History VisualNovel / RadicalDreamers

A bit of history for you. In 1995, Creator/SquareSoft (now Square Enix) released ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'', a phenomenally successful {{RPG}} for the Super Nintendo. A sequel to ''Chrono Trigger'' was in the works for a while, but not in the way people might have expected. Rather than another console RPG, the sequel surfaced in the [[NoExportForYou Japan-only]] {{Satellaview}} add-on for the SNES. This little device allowed players to download content and games, in a remarkably prescient precursor to [[DownloadableContent current trends]] for home consoles, over ten years later.

** One of the MultipleEndings is specifically a long ShoutOut to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGtxQepoX-E Videogame/ZeroWing]] of all things.

* TimeTravel: [[spoiler:Schala (or someone with suspicious similarity to her story) travelled to the current era as Kid. Technically, because she was turned into a baby and through time by the power of the Frozen Flame, it could also count as both {{Reincarnation}} and FountainOfYouth]].

The story involves a trio of bandits, the titular Radical Dreamers, consisting of Serge, the protagonist, who follows Kid, a young girl with a short temper, and Magil, a mysterious magician, as they break into Viper Manor, home of the imposing Lord Lynx, on a quest to steal a treasure called the Frozen Flame. On the surface, it has nothing whatsoever to do with ''Chrono Trigger'', except that we later find that [[spoiler:the adoptive sister Kid seeks to avenge is Lucca from ''Chrono Trigger'']]. Creator/YasunoriMitsuda, who composed the much-lauded soundtrack to ''Chrono Trigger'', also composed the music for ''Radical Dreamers''.

* RedOniBlueOni: Kind and Magil, respectively.

* PowerTrio: Kid is the Id, Magil the Super Ego and Serge the poor guy trapped in the middle.

* Buttmonkey: Poor poor Serge. He seems to exist only to fail at everything he does and be comically abused by Kid.

A bit of history for you. In 1996, Creator/SquareSoft (now Square Enix) released ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'', a phenomenally successful {{RPG}} for the Super Nintendo. A sequel to ''Chrono Trigger'' was in the works for a while, but not in the way people might have expected. Rather than another console RPG, the sequel surfaced in the [[NoExportForYou Japan-only]] {{Satellaview}} add-on for the SNES. This little device allowed players to download content and games, in a remarkably prescient precursor to [[DownloadableContent current trends]] for home consoles, over ten years later.

Fast-forward four years to 2000 when Square's PlayStation era was well underway. A full-blown sequel was announced for the PSX, called ''VideoGame/ChronoCross''. However, rather than being a brand-new game, it built off of elements from ''Radical Dreamers''. This included plenty of [[ShoutOut shout outs]], such as Viper Manor, Lynx, and the Frozen Flame, and lots of remixed music, including the main theme (which became the Alternate Universe theme, as opposed to the ''Chrono Trigger'' main theme which was the Home Universe theme). Despite the influence, ''Chrono Cross'' suggests ''Radical Dreamers'' is a (yet another) [[GaidenGame alternate dimension]] in the {{Canon}}; in Chronopolis, the party can actually find a terminal that repeats the ''Radical Dreamers'' introduction verbatim and the characters comment on it. In addition, the ending theme is called "Radical Dreamers: Le Tresor Interdit", a rough translation of the full title of the original.

RD contains one "main" story and, once it's finished, the ability to branch it off into seven [[SchrodingersGun wildly different]] stories which range from poignant to ridiculous.

A bit of history for you. In 1996, {{Squaresoft}} (now Square Enix) released ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'', a phenomenally successful {{RPG}} for the Super Nintendo. A sequel to ''Chrono Trigger'' was in the works for a while, but not in the way people might have expected. Rather than another console RPG, the sequel surfaced in the [[NoExportForYou Japan-only]] {{Satellaview}} add-on for the SNES. This little device allowed players to download content and games, in a remarkably prescient precursor to [[DownloadableContent current trends]] for home consoles, over ten years later.

* GoldenEnding: [[spoiler: At least two scenarios have their own, separate golden endings, alongside one to two other bad endings.]]]

* {{Goblins}}

* ShoutOut: The books in the library are full of them, with references to ''{{Dune}}'', ''Literature/TheGunslinger'', ''TheSilenceOfTheLambs'', ''Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'', and others.

* TheAtoner: The imprisoned old man who resembles Radius from ''Chrono Cross''.

* InsaneEqualsViolent: Averted. Radius has clearly lost his marbles, but he's not violent at all.

