Chrono Trigger
Directed by Takashi Tokita, Yoshinori Kitase, and Akihiko Matsui (1995)
There’s little I can say about Chrono Trigger that hasn’t already been said by voices more poetic than mine, but let me be clear: it’s the best RPG ever made. It’s not just my favorite; it’s the gold standard. Why? Because it marries all of my favorite conceits into one phenomenal narrative—time travel, the fall of Atlantis, magic, the end of the world, and the fight against fate.
These themes are explored with gorgeous pixel art, rich atmosphere, and brilliant design, but none of that would matter without the unforgettable characters. Frog is a cursed knight bent on revenge. Lucca is a genius inventor who accidentally opens a time portal. Marle is a rebellious princess with a strong sense of justice. Robo, a memory-wiped robot from a ruined future, learns what it means to be human. Ayla, a fierce prehistoric warrior, is strength and loyalty personified. And Magus—easily the most compelling character—is a dark sorcerer haunted by a tragic past.
Even Crono, the silent protagonist, is surprisingly endearing. The use of anime-style character portraits felt revolutionary in 1995 and made each party member feel distinct and alive.
The gameplay is pitch-perfect. The Active Time Battle system is engaging, and the ability to see and avoid enemies on the map was a game-changer. Linking up your magic abilities with other members of your party is a unique concept that’s executed flawlessly as well. Then there’s the replayability: after beating the game, you can restart with all your levels and abilities in a New Game+ mode, aiming for one of over ten different endings.
And then there’s Lavos, one of the most chilling villains in any game. An alien parasite that crashed into Earth millions of years ago, wiping out the dinosaurs and setting the stage for human evolution. When Lavos erupts from the Earth’s crust in 1999, it brings about the end of the world. It’s up to our teenage time travelers to prevent that apocalypse by hopping across the eras, rewriting history itself.
The atmosphere is second to none. It’s not just a magical adventure because of the story—it’s because of the music. Yasunori Mitsuda’s soundtrack is simply transcendent. It holds its own with the best in any medium because the Super Nintendo’s sound processor remains the greatest ever made. The score elevates every moment, every battle, and every emotional beat. Try listening to Corridors of Time and not being immediately transported to another time and place in your mind’s eye.
Chrono Trigger is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, unmatched from beginning to end. It’s a timeless masterpiece that I’ll love until my dying day. My only real regret? That it never got a true sequel. But maybe that’s for the best. How can you add to something that’s already perfect?
Rating: A+
