Chrono Trigger

 DS
User Score
9.1

Universal acclaim- based on 814 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 744 out of 814
  2. Mixed: 24 out of 814
  3. Negative: 46 out of 814
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  1. JimG
    Aug 3, 2009
    10
    I don't know how anyone could give this game less than a 9. It is, without a doubt, one of the best RPGs of ALL time. If not, THE best. It's a great DS port of the original with a few newly added additions that is definitely worth the experience and price tag all over again.
  2. cturagot
    Jun 9, 2021
    10
    How can anyone rate this game below a 10 is beyond me. One of the best of all time and forever my favorite
  3. JohnSmith
    Jan 16, 2010
    10
    Brilliant game even back on the SNES. The story was the best part, and the control given to the player to alter the outcome at the ending depending on how much or how little you played beyond the basic soft-cap on the events that HAVE to be completed.
  4. anonymous
    Aug 25, 2009
    8
    Its a good game, really fun and all. but it seems like every critic was just giving it a ten in order to avoid being mauling by feral square enix fans, like fallout 3, its fun, but overrated
  5. Sou_o_Storm
    Dec 20, 2022
    10
    This game is a complete work of art! It didn't do anything wrong at all. Captivating characters, intriguing story, beautifully crafted mechanics, and not to mention the music. Chrono Trigger is definitely one of my favorite games, and I will cherish every ending I get.
  6. ZackS.
    Dec 4, 2008
    10
    I try and like RPG's i really do, but most of the time i get bored with them a few days after i get this. Its either the story starts to waver or you get lost and have no idea were your going. but thats not the case with chrono trigger. Chrono trigger takes place in a alternative universe (OMG NO WAY!) Your main character is chrono, from what i see he is a teenage hero who has to I try and like RPG's i really do, but most of the time i get bored with them a few days after i get this. Its either the story starts to waver or you get lost and have no idea were your going. but thats not the case with chrono trigger. Chrono trigger takes place in a alternative universe (OMG NO WAY!) Your main character is chrono, from what i see he is a teenage hero who has to save the worldd (OMG NO WAY) originol right? well actually it is. Chrono Trigger is a remake of a snes game and back then this was ground breaking stuff. I never played the originol Chrono Trigger but i have always heard about how awesome it was. When i heard of the DS remake i just had to get it. And i wish i hunted down a copy of it for the snes.. and a snes but ya this game is abosulty fantastic. After you start your journey with chronos you meet up with a princess that disguised as a normal person to blend in and excape the castle. (Again OMG NO WAY) After you meet up with her you meet one of your friends who is working on a teleporter. You test it out for her and it works. The princess wants to try it anfter you and from what i understood her amulet reacted to the teleporter and teleported hero into the past. You being the brave hero follow her. You find yourself back in the at the exact same spot you were before. Here you are intoduced to the combat mechanics. The combat mechanics are actually very cool and work very very well. If you ahve ever played Final Fantasy 10-2 you might know how this works better then i can explain it. There is a little bar and you ahve to wait for it to fill up to attack. (OMG THIS IS GROUND BREAKING STUFF) Yes its not turn base suprisingly. When your opponent attacks the bar stops and you have to wait for them to finish. Same if your allies attack. You can have up to 3 allys including chrono who can not be changed out. He always seems to be able to attack quicker then any of your allies and you can use combo attacks with your allies. A example if you use the combo of chrono adn lucca chrono runs up to the enemy and starts spinning his sword around (a move he can already do) But lucca uses her flame thrower and ignits the sword on fire and does burn damage to the enemy. The only down side is that when you try and use items it takes a few seconds to find everything and you feel rushed if you are in a boss battle. The intier game can be played using the touch screen. I found myself going back and fourth between the styles and the buttons. Thats only because im more used to using the buttons but when it comes to battle its best to use the syalus. I have to go (in study hall bell just rung) But before i do let me just say that this is one of the few games i actually finished for the DS. Im not much of a handheld gamer but this game is a classic and classics dont die. They are just reborn.… Expand
  7. darthn8r
    Jul 6, 2012
    8
    Reading the previous reviews, we seem to be split into two camps, those who love this game and have given it 10's, and those who are rating it compared to today's rpg's and a frustrated with the graphics and fighting engine. I'll put myself a bit more towards center here, and agree with the haters that compared to today's standards Chrono Trigger leaves a bit to be desired. However, it'sReading the previous reviews, we seem to be split into two camps, those who love this game and have given it 10's, and those who are rating it compared to today's rpg's and a frustrated with the graphics and fighting engine. I'll put myself a bit more towards center here, and agree with the haters that compared to today's standards Chrono Trigger leaves a bit to be desired. However, it's ridiculous to compare a 17 year old game to Skyrim. I have never played any version of Chrono before this one and am very happy that I checked it out. The story is great, and the graphics and battle system were ground breaking in their day. I would also note that my 4 and 6 year old kids watched me play the entire game, from start to finish, and enjoyed the entire game. I believe that this says a lot about the universal appeal of this time twisting tale.… Expand
  8. Contmuscle
    May 3, 2011
    9
    I just finished this game and it was great. I have never played it before and am not a huge jrpg guy but this one was pretty captivating once it got into the main story line. The story is great but in a "i can appreciate this because its old" story, like a good old movie, instead of a "wow this rivals mass effect" type of great. One thing that can turn off a lot of people is theI just finished this game and it was great. I have never played it before and am not a huge jrpg guy but this one was pretty captivating once it got into the main story line. The story is great but in a "i can appreciate this because its old" story, like a good old movie, instead of a "wow this rivals mass effect" type of great. One thing that can turn off a lot of people is the difficulty, this game was really easy. It actually worked well for me though because I dont play many of these games and the story really is compelling enough to keep you going. One thing that I find written online frequently is that fans of this game have replayed it countless times. I think this is for the story and the sheer amount of stuff you can do and unlock in this game. Without giving anything away there is seriously a lot to do even after you beat it. Overall there is no denying I had a blast and you will too.… Expand
  9. Bunny
    May 14, 2011
    10
    This is one of my favourite games in the world and definitely one of the best RPGs of all time.

