movie reviews, movie news, dvd, and movie discussion
Reviews Upcoming Podcast Forums Video

Editorial: Which Was The Best SNES Game Of All Time--A Link To The Past Or Chrono Trigger?

By Rich Knight: 2008-09-07 11:54:34
Hyp on N4G
Editorial: Which Was The Best SNES Game Of All Time--A Link To The Past Or Chrono Trigger? While it might seem like a pretty arbitrary question for an editorial, I think it’s valid because 1) A Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is currently out now for the Virtual Console, and 2) Chrono Trigger, arguably Squaresoft’s (now Square Enix), greatest game ever (Final Fantasy IV and VI, notwithstanding) is coming soon to the DS on November 25th. Oh, and 3) I’ve actually been playing A Link to the Past lately and forgot how doggone good it is.

Now, I know the issue is debatable, especially when the SNES had so many boss games— Super Mario World, Actraiser, and (okay, I’ll admit it), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time— but there’s just something about Link to the Past and CT that elevates them beyond being just great SNES games. They’re in a category all on their own and easily qualify as occupants for best game ever territory.

But let’s count the many ways I love thee, shall we? Link to the Past was a revolutionary milestone at the time that took the concept of light and dark and made it into a feature long before Samus would start meddling with all that nonsense in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. Traveling back and forth through the light and dark realms, Link would find his precious Hyrule in a different state of turmoil whenever he would leap into the Dark World. My favorite moment of the game actually occurs early on when you first fall into the alternate universe and you come out a pink bunny, signifying that Link is good wherever he is, even in a world that’s supposed to bring out the worst in you.

What I really love about the game, though, is the fact that it’s so damn fun to play. Link has gone through some really interesting dungeons in the past (The water dungeon in particular if you’ve ever played The Ocarina of Time), but none were nearly as fun and, more importantly, as consistently fun, as they were in ALTTP. Every single one is short and easy to figure out if you just try out all your available options, which is something that wasn’t always true in some of the later games in the series (Again, I’m looking at you, water dungeon).

It was the kind of milestone of a game that makes you pay attention to Nintendo, more so than even Super Mario World. World was grand in its scope but wasn't a masterpiece that made you feel like turning it off was like turning off a part of fun you could never attain again unless you turned it back on. I even want to play Link to the Past right now. Screw this editorial! Bah!

But then, there’s Chrono Trigger, a game that poses so many moral questions that it has about ten or twelve different endings just to answer them all. CT is like no other game you’ve ever played, even making its superb sequel, Chrono Cross look weak in comparison. I actually remember the first time I played CT and remember how blown away I was by the music. In my opinion, and in the opinions of many others, CT has the best music of any video game ever. Every song by Yasunori Mitsuda and legendary Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu is perfect, utterly perfect, and they match the heroic adventure that even with 16-bits still looks spellbinding, even today.

And the characters can’t be beat. Frog, Lucca, Magus(!), and the others each complete heart-breaking personal quests in the midst of the amazing main storyline. Seriously, no RPG has ever matched the splendor of CT, and no RPG probably ever will. We fanboys are hard to impress with new things, and no new thing has ever come close to being as good as CT, that’s just how good it is.

So, which one is better? Well, as surprising as this may be, I’m going to have to go with Link to the Past. While the Chrono storyline is comparable to none and has way more replay value, Link to the Past, just has more heart, more gumption to it. From its achievement music to the way the combat system just works on so many levels, Link to the Past is the greatest SNES game in history, and I’m sticking by it. Chrono Trigger fans, who wants some?

Tips N4G

RELATED: super nes, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, chrono trigger, Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy VI, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time, Actraiser, Super Mario World

Latest Headlines:

 

Comment on “Editorial: Which Was The Best SNES Game Of All Time--A Link To The Past Or Chrono Trigger?”

Note: This website is not meant for use by minors. The views expressed in the comments section below are not our own. This section is intended for discussion of the topic in the post above. Disagreement is encouraged, however comments which attack, insult, or threaten the author in a personal manner won't be published. Similarly, comments that we deem to be poorly worded, or wildly off topic will also not be approved and may be mocked. For free, uncensored, unfettered, and possibly dangerous discussion visit our forum.
  1. Adroit One Says:

    How in the world can you not even mention the greatest game on the SNES, Super Metroid. I mean you never even mentioned the game.

  1. Chooch Says:

    Chrono Trigger for sure, although I can't heap enough praise on top of A Link to the Past either.

  1. Ness the Mess Says:

    I'm offended that Earthbound wasn't even mentioned; surely it surpasses TMNT: Turtles in Time. This is not only a game but a piece of art which catalogues modern western society in a humourous way.

  1. Dohz Says:

    Neither. I pick Super Metroid.

  1. Lukas Says:

    As has already been stated, Super Metroid was superior to both.

  1. Dale Says:

    The best snes,(or any system for that matter,) game is Earthbound.

  1. Rich Says:

    Yes, I do love Super Metroid. It's definitely the best one in the Metroid canon (I can't even play the Prime games--Another big surprise!), but for me, ALTTP and CT are THE best games for the system and also the most defining for it. Super Metroid=excellent game. CT and ALTTP=Masterpieces.

  1. Chuck Says:

    It's definitely A Link to the Past.

    Super Metroid is close, Chrono Trigger, and Earthbound are all close, but none of those three games are/were as widely loved and played as A Link to the Past is/was by so many people.

  1. Tom Says:

    Final Fantasy 3 (6).

    Chrono Trigger comes in a close second for me, but FF6 definitely captivated more of my time and attention.

  1. Charles Stover Says:

    Chrono Trigger, definately. It's all about replay value.

  1. Setiady Says:

    my fav game of all time are in fact...

    1. A link to the past
    2. Chrono trigger
    3. the rest...
    i'm not talking just in SNES context.
    I also play wii, all playstations ,etc but talking about satisfaction level when i play the game those 2 games really hit me.

Leave a Reply




Back to Editorial: Which Was The Best SNES Game Of All Time--A Link To The Past Or Chrono Trigger?

MAIN SITE NAVIGATION
HOME l ABOUT US l l SEARCH l MOVIE NEWS l MOVIE REVIEWS l MOVIE PREVIEWS l DVD REVIEWS l DVD NEWS l SOUNDTRACKS l FEATURES DATABASE l TELEVISION l MUSIC l GAMES l CELEBRITY l TECHNOLOGY l RSS 2.0 FEEDS l MESSAGE BOARDS l LIVE CHAT l SYNDICATE US l LINKS | CB STORE | MUNCH MONSTER


This site is operated by Cinema Blend LLC. For advertising inquiries, contact Gorilla Nation. CinemaBlend.com is a private, independently owned website which is intended only as entertainment. The views expressed on this website may or may not reflect those of its owner. Don't take us too seriously.

Made in Webta Labs
SITE SEARCH
SITE FEEDS


 

MORE FROM CB