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Really LTTP: Chrono Trigger DS or SNES (virtual console)????

H

hlhbk

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I am 33 years old, had a Super Nintendo at launch and never have played Chrono Trigger. I own both the DS copy (which I would play on my 3ds XL) and the Wii VC SNES version. Which version should I play?
 
DS has a lot more content, and it's also portable, so I'd go with that. But really as long as you aren't playing it on a Playstation console, you'll be doing fine.
 
The DS port is perfect. Can't speak for the VC version though. I will double dip if people speak positively on that port.
 
I prefer the SNES/VC version, but that's mainly because I don't really like handhelds. But both are fine. The DS version does have some new content not found in other versions.
 
Either way works, really. DS version has extra content, though your mileage may vary on the quality of it. And it's portable, on top of that.

The relatively minor differences between the two versions from a technical standpoint wouldn't really matter to anyone whose never played the game before, I'd say.
 
Well, the Virtual Console version is exactly like the SNES version, plus you can play it on a TV.

The DS version is portable, has the Playstation FMVs, has additional dungeons and a new ending.
 
Depends if you prefer playing on a console or a handheld really. Extra content of the DS version is garbage and the snes version has more screen real estate I think.

Either way both versions are great.
 
DS has cutscenes, a new translation, extra content (that may or may not be your cup of tea), a new ending.

VC is the original, which you can play on your TV. Either way it's fine, but it's up to you to decide if you want a handheld or console version.

Just... stay clear of the PlayStation version.
 
Do you want to play it on a handheld or on a console ?

The extra content of the DS version is nice, but abslutely not essential. Both are pretty much perfect.

Edit: I played it on the DS for the first time, handheld games are just more convenient for me.
 
The DS version is my favorite game of all time, you can't go wrong with it. That being said, I'm very tempted to buy an old projection TV and hook it up, it seems like it would be fun to play it 90's style...
 
These days, I like to play the Super NES version on an emulator with whatever PC controller I find most convenient at the time (right now it's Xbox One). I no longer own a television that I can connect my SNES to.

Big screen for your first time is the way to go, so I say Wii U VC. DS version is incredible, easily worth replaying the game on.

Please play Chrono Trigger.
 
Altazor said:
Just... stay clear of the PlayStation version.
Click to expand...

The Playstation version is fine. Not nearly as good as the ds or the snes version but it will do in a pinch. If you have a psp go, the fast disc read option makes it roughly comparable. Still the worst of the 3 but it's not like it is ff9 slow
 
DS has more content.

SNES version allows to play on a big screen, though. And this game DESERVES to be played on a big screen.
 
The SNES VC version has better sound (obviously) but that's about it. I say go for the DS version for increased comfort since you already own both anyway.
 
Man I was a Megadrive/Genesis kid, so when I played it for the first time on DS I had never heard of Chrono Trigger before. Had a great fucking experience with it
 
DS has all the content...and it has a map on the bottom screen that's highly underrated in these discussions.

SNES has proper Frog speak tho
 
New translation in the DS one is a pretty big bullet point really. Though some may say it loses a bit of the charm of the original, it's certainly more accurate.

The new DS content isn't SUPER compelling, but running the game with 1:1 pixel mapping on a DS screen makes it look pretty nice, vs SNES resolution on an HDTV. Though if you don't force it to run 1:1 on your XL it'll look pretty blurry. Having it on a TV with the potential of nice speakers is certainly a draw though.

DS version includes the anime cutscenes from the PlayStation edition, but it could be argued that they're a bit redundant, and remove some of the more classic old school feel.

Can't go wrong either way when it comes down to it.
 
The DS extra content doesn't make up for being able to play on a bigger screen and with speakers, so I say virtual console.
 
ViewtifulJC said:
DS has all the content...and it has a map on the bottom screen that's highly underrated in these discussions.

SNES has proper Frog speak tho
Click to expand...
Personally, I like Frog better without his dialect.

DS version all the way, for all the reasons everyone else has mentioned.
 
I'm not familiar with the PS1 version's problems, what was terrible about it? The game never came out here for the SNES, it was something I always intended to import (played it via emulation many years ago) but had seen it recently on the US PS store and considered getting it. Mainly out of the surprise as had no idea it even released on that platform.
 
Mr Git said:
I'm not familiar with the PS1 version's problems, what was terrible about it? The game never came out here for the SNES, it was something I always intended to import (played it via emulation many years ago) but had seen it recently on the US PS store and considered getting it. Mainly out of the surprise as had no idea it even released on that platform.
Click to expand...
Extremely long loading time relative to the other versions.
 
