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One of the other FF collections to have

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 7
Date: October 04, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This collection isn't as bonus feature happy as Anthology was. this version of FF4 (2 in the USA at the time of the SNES/Genesis era) hasn't changed that much. the random battle loading screen is like the SNES version, the switch between field/world map to the character menu while loading is fast as hell (while sadly Chrono Trigger is slower than the 2 FF games for the Anthology collection and even slower than the other Final Fantasy games for the PSone Era (7,8,9)) Chrono Trigger has a lot of bonus features for this version. Squaresoft (at the time) put a S*** load of cinemas (mainly ending cinemas), has a list of music from the game, and other stuff. The gameplay is still the same, with the exception of what I said earlier, which is good otherwise. unlike Anthology, this collection has no bonus music CD (for those who care anyway). this is still worth owning anyway.

Perfect ports of two excellent games of old

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: July 12, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Unlike Square's previous attempt at re-releasing classics - Final Fantasy Anthology - Chronicles has two games with very little differences in performance or sound from the originals. No tinny sound or hour long waits when going between the menu and gameplay screen. It seems Square has found the magic emulation code that does it extremely well, and Final Fantasy 4 seems completely different - new (and IMHO, better) dialogue, a whole bunch of new items (though some are badly documented - I still have no idea what a HourGlas1 does...?) and new skills for many characters. As most FF buffs would know, Square actually translated the normal FF4 into english and localized it, unlike the "FF2" version we had for Super Nintendo, which was actually the Japanese EasyType version made for kiddies and the RPG impaired. Those who've played the SNES version will notice the exponential increase in difficulty and strangely--treasure chests. (For some reason, there seems to be four times as many treasure chests than I remember) Anyway, FF4 is definetly worth a replay if you've finished the SNES version we had. And then we have Chrono Trigger. What can I say? Chrono Trigger is Chrono Trigger. One of the best RPGs ever made (Though still with the slightly annoying battle systems - you can't move!) is even better on a PSOne or PS2 (w/Fast Loading) with the neat extra features included - most of which are only unlocked from beating it. The added anime scenes are great and worth playing through again if you've already played it to death on Super Nintendo. I have still yet to beat CT though... (When I originally had it I was 8, give me a break!) Hopefully I will soon though! I'm hoping the extras are cool.

Get it NOW! (If you like Excellent RPGs that is...)

Revival of The Classics

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: July 21, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Well I've been playing RPG'S for awhile(since the release of Final Fantasy II aka Final Fantasy IV in 1991) so I am in the category of those who have played these games. To make it short and simple these two games made what RPG'S are today. Final Fantasy IV is the first RPG with characters that revolve around the storyline. Final Fantasy IV is about the Red Wings captain Cecil who is a man who has lost his path and begins his journey as a soldier of evil. Later he becomes good and the hero of the story.

Storyline:5 This story has all he elements of a good plot. It drags in the story and keeps your attention you never know what happends next or what secret will be revealed.

Graphics:2 This was an early snes games so it has fairly primitive graphics although to those of us who are long time gamers it is neither a problem or a hassle to venture in the realm of nostalgia.

Characters:5 All characters have a personality unique to themselves and even the enemies have personalities that you will like while you will hate some( such as Edward or Dr.Lugae) and love others(KAIN is the man) there is room for all

Control:5 The controls are simple and fairly easy to grasp also the game although not straight forward doesn't leave you with no clue what to do as long as you read it.

Fighting:5 The battles are not as advanced as say Final Fantasy VII or any other RPG but then again this is where the genre starts is true battle scenes. The magic is not highly graphic except summoning spells and it does use an automatic time battle orATB and each character has their own abilities (note: unlike other RPG's you are not allowed to choose your party it is given to you to those who have a stake in your next goal)

Overall:5 I started playing this game 10 years ago which led me on the path of RPG if you like RPG's this is the game for you it started it all and it's story is absolutely cpativating

Chrono Trigger is another blockbuster game and I have played it and conquered the game. This game literally takes you in adventure of time. It begins with Chrono Marle and Lucca who stumble on time travel to an adventure to save the future.

Storyline:5 This storyline is filled with surprises and baffling questions it not only tests your mind but grabs you by the seat of your pants. Not to mention the multiple endings are a nice touch(there are 11 in total)

Graphics:3 The graphics are years ahead Final Fantasy IV which makes them not only decent to look at but to see the peak of the SNES graphics is superb. Not to mention the movie clips in both games brings out all the hardcore gamers.

