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Chrono Cross

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Chrono Cross
Chrono Cross North American Box Art
Developer(s)Square Co.
Publisher(s)Japan Square Co.
United States Square EA
Designer(s)Masato Kato, Hiromichi Tanaka
Platform(s)PlayStation
ReleaseJapan November 18, 1999
United States August 15, 2000
Genre(s)RPG
Mode(s)Single player

Chrono Cross (クロノ・クロス, Kurono Kurosu) is a PlayStation RPG created by Square Co. (now Square Enix). It expands upon the plot of its prequel, Chrono Trigger. Unlike its predecessor's "Dream Team", Chrono Cross was developed primarily by scenarist and director Masato Kato and other programmers for Chrono Trigger, such as art director Yasuyuki Honne and sound planner Minoru Akao. Composer Yasunori Mitsuda scored Chrono Cross, while Escaflowne character designer Nobuteru Yuki did the character design for the game.[1]

Chrono Cross stars a character named Serge and features a theme of parallel worlds. It was released in Japan in 1999 and the United States in 2000 to high ratings and critical acclaim.[2] Chrono Cross sold well in the United States, leading to a Greatest Hits re-release and continued life in Japan as part of the Ultimate Hits re-release series.[3] As of 2003, it has cumulatively sold 1.5 million copies.[4] Chrono Cross was not released in PAL territories; Square cited a combination of economic and technical expenses as the cause.[5]

Gameplay

Chrono Cross features standard RPG gameplay with a few innovations. Controlling Serge, players explore the game's world by foot and boat. Navigation is conducted via an overworld map, depicting the landscape from a scaled down overhead view. Amongst the island world are many villages, outdoor areas, and dungeons, which the player moves through in three dimensions. Locations such as cities and forests are represented by more realistically scaled field maps, in which players can converse with locals to procure items and services, solve puzzles and challenges, or encounter enemies. Like its predecessor Chrono Trigger, the game features no random encounters. Enemies are openly visible on field maps or lie in wait to ambush the party.[6] Touching the monster switches perspectives to a battle screen, where players can decide to physically attack, use Elements, defend, or run away from the enemy. Battles are turn-based, allowing the player ample time before combat to select an action from the available menu. For both the playable characters and the CPU-controlled enemies, each attack reduces their number of hit points (a numerically based life bar), which can be restored through potions or spells. When a playable character loses all hit points, he or she faints; if all the player's characters fall in battle, the game ends and must be restored from a previously saved chapter—except for specific storyline-related battles that allow the player to lose. By exploring new areas and combating enemies, players progress through Chrono Cross.

A battle from Chrono Cross

Most of Chrono Cross's innovative features lie in its battle system. Unlike other games, players can run away from every battle, including the last.[6] Elements are a major feature of Chrono Cross. These devices can be purchased from shops or found in treasure chests littered throughout areas. Similar to the materia of Final Fantasy VII, they unleash magic effects upon the enemy or party and must be equipped for use. Elements are allocated to a grid whose size and shape are unique to each character. They are ranked according to seven tiers. With each level up, the grid expands, allowing more upper-tier Elements to be equipped at one time. Elements are divided into six types, or "colors," each with a natural effect. These include Red (fire/magma), Blue (water/ice), Green (wind/flora), Yellow (earth/lightning), White (light/cosmos), and Black (darkness/gravity).[6] Each character has an innate color, enhancing the power of same-color Elements used. Chrono Cross also features a "field effect", which keeps track of Element color used in the upper corner of the battle screen. If the field is pure blue, for instance, blue Elements will be enhanced. Characters also innately learn some special techniques, called "Techs", that are unique to each character but otherwise act like Elements. Like Chrono Trigger, certain Techs can be combined to make more powerful Double or Triple Techs. However, there are a very few number of combinations compared to Chrono Trigger.[6]

Another unique aspect of Chrono Cross is its stamina bar.[6] At the beginning of a battle, each character has seven points of stamina. As a character attacks or uses an Element, stamina is decreased according to attack strength. When other characters or the enemies attack, it is then slowly recovered. Characters with stamina below one point must wait to take action. Some Elements require a certain Stamina level to use. With each battle, players can enhance certain statistics such as strength and defense against attacks. However, unlike other games, no system of experience points exist. After a few upgrades, statistics remain static until players defeat a boss. This adds a star to a running count shown on the status screen. Once a star is obtained, players can train up to a certain point once more.[6] Players can equip characters with weapons, armor, helmets, and accessories. Players can also use consumable Elements to restore hit points or heal status ailments after battle. Immediately after a conflict, players can opt to have the game automatically select Elements for this use.[6] Certain accessories can be equipped with special effects, such as the Power Seal, which upgrades attack power. Most items and equipment may be purchased or found on field maps, often in treasure chests. Unlike Elements, weapons and armor cannot be purchased; instead, the player must purchase or find base materials—such as copper, bronze, or bone—and take them to a blacksmith to be forged for a fee. The item can later be disassembled into its original components at no cost. The strongest items require hard to find materials.

