TOP GAMING: Chrono Trigger

Showing posts with label Chrono Trigger. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

2015 - A Life & Game Review

I'm trying to think back on the games of 2015 and I'm struggling. In February, I moved from Maryland to Hawaii. I bought Tales of Hearts R for the trip, but technically that was a 2014 release. Even still, I ended up going absolutely head first into Pokémon Y (again) and to some extents Alpha Sapphire. Tales of Hearts just didn't hold my attention. The "Tales" series seems to be hit or miss for me - I love some of them, but others bore me. Either way, none of these games came out in 2015. So what the hell did I play in 2015? Looking back, there really weren't that many new titles in my house.

The Bunker Hill Bros played the hell out of some Dragon Ball XenoVerse which is a great game, but not Game of the Year material. I will never forget the rise of (custom character) Potatta and her domination over this game. I was supposed to join the Deez in Star Wars Battlefront but I ended up flaking out and walking away from the purchase. I got Disgaea 5 for my birthday in October, but for the first time ever - a Disgaea game did not hold my attention for much longer than a week. I got much more into a play of Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness earlier in the year- also not a 2015 game.

Flipping through the internet, I see a lot of talk about Fallout 4, The Witcher 3, Metal Gear Solid 5 and even Bloodborne. Surprisingly, all of these were on my "I want to buy" list but none of them were purchased. Particularly surprising is Bloodborne, because I held it in my hands at least ten times and put it back on the shelf - including the day I bought Dragon Ball XenoVerse. I don't really have a lot of excuses for this. I suppose money has been relatively tight, but more so I've just found my large library of older games has really gotten me through the year. When Fallout 4 launched I realized I never fully explored or beaten Fallout: New Vegas and so I loaded her up instead of spending $60. Similarly, when Bloodborne was tantalizing me, I did another playthrough of Dark Souls II. Such was life in 2015 for me.

The only 2015 titles I can think of that I picked up and really sank my teeth into are Final Fantasy Record Keeper and Xenoblade Chronicles X. It feels severely unfair to slap either one with "Game of the Year" title when I really didn't play any other 2015 launch titles to any great extent. It also makes me feel guilty giving Xenoblade the high honors because the only other time I've posted a Game of the Year it was for 2012 and Xenoblade Chronicles won that award.

TOP Game of the Year 2012 (Spoiler: Xenoblade Chronicles)

So let me tell you about the two games I did play to some great extent.

Final Fantasy Record Keeper is a free-to-play iOS and Android game. It's honestly the first mobile game I've ever enjoyed and endorsed. I know part of that stems from my love for old Final Fantasy games, to which Record Keeper gives much fan service. However, it's been more than just a passing fancy. I play Record Keeper every single day. I'm sometimes overwhelmed at the level of strategy and planning the game takes, but it's the cute SNES-style sprites and the level of challenge the game brings to the table that keeps me coming back.

The game is at its core an All-Star Final Fantasy Battle game. You collect characters from every Final Fantasy title and equip them with equipment and skills to do combat with various monsters and bosses from each title. Although each character can only have 2 abilities equipped at any given time, the battle system itself most resembles Final Fantasy IV and VI. As of today there are roughly 90 characters to collect, level and utilize to complete new events and dungeons. Events come once a week and new dungeons are added twice a month.

Like most online, money-driven games it does suffer from a steady power creep. I worked extremely hard for about six months to be able to steadily 100% every event that came along. I finally felt like I was on top of the world and could conquer any challenge. Then a new difficulty was released and I was knocked so hard off my pedestal that I felt like I had just been fooling myself into thinking I was the very best like no one ever was. While there are cons to a steady power creep (like invalidating your best arsenal of relic weapons when new, better ones arrive) I like to think that it will keep the game fresh and keep me driven to take my team to new levels.

Final Fantasy Record Keeper is easily the best mobile game I've ever played.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is overwhelming. Based entirely on my unendingly positive experience with its predecessor in 2012 and well into 2013, I picked up Xenoblade CX the day it was released and I'm still playing it today. I've sank about 60 hours into this game and I'm only on Chapter 6 of 12. The amount of content this game throws in your face is truly amazing. Simply exploring this beautiful, exquisitely detailed, alien planet will probably keep me entertained for another 60 hours easily.

Speaking honestly, during my first hour with the game I felt very skeptical. The custom created "main" character is an awkward, silent protagonist in an age of voice acted cutscenes. The very concept has made me question whether Cloud will translate very well into the Final Fantasy VII Remake - or whether a game like Chrono Trigger should ever be brought into the current generation. However, Xenoblade CX pulls this off pretty well with player input answers that lead you to believe he is participating in conversations (silently). I also wasn't entirely sold on the combat and its utter lack of Monado, but ultimately I'm finding it to be a much deeper combat system than its predecessor.

