A news story broke at the end of last week that Yuji Horii let slip that Chrono Trigger is getting a remake. Instantly, this brings an air of excitement - what sort of remake? HD-2D comes to mind, like so many other beautiful remakes of late, but 3D isn’t out of the realm of possibility - Trials of Mana is one of the best remakes of the past decade, after all. It turns out that this whole story might have been an error in translation, but the possibility remains, hanging in the air.

Related

Yuji Horii Accidentally Let It Slip That Chrono Trigger Is Getting A Remake

That was almost certainly not supposed to come out.

Posts

After the initial excitement, however, comes this quiet thought: Chrono Trigger? Really? Does it even need a remake? The best remakes have been for games that sorely need that upgrade. Star Ocean 2: The Second Story needed a breath of modern functionality to reach the highest heights, Dragon Quest 3 2D-HD Remake brought one of the most iconic classics into the current era with ease and grace, and the Final Fantasy 7 Remake games show that bringing a new level of fidelity and shine can do wonders for a franchise. But does Chrono Trigger need any of this?

Chrono Trigger Is (Ironically) Timeless

I can’t imagine a Chrono Trigger remake that doesn’t harm it in some way. It has a perfectly functional combat system, for one. It was way ahead of its peers, taking active-time battles to seamless battlefields with hand-placed enemies in a way that still feels fresh to this day. Remakes have a tendency to tweak, mix up, and poke about in the engine to make things more ‘modern’ - whatever that would mean in this case. The idea of a remake altering the original’s well-made systems in any way almost feels blasphemous.

But even more offensive would be the potential ways a graphical overhaul could destroy the atmosphere and vibes of the Chrono Trigger world. The art direction is so of its time that it has become entirely emblematic of its time. Chrono Trigger is iconic. This isn’t even mentioning Akira Toriyama’s character designs, which are so perfect in their original form that adapting them would be a herculean task and impossible to execute to the loyal fanbase’s satisfaction.

I can’t even imagine the fallout if the game is given voice acting. I don’t want Frog to sound any other way than the way I’ve imagined for the past 25 years (like an English Kermit the Frog).

Close

Chrono Trigger stands as a monument to collaborative genius, a product of its specific time and the specific minds involved. The combined expertise of Sakaguchi, Horii, and Toriyama - titans of their respective fields coming together - created a foundation unlike any other. Additionally, the beautiful score is woven by Yasunori Mitsuda, whose music defines the game's emotional landscape as much as any boss fight or tearjerking moment. The blend of narrative depth, artistic vision, and musical brilliance is the heart of Chrono Trigger.

A remake, by its very nature, cannot be the product of that same singular moment or identical creative fusion. While it might aim for faithfulness, it inevitably becomes an interpretation made for the modern gaze, potentially missing the spark that came from those specific creators working together then. Why settle for an interpretation when the original masterpiece, born of this irreplaceable synergy, still exists and shines?

It’s Not Like Accessibility Is The Issue

One thing that makes a remake worth it is if it brings a beloved game to modern platforms. This would be the shining light in this situation, were it not for the fact that Chrono Trigger is easily accessible in this day and age. I would wager that there is no one reading this right this second who cannot play Chrono Trigger on the device they’re using to read it. We even have the DS version, which is totally fine as far as ports go. Chrono Trigger and the beautiful, impeccably paced story that it tells is not some secret waiting to be revived. It’s still alive.

While remakes can sometimes breathe new life into forgotten or technically hampered classics, applying that logic to Chrono Trigger ignores the immense risk involved. The original is not seriously flawed; it is celebrated for its existing form. Therefore, any remake attempt must contend with a high probability of falling short or actively damaging the legacy. Will a new art style truly honour Toriyama's vision? Can any new story content possibly match the quality and impact of the original narrative? Is the potential gain from minor technical polish worth the risk of altering the game's iconic game design? For a game already considered near-perfect by so many, the potential downsides of a modern remake - misinterpretations, unnecessary changes, loss of original charm - seem to vastly outweigh any theoretical benefits. Why gamble with a masterpiece?

Your Rating

close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10

Your comment has not been saved

Like Follow Followed

Chrono Trigger

RPG Systems 10.0/10 OpenCritic Reviews Released March 11, 1995 ESRB T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood Developer(s) Square Enix Publisher(s) Square Enix Engine Cocos Creator Engine Multiplayer Local Co-Op
Where to play Close

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Powered by Expand Collapse