Characters:5 There are a total of 7 characters you can get and yes you can choose who want on your party 1 character is secret but the secrets in the game that compliment characters and items are massive there are so many things you could do when you have time to hide the wonders of Chrono Trigger

Control:4 the game is 2d with a 3d aspect with no rotating camera which makes it annoying to move around or see things at times. However the control is simple like most squaresoft games

Fighting:5 The battles are quite unique and it is the first game of it's kind to use double or triple techs with your characters i.e your two characters can attack at once or three all on one guy causing massive damage however triple techs are a bit limited but it is well worth seeing them all

Overall:5 This game has an excellent story and it gave birth to Chrono Cross another game that sold millions and I enjoyed beating if you played Chrono Cross and want to see the beginning YOU MUST PLAY THIS GAME I forsee a future for this series no pun intended

Two classics for about half the price of one!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: August 17, 2001
Author: Amazon User

What can I say that hasn't already been said by countless fans. I am 16 and have only been an RPG fan since I was 12. I guess Final fantasy VII was the game that cought my eye and Parasite Eve was the first RPG I ever played. Then I got VII, and the rest is history. I've been hooked ever since. I live for the next fix of gaming goodness. Normally I buy the latest RPGs and don't really get into the older stuff. But after playing so many great games I had to go back to the roots. I needed to see why this whole craze started. I am not dissapointed. IV and Trigger are some of the best games I've ever played, and I havn't even finished them yet! I've seen the price for the origional Chrono Trigger. $79.99 for a game! That's around the price of a Dreamcast! Chronicles is a great deal that you shouldn't pass up. My next fix? Final Fantasy Anthology.

Chrono Fantasy or Final Trigger 4??

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: July 03, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This is broken into two parts. Final Fantasy 4 is first then Chrono Trigger. Note that the combined score is 4 stars. Final Fantasy 4: The prodigal son returns some would say. This time it is the athentic Japanese version too. To those who don't know the Super Nintendo release was, shall we say, dumbed down for the Americans (since when are Americans dumb? We are 10 and 1 after all: review history if you don't understand). Not anymore. The script is the original. No more "you spoony bard," which was much more colorful in the Japanese version. New spells, abilites, and even monsters have arrisen and have kicked the game's difficulty up several notches. As if the game wasn't hard enough to begin with. The music is still the same old 16-bit music but it still is moving. The story is very deep and contains death, betrayal, and love. This was back when Square focused more on story than on graphics and cinematics. Speaking of which the cinematics are beautiful. They do show !signs of being not as well done as some other CG movies that Square has produced. This game received 4.5 stars. Chrono Trigger: The prequel of Chrono Cross with many sad problems. The main one is the hideously evil load times. These mainly occur during the battle and non-battle mode changes. The lag time is about three seconds in many places. This slows down the game in such a way that those who played the original cartidge will quickly become antsy because things are taking longer then they are used to. The slow down also makes it hard to build levels without going mad. The slowdown also affects the anime movies. The beginning sequence is jumpy and seems to progress very oddly. The movies would have been beautifully well done if only they didn't have these problems. The music is very well done as well. Who could forget Magus's dark theme or Frog's heroic overture. They have returned, in all their Super Nintendo glory, and have been well preserved. As an added feature you can !access any of the movies, songs, and other specials after you have come across them or have completed one of the 12+ endings in the game. The story is very complex and it is hard to keep up with, especially with several time periods and many things happening at once. This usually occurs after you get to...The End of Time. Insert onimous music here. A very deep skill and tech system is the games crowning feature, and gives you the reason to fight the maddeningly slowed down battles. All in all the game received 3.5 stars. It is fairly obvious that the gem in this re-release is Final Fantasy 4. My recommendation would be to play this first.

Great value for great games

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 6
Date: September 10, 2001
Author: Amazon User

First of all, let me get this out of the way: FF4 and Chrono Trigger, regardless of their actual quality, are viewed as two of the greatest and most influential games ever. FF4 was one of the first RPGs to have an actual plot. ("Save the royalty and defeat the evil monster/demon/empire" doesn't count as a plot.) Chrono Trigger was one of the last Super Nintendo (SNES) RPGs ever made and included a variety of innovations. Some of these are battles that can be avoided (enemies are visible on-screen), multiple endings, a non-stereotypical antagonist and the option to play the game again after completintion with all acquired items and levels for the purpose of experiencing all of the endings. These games, despite their dated graphics and sound, are excellent not only for their historical significance but for their excellent gameplay.
Final Fantasy 4 was previously released for the SNES in the USA as FF2. This tranlation was a butchered form of the japanese original. FF2 featured easier gameplay, less battle commands, censored dialogue and the removal of several items (including the infamous "porn book"). The FFC version however, is a completely retranslated version of the Japanese original, with everything intact. FF4 has a great story, solid and challenging gameplay and memorable characters. It is not without its flaws though. The story has been rehashed so many times by other games that it now seems predictable and unimpressive. Also, characters who give their lives (a lot of them do that in this game) for their friends end up being revived so the world can be a shiny, happy place. Do I hear "Deus ex machina?" The ending is also like this, eschewing insight for a happy, shallow and unsatisfying finale. It's still a solid game, though.
Chrono Trigger is unchanged from its original version except for some excrutiating data load time in battles and when accessing the menu screen. Unfortunately, a CD-based system such as the PS cannot offer the lighting-fast loading of a cartridge system. CT does offer a fast-paced battle system, excellent music, an interesting story and great replay value. Shall we get to the flaws? First, the game is SHORT. One can expect 15-18 hours the first time through. Consequently, the New Game + option allows the player to replay the game with everything previously acquired. This increases the total time by a large amount, although it's still playing the same game over and over. Second, there is little character development. The protagonist never talks at all (not one word), and his companions have only a backround story which the player is forced to accept. None of the characters grow or have any sort of conflicts. They never even say anything of relevance. Some characters do have their moment(Frog, for instance) but it is force-fed to the player in a quick, get-it-out-of-the-way manner. Third, although the game has 15 endings, they are all gained in the same way. The player has the option of fighting the final boss at any point in the game, and the point the player chooses determines the ending. Instead of branching paths and different ways to go about completing the game in order to find the endings, we get to play the same game 15 times. It's still fun though, and each time goes by faster since the player keeps getting stronger. Several bonuses are included in this package such as FMV scenes and the option to hear the soundtrack (its not on another CD though). FF4 has only 2 FMV scenes and they are of horrible, pre-FF7 quality.
These two games, although overrated, are great examples of good, innovative RPGs. Legions of unwavering fans adore and idolize these games as the epitomizations of the word "classic". This package is a must-buy, especially considering its price ... and added bonuses.

