- Joined
- Jul 18, 2016
Hell yeah, Kiwis. In what universe could the people behind Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Dragon Ball come together to produce a game that still holds up to the modern day? This universe, that's the one, and every parallel universe that doesn't have it is slightly shittier for it.
Much like FF4 and, well, every FF game after it (except for 10, notably), Chrono Trigger has Active Time Battle. I choose Wait, so that I can essentially pause the game by using the menus and so I can write when I need to, even in the middle of battle.
We get a chance to rename Chrono, and I decide to name him Goku. I will admit he looks more like Vegeta with a smug grin (so, Vegeta), but he does die and get resurrected (sort of) part way through so Goku fits.
By the way, no spoiler warnings.
Like many good JRPG protagonists, we wake up in our room, our mother Jina badgering Goku to wake up. I was searching for any trace of the "Good Morning, Chrono" line and ended up not finding it. That may have only been a thing in Chrono Cross or maybe it's the translation I have, fuck if I know.
Current Music: Peaceful Days
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_yYFWx8-Mk
We're told there's a fair going on, and it sounds like a good idea to go there! Amazing how we get a chance to dick around first...
The world map is, well, this. It pays to dick around, there's all kinds of tutorials and even a Tonic (potion) plus 100G in the Mayor's house, as well as a bunch of NPCs willing to talk everywhere else. We can also go and explore some of the world, but for now, let's head to the fair.
It's at the Millenial Fair that I make a discovery-I'm using some sort of ROM that has a bunch of weird translations for things, just as calling the Karate Gi a "Dougi". A quick trip to Emuparadise later to get the actual ROM instead of just assuming this one was good, and we spend some time as I get back to where I was. It turns out the original cut of Chrono Trigger does have "Good Morning, Chrono". That's how you know it's authentic, accept no substitutes!
At the fair, we run into (as in, physically bump into) a girl whose pendant goes flying. She thinks she's lost it, but it's just hidden behind the massive text box. We grab the pendant and give it to her, and she asks if she can come with us for a while. Well, she's cute enough, why not?
We can also name her, and for reasons that will soon become apparent, I call her "Leene". I also named Lucca "Bulma", because I can.
There's a few things to do at the fair, like returning a cat to its owner, doing a button mashing drinking contest, participate in a tribal dance, eating some poor bastard's lunch, offering to sell Leene's pendant to a travelling smith, oh and also...
Fighting a giant robot for carnival points. This place really does have it all.
This is our first taste of combat and it doesn't take place in some weird alternate dimension, it takes place on the field. In fact, every enemy in Chrono Trigger is represented on the maps themselves, though sometimes they're hidden until you do something. In battle, people's gauges slowly fill, and then you give them a command-attack normally, use a technique of some kind, or use an item. Techniques are the catch all term for special moves, up to and including magical attacks. They consume MP. Positioning is important, if a technique has a range, then enemies within that range will all be hit. Getting the most for your MP is an important thing to learn in Chrono Trigger.
We head back to see Bulma's new science invention, but before that, Leene wants some candy. Also, you have to do some stuff at the fair before the game will let you proceed, I don't know the exact trigger, but the game is forcing you to dick around for a while before it lets you go on.
Leene will actually take you over to the candy stand. DO NOT MOVE AWAY and just let the few seconds it takes her to get something run. The reason for this is that Chrono Trigger acknowledges that your partners seem to be handcuffed too you, and if you move away Leene will tell you to stop. She will also say things that will end up screwing you over somewhat later.
Once she has her candy, it's time to move on.
So the invention is a teleporter. I'm sure this can't go wrong. Goku volunteers and it goes reasonably well, but when Leene tries it...
Now you're thinking with portals!
Leene's gone, the pendant is left behind, and the show is cancelled. We, of course, have to make Goku live up to his impulsive predecessor Sun Wukong, and go after her. This requires grabbing the Pendant, a key item with such insane significance that only gets revealed in the end game. Like the Lute from FF1, if you remember back that far.
We land in a strange new world. Not picture: The Blue Imps that immediately jumped me.
We have to find our way to the world map and we are occasionally jumped by monsters. Don't worry, most die in one hit, those that don't die in 2. There's also some small items to get as well, like a PowerGlove which increases physical power by 2. It's not so bad. Goku's current accessory increases Speed by 1, but the power is more useful.
Say, the new world looks a lot like the old one, huh?
Next time: Where (and when) the hell are we? Where is Leene? Will Bulma follow us like she promised? Next time, on Chrono Trigger Z!
