Chrono Cross: The Bottom Line
By Colin Temple, Galbadia X
Chrono Cross has moved into the PlayStation Greatest Hits lineup, so those who hadn't thought about purchasing the game before, may consider it now. From a fan of the game, the mere 19 USD (29 CAD) that you'd have to shell out for it is a steal. This game is just amazing.
I know a good amount of people who don't like it as much as some other titles. That's all right, but many go into the game with certain expectations. They expect Chrono Cross to be Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy. It is neither. What Chrono Cross offers is a new story and a new way of playing
The storyline for Chrono Cross, while a continuation from the hit Chrono Trigger and the less than noticed Radical Dreamers, stands on its own feet. You don't need to have played Trigger to fully enjoy Cross. You'll understand a few references better, mabye say "oh, so that's what's going on", but other than a couple of links, the storyline is complete on its own. You take on the role of Serge, a young man who finds himself in a mirror world where he died a few years ago. The storyline can be a bit confusing if you aren't paying attention, but it is very involved and unique. The duplicate world thing has been done, but Chrono Cross takes it to a new area.
Chrono Cross carries a few new suprises. One example is the group of over 40 playable characters. Having different characters in your party of three at one time will effect where you go, and how you get there. Certain story elements also change based on what you say, and who you end up with. You can't possibly have them all in your party—adding to the replay value of the game.
"Chrono Cross is a fresh, innovative game. The key is to go in expecting just that, something new."
The battle system in Chrono Cross is also innovative. The classic Square-style battle system is apparent here, but in a different way. Battles are done with a combination of Physical attacks and Elements. Elements are the equivalent of magic in Chrono Cross, coming in both attack and healing forms. There are 6 elemental colours (Yellow, Red, Green, Blue, Black and White) which, of course, effect the damage done by each (Black vs White…). Each character also has an innate elemental colour (ex- Serge's is White) which changes their attacks (Serge uses and defends White attacks better, but is vulnerable to Black attacks). There are more aspects to the battle system, but you'd have to play to understand. The battle system does take time to adjust to... you'll eventually figure everything out.
I've heard complaints that Chrono Cross is too hard. Some people say that the battles are very frustrating, and finding items, or where to go is sometimes confusing, so many are tempted to use a players' guide or tips in a magazine. While I don't personally like doing this when I play, the completionist would like to know where everything is. I used a guide on my second play — the best guides I've seen are the October 2000 issue of Expert Gamer and the Official Strategy Guide. I didn't find the game very difficult, it's a matter of your style, taste and level.
I'm of course obliged to talk about the graphics. They're great for a PlayStation game… the bright sceneries and beautiful CG animations bring the game to life. Chrono Cross is a gorgeous game to look at.
In short, Chrono Cross is a fresh, innovative game. The key is to go in expecting just that, something new. If you expect it to be just like Chrono Trigger or just like the Final Fantasy series, then you won't be happy. It's an excellent game by my standards and it alot of fun to play. It's my personal favorite of all the games I've ever played at this point.
August 26, 2001
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