    Amazing story, colourful, interesting graphics, awesome music, great battle system...I play it again and again. I love that you can travel through time and the scope of the game is huge, not even just for its time, but by today's standards as well. Great emphasis on exploration , and lots of    This is one of my favourite games in the world and definitely one of the best RPGs of all time.

    Amazing story, colourful, interesting graphics, awesome music, great battle system...I play it again and again. I love that you can travel through time and the scope of the game is huge, not even just for its time, but by today's standards as well. Great emphasis on exploration , and lots of memorable, funny bits. I like that the game's outcomes can change depending on what decisions you make during your journey.

    I live in Australia, moved here in 2006, and besides the DS version you cannot play Chrono Trigger here, as it was not released for other consoles in PAL format. I wanted to play it so much again that I ended up buying a DS just for Chrono Trigger. It's a game that gets in your head.    … Expand
  10. lustrofuria
    Dec 19, 2011
    10
    A excelent combat system and carismatic characters make this a Top game. Good music, Cool magic, good story. I reccomend this game for each rpg player.
  11. OspreyB
    Feb 12, 2012
    10
    As a port, there's little reason to review the game itself, as it already holds its own as one of the best games of all time on the SNES. Chrono Trigger was ahead of its time, it plays more well on the Nintendo DS than it did nearly 20 years ago on its native system. The touch screen controls are intuitive and effective. Not only does the port bring the game to a newer generation, but itAs a port, there's little reason to review the game itself, as it already holds its own as one of the best games of all time on the SNES. Chrono Trigger was ahead of its time, it plays more well on the Nintendo DS than it did nearly 20 years ago on its native system. The touch screen controls are intuitive and effective. Not only does the port bring the game to a newer generation, but it improves the gameplay in every way and contains a few additions and changes. I have nothing less than praise for this masterful rerelease of a classic from Square Enix.… Expand
  12. chronoT
    Sep 5, 2012
    10
    Coming from a RPG fanatic: Chrono Trigger is the best RPG and one of the best, if not THE BEST video game ever created. I cannot stress enough how glad I am and how important it is that I played this game back in 1995. My life is seriously not the same because of it. Chrono Trigger first off did something extremely essential, it made a RPG more "user friendly" and ultimately set the barComing from a RPG fanatic: Chrono Trigger is the best RPG and one of the best, if not THE BEST video game ever created. I cannot stress enough how glad I am and how important it is that I played this game back in 1995. My life is seriously not the same because of it. Chrono Trigger first off did something extremely essential, it made a RPG more "user friendly" and ultimately set the bar for RPGs, even to this day. It is easy to get into and brings on the difficulty progressively. Everything here is so perfect, the graphics, the sounds and music, the characters, the battles, the skills/spells, and any other aspect of this game! You see the enemies you fight, it isn't randomized like in FF, you don't fight while exploring the world map, and battles can either be set on "wait" or "active." This is a nice feature that effects the difficulty. Also, all characters are capable of teamming up with 1 or 2 other characters and pulling off some kick ass double and triple techniques! These make for some of the coolest moves/spells in gaming history. Chrono Trigger for me has the BEST STORY of any game, and I am not just blowing hot air. The story here is absolutely stellar, you will be taken into a mystical world that will touch your emotions. You are literally required to go back and foward in time to save the world, and every step of the way is purely epic. The game has the best flow of any game I've ever played, everything just seems so right and fits together perfectly. I am seriously struggling to find the words and ways of describing the genious behind this game, you really need to check it out for yourself if you never have, I guarantee you won't be disappointed.… Expand
  13. artorras
    Jan 3, 2014
    10
    One of the best games I ever played and definitely my favorite RPG game. Phenomenal soundtrack, dynamic and innovative gameplay, fantastic storytelling, stunning graphics (for the time of course ^ ^), and an engaging and wonderful story, not to mention the more than 10 possible endings that the game offers. With a legend of graphic animations (Akira Toriyama), two geniuses of theOne of the best games I ever played and definitely my favorite RPG game. Phenomenal soundtrack, dynamic and innovative gameplay, fantastic storytelling, stunning graphics (for the time of course ^ ^), and an engaging and wonderful story, not to mention the more than 10 possible endings that the game offers. With a legend of graphic animations (Akira Toriyama), two geniuses of the soundtracks (Nobuo Uematsu and Yasunori Mitsuda), plus the Director of Dragon Quest series (Yuji Horii) and the producer of Final Fantasy series (Hironobu Sakaguchi). I do not have the RIGHT to give a lower rating than 10/10 for Chrono Trigger. PS: Each has their own opinion, feel free to disagree with me. ^ ^… Expand
  14. archonome
    Feb 19, 2014
    10
    Hands down the best RPG game I have ever played in MY LIFE... It was 1995-1996... I was completely obsessed by this game, it would literally make me Nostalgic beyond words when I played.
    Everything about it, the music is beyond legendary, the storyline is absolutely describable good... I cannot explain how this game transports you to another world... Seriously! Please believe the    Hands down the best RPG game I have ever played in MY LIFE... It was 1995-1996... I was completely obsessed by this game, it would literally make me Nostalgic beyond words when I played.
    Everything about it, the music is beyond legendary, the storyline is absolutely describable good... I cannot explain how this game transports you to another world... Seriously! Please believe the ratings, there is NO comparable game out there....NONE , not even FF7.

