PlayStation

Chrono Cross

After all this big hype in Japan, this is by far the most hype worthy title "ever". Square has released a product which is mush better than any Final Fantasy title, or any other RPG for that matter. Chrono Cross is a most memorable experience, this is not only RPG bliss, but video gaming bliss as well. Chrono Cross is expected to be released this Fall 2000 in the US.

Overall, this is one of the best RPGs I've ever played. Complete with complex gameplay, intuitive battle system, an epic theme and hours of fun. Chrono Cross is certainly a game which you should consider a solid investment.

So what more can I say that hasn’t already been said? Chrono Cross is a visual, aural and gameplay masterpiece. It’s like nothing you’ve ever played before, and should be considered an instant classic by anyone with an appreciation for good RPG’s. The character, the music, the style…heck, everything about this game is top-notch. With all of the cookie cutter RPG’s being released these days, Chrono Cross is a breath of fresh air. It’s original, it’s fun to play, and it’s easily one of the best games to come out of the 32-bit generation. Buy it. Buy it now.

On first impression, Chrono Cross is just another clone of the Final Fantasy series: the same style of overland movement; the zoomed in 3D combat scenes; the expansive story and multiple characters available to join the always inscrutable hero in his quest to discover a mysterious secret from his past. Not that this would necessarily be a bad thing, as Square has consistently delivered high quality stories and quality gameplay in their flagship titles, but Chrono Cross is the sequel to the highly acclaimed Chrono Trigger. As the latter is considered one of the best role-playing titles ever available for console, players have a right to expect something more than just another Final Fantasy from its sequel. Fortunately for those who had feared that Chrono Trigger's unique feel would be lost, Chrono Cross expands upon the foundations of Square's other offerings but maintains its own unique architecture.

Chrono Cross may not have had the largest budget, but it has the largest heart. Square's Chrono Trigger got everything right. The self-proclaimed "dream team" of scenarist Yuji Hori (Dragon Quest), producer Hironobu Sakaguchi (Final Fantasy), and character designer Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball Z) created a quirky, enjoyable romp through time with a cast of endearing characters, memorable environments, solid RPG gameplay, and unparalleled presentation. Needless to say, fans have clamored for a sequel ever since.

It may be a bit too easy, and the menus may be a tad slow, but nothing can keep Chrono Cross from being the best traditional RPG experience available on the PlayStation today. People are going to complain about it being too much/not enough like Chrono Trigger, but ignore them. If you're at all a fan of the genre, you must pick it up. It's a Square masterpiece in the classic vein.

With all the hype that surrounded the games in Square's Summer of Adventure lineup I was expecting pretty great things from all three games, but none so much as the long-awaited Chrono Cross. The sequel to the popular and highly acclaimed Super NES title, Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross had much to live up to. Would it be a true sequel, or would it merely be a new game under a popular license, such as Legend of Mana? After playing through this game, I have to say that, not only is the truest sequel to any Square RPG I have ever played, but it is the best RPG I have played all year, and perhaps longer.

"Home again, home again, jiggity jog."

- Miracle on 34th Street.

Or in this case, far from home again, although not in exactly the same way as before. Chrono Trigger sent you sailing from one end of time to the other, but in some ways, Chrono Cross sends you even further afield. Although you could argue that you don't really move that far at all...

Chrono Cross is, without a doubt, one of the finest RPGs ever developed, period. With its immersive atmosphere and terrific replay value, it’s a must have for any gamer, hardcore or not. If you are one of those people who have never played an RPG before this is definitely the game you should use to get your feet wet.

Chrono Cross is definitely a worthy sequel to Chrono Trigger, in narrative (to a point) but more so in gameplay and general concept. Those looking for some real substance and an imaginative application of ideas into skillfully designed gameplay should definitely check this out. Don't let its looks fool you. It isn't just another Final Fantasy. It's the cure for the common Square game.

Chrono Cross stands as one of the most entertaining games I've ever played. Not the best, perhaps, but definitely a great deal of fun.

Chrono Cross sits with Final Fantasy at the highest rungs of the classic RPG ladder, and you should almost be angry at yourself if you haven't conquered this true classic. Play it.

Chrono Cross is something great in its own right, managing to still measure up to the original and still be different. Striking a balance between old and new school RPG elements, it's a treat for fans of the genre. With a beautiful story, characters that are actually interesting and a fighting system that's more than your typical "attack, attack, defend, blah" devoid of true strategy, this game is the one I had been waiting for. It's about time.

In summary, Chrono Cross is a feast for the senses with a wonderful plot, and enough replay value to keep you coming back for more. While it has its flaws, and can be frustrating at times, it is easily one of the best games of the year, and a real treat for those who have waited so long for it. Everyone should experience this game, if for the music alone.

Chrono Cross är ett av de mest kompletta rollspelen som finns på marknaden idag. Det har ett brett karaktärsgalleri, innovativa strider, fantastiska miljöer och framför allt en bra handling. Det enda negativa med spelet är att det inte släpps här. Det är verkligen en skam att varken Chrono Trigger eller Chrono Cross släppts i väst. Det beror endast på att Square interna utvecklingsgrupper inte anser att de har tid att konvertera sina titlar åt oss. Eller att det inte är värt besväret. Det är den förklaring jag har fått av Square i Japan. Så illa kan det vara.

