It’s officialtoid: Chrono Trigger DS is coming to North America [Update]

Let’s clear the air on last night’s Chrono Trigger rumortoid: it’s coming to the DS, and it’s coming our way this holiday season.

The lovely folks at Square Enix sent out a press release today confirming Weekly Famitsu‘s report of the Chrono Trigger DS remake. The game will feature a new dungeon (yes!), a “wireless play mode”, dual-screen presentation, and touch-screen functionality. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the use of the two screens will probably be pretty perfunctory, à la Final Fantasy III DS. We’ll probably be able to use the stylus to move around and navigate menus, and the second screen will house extra menus and information. That new dungeon sounds intriguing, though.

No firm release date has been set, but it will drop sometime this holiday season, which could mean anywhere from October to Christmas. Similarly, mum’s the word about the alleged graphical “enhancements.” The announcement says that character artist Akira Toriyama will be on hand to “lend his signature art style to create [a] vibrant world,” but there are no specifics. I suppose it could be redone in 3D, but I really hope that Square Enix holds on to the beautiful sprites that were so effective the first time around.

People like to be harsh on Square Enix for whoring out its popular franchises, but I doubt anyone will complain about this. Quite frankly, these remakes don’t bother me that much — the more people that get to play Chrono Trigger, the better.

[Via Earthtimes. Thanks, Nick and nilcam!] 

[Update: According to GameSpot, Chrono Trigger won’t get the 3D treatment that Final Fantasy III and IV did. Thanks, GohanGVO!]

Journey Through Time with the RPG Masterpiece that Started It All LOS ANGELES, July 2

LOS ANGELES, July 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of
Square Enix(TM) interactive entertainment products in North America, announced
today that it will release CHRONO TRIGGER(R) in North America this Holiday
season. Remastered exclusively for Nintendo DS(TM), this marks the first time
that the groundbreaking RPG will be available on a handheld console.

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030403/SQUARELOGO)

Originally released in 1995 on Super NES(R) and shipping more than 2.5
million copies worldwide, CHRONO TRIGGER has been hailed as one of the
greatest games of all time by critics and fans alike. With a unique and
multifaceted storyline, the game revolutionized the world of RPGs with
never-before-seen features, including an unprecedented soundtrack and multiple
endings determined by side quests and the player's actions.

With artwork by famed manga artist Akira Toriyama and an unprecedented and
inspiring musical score created by Yasunori Mitsuda, CHRONO TRIGGER represents
the best-in-class of the video game world. This newly revamped edition
maintains all of the game's original elements and spirit while introducing the
portability, dual-screen presentation and Touch-Screen functionality of
Nintendo DS. Players will soon be able to rediscover the exhilarating RPG
experience, breathtaking storyline and innovative gameplay in the palm of
their hands.

STORY

When a newly developed teleportation device malfunctions at the Millennial
Fair, young Crono must travel through time to rescue his misfortunate
companion from an intricate web of past and present perils. The swashbuckling
adventure that ensues soon unveils an evil force set to destroy the world,
triggering Crono's race against time to change the course of history and bring
about a brighter future.

FEATURES

-- A masterpiece with an engaging and unparalleled storyline, leading to
the discovery of multiple epic conclusions to a journey that transcends time

-- An unprecedented and inspiring musical score created by Yasunori
Mitsuda

-- Intriguing battle system made possible by the unique combination of the
Active Time Battle system and Tech skills

-- Famed character designer Akira Toriyama lends his signature art style
to create the vibrant world that has captivated gamers around the world

-- Taking advantage of the Nintendo DS hardware, CHRONO TRIGGER makes its
way onto the portable platform with all-new dual screen presentation and
Touch-Screen functionality

-- A brand new dungeon and a Wireless Play mode adds exciting new
dimensions to this timeless classic

CHRONO TRIGGER has not yet been rated. Please visit the Entertainment
Software Rating Board website at http://www.esrb.org for more information
about ratings. The official website can be found at
http://na.square-enix.com/ctds.

About Square Enix Co., Ltd. and Square Enix, Inc.

Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix), with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan,
develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including
interactive entertainment software and publications in Asia, North America and
Europe. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises -- FINAL
FANTASY, which has sold over 80 million units worldwide, and DRAGON QUEST(R),
which has sold over 43 million units worldwide -- under one roof. Square Enix
is one of the most influential providers of digital entertainment content in
the world and continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation.

Square Enix, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Co., Ltd.
with offices in Los Angeles, California. It handles operations in North
America, including development, localization, marketing and publishing of
Square Enix titles. More information on Square Enix can be found on the
Internet at http://www.square-enix.com.

CHRONO TRIGGER, DRAGON QUEST, FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE
ENIX logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Square Enix Co., Ltd. in
the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the
property of their respective owners. Nintendo DS and Super NES are trademarks
of Nintendo.

SOURCE  Square Enix, Inc.