As Hironobu continued his gameplay, he began by thoroughly exploring the world map. His first stop was the town of Truce. Upon arriving, he made his way to the nearby market, where he browsed various shops filled with items, weapons, and armor. Although tempted by the variety of gear available, his experience as a seasoned JRPG enthusiast kicked in. He knew better than to overspend on early-game equipment that would quickly become obsolete. With that in mind, he left most items untouched and quickly returned to the world map. From there, he made his way toward Guardia Forest, eager to see what challenges awaited him beyond the town's peaceful borders.
While exploring Guardia Forest, Hironobu encountered a variety of small enemies, including green goblins and strange, ball-like creatures that bounced aggressively toward Crono. Most of the time, Crono was able to dispatch them with a single sword strike, his agility and strength easily outmatching their limited defenses. After defeating a few more enemies, a notification popped up on the screen—Crono had leveled up. Hironobu's eyes lit up as the game revealed a new skill: "Cyclone."
Hironobu wanted to test the new skill and its timing mechanics. He spotted a group of three blue bird-like enemies clustered closely together—a perfect opportunity. Without hesitation, he navigated to the "Skill" menu and selected "Cyclone." In this version of Chrono Trigger, developed by Zaboru, the game pauses during skill selection, adding a layer of strategy to the otherwise fast-paced combat. Although it still required quick thinking and good reflexes, the pause allowed for more deliberate decisions. Notably, Zaboru had rebalanced enemy health and stats to make encounters slightly more challenging than in the original Chrono Trigger in his previous life.
Crono launched into action with a sharp swoosh sound effect. The animation showed him spinning rapidly, his sword creating a circular slash that struck all nearby enemies in one fluid motion. The visual flair, combined with the impactful sound design, made the attack immensely satisfying. All three enemies were hit at once, and Hironobu couldn't help but grin at the smooth execution and power of the move.
Hironobu grinned. "So damn cool," he muttered, nodding in approval. The skill, sound effects, and animation pleased him greatly—it all felt smooth, stylish, and powerful. But then he noticed something that made him pause. Upon leveling up, Crono's HP and MP didn't refill. His max stats increased, but his current health and mana remained the same. That realization irritated him.
"ZAGE JRPGs always do this," he mumbled, a little frustrated. It was a common mechanic in JRPG ZAGE games, and while it had its merits—adding tension and strategy—Hironobu had always preferred systems where leveling up rewarded you with a full recovery. That was the philosophy behind Triangle Soft's games, especially their infamous IP Jewel Sword, where characters were fully healed upon leveling up. It gave a sense of triumph and momentum.
Still, he chuckled to himself. "But with this, I need proper management of my items and my party. I can't be careless," he admitted. It added another layer of challenge and forced him to think more carefully about each encounter.
With that thought, Hironobu pressed onward, guiding Crono toward the castle that awaited in the distance.
Not long after fully exploring Guardia Forest, Hironobu led Crono to the gates of Guardia Castle. As Crono approached the entrance, a guard stepped forward and halted him. "Halt! Who are you? Are you with the Magus Army!? No way, we can't let him through!" one guard barked, his suspicion thick in the air. Another guard, more jovial, burst into laughter. "Hahaha, look at that hair! There's no way the Magus Army would allow a style like that. Alright, son, let me check your entry stamp!"
Hironobu chuckled. Crono's spiky red hair was undeniably cool but also totally absurd in a way that made him iconic. Just as the tension began to rise, a new voice appeared in the game's dialogue: "Wait! How dare you treat him that way!" The guards immediately straightened as a regal figure stepped forward. One guard dropped to a knee. "My Queen! But he's suspicious!"
The queen responded with unwavering confidence. "He is my friend! He's the one who saved me! Let him in at once!"
"YES, Your Majesty!" the knight replied quickly. The queen giggled in the dialogue box, and the game transitioned to allow Crono into the castle.