The old ones were better

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 3 / 6
Date: February 20, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Here's what I think. I loved the ones for SNES (although Chrnono Trigger was a little too easy). However, gamers who have already played FF2 American (or better, 4 Japanese, the "hard" version) and Chrono Trigger, don't get this game. It takes a lot longer to save, it's slower, and the add-in animation scenes and movie clips are very few and short. About the only good difference was in FF4, but if you really want to play the original FF4 instead of the American FF2, "simplified" version, then just go to Japan and get that game. Because, honestly, I don't think the new features are worth it. All the abilities and items aren't new, jsut restored, and it is all in the Japanese version.

Two of the greatest RPGs ever produced return, BUT...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: July 04, 2001
Author: Amazon User

A word of warning for all those who still own older, grey playstations, instead of the new white PS1s. Final Fantasy IV will simply not work on the older system, and Chrono Trigger will work only occasionally. Hopefully Square will remedy these defects, as many gamers have been frustrated already.

On to the games. Final Fantasy IV is already one of my favorite RPGs ever. The graphics are quaint and cool, the music is wonderfully energetic and the gameplay is topnotch. Sure, the story's a bit cliched but this game is such a joy to play that it can be forgiven. (5/5)

Chrono Trigger, the prequel to last year's Chrono Cross, is also a groundbreaking RPG. The nifty battle system gives the gameplay more variety and the story is fascinating. Unfortunately, the load times are absolutely inane, but the game is still an interesting experience. (4/5) FF Chronicles wraps these games up in a nice classy package, so don't even think about passing them up. Unless you own an older grey PS1.

If only...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: August 20, 2003
Author: Amazon User

There is a demand for Chrono Trigger. That is evident; just do a quick eBay search and you'll see [money amount]price tags popping up, multiple bids on every auction for just the game cartridge for an out-of-production game system. It was an interesting and fun game.

I used to play Final Fantasy series games. My favorite, after I'd played them through seven, was Final Fantasy II (IV) for the SNES. I don't really know what strikes me about this game, I just know that if I have to pick a favorite Final Fantasy, this one is it.

So when I rented FFChronicles I was thrilled to play FF4, the original Hardtype version never released in America. I was also excited about Chrono Trigger..

..but the truth is that these are two different games on two separate disks. Final Fantasy IV plays well from its disk. Apparently much of the game fits into Playstation's memory, so load times are refreshingly short and unnoticeable. It's not like playing on a blazing cartridge-based SNES, but it's not that bad.

Chrono Trigger is that bad. It came out a few years later than FF4 did, closer to the end of the SNES's lifespan (and during a time when developers were finding ways to pump better and better graphics, sound, effects, etc. from the machine). One way I imagine that Squaresoft was able to achieve the graphics and sound of Chrono Trigger was to take advantage of the load times of the SNES cartridge. Unfortunately, when translated to a system that has much more of a problem loading new information from the game medium (like Playstation), you see _evil things_.

How bad could it be? While playing the game, hit Triangle. Then count _several seconds_ while the menu loads. I promise.

This wouldn't bother me that badly, but it's such a frequently-used feature, such an inherent piece of the game that it seems rediculous to force a multiple-second load time every time you want to use it.

To me, the true measure of how 'good' a game is is the fun factor. Is it fun? While Chrono Trigger SNES was, I'm sorry to say that the load times.. and, I'm not easily swayed, mind you.. but the LOAD TIMES actually reduce the fun I have with this game, and worse, make me yearn badly for the SNES version.

So, if you've never played this game before Playstation, find someone you know, a wierd kind of person, into perhaps really strange and unkown bands, with plenty of posters on his walls, who actually has a Super Nintendo and Chrono Trigger.. and play it at his house.

Final Fantasy Chronicles

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 8
Date: September 08, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This is one of the best games I have ever played. Anyone who is sceptical just needs to pick a controller and go. You won't be dissappointed.

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