The existence of two dimensions also plays a significant role in the game, akin to the role of time periods in Chrono Trigger. Through the course of Chrono Cross, the player must go back and forth between two parallel dimensions to recruit party members, obtain items, or undertake other advancements in the story. Much of the population of either world have counterparts in the other; some party members can even visit the other version of him or herself. The player must often search for items or places that can be only found in one of the worlds. Events in one dimension sometime have an impact in another—for instance, cooling the scorched ground on an island in one world can allow vegetation to grow in the other world. This system assists the presentation of certain themes, including the questioning of the importance of one's past decisions and humanity's role in destroying the environment.[7] Rounding out the notable facets of Chrono Cross's gameplay is the New Game+ option and multiple endings. Like Chrono Trigger, players who have completed the game may choose to start the game over using data from the previous session. Character levels, learned techniques and equipment and items gathered copy over, while acquired money and some story-related items are discarded. On a New Game+, players can access twelve multiple endings[8] determined by the player's progress in the game prior to the final battle, which can be fought at any time. Summarily, the game's innovations were all part of a conscious effort to break new ground.[9]

Plot

Characters

Main article: List of Chrono Cross characters

Chrono Cross features a large and diverse cast with forty-five possible party members available. To create the cast, the developers thought of archetypes and brainstormed interesting traits which were later fleshed out to full characters.[9] Originally, sixty-four were planned.[9] Each character is outfitted with an innate Element affinity and three special abilities of his or her own. Some techniques can be combined into Double and Triple Techs in battle. Additionally, characters react to their other world counterparts (if available). Many party members tie in to crucial events; since it is impossible to obtain all forty-five in one playthrough, the player must replay the game to witness everything. Through use of the New Game + feature, all characters can eventually be obtained on one save file.[10]

While the presence of six elements is a departure from Chrono Trigger's limit at four, the game does provide an explanation for the change—that Chrono Trigger's magic was the manipulating of the basic four fundamental properties of the universe, and Chrono Cross's magic is the use of manufactured tools to effect changes in nature.[11] Because of the incredibly vast number of possible party combinations, the North American version of the game contains a system to modify base text for each character's accent. Whereas other games would need to program different blocks of text for each character, Chrono Cross uses a basic text template and modifies it based on the character speaking.[9]

Main characters

Serge
Main article: Serge (Chrono Cross)

Serge is the blue-haired, silent protagonist of the game, a seventeen year old boy who one day slips into an alternate world in which he drowned ten years before the present. While journeying to know the truth beyond the split of the dimensions, he meets Kid and assists her in finding the Frozen Flame. He is later given the body of his enemy, Lynx, and must quest to find a way to restore his old form. Serge eventually learns that his home, El Nido, and the events of Chrono Cross were orchestrated by Belthasar entirely to empower him with the Chrono Cross and send him to the Darkness Beyond Time, where he could thwart the Time Devourer and free Schala from the beast. Returned to his home after the ordeal, his fate is uncertain. He is seen in a photo with Kid on Schala's desk in the ending cut scene.

Kid
Main article: Kid (Chrono Cross)

Kid is a feisty, skilled thief who seeks the Frozen Flame and accompanies Serge on his adventure. Born as a clone of Schala and sent to the modern era after Chrono Trigger, she was raised by Lucca. When Lynx burned down the orphanage to find Lucca and make her release the lock on the Frozen Flame, Kid escaped and became a thief. Later, presumably on orders from Belthasar, she was able to go back in time and save Serge from drowning, causing the dimensions to split.[12] In the second itineration of Another world's timeline, she met Serge after he crossed the dimensions and recruited him in her effort to find the Frozen Flame. At Fort Dragonia, she is stabbed by Lynx and brainwashed to be his henchman. Later, at Chronopolis, she falls into a coma due to a lapse of harsh memories from the orphanage incident. After Serge rehabilitates her, she accompanies him to fight the Time Devourer. Her fate is uncertain; some evidence exists that she merges with Schala, but much of the ending is ambiguous.

