Chrono Trigger
Synopsis
Chrono Trigger is about these people that are trying to prevent something that happened in the future. Yeah, I know that sounds wierd, but that's really the way it goes. Don't ask me -- I don't write these things; I just play them. Anyhow, the three main characters (Crono, Lucca and Marle) fall through a hole in time and end up way in the future and find out that the world has been pretty well demolished by a creature called "Lavos" several hundred years earlier. The rest of the game is spent trying to track down the true origin of Lavos and destroy him.
Playable Characters
Crono Crono is the character you start with and is the leader of the party for most of the game. He lives in the year 1000 with his mother and his hungry cat, and is friends with Lucca. In general, he's a pretty chivalrous character.
Marle Marle joins Crono when he accidentally bumps into her at the Millenial Fair. She gets sucked away to a different era by Lucca's teleportation machine, and that's what starts the whole mess. She's a little ditzy, but she's the strongest magician and healer in the group, so she's worth having around.
Lucca Lucca is a scientist with a traumatic past. She has some awesome inventions, and tends to be the brains of the group. She's got a soft spot for machinery, however, and mellows out by the end of the game.
Frog Despite his boring name, Frog also has a varied and traumatic past. He is incredibly loyal and noble (not to mention a bit of a hunk if you manage to break the curse on him).
Robo A humanoid robot from the distant future, Robo befriends the party after Lucca fixes him. His brute strength and technological knowledge are an asset to the team.
Ayla Ayla is a cave woman from the very, Very, VERY distant past. She's brutally powerful and strong-willed. Her "Charm" ability makes her almost necessary in the team at many times. Furthermore, the fact that she doesn't carry a weapon (she just uses her fists) comes in handy for at least one key point in the game.
Magus Magus starts as your biggest enemy and ends as an optional character. He's got very powerful magic attacks, but, once you've been through the game once, he's not essential to your group.
Beginner Tips and Tricks Warning: Spoilers abound
- A lot of fights are optional. Quite often, there is a way to walk around enemies without confronting them. Sometimes this means running past them quickly (if they're moving back and forth quickly). Other times it means walking through them slowly -- as long as you don't step forward into a creature, you probably won't trip the fight. However, I only recommend this if you're really having trouble getting through a part or if you're trying to get back out of someplace because you're not able to get through it. You should fight as many creatures as you can if you want to be at the right level for the boss fights.
- Conversely: Most enemies will reappear if you leave and reenter a room. If you find an enemy that gives good treasure, experience or money, you may want to face it several times before moving on.
- "Tab" advice Use Tabs on the members that are weakest in that area. For example, if you have a character with a 40 Magic and a character with a 20 Magic, give the 20 Magic character the Magic Tabs. This is because strong magic characters will eventually max out their Magic scores on their own as they level up, whereas weak magic characters will not. The same goes for Power Tabs. If you use the "New Game +" option a few times, all the characters will probably max out their own Speed scores without needing the Tabs too much, so use those however you prefer.
- Stuck? If you'd rather not run to a walk-through when you're not sure what to do next, talk to the Old Man at "The End of Time". He'll usually give you some pointers as to what you're supposed to be doing next.
- If you meet up with a lady who has a tree and she asks you whether to burn it or plant it, tell her to plant it. This opens up a couple optional side-quests.
- When you're opening "sealed" treasures, if you're told the item is reacting with the pendant, don't take the treasure! This mainly happens in 600AD and 1000AD. Here's what to do: Go to 600AD and get your pendant to react with each sealed treasure chest (but don't take the treasure). Then go to 1000AD and open all the treasure chests (take the treasure). Each item should "power up" to a more powerful version of that treasure. But wait! There's more! You can now go back to 600AD and get the original treasure, too! Yeah, I know this is a paradox. As I said, I don't write the thing, I just play it.
- Triple Techs with Rocks If you get a "Rock" accessory (such as a "White Rock"), you can use this to make a Triple Tech available. Go to the Item menu and select the "Rock" item twice. This pops up a list of people that can equip the item. Now, put those three people into your active party (*Note: Most of these require Magus, so, if you defeated him, you won't be able to use these Rocks) and equip the "Rock" item on one of them. Now when you go into battle, the Triple Tech will be on the Combo menu.
- Original Lavos Strategy When you get to the fight with Lavos, he will take on the form of several bosses you faced before. These bosses will be at exactly the same level with exactly the same strengths and weaknesses as they had before. Also, after each battle, you get to see what boss will be next and then you have a chance to change your party around and/or use items. Take advantage of this! Put in the characters that worked best for each boss and heal up as much as possible between rounds.
- Final Boss Strategy In the very last fight (the second fight inside the shell), the goal is to kill the "bit" on the right. Whenever the bit on the left exists, kill it using normal attacks. Then the bit on the right will drop its guard so that it can revive the left bit. While its guard is down, hit it with your most powerful Techs, Combos or attacks until it revives the left bit. Then attack the left bit again. Watch carefully how much damage each of the center bit's attacks do to your characters -- there may be times when you have to use one or two characters to just heal while the other(s) attack.
Advanced Tips and Tricks
- There are multiple game endings that you can see depending on when you defeat Lavos. If you use the "New Game+" option, there is a gate in the right teleport device that brings you straight to Lavos, so that a fight with him is available at nearly every point in the game. At one optional ending, you're given a tip that there are 10 different endings. What this means is that there are 10 major endings. However, most of the endings will vary a little depending on optional activities (such as whether you defeated Magus or had him join your party). Some of these endings are VERY specific to a certain point in the game.
- Bring Ayla along for the entirety of the Black Omen subquest. Her Charm ability will win you Power Tabs, Magic Tabs and Gold Studs there.
- You can get the Crono clone at any point in the game before it becomes necessary by spending 40 Silver Points at the House of Horrors at the Millenial Fair. After you've won the clone, if you play (and win) again, you get cat food for Crono's house.
- In the Reptite Lair, if you are patient, the funny bird creatures with the points on their heads will drill new holes in the ground. These may lead to new chambers with different treasures in them. You can go through this area as many times as you want, so be patient and get all the treasure!
- You can defeat the shell of Lavos at nearly any point in the game and warp back to "The End of Time" so that you only have to fight the two cores to finish later. This is helpful if you're trying to see all 10 endings, as the fight can get very tedious.
Game Index
Fantasy Index
Main Index
