Info about CHRONO TRIGGER®:

Official game description:
The timeless RPG classic returns loaded with upgrades! Journey to the forgotten past, to the far future, and to the end of time. A big adventure to save the planet, now begins…  
CHRONO TRIGGER is the timeless role-playing classic developed by the ‘Dream Team’ of DRAGON QUEST creator Yuji Horii, Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, and the creators of FINAL FANTASY. As the story unfolds, embark on a journey to different eras: the present, the middle ages, the future, prehistory, and ancient times! Whether you're a first-time player or a longtime fan, this epic quest to save a planet's future promises hours of enthralling adventure!  
As the definitive version of CHRONO TRIGGER, not only have the controls been updated, the graphics and sound have also been revamped to make your adventure even more fun and enjoyable to play. To complete your journey, also included is the mysterious ‘Dimensional Vortex’ dungeon and the forgotten ‘Lost Sanctum’ dungeon. Meet the challenges presented to you and long-lost secrets may be revealed...  
Story:  
A chance encounter amid the festivities of Guardia's Millennial Fair in Leene Square introduces our young hero, Crono, to a girl by the name of Marle. Deciding to explore the fair together, the two soon find themselves at an exhibition of the Telepod, the latest invention by Crono's longtime friend Lucca. Marle, fearless and brimming with curiosity, volunteers to assist in a demonstration. An unanticipated malfunction, however, sends her hurtling through a rift in the dimensions. Taking hold of the girl's pendant, Crono bravely follows in pursuit. But the world into which he emerges is the one of four centuries before. Journey to the forgotten past, the distant future, and even to the very End of Time. The epic quest to save a planet's future makes history once again.  
**KEY FEATURES:**  
**Active Time Battle Version 2**  
During battle, time will not stop, and you can enter commands when the character's gauge is full. The enemies' positions will change as time passes, so choose your actions based on any given situation.  
**‘Tech’ moves and combos**  
During battle, you can unleash special ‘Tech’ moves, including abilities and/or magic and characters can combine these abilities to unleash all new combo attacks which are unique to them. There are over 50 different types of combos that you can execute between two and three characters!  
**Experience the 'Dimensional Vortex' and the 'Lost Sanctum' dungeons**  
The Dimensional Vortex: a mysterious, ever-changing dungeon existing outside of space and time. What wonders await you at its center?  
The Lost Sanctum: enigmatic gates in prehistoric and medieval times will lead you to these forgotten chambers. Meet the challenges presented to you and long-lost secrets may be revealed...  
**Graphics and sound**  
While keeping the atmosphere of the original, the graphics have been updated in higher resolution. As for the sound and music, under the supervision of composer Yasunori Mitsuda, all songs have been updated for an even more immersive gameplay experience.  
**Comfortable controls**  
Whether you play with a gamepad or a keyboard, the controls have been updated for a more pleasant gameplay experience.  
**Autosave**  
In addition to saving at a save point or choosing to quit from the menu, your progress is saved automatically while traversing the map.

Release date: Feb 27, 2018

Categories: JRPG, Turn-based Combat, Time Travel Mechanics, Story-driven Gameplay, Character Progression, Multiple Endings, New Game+, Pixel Art Style

