But what is it about Chrono Trigger that makes it so timeless?

During the mid-90s, Japanese RPGs were at their prime (and, arguably, at their peak).  One company in particular, SquareSoft, was the king of the genre, releasing one critically-acclaimed title after another, such as Final Fantasy VI and Secret of Mana (Also, titles that may get some love in this column someday.)  Chrono Trigger was the pinnacle of the company’s efforts up to that point.  It featured a “Dream Team” of collaborators including Yuji Hori (designer of Dragon Quest), Akira Toriyama (creator of the anime series Dragon Ball), and Nobuo Uematsu (composer of the Final Fantasy series), among many others.

After some excruciating delays, the game was finally released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in early 1995.  And though it featured only a handful of new, innovative ideas, Chrono Trigger refined nearly every RPG standard to near-perfection.  Random encounters were (mostly) eliminated with visible enemies that could be easily bypassed.  Separate battle screens were gone in favor of combat occurring on the actual in-game environment.  And while multiple endings weren’t a revolutionary idea at the time, the concept of having thirteen of them was astounding, in addition to the New Game+ mode that allowed players to start over with all of their previous levels and equipment.

Those concepts helped differentiate the title from numerous other Japanese RPGs of that age, but when most people recall their fondness for Chrono Trigger, it’s usually regarding the characters themselves.  Crono, the silent protagonist, was able to convey plenty of emotion through the reactions of others.  Marle, the tomboy princess of the present era, had a tumultuous relationship with her father that is both touching and heartbreaking.  There’s also Lucca, the girl genius, and Robo, the robot from the future.  There’s also a prehistoric cave-woman named Ayla that is hilarious and awesome.  But the best and most memorable character is, hands-down, Frog… Who, not-so-coincidentally, also happens to be a frog.  His character arc is not only the strongest, but also the most poignant.

Oh, there’s also Magus, the “villain” that has some of the best redemptive moments of all time.  Just saying.

The art design and music are also incredible, featuring some of the most iconic locales and accompanying scores in video game history.  Ask any fan of Chrono Trigger and they will tell you exactly how memorable the showdown in Magus’ castle is, especially in terms of graphics and sound.  The game holds up amazingly well in both departments today, and the sound design in particular still rivals even most modern games with originality.

Over the years, Chrono Trigger has gradually risen to being regarded as one of the absolute best video games ever made.  It’s also conveniently available on nearly every platform these days: Nintendo DS, PlayStation Network, Wii Virtual Console, and even iOS.  Yes, one of the finest RPGs ever created can be enjoyed directly from your iPhone.  There’s really no excuse to not revisit the world of Crono and friends, especially seeing that it survived the test of time near-flawlessly.  And if this is your first experience in to the world of Chrono Trigger, I envy you.  I’ll never forget my initial discovery of the characters within and the joy they brought me.

Carrion Hill is a 5th level adventure for the Pathfinder d20 roleplaying system.  Written by the notoriously-evil Richard Pett (seriously, the death toll attributed to Mr. Pett is off the charts), Carrion Hill plunges players into the depths of urban horror that is immediately recognizable as an homage to H.P. Lovecraft’s classic “The Dunwich Horror.”  Expect plenty of cultists, insane citizens, and tentacles.  Oh yes, there will be tentacles.

The plot gradually ramps in tension, as players are tasked with initially tasked with investigating a home that has been utterly decimated by something monstrous.  The only problem is that witnesses claim the house imploded all by itself; there were no monsters or creatures present that were wrecking the home.  As the mystery progresses, adventurers find themselves in the middle of an ancient cult’s cabal that may or may not involve the Old Gods (i.e. Cthulu) themselves.  It becomes a race against the clock to track down a mysterious yet powerful nightmare that is stalking the streets of Carrion Hill.

The setting takes place in Pathfinder’s own creation of Golarion, in the country of Ustalav, but can easily be adapted to any game world.  It features little ties to the greater Golarion lore and with a few NPC name-changes, the horrors of Carrion Hill can invade any universe of your choosing.

Again, in typical Richard Pett fashion, the adventure can be absolutely brutal.  If you are a Game Master running this module, make sure you know the full capabilities of your party before launching them into it.  But then again, a real fear of death might be the best way to portray the horrors of this book.  Regardless, it remains one of the best that Paizo has released to date and is highly recommended for any group that can embrace a little horror into their lives.