After that initial adjustment - the realization that no, this is not Xenoblade Chronicles that you remember, but something new entirely - the game just goes into full bloom, in my opinion. There are a ton of playable characters to get to know. There is - what feels like - a never ending list of side-quests to pursue (600, I believe is the official estimate). The "mission structure" to the story is the perfect balance between encouraging you to continue the story, but also allowing you to pause and take in the world at your own pace.

In Xenoblade Chronicles, I remember wanting to stop and get to know everyone and do every side-quest, but the story itself pushed a sense of urgency. It was difficult to justify hanging out in one place for 40 hours just to build local affinity when your [insert plot device] was in desperate need of your help. Xenoblade Chronicles X solves this problem by taking the plot away from character driven narrative and making you feel like you are actually building a new world on the planet Mira. Each side-quest, mission and affinity mission all feels like one more step in establishing humanity's place on this new mysterious world and I absolutely love it.

With a new console on the horizon, Xenoblade Chronicles X will likely be my all time favorite Wii U release - much like Xenoblade Chronicles is my favorite Wii title ever played. It has breathed new life into a system that mostly my children were dominating until now.

- TOP

@TOPGamingBlog

PS - Let me know what games you think I really missed out on in 2015!

Friday, May 31, 2013

TOP Track #1 - "Battle with Magus"

This is it! We made it! Coming in at #1 across two separate tournaments and hours upon hours of listening and judging music - "Battle with Magus" is the supreme champion of Music May 2013! This result did surprise me, but I'm by no means disappointed. It is a fantastic song, and a fantastic moment in video games as I detailed in my countdown last year - "The First Battle with Magus"

That article goes into great detail into what an amazing game Chrono Trigger is and what a great character Magus is within the game. As I've said, we really tried to step back away from nostalgia and assess each song on its own merits, but that's no easy feat. Particularly challenging when you're talking about something as amazing as the battle with Magus. If you've read that article I linked, you know it's one of the most impressive moments in gaming that I've ever personally experienced, so to wipe it from my mind when listening to this song is close to impossible.

The beginning of the song is dark and brooding, but quickly launches you into a frenzied fight for your life. The pacing is phenomenal. You're really pulled into the majesty of the situation. You know just from listening to this song that there's a lot on the line. Magus is not a push over. He means business, and you just got in his way. I think the way the music syncs up with the fight is one of the driving reasons that it made such a lasting impression on me, and goes to show what Mitsuda is truly capable of as a composer.

-TOP
@TOPGamingBlog

Ah - the initial fight against Magus. Where do I begin? It might be my favorite battle in the history of gaming. Chrono Trigger is a fan favorite due to the way it weaves a brilliant engaging story throughout different time periods. It's never more prevalent than the quest to restore the Masamune, which culminates fantastically in the battle with Magus. As TOP mentioned before, this seemed at the time like it might have been the game's finale. Thankfully, Mitsuda Yasunori crafted this masterpiece to fit the occasion.

This track begins slowly and eerily to remind you that you are in the presence of an all-powerful wizard who might be responsible for the end of the world. A chill runs down my spine every time I hear the black wind howl. Suddenly (timed perfectly in-game as Magus accepts the player's challenge), the beat picks up and we are treated to a battle score that I can only describe as epic. In the background, a Mystic laughs (or perhaps, moans?) as you try to keep up with Magus's changing guards and endless attacks. This was one of those exhilarating fights that got your adrenaline pumping hard, and to me, it proved that Mitsuda could stand toe-to-toe with Uematsu Nobuo when it comes to battle tracks.

Lastly, I'd be remiss not to mention the final confrontation atop the Black Omen. If Magus is in your party, you are treated to a goosebump-inducing dialogue between him and his deranged mother. Instead of "Boss Battle 2" that normally plays during this altercation, you get to hear Magus's theme once again ... causing another adrenaline-fueled engagement. It truly makes the moment seem much more personal to the player. I love it!

- Deez

@Deezer509

Derivative Tracks

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

TOP Track #4 - "Time of the Dreamwatch"

This song is unbelievable. I really thought this song was going to make it all the way to #1. I suppose, originally I thought "To Far Away Times" would make it up into the TOP 5 because it means a lot to me, but when I started trying to look at songs as objectively as possible, "Time of the Dreamwatch" stood out immediately as going above and beyond everything Mitsuda did in "To Far Away Times." There is, of course, an undeniable nostalgia factor, but even our (somewhat) neutral third party (never played Chrono Trigger or Chrono Cross so no nostalgia) voted this up every single time. It's a fantastic song.

