Developed as a “Dream Team” project among legendary Japanese developers in the 16-bit era,Chrono Triggerhas stood the test of time as arguably one of the best video games ever made. Part ofChrono Trigger’s enduring legacy shines through in how, almost 30 years later, it continues to inspire a new generation of game developers to create their own titles calling back to its design.Sea of Stars,The Messengerdeveloper Sabotage Studio’s next project releasing this August, is one such project that wears its inspiration proudly.
Sabotage CEO and creative director Thierry Boulanger reportedly began imagining the world in whichSea of StarsandThe Messengertake place during elementary school. Thus, it’s an apt comparison to look atSea of Starsand immediately think ofChrono Trigger. After beginning as a successful Kickstarter and securing funding within seven hours thanks toThe Messenger’s success and reception, thewait forSea of Starsis almost over, and a recent demo puts itsChrono Triggerinspirations on full display.
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Talent From the Chrono Trigger Team is Helping With Sea of Stars
In its quest to make an RPG that “ticked all the boxes” for fans of the now-legendary titles of the 16-bit era, Sabotage Studios recruited the help of a critical developer: composer Yasunori Mitsuda,whose body of work includesChrono Trigger,Chrono Cross,Xenogears, and other classics. The score ofChronno Triggeris one element that makes the title stand out in players' memories, so having Mitsuda as a composer onSea of Starsbodes well for the upcoming indie game.
Thedevelopment history ofChrono Triggerfeatured the formation of what Square Enix dubbed the “Dream Team,” including Hironobu Sakaguchi (creator ofFinal Fantasy), Yuji Horii (creator ofDragon Quest), and Akira Toriyama (designer forDragon Questand creator ofDragon Ball). Although not an “official” member of the Dream Team, Mitsuda’s contributions toChrono Trigger’s legacy are indisputable, soSea of Starsusing his talents is a badge of honor.
Sea of Stars' Demo Showcases Its Use of Chrono Trigger’s DNA
The recent demo forSea of StarssolidifiesChrono Triggeras the game’s primary inspiration in terms of its world map, exploration, and combat. Right off the bat, players will notice thatSea of Starsfeatures large, detailed spritesand whimsical enemy designs. The world map is an almost perfect mirror ofChrono Trigger’s, with character sprites reduced to a smaller size for navigating along pre-carved roads to their destinations. For anyone who grew up with Square Enix’s SNES output, the nostalgia factor is a huge selling point.
Combat is another area in whichSea of Starscarries over design fromChrono Triggerinto the modern age. Players control a party of three characters who are able to either attack individually or synergize their moves for a greater effect, much like the system found inChrono Trigger. The demo forSea of Starsalso suggests that the game will be challenging enough to require players to consider party composition - something that wasnecessary for later-game boss fights inChrono Trigger. It’s said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, butSea of Starsis shaping up to go beyond merely aping classics likeChrono Trigger;instead adapting the best elements for a new generation of players.
Sea of Starsreleases May 17, 2025 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. A demo is available now on Switch.
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