* * * * * Chrono Trigger - Week 5 * * * * *

(Plain English: Scroll down to the bottom of the "OP" if you're lagging behind for previous weeks)


TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prologue:
i Okami Club
ii Fire Emblem Club

Epic Center:
01 Ogre Battle
24 Secret of Mana
39 Phantasy Star IV (cont'd)
67 Earthbound (cont'd)
99 Breath of Fire II (cont'd)
110 Paper Mario (cont'd)
123 Golden Sun (cont'd)
136 Chrono Trigger

(ALL VINTAGE EC GAMES ARE CONTINUED IN THEIR OFFICIAL DISCUSSION THREADS!)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


Hello, true believers! Welcome to Negative World's newest RPG-centric Club Hub, springing off the heels of the Fire Emblem Club. Way back when, Nintendo Power introduced a monthly walkthrough / in depth Role Play Game section (right around the beefiest SNES RPG era), but since they aren't around anymore to use it, Negative World will bring it out of the ashes, dust it off, and roll with it (two things of note: #1, this is not in reaction to Nintendo Force Magazine at all -- I know that because I thought of it in the shower this morning, so THERE; and #2, I just looked up "Epic Center RPG" on Yahoo, and there is apparently another RPG-based site that has that, ugh. I guess we're looking at a "Ghostbusters" / "Real Ghostbusters" thing now... Whatever..).

For anyone who grew playing SNES RPGs, and were a fan of them, they surely resonated to the point where they still hold office as some of your favorite games of your entire videogame life, systems, generations, and decades later. The NW Epic Center (run primarily by myself, with the aid of some special friends occasionally) will help to expose some of those games that didn't quite get the recognition they deserved, and also to relive some of the greatest games EVER as we play through them again -- together -- and open up a whole new dialogue on these lost treasures.


Next up..



Chrono Trigger is held by many (myself included) as The Greatest RPG of All Time, pun not intended. It is a benchmark title in the genre, and even after 20 years the game is discussed daily and held in high regard, even in the face of juiced-up, HD "masterpieces." Is simpler sometimes better? Sure, but we're not talking "Dragon Warrior" simple here; we're talking 16-bit perfection at its finest. I'm personally a bit worried about pursuing this game once more; it's been a long time since my last jog through it, and I'm afraid I might have the rosiest pair of glasses that any shot of nostalgia could ever produce. We find out later this month, for better or for worse. (C'mon, it's gonna be fine -- we're talking Chrono Trigger here!! THE BEST, JERRY, THE BEST!!)

Sunday, August 30th marks the start of Week 1 (if you prefer to start your own quest AFTER Sunday, like Monday, or Tuesday, or Wednesday, thats fine!). Golden Sun ran 6 Weeks. GameDadGrant will be our DUNGEON MASTER for this one, and we figure the playthrough to run about the same length. Less than two months. I'm told the total quest should last you between 20 and 30 hours.


See ya soon!!


CHRONO TRIGGER

Dungeon Master: GameDadGrant

You Did It! Chrono Trigger Complete:
VofEscaflowne
Scrawnton
Mop it up
Ludist210


Week 4 Complete:
GameDadGrant
mrbiggsly
DapperDave

Week 3 Complete:
Mr_Mustache (and Mrs_Mustache!)

Week 2 Complete:
Smerd
Dark weres
warerare
sirmastersephiroth

Week 1 Complete:
Anand

Triggermen:
HammerLord
Koovaps

Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5

--------------------------------

@Zero
@Mr_Mustache

I'm actually making a conscious effort to work less and forcing myself to focus on something else for a set aside time during the day. That's partly why I wanted to participate in the Nuzlocke and this Epic Center Challenge.

@Mr_Mustache

I have the best stuff. Bad thing about this game: Doesn't let you know when you can buy a superior item, like Earthbound does.

@DapperDave Sounds good. I've been doing that lately too, WAY too much time in front of computers pouring over code, so trying to actually schedule in "fun" time.

So I hit the game hard tonight and finished week one tonight. I have at a least a 7 days work week ahead of me if not longer, so it was now or never.

It amazes me how much of this game I don't remember.

@TheOldManFromZelda

Oh, it most certainly does, Lou! Use the "Switch" option at the Shop. It'll show you what your power will go to, and what its going from (ie: Bandana to SaladBwl is "27 --> 28," at least early on), and also let you know how much you can sell your old item for, and it equips it automatically. I wish you called me!

Also, be sure to drop any money in the Bank before you go (usually in Item shops, at least in the ones in HomeTown and Coursair). That way, if you don't make it, all of your CASH will be there waiting for you.

C'mon, Louuu!

@SeVeN CDN

Wooo! Good work, man! You finished your stuff 6 days early, haha. Next Week should go up on Saturday night, but know that you never need to start on THAT SUNDAY, just that you have to be done before NEXT SATURDAY. We go in Calendar Weeks. Dig it?

@Mr_Mustache
I can dig for sure

I wanted to keep playing a bit, but went back to Zelda and beat another dungeon instead. Also cant wait till The monkey joins your party. Cant remember his name, but remember loving him when I was a kid.

@Mr_Mustache

Interesting... well I guess that will help then. I kind of assumed that stuff would be standard. And I did make it a habit to deposit cash before venturing to new areas.