It's a bit of a shame that both "Time of the Dreamwatch" and "Time's Scar" are utilized before you even get a chance to play the game. Both are used in opening scenes and are not tied to any moment in the game itself, and they are both the most outstanding pieces of music on an already amazing soundtrack. I wish Mitsuda could have worked this into the game itself, or pushed a bit more to include more nods to Chrono Trigger music within this completely new, folk-y theme. If there's anything Chrono Cross needed across the board it was stronger ties to its predecessor, Chrono Trigger. When they happen, they are the best parts of the game, and they are far and few between - in fact, you could probably take them all out, call this game Serge Cross and call it a day. I'd love to see a remake/reboot of Chrono Cross that really tries to tie it all together quite a bit more - and utilizes this type of music blending, because it is by far some of Mitsuda's finest work.

-TOP
@TOPGamingBlog

"Time of the Dreamwatch" would have garnered a 4 out of 5 rating from me if it were completely original. It received a perfect score, however, due to the Chrono Trigger throwback in the refrain. The first time I heard this song, I was cooking. Both my jaw and a pot full of ramen fell to the floor. Now, it's in my regular rotation of tracks I pop on at work when I'm feeling particularly homocidal. Something about it just brings me back down to Earth, and the Trigger refrain is like a lullaby for my soul.

During the course of ranking these songs, we ran into some issues. We had to provide tie-breaking votes when tracks (of which there were many) got perfect scores from our panel of judges. It's difficult to come up with the metrics for declaring a true winner, due to the inability to cut nostalgia out of our calculations. Judging "Time of the Dreamwatch" was a conundrum. On the one hand, I feel it's a great song. On the other hand, my subconscious can't ignore the refrain, or the way it makes me feel as soon as I hear it. Mitsuda, you beautiful devil, you have me eating out of your hand yet again...

- Deez

@Deezer509

Derivative Tracks

K-Waves Lab - http://youtu.be/d7mDenJRTJI

Piano Arrangement - http://youtu.be/0xVtMEhPbdE

Saturday, May 25, 2013

TOP Track #7 - "Frog's Theme"

I'm not at all surprised to see "Frog" made it all the way into the TOP Ten. I've loved this song and this character since the very first time I heard it. It really does a fantastic job of accentuating Frog's character. When you meet him, he's a bit discouraged by his cursed form, but he's still loyal and courageous for the sake of his Queen. This song really brings out that honor and duty, even though he lives alone in disgrace. What makes Frog such an important and endearing character is that he undergoes such tremendous growth. He also has such a complicated relationship with another character in the game, Magus, who is responsible for his transformation. These two characters more than any other start out a certain way, perceived by the player a certain way, and develop over time into the characters their theme songs reflect.

Even though the first few times you interact with Frog, he's distressed, depressed, discouraged and lonely, this theme song and his willingness to help clue you in that underneath his amphibious exterior, he has a heart of gold and a tremendous sense of honor. Eventually, you wear down his depression and prove to him that even though he failed and has been cursed for his failure, he still has something to fight for. He transforms into one of the most versatile fighters on the team and begins to accept who he has become. A definitive moment comes late in the game when he faces a truly troubling choice between allying with his most hated enemy, Magus, for a common good - or breaking his curse and returning to human. The choice is left up to the player, but I think this moment really shows the true nature of his character and his ideals. I prefer the Frog that is able to forgive and move forward to the vain, vindictive Frog only concerned with revenge and reclaiming his old form...

...but I have to admit, if the game allowed you to play as Glenn from that moment forward instead of Frog (swapping out his character sprite) instead of making you wait until the ending scenes, I'd definitely do that a handful of times because Glenn looks like a badass. I bet his Slurp Kiss Dual Tech (among others) would look incredibly odd as a human, though!

- TOP

@TOPGamingBlog

Whenever I play through Chrono Trigger, I usually give the characters their true names. Every once in a while, however, there is an exception. I'll change Marle to Nadia, Magus to Janus, and if I'm feeling like a smart-ass, Robo to R-66Y. That being said, Frog is never Frog. He is always Glenn. He's such a tragic figure, brimming with honor, that I feel bad naming him Frog. It's so damn insulting! I realize that by the end of the story, he becomes accustomed to his new form and doesn't so much mind it, but this doesn't take away from the fact that Magus demeaned him. This song, despite it's name, does not belong to a frog. It belongs to Glenn. It is composed perfectly to match his character: noble and brave. The high notes of the track seem to play on Glenn's status as a skilled knight, as well as the loneliness he must endure in 600 AD.

Glenn and Magus are easily my favorite characters in Chrono Trigger, and I imagine most people feel similarly. One of the reasons their eternal rivalry is so compelling to us players is how similar they are even though they are diametrically opposed. Each character had the person who was closest to them taken away in a violent nature. Both are tormented internally for being weak during a moment in which their world was changed - in Glenn's case, too cowardly; in Magus's case, too young. Glenn represents the lighter side of this tragedy, eventually choosing to take on Cyrus's dream. Magus represents the darker side by destroying everything that stands in his way of searching for his sister. Their theme songs both perfectly reflect this relationship.

