Starting a new game in Chrono Trigger can be an exciting moment, filled with the promise of adventure and time-bending escapades. This guide will walk you through the initial steps of your journey, ensuring you get off to the best possible start in this classic RPG. Whether you’re a newcomer or revisiting Chrono Trigger, this walkthrough will cover everything from the file select screen to your first taste of time travel at the Millennial Fair.
To begin, select “New Game” at the file selection screen. You’ll also notice the “Wait” option. Selecting “Wait” is highly recommended for beginners. This setting pauses enemy actions during battles when you are navigating menus, giving you valuable time to strategize and make decisions, especially as you learn the combat system.
Setting Off in Truce: Crono’s Day Begins
The game starts in Crono’s bedroom. Don’t worry about changing the default names of your characters right away, or at all if you prefer them. For this guide, we’ll use the default names.
After Crono’s mother wakes him, head downstairs. Talking to her reveals she needs a little prompting to remember Crono’s best friend’s name – a humorous touch to start your day.
Speak to her again, and she’ll give you some money to enjoy the Millennial Fair. Free money is always a welcome start to any adventure!
Before heading to the fair, take some time to explore Truce. Visiting the Elder’s house is beneficial, especially for new players. It serves as a mini-tutorial, offering hints and tips about gameplay mechanics.
Inside the Elder’s house, you can find some useful items. Check both upstairs and downstairs for chests containing a Tonic and 100 Gold. After looting the chests, speak to the Elder upstairs. He’s impressed by your politeness and will reward you with 300 Gold.
A Trip to Porre for Extra Gold
Next, venture south to the town of Porre. Like Truce, Porre has an Elder’s house worth visiting.
Head upstairs in Porre Elder’s house and open the chest to obtain a Shelter. Then, go downstairs and talk to the Elder. If you humorously act like a chicken, he will give you 10 Gold. Interestingly, you can repeat this action multiple times, as the Elder seems to have a very short memory, offering a small but repeatable source of income early in the game.
Exploring Guardia Forest for Experience and Power
Just west of Truce lies Guardia Forest. This area is perfect for gaining some early experience points by battling the relatively weak enemies. Defeating the local wildlife will help Crono level up before facing tougher challenges.
Keep an eye out for a sparkling spot in the lower-right corner of Guardia Forest. This is a Power Tab, a valuable item that permanently increases a character’s Strength stat by one point. Acquire it and use it on Crono to give him a permanent stat boost right at the beginning of your adventure.
Truce Fair Games: Test Your Skills and Win Prizes
Now it’s time to enjoy the Millennial Fair! Here you’ll find various mini-games where you can earn Silver Points, a special currency used only at the fair.
The hammer-swinging contest in the southwest of the fair tests your timing. Press the action button when the hammer is furthest back in its swing to try and ring the bell. Success earns you a single Silver Point.
Look for the runners circling in the southern part of the fair. You can bet on the outcome of their race. Talk to the betting attendant when all four runners are at the starting line. An old man nearby offers predictions, but his advice isn’t always reliable. You can influence the race slightly by running alongside a racer to either slow them down or speed them up. Correctly predicting the winner will net you 20 Silver Points.
In the northwest corner, you’ll find Gato, a metallic robot. Challenge Gato to a fight. Defeating him will reward you with 15 Silver Points.
In the northeast section, a soda-drinking contest is underway. This game requires rapidly pressing the action button to make your character drink soda. Successfully downing 8 cans earns you 5 Silver Points. This contest can be challenging on standard controllers, but players using emulators with turbo functions might find it much easier to accumulate Silver Points here.
With your Silver Points in hand, you might consider exchanging them for regular money. However, the exchange rate offered by the vendor in the northern part of the fair is not favorable.
Tent of Horrors: Unique Prizes Await
A more worthwhile use for your Silver Points is the Tent of Horrors, located in the southeast area of the fair. Here you can play games costing 10, 40, or 80 Silver Points, each offering different prizes.
The 10 Silver Point game involves identifying one of three soldiers – Vicks (Biggs), Wedge, and Piette – as they run in circles. Keeping track of all three can be tricky, but winning earns you a Poyozo Doll for Crono’s room, which plays music when examined.
The 40 Silver Point game requires mirroring the gestures of a Crono clone. Use the A, Y, L, and R buttons to mimic the clone’s actions, including arm movements (remember to mirror left and right). Winning this game rewards you with a Crono clone that will be sent to Crono’s house.
The 80 Silver Point game is designed for two players and is not playable solo at this stage. However, for future reference, this game involves protecting a companion from monsters while they are lowered into flames. Success in this two-player challenge yields a stray cat as a prize.
Meeting Marle and the Telepod Incident
To advance the story, head to the northern part of town where you’ll see a blonde girl running around. Walk into her to trigger a comedic encounter.
After the collision, she’ll drop a pendant. Before picking it up, speak to her to ensure Crono acts chivalrously.
Pick up the pendant and talk to her again. She’ll ask for it back. Return it to her to make a good impression.
Accept her offer to spend time together. This is the beginning of Crono’s interaction with Marle.
She’ll then introduce herself – or perhaps use an alias initially – with the default name being Marle.
As you explore the fair with Marle, you’ll have opportunities to interact with the environment. Avoid stealing the lunch of the man near where you meet Marle, as it won’t impress her.
Instead, help the little girl near the lunch man find her lost cat, which is nearby. Guiding the cat back to the girl will surely earn you points with Marle.
Also, refrain from trying to sell Marle’s pendant to Melchior, the swordsmith located in the northern part of the fair.
If you wish, you can take Marle to Guardia Forest to engage in more battles. Marle comes equipped with a crossbow, making her a useful party member in combat.
After exploring the fair and forest, speak to the little girl by the fountain again. She will mention that Lucca’s invention is ready for demonstration.
Before heading to Lucca’s invention, Marle’s sweet tooth will kick in, and she’ll want to visit the candy stall.
Be patient while Marle orders her candy; don’t interrupt her.
Finally, proceed to Lucca’s invention. This is where the story takes a significant turn, leading to your first experience with time travel.
Prepare for an unexpected event as Crono is inadvertently sent through time via Lucca’s Telepod invention.
Where will Crono end up? What happened to Marle? These questions will be answered as you continue your Chrono Trigger adventure. This guide will continue to lead you through the twists and turns of this epic RPG, helping you master time travel and save the world!
