Publisher Square Enix has just recently announced their next big project. Although not strictly “gaming” focused, it is “gaming” related as they will be releasing a Chrono Trigger and a Chrono Cross orchestral album. Included in the announcement is also a concert series which will be supervised by the original composer for the Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross soundtracks, Yasunori Mitsuda.
The Chrono Series of role-playing games, aside from being a very successful franchise in financial terms, has also been recognized as one of the best video games of all time, earning critical acclaim for its riveting plot, story-telling prowess, game mechanics, and revolutionary elements that most role-playing games today still abide by. Some of the most notable ones are the implementation of multiple endings, side quests that both move the plot forward and encourage character development, and very detailed graphics when considering the time it was released. For reference, the original Chrono Trigger game was released on March 11, 1995.
The soundtracks featured on this album are also rightfully considred some of the best. When listing down the best and most influential soundtracks in all of video-games, the Chrono series is always up there with other contemporaries, in additing to being attributed as one of the best games from a narrative and gameplay standpoint. Compared to Gerudo’s Valley (Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time) or the main theme music for Halo: Reach, Corridors of Time from Chrono Trigger is another - pun incoming - timeless masterpiece, a reminder that there are very few titles that will ever reach the scope of critical acclaim that Chrono Trigger has.
Both Chrono Cross and the Chrono Trigger will receive a separate orchestral album release with eight tracks each. For fans of the beloved franchise’s music, they can go for a special box set which includes a bonus disc of four arrangements that can only be heard from this package. The standalone albums are each priced at $30.00, while the special box set with the exclusives comes in at $74.00. The orchestral album is set for release on September 7. The concerts also kick off on the same date in Osaka and on October 27 in Tokyo.