Lynx
Main article: Lynx (Chrono Cross)

Lynx is the most visible villain of Chrono Cross, antagonizing Serge during most of the quest. Originally, he was Wazuki, Serge's father; however, after he took Serge to be healed and touched the Frozen Flame, he became corrupted and used as a pawn of FATE.[13] He drowned Serge at Opassa Beach, though ten years in the future, Kid traveled back to save him—somehow causing the world to split in two. In Another world, he manipulated both Porre and the Acacia Dragoons while preparing to meet Serge as he crossed the dimensions. Harle accompanied him, secretly working as an agent of the Dragon God. In Home world, he led the Acacia Dragoons to their death in the Dead Sea. His primary objective being the restoration of FATE's access to the Frozen Flame, he orchestrated the body-switching with Serge, abducted Kid, and returned to Chronopolis. When Serge arrived at the time research facility to confront him, he allowed himself to become a combative avatar of FATE. Serge decisively defeated him here, allowing Harle to steal the Frozen Flame.

Harle
Main article: Harle (Chrono Cross)

Harle is the shadowy accomplice of Lynx and agent of the Dragon God. Dressed like a harlequin, she was born the night Serge was taken to Chronopolis. The magnetic storm allowed the Dragon God to create a new Dragon; Harle was the result. Ordered to manipulate Lynx and one day steal the Frozen Flame for the use of the Dragon God, she befriended the beast and served him as he prepared for the day Serge would cross the dimensions. She met Serge for the first time at Viper Manor, where she expressed feelings of lust for the boy. After Serge received Lynx's body, she accompanied him for a time, though she left before Serge entered the Chronopolis. During this stay with Serge, she revealed genuine feelings for him to a party member named Starky, and cried on the prow of the S.S. Invincible.[14] Later, at Chronopolis, she stole away the Frozen Flame to Terra Tower, the fortress of the Dragon God. Her fate after this is uncertain; she probably merged with the Dragon God to give it maximum strength in the battle against Serge. Once her role was revealed, it became apparent that her earlier distress was a result of her mission conflicting with her love for Serge.

Returning characters

Six characters from Chrono Trigger return in the sequel, two playing major roles behind the scenes. They are not playable and only make brief appearances. Due to the gap of twenty years between Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross, it is conclusively unknown what became of the main cast from the prequel. In order of importance, these characters return for the new game.

  • Lavos and Schala - Lavos returns as the main villain, but does not appear until the end. By accident during Chrono Trigger, Schala was banished to the Darkness Beyond Time, where later, the defeated Lavos arrived and began merging with the former princess of Zeal to create a new being. The resulting lifeform—the Time Devourer—would have been capable of devouring all spacetime once matured. Though unknown to Serge for most of his quest, the entire events concerning the dimensions and the creation fo El Nido were set in motion to empower him to defeat the Time Devourer and free Schala. Using the Chrono Cross, he accomplished this mission. Lavos was decisively defeated, though Schala's fate is unknown due to an ambiguous ending. In the complete ending, it is vaguely implied that she is freed from Lavos—after which she narrates the rest of the ending—but this event leads to a Deus Ex Machina resolution where history is "set right" in some manner which is never really confirmed or explained.
  • Belthasar - Belthasar returns as the mastermind behind the game's events. When he arrived in the future of 2300 A.D., he constructed Chronopolis and discovered the Time Devourer. He then created Project Kid and planned out the events necessary to empower Serge. After setting up the experiment that would cause Chronopolis to go back in time, he departed to the modern era of 1020 A.D. to watch his plan unfold. He speaks to the party a few times, eventually giving them the Time Egg necessary to find and challenge the Time Devourer.
  • Crono, Marle, and Lucca - These heroes of the original game appear as childlike apparitions at the Dead Sea, in an illusion created by Belthasar at Terra Tower, and upon Opassa Beach, the site of the dimension split. While they chide Serge at the Dead Sea, they instruct him otherwise, notifying him of the Chrono Cross Element, his role in stopping the Time Devourer, and other important points of history. Since whether these three died in the fall of the Kingdom of Guardia is a mystery, it is unknown whether they are true ghosts or are merely projections of an unknown source.
  • Frog - He does not appear. However, his Masamune appears, and another hero does his real name, Glenn, also appears. This Glenn also has the X Strike. However, he is not the same character. Some fans speculate that this Glenn is a decendant of Frog.
  • Robo - Robo appears in Chronopolis, under the name Prometheus. In the future, he agreed to become an integral part of Project Kid by keeping FATE locked out from using the Frozen Flame once Serge made contact with it. He briefly speaks to the party before being executed by FATE after Serge finds the facility.[9]
  • Ayla - She also does not appear, but she is mentioned by Leah, a girl also from prehistoric times. Leah says that she will name her child "Ayla". Thus, Leah is Ayla's mother, and had returned home after Serge's adventure.
  • Magus - In a letter sent by Lucca, she says to Kid that Janus may be watching over her, and "if so, hello, Janus!" Some claim that he was in the room during the letter's reading, based on a player character-indicative shadow that appears when the letter is being read.[15]
  • Masa and Mune - Appear at the end of the Dario sidequest, they have little bearing on the plot. For reasons unknown these spirits of the legendary blade Masamune take a mischievous turn for reasons unknown which makes the once holy sword evil, causing immeasurable chaos among certain characters. Upon the sidequest's completion they apparently learn their lesson and replace Serge's initial oar with Murasame, the strongest of Serge's weapons.
  • Ozzie, Slash, and Flea - Appearing in a hidden boss fight, the three have no bearing on the plot. Sprigg can learn to transform into any member of the trio after dueling them. As Slash, she can perform the "Z Slash" triple tech when teamed up with Serge and Kid.