- Deez

@Deezer509

Derivative Tracks

Electric Guitar (A+ Arrangement) - http://youtu.be/PxYkrVtBIvw

LonLonJP - "Frog's Theme" in M - http://youtu.be/JfQT0uiAlTQ

Verdegrand & ViolinTay - http://youtu.be/mZzOhp5fYGA

Sunday, May 19, 2013

TOP Track #13 - "To Far Away Times"

This is my favorite ending music of all time, followed closely by the "End Credits" of Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past. It really reminds me of a day when getting to the end of a game was a bittersweet reward. I really haven't felt this way since the Super Nintendo age. I was sad that the journey had come to an end, but rewarded with some of the best music and images the game had to offer. Nowadays, I'm usually pretty disappointed by the ending and credits of video games. They feel more like an afterthought. I honestly can't think of one ending to a game that really stands out to me since some of the early days of Playstation.

When Deez and I first started talking about Music May, I imagined "To Far Away Times" would make it into the TOP 5 Tracks, but here it rests at #13. It's among the perfect scores, but didn't even make it into the TOP 10. I'm not disappointed, honestly. When I look at what's coming up over the next two weeks, I can safely say the music will outshine "To Far Away Times," but this song does have a special place in my heart. It's a really fitting conclusion to one of the best games I've ever played. I have played and beaten Chrono Trigger more times than I could keep track of, which by my personal rankings makes it a timeless legend.

-TOP

@TOPGamingBlog

It's hard to talk about "To Far Away Times" because it stirs up so many simultaneous emotions. When I hear the intro song for Chrono Trigger, it pumps me up. I can take on the world. There's one thought in my mind: I must destroy evil. This song makes me ... happy? I think so. Maybe sad. All I know is that instead of one thought, all the memories of the game flood into my mind, even if I haven't played in a long time. All the moments, good and bad, joyful and tragic, come rushing back.

This track starts off happy. It's happy because all is right in the world. Lavos has been defeated. The planet is saved. Crono and Marle can enjoy this last night of the Millennial Fair in peace. This track ends sad. Sad because the journey is over. They will never see some of the friends they've made ever again. After a whirlwind adventure like that, how can you go back to a normal life in 1000AD? The quiet transition in "To Far Away Times" reflects this bittersweet notion of a completed journey.

- Deez
@Deezer509

Derivative Tracks

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

TOP Track #24 - "Time's Scar"

I may speak for many people when I say that I wasn't entirely thrilled with Chrono Cross back in 2000. Chrono Trigger is a really tough act to follow and arguably my nominee for best game ever made. I really wasn't thrilled with Final Fantasy VIII because Final Fantasy VII is a tough act to follow. I mention them together because they are alike in a few other ways. Both games are really pretty good games when judged solely on their own merit and not compared to their predecessor, and both have phenomenally great soundtracks. Chrono Cross is my favorite Mitsuda Yasunori album of all time, and that includes Chrono Trigger so it's no small feat. Easily the greatest thing to come out of Chrono Cross is its music.

"Time's Scar" is a really good example of Mitsuda's style. It has a really great contemporary feeling, but also a strong use of Celtic/folk instruments and themes. I feel like this song pulls me in a variety of different directions. The soft, soothing intro lulls you into a false sense of security, perhaps even melancholy, for the first minute. Then you are thrust into a whirlwind of excitement - as if being whisked off to the far reaches of space and time that the series is known for. I also picture a nomadic gypsy doing a folk dance that tells the story of a boy who would repair these rips in the fabric of time based partially on the music itself and partially on the visually descriptive title of the song. It serves as a great intro to the general feeling and pacing of the game as well.

- TOP
@TOPGamingBlog

Chrono Trigger is my favorite game of all time - and I never beat the sequel. Pathetic, I know. Chrono Cross was extremely difficult for me, which is what I say to make myself feel better about it. Even with the use of a player's guide (before the rise of GameFaqs, mind you) I couldn't make it past the halfway point of the game. The difficulty of the game, coupled with the very noticeable absence of anyone named "Crono" or "Magus," really turned Chrono Cross into more of a chore for me than anything else. I was young and stupid. Really stupid. Aside from that, I love the music, even back then. As far as I can tell, Mitsuda Yasunori can do no wrong with me. Chrono Cross is a great example of that.

"Time's Scar" is a fantastic introduction to this game. It has the lofty appeal of adventure, mixed with that intense feeling of duty. It reminds me a bit of the Jurassic Park theme (AKA the best song in cinema history). Whether or not you get goosebumps while watching an intro movie is a good test telling you whether it's a great song choice or not. "Time's Scar" definitely passes this test.

