#7

Chrono Trigger (Originally released in 1995 on the SNES)

Time travel is a very tricky mechanic to pull off in any type of medium and while Chrono Trigger might have it perfected, it certainly makes it work. CT was the first game I played that dealt with time travel. A youth and his friends stumble open time portals that send them back into the past and sky rockets them to their bleak future. When they see there world in ruins, these brave adventures make it their job to find what causes this outcome and they set out to correct it. This is the basic premise of Chrono Trigger, but there is so much more.

With time travel, you get to see actions you made in the past change the current world. Your team ranges from best friends that you grew up with to princesses to cursed knights and even prehistoric street fighters who are scantily clad. Each has a unique story and each has multiple story arcs that leads you throughout time. You get to witness the birth of magic, the death of the dinosaurs, the end of the world, and even come across a place beyond time itself.

This game also has one of the cooler battle systems out there. This was the first time I was able to do team attacks. Three people join you in any fight, and two or even all three can combine their individual skills into a pretty and powerful display of destruction. these attacks range from a basic elemental sword slash or a simple, yet stronger version of a heal, but some of the later team techs involve giant frogs, laser light shows, and even grenade explosions. Its fun to mix the team around and see what sort of abilities everyone has with each other.

Chrono Trigger is a timeless classic about the power of time. Its sad that after only one sequel, Square Enix never decided to continue with the series. It could have become one of the better franchises ever, but due to unknown circumstances that was not the case. Instead, we are given a masterpiece we can enjoy for all eternity.