Chrono Trigger’s Story Is Simpler Than You Remember, But That’s What Makes It Great

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This week marks the 30th anniversary of Chrono Trigger, which fell on March 11, 2025. Let’s reminisce about why this game remains a timeless gem and what keeps it a potent, contemporary classic.

30 years on, Fiona’s Forest from Chrono Trigger frequently brings my thoughts back to it, as one of the moments encapsulating why this game remains timeless for me.

At a crucial stage in the game Chrono Trigger, following one of its significant side missions, you encounter a woman named Fiona. She resides near a humble cottage and has made it her mission to cultivate a forest around it. Unfortunately, her husband is off to battle, with their kingdom, Guardia, engaging in a conflict against the Fiendlord, a formidable magician, and his horde of semi-human creatures. Upon your arrival, Fiona expresses concern for her spouse’s wellbeing and mourns that, although they had planned to nurture the forest together, she is unable to manage it alone.

In Chrono Trigger, a game centered around time travel, Fiona resides in the 7th century A.D. Most of the characters originate from the year 1000 A.D., and it becomes evident shortly after meeting Fiona that no forests persist into the future. While the details of her story remain unclear, we can infer a few things: the war likely persisted, her husband never returned, and she was unable to achieve her dreams.

Throughout the game, your actions shape the storyline: You find yourself drawn into helping the kingdom of Guardia win crucial battles such as the one at Zenan Bridge where you re-supply their troops, and then halt the progression of the Fiendlord’s army. Eventually, you confront and vanquish both the Fiendlord and his lieutenants, thereby ending the war and altering the course of history.

In the progression of the narrative, when you eventually visit Fiona’s house, her spouse is back, but instead of the monsters being under the control of Fiendlord, they’ve become aimless, spreading chaos throughout the region, transforming it into a desolate landscape. Seeing this, you decide to help by venturing into the adjacent Sunken Desert and eliminating the undead entity that’s draining the area of its vitality.

Upon revisiting with Fiona, I share the delightful news: she can nurture the land without worry. Yet, Fiona comprehends that even with her husband, the task of cultivating the forest is immense, and their lifespan may not be enough to complete it. It’s then that Robo, my loyal robot companion, offers a selfless promise: to stay by her side for 400 years, assisting in maintaining the grove.

1000 A.D., you find yourself propelled through time from barren sandy landscapes to miles of verdant forests. Fiona’s humble abode is now a sanctuary, cared for by devotees honoring her for her invaluable contributions. At the heart of it all, on a sunlit stage, lies Robo – now decayed and motionless – revered for his relentless endeavors in transforming this lifeless place into something thriving.

The first time I encountered Chrono Trigger was in 1995, when I was ten years old, having received it as a gift during Christmas from my aunt and uncle who picked it up casually from a store like Toys ‘R’ Us or K-Mart. My uncle is generally more into games such as The Legend of Zelda or Doom, but not one to keep abreast of the latest releases, especially in the mid-90s. Given my preference for A Link to the Past, he likely chose it because its cover art had a similar feel. He may not have known much about the game beyond that initial impression. However, this random gift turned out to be quite influential and formative in my gaming journey.

His choice to pick up Chrono Trigger instead of any other game turned out to be a significant and perhaps destined decision for him. Over the span of approximately a year, I immersed myself in this game—and when I eventually vanquished Lavos, I recall it being a beautiful, sunny summer day outside—and it left such an impact that it felt like my mind was blown right out of my head as a young player. Chrono Trigger marked the first time I realized that games could be just as powerful, emotional, and moving as a novel or film, offering something beyond just mechanically satisfying entertainment like Mario or expansively intriguing experiences like Zelda. Every game I had ever played before felt like a toy, but Chrono Trigger was an artistic masterpiece. I enjoyed games prior to this, but Chrono Trigger ignited my passion for them.

The game significantly influenced my journey towards becoming a game writer.

