Testing Chrono Trigger’s stylus support

By Jeriaska . July 15, 2008 . 1:51pm

The E3 demo of Chrono Trigger DS starts off with the anime scenes from the Playstation port. When you start a new game, you see the silent protagonist on the top screen and name the character on the touch screen. Going with “Chrono” is also an option, as there are more letters available for character names. Upon starting, the game cuts to the familiar overhead view of balloons rising from the Millenial Fair, and on the bottom screen is a parchment map of the continents surrounding Guardia.

 

There are some expansions to the dialog that add on to the original translation. In the Super Nintendo version, when Crono's mother awakens him at the game's outset, she keeps it short and to the point, saying, "Ah, Leene's Bell makes such beautiful music! You were so excited about the Millennial Fair that you didn't sleep well, did you…? I want you to behave yourself today!" Now she is a bit more chatty, saying, "Dear me, I forgot how beautiful Lenee’s bells sound. You must have been so excited about the Millenial Fair that you couldn’t sleep last night, could you? Well, you had better not let that giddiness get you into any trouble. I want you to behave yourself today!"

 

If you head off to Guardia Forest, you will face off against enemies popping out of the underbrush. Now there are two meters visible directly beside your character. The orange meter on the top shows your health and the green meter on the bottom charges while you get ready for the next attack. You can see the name of the enemies that you are battling on the touch screen, along with maps that are drawn as you explore the area.  The map remains the next time you visit, so you know where to go. 

 

When you pause the game and go to the menu screen, you can view your characters’ stats on the top screen, together with your current the location and the era, the time that has elapsed and your gold. There are icons you can select with the stylus for character equipment (armor and sword), items (a bag), enemy data (open book and magnifying glass) and techs (a lightning bolt). There are also options to change the party members and adjust the settings.   The game can be navigated entirely by using the stylus. You move Crono around by dragging the pen over the map and navigate menus by selecting the icons on screen. Switching back and forth between touch and D-pad can be done at any time.

 

While it was not implemented at this point, a Square Enix representative said, there are plans to include the original single-screen version for purists. This will allow players to have the same gameplay experience as the Super Nintendo title.  Details on the Wi-Fi features have yet to be revealed.