Once inside, Hironobu took his time exploring. He opened treasure chests tucked away in corners, examined decorations, and talked to NPCs scattered throughout the castle's halls. Eventually, a conversation with the king revealed a troubling concern: the queen had been acting strangely since her return and had even lost a brooch that was very dear to her.
Hironobu continued to explore until he reached the Queen's chambers. Upon entering, the Queen turned to her attendant and, in the game's text box, said, "Please leave us. I want to speak with him alone." The attendant gave a respectful bow and exited the room, leaving Crono and the Queen alone.
Hironobu leaned forward, curious about what would happen next.
Hironobu raised an eyebrow. "Hoo? What's this development?" he muttered. On screen, the Queen suddenly leaned forward and said, "Come closer, young one." Then she giggled mischievously. "Hehehe... You were fooled, weren't you, Crono? It's me, Marle! But for some reason, everyone thinks I'm Queen Leene!"
Hironobu chuckled at the twist and continued playing. Suddenly, the screen took on a green hue, and Marle's sprite began flickering erratically. She clutched her head and cried out in distress, "Wh-What's happening?! My head... it hurts! I'm scared! Crono, help me!"
Before Crono could react, Marle vanished in a flash of light, leaving nothing behind. The character stood frozen in confusion, mirroring Hironobu's reaction. "What? What just happened?" he said aloud, startled.
He quickly guided Crono out of the Queen's chambers and made his way toward the castle exit. Just as he reached the doors, a new line of text appeared on screen—someone was calling out to Crono.
"Chrono!" It turned out to be Lucca! She appeared suddenly and quickly explained the situation. This world was actually the past, and the girl Crono thought was "Marle" was in fact Princess Nadia—the princess of the Guardia Kingdom! Crono was stunned by the revelation.
Lucca elaborated further: the real Queen Leene had been kidnapped in this timeline, and originally, Someone was supposed to be the one to rescue her. However, because they rescued Nadia—who everyone mistook for the queen—history had begun to shift. If the real Queen wasn't saved in time, she might be lost forever, and because Nadia was her descendant, she too would cease to exist. It was a delicate temporal paradox.
Hironobu nodded in appreciation. "Interesting take. Very good," he said thoughtfully, admiring the depth of the plot.
Then Crono gained Lucca as a new party member. She came equipped with a gun as her primary weapon. Upon returning to the world map, Hironobu quickly noticed that Lucca's base damage output was quite low compared to Crono's. Wanting to boost her effectiveness in battle, he decided it was time to upgrade her weapon. However, when he visited the shop, he realized her new weapon, the Dart Gun, came with a steep price tag. Hironobu let out a deep sigh. "Can't help it," he muttered, knowing the upgrade was worth it.
He spent 800 gold on the Dart Gun and equipped it immediately. The improvement was significant—her attacks hit harder and her usefulness in combat increased noticeably. With their preparations complete, Hironobu led the team toward a new location on the map: the Cathedral. It was one of the few unexplored areas left, and Hironobu was eager to see what secrets it held.
When he arrived at the cathedral and spoke to the nun, her dialogue immediately struck Hironobu as odd. She said things like, "We only want world peace... or a piece of the world, hehehe," and "You look... slurp... delicious—I mean, very brave." Hironobu frowned. "Why are they talking like that?" he muttered to himself.
Suspicious, he explored the cathedral more thoroughly. Near one of the altars, he spotted something sparkling on the floor. Curious, he approached it and triggered a dialogue from Lucca. "It's a Royal Pin!" she exclaimed.
Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. The music grew ominous, and the nuns transformed before his eyes—revealing themselves to be demons in disguise. Four in total emerged, surrounding the party and setting the stage for an unexpected battle.
Hironobu chuckled. "I knew it—they were acting really strange." As the battle began, he commanded Lucca to use her Fire Shot skill, which cost 2 MP. The fiery blast instantly obliterated one of the demons, making Hironobu nod in satisfaction. With some strategic maneuvering and well-timed attacks, he eventually defeated all four of them.