Mr Git said:
I'm not familiar with the PS1 version's problems, what was terrible about it? The game never came out here for the SNES, it was something I always intended to import (played it via emulation many years ago) but had seen it recently on the US PS store and considered getting it. Mainly out of the surprise as had no idea it even released on that platform.
Click to expand...
Buggy. Hard coded load times. Slowdown during boss fights. Its trash.

My vote would be vc.
 
Mr Git said:
I'm not familiar with the PS1 version's problems, what was terrible about it? The game never came out here for the SNES, it was something I always intended to import (played it via emulation many years ago) but had seen it recently on the US PS store and considered getting it. Mainly out of the surprise as had no idea it even released on that platform.
Click to expand...

Oh God, the mind numbingly long wait times. I started on it and never finished. I lost my Wii save file so I started over on the DS. It's good but there's parts of me that just want to start over on my Wii since I got a Super Famicom Controller and it's amazing...
 
Mr Git said:
I'm not familiar with the PS1 version's problems, what was terrible about it? The game never came out here for the SNES, it was something I always intended to import (played it via emulation many years ago) but had seen it recently on the US PS store and considered getting it. Mainly out of the surprise as had no idea it even released on that platform.
Click to expand...

Load times and some other issues. It's the worst version out there, but it's still playable.
 
hwy_61 said:
The DS port is perfect. Can't speak for the VC version though. I will double dip if people speak positively on that port.
Click to expand...
There are basically no problems with any virtual console games. Wii u displays them a bit dark, that's about it.
 
I prefer the translation and menus in the SNES version. The DS version is fine too, but it lacks a lot of the charm found in the original. As for the extra content, it's mostly rom-hack quality fluff. You're not missing much by passing on it.

That said, I'm kind of envious of your position. I would love to be able to experience any version of Chrono Trigger again for the first time.
 
I think I prefer the SNES/VC version. It's not the best comparison since I played them a decade apart, but I remember the DS version feeling more cramped. Also, the PS1 cutscenes in the DS version sort of look cool, but they clash with the feeling of the rest of the game. I preferred the original in-game cutscenes. That said, both versions are good for a first time player. Pick which style of gaming you prefer. TV or handheld.
 
TheMoon said:
The SNES VC version has better sound (obviously) but that's about it. I say go for the DS version for increased comfort since you already own both anyway.
Click to expand...
The sound is identical. Mitsuda himself supervised that aspect.

However, DS speakers are shit, so headphones are needed for best experience.

Remember this wasn't the GBA, which gimped many SNES ports sound wise.
 
I played the shit out of Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross. Can someone tell me in spoiler tags how the new ending of Chrono Trigger DS connects to and apparently spoils Chrono Cross? Thanks!
 
Tathanen said:
New translation in the DS one is a pretty big bullet point really. Though some may say it loses a bit of the charm of the original, it's certainly more accurate.

The new DS content isn't SUPER compelling, but running the game with 1:1 pixel mapping on a DS screen makes it look pretty nice, vs SNES resolution on an HDTV. Though if you don't force it to run 1:1 on your XL it'll look pretty blurry. Having it on a TV with the potential of nice speakers is certainly a draw though.

DS version includes the anime cutscenes from the PlayStation edition, but it could be argued that they're a bit redundant, and remove some of the more classic old school feel.

Can't go wrong either way when it comes down to it.
Click to expand...

I am unclear what you mean in the bolded. How do you force this on a ds? What is it on a ds?
 
littlegrasshopper said:
I played the shit out of Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross. Can someone tell me in spoiler tags how the new ending of Chrono Trigger DS connects to and apparently spoils Chrono Cross? Thanks!
Click to expand...

The new ending of Chrono Trigger DS introduces the Dream Devourer, the early stage of the Time Devourer from Chrono Cross. Schala is still conscious in this stage, but her mind has been corrupted.

The CT party battles the Dream Devourer, but loses the battle. Schala claims that "power alone" won't be able to free her, and teleports the party away to safety using the last of her uncorrupted mind.

Magus, destroyed by the realization that his power was not enough to save his sister, choses to "forget" and wipes his own memory in desperation and sadness.

Magus wakes up in a forest, with his memories completely erased. He claims that "there is something he is looking for, and that he will find it", an walks away.

This opens the theory that Guile from Chrono Cross is actually an amnesic Magus (Guile was intented to be Magus in the original plot from Chrono Cross, but that was later scrapped due to time constraints). However, this new ending to CT DS seems to imply that Guile is INDEED Magus.

