User:West/Prerelease:Chrono Trigger

We apparently have permission to take info from Compendium.

Nearly all the scanned images and the prism card translations are provided by the Chrono Compendium.

V-Jump Prototype Footage
This is the absolute earliest footage of the game; the infamous "weird overworld" proto shown in a V-Jump Preview VHS video from [when!!!] 1994. The game is clearly in a much earlier state than the dumped prototype.


 * Immediately noticible is that Crono has a completely different, very rough sprite set, with flatter hair and a very pronounced bandana.

V-Jump Second Chrono Trigger Video
A second video was released in 1995, shortly before release(?). This video contains footage of a version of the game that is clearly not the final, but seems to actually be later in development than the Prerelease.

Prism Card Mockups
The prism cards were prerelease merchandise that happened to have (relatively) high-quality images of game mockups on them.

Translation: Crono and company jump off the Pterans. Ride to the enemy castle.

This mockup is nothing special; if not for the fact an event setup still exists for making it in the prerelease!

Translation: The prison break was a success! ...even as we think that, the Dragon Tank blocks our way.

In this mockup the Dragon Tank is encountered on the wrong end of the bridge. There's nothing particularly prototypical about the shot otherwise.

Translation: The second form of Lavos. Can we endure the attacks that come one after another?

Appears identical to the Lavos in the Proto.

Translation: A dim dungeon. Crono and friends surrounded by monsters. One shot at breaking through.

This shot appears to be the basis for the Magic Cave in 600 AD.

Translation: blah

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Magazine Scans and Misc
CT_pre_600ad_storeroom.jpg

Unknown source, possibly a mockup. This depicts the storeroom that appears in 1000 AD after you finish the Rainbow Shell quest. Except, uh... Here it's in 600 AD, where it isn't supposed to be built yet. It also isn't supposed to have a freaking door on it, either.

CT_pre_brazil_preview.jpg

A preview taken from a Brazilian magazine. Notably includes a new 2300 AD image, but also has one of the only instances of a primitive menu screen! This displays Crono with what appears to be four elemental symbols with values assigned to them. What they were intended for is unknown.

CT_pre_EGMpromo.jpg

Earliest proto. The center screenshot is new and depicts an early sprite for Schala and Janus at a primitive Mammon Machine in the Undersea Palace(?!). Most likely a mockup.

CT_pre_EGM1.jpg CT_pre_EGM2.jpg

This EGM preview uses mostly the mockups used on the Prism Card mixed with several new ones. The version depicted seems to be earlier than the prerelease but later than the earliest proto. For example, in the Dragon Tank shot the menu is using very long status display not seen anywhere else. The first image in particular claims Crono is from the town of "Stoal" instead of Truce.

The second image is even more interesting, showing a newer, unfeasably compact 1000 AD overworld mockup, a scene showing the Arc Impulse triple tech in an odd, snow mountain mockup area(which may have been the inspiration for the Toriyama cover artwork or vice-versa), and three new screenshots. These show the Telepod scene(with what appears to be a slightly different Taban), one where the party speaks to a Goon enemy in Manoria Cathedral, and a bizarre Earthbound Village mockup.

The upper-right screenshot on page two also shows a bizarre fight with a completely different, larger Queen Zeal, while the upper-center one shows yet another triple tech mockup. It sure as hell doesn't look like "Twister", the Crono/Robo/Ayla triple tech in the final. It also doesn't resemble any double tech of Crono/Ayla's considering Robo's command window is open!