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 20; verdict: Predatory; summary: The user reviews overwhelmingly express a strong perception of greed and exploitation by the publisher. The term 'cash grab' is frequently used, indicating that users feel the game is designed more for financial gain rather than providing a quality experience. Additionally, there is a notable criticism of the publisher's reputation and a sense of disrespect towards the original game. These points highlight significant concerns about the monetization and ethical practices surrounding the game.
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Improvement in Guidance; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals a significant reliance on external guides and walkthroughs to navigate the game, understand quest outcomes, and optimize gameplay strategies. Users frequently mention the need for additional resources to fully grasp complex mechanics and hidden secrets within the game. This dependency on external data sources highlights areas where the game could improve in terms of in-game guidance and clarity.
- Proton/Linux: score 15; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game generally runs well on Steam Deck and Linux with Proton emulation. However, some users report graphical glitches on Linux after about an hour of gameplay. Specific Proton versions like Photon Hotfix can enhance the gaming experience on Linux.
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Mixed Experience with Notable Issues; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals a mixed experience with the game on Steam Deck. While many users report a seamless and enjoyable experience, there are significant issues with the user interface, particularly the small text size, which is a remnant from the mobile version. Compatibility and stability issues were also noted, with some users indicating that the game runs better on Linux or Steam Deck. However, the most severe and frequent complaints involve frequent crashes and technical issues, which can significantly disrupt the gaming experience. Despite these issues, many users still find the game enjoyable and well-polished on the Steam Deck.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: The game exhibits significant performance issues across both hardware cohorts, with frequent crashes and instability being the primary concerns. The <8GB VRAM cohort shows slightly better performance with some positive experiences reported.
  - Sample size: 35 (2% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (negative, 12 reports): Players report frequent crashes and severe performance drops, making the game nearly unplayable.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM (mixed, 10 reports): While some players experience crashes, others report a mostly stable and enjoyable experience.
  - Caveats: 35 of 2167 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $10.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that users generally find the game worth purchasing, especially when it is on sale. Many reviews mention that the game is worth the price only when discounted, indicating that the community considers the base price to be higher than what they are willing to pay. The frequent mentions of sales and discounts suggest that the fair price range is lower than the current base price of $14.99. Additionally, some reviews explicitly state that the game is worth the price even at full cost, but these are fewer in number.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 30.0h
  - Story completion: 25.0h
  - Session length: 3.0h
  - Endgame: 10.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides direct and indirect mentions of playtime. The first quote mentions a total playtime of approximately 50 hours to complete the game, including most missions and exploration. The second quote indicates a session length of 3 hours. The third quote suggests a total playtime of 70 hours, with 40 hours dedicated to the first completion. The fourth quote mentions playing for several hours, contributing to the understanding of session length and total playtime.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Chrono Trigger's fun factor improves significantly after the initial third of the game, where pacing and character development start to shine.
  - Stance: Fun after initial slog
  - Anchor: Completion of the first third of the game
  - Time to anchor: 3h 0m
  - Friction: early game pacing issues; repetitive combat; tedious side quests
  - Unlock drivers: improved pacing; engaging combat system; character progression
  - Conditions: story engagement; appreciation for retro graphics; patience for initial slow pacing
- Player Archetypes:
  - Nostalgic Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia and love for the classic game.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys the game for its story and characters, often overlooking technical issues.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: JRPG fan; Chrono Trigger fan
    - Reference games: Final Fantasy; Dragon Ball
  - Critical Veteran (no buy)
    - Motivation: Seeking a high-quality gaming experience.
    - Playstyle: Prefers emulators or other versions for a better gaming experience.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: Old-school gamer; Emulator user
    - Reference games: Chrono Trigger (SNES); Chrono Trigger (PS1)
  - Story-Driven Advocate (buy)
    - Motivation: Appreciation for the game's narrative and artistic qualities.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys the game for its story and artistic elements, often replaying it.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: JRPG enthusiast; Story-driven gamer
    - Reference games: Final Fantasy; Chrono Cross


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Engaging and well-written story (weight 0.32): The story is described as great, well-written, and exciting. Players enjoy the storytelling and character development, finding the narrative engaging and well-structured.
- High-quality gameplay experience (weight 0.32): The game is praised for its great gameplay, creative design, and overall quality. Players find the gameplay experience enjoyable and well thought out.
- Praised soundtrack and music (weight 0.27): The game's soundtrack and music are frequently highlighted as excellent, beautiful, and memorable. Players appreciate the high quality and timeless nature of the music.
- Considered a top RPG (weight 0.27): The game is frequently cited as one of the best RPGs ever made, with many players considering it a classic and a masterpiece in the genre.
- Memorable and well-developed characters (weight 0.25): Characters are described as engaging, charismatic, and well-developed. Players appreciate the unique traits and memorable nature of the characters.
- Effective time travel mechanics (weight 0.23): The time travel mechanics are praised for being well-implemented, meaningful, and integral to the story. Players enjoy the deep integration of time travel elements.
- Unique combat system (weight 0.19): The combat system is described as enjoyable, fast-paced, and strategic. Players appreciate the blend of real-time and turn-based mechanics.
- Beautiful pixel art style (weight 0.17): The game's pixel art is described as exquisite, vibrant, and detailed. Players appreciate the retro graphics and animations.
- High replay value (weight 0.17): The game is noted for its high replayability, with multiple endings and addictive gameplay that keeps players engaged.
- Includes extra content (weight 0.15): The game includes additional content from the DS version, providing extra value and enhancing the overall experience.
- Considered an all-time great game (weight 0.11): Many players consider this game to be one of the greatest of all time, placing it in their top lists and praising its overall quality.
- Faithful to Chrono Trigger (weight 0.1): The game stays true to the original Chrono Trigger, with many players expressing their love and admiration for the classic game.
- Minimal grinding required (weight 0.08): Players appreciate the lack of unnecessary grinding, making the gameplay experience more enjoyable and less tedious.
- Runs smoothly on various systems (weight 0.07): The game is noted for its smooth performance on different systems, including low-end PCs and Linux, making it accessible to a wide range of players.
- Bookmark feature for saving (weight 0.06): The bookmark feature is praised for allowing players to save anywhere, mitigating the impact of crashes and enhancing the overall experience.

