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Final Fantasy IV (II in the U.S.) and Chrono Trigger are two of the best loved RPGs created. Their re-release on the PSone is a no brainer for RPG fans, but you don't get much more than a direct translation. FFIV and Chrono Trigger have been updated with new movie segments. FFIV gets a short rendered intro and more rendered footage in certain parts of the story. Chrono Trigger gets new, though somewhat choppy, anime sequences to the game. The new movies are nice touches to both games but don't add much.
FFIV is the more dated looking of the two titles. Players who haven't seen it before will probably laugh at the wavy-armed sprite characters. Chrono Trigger was released quite a bit later and looks the part. CT's visuals are still as charming and colorful as they were on the SNES. Die-hard RPG fans aren't going to care much about visuals. What makes FFIV and Chrono Trigger two classics are their storylines. FFIV deals with Cecil and the fight for powerful crystals. There's a ton of emotion and political intrigue that comes from the blocky sprites. Players who haven't seen Cid in his early days get to see him complete with goggles and beard. Chrono Trigger is about a boy named Chrono who unexpectedly gets time-warped by his friend Lucca's machine. The story is full of humor and very memorable characters. FFIV and CT both load quickly for battles. But CT lags big time when you load the menu screen. It takes a full 6 seconds to load - something that SNES cart owners never had to deal with. FFIV and CT have the same exact sounds that burst out of the SNES. It's remarkable to note that both games have tunes that will be instantly recognizable to fans. The visuals are also the same - crisp sprites and some nifty Mode 7 effects to remind players of the good ol' days. There aren't many bonuses to FFII and CT and it's disappointing. No making-of, no pages of artwork - just barebone games. Still, they're two of the best RPGs around.
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