* * * * * 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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@Koovaps

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

@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.

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.

@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.

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*

Started Week 2.

The whole Peach-segment thing was a cool addition to the main game. Bowser's diary is pretty hilarious IMO.

I've now met back up with Twink and bought some Badges from the badge shop. I'm hoping the Multibounce is more useful than the Smash Charge/Hammer Throw and I especially hope the First Attack Badge comes in handy.

Now though I shall save and go to bed early tonight.

Started the game and only just got the Hammer. Will probably play more tonight. Need a new N64 controller though cause the sticks on ours have all gone bust.

All righty, I'll read back through the thread a bit later, but for now, I've popped in my cartridge and started playing. It's been pretty boring and unimaginative so far (the Star Rod is Kirby's thing!), but I recall it getting at least a little better once more badges and abilities are gained. I played for a couple hours and I'm at the part where I'm about to board the train to the desert.

@Mop it up

So you're now where I'm at, seemingly much faster. What level are you at? Do you know the time? I'm curious how I stack up in comparison.

I've been battling every baddy but I wonder how relevant that really is. I wonder if I need every goomba and their measly two ex points.

@Mop it up
Thousand Year Door definitely has a better beginning but it's a better game overall really.

@DrFinkelstein Level 5. I don't think you need to beat up every enemy because of how the experience system works. As you gain levels, you will get less and less star points per enemy, and eventually will get none. Because of this, if you reach the max level for one area, then you'll be getting hardly any points in the next area, or if you fought less, then you'll be getting more points. So it'll balance itself out anyway. If you're also at level 5 then the normal Goombas won't be giving you any more experience anyway.

For your early question in this thread about what to increase on level up, my first one is HP and then I usually do BP after that. Badges are pretty much how you do anything in this game so that's typically the most important thing to have. There are even badges to increase HP/FP, and so it's better to get the BP and use those badges as needed, and swap them out for other badges as needed (no point having a higher max HP when your HP is decreased). I never bother with FP until the other two are maxed. Most abilities in this game just aren't very useful, and FP is pretty easy to refill anyway so having just 5 of it isn't that big a deal.

As for Multibounce, its power decreases with each enemy it hits, and it hits each one only once (or not at all if you miss a command), so it isn't worth it. For a while, Power Bounce will be the best attack badge, and will remain one of the strongest ones in the game, as long as you can skillfully press that action command. Charge moves are pretty much only useful against enemies with high defense.

Mop it up said:

There are even badges to increase HP/FP, and so it's better to get the BP and use those badges as needed, and swap them out for other badges as needed (no point having a higher max HP when your HP is decreased).

Huh? --Is that what Chet Rippo did to me?! Help!

I still have my HP+ and FP+ badges on. What should I do??