Chrono Trigger ROM Hack- Official name TBD

[Oria]

Alright. This is a somewhat ambitious hack of Chrono Trigger. It will feature new maps and an entirely different story. However, the hack will retain the time-traveling aspect of the original, having several overworlds  themed to a time period. Much of the work will be completed using the tool Temporal Flux by Geiger; however, I am currently experimenting with modifications that can't be done with it. I admit that I'm not that far yet; I have only four maps completed, but many aspects, such as a story and optional sidequests, are currently in the works. This thread will periodically be updated with new images. At this point, progress is slow, as I have school to contend with, but I really hope that I can get somewhere with this.

Here are some screen shots of what is completed:



The first overworld map- the Present, 2054 A.D.



Nick's mother attempts to wake her son in time for a special ceremony. 'Nick' is the player's default name.



Nick's room



The rest of Nick's house. His mother is absent here, but she will be present in later versions.


What I have planned might not come close to the quality of the original Chrono Trigger, but I plan to try my best in this endeavor.

[Mauron]

however, I am currently experimenting with modifications that can't be done with it.

What modifications are those? I might be able to help if need be.

Note to self: finish Hi-Tech.

[Oria]

Well, I'm planning on replacing Robo's sprites with those of Queen Zeal. One of the things I have to deal with if I did that would be the lack of proper sprites for running and a normal attack. Would you be able to help with spriting?

[Mauron]

Spriting is one of my weak points.

I believe PCs are more restricted to colors than NPCs and Enemies, because PCs have weapon palettes loaded as well on their sprite.

[Oria]

Really? I repointed Robo's pallet to Zeal's during one of my tests, and what I was able to transplant was correctly colored...

[Mauron]

It's possible that Queen Zeal just uses the right number of colors to be compatible with a PC slot.

If it didn't work, you would have seen weapon colors in game.

[Oria]

Alright. I suppose all I can worry about is that the pallet works, right?

Though, I'm having a very hard time transferring even the 'wait' tiles over. So far the only full sprite I've been able to get is facing down; facing up has a section of Robo in it, and left and right have the lower tiles and upper tiles, respectively. At first I thought that the left and right were just mirrors of each other (The right-facing torso and the left-facing legs are stored near each other), but... apparently that's not the case. I'm wondering if I should ask for help with it.

[Mauron]

The problem is the sprite assembly. You can change it with this tool.

I can probably dig up some tutorials on it in general if you have problems.

[Oria]

Are you kidding me.

...If I can make this work, this makes my task so much easier. Thank you for showing this to me! I guess I'll go update that thread I made an hour ago... oops.

Also, I might need to take you up on that offer for a tutorial.

[Mauron]

I haven't really done much with the program itself, but I know the flip vertically check box doesn't actually do anything. If memory serves, the bit it sets is ignored in game.\

Most of the data I have is general sprite assembly stuff, but I should probably learn that program myself soon. Be warned, I procrastinate.

[Oria]

That's alright. I think I've figured out how to work it myself. I had to get Tile Layer Pro out, but I was able to get the four facings working!









That program was SO helpful! I'll work on basic walking animations tomorrow.

[Mauron]

Good to hear.

[Miksy91]

Well, CT hacks have always been interesting and fun to be played

Good luck with the hack !

[Oria]

Thanks!

Here's a link to a video showing what I've done so far:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-Q3D5o_EKY

How do her walking animations look? I personally think her walking down animation looks the best (looks more... official? As in regal). If others think so, I think I'll edit the other three to match.

[xander]

....

[Mauron]

Mauron that chronochar is only in japanese right?

Nope. It was translated. The version I linked to is in English.

[xander]

...

[Oria]

Hmm. Not sure if I like how this came out. It's supposed to be a giant land mass cut in half by a mountain range, which the characters would have to bypass through a cave. The boss would be Masa and Mune's combined form. I'll add other features later, I believe. What are other peoples' opinions?

Also, some background: This overworld is similar to the End of Time. Populated by a race of creatures using Masa, Mune and Doreen's sprites, it's a place where people lost in time end up. It's here the player meets Queen Ezria XXXV (the 35th, I think), who, along with the player, wishes to cross the mountain range to get to a town where a Gate is said to have appeared. She is the first party member acquired.

[justin3009]

IF it's populated as you say it is, I'd expect at least a few tiny houses scattered here and there.  Maybe a forest and such around the area.  Otherwise it seems rather empty

[BRPXQZME]

It's not a very believable map. For one thing, there are no geographic features that you would expect to accompany mountains, like rivers and rain shadows (geology and climatology: prerequisite subjects for writing fantasy fiction? ). Well, I see some natural places for deltas and bays to go, and you said you'll get to it, so I'll cut that a little slack.

The thing is, it's a bit too symmetric; a configuration like this doesn't happen in real geography that I know of (maybe that's okay if, say, a wizard did it). What is probably bothering you is that symmetry often doesn't look good for artistic purposes.