited!"

Unfortunately, it is kind of hard to play an epic RPG at an industry show -- since the genre is almost impossible to just pick up in play -- but I tried my best as I was very much looking forward to getting my hands on the DS iteration of one of the greatest role-playing games ever made.

So, what did I think? Does the game hold up to today's standards? What kind of DS-specific features were added?

Hit the jump for my hands-on impressions of Chrono Trigger DS.

I won't go too much into the basic facts about Chrono Trigger -- if you haven't played it yet then you really need to go find it on a Super Nintendo  right now. Seriously, stop reading this and get to playing! The game is a masterpiece.

I am assuming most of you are curious about this new port of Chrono Trigger if only to see how well it made the transition to the Nintendo DS.

I will take you through the demo I played to give you an idea how everything works.

When I started up the game I was met with the classic swinging pendulum (the memories!). The pendulum starts on the bottom touch screen and slowly makes it way up to reveal the title on the top screen. Even seeing this basic dual screen action got me all excited.

After selecting to start a new game with the stylus, the screen went to black. My time traveling adventure was about to begin.

When the game starts, all the action takes place on the top screen. The bottom screen is composed of a few different parts. In the center is an overhead map of the area you are currently in. If you are on the overworld, however, the map is of the entire planet.

Hugging the left and right edges of the touch screen are different icons that work as your menu. This addition is pretty cool as you don't ever have to access a separate menu screen. Every icon performs a different function, be it to use an item, check out your techs, or peruse the all new bestiary.

The last part of the touch screen sits long the top. Three small, gray rectangles display pictures of the members of your party along with his/her basic information (hit points, level, etc.). You can even tap these displays with your stylus to get a more detailed look at your character's status. From this screen you can even quickly equip weapons.

Having all this stuff so easily accessible on the bottom screen is very helpful and makes playing the game a much smoother experience.

But now the big question:  Can you control your character with the touch screen? The answer is yes you most certainly can!

Imagine an invisible dot in the center of the touch screen. If you press your stylus above this mystery dot your character walks up. Press it to the right and your character moves right ... and so on and so on. You get the idea.

At first I was bummed that I could only walk, as I wasn't sure how these controls would allow me to run (in the original you just had to hold down a button), but as I fiddled with things I figured out how to do it. The farther your stylus gets away from the center of the touch screen, the faster your character moves. On a similar note, tapping the touch screen really quickly performs an on-screen action (such as talking to NPCs, etc.). I learned this while experimenting on the opening screen and trying to figure out how to close the curtains in Crono's room.

There is nothing revolutionary about this touch screen implementation, but it all works fairly well. Admittedly, it took a while to get used to and may be too uncomfortable for some players, but the option to use the D-pad and buttons for everything is still there. In fact, there is even an option to eliminate the dual screen setup entirely -- you can play the game on one screen, completely like the original if you want. I like the new features, but appreciate that this option is there.

Once I mastered the new control scheme and said good-bye to Crono's mom I headed out on my grand adventure. When I entered the Millenial Fair (north of the starting village of Truce) I really started to notice the graphical upgrade. Now, don't get too excited: the graphics don't really look that different. Being on the powerful DS, though, all the colors are extra bright and really pop off the screen. In addition, there doesn't seem to be any slowdown. Of all the different versions of Chrono Trigger I have played (SNES, PlayStation), this one easily looks the best.

Sadly (and I am really sad about this), I didn't get to see how the battle system worked with the dual screen and touch screen setup. As I mentioned before, trying to play an epic RPG with limited time is nearly impossible. Because of this, I couldn't even play long enough to engage in one fight (I only made it to the part after you meet Marle for the first time). Do you select battle commands with the touch screen? Do the dual screens come into play? How does the newly added  active time battle system work? Argh! I really wanted to be able to experience the answers to these questions.

Overall, I left feeling very confident that Chrono Trigger DS is the perfect evolution for this timeless classic. Not much has changed, but I think we can all agree that this is a very good thing.



