Thirty years ago today, Chrono Trigger hit the SNES in Japan, delivering one of greatest RPGs of its generationa reputation that has only endured as time has gone on. Mechanically, narratively, graphically, Chrono Trigger has wowed generation after generation of players, but part of that indelible success goes beyond its pixelated aesthetic, and the vision of its world brought to us by the legendary mangaka Akira Toriyama. Chrono Trigger wasnt Toryiamas first credits in gameshe was a staple designer on the Dragon Quest series since the mid 80s alongside several of the developers he would work with again onChrono Trigger, like producer Yuji Horii. But even though stateside Toriyamas visual style wouldnt be the vanguard for a new generation of anime fans until the year after when Dragon Ball Z would begin airing in syndication, to many his work on Chrono Trigger would be some of their first introductions to his trademark aesthetic. Akira Toriyama/Square Enix Working off initial ideas and sketches forChrono Triggers main cast by story planner Masato Kato, Toryiama gave the world ofChrono Trigger a bold and brash identity, befitting its cross-time adventure dragging the titular Chrono and his friends from ancient history to apocalyptic futures. The hallmarks many would come to know through his work onDragon Ball were felt keenly inChrono Triggers heady sci-fantasy blend. Crono, Aayla, Marle, and Lucca all evoke archetypes that people would come to see more famously from Toriyamas manga and anime work, Robo wouldnt look out of place in the Capsule Corp lineupeven Frog fits in with the legacy of anthropomorphized animals like Puar and Oolong. Thats not to say they were derivative of Toriyamas work, anything but: they were simply the latest evolution of his visual design, capturing a joyful, exaggerated stylization that oozed charm. And its a charm that elevated not justChrono Triggers character work, but its visual design.Chrono Trigger might have been a 16-bit, sprite-based RPG, but the Toryiamas finger prints are felt all over its aesthetic. The way the characters animate in the overworld or in the battle field, the fact that his trademark stand out even in their chibi-fied, pixelated formsthe sheen of Luccas big glasses, Cronos shock of spikey hair, the rounded edges of Robos armor platesall speak to this lighthearted, bold sensibility that Toriyama championed, one thats felt throughout the games adventurous tone and sense of humor. Akira Toriyama/Square Enix Its a tone thats felt beyond the game itself, in the promotional work Toriyama made to be plastered over posters, box art, game guides, and more. Regardless of whether or not he was depicting the party at rest or ready to fight, theres a kineticism and sense of joy in every piece he did forChrono Trigger that just immediately evokes a sense of wanderlust and adventure within you. Itsperfect RPG art, drawing you right into a world you want to traverse and spend hours in alongside all these bright and brilliant looking characters. So many elements ofChrono Trigger have helped it stand the test of time these past three decades, but perhaps the most enduring of all can be found in Toriyamas vision for its characters and world. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.