Story

Main article: Chrono Cross Plot

The story of Chrono Cross begins with a boy of seventeen years named Serge who is instructed to collect colorful scales on the beach by his girlfriend. The setting is El Nido, a tropical archipelago inhabited by ancient natives, colonists from other continents, and anthromorphic, sentient beings called Demi-humans who are often the subject of racial prejudice.[16] While meeting up with his girlfriend after the trip, Serge slips into an alternate dimension in which he drowned ten years before the present at the same spot. Baffled at the existence of this world and desiring to know more, Serge meets up with a famous thief Kid, a teenage girl intent on finding a mysterious artifact known as the Frozen Flame. In search of this item, they recruit help and infiltrate Viper Manor, the home of the Acacia Dragoons—the combative, affluent, and revered self-proclaimed protectors of the island. While there, a mysterious man known as the prophet of time reveals that ten years from the present, the universe split into two dimensions—one in which Serge lived (Home world), and one in which he perished (Another world).[17] Due to the shadowy antagonist Lynx, the mission to find the Frozen Flame ends in failure, and Kid is poisoned.

Kid eventually recuperates, and Serge prepares to sojourn to Fort Dragonia, an ancient ruin left by a mysterious race known as the Dragonians who became extinct a hundred years before the game's events. There, the Acacia Dragoons intend to make a stand against an invading continental army from a nation known as Porre. While preparing, Serge gains the ability to travel betwixt the dimensions, securing further assistance and items. After a run-in with a pirate ship, Serge's group makes it to the top of the fort, where Lynx, through the use of a Dragonian artifact, switches bodies with the body. Unknowing of the switch, Kid confides in Lynx, who appears to be Serge; he stabs her as the real Serge helplessly watches. After boasting of his victory, Lynx banishes Serge to a strange realm called the Temporal Vortex and takes Kid under his wing, brainwashing her to believe the real Serge was her enemy.

Serge escapes from this realm with help from Harle, an accomplice to Lynx. Discovering that he could no longer travel between dimensions due to his newfound body, Serge seeks a way to obtain his old form and learn more about the universal split ten years earlier. At present, he is stuck in the dimension in which he formerly lived. After speaking with his mother and recruiting new members to his party, he seeks help from a Demi-human sage confined on an entertainment cruise ship. He gains the sage's favor, and is given an artifact that allows him access to the Dead Sea, a mysterious, enclosed body of water. There, he finds a wasteland frozen in time, dotted with ruins coming from far in the future.[18] At the center, he located a man named Miguel and presumably the Frozen Flame of that dimension. Having charged with guarding the Dead Sea by an entity named FATE[19], Miguel battled Serge and was defeated. FATE, not wanting Serge to obtain the Flame, destroyed the Dead Sea; the boy (still in Lynx's body) was rescued by a Dragon, one of six mythical entities who inhabited El Nido.

Able to return to Another world, Serge finds the Acacia Dragoons in dire straits due to Porre's invasion, and rescues them. After collecting six relics from the Dragons, he also locates that dimension's copy of the artifact used to exchange bodies, and travels to that world's Fort Dragonia to replicate the ceremony. After a brief encounter with Lynx, he succeeds in obtaining his body, and sets his sights on the Sea of Eden, Another world's physical equivalent of the Dead Sea. He is allowed to enter. There, he finds a temporal research facility called Chronopolis. Inside are Lynx, Kid, and the Frozen Flame. He confronts Lynx, who bonded with the entity FATE (the main computer of the facility) to battle with the boy. He defeats FATE, and as a result, the defense systems of Chronopolis fall. The six Dragons fly over the facility, uniting in the air, and scoop away the Frozen Flame. Kid meanwhile falls into a coma, and Harle, Lynx's assistant, bids the party goodbye and flies with the Dragons. The new villains soar to a massive tower raised from the sea, called Terra Tower.