    I am an old school gamer, I dislike the current trend of dumb down games and I must tell you I would NEVER give a game a 10/10.......EVER.
    This game is justified 10/10. There is no arguing in my mind about it.

    If they revamped the graphics for PS3-PS4 and charged 100$, I would buy it all over again.    … Expand
  15. shinesprites
    Jun 3, 2014
    10
    Pros:
    -Good story line
    -Story makes sense
    -careful character design
    -RPG combat easy to learn
    -Puzzle in a solvable layout
    Cons:
    -Graphics (but can only do so much during the time)
    -May be confusing at certain areas
  16. Schrottplatz00
    Jul 23, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. MY SCORE: 9.6/10 (I round it on Metacritic)

    Almost 20 years later there's nothing much to say about this game that hasn't been said yet. One of my favourites. The amazing time-travelling themed plot drags you in and the smooth RPG gameplay makes it impossible to leave aside. A must have for anyone who like any kind of RPG gaming or any gamer at all. Epic story, awesome atmosphere and one of the best soundtracks ever made for videogames. Of course, being this game made in 1995 makes it obsolete, there's much more new and better graphics and also all kind of gameplay improvement, but the awesome characters, story, soundtrack and all that time-travelling (which I'm really fond of) cover up it's old age.

    I don't recommend this game for anyone that started playing videogames after 2005/2006, since people like this are hard to catch the feeling and the awesomeness of this game!    … Expand
  17. popop
    Oct 21, 2014
    10
    oh god i love this game its the fourth time and im still enjoying it gr8 story perfect character string with a attracting and glueing adventure once u start it you dont wanna end it
  18. night4
    Apr 16, 2016
    10
    I'm biased because I grew up with this game, but it's friggin amazing. The music, characters, combat, etc are fantastic.

    The best thing is that you can combine abilities into dual or triple techs for greater effect. I'm not sure why more games don't have a system like this.
  19. Luigibarqs
    Nov 6, 2010
    9
    One of, if not the greatest 16-bit era RPG title around, with smooth gameplay, A revised english translation for the english version, a large amount of bonus content, minigames, video cutscenes, bonus quests, and multiple alternate endings, what isn't to love about this nostalgic RPG masterpiece which you can now play on the go?

