Chrono Trigger’s trial is still absolutely brilliant

destructoid.com:

Time is a curious thing. It can strengthen bonds or ideas, but it can also smooth out the edges and bumps we might not overlook today. It makes going back to older and influential games like Chrono Trigger an interesting prospect, as playing the classic in 2023 can be its own little window in time, to see the impact of something right at the moment it hit. And the trial of Chrono Trigger did not disappoint.

It’s not an overstatement to say Chrono Trigger has had a profound effect on the general gaming landscape. In fact, playing it nowadays, I can see all the ways in which games have paid homage and been inspired by it, even in the opening moments.

I’m in a bit of a unique position: I’ve never played Chrono Trigger. This is my first time experiencing this gem, after enough curiosity and jabs from friends convinced me this was something I needed to experience. I also know next-to-nothing about this role-playing classic, aside from a few back-of-the-box highlights: time travel, Akira Toryiama designs, RPG battles, and at some point, I was going to jail.

You might think it’s bizarre I could go so long without playing this game. I counter with this: I get to play Chrono Trigger for the first time, something people who have played Chrono Trigger never get to do again. That’s all good for me.

But seriously, I knew a trial scene was going to happen. I had seen a screenshot of it before. I figured it must be an endgame thing, looking back at my journey. Not only was I delighted to be wrong, but incredibly impressed with what actually happens instead.

Famously, Chrono Trigger opens with protagonist Crono going to the Millennial Fair. Everyone’s celebrating the 1000th year of the kingdom of Guardia. Dotted all around are different