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NihonTiger90's Avatar
NihonTiger90 at 07/17/2008 23:24

Fantastic preview, Chad. My frothing demand for this game increases with each good thing I hear about it.
The-Excel's Avatar
The-Excel at 07/17/2008 23:27

Dang it. This article just cost me $51.
sTo0z's Avatar
sTo0z at 07/17/2008 23:27

Aww, really wanted to hear about the mysterious multiplayer(wifi?) mode!

Was there some sort of extra option at the main menu or something?
keener's Avatar
keener at 07/17/2008 23:29

are these official shots of the DS game? if so, one of the less obvious features is that with the status and menus on the bottom screen, the top screen is cleared of them. you can see the full frame and all the characters without the menu hiding anything.

it may not be anything crazy, but its nice to have an uncluttered unobstructed view.
mistic's Avatar
mistic at 07/17/2008 23:32

Wow man this looks amazing! Can't wait to get my hands on it :-)
naia-the-gamer's Avatar
naia-the-gamer at 07/17/2008 23:33

fap fap fap fap fap
Miker's Avatar
Miker at 07/17/2008 23:47

@Chad

"How does the newly added active time battle system work?"

Wait, what? I don't remember anything about this. Are they seriously adding a whole new battle system to it? o.O
Ogu's Avatar
Ogu at 07/17/2008 23:48

You could've skipped marle and fith Gato :P... But oh well, this sounds better and better every day.

I can't wait to get my hands on it. The Stylus control seems like a nice addition, but I don't know ... is it good for longer play times?
Tubatic's Avatar
Tubatic at 07/17/2008 23:56

FAPPITY FAAAAAAAP!
The Bez's Avatar
The Bez at 07/18/2008 00:05

I hate you so much first Miyamoto now this....
hpv's Avatar
hpv at 07/18/2008 00:09

Did you try out playing with the dpad, Chad? I can't stand using that thing at all. Are the touch screen controls good enough to not require it or are they just serviceable for touch controls?
eternalplayer2345's Avatar
eternalplayer2345 at 07/18/2008 00:09

Mega man 9,banjo, miyamoto and this? Did the ESA just decide to make this your dream e3 or something?
timtheterrible's Avatar
timtheterrible at 07/18/2008 00:19

I've had the psone double pack for a while, but for some reason I never got any further than the intro/ time machine area at the fair. Is this a game that holds up pretty well(gameplay-wise) over the years like Suikoden II, or would it be more geared toward those who would get a feeling of nostalgia from playing this game (a la Mega Man 9)?
LionheartAce's Avatar
LionheartAce at 07/18/2008 00:28

Hey, if you're talking about anything other than Chrono Trigger... shut up.

Anyhow, in the immortal internet language... DO WANT!
Aiya's Avatar
Aiya at 07/18/2008 00:34

too bad you didn't get to the battle system :( but I'm still excited for this release.
twesterm's Avatar
twesterm at 07/18/2008 00:48

But do the touch screen controls work for lefty's?
Kyousuke Nanbu's Avatar
Kyousuke Nanbu at 07/18/2008 00:50

CHRONO TWIGGER YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.

Looking forward to this SO much.
Syn's Avatar
Syn at 07/18/2008 01:59

laaaaaame

they better have added something that makes me spooge all over myself or I'm not wasting my time or cash on it.
darkair's Avatar
darkair at 07/18/2008 02:19

Port it to the Nintendo wii instead of tiny screens. Chrono Trigger HD Remix.
Lime's Avatar
Lime at 07/18/2008 02:43

I REALLY don't see why there's a massive circlejerk over such a lazy port.
MuddBstrd's Avatar
MuddBstrd at 07/18/2008 02:47

Thank you for bumping into that kiosk, Chad! I did a happy little gasp when I saw this hands-on impression come up on the site, and now I'm even happier that the game seems to meet your approval so far. As a fellow fan of Chrono Trigger, I'm pleased that Square-Enix seems to be handling this port well.
Druid_01's Avatar
Druid_01 at 07/18/2008 03:06

now i'm gona actually have to find my DS that i haven't touched in forever, the hunt begins.
commish's Avatar
commish at 07/18/2008 04:14

I think Chad was the one who won E3 this year
SWE3tMadness's Avatar
SWE3tMadness at 07/18/2008 07:23

Never played the original, so I'm looking forward to picking this up. :D
zombiekiller13's Avatar
zombiekiller13 at 07/18/2008 07:44