Serge regroups his party and watches over Kid, who remains comatose. He continues to adventure through El Nido, eventually obtaining and cleansing the evil sword Masamune while using the Dragon relics and shards of the artifacts which exchanged bodies to create a mythic Element called the Chrono Cross. The spiritual power of the Masamune later allows him to lift Kid from her coma and prepare for the assault on Terra Tower. After outfitting his boat with an anti-gravity device, Serge goes to the tower to battle the Dragons for the Frozen Flame. There, the prophet of time—revealed to be Belthasar from Chrono Trigger—visits him, revealing much of his history. This is later added on to by apparitions at the beach. Serge learns altogether that El Nido was created thousands of years ago by Chronopolis[20], the time research facility, after a catastrophic experimental failure launched it far into the past. This introduction of a foreign temporal object caused the planet to pull another temporal object from a different dimension[21]; this was Dinopolis, a city of Dragonians—parallel universe descendants of the Reptites of Chrono Trigger. The two institutions fought, and the Dragonians were subjugated, along with their chief creation—the Dragon God, an entity capable of controlling nature.

Chronopolis divided this entity into six pieces and created an Elements system, allowing localized natural effects to be released by individuals. FATE then terraformed an archipelago, erased the memories of most Chronopolis's staff, and sent them to inhabit and populate the new paradise.[22] Chronopolis remained obscured from view by clouds and its defense system. Thousands of years later, Serge, while three years old, was attacked by a panther demon. While being taken for help by his father, Serge's boat blew off course by a raging magnetic storm—caused by Schala. Schala—the princess of the Kingdom of Zeal—had been long ago accidentally sent to a place known as the Darkness Beyond Time to merge with the remaining pieces of Lavos, the chief villain of Chrono Trigger.[23] Her storm, a result of pity for Serge, caused Chronopolis's defenses to go down. Serge was taken to the Frozen Flame; it healed him, while corrupting his father.[24] By touching the Flame, Serge was designated its Arbiter by a circuit in Chronopolis, locking out FATE from the artifact. After Serge returned home, FATE used his father's corruption to try and kill the boy.

Though Serge was initially killed and drowned, ten years afterwards the thief Kid, presumably on orders from Belthasar, was able to go back in time ten years, save Serge, and somehow effect the splitting of dimensions into two worlds. FATE, still locked out of the Frozen Flame as a result, knew that Serge would one day cross the dimensions to Another world, and prepared for the event.[25] Lynx's switching bodies with Serge was the result of this preparation, a grand ploy to dupe the biological check of Chronopolis on the Frozen Flame. However, the Dragons had also learned of this situation, creating a seventh Dragon while the magnetic storm knocked out the power—Harle, who later manipulated Lynx as his accomplice.[26] When Serge finally defeated FATE, the Dragons were able to take up the Frozen Flame (they proved to be the ultimate manipulators). After this explanation, Belthasar then reveals that it was all part of a plan he had orchestrated named Project Kid, and that the final purpose would soon be revealed. Serge continues to the top of Terra Tower and defeats the Dragon God.

Continuing to the beach where the split in dimensions had occurred, Serge finds three apparitions resembling the original team from Chrono Trigger. There, more about the history of the game is revealed, such as the fact that Belthasar planned the entire event to empower Serge to free Schala from melding with Lavos.[27] The being that would result from their merger—called the Time Devourer—would have the capacity to consume and destroy all spacetime. The apparition of Lucca explains that Kid was a clone of Schala, sent to the modern age to take part in Project Kid.[28] Finally, the apparition of Crono entreats Serge to use the Chrono Cross to free Schala.[29] With this new knowledge available, Serge uses a Time Egg—a device capable of changing time—to enter the Darkness Beyond Time and vanquish the Time Devourer. He successfully separates Schala from Lavos and restores the dimensions. Thankful and happy, Schala returns Serge to the outside world. What becomes of Serge, Kid, and the other members of the team is unknown, as little clues are given in favor of an ambiguous ending.[30]

