After 13 years, CHRONO TRIGGER makes a comeback on the Nintendo DS, and this time you can challenge your friends in the Arena of the Ages! This new multiplayer zone allows you to adopt, train and battle monsters in order to gain powerful items which can in turn be used during the main quest.

To begin, select "Arena" at the title menu. Once you arrive at the stables, you will find several characters waiting to greet you: ones who can teach you about the Arena, register you for a battle or sell you items to use on your monster, and sometimes fellow combatants who simply want to chitchat.

The Smidge is the basis of all monsters.

Each era trains a specific attribute of your monster. Unlock eras by advancing the main game's storyline.

Acquiring a monster is easy, and it doesn't cost a thing. Once in the Arena talk to the Stable Master. He will give you a starting monster known as a smidge with your choice of one of the following elemental affinities: fire, water, light or shadow.

You can start battling right away or train your monster to make it more competitive. Once you send a monster off to train, you can go back to playing the main quest and return later to check on the creature's progress. Training takes place in one of the eras that Crono and team have so far discovered in the game, so the further you progress in the main quest, the stronger your monsters can become!

Royal Guard unleashes Dark Strike on its opponent.

Win battles to win rare items, some even exclusive to the Arena.

After obtaining a monster, you can send it into battle against a friend via DS Wireless Play or against a computer-controlled opponent. The two monsters will take turns attacking as their time gauges fill, and you can intervene by directing your monster to use specialized items. Each combatant will receive a prize, but the winner will receive the better one; perhaps even a rare item that can't be obtained in the main quest!