Super Famicom Players Guide * V-Jump, Shueisha, 1995 * 152 pages, 1 mini poster
This is a neat book. Not only does it include a poster with unique original art by character designer Akira Toriyama, it also has a 10 page color mini-manga, the only (to my knowledge) licensed CT manga. If you want your own copy, it comes up semi-regularly on Ebay for about $10.
As for the rest of it, it reads like a comic book because of the varied layout and bright colors. I've scanned eight pages plus the manga and poster for your enjoyment.
Japanese Preorder Holographic Cards * Squaresoft, 1995 (Each card 3.5 x 2.25") * Translations by Lina Darkstar
Japanese gamers who preordered their copy of Chrono Trigger for Super Famicom got a pack of five of these nifty collectible cards. Each card comes in one of three different prism pattern variations. On the back, though, is perhaps the most interesting thing; screenshots of scenes in the game that never happened! Go check them out and see what I mean.
I've managed to collect all 18 card images, plus eight extra prism variations. And holographs don't scan well, so the images look somewhat garbled. You can also check out an unopened pack at the third link. And no, I have no intention of ever opening it.
Straight from Italy, this is the Chrono Trigger Sample ROM. Basically, this pack was shipped out to dealers and suppliers before the game's release, to help them decide if they wanted to order copies of the game for retail. The box, the cartridge, and the documentation all clarify that this is a ROM and "Not for sale." It is packed in a box, with a plastic tray, the cartridge, the small folding manual, and a power supply diagram.
These things are rare. Extremely, extremely rare. A fascinating bit of CT lore from early in the game's history. Click the pic to see the cart itself- or go to this kickass site to learn about the actual demo files.
"The Complete" Playstation Players Guide * V-Jump, Shueisha, 1999 * 226 pages
This guide is from the Playstation rerelease of Chrono Trigger. The rerelease was also conducted in America as part of the Final Fantasy Chronicles set. The distinguishing feature of the rerelease was the new anime cutscenes and unlockable info databases. The game remained unchanged otherwise... well, except for the new and horrendous load times.
"The Perfect" Super Famicom Players Guide * V-Jump, Shueisha, 1995 * 290 pages
Released about 2 months after the other 1995 guide above, this book is less visually appealing than its counterpart but contains a lot of info, including an interview with Yuji Horii and Hironobu Sakaguchi, two members of the 'Dream Team' (Akira Toriyama being the third)
Chrono Trigger for the Super Famicom * Squaresoft, 1995
How could I not include the official Super Famicom release? Though not rare by any stretch (You can get it mint on Ebay, including shipping, for about $30) Most people aren't completists like I am and will never bother. So if you've ever wondered what comes in the Super Famicom set, here ya go!
The set includes the box, the game, the manual, and a clear plastic tray which I didn't bother scanning. It's just a clear plastic tray, after all. I only scanned the front and back pages of the manual--for though it is 48 pages long, it's kind of dry and unremarkable in design.
Official American soundtrack for "Final Fantasy Chronicles" * Squaresoft / Tokyopop, 2001
When they released FF:Chronicles in the US, they released soundtracks for the US market as well, which are somewhat hard to come by. The CD includes 21 tracks ripped directly from the game, three 'arranged' tracks from the anime cutscenes, and one highly mysterious 'bonus track' which is actually the first track on the "Brink of Time" CD!
Preview articles from Nintendo Power Magazine * June 1995, volume 73 and July 1995, volume 74
Nintendo Power was THE magazine to subscribe to if you were a kid in the 80s and 90s. And thus, I did--and was a faithful subscriber from volume 12-volume 124. I kept them all pristine because even when I was 7 I was an anal-retentive psycho. Anyways, NP was where I first learned of CT, and these were the articles that so affected my impressionable young mind. CT would become a regular feature in NP for about another 8 months.
Keychain figurines * Bandai, 1995 (each is about 2.25" tall)
These things are ADORABLE. I've got all six that I know of; there may be a Magus but I haven't ever seen him. For the most part, they're precisely detailed; the paint colors are a bit off on occassion, but nothing too jarring. My favorites are Robo, Ayla and Lucca, however thay're ALL great.
Chrono Trigger for the Playstation * Japanese release * Squaresoft, 1999
While Americans got the Playstation Chrono Trigger rerelease paired with Final Fantasy IV in the Final Fantasy Chronicles set, in Japan CT was rereleased by itself in order to drum up excitement for the sequel, Chrono Cross, which would follow it one month later.
Neato packaging but, of course, it can't be played on American machines without a mod chip.
Chrono Cross Keychain figurines * Serge, Kid, Lynx, Nikki, Leena; Bandai, 1999 (each is about 1.75" tall)
Glenn, Harle; Square, 2000 (each is about 1.5" tall)
Branching out to Chrono Cross stuff here. As I'm sure you know, CC was the less popular, but still enjoyable and confusing as all hell sequel to CT which was released in 1999. I have seven keychains here-- five regular style by Bandai, and two chibi style by Squaresoft.
The Chrono Trigger Original Animated Video (OAV) * "Nuumamonja: Time and Space Adventures" * Squaresoft, 1995
At some point, Squaresoft released a 15-minute video featuring characters and music from Chrono Trigger. Just to clarify, this is NOT the cutscenes from the Playstation CT rerelease (people seem to think that the rerelease anime comes from some obscure full-length OAV). This is the ONLY CT OAV.
Summary, review, screencaps, and lots more info within; click the pic.
This is the exotic and exciting Shounen Jump cartridge, which was offered as a prize to 2000 lucky Japanese contest winners. These are even more rare than the prerelease cart above, and I'd been looking for one for a year before a fortunate Ebay auction carried this copy into my hands.
So what's so special, you ask? Not much, surprisingly. The contents of the box are exactly-- down to the letter-- the same as the regular super famicom cart; manual, game, tray, and voltage diagram. What makes these so kickass is the box, which is not only different, but is SHINY too.
I have a lot more Chrono Trigger ephemera than what you can see here. But here I'm focusing on the strange and unusual bits that most people likely haven't seen...
More Chrono Cross. This is the Millennium Collection, which comes with a variety of Chrono Cross themed collectables. Though the box is big and impressive looking, it's a bit of a disappointment when you get inside and all you get is the game itself, a calendar, and a cheap Starky figure. I mean, why Starky? Why not Glenn? He was everyone's favorite character anyways. Oh well, at least it wasn't a Poshul figure.
