Final Fantasy Chronicles (Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy IV)

Product Description:
This old school compilation from Square includes "Final Fantasy IV" (known as "FF2" as a 1991 US SNES release which introduced the Active Time Battle system) and "Chrono Trigger" (1995's precursor to the wildly popular "Chrono Cross").Format: PSX Genre: RPG (VG)/Rating: T - Teen UPC: 662248901015 Manufacturer No: 9796

Amazon.com Review:
Showcasing enhanced versions of the Super Nintendo classics FinalFantasy IV and Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy Chronicles is amust-have "retro" bundle for the serious role-playing game fan.

Originallyreleased in the U.S. in 1991 as Final Fantasy II, the groundbreakingFinal Fantasy IV introduced the "Active Time Battle" combat system thathas since become a staple in the series. In addition to new computer animationsequences and minor gameplay enhancements, this reissue sports a new dialoguetranslation that is more faithful to the Japanese version and fleshes out thepreviously pared-down story of a conflicted knight and his quest forredemption.

Although not as well known as Final Fantasy IV--and noteven part of the Final Fantasy series, for that matter--1995's ChronoTrigger is a nonlinear adventure game where players must travel across timeto save a princess (and the world in the process). New Japanese cartooncutscenes from animator Akira Toriyama (creator of Dragonball Z) gracethe updated Chrono Trigger, and an extras mode (filled with game-relatedgoodies that must be unlocked) has been added, increasing the already highreplay value of this title with multiple endings.

Admittedly, the games'two-dimensional graphics and simplistic sounds are quite "lastgeneration," which may turn off some younger gamers and recent converts to thegenre, but their solid gameplay, deep storyline, and memorable characters arestill first-rate by today's standards. --Joe Hon

Pros:

• Brings together two classic Super Nintendo role-playing games
• Retranslated text of Final Fantasy IV more faithful
• Extras mode increases Chrono Trigger's replay value
• New animated "movie" sequences

Cons:

• In-game graphics and sounds are quite dated

Amazon.com Product Description:
The two classic RPGs in this compilation not only represent hours upon hours of story, character, and action, they also present the background for two recent bestselling, critically hailed games: Final Fantasy IX and Chrono Cross.

With all the different names for the original 1991 release of the first title in this compilation (Final Fantasy IV in Japan, Final Fantasy II in the U.S.), role-players new to the game may get confused. Make no mistake, though: Final Fantasy Chronicles marks the first time this pivotal installment of the cherished game series has ever been available on the PlayStation. In Final Fantasy IV, players take on the role of Cecil, a loyal captain who questions the orders of his king, and for it is sent to slay a mysterious beast in a nearby valley.

In Chrono Trigger, Chrono must follow princess Marle's teleportation through time and locate her before an intergalactic parasite arrives to destroy the world. The original game, also on the PlayStation for the first time, was one of the first nonlinear role-playing games. The decisions that players make during the game will point them toward one of more than a dozen possible endings.

These new versions retain the authentic Japanese SNES stories and characters while updating their graphics and adding new full-motion video sequences and other features.

Features:

• The Final Fantasy Chronicles set includes new opening and closing cinematic sequences for Chrono Trigger and re-creations of memorable sequences
• New abilities include a "dash" feature, allowing players to move quickly through towns and dungeons
• 2-player mode allows players to participate in battles together
• Improved localization of the original unedited story
• Includes all the original monsters, abilities, items and scenes that were not seen in the SNES version

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Customer Reviews

Rating: - Strictly a Chrono Trigger review
Since my semi-retirement from video games, I feel like I've lost touch with some of the new games of today.A lot has happened in my life (which is why you'll find a 2+ year gap between a couple of my reviews), and have focused on school and other things.But I've been meaning to get this review up for a long time, and it's high time I did that.I'll try not to go "nerdy" here, but this is my personal favorite video game, not only on the Super NES, but of all time.

I'm probably not ... Read More
Rating: - Classic
Final Fantasy IV (Final Fantasy II for SNES) is definitely reason enough to buy this package. The many characters of this game are woven together in an incredible storyline that remains one of my favorite RPG games of all time. The graphics suck compared to whats out there today, but if your looking for a game that will keep you interested all the way through to the end, than this is definitely a smart buy. Chrono Trigger is also a fun game with many alternative endings.
Rating: - Great, but get the originals if you can afford them.
Please don't take my three-star overall rating as an attack against either game; these classics are two of the greatest RPGs ever released.

However, keep in mind that these are (obviously) not actually the games in their original forms. There exist minor differences in the games, the controls, and notably in the load times caused by the disc system; on which note, these are also more easily broken than Nintendo's nearly-indestructible cartridges. Also, the fact that they're not originals ... Read More
Rating: - The Weak Link of the Re-Releases
If I had enjoyed Final Fantasy IV a bit more than I did, the review would be 5 stars.There's nothing inherently wrong with the game, it just didn't give me the same feeling as the other classic Final Fantasies have.Along with 6, 4 is an FF that was well made but just inexplicably unable to draw me in (the opposite of FF7, which I got into while I played but seems so shabby when I look back at it).4 is certainly for someone, but it's not for me, you'll have to compare it against your own tastes. ... Read More
Rating: - astonishing deal that you simply shouldn't pass up
Even though that most people will overlook this game because it's a PlayStation game that's a re-release of a 16-bit game during a time when we've already moved on to the 128-bit generation, if you're an RPG fan that has yet to play either of these classics, it's a must-have title. With the multiple endings and fantastical game design and lovable characters, Chrono Trigger alone is worth the full price of admission. Add in Final Fantasy IV and you have an astonishing deal that you simply shouldn't pass ... Read More