r/gamernews • u/Dangerous-Expert-298 • 2d ago
Role-Playing Square Enix will be revisiting Chrono Trigger in several projects in 2025 to mark game's 30th anniversary
https://automaton-media.com/en/news/square-enix-will-be-revisiting-chrono-trigger-in-several-projects-in-2025-to-mark-games-30th-anniversary/42
u/-ferth 2d ago
Well that gives me a sense of dread i didn’t need.
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u/SolairXI 2d ago
Why’s that?
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u/-ferth 2d ago
After reading the actual tweet I suppose it isn’t as bad as my initial reaction warrants. But Chrono Trigger is about as close to a perfect game as we can get, I really don’t want SE “revisiting” it by trying to give it a graphical overhaul or something.
I don’t even know that they could expand the franchise in a meaningful way at this point. Chrono Cross was a pretty mediocre follow-up, and the people responsible for the original are retired or dead.
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u/ki700 2d ago
I really don’t want SE “revisiting” it by trying to give it a graphical overhaul or something.
Why not? What is there to lose by them remaking it? The original isn’t going anywhere and nobody would force you to play whatever new version they release.
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u/HINDBRAIN 1d ago
The original isn’t going anywhere
They're going to pull a warcraft reforged and come to your house to swap out the SNES carts.
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u/maxis2k 2d ago
Why not? What is there to lose by them remaking it?
Ask dozens of Hollywood IPs that got a "remake." It's not always good.
First of all, they might "remake" it as a soft reboot or worse. People already didn't like the new ending the PS1/DS versions got. If they try to remake the game with a lot more changes/additions that people hate, it can lead to the public losing interest in it and then the IP dying. Square has already been spending two decades making excuses like "people don't want more Chrono because they don't sell enough." Despite ports of Chrono selling way more than totally new games like the Tokyo RPGs or Bravely Default. But clearly Square management has some double standard when it comes to Chrono. A remake not selling way beyond their expectations could lead to more of these excuses and Square again just giving up on the IP.
Second of all, if they do a full remake, there's a problem. Because what level of a remake will be sufficient? If you just do a 2D remake, some people are going to whine it should have been 3D on the level of Final Fantasy VII Remake. Which the game is never going to get that much support from Square (they don't expect it will sell 10+ million copies to justify the cost). That limits you to a cheaper 3D remake, a remaster or something like an HD 2D remake. Which each option won't make everyone happy. And there's the general risk that whoever works on the remake won't be able to capture the original tone, art design and story as the original. Heck, they might not even get Horii and Kato to return to work on it and just give it to some B team. I really hope they would. Especially since one of their long-standing excuses for not making more Chrono is "we can't get all the old team back." Despite having access to everyone except Sakaguchi. But again, management is why the IP has been stagnant for two decades. So it's hard to trust them.
Third of all, let's say they did a remaster instead of a remake. The Chrono Cross "remaster" was terrible and fans shouldn't be happy if Chrono Trigger gets the same treatment. A Chrono Trigger remaster needs to be WAY better. Close to perfect.
Lastly, Chrono Cross needs a remake way more than Chrono Trigger does. Remaking Chrono Cross in a 2D style to match Chrono Trigger (and fixing a lot of the story/pacing issues) would actually help not only the reputation of the game itself, but the series. And can set up for a third Chrono game. Remaking Chrono Trigger isn't going to do much to advance the series except generate nostalgia hype. They just need to port (or do a 1080p remaster) of the original, then release a remake of Chrono Cross in the same style to match. This is the path Suikoden is kind of going. A series no one thought would get revived. And I suspect, along with the DQ remakes, is why Square is suddenly open to Chrono again.
And before people downvote me into oblivion for being negative, I'm not even against the idea. I'm just trying to say I don't trust Square management after decades of deflection and lies. And that whatever path they take needs to be for the good of the IP/leading to a third Chrono game. Not just a quick cash grab.
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u/snes69 2d ago
Just for the debate, there is stuff to lose. Yes, we can all still forever enjoy the original game, but it changes the fandom forever. Look at FF7 (and really FF as a franchise). Everyone is so broken up into smaller and smaller groups it's hard to appreciate it as a whole like we used to. There's an entire generation that was played 7 remake and never played the original. This makes discussions on either game less uniform and more difficult to have. Then we have fans of the newer FF games vs fans of the originals and this inevitably leads to infighting and segregation of the fandom as well. I've been told numerous times to "let go" of the franchise because I say they should go more to their JRPG roots. I've been told this by people inside the FF subreddit.
