* * * * * 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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At the north tower, you should be going to the top and falling down all the holes (I think)

@PogueSquadron

Does falling down the holes start the 'point of no return'? I'll try to look at it later. If not tonight, I'm definitely putting this thing to bed tomorrow night. And I still don't have that last Djinn, is he in the other tower?

No. You have to do the rest of the Venus Lighthouse. You'll know you hit the main part of it when the music changes (to an awesome song). The point of No return I believe is a room with a purple Psy Crystal and a slide (you'll see a Psy crystal when you get there initially but that's not the room I'm talking about).

Everytime one game ends in the Epic Club, it reminds me that Lufia 2 isn't on VC yet. One day...

I saw that Golden Sun 2 hit the VC in Japan so it's only a matter of time before it gets here. Will probably play that one at my own leisure though. Not sure I'm cut out to DM these things.

With Backlaugust imminent, its only fitting that the credits should roll on Golden Sun. I'm done with this game now; I'll barf out some thoughts:

I like the running. I like the straight elemental aspects of everything. I like the ability to collect Djinn (I Caught 'Em All)to not only power you up, but also create new classes (which I DIDN'T take advantage of, should I appreciate the option). Like Gui mentioned before, the game is like..half a game. I guess we've got the sequel, but yeah. I dunno. I don't like the hidden Djinn on the map. How would you even know? Item system isn't nearly as bad as Earthbound, but I still got to a point where I was shuffling stuff around. Makes me long for the Marianas Trench-deep pockets of Final Fantasy III.

I beat the S out of the final boss, probably over-leveled at 31/30. Wasn't too difficult, had a few Downed stuff, but they were promptly revived and Wish Well'd by Mia soonafter.

I can't think of anything else right now. I've been feeling not-too-hot the past couple days. Went home from work early Wednesday night with a sweet migraine deal. Eyes still not fully up to task it seems, so I wish my stay on NW to be a short one tonight. (OH, Internet is also DEAD at work right now, so no more NW for me at work. ENJOY.)

PogueSquadron said:

Not sure I'm cut out to DM these things.

NONSENSE, you did a great job! Thanks so much for doing that!!

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Now..who is going to finish Breath of Fire II with me?!


Epic Center will suspend operations for the month in order to properly observe Backalugust.
Good luck out there, kids, and we'll see ya back here in September!

Epic Center should be back in September. Any good game noms? Ogre Battle 64 time?

I'm so, so terrible at finishing these, but boy do I like starting them.

@Koovaps

Finish something, I believe in youuu.

@Hero_Of_Hyrule

OOH, good nomination.. Maybe we can start whatever game we settle on mid-month.

I've got too many games on my plate for October and time might be taken up if I do a scary game for Shocktoberfest.

In the event I jump in late again, I'll have to vote against FF3/6. I played it a couple years ago and it's such a long game that I feel like it's still pretty clear in my head.

One game I've always wanted to play was Secret of Evermore. It's not that great but it's still nostalgic. I've tried playing it a couple times over the years but with no real success. Unfortunately we'd either have to emulate it or track down a copy (which I think is expensive).

@PogueSquadron

I think a lot of folks are against emulation. And yeah, it isn't the a) easiest game to find and b) isn't on any VCs anywhere. For some reason.


Whatever happened with Illusion of Gaia? I bought it like 3 years ago for play here..

I'm always down for a playthrough of Illusion of Gaia. I couldn't do it immediately though since I'm still in the process of moving.

Should we just wait until DECEMBER to get going again? Thought process:

-We'd start a game mid-month here..,
-but then its October / SHOCKTOBERFEST, and we've got people splitting attention. -I- can do it, but others don't like to, and then one or the other here suffer..
-..and THEN its November / NEWGAMEBER. The -- TAJIRI IS ON TNA, YESSS!!! -- nature of NewGameBer is that games are run in full, so that gives even LESS time to pay attention elsewhere.

So yeah, December seems like the best thing, maybe getting some solid poop in before the Christmas payload drops?


ALSO, everyone is going to be playing Hyrule Warriors soon, pffffffffffffffffffffffffft.

I've already played through Final Fantasy III/VI several times, but I'd still be willing to do so once more if everyone else wanted to. In fact, it would be a good excuse to finally get the GBA version, since I'm curious about the changes.

I own but have not really played Illusion of Gaia, Secret of Evermore, and Ogre Battle 64, so I might be willing to give those a go as well.

Mr_Mustache said:

Epic Center should be back in September. Any good game noms? Ogre Battle 64 time?

If you guys do Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber, I'll join in. I'm actually playing through that one now, on my own.

I'd try Ogre Battle 64 as well. It's the only game on my N64 backlog.

GROAN. No matter how long or short a message is, losing it on Negative World is something I'll NEVER get used to..


--I was resigned to simply not playing a game this month, and getting ready for Shocktoberfest / NewGameBer and soaking up some September football. If we go the Ogre Battle 64 route, I think it'll be a great December-January game, though I envisioned it a year or so ago as an Augustish game (much like Skies of Arcadia that we never touched and delayed, delayed, delayed for some phantom HD remake). Grantastic, how far along are you?

@Hero_Of_Hyrule

No OB64? Bummer. Why not? Something you're worried about? Bad experience with it?

@Hero_Of_Hyrule I've already played Final Fantasy II on SNES a bunch, but I haven't opened my DS copy of Final Fantasy IV, so I'd be okay with that too.

@Mr_Mustache
I've been looking for an excuse to get through Ogre Battle 64, so if you schedule it for December/January we ought to be able to get enough people together to get some decent discussion happening about it.

I'd do Ogre Battle 64. It's the only N64 game on my backlog...