Friday 25 January, 2008

GAMEPLAY
In the second session of gameplay, you begin to be relieved of your boredom as the plot takes off. A time machine sends you to the past where you have to save the princess. Along the way you meet the frog, and the game's tech attack system makes itself known.

The tech system does a lot for improving the game at this point, as the plot has yet to develope, and you have yet to see why Chrono Trigger is such a good game. The tech system works in place of magic and allows characters to use different abilities, and combine them in dual tech, and triple tech attacks using two and three chracters respectively.

DESIGN

I must begin this part by saying that I do not understand why this game is on the classics list. Console RPGs have had little to no inovation since Final Fantasy I. In Console RPGs, conflict is created, and player kept involved by plot, and even the plot is not too inovative. In all honesty I would have given the classic SNES RPG slot to FF VI with its many ability systems for player characters, and arguably more innovative plot.

That said, there are a few aspects of innovation in this game. One of which is the Tech system. Rather than have a traditonal magic system, Chrono Trigger puts all magic and fighting techniques under tech abilities, and allows players to junction certain ones with dual and triple tech attacks. The plot has some innovation with its time travel aspect and the addition of characters that range from Medieval to Cyberpunk, but other than that it falls into standard RPG cliches.

[Nicolas Kent - Grader]

Even if the gameplay isn't particularly original, you can still discuss them. If nothing else, talk about certain cliche elements that have been around since FF1. While it's clear the game didn't leave a positive impression on you, you haven't done much analysis.