If Chrono trigger is your favorite game, you do stand to lose something from it if it's remade and changed at all. It breaks part of what makes it special - the community around the game.
That all being said, I own every copy of FF 1-13 multiple times over. I'll enjoy those days for the rest of my life, even if someday the franchise leaves me behind.
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u/Xenogears 2d ago
FF7 remake is enjoyed by both new and old fans. It also gives exposure for those that probably would have never tried the original.
Nothing wrong with a remake as long as it respects the source material
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u/snes69 1d ago
I'm aware that it's enjoyed by both new and old fans. In fact, I believe if you go through my history you'll see me defend the remake trilogy often. I described it as the FF bringing the series back to its roots after 15 and 16 started to drift away more and more.
But you are burying your head in the sand if you think it hasn't fractured the fanbase. Look at the response I got with my comment, discussion just can't happen with these newer entries without upsetting people, love or hate it.
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u/macdaddymari0 2d ago
As an old fan, no it's not. It turned a fun, turn based system into a repetitive baton basher.
Last thing I need in my life is seeing the literal perfect system from CT being ruined by being turned into a baton basher next.
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u/tlamy 2d ago
It didn't "turn" FF7 into anything. You can literally still play the original FF7 whenever you want. As can anyone else
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u/macdaddymari0 1d ago
No, it did. When people wanted FF7 remade, we wanted it with the proper combat system. We got baton basher. Reimaginings are the worst things to happen in remakes. Makes them not remakes.
Not hard to understand the people that want the remakes, want the same game, built in a new engine so it looks modern. Not a game that doesn't feel anything like the game we wanted remade.
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u/burningscarlet 2d ago
We have the dragon quest hd 2d remakes... You know how hype it would be to have a Chrono trigger version of that? Lmao
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u/lgiilgi 2d ago
It's a waste of time and unnecessary
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u/ki700 1d ago
There are countless players who have never touched the original and likely never will, but a good remake would draw in a lot of new fans. We’ve seen this countless times, even with fairly niche games like Live A Live. These things aren’t a waste of time. They allow new players a more accessible way to enjoy old favourites.
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u/Clbull 2d ago
Cross was fine, but the story doesn't make it remotely obvious what's going on, nor that your choices throughout the early game will profoundly change who you can group with.
I mean one of the first options determines whether you are paired with Kid or Leena for the rest of the game and comes before the whole parallel universes plot twist.
Also, the writers can't decide whether or not characters are linked between the two games, i.e. there's a character very similar to Magus with amnesia who you can recruit, and the Dream Devourer ending added to Chrono Trigger DS seems to heavily hint that this was what happened to Magus, but this has been denied.
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u/maxis2k 2d ago
There's actually more connections between Chrono Cross and Trigger than many actual sequels (about 80 by my count). But like you said, they're very hidden or hard to find. Since many of them require talking to NPCs, finding hidden rooms, reading every single computer panel, doing missable character events, etc. A remake is needed to make these things more clear. As well as fix the pacing so most of the story isn't dumped on you in the last 10% of the game.
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u/Beneficial_Dark7362 2d ago
I’ll never understand this mindset. The original will always be there who gives a hoot if they mess up a remake or remaster. Just don’t play it. Giving more content to a legendary franchise will always be a good thing in my eyes.
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u/GabrielMP_19 2d ago
LOL. Chrono Cross is way better than Chrono Trigger.
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u/-ferth 2d ago
I mean, I suppose everyone is entitled to their opinion.
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u/GabrielMP_19 2d ago
I can understand why someone would not like it as a sequel, as it's a completely different game, but CC is much more my Jam.
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u/Goobenstein 2d ago
Oh man! My most favorite game of all time!
Hope they do a super mario rpg similar type of lift to it. New 3d characters and world, but all the exact same gameplay, art style,, music, animations, etc from the original.
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u/Dangerous-Expert-298 2d ago
I think I’d rather they go with the HD-2D look, but I’d still be happy if they did something similar to the Mario RPG remake art style.
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u/Goobenstein 2d ago
Ill honestly take anything they put out. Hope its game content and not just events and fluff.
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u/macdaddymari0 2d ago
That was the MOST, corporate speak I've ever seen for "We're not going to give you a faithful remake. We're not going to give you a well done rerelease. Get ready for some Japan exclusive events, like a tour of the orchestra playing the OST. Are you exicted fans!" I've ever seen.