- Deez

@Deezer509

Derivative Tracks

Saturday, May 4, 2013

TOP Tracks #28 - "Terra's Theme"

Track: "Terra's Theme" (NA) or "Tina's Theme" (JP)
Composer: Uematsu Nobuo
Game: Final Fantasy VI
System: Super Nintendo
Release: October, 1994 (NA)

"Terra's Theme" is not only the theme of the main character of Final Fantasy VI, Terra, but also functions as the theme of Final Fantasy VI itself. The opening sequence uses this theme, arranging it into a much more haunting, isolated and frigid version of the song as Terra and her subordinates march through a barren, frozen wilderness. "Terra's Theme" is used as the overworld music, meaning everytime you are walking form place to place during the game this song will be playing. This version is less haunting and more hopeful. Terra's journey is one of self-discovery and perseverance. Her theme reinforces a feeling that things will get better if we just keep moving forward.

Final Fantasy VI is an amazing game. Many of the things htis game did well were never duplicated again in the series. This includes its very large cast of characters, most of whom are extremely well presented and developed despite how many of them the story must account for. The large number of characters also lends to the unique game mechanic of splitting up your team into smaller, mini-teams that explore different parts of the same dungeon simultaneously. Each of these characters also had their own individual theme song, which is something I absolutely love. Uematsu would continue using character themes going forward in the "Final Fantasy" series until his departure from the company.

- TOP
@TOPGamingBlog

I played Final Fantasy VI way too late in life, and I'm ashamed to admit that I still haven't beaten it. When I was a kid, it was too hard for me. When I was a teenager, it was too hard for me. I'm not that good at role-playing games (RPG). The only one I'm proficient at is Chrono Trigger, but that is one of the easiest RPGs to get into that I've played. Final Fantasy VI gave me a lot of trouble and as a result I kept quitting. My last attempt was stalled when my save state (emulator) deleted itself right after I arrived in the World of Ruin. Boy was I mad! Despite all this and the fact that I haven't seen everything the game has to offer, I can state without reservation: it has fantastic music.

I love the opening scene of Final Fantasy VI. So there's no doubt that I also appreciate "Terra's Theme" which it uses in the opening. The first time I played the game, it was snowing heavily outside. I always associate the lonely theme with being out on some frigid frontier, isolated from things that make you smile. My bedroom was always freezing back then, too. Despite the chill I get when I hear this song, I seem to get a message from this song every time: we have a job to do, a journey to embark upon.

- Deez
@Deezer509

Derivative Tracks

Friday, June 1, 2012

Week in Review - 6/1/2012

I apologize that my post about Chrono Trigger's Magus was published late, and this week's article has been postponed. I had some family in town, followed by Memorial Day weekend, and my scheduled has gotten all out of sync. I decided to take the week off and not worry about posting again until next Tuesday, June 5th. I should have thrown something up earlier explaining I wouldn't be writing this week. Please forgive me. I'll be back on schedule next week.

PC

Civilization V

She looks so friendly!

I finally pulled off a Catherine (Russia) victory on Prince difficulty. I’ve been choosing random map-types so I never know if I’ll be playing on full continents or small islands. My Russian empire happened to be an island nation which is an odd choice for a Russian victory, but I pulled it off splendidly. My fleet of battleships was a force feared all along the high seas and with them I crushed the mighty Spanish empire back into submission. Taking Madrid sealed my victory. I then went on to win another Prince game with Egypt. That time on Earth-map I controlled all of Europe and the Middle East.

Diablo III

Witch Doctor Mola Ram

My adventures in Diablo III continue, but I have recently taken Monk out of the picture. Don’t misunderstand me, I love Monk but he’s becoming impractical in groups. When I play with friends he spends more time dead than alive. I know I could throw money into his gear to increase his survivability, but since he remains untouchable when I play solo I think I shall put him on the back burner as my solo class. I’m currently trying to catch up a Witch Doctor to join with my friends. Although he’s creepy, I enjoy the class.

X-Box 360

Forza Motorsport 2

I'm actually using a 1970 914.

Although I typically prefer Gran Turismo, I had the urge for a race and this was the only game I had on the shelf. I wasn’t interested in purchasing a new game. Although this game is old, it’s still quite fun. Surprisingly, my kids love this game. They love helping me pick which cars to race and what colors to paint them. They even enjoy the first couple races before their attention spans wander off. Since putting this on the first time, I’ve popped it on for a race or two just to distract them from their perpetual toddler drama.

-TOP
@TOPGamingBlog

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

First Battle with Magus

This is part of an ongoing series about my favorite memories from video games. You can find the original list and table of contents in an earlier post or by clicking here. Please be aware that these posts are going to be full of spoilers which may ruin the impact of these events on anyone who wishes to experience them on their own in the future. I’m truly sorry this is a day late this week.

