Written by Mark Lee

When a game critically acclaimed as one of the best games ever hits stores, it's normal for it to send shockwaves all over the world for all the right reasons. But back in 1995 Squaresoft seemed to be a bit off their rocker. Not releasing what is widely believed to be one of the greatest RPGs of all time in Europe was a huge kick in the proverbials for all ardent Squaresoft fans. As Chrono Trigger shifted over 2 million copies in Japan alone it seemed to be even more confusing that PAL gamers never got to see what the fuss was about.

So after 14 years of Squaresoft/Square-Enix keeping you, the gamer, waiting and wondering, one of the finest games of all time is coming to our expectant shores. And my, how we are jealous of those who are yet to fall in love with Crono's magical adventure.

As a European Nintendo DS remake of Chrono Trigger is all set for a release tomorrow, here's just a few reasons why you should be taking notice...

1. Time for change

C'mon, ignore Doc Brown, everyone wishes they could mess with time! From Marty McFly and his DeLorean to Bernard and his trusty watch, messing with time itself seems to present more opportunities for fun than anything else. Put this into a game and you've got a bonafide recipe for success. The boys at Square knew this and Chrono Trigger offers more flavour than most games ever achieve.

2. Foil fresh

With the premise of time travel comes a multitude of settings. Chrono Trigger doesn't drop the ball here. Sick of traversing meadows and steam-punk cities in other RPGs?

Chrono Trigger has you covered. And not only are the locales fresh and exciting, they are given a whole new level of depth as you see them evolve through the ages. Reflection, consequence and that intangible human trait of 'questioning' is around every corner and Chrono Trigger feels all the more personal for it.

3. Jackanory

RPGs live and die by their stories and characters, and Chrono Trigger certainly breathes new live into a genre usually dependant on 'traditional' RPG themes (think love, loss, revenge).

Chrono Trigger weaves these vital facets together so wondrously that you will still be thinking about the Chrono Trigger universe long after you've stopped playing. Like all the best stories, you'll feel the psyche of each character to such a degree that you'll keep playing until every outcome has been reached (and there are many, believe us!) .

4. It's a stunner

Chrono Trigger looked wonderful on the SNES in 1995 and it still holds up well today. Detailed, charming character sprite work dances comfortably against wonderfully designed backgrounds dripping with artistic personality and craft. With the release of the DS version, Chrono Trigger has never looked so good with the addition of some wonderful Full Motion Video cutscenes callously yoinked from the Playstation 1 remake. The definitive version, then...

5. Action!

Chrono Trigger's battle system was pretty innovative for its time. Taking elements from Squaresoft's action RPG Secret of Mana (which defined the action RPG movement), the battle system is wholly involving at all times and refreshing for a traditional RPG. All battles take place in the game world (think Zelda) and with more options than you can shake a stylus at, the DS version offers more battle options than ever before.

6. Pedigree Chums

Every company has its star employees, so when Squaresoft decided to team up their prolific, experienced producer Kazuhuko Aoki with Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi and Dragon Quest creator (and former Enix staffer) Yuuji Horii, everyone took notice. Throw in the character designer for the infamous Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama, and what followed was one of the greatest meetings of minds in videogaming history.

7. Hear me!

When you hear the main Chrono Trigger theme, you won't forget it. And so it goes on. Arguably, every piece of music in Chrono Trigger is as impressive and as memorable as the last. Perfectly capturing the ages amidst the canvas of the story, Chrono Trigger's epic score is still regarded as one of the best in the history of electronic entertainment, and for good reason.

Will you be picking up Chrono Trigger for the DS this Friday, or were you lucky enough to own the original SNES game (or its PlayStation remake)? Let us know in the comments section below, or in the Chrono Trigger thread on the N-Europe forums.