Which version to play first? « Chrono Trigger « Forum

I recently picked up a copy of Chrono Trigger DS at BestBuy and was wondering: should I open up and play through the DS version or save up and grab a SNES copy from eBay?

Apologies if I’m looking over something. I’m new to the series and like to avoid researching the game much as to avoid spoilers and such.

Thanks.

legotrekker

If you bought the DS version go ahead and play it. But if you had asked earlier I would have recommended just playing the SNES version. I heard they mangled the lines for Frog and Magus. Just for that I’m not playing.

Clayman: MatCab is cool, he’s drawing me a sketch.
Clay’s Dad: Is that what the kids call it these days?

Sir Simon B o b
quote = edit, we hope you collapse

In the sense that the entire translation was redone, they “mangled” everybody’s lines. (Should’ve asked me, lego, you could be enjoying the DS experience right now! ;D) The DS text feels a little more serious, while the SNES text has more of a “fun” quality.

In terms of overall understanding, I think the DS version does a better job of explaining certain plot points, so for that it’s probably the better version to start with. But if you become a fan, you should also check out the SNES version sometime, just to compare. And of course, plenty of us did fine with the OG version back in the rockin’ nineties.

‘Spiders?’ ‘Tiny spiders.’

author_lumina

Frog’s lines aren’t too bad in the new translation; they did completely get rid of his “Ye Olde English” accent, but he still speaks in a rather dignified manner, just as you might expect from a medieval knight.

But yeah, they also got rid of some of Magus’s best lines, which kinda sucks; he used to come across as a total badass, but now he’s deadly serious for no particular reason, so whatever. I guess it can’t always be perfect.

Also, Dalton no longer says, “We have liftoff, Houston,” which was quite possibly the best line in the game.

Kimi gakure ta yuuki wa OKKUSENMAN! OKKUSENMAN!
Sugi sarishi kisetsu wa doramatikku…

wants_latios_lots

I’m a fan of portability, so I would suggest the DS version. I never played the SNES version, so take that at face value, but really. Being able to play it wherever you want, not worrying about a SNES cartridge that sometimes works, and pausing and picking up any time are really great features. Also, with the DS configuration, the top screen isn’t cluttered. I played through the game with the “original” settings (that is, your party’s health and MP are on screen with the battle), and I can’t tell you how many times I got frustrated with it. I couldn’t see half the battle and I constantly had to shift it around to tell what enemies I was attacking. So while I can’t speak of how good or bad the re-translation is, I do know that the extra features that come with it being on the DS make the game much more…user friendly I would say.

sm.net’s very own unsettling fan of Judi Dench

Sir Simon B o b
quote = edit, we hope you collapse

Actually, a number of people really approved of Frog losing his accent; they couldn’t for the life of them understand why he had one when nobody else did. I always thought it was obvious that he was trying to disguise his voice so nobody would know he was Glenn. He still has a few speech mannerisms in the new translation that hint at his decision to hide his identity, but it’s more subtle (or possibly I’m reading into it too much.)

‘Spiders?’ ‘Tiny spiders.’

I have no something.

Really, my only issues with the DS version are Magus’ lines and the Lost Sanctum. I’m also a little miffed that they screwed around with some of Ayla’s better lines, but not enough to use it to discredit the game. (Ayla hate boat!)

UltiMario1337

I’ve played both, and I really don’t think that they screwed up the script at all. So I say go with the DS version.

“Be careful not to trip, get hurt, or go bald on the way home”- Fassad, to Wess.

apsham

You only REALLY need to play one version and the DS version is the most complete, so go with that.

Geno

I’ll never play the DS version. I’m a purest when it comes to video games, and I couldn’t deal with a revamped script.

gotquestions.org

Incoherent Moron
TOTAL ANNIHILATION

If you were an actual purist, you’d get the DS version, since the DS version is a direct translation, while the SNES version is a Woolsey translation.

The State of Utah is a degenerate, blasted intellectual wasteland, and I pity everyone unfortunate enough to be stuck there, and scorn everyone involved in its continued fall into babbling idiocy.

Sir Simon B o b
quote = edit, we hope you collapse

He also only plays Mother 2 in the original Japanese.

‘Spiders?’ ‘Tiny spiders.’

nessrox111

SNES, for unmangled music and better lines.
But, the DS version has special features, so take your pick.

Radio PSI is my new best friend.

superneku

While the SNES original has its positives, the DS version is cheaper, has a lot more to do (extra ending, a couple more dungeons), a music player, an art gallery, a bestiary, a list of techs, items & the endings & the PSX animated cutscenes.

my point is, there’s more to do in the DS version, more things to unlock & having one of the greatest RPGs ever made on the go is the icing on the cake (the same with Mother 1+2 & 3 with that last point).

UltiMario1337

Why is everyone so flabberghasted about the revamped text?

I’ve played both versions, and I actually found the DS text more appealing. It was all around more detailed, and you could tell they put a lot of time and effort to make sure that some of the lines made more sense.

Sure, they got rid off Frog’s midieval accent, but what was the point of it? No one in that time period but him spoke that way anyways. I always found it out of place.

They ruined some of the lines, though. Like:

“But you’re still hungry”
to
“But you’re still just as hungry as before”

That killed me on the inside. I loved that line.

“Be careful not to trip, get hurt, or go bald on the way home”- Fassad, to Wess.

Sir Simon B o b
quote = edit, we hope you collapse

That dead feeling on the inside is exactly why everyone’s all kafuffled. Great lines like “We have liftoff, Houston!” and “Now we’ve got a winning team!” have been supplanted with incomparably boring dialogue which may fit the original intent better, but frankly just isn’t as much fun.

‘Spiders?’ ‘Tiny spiders.’

Bad Enough Dude

CT’s dialogue never stood out to me as something extraordinary or nostalgic to begin with, so the different translation elicits little ire from me. -=shrug=-

Vrikk
PSI Level Ω

You can buy the DS version for like $15 bucks now at GameStop. It’s good, it’s portable, and the extra screen leaves the battle unhindered by menus. It helps more than you realize.

Jatopian
only wishes to be psychic

It helps? It looks slightly nicer I guess, but how does it help?

Incoherent Moron
TOTAL ANNIHILATION

it’s faster than using the D-Pad, in the same way that Dvorak is faster than QWERTY

you have to get used to it, but it’s definitely faster

The State of Utah is a degenerate, blasted intellectual wasteland, and I pity everyone unfortunate enough to be stuck there, and scorn everyone involved in its continued fall into babbling idiocy.

Geno

Just like EarthBound’s wonked out text, it’s classic. The bad makes it good. Meh, I just wouldn’t ever play it on a handheld either.

gotquestions.org

stoicmani

Jatopian:
It helps? It looks slightly nicer I guess, but how does it help?

It actually has many useful/helpful features on the second screen which allow the player to hop in and out of menus much faster than on the SNES. Need to equip something: tap the Equip button; Need to save your game on the world map: tap the save button. I also personally enjoy the fact of having the battle separated between the two.

But if you want the original experience for anything, always go with its original port.

StoicMani
“I’m a photographic genius, if I do say so myself!”
Twitter = Yum

TauVertex

Play the Playstation version first. Then either one will seem good! =D

I’m not picky about translations (it’s the same story either way), so I would go for the DS version for it’s price, portability, and reliability. It all depends on what’s more important to you.

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