* CanonDiscontinuity: Averted in an unusual way - ''Chrono Cross'' seemingly relegates the events of ''Radical Dreamers'' to an alternate dimension (as stated by character who inspect the monitor displaying a diary excerpt), and also believed due to the UpdatedRerelease of ''Chrono Trigger'' suggesting that the ''Chrono'' multiverse contains a nigh-infinite number of possible realities.

* [[spoiler:DidNotGetTheGirl: In the main storyline, Kid is grateful for Serge's help yet overwhelmed with the sudden return of her past life's memories, so she bids him farewell for now and runs off in another direction to keep the Porre forces off the track of Serge, with Magil silently motioning not to follow them.]]

* TheAtoner: Radius
* CanonDiscontinuity: Averted in an unusual way - due to the ''Chrono'' multiverse containing a nigh-infinite number of possible realities, ''Chrono Cross'' relegates the events of ''Radical Dreamers'' to an alternate dimension.

* [[spoiler:DidNotGetTheGirl: In the main storyline, Kid is grateful for Serge's help yet overwhelmed with the sudden return of her past life's memories, so she bids him farewell for now and runs off in another direction, with Magil silently motioning not to follow them.]]

** [[spoiler:Magil is Magus (also implied and later [[WordOfGod confirmed]]), who was last seen searching for his sister following the events of the previous game, although several of the MultipleEndings seem to go out of their way to contradict this.]]

The story involves a trio of bandits, the titular Radical Dreamers, consisting of Serge, the protagonist, who follows Kid, a young girl with a short temper, and Magil, a mysterious magician, as they break into Viper Manor, home of the imposing Lord Lynx, on a quest to steal a treasure called the Frozen Flame. On the surface, it has nothing whatsoever to do with ''Chrono Trigger'', except that we later find that [[spoiler:the adoptive sister Kid seeks to avenge is Lucca from ''Chrono Trigger'', and she and Schala are the same person]]. Creator/YasunoriMitsuda, who composed the much-lauded soundtrack to ''Chrono Trigger'', also composed the music for ''Radical Dreamers''.

* CreativeClosingCredits: Depending on the scenario, aspects of the credits may change - the birds may become UFOs, or one or more of the heroes might be missing from the cliff shot.

* [[spoiler:DidNotGetTheGirl: In the main storyline, Kid bids you goodbye and runs off in another direction.]]

* ExpositionBeam: [[spoiler:The Chrono Trigger and the Frozen Flame combined powers allowed Kid to remember her life as Schala.]]

* TimeTravel: [[spoiler:Schala travelled to the current era as Kid. Technically, because she was turned into a baby and sent back in time by the power of the Frozen Flame, it could also count as both {{Reincarnation}} and FountainOfYouth]].

The story involves a trio of bandits, the titular Radical Dreamers, consisting of Serge, the protagonist, who follows Kid, a young girl with a short temper, and Magil, a mysterious magician, as they break into Viper Manor, home of the imposing Lord Lynx, on a quest to steal a treasure called the Frozen Flame. On the surface, it has nothing whatsoever to do with ''Chrono Trigger'', except that we later find that [[spoiler:the adoptive sister Kid seeks to avenge is Lucca from CT, and she and Schala are the same person]]. Creator/YasunoriMitsuda, who composed the much-lauded soundtrack to CT, also composed the music for ''Radical Dreamers''.

** [[spoiler:Kid has the Chrono Trigger, entrusted to her by Lucca.]]
** [[spoiler:Kid herself is Schala, who was transformed into a baby and sent to Lucca's timeline.]]
** [[spoiler:WordOfGod states Magil is Magus, who was last seen searching for his sister following the events of the previous game (though several of the MultipleEndings seem to go out of their way to contradict this).]]

A bit of history for you. In 1996, {{Squaresoft}} (now Square-Enix) released ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'', a phenomenally successful {{RPG}} for the Super Nintendo. A sequel to ''Chrono Trigger'' was in the works for a while, but not in the way people might have expected. Rather than another console RPG, the sequel surfaced in the Japan-only {{Satellaview}} add-on for the SNES. This little device allowed players to download content and games, in a remarkably prescient precursor to [[DownloadableContent current trends]] for home consoles, over ten years later.

* EasterEgg: The fan translation added two of them, accessible after beating the game and selecting a hidden choice in one of the alternate scenarios: a music test, and [[spoiler:a hidden sequence reenacting the opening to ''VideoGame/ZeroWing'']].

* FanTranslation: From Japanese to English, from English to French and German.

* [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes Keep Circulating The Rom]]: A necessity for a game that was only released in Japan, for an obscure Super Famicom Add-on.