Common complaints:
- Frequent game crashes (weight 0.39): The game experiences frequent crashes, occurring every 10-15 minutes for some players, making it unplayable and causing frustration due to lost progress.
- Poor port quality (weight 0.22): The port is criticized for its poor performance and quality, with many players finding it unstable and poorly optimized.
- Missing animations and effects (weight 0.13): Some animations, special effects, and cutscenes are missing, detracting from the overall experience.
- Input and control issues (weight 0.11): Players report input delays, keyboard binding issues, and clunky controls, especially without a controller.
- Lack of guidance (weight 0.11): Players find the game lacks clear guidance on progression and quests, making it difficult to navigate.
- Crashes during cutscenes (weight 0.1): The game frequently crashes during movie scenes and cutscenes, disrupting the gameplay experience.
- Game is non-functional (weight 0.09): Some players report that the game does not launch or open, making it completely unplayable for them.
- Poor optimization and UI (weight 0.09): The game suffers from poor optimization and UI design, leading to a subpar gaming experience.
- Missing cutscenes and content (weight 0.09): Some cutscenes and content from the DS version are missing, which is disappointing for players.
- Visual and graphical issues (weight 0.09): The game has visual issues, including wonky animations, background grid problems, and color differences from the original.
- Disappointment with version (weight 0.08): Many players express disappointment with the Steam version, considering it not the best version of the game.
- Translation and dialogue changes (weight 0.08): Players are not fond of the new translation and dialogue changes, finding them sterile and bland.
- Progress loss (weight 0.07): The game often loses progress, especially after crashes, which adds to the frustration.
- Cutscene and skipping issues (weight 0.06): Players report issues with cutscenes, including the inability to skip them and some cutscenes not starting.
- Sound and localization issues (weight 0.06): There are problems with sound effects not playing properly and poor localization quality.
- Screen and performance issues (weight 0.06): Players report screen flashing, freezing, and slow performance issues.
- Auto-battle and menu issues (weight 0.06): The auto-battle mode is poorly implemented, and there are issues with menu stuttering and market menu problems.
- Repetitive content (weight 0.03): The added content is found to be repetitive and tiring, detracting from the overall experience.
- Movement and running bugs (weight 0.03): There are bugs with walking and running, making movement problematic.
- Time travel logic confusion (weight 0.03): The time travel logic can be confusing, leading to cognitive dissonance from time travel paradoxes.
- Framerate instability (weight 0.03): The game has an unstable framerate, causing stability issues.

