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Product Description
Amazon.com
Chrono Cross will wow players with beautiful prerendered graphics and a unique battle system. Elements replace magic and items in battle, and using the same element three times in a row will ultimately increase your power. In addition to using elements, the accuracy of physical attacks is determined by probability, with easier-to-land weak attacks setting up fierce blows.
The plot, while a bit slow to develop, is full of interesting characters. Players will need to travel between the two worlds to advance the plot. While many of these areas will initially appear to look similar, you'll find them to be quite different upon closer examination of the details. For instance, a plant that is extinct in one world thrives in the other.
My only qualm with Chrono Cross is that, despite the complexities of the battle system, veterans will have an easy time with early battles. Still, there's much to like about this SquareSoft epic. --Robb Guido
Pros:
- Lavish, vibrantly colored graphics
- Unique battle system involving elements and casting away role-playing clichés like experience and magic points
- Easy battles due to powerful offensive and cure elements
- For hours, players will be saying, "Get to the time travel stuff"
Product Description
Chrono Cross features the stylish character designs and wondrous cut scenes that gamers have come to expect from SquareSoft, but the game also has a number of gameplay innovations. Though the battle engine is essentially turn-based, characters don't have to wait their turn to cast a spell or make an attack; battles are moderated by stamina. Also, the repetitive battles with lesser monsters that make so many RPGs sag can be easily avoided because all monsters can be seen on the screen.
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Customer Reviews
First, gameplay-- It is one of the best battle systems that I have seen. It may seem complicated to begin with, but one becomes quickly accostumed to the strategies and nuances of the idea. In a game of chess, the rules are simple but the possibilities are endless. The same goes for Chrono Cross' element system. In addition, being able to see your enemies on screen allows you to fight when and where you want. This is a big advantage if you want to avoid them (if you don't want to fight piddling monsters) or find them (to retrieve extra spells and items). Cross pulls this off even better than its predecessor, Chrono Trigger.
Leveling-- I considered this such an important aspect of the game that I gave it its own category! The reason: you can advance through the entire game avoiding nearly all monsters and still beat the game. Not only is the focus on strategy (the types of spells, colors, and balance between physical attacks) in order to defeat bosses, but you only gain stat bonuses during about five fights between each boss. Continuing to fight others can help with items and extra spells, but does no good to "level up" your characters. I thought this a terrific idea. Your characters still become extremely strong towards the end, but not because of experience. It doesn't exist. Cross is plot-driven, not level-driven.
Storyline-- Speaking of plot, Cross' is pretty good. It can get convoluted at times, and having played Trigger is helpful, though not necessary. Characters are surprisingly three-dimensional and everything fits together if you think about it for long enough. The major ending(s) though, can be dissapointing and because of the plethora of characters, very few of their pasts and conflicts can be resolved. But, all in all, you will enjoy it as mystery after mystery is solved while other take their places. Like a good book, it's difficult to find a place to put the controller down--you want to keep going.
Music-- Outstanding. Better than many movie soundtracks I've heard, both in quality of composition and sound. I highly reccomend buying the soundtrack to listen to during the day, unless you want to leave your Playstation running while doing the dishes. Of course, it would be worth it to do that, too. It's that good.
Graphics-- The people that made the FMV sequences were the same who did those FFVIII. The graphics ares similar to those of FFVIII, in battle sequences, exploration, and the movies--but even better. The colors and attention to detail make the entire game simply . . . beautiful. Let the game run and stare at it if you have to, it can be the only way to appreciate the artwork. Plus, the spells have their own elegantly simple quality. No spell is too long or extravagent, letting battles to continue smoothly. And the detail! When a character pulls something from her pocket, the movements are very human and real. They leave footprints on the beach and the environment casts shadows as you walk through a dark cave or brightened room. Every detail draws you further into the Chrono Cross world.
Do not rent this game--you should definitely buy it. The developers of Chrono Cross claim it can be beaten in 35 hours. They're lying. It took me 67 hours total, including the few times I had to go back to an old save point. And that does not include the amount of time I will spend in the future finding the multiple endings and other storyline branches. (They are a total of 6 different paths you can take, each very different and effecting the outcome of the game) Buy this amazing title for your Playstation and give Square a hand. Or even bow. They deserve all the respect you can give for this fine game.
-Jeremy Tollefson
The facts:
* From the team that brought you Chrono Trigger * 2 CDs * 40+ playable characters * Excellent music * 11 possible endings
Gameplay:
Very good. The battle system used in this RPG is unique from any other. Each character has a grid, in which he places his elements. There are several different types of elements. Some are attacking, some healing, some defensive, some that make the other elements more powerful or weak. These elements can generally be used by any party member; you get to switch them around between battles. Each of these elements used is one of six colors, and each color is opposite another. Red is opposite Blue, Green opposite Yellow, and Black opposite White. Each character is one of these six colors. Take Serge, the main character, for example. His innate color is White, so therefore he can use the white elements more effectively than other colored elements. If he was fighting a boss who's innate color is Black, Serge's white attacks will work well against the boss, since Black is opposite of White. Conversely, though, the boss' Black attacks will also be very effective against White Serge.
Each character also has up to three special moves, specialized to that character. It may not seem like that many per character, but keep in mind that there are more than 40 playable characters, so that totals over 120 unique elements. Then toss in 9 double techs and 2 triple techs for a whopping total of around 150 (!) unique techs. Wow.
Also important in the battle system are stamina points. You start of with seven points. Depending on the strength of the attacks chosen, your stamina will go down, while the grid lights up more and more with possible elements you can use. When your character is not fighting, the stamina recovers. There also other interesting features of the intricate battle system. It is impossible to mention them all. It sounds very confusing, all of this, and at first it is. But as you play through the game and make yourself comfortable with the system, you will appreciate it as a masterpiece. As for the gameplay outside of the battles, it is perfectly satisfactory. Everything you need, even a little you don't.
Graphics:
Typical to above average, as far as Playstation games go. At times, though, the graphics really shine. The elements are eye candy, and the cinema scenes are always fun to watch. Sound:
Indulge yourself. There is an absolute plethora of tracks, all wonderful. There are even a few remakes of some of the tracks from Chrono Trigger, which veterans of the game will love to hear. All of the music is appropriately placed, and there are lots of nice little sound effects to complement it.
Comments:
This game is great. An excellent storyline sets up multiple excellent endings (depending on when and how you beat the game), and the ride is quite something. Fans of the original Chrono Trigger will definitely want to check it out, as there are so, so many references back to the prequel. Mentioned and/ or seen in the game are Chrono, Lucca, Marle, Epoch, Belthasar, Prometheus (Robo), Ayla, Janus, Schala, Zeal, Glenn, Gaurdia Kingdom, and Lavos. And others. It's great. Don't worry though; the story is still understandable even if you have not played through Chrono Trigger. The game is also very poetic, and the prose is very enjoyable to read.
You won't be disappointed. Although not overly challenging, the game is engrossing and fun, and that's what great games are all about.
Buy it.
PROS:
Excellent, original battle system
No random battles!
Challenging, but balanced
The best graphics on PS
Great soundtrack
44 [cool] characters!
9 endings
The most non-linear RPG I've ever played
Incredible replay value
Great story
[great] translation
Tons of sub quests
You can run instantly from any fight (bosses included)
CONS:
The hero's name kinda sucks (but you can change it, so who cares?)
The last boss music is lame (you'll understand once you get to it)
I wanted to love Chrono Cross. Read more
