Wow, necromancing much?
For some reason, I feel like I need to have a 500-word essay in order to post anything. Which means I put it off, and because of that it's been months since my last post. Sorry to those who commented, I'll try to stay more active now!
I've been busy with school and work and such, but that's the sort of thing you'd discuss on Facebook, not Livejournal. So instead...
My main game recently has been Chrono Trigger. I picked up the DS version because I heard this was a classic game, and now it's one of my favorites. I finished the game itself long ago, but I'm still working on 100% completion like the RPG nerd I am.
Chrono Trigger, if you don't know, first came out on the SNES around the same time as Final Fantasy VI. The gameplay revolves around traveling though several different time periods in order to defeat one of the baddest bosses ever to grace the screen.
The game itself has a slow start, and it doesn't really shine until this ultimate boss is revealed, several hours in. If you can hold on that long, it just gets better from there. Battles are fast and revolve around special abilities called "techs". These techs cover both physical and magical abilities, and your teammates can combine techs for more powerful moves. This is definetly a tight, fast game. The story, though unique, is pretty simple; and the game is easy enough that leveling isn't really needed. Likely the bosses are the only real challenge, but the gentle challenge is refreshing.
Speaking of bosses, what's unique about the end boss is that you can challenge him just a few hours into the game, before you've seen most of the game content and story. Unless you've seriously overleveled, you won't actually be able to /beat/ the boss until you've finished the rest of the game. But Chrono Trigger has a nicely-implemented New Game +, which lets you carry items and experience over to a new game. With this, you can challenge and defeat the end boss much earlier than normal. There are 13 different endings depending on when you chose to do the end fight. These endings provide most of the bonus content, but there's also some sidequests to do.
If you're wondering how this DS version compares with earlier releases, the DS version has:
-All the content of the SNES, with retranslated script
-The bonus content in the Playstation X release (anime cutscenes, music player, gallery, etc)
-Two new dungeons, both rather long
-New items/equipment
-An arena where you can enter a monster you train for prizes
-An additional ending meant to tie in with Chrono Cross
My favorite era/ time period is 12000 BC. If you've played the game you know why. I just wish you could see more of it. And my favorite character is Magus, since he has twice the backstory of anyone. Not only is he and his story cool, but the way he's presented is a show of good technique. What you know about this character is slowly added too and altered that by the end of the game, you realize that you have no idea /who/ this guy really is. He's an enigma, through and through.
I've also gone on to purchase Chrono Cross, the "spiritual successor" to Chrono Trigger. From what I hear, the two games are so different that rarely does the same person enjoy both, but I think Chrono Cross is pretty fun too. Course the story is obtuse, but that's sorta typical for JRPGs.
I even downloaded a rom of "Radical Dreamers", the prototype of Chrono Cross, which is a suspense text-adventure game. If you don't like Chrono Cross, then Radical Dreamers might better fit your idea of a Chrono Cross sequel. The dialogue in that game-! Even if you don't download it, take a look at the (fan-translated) script here http://www.gamefaqs.com/snes/579136-radical-dreamers/faqs/31544
Of course, that's not the /only/ things I've been doing or playing these past months. But there's so little Chrono Trigger discussion out there, I thought I'd put in my two cents.
I've been busy with school and work and such, but that's the sort of thing you'd discuss on Facebook, not Livejournal. So instead...
My main game recently has been Chrono Trigger. I picked up the DS version because I heard this was a classic game, and now it's one of my favorites. I finished the game itself long ago, but I'm still working on 100% completion like the RPG nerd I am.
Chrono Trigger, if you don't know, first came out on the SNES around the same time as Final Fantasy VI. The gameplay revolves around traveling though several different time periods in order to defeat one of the baddest bosses ever to grace the screen.
The game itself has a slow start, and it doesn't really shine until this ultimate boss is revealed, several hours in. If you can hold on that long, it just gets better from there. Battles are fast and revolve around special abilities called "techs". These techs cover both physical and magical abilities, and your teammates can combine techs for more powerful moves. This is definetly a tight, fast game. The story, though unique, is pretty simple; and the game is easy enough that leveling isn't really needed. Likely the bosses are the only real challenge, but the gentle challenge is refreshing.
Speaking of bosses, what's unique about the end boss is that you can challenge him just a few hours into the game, before you've seen most of the game content and story. Unless you've seriously overleveled, you won't actually be able to /beat/ the boss until you've finished the rest of the game. But Chrono Trigger has a nicely-implemented New Game +, which lets you carry items and experience over to a new game. With this, you can challenge and defeat the end boss much earlier than normal. There are 13 different endings depending on when you chose to do the end fight. These endings provide most of the bonus content, but there's also some sidequests to do.
If you're wondering how this DS version compares with earlier releases, the DS version has:
-All the content of the SNES, with retranslated script
-The bonus content in the Playstation X release (anime cutscenes, music player, gallery, etc)
-Two new dungeons, both rather long
-New items/equipment
-An arena where you can enter a monster you train for prizes
-An additional ending meant to tie in with Chrono Cross
My favorite era/ time period is 12000 BC. If you've played the game you know why. I just wish you could see more of it. And my favorite character is Magus, since he has twice the backstory of anyone. Not only is he and his story cool, but the way he's presented is a show of good technique. What you know about this character is slowly added too and altered that by the end of the game, you realize that you have no idea /who/ this guy really is. He's an enigma, through and through.
I've also gone on to purchase Chrono Cross, the "spiritual successor" to Chrono Trigger. From what I hear, the two games are so different that rarely does the same person enjoy both, but I think Chrono Cross is pretty fun too. Course the story is obtuse, but that's sorta typical for JRPGs.
I even downloaded a rom of "Radical Dreamers", the prototype of Chrono Cross, which is a suspense text-adventure game. If you don't like Chrono Cross, then Radical Dreamers might better fit your idea of a Chrono Cross sequel. The dialogue in that game-! Even if you don't download it, take a look at the (fan-translated) script here http://www.gamefaqs.com/snes/579136-radical-dreamers/faqs/31544
Of course, that's not the /only/ things I've been doing or playing these past months. But there's so little Chrono Trigger discussion out there, I thought I'd put in my two cents.