They better put a demo of it out on the Nintendo Channel...
Jonathan Holmes's Avatar
Jonathan Holmes at 07/18/2008 08:00

I'm glad Chad wrote this hands-on and not me. All I would have had to say was "Chrono Trigger DS is exactly like Chrono Trigger SNES except with some touch screen controls". After reading this, I'm more excited for the game than I was after actually playing it on the showroom floor.
Conan-san's Avatar
Conan-san at 07/18/2008 08:17

That's kinda agrovating, a RPG kinda lives or dies by the strength of it's battle.
Anus Mcphanus's Avatar
Anus Mcphanus at 07/18/2008 08:27

I'm still disappointed that they didn't really enhance the graphics. I mean how awesome did Chrono Resurrection look?! You just know Square Enix will do another remake of this in full 3D for the next Nintendo or Sony handheld whenever they come out
trunxkam45's Avatar
trunxkam45 at 07/18/2008 08:53

What about the wireless gameplay they mentioned before, what is that about?
Fenx's Avatar
Fenx at 07/18/2008 09:26

@Chad

Why didn't you fight Gato? Do you dislike metal joints or something?
dephect's Avatar
dephect at 07/18/2008 09:44

Looks pretty pixilatedreatedated, bad. Also... I feel they should have seriously updated the visuals if they were going to port this, seems lazy.
kohelhunter's Avatar
kohelhunter at 07/18/2008 09:58

Its Square-Enix people. The past 5 years they have been horrendously lazy.
killias2's Avatar
killias2 at 07/18/2008 10:02

"Looks pretty pixilatedreatedated, bad. Also... I feel they should have seriously updated the visuals if they were going to port this, seems lazy."

I'm half-and-half on this. I'd prefer a complete remake, but, anything less than that.. I'd rather just have a port of the original with maybe a few new things.
MillsAnimation's Avatar
MillsAnimation at 07/18/2008 11:00

"...close the curtains in Crono's room." --- FIXED
perri's Avatar
perri at 07/18/2008 11:06

Yes Please! The smaller screen pushing those pixels together is just the visual upgrade I need! I LOVE the addition of menu's on the touch screen, thought the SNES menus were a bit clunky in retrospect and on the PS1, after waiting for it to load were just dreadful.

So glad this is coming, Chad could have said that they removed boss battles and replaced them with text explanations and I would still buy this game
Aurora's Avatar
Aurora at 07/18/2008 11:15

I wanna know if they are going to keep the FMV's from the Playstation version
Chad Concelmo's Avatar
Chad Concelmo at 07/18/2008 11:47

@MillsAnimation,
Oops. Of course. Sorry. Thanks! :)
Chad Concelmo's Avatar
Chad Concelmo at 07/18/2008 11:48

@Aurora,
I didn't see any, but they were showing some in the preview on the big plasma above the game. I don't know what that means ...
Dennen's Avatar
Dennen at 07/18/2008 11:59

I really wish they would have just redid the visuals. To me, the game looks like they tossed in some very basic DS applications to the game and twisted it up for two screens then are planning on releasing it.

To some, that is exciting. To me. That's a practical slap in the face. I don't mean that in the typical internet fashion where people think a slap in the face is the worst thing possible that can happen. No I mean a slap in the face like... A slap in the face. I'd rate being punched in the face quite higher on my scale. But that's me.

But back to topic. To some it is exciting, what they have done. To me - I say that some above average programmer out there with the know how could have probably done this himself in a few months. I was just hoping for a little more. The battle system and so on was fine enough as it is - add some DS controls then leave it alone. Want to add a few more places to visit in the game? That's awesome, go right ahead - as long as it's appropriate. But to be given the opportunity to use hand drawn art and not?... This upsets me. It upsets me every time a developer remakes an RPG on the DS and opts to either do nothing to the image, or goes 3D. 3D on the DS just doesn't look very spectacular, and doing nothing is incredibly lazy and reeks of "I'm in this for the money, not your childhood wishes."..

