Full Motion Videos…

Old or New, They’re Still Very Impressive

 

This absolutely can never be said enough. Full Motion Videos, FMVs for short, never lose their impact. Ever. A good FMV should capture the esscence of the story–the setting, the tone, the perspective.

 

It is not merely “pretty” or simply “great graphics”.

 

I was playing the Final Fantasy Chronicles (PSOne) version of Chrono Trigger and it is simply amazing. The game as a whole is super impressive–the story, the music, the characters, the gameplay, and the graphics. One of the best gaming experiences I’ve ever had.

 

The only truly mind numbing things about it are: (1) the load times (can’t be helped, I guess), and (2) some of unavoidable battles (which go on in long, annoying sequences). Despite that, it is a very good game, that I assure you.

 

In any case, I can’t even begin to tell you about how wonderful the FMVs are in this game. There is something truly special about Akira Toriyama’s artwork and style. I mean the second an FMV starts up CT, I am completely hooked.

 

My house could burst into flames and the Rapture in its beginning stages, and as long as the CT FMVs are playing on my Playstation, I could not care less.

 

I mean, the color, the music, and the animation? I am completely gone, the puppet of Akira Toriyama.

 

I’ve never been like that before. Sure, I find the FMVs of Final Fantasy 8 stunning, the graphics of Chrono Cross to be gorgeous, the power of the PS2/360/PS3 near limitless. But their effect is nothing like the effect of Chrono Trigger’s FMVs.

 

Between the reactivation of Robo, Frog wielding the Masamune, Ayala’s rampage of an intro, and Magus’ ceremony, its some of the most engrossing animation I’ve ever seen. It makes me want to watch Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z all over, but mostly, it makes me want to play the game more. Its just wonderful.

 

That said, like all FMVs, it is neither the end all, be all for any game. After all, there are many things about Chrono Trigger I enjoy aside from FMVs. But when an FMV is done well, it should enhance a game, not distract from it.