Chrono Trigger is a awesome game. One of the most expensive SNES game back then too. Damn, cost me like $80 for it. It was amazing for its time. You gotta take things in perspective. Maybe you aren't as impressed because you are 8 years late... Slacker.
Those were some of the best gaming years back then and Square was on top of its game. Just a year earlier we got treated to FFVI.
I haven't played it for the PSX cause I don't see why I would want to other than the anime intro, etc. Play it on the SNES for the true experience.
I enjoyed the battles, it was a change of pace from the usual setup. Sure it got tedious to come in and out but it wasn't any more tedious then just running around for a random battle.
There were plenty of cool characters (and NPCs) and the dialogue was very well done.
New Game + was a big suprise back then too. Hadn't really seen anything like that.