* * * * * 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

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@Pokefreak911

That's fine, don't worry about it. I hope your grandfather is going to be alright. There's plenty of time to catch up. Thanks for letting us know.

@Hero_Of_Hyrule

I'm still working through this but I also have yet to come across that doll. I did check out the radio station though.

@Hero_Of_Hyrule

Yes to both! I found the doll early and chilled out to the cool tunes. Good stuff. My extra play time was probably mostly spent whacking everything I could with the hammer and rustling every bush. I don't wanna miss nuthin'!

@Pokefreak911

I really hope your grandfather gets better. He'll be in my prayers.

@Koovaps

So that doll happens to be just out in the world somewhere? Before Toad town? Hint?

@DrFinkelstein

Yeah, it's before Toad Town. At this point, it's really not worth going all the way back for it. You can if you want, but there isn't much of a payoff.

@Koovaps

Great! The next chapters going to have a fairly larger amount of optional things to do, but it's all fun.

@Hero_Of_Hyrule

No? What's the payoff? Spoiler tag it for others. I don't care about spoiling it myself.

@Hero_Of_Hyrule@Koovaps
Thanks guys. Means a lot.

@DrFinkelstein A star piece. If you want to get every single badge, then I'll guess you'll need it. Otherwise, backtracking that far isn't worth the trouble. It's a very small and insignificant "sidequest" when looking at the game as a whole.

I went all the way back and couldn't find that doll. So I just went forward and just now nabbed the first star. End of Chapter! Woo Hoo! I wont have time to play this again till Tuesday of next week so I'm glad I finished the week on time still.

I can gladly say I join Koovaps and Hero_Of_Hyrule up in the OP.

That battle wasn't really too bad but I had no health replenishing items and I wasn't used to their attack pattern. Still did it without failing though. A good place to end my night on. Good night all.

Well I'm all finished with Week 1.

Might start Week 1 tonight. 64 is out, just need to connect it up.

I forgot to mention it last night but I finished Chapter 1 with 4:04 on the clock. I'm at Level 5. Just made it there if I recall.

@DrFinkelstein @chrisbg99

Hooray! We're doing pretty good. That leaves only 3 people who are still in progress. What did you think of chapter 1? In my opinion it's plenty of fun, but the game only gets better from here.

@Hero_Of_Hyrule

I was surprised to get three total helpers in just that first Chapter. I didn't remember it being loaded in the front like that.

Finally digging in tonight. I'll probably try to dust off Week 2 in the same sitting.

Congratulations of making it through the first week! Quite a bit happened during that week too. Mario fell from a castle that was nearly in orbit and then promptly fell from what used to be a cliffside veranda. And he started having visions of anthropomorphic stars. But a lot of good things happened too. We helped an old goomba return home, found an ally in a strange wizard, saved the Koopa Village from a Fuzzy attack, liberated a group of enslaved Bob-ombs, and gained no less than three new partners. From grassy plains and a stone castle we now head to rocky mountains and a Desert in search of legendary ruins. We'll cross the Dry Dry Desert and stop by Dry Dry Outpost in an attempt to find the Dry Dry Ruins. We might even come across a not so dry oasis. There will be interesting new friends and enemies as our quest to save the Star Spirits continues. Prepare to hear the word "dry" a lot.

Paper Mario Epic Center
Week 2
Goal:
Rescue the second Star Spirit. Select “Save and Quit” afterwards.

Important notes:
While climbing Mount Rugged, talk to the Bulb-ulb and get a Magical Seed.

Optional:
1. After meeting the mail delivering Parakoopa, head right one screen. Go down the stairs and then go left. You'll come across a little, blue, mole-like creature called Whacka. He's having a great day. A, "picture perfect day," as he puts it. How nice... A picture perfect day... Whack him with your hammer and benefit from his suffering.

2. Near the end of Mt. Rugged, you'll encounter a giant buzzard named Buzzar who's looking for a fellow name Mario. He'll ask for your name. If you're up for a fight that's a bit tough but enjoyable, I suggest answering honestly and saying that you're Mario. Saying that you're Peach means that you'll have to fight as well. If you're a pacifist and you want to slay evil without actually slaying anything, you can answer with Luigi and proceed on your merry way, leaving a trail of rose petals and rainbows in your wake. I won't judge you.

3. While exploring Dry Dry Desert, stop by the oasis.

4. There are several things to find in the desert, but where you have to go and what you have to do aren't explained. You're left to your own devices and you have to find these items without any guidance. It's a little reminiscent of the Legend of Zelda on the NES. If you want to explore the desert that way, more power to you. Go for it. But, if you don't want to miss anything or don't feel like getting lost out there on your own, here is a map that shows you where everything is. Whether you choose to use the map or not, I suggest exploring the desert to some degree.

Hooray for week 2! I'll probably get started in the morning.

Sunday morning is usually prime game time for me because the wife and kid sleep in much later than me, but now I'm totally distracted with LIVE Olympic coverage. I should still get some decent play time in later.

WHOA! Did what I wrote earlier not get posted?? Odd..

Anyway, I finished Week 1. Got going on Week 2.

@Koovaps

Get another TV nearby! I had Paper Mario going with two other TVs hosting Olympic action. But I am in my Cave of Ordeals here, so theres that.. I understand that you have an Actual Family, haha.

Oh, I forgot to mention earlier "BEWARE CHET RIPPO." I guess he has his uses, but if you don't know what you're getting..it can catch you off guard.

(Correct me if I'm wrong: he boosts one of your categories up TWO levels, but drops your other categories each back one, yes?) Opted for "Badges," and winced at my *NEW* 5 Flower Points. *sigh*