How awesome it would have been to have the art, even the game as it already is, redone in hand drawn art. Hell, hire a few gamers from the art department of a high school and they could take care of it. It is not difficult.
MillsAnimation's Avatar
MillsAnimation at 07/18/2008 12:49

@Fenx Its cuz he does not like 15 silver points! @Chad Concelmo Just trying to help homie! :)
Wedge's Avatar
Wedge at 07/18/2008 13:14

Sucks you probably couldn't hear how well they've preserved the soundtrack at the showfloor. That was an issue with the GBA FF ports, so I worry about this. And if they're pretentious enough to release a tweaked ROM for $40, they can diaf. I believe Front Mission didn't, but that wasn't as high profile either. I'm not really certain I care that much about this port, as much as it is my favourite SNES game ever, I still have my cart and it's not dead yet...

thegforceman's Avatar
thegforceman at 07/18/2008 13:17

looks as great as any squeenix port on a ds could be, but when the hell are we gonna get a new chrono trigger tehmed title (that isn't chrono cross)
Dennen's Avatar
Dennen at 07/18/2008 13:22

@thegforceman

You honestly believe that this is the best square enix could have done on the DS?
Misanthrope's Avatar
Misanthrope at 07/18/2008 14:04

I disagree with all of you. Im glad the game looks like this simply because its very hard to change the graphics of a 2d game to 3d without messing it up. I still feel very mixed about FFIV DS for example and wish they would have just made a high resolution 2D game instead ( like the FF1 PSP version ).

This game is very niche except tons of people never got to properly play Chrono Trigger back in the day so the demand seems bigger, but its still niche gaming, its made for people like me who think "You don't need to fix what it ain't broken" and Chrono's graphics are certainly not broken.

Funny how some of you guys go cheer like idiots to any Megaman 9 news and then come bash Square for doing the exact same thing: RETRO.
KyleGamgee's Avatar
KyleGamgee at 07/18/2008 15:03

This is a big gaping hole in my video game canon. I'm looking forward to the DS remake to finally fix that.
Therum's Avatar
Therum at 07/18/2008 15:07

I cannot understand why anyone would want 3D graphics. Chrono Trigger is already one of the best RPGs ever made - a 3D treatment would turn it into a very different (and probably inferior) game.

If you dislike this version, well, don't buy it. I know I will, `cause the ability to play CT wherever the hell I want is fucking hot, but Squenix isn't forcing you to purchase it.
Dennen's Avatar
Dennen at 07/18/2008 15:08

@ Misanthrope

I agree with you and I wish that they would have just made FFIV DS a high resolution 2D game instead. I honestly feel that that is the better way to go with the handhelds than anything, especially for RPG's.

Things can look beautiful and they do not have to be in 3D to do so. Why Developers these days cannot understand that, I haven't a clue.

As for Megaman 9... I fell out with the megaman serious a long time ago... I believe the last one I ever bought was Megaman Legends and a battle network game for my GBA, which were great games. But the standard series and retro just quickly got old for me.
Cowboy TTop's Avatar
Cowboy TTop at 07/18/2008 16:24

I welcome Chrono Trigger with open arms. I know a 3D FF like remake would have been a better option to push it, but I too will still love it as is, on my DS screen.

Hey and you know what, if Chrono Trigger goes down well, we might actually see Seiken Densetsu 3 on DS too.
Wedge's Avatar
Wedge at 07/18/2008 16:52

We will never see SD3, sadly. Square for some reason wants us to forget about those games and push the shitty new identity of the series. I remember there was an interview or something about this before.
jackal27's Avatar
jackal27 at 07/21/2008 15:25

If you wanted to see the battle system, why didn't you just go fight Gato, the singing robot?
Mr Wilson's Avatar
Mr Wilson at 07/21/2008 15:55

"Port it to the Nintendo wii instead of tiny screens. Chrono Trigger HD Remix."

LMFAO AT WII AND HD MENTIONED TOGETHER.

And this remake does look awesome, if only to have a portable Chrono Trigger...without a modded psp
mikeyed's Avatar
mikeyed at 07/23/2008 07:59

I love when a new version of an old game comes out and they've added a bestiary. It always feels like one of those ideas that everybody loves because it's easy to do.
Raidensolid's Avatar
Raidensolid at 07/28/2008 23:30

It will be mine, Oh yes.

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