Gameplay feedback:
- Hybrid combat system (weight 0.23): The game features a unique blend of turn-based and real-time combat mechanics, offering a dynamic and engaging battle system.
- Multiple endings (weight 0.18): The game offers high replayability with multiple endings, including alternative endings based on time periods and player choices.
- Time travel mechanics (weight 0.14): The game incorporates time loop and time travel elements, which are central to the narrative and gameplay.
- Story and character development (weight 0.13): The game features a strong narrative structure with well-developed characters and cinematic storytelling.
- New Game+ mode (weight 0.09): The game includes a New Game+ mode, which enhances replayability by offering additional endings and content.
- Combo attacks (weight 0.09): Players can perform dual and triple tech moves, adding depth to the combat system with special move sets and combos.
- Optional grinding (weight 0.08): Grinding to level up is optional, providing flexibility for players who prefer not to engage in extensive level farming.
- Interactive boss battles (weight 0.07): The game includes interactive and challenging boss battles, adding excitement to the gameplay.
- Strategic and challenging gameplay (weight 0.07): The game offers strategic and challenging gameplay, requiring players to think critically and make meaningful decisions.
- Map design (weight 0.07): The game includes well-designed maps with seamless transitions, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- Limited random encounters (weight 0.07): The game minimizes random encounters, focusing on more meaningful and visible enemy interactions.
- RPG elements (weight 0.06): The game is an RPG with real-time elements, offering a rich role-playing experience.
- Adjustable battle speed (weight 0.06): The game features adjustable battle speed settings, including an auto-battle mode for fast-paced combat.
- Long playtime and replayability (weight 0.04): The game offers a long playtime and high replayability, encouraging multiple playthroughs.
- Unique character mechanics (weight 0.04): Each character has unique combat traits and mechanics, providing diverse gameplay experiences.
- Excellent pacing (weight 0.04): The game is well-paced, balancing story, mechanics, and gameplay to provide a cohesive and engaging experience.
- Side quests (weight 0.04): The game features side quests and character quests, adding depth and additional content to the main story.
- Remastered and post-game content (weight 0.04): The game includes remastered content and additional post-game content, providing extra value for players.
- Challenging puzzles (weight 0.04): The game includes difficult puzzles that require strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Memorable soundtrack (weight 0.04): The game features a memorable soundtrack that enhances the overall gaming experience.
- Character visibility (weight 0.04): Characters are prominently featured and visible, ensuring they play a central role in the narrative.
- Open world elements (weight 0.04): The game includes open world elements, allowing players to explore and interact with the game world freely.
- NPC interactions (weight 0.04): Players can interact with NPCs, adding depth to the game world and storytelling.
- Enemy respawn mechanics (weight 0.04): The game includes enemy respawn mechanics, adding challenge and replayability to the gameplay.
- Straightforward mechanics (weight 0.04): The game features straightforward and easy-to-understand gameplay mechanics, making it accessible to a wide range of players.
- Save features (weight 0.04): The game includes save features, allowing players to save their progress at specific points or anywhere in the game.

Performance notes:
- Frequent game crashes (weight 0.35): The game experiences frequent crashes during various points such as gameplay, movie scenes, and startup. This issue is widespread and significantly impacts the gaming experience.
- Graphics and animation issues (weight 0.15): There are various graphical glitches, including screen flickering, black screens, and choppy animations. These issues detract from the visual experience of the game.
- Performance issues on PC (weight 0.15): Players report poor optimization, unstable framerates, and FPS drops. These performance issues make the game less enjoyable and more difficult to play.
- Steam Deck compatibility (weight 0.12): The game runs well on Steam Deck, with many players reporting a smooth experience without crashes. This indicates good optimization for the Steam Deck platform.
- Save system problems (weight 0.07): Players have encountered issues with the save functionality, including lost save files and corruption. This can lead to progress being lost and frustration.
- Port quality concerns (weight 0.07): The PC port of the game is criticized for being poorly executed, with various performance and stability issues. Players find the port to be of low quality.
- High resolution support issues (weight 0.03): Some players have noted issues with high resolution support, which can affect the visual quality and performance of the game on higher-end displays.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended for RPG fans (weight 0.21): The game is frequently recommended for fans of RPGs, especially those who enjoy real-time RPGs and classic SNES era JRPGs. It is also suggested for non-RPG fans and newcomers to the genre.
- Best played on SNES or emulator (weight 0.18): Many players suggest that the best way to experience the game is on a real SNES or using a good emulator like SNES9X. This is recommended for better functionality and authenticity.
- Buy on sale (weight 0.14): It is frequently recommended to purchase the game during a sale to get the best value. Some players suggest waiting for the game to be as cheap as possible.
- Recommended for its content and charm (weight 0.09): The game is praised for its simplicity, charm, depth, and historical significance. It is considered a classic RPG worth playing.
- Recommended despite some issues (weight 0.06): The game is highly recommended despite some known issues and flaws. Players find it worth playing despite these problems.
- Use CRT shaders for authenticity (weight 0.06): Players recommend using CRT shaders, such as ShaderGlass or Pixel Demaster, to enhance the authenticity of the gaming experience.
- Technical suggestions for better gameplay (weight 0.05): Various technical suggestions are provided, such as disabling virtual joystick input for certain keyboards, running as Administrator, and changing the default font.
- Future HD-2D remake desired (weight 0.04): Players express a desire for a future HD-2D remake with voice acting, more detailed scene design, and enhanced character relationships.
- Skip the Lost Sanctum side quest (weight 0.04): Some players suggest skipping the Lost Sanctum side quest for a better gaming experience.
- Use guides and ignore certain areas (weight 0.04): Suggestions include using a guide for better gameplay and ignoring certain areas until later in the game.
- Recommend PC version for full screen (weight 0.02): The PC version is recommended for its full-screen capability, enhancing the gaming experience.
- Manual saves and backups recommended (weight 0.02): Players recommend making manual saves and backups to avoid losing progress.
- Lower resolution for original look (weight 0.02): Lowering the resolution to a 4:3 aspect ratio is recommended to preserve the game’s original look.