SYSTEM: Pathfinder RPG
PUBLISHER: Paizo Publishing
AUTHOR: Richard Pett
LEVEL: 5-6

Spoiler Section (GMs Only!)

A couple of notes for those running this module for their players.  Beware, spoilers lie ahead!

• The non-linearity of the adventure is refreshing, but can also potentially make things slightly less climactic.  The chemical vats and the asylum both make for natural final encounters with the Spawn, but under the church might take some work.  There’s not a lot of maneuverability down there and could easily swing the fight even further in the monster’s favor.
• Beware the Spawn’s statblock!  If ran as-is, it will surely result in total annihilation for your players.  Make sure you don’t miss the slightly-buried note about the negative levels that the Spawn currently has (which aren’t accounted for in his stats.)  It’s the only way that the party has a remote chance in the epic confrontation with the monster.

If you’ve been following Scott Snyder’s “New 52″ run on Batman so far, then you may have seen a side of Bruce Wayne that is unfamiliar to you – broken, beaten and tortured.  Snyder has certainly been putting the Dark Knight through the wringer, as Bruce is slowly realizing that the Gotham City he’s vowed to protect for so many years has secrets that even he is oblivious to.

A secret society known as the Court of Owls has long been rumored to exist in Gotham, but Bruce has never found any evidence to prove it.  And being the master detective he is, if Mr. Wayne can’t find it, it probably doesn’t exist.  Except now it seems the Owls are real, dangerous and outsmarting Batman at every turn.

However, Snyder recently posted on Twitter that even more difficult times lay ahead for Batman:

“Started tinkering with the next big storyline in BATMAN while away – super twisted.”

What could be even more twisted than locking Batman in an isolated cell, bloodied and tortured, while everything he knew about his beloved city was a lie?  I jokingly asked Mr. Snyder about his definition of “twisted” and how it compared to something like, say, the film Oldboy.  Which, if you’ve seen, you know that it’s pretty damn twisted.  This was his response:

“I’d say pretty Oldboy – def. most twisted moment I’ve written in BATMAN.”

Yikes.  What could possibly be next for Batman?  I don’t know, but my morbidly curious personality is absolutely excited to find out.

GIVE IT TO ME NOW.  MY BODY IS READY.

See for yourself, and let me know what you think.

So, without further ado, enjoy!

15.  X-Men: First Class

14.  Another Earth

13.  Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

12.  Rango

11.  Win/Win

10.  Midnight in Paris

9.  Super

8.  13 Assassins

7.  Hanna

6.  I Saw the Devil

5.  The Muppets

4.  50/50

3.  The Tree of Life

2.  Attack the Block

1.  Drive

(You can also find my thoughts on the best and worst albums of 2011 here and here.)

Due to time constraints and wanting to get this out the door, I just trimmed it down to a bare list.  Better than nothing though, right?

15.  Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax

14.  Terraria

13.  Renegade Ops

12.  Batman: Arkham City

11.  You Don’t Know Jack

10.  Dungeons of Dredmor

9.  Mortal Kombat

8.  Gears of War 3

7.  Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP

6.  Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

5.  The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

4.  Bastion

3.  Saints Row: The Third

2.  The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

1.  Portal 2

I’ve already tackled accolades for last year’s music, as well as my top 15 albums from 2011.  Next up… Video games!   And boy, 2011 turned out to be quite a year for the gaming industry.  Many great titles were released, despite the majority of them being sequels (specifically, three-quels.)  I’ll post my full top 15 games early next week, so until then, enjoy!

BEST STORY

Portal 2

Runners-Up:  Bastion, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

BEST CO-OP

Gears of War 3

Runners-Up:  Portal 2, Renegade Ops

PRETTIEST GAME

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Runners-Up:  Bastion, Gears of War 3

BEST MUSIC

Bastion

Runners-Up:  Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

MOST UNDERRATED

Terraria

Runners-Up:  Space Pirates and Zombies, You Don’t Know Jack

MOST OVERRATED

Batman: Arkham City

Runners-Up:  L.A. Noire, Bulletstorm

BEST SURPRISE

Saints Row: The Third

Runners-Up:  Mortal Kombat, Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Marvel VS. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds

Runners-Up:  Red Faction: Armageddon, L.A. Noire

WORST GAME of 2011

Duke Nukem Forever

Runners-Up:  Sonic the Hedgehog 4, Red Faction: Armageddon

BEST GAME of 2011

Portal 2

Runners-Up:  The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Saints Row: The Third

15.  In the Mountain, In the Cloud (Portugal. The Man)

Though the Portland-based rockers known as Portugal. The Man have been around for several years, their recent release, In the Mountain, In the Cloud was my first experience with them. Their particular brand of rock is a blast to listen to and I look forward to visiting some of their older albums to see what I’ve missed so far.