* NoExportForYou
* NonstandardGameOver: Verging on an alternate bad ending, though it doesn't unlock the other scenarios the first time through. If you fail to save kid at the end of the initial scenario, rather than the usual ending theme playing over the credits, Star Stealing Girl is heard instead, and none of the three heroes will be standing on the cliff as the birds fly by.

* StorybookOpening: It all starts with Serge's grandson opening his grandfather's diary. [[spoiler:As with other examples of this trope, it all ends with the diary closing too.]]

** [[spoiler:Kid has the Chrono Trigger, which Lucca kept in memory of her close friend.]]

A bit of history for you. In 1996, {{Squaresoft}} (now Square-Enix) released ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'', a phenomenally successful {{RPG}} for the Super Nintendo. A sequel to ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' was in the works for a while, but not in the way people might have expected. Rather than another console RPG, the sequel surfaced in the Japan-only {{Satellaview}} add-on for the SNES. This little device allowed players to download content and games, in a remarkably prescient precursor to [[DownloadableContent current trends]] for home consoles, over ten years later.

One of the games Square released for the Satellaview was ''VisualNovel/RadicalDreamers'': Nusumenai Houseki (The Unstealable Jewel). This is actually a VisualNovel, with mainly ambient music and dark, mysterious background images. Although there are no controls other than hitting the A button to select choices, there is a sort of pseudo-battle system involved, where the player must select actions to battle enemies, despite not having any visible HitPoints. It is possible to die this way. (And other ways as well.)

The story involves a trio of bandits, the titular Radical Dreamers, consisting of Serge, the protagonist, who follows Kid, a young girl with a short temper, and Magil, a mysterious magician, as they break into Viper Manor, home of the imposing Lord Lynx, on a quest to steal a treasure called the Frozen Flame. On the surface, it has nothing whatsoever to do with ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'', except that we later find that [[spoiler:the adoptive sister Kid seeks to avenge is Lucca from CT, Magil is actually Magus, on his search for Schala, and the latter and Kid are the same person]]. Creator/YasunoriMitsuda, who composed the much-lauded soundtrack to CT, also composed the music for ''VisualNovel/RadicalDreamers''.

Fast-forward four years to 2000 when Square's PlayStation era was well underway. A full-blown sequel was announced for the PSX, called ''VideoGame/ChronoCross''. However, rather than being a brand-new game, it built off of elements from ''VisualNovel/RadicalDreamers''. This included plenty of [[ShoutOut shout outs]], such as Viper Manor, Lynx, and the Frozen Flame, and lots of remixed music, including the main theme (which became the Alternate Universe theme, as opposed to the ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' main theme which was the Home Universe theme). The [[WordOfGod creators]] have said that RD is a sort of (yet another) [[GaidenGame alternate dimension]] to the {{Canon}} ''VideoGame/ChronoCross''. In fact, in Chronopolis the party can actually find a terminal that repeats the introduction to RD verbatim and the characters comment on it. In addition, the ending theme is called "Radical Dreamers: Le Tresor Interdit", a rough translation of the full title of the original.

Three years later, in 2003, a fan translation was created, allowing English-speakers to play Radical Dreamers for the first time on an emulator. The translators did their best to keep as many ''VideoGame/ChronoCross'' aspects as they could, including the English names and Kid's Australian accent.

* BroadStrokes: Replaced by VideoGame/ChronoCross as the official sequel, but the Chronopolis Computer implies the events of the VN still happened.

* CanonDiscontinuity: Averted in an unusual way - due to the ''Chrono'' multiverse containing a nigh-infinite number of possible realities, ''VideoGame/ChronoCross'' relegates the events of ''Radical Dreamers'' to an alternate dimension.

* TheReveal: Three, which tie this game with ''Chrono Trigger''

** [[spoiler:Magil is Magus, who was still searching for his sister following the events of the previous game.]]

The story involves a trio of bandits, the titular Radical Dreamers, consisting of Serge, the protagonist, who follows Kid, a young girl with a short temper, and Magil, a mysterious magician, as they break into Viper Manor, home of the imposing Lord Lynx, on a quest to steal a treasure called the Frozen Flame. On the surface, it has nothing whatsoever to do with ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'', except that we later find that [[spoiler:the adoptive sister Kid seeks to avenge is Lucca from CT, Magil is actually Magus, on his search for Schala, and the latter and Kid are the same person]]. Yasunori Mitsuda, who composed the much-lauded soundtrack to CT, also composed the music for ''VisualNovel/RadicalDreamers''.

* YasunoriMitsuda: The game's composer, like before.