#8 – First Battle with Magus (Chrono Trigger)

When I was 14-years-old, I somehow knew Chrono Trigger was going to be one of the most amazing games I would ever play. I remember my first glimpse of the game was in Nintendo Power and from that moment on I was sold on the project. I craved it with every ounce of my being. It was the better part of a year that I awaited the arrival of this game, all the while talking it up to whoever would listen. I was sure it was going to be outstanding. In retrospect, I don’t know what about the game got me so riled up. I was not aware that it was being produced by a “dream team” of video game makers that would never re-assemble for a project again. Though I may have known Nobuo Uematsu and Akira Toriyama, I had no recollection of Yoshinori Kitase, Hironobu Sakaguchi, Yasunori Mitsuda, Hiroyuki Ito or Masato Kato. Those names weren’t included in my database of excellence until much later. I loved the idea that makers of my favorite games (“Final Fantasy” series and Secret of Mana) were making a game that dealt with jumping through time and resulted in multiple endings. Writing that sentence just gave me a shiver of excitement, so I think I just nailed down what was the source of my obsession with this project as a teen.

It’s not often that I get this worked up anticipating a game, due to countless instances of disappointment after hyping a game up in my head so much. Back then I was always excited for any new Squaresoft game to hit American shelves, but there was something magical about Chrono Trigger. It was even more magical that I was not disappointed after such a mental build up. Not once did I think the game could have been better, or that I shouldn’t have expected so much. Chrono Trigger is everything I dreamed it would be and more. It kept me entertained for over a year to come, and still manages to creep onto my playlist from time to time fifteen years later. In short, I believe Chrono Trigger is a perfect game, a masterpiece. It is truly the product of industry giants coming together for one unbelievable project, an event that I don’t believe has been duplicated since.

The game begins with the opening of the Millennial Fair in the year 1000AD, and here too begins the first of the game’s story arcs. Although the fair is celebrating the kingdom's 1000 year anniversary, most people at the fair seem fixated on the events 400 years ago that threatened the very existence of the human race. They go on and on about a crazed leader named Magus leading an army of Mystics (non-humans) in an attempt to conquer the world. Since this is a game about time traveling, this might strike you as important foreshadowing as you work your way through the light-hearted events of the fair. Although the game does a good job of making the first few trips through time seem like unrelated episodes, the game is fully steering you toward a showdown with Magus. Each jump through time subtly presents new clues and information on Magus until the party from 1000AD finally see the destruction a being called Lavos wrought on the world and decide to stop it – by stopping its creator, Magus.

Magus in a Steve Zissou pose.

The party’s preparation to defeat Magus is perhaps the largest build-up to a climax the game offers, excluding the final showdown and resolution, of course. Before the player’s party can storm Magus’s gates and challenge him to a fight to the death, they first must learn how to use magic – an art lost thousands of years ago and only practiced by the Mystics in 600AD. They must also reconstruct the Masamune, a legendary sword that cuts through Magus’s magical defenses. It is often described as Magus’s only weakness and it’s not in good shape when the party discovers it. All of this involves hopping around time using the previous clues and foreshadowing to direct the player on his quest to defeat Magus. The game spends so much time preparing to fight Magus that when you’re finally standing on his doorstep, his tower feels quite intimidating.

Magus's Tower depicted in one of many endings.

In the continuing efforts to make Magus appear to be the final boss of the game, Magus’s tower is one of the longest and most challenging dungeons faced at this point in the game. It is full of fights you cannot avoid and there are three mini-bosses awaiting you as well, Flea, Slash and Ozzie. The game is pulling all the stops to make this encounter feel like an ultimate showdown. Here you will stop Magus and save the future by destroying Lavos at its source.

The atmosphere feels quite foreboding when the music of Magus’s tower fades away and you enter a dark room filled with haunting chants. I will never forget my feelings of dread as I cautiously made my way down the aisle of this dark chamber with flames springing to life around me. At the end of the aisle, these flames form a circle around the scene slowly fading into view. There’s an innate summoning circle on the ground before a large demonic statue. Magus stands at the center with his arms spread wide, his purple cape and otherworldly blue hair fluttering in the wind. With his back to the party, he taunts them and seems otherwise unimpressed with their arrival. As Frog pulls the Masamune out, the black wind begins to howl along with the intro to Magus’s battle theme. When he finally turns, he’s wrapped in his cape like a vampire, but soon tosses it back and begins his magical assault on the party.

Throwing down with Magus at his dark chapel.

I have to hand it to the developers here. They did such an amazing job building to this moment, but more importantly they set an unbelievable mood for the player's arrival. The combination of effects used - the difficulty of the fight, the eerie atmosphere of some defiled chapel, the vampire/angel of death design for Magus, and the outstanding use of music – creates this unforgettable moment which is only further solidified when the player is slapped with the first major plot twist. Victory over the formidable foe only leads to the revelation that the characters were wrong. Magus was not the creator of Lavos. In fact, Lavos existed long before this moment in 600AD and the quest to save the planet goes on. Once again, the party is thrown into a time gate and Magus lives to fight another day, but everyone is left with doubts about his true motivation? The deeper mystery only serves to pull the player into the story more.