Lucca celebrated the victory, visibly excited. But just as things seemed to calm down, a surprise enemy emerged—a demon attempting to ambush her from behind. Before it could strike, however, it was suddenly slashed down by a mysterious figure: a frog wielding a sword.
Hironobu's eyes widened. "Whoa! A frog man!" he exclaimed, clearly fascinated. What drew him in even more was the way the frog spoke—with noble, knightly poise. "My appearance does not hinder my quest," the frog declared with calm dignity.
The frog warrior joined their party, and the trio delved deeper into the cathedral, uncovering its dark secrets. Eventually, they encountered Yakra, the sinister creature impersonating the Chancellor. A fierce battle erupted.
Hironobu played masterfully, utilizing Frog's healing spells to keep the party alive and timing their attacks perfectly. He especially enjoyed discovering the Dual Tech move "Flame Cyclone," where Lucca launched a burst of fire toward Crono, who spun rapidly with his sword engulfed in flames, creating a blazing whirlwind of destruction. The combination was flashy, powerful, and deeply satisfying. Or the X Slash between Chrono and Frog.
The party successfully defeated Yakra and rescued both the real Queen and the Chancellor. With the crisis averted, they returned triumphantly to Guardia Castle. However, the victory was bittersweet. The Frog turned to the Queen with his head lowered and said, "I am ashamed I failed to protect my Queen. I shall exile myself as penance."
Before departing, he approached Crono, resting his hand on the young swordsman's shoulder. "You show great potential with the blade. Keep honing your skills, young one," he said with a tone of proud sincerity. As he turned to leave, Hironobu's eyes lit up. "He is so badass," he whispered in awe.
The contrast between the Frog's unconventional appearance and his noble, selfless demeanor left a lasting impression. His chivalrous dialogue, solemn honor, and sense of duty resonated deeply with Hironobu. Despite being an anthropomorphic frog, the character's emotional weight and integrity made him stand out. From that moment on, Hironobu had found his favorite character in the game.
Marle soon returned to the group, her existence restored thanks to the successful rescue of Queen Leene. With history set back on course, the trio—Crono, Marle (also known as Princess Nadia), and Lucca—made their way back to their original timeline through the time gate. Upon returning, Marle cheerfully invited Crono to visit the castle.
However, the visit took a dark turn. As soon as they arrived, Crono was abruptly seized by castle guards. Accusations flew: they believed he had kidnapped the princess. Despite Marle's protests, the guards refused to listen. Crono was shackled and thrown into a cell, his fate uncertain. Hironobu stared at the screen, stunned by the dramatic shift in tone. "What?! They're framing me?!" he muttered, caught off guard by the unfolding plot twist.
Then the trial began—and Hironobu's mind was absolutely blown. The courtroom sequence recounted Crono's actions during the Festival in shocking detail. First, it mentioned that Hironobu had helped a little girl find her lost cat—an act that earned him praise and goodwill. But then things took a turn. The trial noted that he had tried to sell the necklace Princess Nadia had dropped to a merchant, which painted him as opportunistic. It even highlighted that he had eaten a stranger's unattended lunch!
"They remember my actions?!" Hironobu gasped. He was stunned that the game had been silently tracking his every move. Even something as seemingly insignificant as stealing lunch from a picnic table had repercussions. He was floored by the game's deep cause-and-effect system.
Finally, the trial reached its verdict: Crono was found guilty and sentenced to be executed in three days. Hironobu shook his head in disbelief. "That's... something else," he murmured, eyes wide with awe. The sheer unpredictability and interactivity of the narrative left him speechless.
Needing a break to process it all, Hironobu leaned back with a grin. "This might be the greatest JRPG journey I'll ever experience," he said, chuckling to himself. As much as he wanted to keep playing, his stomach rumbled. "Alright, time for food first," he muttered. The game could wait—barely.
To be continue
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