Chrono Trigger...
This pearl of the RPG released on Super Nintendo... I no longer count the number of games I've done on this game without ever finishing it, stopping just after the final boss beaming so as not to spoil this legend by giving it a end. It was a total depression everywhere on Earth when the continuation of this formidable universe planned on Playstation 1 was seen refusing an official European release in November 1999, thus causing the bug of the year 2000 and the end of the world so much announced (it is my test, I'll rewrite history if I want to!).
Fortunately, after making a wish with Shenron, brave and courageous heroes made it possible to bring back this sequel in the name of Chrono Trigger in 2022, putting the world back in its original course, but no less without consequences.
So let's begin, in memory of their sacrifice, the test of this long-awaited remaster.
You are Serge, a teenager pretty much like the others except that he has the particularity of being alive. Because yes, it is a serious problem given that you will find yourself propelled into a parallel world where you are dead and in which your presence is not very well seen by fanatics in search of immeasurable power. Along your search for truth, you will meet many allies from your world or the Other World who will join your group, however composed only of three active characters at a time. Depending on the participants in an event, things may look different and the game will then take a different turn. Admittedly, it may not change much, but who knows what it will lead to? The game plays out like a classic J-RPG of the era with its world map, locations to explore where the story, dialogues and combat take place. But before talking about it in depth, let's take a little detour on the technical side.
This Chrono Cross is by no means a remake like FF VII or Trials of Mana, but rather an HD remaster like Final Fantasy VIII tested some time ago. And since the two games were at the time developed on the same principle (and probably with the same game engine) of 3D characters who evolve on sets in 2D images, it is not surprising, although disappointing, to end up with the same worries of switching to HD, namely scenery that drools badly. The characters are clean and smooth, creating a rather severe contrast with the backgrounds. There are also options that have become standardized on this kind of HD remaster and can be activated on the fly, such as slowing down or speeding up the game to compensate for the slow staging of the time.
For all those who were expecting gameplay in line with the excellent Chrono Trigger, you, like me, will be a little disconcerted by the combat system. Not that it's bad, but because it's a bit complicated to explain and understand without having a controller in your hands. We have a hybrid turn-based/real-time system where you will be able to perform up to multiple actions per turn. Indeed, each of your characters has a stamina bar that will be consumed for each action (carried out according to classic menus of the genre) depending on the nature of the latter, thus allowing combos. Once this gauge is empty, negative or insufficient to perform an action, your turn ends and it's the next character's turn. The enemies, they do not perform several actions on their turn, but can act during your turn if theirs happened. When a character attacks, the stamina gauge of his allies increases by one or more units depending on the number consumed by the attack made. And tell yourself that we just talked about the simple part of the combat system.
Because apart from the classic attacks with your weapons, the system of objects and magic will be destabilizing...
Each character thus has slots of elements on which you will place your characters, a bit like the materias of Final Fantasy VII. The number of slots as well as its level will evolve as this character reaches certain levels. Items (that's their in-game name) will slot into any of the slots, but inserting an item into a lower level slot will weaken the item by that many levels difference. Conversely, equipping an item on a higher slot will empower the skill/attack/item. Each element will be usable only once per fight, provided that your attack level, which will rise by attacking with a weapon, is sufficient.
Alright, are you following?
Because there are still Elemental mechanics (fire, water, electricity, grass, light and darkness.) to add to all that. Indeed, all characters, enemies included, will have an affinity with an Element and will therefore have a weakness to the opposing Element as a reinforcement to that of their alignment. Each element (and object) is also affiliated with an Element. Throwing it will fill a third of the battlefield with its essence. If each of these thirds is filled with the same Element, the area becomes conducive to this Element and will reinforce the effects of the latter. The whole thing may seem complicated but once a few fights have been carried out, the whole thing is assimilated with disconcerting ease. But here it is... the game, as interesting as it is in terms of gameplay and scenario, has time, especially in terms of rhythm and staging specific to the period in which it was released. Nowadays, the game has aged a little badly but remains very interesting due to its plethora of protagonists, its complex and fascinating story a little tainted by a French translation that is a little too "fresh" - but still welcome - as well as its combat system, which even if it lacks fluidity, is nonetheless addictive.
But honestly, if you're a fan of turn-based J-RPGs, you're probably already playing it, this title is so legendary, for good reason, and so I've been talking in a vacuum since at least the end of the year. intro!
- Xbox One - 19,99€
- PlayStation 4 - 19,99€
- Nintendo Switch - 19,99€
- PC (Steam) - 19,99€