    The graphics for the most part are completely untouched from    One of, if not the greatest 16-bit era RPG title around, with smooth gameplay, A revised english translation for the english version, a large amount of bonus content, minigames, video cutscenes, bonus quests, and multiple alternate endings, what isn't to love about this nostalgic RPG masterpiece which you can now play on the go?

    The graphics for the most part are completely untouched from the origonal version, although some might complain about them looking dated, you have to keep it mind this is a game from the mid 1990s and for that time period, these graphics where considered excellent back then.

    The story is beautifully written and is for the most part, pretty easy to follow, what events you do over the course of the game can change some elements of the story and even which of the multiple endings you get.

    Gameplay is pretty standard for a 1990s RPG with the exception of the action timer and attack combos which where fairly new to RPGs back then but are rather common now.

    The music is beautifully composed and had a lot of effort put into them.
    Some of the music tracks that went unused in the the older versions of this game are now used in the DS version.

    The game has replay value to those willing to replay the game to get all the rare equipment and to see more of the alternate endings.

    If you are a major fan of RPG games or are just curious to see this masterpiece of a game that shows a major step in the evolution of RPG games, I would very much recommend a purchase.    … Expand
  20. JuanpSage
    Aug 23, 2017
    10
    The best RPG game ever made! Unique in every aspect, and revolutionary for his launch age....
    Is a Master piece that hit harder than any other RPG game!
  21. XV_
    Sep 8, 2018
    10
    Chrono Trigger is without a doubt a masterpiece way ahead of its time. It blends perfectly character design, music, story, combat, just everything is nearly perfect and it's not an exaggeration. I loved almost every second of it, I don't believe any review will give the praise it deserves so I think that everyone needs to try this for themselves, be wary that the PS1 version (which was theChrono Trigger is without a doubt a masterpiece way ahead of its time. It blends perfectly character design, music, story, combat, just everything is nearly perfect and it's not an exaggeration. I loved almost every second of it, I don't believe any review will give the praise it deserves so I think that everyone needs to try this for themselves, be wary that the PS1 version (which was the one I played it) has a mildly annoying loading rate at the beginning and the ending of the battles, other than that its a very good port.… Expand
  22. spi280
    Jan 31, 2014
    10
    one of my favourite games ever. an excellent fantasy storyline that uses time travel and doesn't screw it up. tons of endings, great music and some great sprites, this is a game that i absolutely love.
  23. Super_Cloud
    Jan 1, 2016
    10
    Chrono trigger is one of the best game of all time! I played it so many time on snes and when the DS version came out it was a must buy, i think the DS version is the best version out there, the extra to an already legendary game was incredible! I just wish we could have explored 1999 AD in the DS version, it would have been so nice to have more story from that era, the ost is amazing justChrono trigger is one of the best game of all time! I played it so many time on snes and when the DS version came out it was a must buy, i think the DS version is the best version out there, the extra to an already legendary game was incredible! I just wish we could have explored 1999 AD in the DS version, it would have been so nice to have more story from that era, the ost is amazing just like the character from the game, truly one of the best game of all time!… Expand
  24. Aetherion
    Jan 21, 2012
    10
    Possibly one of the all time greats in terms of RPG goodness. If you think that the character design looks a bit like shows like Dragonball Z or Blue Dragon, you'd be correct in thinking so, as it's the same character designer. What really made this game great was it's ability to travel through time, it's fan-favourite unique characters, and the catchy music from a golden era of RPGPossibly one of the all time greats in terms of RPG goodness. If you think that the character design looks a bit like shows like Dragonball Z or Blue Dragon, you'd be correct in thinking so, as it's the same character designer. What really made this game great was it's ability to travel through time, it's fan-favourite unique characters, and the catchy music from a golden era of RPG gaming. Any fans of the RPG genre will fall in love with this, and those who loved this game in the past will still love this even now, though don't except a whole lot of difference.… Expand
  25. Gainrrom
    Jan 24, 2011
    10
    I guess everything has been said about this game already... I'"ll merely say that I've been playing it again after finishing it back in 2005... and it still hasn't lost its charm. If you haven't checked it out yet, what are you waiting for? Go ahead!
  26. Nurv
    Jan 26, 2011
    10
    Chrono Trigger is undoubtedly one of the best RPG's of all time, from it's excellent battle system to tricky boss battles, and interesting story. For those of you who missed it on the SNES like I did, I advise you do not miss it on the DS.
  27. Conscience
    Mar 9, 2011
    9
    This game has a wonderful pacing to the story through whole game (excluding recent DS additions, which were tedious and boring). It kept me engaged for the whole, long story.