14.  Wasting Light (Foo Fighters)

The Foo Fighters are one of those groups that knows exactly what they’re good at, and continue to produce to their strengths. It’s nice to know exactly what you’re getting with each release, and despite any major variance in style, their familiarity is comforting to know. Especially when it rocks so good.

13.  Undun (The Roots)

One of the hardest working bands in the business (performing live five times a week in addition to almost yearly album releases), The Roots may have possible outdone themselves with their latest effort.  Undun is not only a solid hip-hop record, but is a fantastic concept album as well, telling the story of a fictional man’s life in reverse.

12.  El Camino (The Black Keys)

A very late release in 2011, El Camino is the seventh studio album from The Black Keys.  The legendary Danger Mouse helped co-produce this 70′s-inspired rock record that is an absolute blast to listen to.  It’s more upbeat than some of their previous work, but it actually works in their favor as the exuding energy is contagious to the listener.

11.  Wild Flag (Wild Flag)

Wild Flag, another group of rockers from Portland, debuted with their self-titled album this year to great acclaim.  Partly comprised of former members of Sleater-Kinney, I was extremely anxious for this particular album.  Thankfully, it lived up to expectations.

10.  Camp (Childish Gambino)

Maybe I’m not as aware of awesome things as I should be, but I had no clue that Donald Glover (a.k.a. Troy Barnes on Community) also maintained a rap career.  With his recent rise to fame via television, his hip-hop reputation has stepped further into the spotlight as well with recent performances on late night shows such as Conan.  Unsurprisingly, Glover is just as talented a rapper as he is a comedian and actor.  This was easily my biggest surprise this year.

9.  Codes and Keys (Death Cab For Cutie)

After Death Cab was picked up by a major label in 2004, it seemed that many supporters jumped off the bandwagon claiming that the band could only survive as an independent act.  In my opinion, Ben Gibbard and company have proven them wrong more than once and their latest release, Codes and Keys, only continues to solidify the band as one of my favorite groups of all time.

8.  Alpocalypse (“Weird Al” Yankovic)

Man… I love Weird Al.  Seriously.  With each album release, I become paranoid that he’s going to eventually lose that special charm that’s made his records so memorable and fun to listen to.  While I felt the last few albums were a minor dip in quality, Alpocalypse might actually be the best thing Mr. Yankovic has ever produced to date.  Yes, it’s that good.

7.  Strange Mercy (St. Vincent)

Annie Erin Clark captured my heart with the release of St. Vincent’s Actor in 2009.  She continues to do so in 2011 with the band’s latest production, Strange Mercy.  It’s a fun and whimsical auditory adventure featuring an incredible array of instruments and samples.  Also, isn’t her name just adorable?  Who wouldn’t love her?

6.  Helplessness Blues (Fleet Foxes)

If you know me and my musical tastes at all, you would know that I am a huge lover of all things folk.  Fleet Foxes’ self-titled debut in 2008 has remained one of my most played albums to date, so expectations were high for their eventual follow-up.  Helplessness Blues is essentially more of the same, but when their previous work was so great, that’s hardly a bad thing at all.

5.  The Rip Tide (Beirut)

Are there any bands currently in existence that are as joyful to listen to as Beirut?  I reckon not, as they continue to define their own unique, blissful blend of world music and indie folk.  The sheer volume of instruments being utilized is astounding, while also evolving into something a little more… pop, than before.  After hearing this, I can’t wait to discover what comes next from the group.

4.  The Whole Love (Wilco)

The Whole Love marks Wilco’s eighth(!) album released, but even more notable is that it’s the band first self-produced and distributed record under their own new label.  Free to do their own thing, it’s apparent the band stretched their wings a bit and experimented a bit, but ultimately retained most of their signature sound.  The result is a fresh-yet-familiar album that any Wilco fan can enjoy.

3.  The King is Dead (The Decemberists)

Honestly, I was shocked when I heard the general opinion of The Decemberists’ new album.  Many were upset that the popular folk band went a more American direction with their recent production over the British folk style of the last few releases.  There is a bit more of a Southern feel in much of the record, but wrapped around the band’s distinct style and vocals.  I found it immediately catchy and rewarding, and it will remain in my playlists for a long time to come.