Chrono Cross employs certain stories, characters, and thematic elements from Radical Dreamers, a side story to Chrono Trigger released in Japan for the Satellaview add-on for the Super Famicom. An illustrated text adventure, it was released to wrap up loose storyline ends from Chrono Trigger.[31] Though it borrows from Radical Dreamers in its exposition, Chrono Cross is not simply a remake of Radical Dreamers, but moreover a larger effort to fulfill the purpose of that game.[31] The stories of the two games are incompatible. To resolve a scenario continuity issue and to acknowledge the existence of Radical Dreamers, the designers suggested that the events of Radical Dreamers did happen, but took place in a parallel dimension.[32] The most notable difference in the two is that Magus, present in Radical Dreamers as Magil, is absent from the Chrono Cross. Magus does not assume the identity Guile in the game, as is commonly assumed. It was noted in an interview that the developers originally planned for Magus to appear, but scrapped the idea due to difficulties in presenting his story.[31]

Music

File:Cross ost cover.png
Cover of the OST

Chrono Cross was scored by Yasunori Mitsuda, who drew from many influences in shaping the soundtrack. A three-CD official soundtrack was released soon after the game. Mitsuda noted in the OST's liner notes that he was happy to accomplish even half of what he envisioned in terms of transferring his ideas to the PlayStation's sound capabilities.[33] In this task he was ably assisted by Ryo Yamazaki, a synthesizer programmer for Square Enix. He also named several influences in the liner notes, including Mediterranean and Fado music, African percussion and old music from several cultures—most notably Celtic.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). In January 2005, Mitsuda announced a new arranged album of the game's music was on the way, and touted a July 2005 release date.[34] It did not materialize in 2005, though at a Play! concert in May 2006, he notified an interviewer that it would be out within the year and would have an acoustic sound.[35]

Reception

Chrono Cross sold 850,000 and 650,000 units in Japan and the United States respectively.[4] Sales in excess of one million units warranted a re-release as a Greatest Hits title and a second release as part of the Japan-only Ultimate Hits series for PlayStation games.[3] Critics widely acclaimed the game upon its release, cited numerous strengths. Praise mentioned its complex and expansive plot, innovative battle system, story-driven and varied characters, moving music score, vibrant graphics and atmosphere, and success in breaking convention with its predecessor.[6]</ref>[36][7]</ref>[37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44] One review claimed that Chrono Cross crossed mediums to "artistic interactive storytelling."[37] Chrono Cross was not without criticism; reviewers cited a weak ending, a touching but immemorable score, and a confusing story marred by narrative and pacing problems as the game's flaws.[37][7][38][42][43] Numerically speaking, Electronic Gaming Monthly gave Chrono Cross a Gold Award, scoring it 10/10/9.5 in their three reviewer format.[45] GameSpot awarded the game a perfect 10, one of four out of over 1100+ games.[6] Weekly Famitsu rated the game 36 out of 40 from four reviewers.[31] As of July 2006, Rottentomatoes.com and Gamerankings.com both give a rating of 92% for Chrono Cross.[2][46]

Fan reaction was largely positive, though a minority of Chrono Trigger fans were disappointed that Chrono Cross broke convention defined by Chrono Trigger—in that it featured significantly more characters and less double and triple techs, and also took place in a new part of the world without allowing the player to control the original team.[47] This reinvention was the result of a conscious effort by producer Hiromichi Tanaka and director Masato Kato to provide an experience different from Chrono Trigger.[47][9] Masato Kato anticipated certain expectations of Chrono Trigger fans and rebuffed their discontent in an interview held around the game's release. He stated that he wondered what the Chrono title meant to these fans, and whether his messages had gotten through to them at all.[47]

Sequels

There is currently no planned sequel to Chrono Trigger or continuation of the Chrono series. In 2001, Square Co. Executive Producer Hironobu Sakaguchi told the press that some of the company's staff wanted to make a new game, and that script ideas were being considered. He also noted that one of the original directors was very interested in a new title, but the project had not been greenlighted yet.[48] Square applied for a trademark for the name Chrono Break in the United States the same year, resulting in much fan speculation over a new sequel. However, the trademark was dropped on November 13, 2003, confirmed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.[49] The trademark still stands in Japan.[50] It is possible that the comparatively low sales of Chrono Cross—totaling 1.5 million—to the performance of contemporary Final Fantasy games—each achieving over 5 million sales[4]—contributed to a decision to suspend the series. Some fans continue to hope for a new game, as series director Masato Kato recently returned to Square Enix to work on Seiken Densetsu 4 and Children of Mana.[51] Additionally, series composer Yasunori Mitsuda stated in 2006 that he is interested in scoring a new Chrono series game.[35]