It is 17 years later and I’ve got 17 years worth of experience playing games and consuming stories, yet I’m here writing this article about Chrono Trigger. I am realizing that the events leading up to Magus are what demonstrate the amazing job this game does telling a story. The direction and pacing of the plot is so skillfully woven together with the imagery and the music players are quickly drawn into this world, and the controller gets harder and harder to put down. As a result Chrono Trigger is full of memorable characters and scenes. “The First Battle with Magus” stands out of the crowd because it marks the end of the first story arc, pulling all the stops to set up a climax for the first time in the game, and introduces one of the most unforgettable characters in video games – Magus, the tragic, otherworldly antihero.

-TOP
@TOPGamingBlog

Related Links
TOP Ten Most Memorable
Magus Battle on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIH3t_nZf-s

Friday, May 18, 2012

Week in Review - 5/18/12

Nintendo DS

Radiant Historia

I beat Radiant Historia with 100% completion this week. It’s a great game. Atlus continues to impress me. I believe a true strength of this game is its characters. The main character in particular is an accomplished spy and swordsman, a far cry from the standard RPG hero who starts out as a nobody. Shuffling around two timelines of activities is a unique experience, akin distantly to Chrono Cross. If you like traditional role-playing games, this one is a must play. It is among the few true traditional-style RPG (a.k.a. “Japanese” or “JRPG”) around in the last decade.

Diablo III

Wizard & Monk Duet

Diablo III was released this week. I was not particularly excited because I did not play Diablo II so I did not know what I was missing. I knew it would be a big event for most of my game playing friends, so I decided I would get it to play with them. So far, I have not been disappointed. I always have at least one friend on to team up with and the game itself is a lot of fun. I’m playing a Monk with my wife and a Wizard without her (she’s playing Wizard).

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

It took him two days of hard work at Gerdur’s mill, but Genjo finally saved up enough money to buy a house. However, the roads of Skyrim aren’t safe, my friends. What adventures befell him en route to Whiterun? I’m hoping to have a complete write up of his adventures later this afternoon, so look forward to it. Other than Genjo’s adventures, I have not been playing Skyrim due to Terraria and Diablo III. When I do play, however, I get pretty absorbed and have lots of fun.

Terraria

So building in Terraria completely took over my weekend last week. I decided at some point that my little underground bunker wasn’t good enough for the people of Terraria and built a few homes. I built a Toad House for my Merchant (and later on the Arms Dealer and Clothier). I also built a Heart Container for the Nurse to use as an Infirmary. Over by my vast garden area, I built a hut for my Dryad out of mud, stone and grass. I plan to continue a hanging garden all around her house for Waterleaf plants if Diablo III doesn’t keep me away.

I attempted to play a game of Civilization V with my brother last night, but we could not stay connected for more than a handful of turns. We spent an hour trying to get it to work but eventually gave up. Great disappointment was had by all. Since I didn't technically "play" the game, I won't post pictures but I thought I'd mention it nonetheless.

-TOP
@TOPGamingBlog

Related Links
My Brother's Art - http://deezer509.deviantart.com/

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

TOP Ten Most Memorable

I recently mentioned Samus Aran taking off her Chozo power suit and revealing herself to be a woman in the original Metroid was #1 on my personal list of Most Memorable Moments in video games. I decided that I'd have to actually publish a more complete list of moments. In order to do each moment justice, however, I decided I'd write an entire article about each one after kicking off with the initial list. So today is the prelude to a 10-week project and should read more or less like a table of contents for things to come. First, I need to lay down a few simple criteria/clarifications.

Point 1 - These are all games I have personally played.

As with any opinion, results may vary. I want to be clear that these are my most memorable moments which is based entirely on my own experiences playing these games at the time that I played them. There may be other scenes in other games that blow these out of the water, but I may not have played them or I may have played them at a time when the moment was ruined by prior knowledge which would lessen the impact.

Point 2 - These are all events scripted into the game.

All player-driven or randomly generated events will be excluded. I wrote an article about my campaign to defeat Ifrit in Final Fantasy XIV which was monumentally memorable, but the challenge and coordinated effort of that struggle was completely player-driven and would vary from person to person. Similarly, I've had many exciting adventures in Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim that involved multiple dragons showing up to ruin my day, but as they were randomly generated I don't consider it a natural part of the game. My intent is to present scripted events that everyone will experience in roughly the same way.

Point 3 - I had no spoilers or prior knowledge to events listed.

Many of these moments would be ruined by knowing before-hand they were going to happen. So in saying that, I am warning you that the next few weeks of posts will be filled with spoilers about games I played and stuck out in my memory. Your prior knowledge of these events (if you have not yet experienced them) may tarnish the experience for you if you hope to play these games in the near future. The choice is yours, but know that when I played these games I had no idea what was going to happen next and so my opinions were heavily influenced as a result.

