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A week or two ago, I started playing through Chrono Trigger in order to get footage for a video I planned on making. Despite only needing footage from the first dungeon in the game, I continued playing the game.
And it was totally worth it.
Chrono Trigger (CT) is a JRPG, but with enough of a difference from the rest to make it unique. Most battles take place in the actual environment, rather than on a separate battle screen. Additionally, characters can combine powers to create super powerful attacks. I'm sure I'm not the only one that spammed Crono and Ayla's "Falcon Hit" attack on the last boss fight. The fact that CT is about time travel only sweetened the deal for me.
Another thing that I like is the influence that the player can have on the world map. Unlike certain Final Fantasy titles, it's not static. For instance, if a player encourages a certain NPC to plant a seed, an area in the future will be affected, and again in another era. By completing a side quest, a desert in 1000 AD can be made into an extensive forest with a new building to enter.
Plus, the characters were fun and silly - quite fitting from the artist, Akira Toriyama, well known for his work in the Dragon Ball series.
Chrono Trigger is something that merits a remake - even more than Final Fantasy VII, or its predecessor (both of which have been ported several times). It is the opinion of this author and gamer that CT simply doesn't need a remake, HD or otherwise. The art style is engaging and interesting, despite the limitations of the native hardware (SNES). Plus, the New Game + feature preempts the drive for duration and/or replayability that so many people demand of games now. There's multiple endings, and even an optional super boss to try.
While I wouldn't complain about a HD Chrono Trigger, I do not believe that it is necessary. Having only played it this year, I have relatively little nostalgia for the game itself. (I mean, there's some for the SNES itself, but still...) Plus, CT has been ported to PlayStation, DS, iOS and Virtual Console.
In the recent blossoming of indie games, the 16-bit classic look of Chrono Trigger fits in amongst the likes of Shovel Knight and 1001 Spikes. Adding the fact that CT is already a solid JRPG, further alterations are unneeded.
Now, Final Fantasy VII on the other hand... :P