2.  Dye it Blonde (Smith Westerns)

I have to be honest…  I didn’t really know anything about Smith Westerns before playing their new album, Dye it Blonde.  It was my first foray into their music, but the T. Rex and David Bowie influences were immediately noticeable.  It is one of the most energetic indie rock albums to have come out in 2011, as well as one of the most accessible.

1.  Yuck (Yuck)

Yuck is a London-based rock group that stepped forward with their freshman debut this last year.  I discovered the album through a few critics’ recommendations, likening the band’s sound to Dinosaur Jr. and Sonic Youth, two of my favorite bands in the 90′s.  I made the purchase without any prior listening and walked away extremely impressed.  Some might not enjoy their intentional lo-fi production, but for me, it’s one of the highlights of the package.  The members rely more on their creativity and expertise to craft an enjoyable album rather than a glossy, pristine production.  And as a fellow musician, that’s something I can relate to very well.

The full top 15 list will be published later this week.  Until then, enjoy some frivolous awards!

BEST ALBUM COVER

Helplessness Blues (Fleet Foxes)

Runners-Up:  The King of Limbs (Radiohead), The Whole Love (Wilco)

BEST ARTIST DEBUT

Yuck

Runners-Up:  Childish Gambino, Wild Flag

MOST UNDERRATED ALBUM

Codes and Keys (Death Cab For Cutie)

Runners-Up:  Alpocalypse (“Weird Al” Yankovic), El Camino (The Black Keys)

MOST OVERRATED ALBUM

Watch the Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West)

Runners-Up:  Barton Hollow (The Civil Wars), 21 (Adele)

BEST SURPRISE

Camp (Childish Gambino)

Runners-Up:  Wild Flag (Wild Flag), Wasted Light (Foo Fighters)

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

The King of Limbs (Radiohead)

Runners-Up:  Lulu (Lou Reed & Metallica), Arabia Mountain (Black Keys)

WORST ALBUM OF 2011

Lulu (Lou Reed & Metallica)

Runners-Up:  Here and Now (Nickelback), All Things Bright and Beautiful (Owl City)

BEST ALBUM OF 2011

Yuck (Yuck)

Runners-Up:  Dye It Blonde (Smith Westerns), The King is Dead (The Decemberists)

For the past ten years I’ve purchased every copy of Madden that’s come out. Each time I excitedly open the package, insert the game, and wait for the magic to begin. This season was no different despite the disappointment of last year’s version.

Madden 12 seems to be the answer to the prayers of many football fans who were dying for Madden to step out of the safety zone they’ve built around themselves and do something amazing. Amazing may not be the end result but it’s nice to see that the programmers in the EA offices are starting to think outside the box.

First let’s look at the pros of Madden 12:

• Competition: The game is smarter. You can’t necessarily find the golden play in the playbook to destroy a defense all day. the defense catches on wuickly and makes plays when you get predictable.
• Online Play: The EA people are working on keeping the stat cheaters out of the game and it’s seeming to work. I am glad to see that they’re doing a better job of pairing competitors of equal levels together. The game play also seems to be faster, with less replays and delays in the online action.
• Overall: The games seems to be searching for new ways to innovate. This season the game feels smarter and more challenging. The computer makes moves that work for the teams and plans ahead. The ability to trade future draft picks is a great addition as well.

The cons:

• Team Ratings: The teams are rated on a 0 to 100 scale this season without differentiating between defense, offense, and special teams. This vague rating leaves some teams feeling incredibly over and underrated.
• Commentary: Chris Collinsworth… enough with the constant blabbing. EA has invested millions into game development but didn’t seem to be interested in getting more commentary or smarter commentary. It’s the same old phrases over and over.
• Superstar Mode: Playing as a budding star sounds like a great idea. The problem here is that it’s pointless, there isn’t much notice given to milestones or great performance. I would suggest that the EA people look at 2K sports for a little help. I won’t devote much time to creating a player when the game play feels boring and pointless.

Despite the criticism I think this game succeeds. The online play is half of what people are looking for and I think most won’t be disappointed. for franchise mode people like me I think the game is more challenging and more fun with improved off-season control. With Madden being the only game out there it doesn’t leave us too many options. That being said, it’s a game that I will suggest to anyone who loves football.