Chrono Cross

The Good
The gameplay, put simply, is excellent. The battle system is one of the most innovative I have ever seen in an RPG, and in this game it is not only unique but well-done also. There are also 40+ characters, which can be good because it creates a lot of diversity in terms of in-battle strategy as well as personal preference. The graphics are some of the best you'll find on the Playstation, not because of hard, visual excellence, but because the style is unlike anything you're likely to see again. To keep the good stuff coming, the game has one of the best soundtracks I've ever heard in a game, if not the best. The tracks have a very organic feel to them, thus creating an attachment to them like you won't get from a Final Fantasy game. Plot is very important to an RPG, and thankfully Chrono Cross delivers what is undoubtedly one of the most complex stories of all time. Once you understand what is going on, however, you will not find a better story told than in Chrono Cross. In this game, excellence all around.

The Bad
There's not too much I can find wrong with the game, and anything I say here is nothing but minor squibbles because I can't think of anything better to say. Anyway, in relation to the characters, having more than 40 can be a good thing , but it can also be a bad thing. Individual characterization is a bit lacking besides the around 10 main characters. In fact, you will never use about 2/3 of the characters that the game gives you. However, which third you do use is all personal preference, so you really can't say any character is totally useless. The only other qualm I have with Cross is the ending. Don't get me wrong, the actual ending itself is excellent. But there is a major plot twist unveiled right before the final battle that completely discards everything you've been taught in the game in favor of a major reference to the game's predecessor, Chrono Trigger. Again, like with the characters, whether you like the plot twist or not is entirely up to you. It certainly made things more complicated.

The Bottom Line
Chrono Cross is unlike any game you will ever find. If you think the Final Fantasy series is the pinnacle of RPG's, then your way off. The only RPG that can compare in quality is Chrono Trigger, which speaking of you will find many references of in Cross. This is also a good first rpg for anyone interested in getting into the genre, not only because it displays the pinnacle of every aspect of video games, but because the tale is one that is timeless and should be enjoyed by anyone.