THE DEFINITIVE VERSION OF

CHRONO TRIGGER

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One of the most beloved games of all time. Chrono Trigger boasts a charming cast of characters with a deep and engaging story. It's an absolute classic, and it still holds up today.

RELEASES

SNES - 1995

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PROS:- Original translation
CONS:- Cartridge is getting expensive1)
NOTES:- There is a patch to fix bugs and remove censoring2)

PLAYSTATION - 1999

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PROS:- Anime cut-scenes
CONS:- Load times
- Old localization

NINTENDO DS - 2008

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PROS: - Dual screen layout.
- Arena of Ages exclusive area and mode
CONS: - Expensive
- Small screen size
- Slightly compressed audio
NOTES: - The color scheme is now warmer overall for this and future releases [There is some debate whether or not this was intentional]
- Updated Localization is more accurate, but possibly more bland

MOBILE - 2011

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PROS: - Play on the go
CONS: - Touch controls can be intrusive, and frustrating especially in Death Mountain
- User Interface issues

STEAM - 2018

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PROS: - Nearly matches the DS port in every way
- Can be very inexpensive when on sale
- Still receiving QoL updates as of 2022. 21:9 support
CONS: - UI issues such as font readability
- Unremovable health and ATB bars under the characters

NOTABLE DIFFERENCES

SCREEN LAYOUT

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Example of how developers made use of the DS's dual-screen layout for Chrono Trigger.

CHRONO TRIGGER 21:9 IMAGES

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Images of Chrono Trigger in 21:9 from the PC port.3)

CHRONO TRIGGER COLOR CHANGES

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Here you can see the warmer color tones introduced with the DS version.4)

DEFINITIVE VERSION

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The Nintendo DS release is, hands down, the Definitive Version of Chrono Trigger. It combines the best of all worlds by enhancing the user experience without the draw backs found in other versions such as load times, controls, and UI issues. That being said, it is technically limited to a 4.88“ handheld screen, so unless you have a Nintendo DS/3DS capture card or a hacked console, emulation is your only option when looking to play the Definitive Version of Chrono Trigger on a larger scale. If you think you'd rather experience the original localization, you can always play the SNES version, however, it appears most agree that the updated translation doesn't affect the overall narrative.

After carefully considering all of these benefits with minor drawbacks, Chrono Trigger for Nintendo DS is the game's Definitive Version.

It should be noted that the PC version is slowly creeping up on the throne for this release and should be considered a completely viable alternative to the DS release. While it still has issues the PC port may eventually fix them with future updates.

SUPPLEMENTAL

VIDEOS

CODES & GUIDES

Chrono Trigger DS Cheats and Endings Guide


CITATIONS

1) https://www.racketboy.com/retro/the-rarest-and-most-valuable-super-nintendo-snes-games
2) https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/3147/
3) https://steamcommunity.com/app/613830/discussions/0/5144805327243762875/
4) https://steamcommunity.com/app/613830/discussions/0/1734336452576506589/