Packaging artwork

References

  1. ^ "MobyGames: Chrono Cross Credits". MobyGames. Retrieved 1 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b "Gamerankings: Chrono Cross". Gamerankings. Retrieved 1 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b Chris Winkler (2006-04-28). "Square Enix Adds 16 to Ultimate Hits Series". RPGFan. Retrieved 1 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b c Square Enix staff (2003-08-04). "Square Enix IR Roadshow Document" (PDF). Square Enix Japan. Retrieved 6 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Square Enix staff (2005-09-06). "Gamespot: Square Enix Q & A". Gamespot. Retrieved 5 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Andrew Vestal (2000-01-06). "Gamespot: Chrono Cross Review". Gamespot. Retrieved 24 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ a b c David Zdyrko (2000-08-15). "IGN: Chrono Cross Review". IGN. Retrieved 24 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Chrono Compendium staff (2005). "Chrono Cross Endings". Chrono Compendium. Retrieved 24 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ a b c d e f "GamePro: Interview with Chrono Cross Developers". Chrono Compendium. 2000-10-17. Retrieved 2 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ Daredevil3181 (2004). "Chrono Cross Recruiting FAQ". Chrono Compendium. Retrieved 24 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Spekkio: Not just magic, but EVERYTHING is based on the balance of these 4 powers. Chrono Trigger. Square Co., 1995.
    Ghost: The development of Elements, using the energy of the natural world... Chrono Cross. Square Co., 1999.
  12. ^ Lucca: Further in the future, Kid is meant to travel back ten years in time from now to save Serge from drowning. Chrono Cross. Square Co., 1999.
  13. ^ Crono: I don't know how to break this to you, but...Lynx was actually your father, Wazuki! Drawing closer to the Flame caused him to become unstable, and the image of you dying in terror changed him completely! Finally, after having his psyche totally eroded, he lost his soul and was easily integrated by FATE...FATE turned Wazuki into a biological interface, modelling him after your worst fear at the time -- a panther. Although Wazuki managed to escape from Chronopolis with you, he later completely succumbed to FATE. Humans are such fragile, disjointed, imperfect things. Chrono Cross. Square Co., 1999.
  14. ^ Harle: Listen, Starky...Zis iz called a tear. It'z somet'ing zat flowz from your eyez naturellement when you are sad, when you hurt... Chrono Cross. Square Co., 1999.
  15. ^ Chrono Compendium staff (2005). "Screenshots of Magus's shadow". Chrono Compendium. Retrieved 24 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ Direa: 'Tis sad...The mainland teachings state that humans and demi-humans are incompatible species. (Chrono Cross). Tokyo: Square Co., 1999.
  17. ^ Prophet: In your home world, you survived to live a happy and prosperous life. That is how you made it to the present point in time. However, here in this '"alternate"' world, you are, in fact, very dead and buried. You died 10 years ago, but this world's time line has flowed on regardless. (Chrono Cross). Tokyo: Square Co., 1999.
  18. ^ Member: The waves are at a standstill...And...What is that dark shadow in the distance...? (Chrono Cross). Tokyo: Square Co., 1999.
  19. ^ Miguel: Yes... I've been here in this very place...For 14 years... (Chrono Cross). Tokyo: Square Co., 1999.
  20. ^ Ghost: Originally, El Nido was nothing but ocean. The El Nido Archipelago is purely artificial, created by FATE. It was a remodeling plan that took place 10,000 years ago. (Chrono Cross). Tokyo: Square Co., 1999.
  21. ^ Kid: Perhaps our planet beckoned Dinopolis into the past...maybe as a measure against Chronopolis and humanity. (Chrono Cross). Tokyo: Square Co., 1999.
  22. ^ Ghost: The research center staff, who had their memories of the future erased, left the center, and began a life outside amidst nature. This is how FATE's paradise came into existence. (Chrono Cross). Tokyo: Square Co., 1999.
  23. ^ Lucca: Princess Schala was sucked into a dimensional vortex along with the Lavos Mammon Machine. Schala and Lavos became unified into one even more powerful entity that would evolve into the Devourer of Time. (Chrono Cross). Tokyo: Square Co., 1999.
  24. ^ Lucca: Led by the pitiful crying the young Serge made as the panther demon's poison took hold of him...Princess Schala traveled ten thousand years in time to try and make contact with this dimension! This caused a raging magnetic storm that resulted in FATE's system malfunction, which led Serge to the Frozen Flame. (Chrono Cross). Tokyo: Square Co., 1999.
  25. ^ Crono: You see, FATE calculated that you would one day cross the dimensions and try to make contact with the Flame. (Chrono Cross). Tokyo: Square Co., 1999.