    Simplified towns reduce 'boring' exploration, and the characters were interesting and had just enough personality in their dialog that you could get a good feel for them in a little amount of time. The short lines    This game has a wonderful pacing to the story through whole game (excluding recent DS additions, which were tedious and boring). It kept me engaged for the whole, long story.

    Simplified towns reduce 'boring' exploration, and the characters were interesting and had just enough personality in their dialog that you could get a good feel for them in a little amount of time. The short lines spoken by your NPCs during cutscenes really help flesh out the characters and engagement, but more character interactions (like Dragon Age or Tales of Symphonia) would be nice. But hey, this is a rather old game -- I can overlook that.

    The time travel element played past experience well & instantly engaged you in new areas, as you wonder what has changed between the different times, and why.

    The combat system is simple yet effective. Item management was simple and unobtrusive. Standard JRPG fare, but well done. The story and world are the main attraction. Multiple endings were a nice touch.    … Expand
  28. DarTheStrange
    Apr 20, 2011
    10
    I consider this game to be without doubt one of the greatest ever created. It contains absolutely everything anyone could want from an RPG, or simply a game in general - interesting, deep characters, an utterly engaging story throughout, a unique setting, gorgeous sprites and backgrounds, a very entertaining battle system, and probably the best musical score a game has ever had.
    Obviously,    I consider this game to be without doubt one of the greatest ever created. It contains absolutely everything anyone could want from an RPG, or simply a game in general - interesting, deep characters, an utterly engaging story throughout, a unique setting, gorgeous sprites and backgrounds, a very entertaining battle system, and probably the best musical score a game has ever had.
    Obviously, as with everything, there are some minor flaws - on occasion, for example, when an enemy dies in battle the game will auto-target another in a way which makes no sense, and the anime cutscenes (which, I should add, are completely optional) feel somewhat out of place. But really, those are the only negative things one can possibly say about such a glorious experience, and they are so insignificant in the face of everything else in the game that it feels cruel even to mention that they exist.
    To those who are interested, but for whatever reason have not bought the game yet - buy it. I cannot see that there is any room for disappointment.    … Expand
  29. drlowdon
    Aug 3, 2013
    8
    Originally released on the Super Nintendo in 1995 this, slightly enhanced, DS remake yet again demonstrates exactly why Chrono Trigger is considered a classic of the genre.

    It is worth mentioning from the start that if you played the SNES or PSone version you will find very little new here aside from a few touchscreen features and extra options. Despite this Chrono Trigger still stands    Originally released on the Super Nintendo in 1995 this, slightly enhanced, DS remake yet again demonstrates exactly why Chrono Trigger is considered a classic of the genre.

    It is worth mentioning from the start that if you played the SNES or PSone version you will find very little new here aside from a few touchscreen features and extra options. Despite this Chrono Trigger still stands the test of time admirably in large part thanks to the brilliantly told story that puts most modern efforts to shame. Anyone who has played any of the earlier entries in the Final Fantasy series will know what to expect in terms of gameplay. Setting out to save the world you soon run into like minded people happy to join your quest and building a balanced party is, as ever, key to success.

    Player initiated and random turn based battles are present but do not occur too often allowing the game to maintain a good pace throughout. Add to this a large(ish) world map that the player is free to explore as well as thirteen possible endings and it is hard to believe that this game is nearly two decades old.    … Expand
  30. IHateFanboys
    Feb 6, 2013
    10
    A remake of perhaps my favorite game ever. I spent more time playing through every ending of this game than I have ever spent on any other game. I enjoyed every minute of it then and now. The characters are classic and beloved.
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best DS Game of 2008
1
#1 Most Discussed DS Game of 2008
1
#1 Most Shared DS Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
92

Universal acclaim - based on 57 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 57 out of 57
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 57
  3. Negative: 0 out of 57
  1. GamePro
    100
    Regardless of whether you played it already or are new to the series, you owe it to yourself to check out this amazing title. [Dec 2008, p.97]
  2. Nintendo Power
    90
    Despite my criticisms, Chrono Trigger is an amazing adventure and a required purchase for ardent fans and anyone who's never played the game before. [Holiday 2008, p.82]
  3. IGN
    88
    The game is virtually unchanged in its core, having a new script re-write, but retaining the visuals, music, character designs, interface styles, and options of the source material. At the same time, Square Enix also ensures that this is the definitive version of Chrono Trigger out there, as the game comes complete with every option you could ever want for touch vs. button control, two or single screen display, or game pacing and difficulty.
    Read full review
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