So, Chrono Trigger DS...

[slimequest]

... looks exactly like the SNES version. I guess some people are happy about this, and I've got to agree that there's nothing wrong with the original's graphics or anything like that, but it just seems so lazy, you know? Basically, instead of a Virtual Console release which would be the same price as other SNES games, we get a $30 or so direct-from-SNES-to-DS port with just a few little things added.

I really would've loved to have seen a makeover like FF4DS or something, really using the power of the DS instead of what could've easily been a GBA port. At least give us some high-res sprites or something. I'm really surprised to see the "oh my god Dragonball Z art style rage" cropping up as a reason why people want the sprites to be kept as-is. You'd think with the ever-increasing popularity of Dragon Quest as well as stuff like Blue Dragon, people would find that Toriyama can crank out some good designs when he feels like it. I guess no one has quite recovered from DBZ, or something. Still, if you're going to bash him for the "all his characters look the same" reason, I'm going to point you in the direction of just about... every character designer ever. Nomura springs to mind, and I can't tell who the hell is who with Amano anyway.

I dunno, it just seems so lazy and a wasted opportunity. I really hope that anyone who has never played this game gets a chance to now, so it's a good thing that it exists, but it's kind of a hard sell for me. I beat the original like, what, 16 times? And the Playstation port once. I might get this eventually whenever I feel like replaying CT just to be able to have it portable and non-save-erasey, but it's not a pre-order kind of a deal. Unless there's some awesome preorder bonus. Dammit, you'd better not do that to me.

Comments

[nobunaga-drill.livejournal.com]

I can see why they wouldn't, Chrono Trigger fandom's always struck me as the type that'd go totally baboon on SE's ass if they made any real radical departure.

Would've been cool to see it done like FF3/4 DS though.

[slimequest.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the fandom's really touchy about any kind of change, it seems. Still, most of them wet their pants when they saw screens from that fan-made Chrono Resurrection or whatever it was, before it got shut down.

Oh, crap, I just realized they might redo the script, what a shitstorm that'll produce among the fandom.

[sethimothy.livejournal.com]

They probably won't be "redoing" the script per se, so much as give it a more faithful translation than the one Ted Woolsey gave it over a decade ago. It'll be interesting, to say the least. It won't be like the FFIV GBA port's overall of the script.

[slimequest.livejournal.com]

That's basically what I meant. Purists really seem to hate it when scripts are made more accurate or faithful even if the overall quality ends up being better. And there are people who really like their Woolsey scripts out there. With the CT fandom being as it is, any sort of change would be controversial, at least to the purists among them.

I bet if the main character's name is made to be "Chrono" because they increase the amount of allowed spaces, some people will throw a blithering fit. I can see it now.

[sethimothy.livejournal.com]

Well, since the official trailer shows it as "Chrono" I'd put my money on that actually being his name. I'm curious at this point if they'll switch Ayla over to "Eira" and Frog "Kaeru", hahaha.

[slimequest.livejournal.com]

That would be the most hilarious day on the internet ever, and I would love S-E forever for it if they had the balls to do it.

[krile.livejournal.com]

NO CHRONO, IT'S CRONO. IT'S LIKE CHANGING CLESS TO CRESS. IT'S TECHNICALLY CORRECT, BUT IT'S WHAT WE'RE USED TO THAT COUNTS

Plus I always liked how his name was a little different from the game's title.

[slimequest.livejournal.com]

The press release has it as "Crono", so I'm doubting it'll be changed. Plus, as long as the rename feature is intact (unlike Tales of CRESS KANGAROO), it can be whatever your heart desires~~~

[partical-boi.livejournal.com]

I have never played CT (should I?) but I totally get what you mean... I get so frustrated when games are "remade" for different platforms only to have them appear the same as their original counterparts.

It's just so pointless. Especially on a fantastic little machine like the DS. Which has every option for new features and a total reworking. It's not all about graphics.

[slimequest.livejournal.com]

It's considered by many to be one of the greatest, if not THE greatest, RPG of all time, so yeah, play it! That's why I'm not totally disapproving of this port - if it gets people to play the game, that's all that matters. Still, you could download a ROM and enjoy it, too.

[sethimothy.livejournal.com]

It's going to have the PS1 cutscenes in it, I'm told. But yeah, this is akin to the GBA ports, with just enough added content to "make it worthwhile."

[slimequest.livejournal.com]

I was wondering whether they'd at least add those in. If so it'll be the "best" version of CT out there, the PS1 version sans loading times would be pretty nice. Still kind of meh, though.

I'm wondering what if any music changes might take place, if Mitsuda redoes the whole soundtrack or adds in new songs that would bump up my interest level a bit.

[sethimothy.livejournal.com]

Adding some of the cut songs might be good, but the soundtrack in that game is not only classic but stands out to this day. It would be foolish to replace any, and it doesn't sound like they will.

[slimequest.livejournal.com]

They should add in the "Singing Mountain" part of the game that got cut, so that the music could be used. And the 2nd battle theme, because the first one gets pretty stale after a dozen or so playthroughs.

I wonder if the "bonus dungeon" will end up being Singing Mountain or another area that didn't make it into the original, come to think of it.

[minato-arisato.livejournal.com]

I got all of the endings on the Playstation port, so I think it would be a pretty hard sell for me too. Even though there are some reasonable arguments against upgrading the game, it just feels lazy.
That being said, at least more people would try out this game. It's a good chance to meet new fans of the game!