I played a bit yesterday. I'm still in the mountain cave so I'm not very far yet.

@SeVeN CDN

Yeah, he's a cool dude. Soon enough! Sten, I think? He's also the first guy that you can put two Shamans on, so he gets that AWESOME NEW APPEARANCE.

@TheOldManFromZelda

Oh yeah, it'll TOTALLY help.

And I did die late last night walking around Coursair trying to get the Fishing Spot to pop up (double teamed by those Flower Guys dropping SweetBreath on you. Smells so gooooood, must go to sleeeeeeep..). I don't think you can do anything with the Salesman / Gobi? Fish that swims through just yet. But maybe the Item known as "Gold," possibly found in TagWoods is a suitable lure. I can't recall.

@DeputyVanHalen

Mountain Cave? Looking for the Piggy? There is a cave on the way to Coursair that we DON'T mess with just yet.

@Mr_Mustache
I think it's Mt. Fubi. I think I'm OK because I'm able to handle the enemies pretty easily.

@DeputyVanHalen

Yeah, you're probably fine. That Cave is about 3 minutes long.

@Mr_Mustache
Well, whichever one it was, I was doing some level grinding in front of the fountain that heals you when I had to stop.

@DeputyVanHalen

Thats the one (Mt. Fubi, to Ruins)!

Once you get around 7, you should be good for a bit. There are heavier guys (exp and HP-wise) over the bridge (but finish what you're doing first!).

TheOldManFromZelda said:

@Mr_Mustache

I have the best stuff. Bad thing about this game: Doesn't let you know when you can buy a superior item, like Earthbound does.

I like hearing things like this. Gives me insight into the pet peeves people might have while playing RPGs that I can take heed of. I hope everyone shares there likes and dislikes with this game.

Are we allowed to take screenshots and post comments? Should we keep it in spoiler tags?

@DapperDave

Hmm..I guess there is no issue with screenshots? Some of the bosses look pretty cool though, and maybe folks wouldn't want to see those before they're there (I think if you want to post a slew of pics AFTER the week is officially over ie: Sunday, who can complain then?). Thats one thing I always liked about this game, but I guess a bunch of other games do that, too.

As for your own game development, yes, being able to EASILY see if a weapon is better / how much better is a huge plus. I always liked the way that Final Fantasy III did it, too, but that didn't take into account things like "Agility Decreases," and stinky Earthbound didn't either. I was using the Casey Bat for a LONG time because I didn't realize / KNOW that the Hit % drops EXTRAORDINARILY while the ATK Power increases. Thumbs down to that.

Random Encounters seem to have worn thin on a lot of people, too. I don't mind them too much, but games like Tales of Symphonia, Arc Rise Fantasia, and other "modern" RPGs have shown how much "better" it is to have 3D models walking around so you can avoid them, or attack them from behind to get the jump on them.

Mr_Mustache said:

Random Encounters seem to have worn thin on a lot of people, too. I don't mind them too much, but games like Tales of Symphonia, Arc Rise Fantasia, and other "modern" RPGs have shown how much "better" it is to have 3D models walking around so you can avoid them, or attack them from behind to get the jump on them.

Or, you know, like it was in Earthbound.

@TheOldManFromZelda

Earthbound has other guys jumping in though! You engage battle with a guy, and then two assholes come from flying off the screen, and now you've gotta fight 3 guys (or more). I could've done without that.

--I was just reading an FAQ about this game (yes, you can pull up the Maniro above Coursair with the Gold lure, and gain access to some pricey equipment earlier than you should), and my goodness; this dude is talking about algorithms and rolls and chances..holy cow, do not read it. Your mind will melt. Mook would like it...

Mr_Mustache said:

@DapperDave

Hmm..I guess there is no issue with screenshots? Some of the bosses look pretty cool though, and maybe folks wouldn't want to see those before they're there (I think if you want to post a slew of pics AFTER the week is officially over ie: Sunday, who can complain then?). Thats one thing I always liked about this game, but I guess a bunch of other games do that, too.

As for your own game development, yes, being able to EASILY see if a weapon is better / how much better is a huge plus. I always liked the way that Final Fantasy III did it, too, but that didn't take into account things like "Agility Decreases," and stinky Earthbound didn't either. I was using the Casey Bat for a LONG time because I didn't realize / KNOW that the Hit % drops EXTRAORDINARILY while the ATK Power increases. Thumbs down to that.

Random Encounters seem to have worn thin on a lot of people, too. I don't mind them too much, but games like Tales of Symphonia, Arc Rise Fantasia, and other "modern" RPGs have shown how much "better" it is to have 3D models walking around so you can avoid them, or attack them from behind to get the jump on them.

The way I'm handling it is pretty much like FF3. When you point to a weapon or armor in a shop it gives arrows indicating whether it's better or worse. But also like FF3 it doesn't show special properties of that weapon. To see those, you can press an info button which gives the attack/defense power all of it's properties, and a description of the item for flavor.

Enemy encounters are handled like Earthbound where you can see the enemy which will try and pursue you if you get close enough. When contact is made one of several possible encounter groups for that enemy is called. Further enemies cannot join in.

Week one complete.

The story is kind of goofy so far. And not chuckle-in-a-good-way goofy, either.

Things better pick up soon.

BUNDURU.

I'm through 1.2.