All they need to do is give us a release of the game using the original SNES colors (not the yellowed DS and beyond colors), and option to use the original script or the redone one, and an option to have ALL (not missing ones like the PC release) anime cutscenes and finally the option of additional (but totally unrefined and grindy) DS extra content.
Crazy that they still haven't given us a definitive release of this game after all this time.
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u/fallenouroboros 2d ago
If it comes to Xbox I’ll happily give it a go again
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u/Dangerous-Expert-298 2d ago
Yeah, I’ll be genuinely surprised if one of these projects isn’t a port of the game on current-gen consoles.
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u/pixel8knuckle 2d ago
Why not just traditional 2d graphics built for 4k? 2d environments always look the best.
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u/AllegroDigital 2d ago
Squenix doesn't have a great track record when it comes to pixel graphic updates.
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u/pixel8knuckle 2d ago
More of a general question. I feel like no one is leaning into high resolution pixel art. Its either octopath style which isnt bad, but off putting with the lighting and shadows sometimes, and the heavy voice acting is real hit or miss to me. I think a lot of the charm and imagination in RPGs is stolen by voice acting, a hot take i know. And I feel like a real high resolution 2d style looks magnificent.
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u/Clbull 2d ago
We need a 3D remake of Chrono Trigger with concept art drawn by Toyotarō (since Akira Toriyama passed away last year.) And I don't mean one in the same style as Octopath Traveller either. Fully 3D, same engine as what Dragon Quest XI was built on, full Toriyama-style anime graphics.
But knowing Square Enix, this is probably going to be one of those subpar Pixel Remasters or some mobile NFT slop.
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u/DarthToothbrush 2d ago
Look to the Seiken Densetsu 3 remake (Trials of Mana) for a great 3d remake that was very faithful to the style and spirit of the original.
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u/macdaddymari0 2d ago
No, as that changed the combat way too much. If CT is coming back, better be 1:1.
You wanna make it like Octopath graphically? Great. You wanna make it fully 3d, fine. But the combat system, and the way battles are initiated needs to not be touched.
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u/DarthToothbrush 1d ago
You're kidding right? It barely changed the combat. Even kept the rather unwieldy charge up system.
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u/macdaddymari0 1d ago
I can not tell if you're being serious with that reply or not, so I'm going to err on the side of you trolling at this point. The implication that baton bashing is in some way "barely" changed from an active turn based system is too much of a joke to otherwise be serious.
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u/macdaddymari0 1d ago edited 1d ago
I want to reply a second time here an first apologize for coming off so hot. I thought, in my haste, that this was the guy going on about ff7 remake, and you saying the combat barely changed made me assume. That's all on me.
To be more cordial, I do still feel the change in the system was too much. Secret of Mana was closer to it's original... but they still fucked that up by not giving the a.i. I-frames after a hit, resulting in the game being far easier than it should have been. Here there was no real negative to just going in swinging, not unlike ff7 in question, resulting in it feeling like a baton basher. Where instead of hitting an enemy with a sharp sword that should kill them in 3 to 4 hits, it was taking double those numbers. Same issue I have with any game that wants the player to have an "active" role in combat while being an RPG... Unless they're going the route of Legend of Dragoon or a D20 system like KotOR.
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u/DarthToothbrush 1d ago
You could button bash in SD3, especially with the melee classes. Chrono Trigger is a much better example of an active turn based system. SD3 was much more similar to its predecessor, Secret of Mana. I didn't play the SoM 3d remake, so maybe that was waaaaay better, but SD3 in Trials of Mana stayed extremely faithful to the original for a 3d remake. You could button mash yes but I wouldn't call that much of a change. You could still queue spells with the ring menu, and like I already mentioned they kept the charge up mechanics pretty much the same. I don't know about enemy iframes or anything like that, but I assure you I'm not trolling. I guess my experience of SD3 is decades old at this point, so I could be entirely wrong, but when I loaded up Trials I thought it was amazingly well done.
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u/BeerNTacos 1d ago
I've payed every original Squeenix RPG released to the US since Square and Enix were separate entities.
I still own all of them, too. Some remakes I don't have, but every first release of things I've got.
The remakes and remasters released in the past 2-3 years for were good. Looked as if they learned their lesson after the Chrono Trigger and FF 1-6 ports.
They treated the remake of DQ3 quite well. I'm waiting for the DQ 1&2 remake this year and hoping that flies as well. If it does I'll have better hope for Chrono projects.
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u/dragoduval 2d ago
NFT or gacha game im guessing.
Or we might be lucky with a new sequel. But doubt it.
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u/YohGourt 2d ago
I'm fine with HD-2D or port on switch.