Other player notes:
- Steam Deck compatibility (weight 0.02): Players have mentioned the game's compatibility with the Steam Deck, indicating interest in its performance on this platform.
- Desire for minimalist walkthrough (weight 0.02): There is a request for a minimalist walkthrough, suggesting that players are looking for simpler guides to navigate the game.
- Use of ReShade for visuals (weight 0.02): Players have used ReShade to apply CRT/Trinitron shaders, indicating an interest in customizing the game's visual appearance.
- Personal bias in review (weight 0.02): A reviewer disclosed their personal biases, stating their dislike for JRPGs, RPGs, anime, and Square Enix, which might affect their review perspective.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.23): Players are primarily frustrated by frequent game crashes, which lead to lost progress and disrupt gameplay. Additional causes include performance issues such as input delay, lag, and poor optimization, as well as confusing game mechanics and difficulty spikes.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.2): Players feel nostalgic due to the game's lasting impact and their personal connections to it, often reflecting on childhood memories and the game's timeless qualities. The music and story elements also evoke strong emotional connections and memories of past experiences.
- Admiration (weight 0.09): Players admire the game's timeless quality, revolutionary mechanics, and the overall design. The game's story, characters, and soundtrack are frequently praised, along with its advanced mechanics and unique storytelling.
- Joy (weight 0.08): Players experience joy from the game's engaging story, characters, and music, as well as the overall enjoyable gameplay mechanics. Positive memories and the humor found in the game also contribute to this emotion.
- Disappointment (weight 0.07): Players feel disappointed due to the poor quality of the port, including numerous bugs, performance issues, and crashes. Changes to the original game and unmet high expectations also contribute to this sentiment.
- Excitement (weight 0.06): Players are excited about the game's engaging story, gameplay mechanics, and music. The game's multiple endings, replayability, and overall enjoyable experience contribute to this excitement.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.05): Players feel satisfied with the game's smooth performance, additional features, and the ability to customize settings. The engaging story and characters, along with the game's compatibility with various platforms, also contribute to this satisfaction.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.05): Players enjoy the game's storytelling, combat mechanics, and overall gameplay experience. The music, characters, and unique gameplay elements also contribute to their enjoyment.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Players appreciate the game's high quality, character designs, and minimal grinding requirements. The game's narrative consistency and suitability for newcomers to JRPGs are also highly valued.
- Love (weight 0.02): Players express love for the game due to its deep story, nostalgia, and the involvement of Akira Toriyama. The game's music and overall elements evoke a strong emotional connection.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Players feel anger due to the game crashing despite high-end hardware and the company's handling of the issue. UI issues, repetitive scenes, and input problems also contribute to this frustration.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Players feel sadness due to the absence of language options and the mention of the passing of Akira Toriyama. The poor state of the game also evokes this emotion.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Players express hope for a better remaster or remake of the game, wishing for improvements and a true remaster that does justice to the original.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Players are enthusiastic about the game's timeless qualities, great pacing, and story. They highly recommend the game and praise its various aspects, comparing it to other beloved RPGs.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are surprised by the game's immediate immersion and unexpected plot twists. The seamless nature of certain aspects of the game also contributes to this feeling.
- Gratitude (weight 0.01): Players feel gratitude towards the creators for the memorable experience and appreciate the efforts made by Square Enix. The lasting impact of Akira Toriyama's work is also a significant factor.}