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 - Two epic RPG's in one package!Two RPG masterpieces, Final Fantasy IV and Chrono Trigger, have been re-released in this great package with some nice additions. I'll be reviewing the two games. FINAL FANTASY IV INTRO: In 1991, FFIV was originally released in America for the SNES under the name, "Final Fantasy II." But the SNES version was pretty flawed. For one thing, they censored the script and and it was horribly translated. Another thing is that they took out a few things, such as the Developer's Room. Also, they toned down the difficulty. Now the game has been re-released for the PS1 with the complete, uncut script, Developer's Room, and a harder difficulty. GAMEPLAY: This was the first FF game to have more than the number of characters in your party. (you can have up to five characters in your party. Sweet!) The game has lots of secrets, spells, weapons, and summons. It's a really addicting RPG with a great challenge. GRAPHICS: Meh. It was made in 1991, so of course the graphics look outdated. But they were good for the time. SOUND: Not much to say about the sound. It's your standard SNES sound. MUSIC: I love the music in this game. Even 14 years later, the music still packs a punch. I especially love the boss music. It's very catchy. STORY: This game has a great story. I won't spoil it for you, but the story is very original, filled with plot twists. ADDED EXTRAS: Besides having the complete, uncut game, not much. Just an FMV scene. CHRONO TRIGGER INTRO: Ten years ago, CT was released for the SNES. Even now, it's still one of the most loved and popular RPG's ever. Now it's been re-released with a ton of extras. GAMEPLAY: CT is an RPG. However, there are things that are special about this game. For one thing the battle system is unique. You can use moves that combine different characters. It's a bit hard to explain. Another thing that makes this game unique is the fact that you can time travel. You can alter the past, and have fun. Plus, more eras mean more sidequests. GRAPHICS: Very ahead of its time. CT's graphics were beautiful, from the colorful 2D textures, to the forests, the graphics were topnotch. MUSIC: Like most RPG's, CT has an epic musical score. SOUND: Pretty good for 1995. STORY: The story, I believe, is solid. It isn't the best RPG story ever, but it is easy to understand and very entertaining. REPLAY VALUE: Most RPG's don't really have a replay value, but this does. Once you beat the game, you can do a New Game+, which allows you to start the game over with everything you had on the first game. Plus, there are many, [and I mean MANY!] endings to unlock. ADDED EXTRAS: Awesome anime cutscenes, and much more! OVERALL: Two epic RPG's in one package. A must have. Rating: - One of my all time favorite games!This is a really nice remake of a great classic (FFIV). They improved the dialogue, and added in a lot of great items. The challenge level, however, was bumped up significantly. The game was originally paced so you didn't have to spend nearly as much time leveling up. A few of the bosses surprised me this time through (I've played the SNES version multiple times in my day). The story is unchanged, however. A must have for any FF/Classic RPG fan! As a bonus, I finally got to play Chrono Trigger! Rating:  - Good title for cRPG fansThis is a good collection. It's even better if you have a PS1 emulator and a fast PC. This would cut down on the lag. (Of course, if you have such, other options arise.) Some have mentioned the lag issue. As one who played through these on the SNES, I can assure you there is horrid lag. The PS2 has a faster CD drive and some form of caching for PS1 titles which helps dramatically, but by no means removes the delay. In Chrono Trigger on the console, fights started with no discernable lag. The creatures on the background jump out at you and you're fighting with no visible delay beyond the jumping animation.(or whatever they do) In FF2/4 the screen did fade black, and then faded in, but this took about an eighth to quarter of a second. (estimated) Chrono Trigger was a great game. The story is fun, and the characters are great. The story is non-linear and you get a great feeling of control. How many games give you the choice of killing off one of the bosses or accepting their help? (Your choice affects the ending in a reasonable fashion) FF2 (4) was also a great story. When I played through it first, I commented how it felt like playing through a book. Much less choice in progression than even in earlier FF's, though. Fun, regardless. Finally, he sound quality was lower on the PS version than on the original console. The fade effects on the music and such are gone. I haven't played through sufficiently to notice any other changes, but that one was rather glaring. I really liked the use of fadeing to make it sound like you were getting away from the source. (Such as the Millineal Fair music fading as one wanders away from town.) The PS version rather ungraciously terminates at some distance, and then at some further distance fires up the new music. Jarring. The original Chrono Trigger would get 5/5, but these issues particularly hinder it. Rating: - Yes FF IV was the one with Sir Ceical the "Dark Knight"I played this game back in '91 when I was 21 watching 21 Jumpsteet. Even the dumbed american version(of this game) was fun and at the time the only good form of entertainment.(better than 21 junkstreet with Jonny Dork and Hollie Ugglieson and that stupid werewolf show whatever lame coorprate PC bull-- show we Xr's had availible to watch back then.) Sir Ceicel the Black Knight turned prettyboy Paladin was the talk of the day back when; even though it is knocked today. Nintendo Power had nothing but good things to say about this game and Ceicilboy(and of course you could change his name). I only wish they would release this on GBA instead of a big consoles so I could play it in bed like the lazy() I am. FFIII is actually a title not released at all in America and instead a faked FFIII(V? II? ???). Altough I like Final Fantasy (I got reinterested when I got the FF Dawn of Souls for the GBA) thier is a lot of grandiosing such as space travel and modern stuff mixed in midevil settings that I think is inappropriate. I think it should only be midevil and mystical as in FF1 and 2(Japanese 1, 2 not US 1/ 2) Why does Cece, Rosa and company have to go to the friggen moon. cartoon Amimea is weird that way but I beveve some of the lameness is replaced with a better plot this time around in the Japanese version for PS. I still rate it Five before and after except for the moon crap and the machines.(which may or may not be there this time around) Rating: - The Best Role-Player AND How To Fix the Load Time ProblemI've noticed a couple people complain about the load times (especially during battles). There's a quick and easy fix for PS2 owners: In the main menu under the PS1 Driver, there's a setup option for "Fast Loading". When you turn that on, the game will load as fast as the original cartridge did. Problem solved. . And now for the game: Chrono Trigger is one of, perhaps even *the best*, role-playing game ever made. Final Fantasy 6 is my favorite in that series, but Chrono Trigger has a stronger appeal for me, personally, because of the time travel/sci-fi theme. You and your characters travel across several thousand years (from medieval times to a distant, robotic future), in your quest to beat back the bad guys. The battle system allows you to chain your characters together for extra-powerful attacks, which is a unique innovation. Finally, how the game ends is never the same. Like a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure, the ending varies depending upon how you play the game. Chrono Triggers offers lots of replayability, and is a true masterpiece. As for FF4, the game is somewhat weak. Many call FF4 their favorite final fantasy, but I was not too impressed. I'd put it somewhere in the middle. It was originally designed to run on the 1980's 8-bit Nintendo, but at the last minute FF4 was upgraded to run on the just-released 16-bit Super Nintendo, and it comes across as primitive, both in graphics and story. Not as good as what came later (FF anthology). Bottom Line: Buy Final Fantasy 4/Chrono Trigger right now... mainly for Chrono Trigger, but also to satisfy your curiosity about FF4. If you're like me, you'll cherish it forever.
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