For those looking for the next great Playstation RPG, look no farther then Chrono Cross it truly is modern classic. For those wanting to see what is next in the Chrono story line, can find it in Chrono Cross along with much more. For those that want to know if it is the greatest RPG ever, I cannot say that, but it sure comes close. Years from now gamers will think back to Chrono Cross as many look back on Chrono Trigger. Its a unique, fun, and interesting, RPG with memorable characters, and a style all its own. If you only get one RPG this year, you cannot go wrong with Chrono Cross.

Chrono Cross is destined to become a classic whether it deserves it or not. Just the sheer scope of the story and the replay value alone (you must play it at least three times before you can say you truly finished it) will be enough to secure it a place in the RPG pantheon.

All that aside, the game is one of the best RPGs I've played in a long while, and it's without a doubt the best I've played on the PlayStation. It's an example of a great mix of graphics, music and story. It may have taken Square's experimentation with Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VIII to learn how to make use of the PlayStation and CD-ROM technology, but it seems they finally got it right.

Taken as a collection of parts, Chrono Cross has an innovative battle system, stunning graphics, a beautiful soundtrack, an interesting cast of characters, an incredible storyline, and high replay value. Taken as the amalgam of these parts, Chrono Cross is an engrossing mental trip into a tropical world of color, beauty, and death, where each step may change the path of fate. While some may fault it for going past the superficiality of Chrono Trigger, serious gamers should be able to appreciate Chrono Cross as the work of art that it is.

Unlike some other games on this site (*cough* Blue Lightning *cough*) this one lives up to it's roots. Even if you're not a fan of RPG's, there is no better way to become a fan than with this game. 2 discs packed with some of the most glorious graphics, sound, and CGI you'll ever witness, it's simply too irresistible (if not simply addictive) to put down until it's been completely finished. Not only is this a must- purchase, but the game must be treated with the utmost respect as Square may have finally produced the world's only perfect RPG.

The majority of games simply aren't this good. It stands aside from the crowd and you'd be crazy to miss it.

As many people know, Chrono Cross is the long awaited sequel to Chrono Trigger, a game released roughly five years ago for the Super NES that involved some memorable and original gameplay based around time travel. Chrono Trigger was famous for allowing the player a remarkable amount of variation in how he/she chose to play the game. Chrono Cross expands on this tradition in a way that not only comments on the implications of Chrono Trigger, but does so in a way that weaves these very concepts into the gameplay fabric itself. Players begin the game as Serge, a boy living in a small tropical village in a corner of the world previously unknown in Chrono Trigger, called El Nido, whose idyllic life is threatened when he stumbles onto a gate to a parallel world. The gameplay involves Serge's quest as he recruits members of both worlds in his search to discover the true nature and purpose of the phenomenon, as well as his role within it.

In summary, this is a superb game. If you do not compare it to Chrono Trigger it is a wonderfully fun game. To others, its the slightly disappointing sequel to "America's favorite RPG." If you haven't played the original, read up on Chrono Trigger and buy Chrono Cross. If you've played the original, buy it. It really is a game you cannot miss out on. You will be missing out on a unique, and most importantly, FUN RPG.

Chrono Cross is not a horrible game and I would recommend it. Just don't get your hopes too high. Especially if you were a big fan of the original like myself.

So is Chrono Cross as good as the first game? Of course not, but it’s still a good game. The plot is deep and ambitious, but the lack of personality with most of the characters and the overload of plot info at the end game hampers the fun. While the plot isn’t done totally right, nearly everything else is. The lack of random battles, beautiful visual and incredible tunes come close to rectifying the other faults. Sadly, it isn’t enough to make the game truly great. If fans of Chrono Trigger come in with an open mind and realistic expectations, they should find this game reasonably entertaining.

Sigh. So close, and yet we have our own selves to blame. Nevertheless, even though the original sweet promise of Chrono Cross turns a little fetid, when all is said and done with Serge’s world restored, Chrono Cross is a top-notch, beautiful and excellent RPG, that will not disappoint Squaresoft’s deservedly loyal fans.

Who knows, maybe I'm just a sucker for time travel, but I enjoyed visiting the plentiful epochs of the same world more than I enjoyed visiting the two dimensions of the same world. Plus as Chrono Trigger progresses you can actually grow attached to your party members, which is impossible in Chrono Cross due to character overflow. In the end, I pick Chrono Trigger as the better game, if not for the prior two reasons, then because it's story has an even flow to it, where Chrono Cross seems to be all over the place. But that's just like saying Donatello is a better Ninja Turtle than Michaelangelo -- when you get right down to it, they're both simply amazing and worthy of your love and affection.

Even though the game's director claimed after its release that Chrono Cross was never meant to be a true sequel to Chrono Trigger, it certainly was hyped that way. To this day, it stands as one of the largest disappointments in videogame history, but on a few occasions, when you're sucked into the game's great atmosphere, it's nearly forgivable. But these moments are too few and far between. The fact remains that CC's plot and characters are horrible. As an RPG, a game based on story and development, Chrono Cross commits a cardinal sin. May God have mercy on its soul.