Chrono Resurrection
Unreleased Chrono Trigger fangame halted by Square Enix.
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Chrono Resurrection, also known as Chrono Trigger: Resurrection, is an unreleased fangame developed by the North American team Resurrection Games under the direction of Nathan Lazur. Based on the critically acclaimed role-playing game Chrono Trigger for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System by Square, the project began as a complete remake for the Nintendo 64 called CT64 before being redefined as a short interactive demo for Windows-based personal computers. Despite its closure in 2004 after a cease-and-desist letter from Square Enix, the project has received critical and popular praise for its graphics and music.
- Developer
- Resurrection Games
- Director
- Nathan Lazur
- Based on
- Chrono Trigger (Square)
- Platform
- Windows (planned); originally Nintendo 64
- Status
- Unreleased; closed in 2004
- Genre
- Role-playing game demo
Lore & Background
The demo was to feature ten short interactive scenes from Chrono Trigger, with a default party and unlockable characters, though Robo and Ayla had a 50% chance of not being included due to time constraints. The team faced difficulty reproducing characters due to style differences between sprites, artwork, and anime sequences, but added their own art style. Originally set for a Christmas 2004 release, Square Enix issued a cease-and-desist letter for trademark and copyright infringement, and the project was publicly closed on September 6, 2004. The team noted significant hits from Square Enix Japanese IP addresses in the preceding three months. Lazur stated he felt honored to be recognized by the company and suggested fangame developers present polished demos directly to publishers to avoid legal issues.
Reader's Guide
Chrono Resurrection is significant as one of the most ambitious and highly anticipated fan remakes of a classic role-playing game, halted by legal action from the intellectual property holder. Its development illustrates the tension between fan creativity and corporate protection of trademarks and copyrights. The project received praise from gaming websites such as 1UP.com, GameSpot, and Nintendo World Report for its graphics, music, and professional-quality artwork, with GameSpot calling it the 'furthest along' of Chrono Trigger fan remakes. Its closure sparked several Internet petitions, none of which succeeded. The project's legacy includes serving as a cautionary example for fangame developers and highlighting the enduring popularity of Chrono Trigger. Nathan Lazur's later comments about presenting demos to publishers reflect a desire for more formal collaboration between fans and companies.
Did You Know?
- The project was initially called CT64 and was meant to be a complete remake for the Nintendo 64 with both 2D and 3D playing modes.
- The second version was developed in a small studio in Nathan Lazur's apartment in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- The score was composed by Mathew Valente, who had been with the project since its Nintendo 64 version.
- The development team assumed that visits from Square Enix Japanese IP addresses over three months were mostly from employees rather than top executives.
Elsewhere in Chrono Trigger
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