Chrono Trigger 2 Is Not Happening, And I Believe That’s For The Best

No matter how many different kinds of games you play, there are always one or two genres you can never stop enjoying. If I talk about myself, those have to be JRPGs and Souls-like. I got into the Souls series pretty late, but JRPGs I’ve stuck with my whole life. I’ve played countless games over the years, but I don’t think I’ve dived into any genre more than JRPGs. Growing up with them and then eagerly following every major or obscure entry; it’s a genre very special to me.

Saying JRPGs have a rich history would be an understatement I think, as their history is a lot more than rich. But today, I’d like to talk about one particular legendary title; Chrono Trigger. Undoubtedly, it was the pinnacle of JRPG greatness and an adventure you can never forget. Although it’s most likely never getting a direct sequel as we recently learned, let me tell you why I think that it’s for the best.

Chrono Trigger creators Yuji Horii, Hironobu Sakaguchi and Kazuhiko Torishima praised Sea of Stars as a beautiful game they said looks just like Chrono Trigger and said the developers really did a great job!

After talking about the possibility of Chrono Trigger 2 which they said… pic.twitter.com/2XHHnLrn7q

— Genki✨ (@Genki_JPN) December 26, 2023

Chrono Trigger — Square’s Masterpiece No One Should Sleep On

Before talking about the sequel, I’ll have to tell you about Chrono Trigger first. And the tale of this legendary adventure is incomplete without taking you back to the golden era of JRPGs featuring SquareSoft, or simply Square. Before merging with Enix, it was Square, and it was responsible for some legendary titles I’ll never forget. These include Parasite Eve, Xenogears (What I wouldn’t give to see it again), Final Fantasy, and of course, Chrono Trigger.

Chrono Trigger might be one of the greatest RPG, or game, ever made
byu/LordLoko inpatientgamers

As much as I like to talk about all of these in detail, it’s Chrono Trigger Day today, and I’ll stick to it. The circumstances of this legendary game were no less legendary themselves. It was created by a “Dream Team;” a collab between Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii, and someone you know very well, Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama. Throw in Masato Kato and Yasunori Mitsuda, and you get your reasons for its greatness.

Chrono Trigger is a tale that takes you through time, and I can’t stress enough how beautiful of an adventure it is. Filled with beloved characters, compelling side-quests, powerful writing, otherworldly music, and a mindblowing story, I can’t find flaws in it even if I wish to. In addition, it features exceptional turn-based combat topped by the iconic Active Time Battle system. I know people think turn-based is old, but boy am I glad Baldur’s Gate 3 proved that wrong.

It’s Not Chrono Trigger Without The Dream Team, And Getting It Is A Tall Order

Now, let’s discuss why Chrono Trigger not getting a sequel is a good thing. The very first point to discuss is that it was a result of very special circumstances, which are near-impossible to replicate now. Can Square Enix bring the creative minds of this level back together? I highly doubt it can do that now. Especially when the legends themselves said that Chrono Trigger 2 is highly unlikely to happen. And Square Enix cannot bring them together now.

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byu/gravityhashira61 from discussion
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Even if we were to get another Chrono Trigger as Square Enix owns the IP, I doubt it’ll do anything other than ruin the legacy of the original. Those special circumstances can no longer be re-created. Hironobu Sakaguchi left Square Enix a long time ago and has his own studio now. Also, the Fantasian released in 2021 was supposed to be his last work, as his age doesn’t allow more burden now. A similar case is for Masato Kato.

He’s also no longer a part of the company and works freelance. He was involved in multiple projects for Square Enix, but he’s still not an employee so there’s no guarantee he’ll return. Besides, he has his hands full with Another Eden, a mobile gacha game whose entire existence is a sort of homage to Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross. Thus, even if Square Enix decides it wants to do Chrono Trigger 2, I’ll never accept a sequel nowhere near the original’s quality.

Chrono Trigger’s Masato Kato On Writing And Another Eden – MinnMax Interview
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Chrono Trigger Is A Complete Tale That Doesn’t Need A Continuation

Considering how big a deal Chrono Trigger was, everyone wants to see more of it, and I can’t blame them for thinking this, but a sequel is not the answer. The point I wish to make here is that not everything needs a sequel, and Chrono Trigger is certainly one of them. Not only are the circumstances that led to its immense quality not replicable, but it doesn’t even need a sequel because the story it wished to deliver was pretty thorough.

As much as I love Chrono Trigger, I’d say no in a flash if you asked me if I wanted a sequel of it. Once you experience the game in its entirety, I’m sure you’ll agree with me, too. I don’t wish to go into any spoilers, that’s for you to find out yourself, but let me tell you this, the story that Chrono Trigger presented ends on a very satisfying and fulfilling note. It doesn’t leave everything out and is a complete experience.

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For something as complete as it is, there isn’t much a sequel can do anyway. There aren’t any plot points that ought to be explained or any side characters that need to be explored. When you know things are this neatly wrapped up, is there any reason to undo that wrapping just because you want to fit in something else? I think that would be a very foolish thing to do, and thus I agree with the Chrono Trigger creators’ sentiment.

Even Chrono Cross Is Not A True Sequel

You might say that Chrono Trigger got a sequel before, why can’t it get one now? To this, I say that Chrono Cross was not a direct sequel to it, and was more like a spin-off set in the same world. Let me discuss a little about it and how it wasn’t even meant to be a sequel. After Chrono Trigger, a sort of spin-off novel turned game was released, called Radical Dreamers. At that time, Masato Kato felt it was incomplete, and wanted to finish it.

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This finalization of Radical Dreamers was eventually achieved with Chrono Cross, a standalone story set in the “Chrono” series and the same world but strictly not a sequel. Masato himself said back then that there was no use in creating something similar, and we wanted to do something different and unique, which is Chrono Cross. And it was in no way a sequel to Chrono Trigger, but a separate entry.

Even at the time of Chrono Cross’ release, it was established firmly that it was not to be a sequel and considered a spin-off entry. Similarly, Chrono Cross made it clear how difficult it would be to make a Chrono Trigger sequel. Don’t get me wrong I love Chrono Cross, but I still think that it couldn’t reach the level of its predecessor. This reinforces my point that a Chrono Trigger sequel is not realistically going to reach the same heights in current circumstances.

If Square Enix Wants To Do Something, Make It A Remaster

Here’s another reason why I don’t want a Chrono Trigger sequel; I do not trust the current Square Enix with it. Some of the company’s newer decisions have been pretty questionable. Top of the list would be its interest in and promotion of NFTs, Symbiogenesis was enough of a mess. And that’s not the end of it either. Needless to say, I fear nothing good can come out of a new Chrono Trigger game now.

‘Symbiogenesis’ is some NFT garbage from Square Enix, not a ‘Parasite Eve’ revival
byu/kulikitaka inGames

There’s one thing I’ll demand, however, and that’s a remaster of the original and then its release on PC. I repeat, a remaster, not a remake. A bad remake would be even worse than a bad sequel. All I want is for a remaster to enhance its visuals and then a release on a platform that is a lot more accessible and easier to play on, no more mobile entries, please. A remaster would be the best thing Square Enix can do for Chrono Trigger’s legacy.

All in all, I’m genuinely glad Chrono Trigger 2 is being shut down, as it should. I’ve gone into the details of why I think there isn’t any need for it either, and I think Square Enix needs to keep this in mind for the future, too. However, a sequel shouldn’t come, but no one said anything about a remaster. Thus, I think Chrono Trigger deserves to be experienced by as many gamers as possible, and a remaster is the best way to do that.