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

[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.