Proto:Chrono Trigger (SNES)

This page details one or more prototype versions of Chrono Trigger (SNES).

  This prototype is documented on Hidden Palace.

A prototype of Chrono Trigger dated November 17, 1994, nearly four months before the game's release, was dumped around 1999.

This build seems to have been used as a demo: the game writes SRAM at bootup to produce three save files from different points in the story, both they and the New Game option have defined end points (followed by a plug for the game's upcoming release before resetting to the title screen), and NPCs block the exits or entrances of certain areas with text saying that you can't go beyond that point (a common tactic in demos to keep players from seeing more of the game than is intended).

Going outside the demo boundaries reveals that most of the rest of the game is present, though most of the events are (deliberately or otherwise) locked out and sealed off by a number of methods:

1. The area is completely empty.
2. Automatic blackout crash.
3. The game resets.
4. The game loads Crono's name entry screen and forces a New Game.

Codes exist to unlock these areas along with the Epoch, the full party, and all Techs. There's a ton of differences from the final both major and minor, such as none of the endings being present.

To do: Chrono Compendium has more stuff, and its webmaster has given us permission to put it on the wiki. Create Notes page of more general cheat codes for exploration (walk through walls, bypass demo lockouts, etc.). Add monster differences as a subpage.

Sub-Pages

Gameplay Differences General differences in gameplay.

Graphic Differences Various graphical changes. Ones specific to a single area are noted in "Area Differences".

Area Differences Areas that were modified for or removed from the final. These are further sorted by era.

Music Differences The music received much tweaking for the final, and some songs were removed entirely!

Unused Text Unused dialogue, debug text, and text differences.

Item Differences A number of items were modified, added, or removed between this build and the final.