So, quick intro before I go into the review. This blog is my way of getting back into old games, which were released back when I was too young to properly understand them or (most likely) not have a chance to play. There are a lot of people who look back on the days before 3D gaming came along with happy memories. But, what about me, a mere 16 year-old? Well, let's see...shall we? If my interest in this carries on, I'll happily review other things that aren't video games, but for now let's just stick with good old video games. Now, to the good stuff... 
Title: Chrono Trigger Published By: Squaresoft Console: SNES Year Released: 1995
Background: Chrono Trigger is considered to be one of the greatest games the SNES has to offer. Squaresoft had a golden period around this time, with Final Fantasy VI and Mario RPG completing the hat-trick. The game has been re-released on the PS1, which also hosted the sequel Chrono Cross, while a DS version is being released later this year (or in 2009 for us Europeans, the first time it's been released in Europe...about time too!). However...is it any good? Does the game live up to it's hype?
One word: Yes.
However, one word would make for a crap review, so let me try to extend this a little more.
Story: The story starts off in a fictional world in the year 1000 A.D., but by the end of the game you will have visited many other time eras, including the Prehistoric, Middle Ages and the Future. The main character is Crono, who remains silent throughout the game. Joining him are; Lucca, a very intelligent inventor, Marle, a princess who wants to escape her father and live freely, Robo, a robot from the future, Frog, a warrior who has been turned into a frog and Ayla, a wild girl from the prehistoric age. For the first half of the game your main enemy is Magus, a powerful Mage who threatens the world. However after you defeat him your main enemy becomes Lavos, a creature who fell from the skies in 65,000,000 B.C. After this Magus can become a member of your party if you wish. However, I won't go too far into the story (trying to keep spoilers to a minimum...'cept the whole Magus thing. I kind of ruined that for you all already...). There are around 12 endings, depending on where you finish the game (oh yes, there are many oppurtunities to finish the game, each one grants you a different ending). The story is strong, it doesn't get tangled up in it's complexity and each of the playable characters are well built up, especially if you take time to do the seven sidequests near the end of the game.
Gameplay: For anyone who has played a SNES-era Final Fantasy game, the controls for movement and battling will be very familiar, which is a good thing. It's nice and simple, anyone can get to grips with it without a problem. Battles are also very similar to Final Fantasy, with the time bars and the box of commands that pops up. The only real difference between the two is that Chrono Trigger doesn't have random encounters (OH, PRAISE THE LORD!) and the screen doesn't change for battles (so no more *shhhhhhooooooooowwwwwwwsshhh* and then you're taken to a generic battleground to fight a monster. No sir, none of that here). So overall, the gameplay is actually better than Final Fantasy (coming from me, this is blasphemy).
Music/Graphics: The music is very strong, many of the songs fit right in with the situation and/or the mood. If you enjoy the game I would suggest listening to the soundtrack, there are songs in the game I could listen to for ages (and have, in fact, just left the game running, motionless, just to listen to a song). For a game that is 13 years old now, the graphics were never going to hold up in comparision. However, the graphics are pretty good for a 2D game, the characters look like people (2D cartoony people... they look like they have arms instead of little spots which is good enough for me).
Criticisms: The game is very clichéd, you have your heroic main character and the allies feature a princess, the "smart one", the wise warrior (who is a frog...okay, maybe not so much...), a robot that learns to have feelings, a prehistoric woman who speaks like a stereotypical cavewoman and the dark mysterious one in a cape. Of course, you also have the main villian who will destroy the world. However, it's easy to look past the clichés while playing the game, as it doesn't seem to effect the enjoyment of the game at all. In further nitpicking, I've seen that the game was very easy and short, but that can be countered with the amount of replayablility that it offers. Other than that, there are no real bad parts to the game.
Final View: Chrono Trigger is extremely enjoyable to play. Final Fantasy fans will love it. People who hate Final Fantasy...will probably hate this game. However, with the good bits outweighing the bad bits the the point you don't take much notice to the bad parts in comparision, it is easily one of the best 2D RPGs I'll ever have the pleasure to play. Possibly THE best.
Rating: 99 dalmations out of 101.
So, that's the first review. Remember, I'm doing this for my enjoyment. However, if someone out there reading this does have something to say about this review, or maybe suggestions for other games (or subjects) to review, then don't hesitate to leave a nice comment*!
* Nasty comments will be punished by death...¬_¬.