In about 400 years, the shrine that serves as Robo’s tomb becomes a place where people pay tribute and honor his memory for potentially centuries to come. However, being a robot, Lucca, your brilliant teammate, can easily repair him in just a few hours. With no further tasks at hand, you and the other characters experience an unusually tranquil and reflective moment in Chrono Trigger.

In the heart of the forest, a product of our combined might and Robo’s selfless act, we gather under the canopy of leaves and the watchful gaze of the stars. Our motley crew, drawn from different eras across the planet, gathers around a crackling fire for a quiet moment, exchanging words in the peaceful stillness.

Though Chrono Trigger allows me to assemble a team of seven heroes, I’m usually accompanied by only three. It’s rare that we all get this chance to simply enjoy each other’s company, like tonight. This might be one of the few instances where our waiting comrades are not patiently waiting in the peculiar realm of the End of Time, but instead sharing a moment with us here and now.

30 Years Later, Chrono Trigger’s Defining Feature Still Can’t Be Topped

In essence, Chrono Trigger’s narrative isn’t particularly complex when you look at it objectively. Upon revisiting the game, I found myself attributing a lot to the characters that wasn’t really there in the dialogue. Most of them are quite shallow, and despite opportunities to explore their pasts, the game doesn’t add much depth to any of them. Characters like Crono are brave but reserved, Lucca is intelligent and generally humble, Robo displays a Data-like curiosity about human nature and friendship, Frog is stoic, loyal, and burdened with guilt, while Ayla is boisterous and daring. However, these traits don’t get much fleshing out throughout the game.

Among them all, Marle stands out the most as she embodies human qualities, grappling with her duties as a princess while yearning for exploration and adventure, aiming to understand the world. She is undeniably the soul of the group, constantly offering words of encouragement and selflessly urging others to assist, to aid, to do whatever they can for those they encounter. When Crono, Lucca, and Marle initially arrive in the future and learn that the world will be destroyed by a colossal monster named Lavos in 1999 A.D., it’s Marle who takes the initiative. It is Marle who concludes that the trio–three young adolescents, who have narrowly escaped death on multiple occasions as they’ve inadvertently traveled through time–must find a means to halt this destruction.

Video by YouTuber OmegaVideoGameGod.

Back in 1995, when I was a kid opening my Christmas presents, nothing compared to the thrill of discovering Chrono Trigger. Looking back now, it’s clear that this game was designed with young gamers like me in mind. And boy, did it strike a chord! Even today, as Crono, Lucca, and Marle stand witness to Lavos destroying their world, their fear and despair still resonate deeply within me. As the music swells, I can’t help but feel that fate lies in our hands – the players – to prevent catastrophe.

Characters in Chrono Trigger might not have complex backstories or undergo deeply intricate character development, sticking mostly to familiar archetypes like overcoming past mistakes or making peace with loved ones. Yet, they are essentially noble and altruistic individuals. Occasionally, their inherent heroism is all that’s needed.

Though generally following a familiar pattern as an adventurous RPG, Chrono Trigger manages to deliver unexpected moments. In particular, during the camp scenes, it delves into profound philosophical discussions. Robo, with his centuries of contemplation, ponders the reasons behind their journey and the mysterious forces that have bound them together. The storyline delves into themes of destiny and purpose, suggesting that a higher power, perhaps symbolized by the ailing planet itself, could be guiding the opening of time gates.

In this very forest they’ve nurtured, the characters ponder their bond with the environment and among themselves, thereby making one of the game’s key themes vividly apparent.

Prior to diving back into Chrono Trigger, “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan delivered a speech at the Writers Guild Awards, following his win of the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement. In this speech, Gilligan – renowned for crafting one of television’s most notorious anti-heroes in Walter White, the former high school teacher turned meth kingpin – advocated for a reduction in stories centered around morally questionable characters and an increase in tales about undeniably noble figures.

Following his accolades for the exceptional writing of “Breaking Bad” and the performance of Bryan Cranston as Walter White, Gilligan expressed, “Walter White has become one of the greatest antagonists due to their craft. However, if given a choice, I’d prefer recognition for developing a character more uplifting. In 2025, it is high time to voice this preference, as we find ourselves in an era where real-life villains are causing chaos.