  26. ^ Crono: In the meantime, the six Dragons had sent Harle forth to try and gain possession of the Flame. Harle made contact with FATE's biological incarnation, Lynx, and tricked him into temporarily joining forces. (Chrono Cross). Tokyo: Square Co., 1999.
  27. ^ Lucca: And now, about '"Project Kid"'...the time control project Belthasar planned out. The whole project existed to lead you to this one, special point in time! The founding of Chronopolis, the Time Crash, and the battle between FATE and the Dragon Gods...It was all coordinated so that you would get your hands on the Chrono Cross and come to this place! (Chrono Cross). Tokyo: Square Co., 1999.
  28. ^ Lucca: Before the destructive mind-set could become dominant, she cloned herself and sent her copy into this dimension...That's right...Kid is Schala's daughter-clone! (Chrono Cross). Tokyo: Square Co., 1999.
  29. ^ Crono: The Chrono Cross...It alone can combine the sounds of the planet that the six types of Elements produce! The melody and harmony that brim within all life-forms... Use the '"song of life"' to heal her enmity and suffering...We entreat you, Serge! Please save Schala... (Chrono Cross). Tokyo: Square Co., 1999.
  30. ^ "Chrono Cross Resolutions". Chrono Compendium. 2006. Retrieved 24 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ a b c d "Weekly Famitsu: Interview with Chrono Cross Developers". Chrono Compendium. 1999. Retrieved 1 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ Kid: Kid: Radical Dreamers...!? And me name's on here, too! What the bloody hell is goin' on?
    Kid: ......This seems to be an archive from a different time than our own.
    Kid: Aside from the two worlds we already know about...there may be other worlds and times which exist... Chrono Cross. Square Co., 1999.
  33. ^ Yasunori Mitsuda (2000-18-12). "Chrono Cross OST Liner Notes". Chrono Compendium. Retrieved 24 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ "New Year's News". Dengeki Online. 2005. Retrieved 1 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  35. ^ a b "N-Sider: PLAY! Concert Interviews". N-Sider. 2006-30-05. Retrieved 1 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  36. ^ PSXExtreme Staff (2000-08-17). "PSXExtreme: Chrono Cross Review". PSXExtreme. Retrieved 24 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  37. ^ a b c Shaun Conlin (2000-08-16). "Age of Play: Chrono Cross Review". Age of Play. Retrieved 24 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  38. ^ a b Matt Weise (2000-09-09). "Gamecritics: Chrono Cross Review". Gamecritics. Retrieved 24 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  39. ^ Johnny Liu (2000-08-19). "Game Revolution: Chrono Cross Review". Game Revolution. Retrieved 24 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  40. ^ Gamerankings (2000-09-05). "Gamerankings: Chrono Cross Review". Gamerankings. Retrieved 24 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  41. ^ Mike Laidlaw (2000-09-14). "Adrenaline Vault: Chrono Cross Review". Adrenaline Vault. Retrieved 24 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  42. ^ a b RPGFan staff (2002-06-22). "RPGFan: Chrono Cross Review". RPGFan. Retrieved 24 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  43. ^ a b Ed Fear (2002-06-22). "AllRPG: Chrono Cross Review". AllRPG. Retrieved 24 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  44. ^ Alex Makar (2002-07-13). "Gaming-Age: Chrono Cross Review". Gaming-Age. Retrieved 24 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  45. ^ EGM staff (2004-02-22). "Gamestats: Chrono Cross". Gamestats. Retrieved 24 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  46. ^ "Rottentomatoes: Chrono Cross". Rottentomatoes. Retrieved 24 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  47. ^ a b c "Procyon Studio: Interview with Masato Kato". Cocoebiz.com. 1999. Retrieved 24 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  48. ^ Shahed Ahmed (2001-07-03). "New Chrono game in planning stages". GameSpot. Retrieved 1 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  49. ^ "Latest Status Info". Trademark Applications and Registration Retrieval. 2003-11-13. Retrieved 1 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  50. ^ "Japanese Trademark and Patent Office". 2002-07-26. Retrieved 24 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help) To find the Chrono Brake patent, search "Japanese Trademark Database" for "chronobrake". Click Index to find the result, and click the link.
  51. ^ Bryan Boulette (2005-10-03). "Children of Mana Team Announced". RPGamer. Retrieved 24 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |work= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)

See also

Official sites

Unofficial sites

Template:Chrono Cross

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