Chrono Trigger plays a very important role in videogame history for many reasons, but one of the main reasons is its music. Completely revolutionary for its time, the melodies still stand out today through their incredible depth and memorability. Creating a traditional “art song” from its rich musical palette is not difficult, considering most of the music is very lyrical, and so I opted to adapt one of the more vocal-friendly pieces and create an emotional journey based on the story of Glenn and Cyrus. The lyrics, written by Ashley Watts, are the story of Frog’s personal journey, written from his perspective the night the Masamune is returned to him. He struggles with his identity, considering he has been a “hermit” since his failure to stand up to Magus following the defeat of his friend Cyrus. Three other melodies make appearances, the first two of which are the notable ‘Battle With Magus’ and the energetic ‘Wings that Cross Time.’ The former being a direct reference to the battle that cost Glenn his friend’s life, and his human form. The latter resembling a hopeful future, mostly through the uplifting feelings the melody gives. And we finally end on a slight callback to ‘Frog’s Theme,’ when Frog regains his identity and discovers his clear objective: to avenge his friend Cyrus.

Appears on Song Cycle: The History of Video Games