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Thursday, January 15, 2009

Games Mini-Reviews: Chrono Trigger DS, Rolando

Posted by Earnest "Nex" Cavalli on Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 10:20 AM

Consider this an atypical entry in the mini-reviews canon. The beginning of 2009 signals the typical lull in gaming releases, so with nothing new flooding my mailbox I find myself focusing today on a re-release of a 14-year-old Super Nintendo game and a title only available on the iPhone.

ctds.jpg

Chrono Trigger DS — $40 — Nintendo DS

I'm not sure how exactly I ended up working as a gaming writer without having played Chrono Trigger before, but now that I've experienced it via the gorgeous Nintendo DS remake I totally get the hype. Best roleplaying game of all time? Yeah, I'd agree with that.

The only real problem is that in the subsequent decade and a half since Chrono Trigger was first released so many games have lifted its then-novel ideas that most players won't grasp how innovative and well-crafted it all is.

Still, this is the gaming equivalent of required reading. Think Kurosawa's Seven Samurai for film students, or Vampire Weekend for guys with scarves.

Verdict: Buy it


.

Rolando — $10 — iPhone, iPod Touch

I'm still not convinced that the iPhone is the next big gaming platform, but I will admit that Rolando is as entertaining a handheld game as I've played in months.

Synopsis: Each level is a colorful maze populated with cutesypoo spherical people. By tilting the iPhone left and right you cause them to roll in each respective direction, overcoming various environmental hazards and eventually reaching each stage's goal.

It's a simple premise, but the rad bit is in how flawlessly it's executed. Most other iPhone games run like shit or have poorly implemented iPhone-specific controls, but the simplicity of Rolando lends itself to a game that you can pick up and play for minutes or hours without ever running into any real design flaws.

Add an Xbox-esque Achievement system, tons of levels (each with optional objectives) and the cutest character designs on the platform and you've got the finest non-Bejeweled game you can purchase for your electronic status symbol.

Verdict: Buy it

 

Comments (5) RSS

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1
And the soundtrack on Chrono Trigger is the best ever. I listen to it (and remixes) frequently... I just got this for DS, and half of the reason I'm playing it is for the music.
Posted by ROM on January 15, 2009 at 10:46 AM · Report
2
I suppose if you hadn't played the SNES version, you couldn't necessarily judge, but I'd be interested to hear what the differences are between the old console version, and the DS version, if there are any.
Posted by pcrackenhead on January 15, 2009 at 11:03 AM · Report
3
I haven't played too far into the new one yet, so I can't give a complete comparison. But there are reviews out there...

Basically the entire game is the same, but they added dual-screen action. So you can control combat on one screen, and watch the combat on the other. Stuff like that. I need to keep playing it.

and wikipedia says:

The DS re-release contains all of the bonus material from the PlayStation port as well as other enhancements. The added features include a more accurate translation by Tom Slattery, a dual-screen mode which clears the top screen of all menus, a self-completing map screen, and a default "run" option. Masato Kato participated in development, overseeing the addition of the monster-battling Arena and two new areas, the Lost Sanctum and the Dimensional Vortex. One of the areas within the Vortex uses the "Singing Mountain" song that was featured on the original Chrono Trigger soundtrack. These new dungeons met with mixed reviews; GameSpot called them "frustrating" and "repetitive," while IGN noted that "the extra quests in the game connect extremely well."

so I guess there's some extra levels.
Posted by ROM on January 15, 2009 at 11:44 AM · Report
4
Yeah, what he said. The biggest change though is that you can control EVERYTHING via stylus and it actually works pretty well. Being able to tap icons during combat to unleash attacks allows you to fight stuff off much quicker once you've learned where all the combo techs are.

Two thumbs up, fun for the whole family.
Posted by Earnest "Nex" Cavalli on January 15, 2009 at 1:45 PM · Report
5
Chrono Trigger was totally rad. If you don't have a DS, you should at least download a rom of it. Really good classic gaming.
Posted by Will Radik on January 17, 2009 at 5:19 AM · Report

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