Now that I've set down the foundation for these opinions, I present my TOP Ten Most Memorable.

#10 - Zack's Death Scene (Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Playstation Portable, 2008)

The problem with prequels coming out 10 years after the original story is that you most likely know how they are going to end. I knew Crisis Core would end with Zack Fair's final moments, but how they were going to weave this into the gameplay took me by absolute surprise. The last battle in the game manages to use the game's mechanics to convey a tremendous amount of emotion into a really excellent fighting sequence.

#9 - Battle with Psycho Mantis (Metal Gear Solid, Playstation, 1998)

“Metal Gear Solid” is a franchise that is made up of plot-twist after compounding plot-twist, but Psycho Mantis was most memorable for using the Playstation itself to mentally unnerve you and thwart your efforts to defeat him. His displays of psychic prowess break the proverbial fourth wall and confront the player directly and the challenge of defeating him required some out-of-the-box thinking and gaming.

#8 - First Fight with Magus (Chrono Trigger, Super Nintendo, 1995)

Chrono Trigger opens with a trip to the Millennial Fair which is celebrating the year 1000AD as well as the Hero’s triumphant defeat of Magus 400 years ago. As soon as you walk Crono out the front door the game is already conditioning you for the ultimate showdown with Magus in 600AD and you don’t even know it. The game does a good job of hyping up this fight and then it delivers in one of the best sequences in the game topped off with one of the best tracks of battle music as well.

#7 - Sora's Sacrifice (Kingdom Hearts, Playstation 2, 2002)

Sora proves without a doubt he would do anything to reunite with his friends. After learning that his friend Kairi will remain comatose until her heart is freed from its hiding place locked within Sora’s own heart, he does what any selfless hero-in-training would do – stabs himself in the heart with a Keyblade that unlocks all hearts. He frees Kairi and allows darkness to consume his heart.

#6 - The First Colossus, Valus the Minotaur (Shadow of the Colossus, Playstation 2, 2005)

Shadow of the Colossus is a masterpiece and every moment is memorable, but it’s easy to pick out the first of the sixteen colossi as the poster-colossus to represent the whole game. Though each of the colossi is a marvel in its own right, Valus sets the tone and scope of the entire adventure by taking your breath away as you grip your sword and run up to his enormous legs trying to find some weakness to bring this giant down.

#5 - The Sacrifice of Palom & Porom (Final Fantasy IV, Super Nintendo, 1991)

Final Fantasy IV is my favorite game to play. I’ve beaten it dozens of times because I love the story and characters. I want to note that my least favorite characters are Palom & Porom, but for one short scene they really steal the show. Their self-sacrifice has me tearing up every single time I live through it. Despite the twins spending most of their time annoying me with their sibling banter, they really show a courage and wisdom beyond their years when they step up and give their lives to free the other characters from a devious trap.

#4 - The Master Sword (The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, Nintendo 64, 1998)

The pivotal moment in Ocarina of Time is after you gather the three prerequisite pendants and play the Song of Time before the sword in the stone. Link pulls the Master Sword free in an unforgettable sequence. When you step into the shoes of Link as an adult several years into the future, you realize you’ve only scratched the surface of what this game has in store for you.

#3 - The Opera "Draco & Maria" (Final Fantasy VI, Super Nintendo, 1995)

In an elaborate attempt to gain access to the world’s only privately owned and operated airship, the cast of Final Fantasy VI opt to cast Celes as the lead role in place of the opera starlet Maria, whom the airship owner is planning to kidnap. I expected to step on stage and see a few lines of text before the scene changed, but what I got was a full 20 minute opera completely composed in 16-bit. It shattered my perception of video game music, and remains one of the most amazing scenes in the entire “Final Fantasy” franchise.

#2 - Aerith's Death (Final Fantasy VII, Playstation, 1997)

The villain you’ve been chasing manages to get his hands on the Black Materia and use it cast a world ending spell known as “Meteor.” In response, the soft-spoken, kind-hearted token damsel in distress decides to head off on her own to seek answers and when you finally catch up to her, you find her peacefully praying on a dais in the middle of the Forgotten City. She looks up at you with hope in her eyes, and that’s when the villain descends from above and impales her on the end of his sword. Does this sound upsetting? Believe me, it is. This scene is burned into my memory.

#1 - Samus Unmasked (Metroid, Nintendo Entertainment System, 1987)

I believe Aerith’s Death (#2) may be slightly more emotionally traumatizing and shocking, but Samus pulling off her helmet and revealing she is a woman is my #1 because I was so young when I experienced it and it was equally unexpected. I was so proud of myself for beating such a difficult game, and the game itself rewarded me with knowledge that not many kids had at the time. This moment of revelation is really what kick started her as a video game phenomenon.

-TOP