When we craft characters as memorable as Michael Corleone, Hannibal Lecter, Darth Vader, or Tony Soprano, viewers from every corner of the globe find themselves captivated. They exclaim, “Wow, those characters are incredible! I wish to emulate their coolness.” When this occurs, fictional villains cease to serve as cautionary figures and instead transform into objects of aspiration. Alas, it’s a troubling development for us all.

In the last part of the campfire scene, it is hinted that the game could be depicting the planet reminiscing about its past and regretting mistakes. At this point, someone asks Lucca if there’s something she would change in her life. After a moment of hesitation, when everyone else falls asleep, you take control of Lucca as she quietly leaves and approaches one of the time gates on her own. This particular gate is different from the others; it’s an unsettling shade of red.

If a player had occasionally been to Lucca’s house during the year 1000 A.D., they would recognize the destination that the gate leads them to as her home. Scattered journal pages hint that you’ve journeyed back into Lucca’s past, a time before she was known as the adventurous inventor—a period when she hadn’t yet shown any interest in such activities.

Stepping out into the living room, you encounter a distressingly intense moment from the game. Lucca’s mother, engrossed in cleaning one of her husband’s inventions, accidentally gets trapped by the machinery and starts being pulled in. Meanwhile, a young Lucca frantically tries to halt the machine, but her inexperience prevents her from succeeding effectively.

In Chrono Trigger, the intensity and subtlety of the game are at their peak, especially if you’ve been to Lucca’s house before. You might not have noticed this, but Lucca’s mother, Lara, is always seated quietly in one of the rooms in her house. During conversations with her, you may have observed Taban, Lucca’s father, delivering meals to her. Unlike other characters who move around or change locations between scenes, Lara remains stationary. She seldom moves from her seat and is mostly alone.

You’re seeing the worst moment of Lucca’s life–the reason why her mother is always in that chair.

In this instance of Chrono Trigger, time travel isn’t just an ongoing part of your journey as usual, guiding you through various eras to assist whoever crosses your path. Instead, you intentionally travel back in time to rectify a mistake. If you act swiftly, you can deactivate the machine and rescue Lucca’s mother. However, if you’re 10 years old, this task may be daunting as you were unaware of any need for preparation – not even knowing that such preparation was possible. This sudden realization can be quite terrifying.

Video by YouTuber Bruce Riggs.

However, what follows – rescuing Lucca’s mom, transforming her life, influencing the destinies of these three individuals – carries a strong impact. The full ramifications of this situation aren’t fully understood until much later, when you revisit Lucca’s home to find Lara bustling around, busy with chores, brimming with joy at her daughter’s return.

In many role-playing games (RPGs), you often explore a virtual world, assisting characters who require aid, much like a versatile problem solver armed with swords and guns. These games frequently allow you to perform selfless acts, refusing payment or choosing not to ask for it. Instead, characters might reward you with items of sentimental value, such as their grandmother’s favorite sword. Despite the lack of monetary compensation, your actions in the game still carry an exchange – you help and progress in the game advances. Some games even give you the option to inquire about what you’ll receive before accepting a task: “What’s the benefit for me?

In Chrono Trigger, it’s not typically about the rewards; rather, it’s the compelling narrative that drives the characters. For instance, you might encounter someone aspiring to cultivate a forest, and one of your companions might express a desire to assist, not because they expect a prize, but out of genuine interest in the cause.

Chrono Trigger has been etched in my memory for three decades while numerous other tales have faded away, and it seems even more impactful today. The fact that Crono, Lucca, and Marle witness Lavos destroying the world doesn’t actually affect them, because they come from 1000 A.D., meaning they will be long gone before the apocalypse takes place. Their descendants, including their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and so on, will also have passed away before the end of the world as we know it.

Regardless, they continue to battle for strangers they’ve yet to meet. Unaware of their ability to halt Lavos, they persist in attempting, for there might be hope. Here, a verdant forest could thrive, given aid. The struggle is worthwhile; life is precious.

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2025-03-14 00:41