At the height of the millennium bug hysteria, Squaresoft created this interesting game. But what happens in 1999 cannot be solved with coding...

Graphics: 9/10

I would have given a 10 but there is one negative side for the graphs: the overworld map. It's been overly simplified and your characters barely look obese. However, natural elements (houses, castles, forests, etc.) are very-well drawn. Also, the overworld is realistic; there is snow everywhere in 12,000 B.C. (and a raging snowstorm), the climate is hot and tropical 65,000,000 B.C. and the Future (2300 A.D.) has the appropriate setting with its high-tech civilization.

But when in “battle-prone” environment, the graphics are easily in the top-3 of the 16-bits era. All characters are finely drawn with human-like measurements (unlike Final Fantasy). You can see their clothes, their hair and their accessories (glasses, pony tail, cape...). Non playing characters also have nice drawings, although they inevitably look like each other as usual.

Speaking of battle, there is no transition between normal and battle screen, which I found enjoyable – in games like Final Fantasy VII, it takes 5-10 seconds before you can enter your first command. You attack/get attack directly and the moves are realistic. Magic is outstanding and pushes the SNES capacities to its limits – magics like Ice 2, Flare and Luminaire use pretty much all the screen. Speaking of magic, there are many combination attacks available, all of which are well-drawn.

Music: 10/10

The soundtrack was composed by Square's other music genius, Yasunori Mitsuda. To this day, Chrono Trigger is still in my top-5 soundtracks.

Each of the six major era you visit has a distinctive theme that is appropriate. For example, the theme for Prehistory consists of primitive drums (although I personally think Ayla's theme to be a little anachronistic), whereas the theme of the Future has the appropriate tone. Tracks there are also futuristic enough like the one inside the Plant you must deactivate to travel back in time or Robo's theme.

Battle-related tracks are also excellent. The regular battle theme is one of the best ever, the “major” boss battle theme (against Masa and Mune) is quite epic and so is the first part of the last battle.

Finally, sound effects are also excellent. Each weapon has distinctive sounds; Chrono's and Frog's weapons don't sound the same since they are different. Magic too sounds good; I still love how Flare sounds.

Addictiveness: 9/10

If you don't get hooked on this game, then you simply aren't into RPGs :p

Although I admit that the sidequests don't flow as well as Final Fantasy VI – they are clustered towards the end – they are interesting nonetheless. They give you very strong weapons and make you learn a little more about the characters.

Since you travel in time, you have to pick up your treasures wisely. Pick them in 1000 A.D. BEFORE picking them up in 600 B.C. in order to get both. Or sometimes, you can upgrade your armors by picking them at different eras.

Those sidequests also include getting special rocks that let you do more triple attacks. Those are harder to find, so open your eyes.

Story: 10/10

The scenario in Chrono Trigger is one of the most original of all times.

You start in 1000 A.D. where the Kingdom of Guardia celebrates the new millennium. As you go visit you friend Lucca's new invention, you accidentally bump into “Marle”, a young girl who seem familiar... When you reach Lucca, she shows her teletransporter. But when Marle tries it, she vanishes! You try catching up... and end up in 600 A.D.! Will you be able to save this mysterious girl? Who is she? Why are there time gates?

Depth: 10/10

Beyond the excellent main story line, there is logical continuity in the game; whatever you do in the past affects future eras. That was well thought-off.

For example, in one of the sidequests you need to let the sun stone rest for millions of years. Unfortunately it gets stolen and the thief doesn't admit it! So maybe, just maybe, you want to visit his house in the past and influence his great-great-great-great-grandmother into teaching her children well...

With respect to the main storyline now, when you save Marle, the Chancellor in 600 A.D. claims that the kingdom needs a judicial system. When you warp back, this judicial system gets you in big trouble...

Another example relates to Medina village. When you defeat Magus, Ozzie simply takes his spot as the deity of the village, and prices go down a little. But if you manage to kill him, prices will go down further than almost any place at any time!

Difficulty: 6/10

Even for RPG experts, this game can prove to be a challenge. Many bosses have elemental defense, so you need to have the right people. Magus, for example, changes his barriers whenever you attack him. If you don't use the right spell, he absorbs the damage. Others like Nizbel are weak to thunder but absorb a certain percentage, releasing it thereafter.

There is also real-time action unlike most RPGs. In the future era, you have to cross ruins where rats roam around and can steal you. You also have to beat someone at a moto race if you don't want to cross a highway full of mutants. Finally, one of the sidequests of the future consists of escalating a mountain where howling winds can blow you of the surface! I remember having to try it again and again...

Finally, Magus' Castle is full of traps and dangerous monsters. Be prepare to fall into many traps and fight quite a bit.

On the plus side, most random fights are avoidable as you simply need to avoid triggering the enemy. For example, in the forest of the present there are mushrooms that you will fight if you touch them. You just need to walk around them to avoid them.

In short, any RPG lovers has to try this masterpiece. The graphics and music were astounding for the time, the storyline will keep you hooked and you will find that the scenario was very well thought-of. You will want to do all the sidequests in order to learn more about the characters, or even about the enemies.