Schala's claim that "power alone won't free her" refers to the Chrono Cross Element. A "healing melody/spell" combining all the natural powers of the planet is the only thing that can separate her from Lavos.
 
Ishida said:
The new ending of Chrono Trigger DS introduces the Dream Devourer, the early stage of the Time Devourer from Chrono Cross. Schala is still conscious in this stage, but her mind has been corrupted.

The CT party battles the Dream Devourer, but loses the battle. Schala claims that "power alone" won't be able to free her, and teleports the party away to safety using the last of her uncorrupted mind.

Magus, destroyed by the realization that his power was not enough to save his sister, choses to "forget" and wipes his own memory in desperation and sadness.

Magus wakes up in a forest, with his memories completely erased. He claims that "there is something he is looking for, and that he will find it", an walks away.

This opens the theory that Guile from Chrono Cross is actually an amnesic Magus (Guile was intented to be Magus in the original plot from Chrono Cross, but that was later scrapped due to time constraints). However, this new ending to CT DS seems to imply that Guile is INDEED magus.
Click to expand...

Wow. I've played through Chrono Cross and Trigger numerous times on PS1 and SNES, but never finished the DS version. This is tragic, yet it lends quite a bit of gravitas to Guile's role in the story. Appreciate you posting it.
 
godofcookery said:
I am unclear what you mean in the bolded. How do you force this on a ds? What is it on a ds?
Click to expand...

When booting a DS or DSiWare game on a 3DS, hold start or select. The game will boot letterboxed/pillarboxed, mapping the original game resolution to a portion of the higher-res 3DS screen.
 
Ishida said:
The new ending of Chrono Trigger DS introduces the Dream Devourer, the early stage of the Time Devourer from Chrono Cross. Schala is still conscious in this stage, but her mind has been corrupted.

The CT party battles the Dream Devourer, but loses the battle. Schala claims that "power alone" won't be able to free her, and teleports the party away to safety using the last of her uncorrupted mind.

Magus, destroyed by the realization that his power was not enough to save his sister, choses to "forget" and wipes his own memory in desperation and sadness.

Magus wakes up in a forest, with his memories completely erased. He claims that "there is something he is looking for, and that he will find it", an walks away.

This opens the theory that Guile from Chrono Cross is actually an amnesic Magus (Guile was intented to be Magus in the original plot from Chrono Cross, but that was later scrapped due to time constraints). However, this new ending to CT DS seems to imply that Guile is INDEED Magus.

Schala's claim that "power alone won't free her" refers to the Chrono Cross Element. A "healing melody/spell" combining all the natural powers of the planet is the only thing that can separate her from Lavos.
Click to expand...

Oh wow! Thank you so much for this. This revelation if true is AMAZING. Guess I will pick this up for DS if I can snag a copy somewhere.
 
nrvalleytime said:
Wow. I've played through Chrono Cross and Trigger numerous times on PS1 and SNES, but never finished the DS version. This is tragic, yet it lends quite a bit of gravitas to Guile's role in the story. Appreciate you posting it.
Click to expand...

Even if the Magus = Guile was scrapped from Chrono Cross development, a lot of things remain. The Black innate Element, the way they float/dash through the air, the hair color and style, and the name Guile which is similar to Gil (From Radical Dreamers, who is Magus).

Also, if you have Guile in your team when you reach the Frozen Flame, the Flame will attack your characters with a mental shock that reveals their inner self/desires, and Guile claims this:

"Is this what I have been searching for all this time... No... Stop it! I am no such thing. What good is it... to possess such dark power...?"

So, with the new ending in Chrono Trigger DS, it's apparent that the developers are trying to make Guile into Magus once again.
 
Tathanen said:
New translation in the DS one is a pretty big bullet point really. Though some may say it loses a bit of the charm of the original, it's certainly more accurate.

The new DS content isn't SUPER compelling, but running the game with 1:1 pixel mapping on a DS screen makes it look pretty nice, vs SNES resolution on an HDTV. Though if you don't force it to run 1:1 on your XL it'll look pretty blurry. Having it on a TV with the potential of nice speakers is certainly a draw though.

DS version includes the anime cutscenes from the PlayStation edition, but it could be argued that they're a bit redundant, and remove some of the more classic old school feel.

Can't go wrong either way when it comes down to it.
Click to expand...

It should be noted that 1:1 is not how the game was designed and meant to be seen though.

Here's how it looks like on 1:1:
fbcSE5z.png


Here's how it's really meant to look like (4:3):
x1Rxvfj.png


The sprites also look way too tall on 1:1.
 
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