Chrono Trigger is widely considered one of the greatest JRPGs of all time, and is often placed on several best games of all time lists as well. Originally released back in 1995 for the SNES, this globetrotting and time-spanning RPG told a uniquely diverse story with an eclectic cast of characters, and helped push the genre in the medium forward in several formative ways. Modern JRPGs have a lot to thank Chrono Trigger for, as it helped pave the way narratively, stylistically, and gameplay-wise for the best modern examples of JRPGs today. Now, 27 years after the Square-developed RPG released, Sea of Stars is a standout example of a new RPG inspired by the classic JRPG.
Many flocked to Cris Tales because of its reverence for Chrono Trigger, and while Cris Tales was a similarly time-hopping RPG of its own, the game also showcased its unique mechanics that leaned even further into aspects of time travel. Now, it seems, Sea of Stars may receive the same treatment as excitement ramps up for the upcoming title. Sea of Stars wears its Chrono Trigger inspiration on its sleeve to some extent, and even has a certain Chrono Trigger veteran working on the game, but the game also emphasizes its own style. Sea of Stars draws from many influences, but any fan of Chrono Trigger can easily find a lot to love in what’s been shown of Sea of Stars thus far.
Sea of Stars: Nostalgic RPG From The Messenger Developer
Sea of Stars has a fascinating backstory as a prequel to The Messenger, the widely popular indie platformer made by the same developer, Sabotage Studio. The two games couldn’t be more different, despite being linked by the same developer: The Messenger was an action-platformer that harkened back to early games in the genre like Ninja Gaiden, while Sea of Stars celebrates old-school JRPGs like Chrono Trigger. Sea of Stars recognizes the nostalgic aspect of its design, attempting to modernize any of the Chrono Trigger-like aspects of Sabotage’s JRPG, whilst also introducing its own characters, world, mechanics, and story unique to Sabotage’s universe.
That promise is exactly what propelled the game’s Kickstarter to stardom, just hours after the game’s campaign went live on the crowdfunding site. Sabotage Studio’s Kickstarter amassed well over $1 million in funding from its 25,589 backers as the campaign concluded, cementing the success of all its stretch goals and total funding. This evidently caught the eye of famous video game composer Yasunori Mitsuda, the composer for Chrono Trigger, who reached out to Sabotage Studio to assist with orchestrating the game’s soundtrack. Since then, the game’s popularity has reached a fever pitch among Chrono Trigger fans, as well as JRPG fans in general.
Sea of Stars’ Chrono Trigger Influence, and its Nuance
On a more granular level, much of the DNA of Chrono Trigger seems to be emphasized throughout the many facets of Sea of Stars’ design. For one thing, the turn-based combat is the more obvious parallel to Chrono Trigger from a gameplay perspective. On a surface level, the combat similarities are uncanny: In-field combat, no random encounters, and different attacks are categorized as “skills.” However, there’s several new wrinkles in Sea of Stars’ gameplay that draw from a variety of sources. There’s rhythmic combat attacks that boost attack strength and minimize damage a la Legend of Dragoon, and a spell “locks” system that players can break to gain the advantage.
The world, and the characters and stories within it, are another clear example of the influence of JRPGs like Chrono Trigger on Sabotage’s JRPG. The game’s world map perspective and landmark design in particular is very reminiscent of Chrono Trigger. Villages dot the landscape among other mythical structures and milestones, as well as various ways to get around the world like by air or by sea. The various islands segmented into different biomes and landscapes is just like Chrono Trigger’s layout as well.
Additionally, the various characters and their respective stories seems to be similar to JRPGs like Chrono Trigger, at least by description. Only some early access and preview gameplay has depicted character interactions from Sea of Stars so far, but the variety of interactions seems familiar. Some serious emotional moments are interspersed between moments of levity and companionship, along with “the unexpected twists and events you’d expect from a Sabotage production.”
Obviously at the end of the day, even if Chrono Trigger’s influence can be less-than-subtle, Sea of Stars is its own JRPG with a story to tell. Fleshing out the world that The Messenger takes place in by going back in time is an interesting premise. Contextualizing the prequel in a classic JRPG framework would make sense as a conduit to exploring the game’s world and lore in-depth without seeming out of place. Plus, with all of the interesting innovations on top of the classic JRPG influence, Sea of Stars certainly looks like a nostalgia trip that doesn’t skip out on efforts of modernization, which could be the perfect balance if executed correctly.
Even if Sea of Stars does proudly draw from its inspiration, the nuance and complexity the game is adding to the mechanics and story is what sets it apart from comparable nostalgia-adjacent JRPGs. Especially with Mitsuda on board, any fans looking for that Chrono Trigger itch in a new JRPG should definitely check out Sea of Stars when it releases next year.
Sea of Stars releases in Holiday 2022, for PC and Nintendo Switch.
Source: Kickstarter
