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The greatest game ever made (and I DID play Chrono Trigger first)

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: June 23, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Earlier this year, I finally bought my Playstation 2. I'd had an Xbox for a long time, but was finally fed up with all the RPGs that I was missing out on. After beating FFX and Kingdom Hearts, I picked up this game, knowing that it was the semi-sequel to one of my favorite games, and... WOW!

The graphics in this game are about average for their time, a little above average, maybe. It features 3d characters moving around on prerendered backgrounds (think a really well done painting that LOOKS 3d). While the graphical quality is slightly above average, the character design is gorgeous, with every character having a memorable look to him/her/IT, and the level of detail put into every area is astounding.

But if you're one of those people who can hate a game because of dated graphics, just take one moment to close your eyes, and listen... hear that? That's the greatest soundtrack EVER produced for a videogame. The sound quality is better than most stuff I've seen on the PS2, and I could hardly believe it was even POSSIBLE with PS1 technology. Every tune in this game is amazing, with the exception with the battle theme, which... well it grows on ya over time.

The battle system is the best I've seen in a turn-based RPG. When you start the battle every character is given 7 stamina points. When you go to use them, you can do a low, medium, or high-powered attack, using 1, 2, and 3 stamina points, respectively. Also, every attack has a hit percentage, which goes UP with each successful hit. In other words, when you start your turn, a level-3 attack might have a 60% hit rate, which obviously isn't very good, but after you attack the enemy twice with a low attack, and once with a medium, it might be up to about 85%. This makes for many different combinations of attacks, depending on how cautious you want to be or how much damage you want to do.

To do everything else, this game utilizes "elements." Elements is the name the game uses for Spells, Items, AND Special attacks. Out of battle, you arrange your "elements" (which are obtained through shops, treasure chests, etc.) in a grid that will eventually grow to have 8 levels, with a certain number of slots in each level. In battle, to use an element you must first reach that "element level" by attacking physically. A level-2 attack raises your element level by two, allowing you to cast a level 2 element, while an additional lvl.-2 attack raises it to 4. When you cast an element, your element lvl. is subtracted by whatever one you used, meaning if your element lvl. is 5 and you cast a lvl. 3 element, it goes down to 2. Also, you can only cast each element once per battle, so if you want to cast multiple of the same spell/item, you must put many of the same element in your grid. There's some other stuff, too, but it'd be too hard to explain to someone who hasn't played the game. Basically, the battle system is incredibly strategic, and is a BLAST to play, REALLY REALLY fun. The game is easy throughout most of the game, with about 1/3 of the bosses being kinda hard, and maybe 5 of them being EXTREMELY hard. The normal enemies are mostly easy, it's the bosses that make the game.

The plot is very complicated, it makes perfect sense if you just pay attention (and talk to lots of NPCs, especially in a certain-city-at-the-end-of-the-game...), and THINK a little. This is one game that REALLY makes you think, full of paradoxes and deep questions about free will and the meaning of life, etc. Many people dislike the game because, "it has nothing to do with Chrono Trigger", but I've got to say "Oh yes it does!" While characters and other stuff from Chrono Trigger aren't IN the game (as actual characters to talk to or whatever, except for in a few parts...), the story is DIRECTLY linked with the past and future events of Crono and co. in their quest to defeat Lavos. The beauty it is that since Chrono TRIGGER is a time-travel game, Chrono Cross actually takes place both before AND after the original! The story is so complicated, the events actually happen over the course of two separate timelines! And I don't mean the two dimensions, I mean two timelines for ONE dimension, because the effect of time travel is that you rewrite an entire timeline from the point that you intervene. So events in CT affect CC, AND vice versa, making the combination of the two the most complex storyline I've ever seen in a videogame (although it should be noted that I haven't played Xenogears yet, which is supposed to be even more complicated than this game...).

The only thing I don't like about this game... is that I can't decide what part is the best! No matter how hard I try, I can't decide on the best aspect of the game, be it the music, story, or battle system. It's the combination of those elements, working together perfectly, like pieces of a puzzle, that make Chrono Cross the true gem that it is. Whether you've played Chrono Trigger or not, I advise you to play this game right now, although if you HAVE played CT, I'll have to say this: Pay attention.

ThIS GAME ROCKS!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 14
Date: June 18, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This game is so good, it hasn't even been released but people still review it! MAN ITS THE COOLEST, it is so fun, a must have. The fun factor is out of this world! i love it! IT TOOK ME 400 HOURS TO COMPLETE and i used all 42 characters!

The sequel isn't the prequel, but it still is awesome!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 10
Date: July 17, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I think the notion of dimensions is different yet awesome to think about. This game, instead of working through Time Travel, works across Parallel Worlds. This kind of setting is kinda weird to grasp at first, at least in my mind, but when you play the game the 2nd time through you'll understand it a lot better. But this game, man this game is really great. The story is just as entertaining, the characters are just as cool, and Chrono Trigger veterans will light up multiple times going "ooh!! That was in Chrono Trigger!".

The main magic system in this game is called the Element system. You get element slots per character and you equip one in each slot. Each element can be used once per battle, so there is no MP. You charge up stronger elements by performing physical attacks. I have never played Xenogears, but the battle system is similar in that you get 7 stamina points per person, and each time you perform an attack, you lose 1, 2, or 3 points. Using an element docks 7 points, sometimes putting you under. If you have 1 stamina point you can act. Then they refill depending on the characters' endurance stat I believe. It sounds complex but it makes for some interesting battles and new strategies.

There are no random battles, but enemies do spring out here and there. Once you understand the system of the game, the difficulty isn't too hard, but not incredibly easy. I think, however, that having 40+ different playable characters takes away from the game. It offers a lot of side quests, but Square would've been better having 7 or 8 core characters, each with individual double and triple techs like Chrono Trigger. There are still double and triple techs, but not between each and every character. Each character does, however, have 3 individual single techs, so that makes for plenty of skills plus all the different elements. Oh, and fear not, there are many multiple endings to get in the game, but getting the best is harder than you think.

The game is different, but don't let that scare you away. It's still worth it. Oh, and turn the stereo up. The music is wonderful in this game. I actually imported the soundtrack from Japan because it is that good - especially if you have a good stereo system.

Still wondering whether to buy it? Why not? It's a great game worth it even if you have never played CT (but playing CT does help). My friend & I once had a 5 hour debate trying to tie both games together (it's harder than you think). You won't be disappointed.

Very Good Game But One Problem

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 7 / 10
Date: July 14, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I love this game and think it is one of the greatest games of all time. That is why I recently purchased it from Amazon (or Hitgaming, but through Amazon). The game is great, but there is just one problem: the game freezes! At this one cutscene the game freezes and you cannot play it anymore. So, I called the customer support people at Square Enix and he said (God's honest truth) that there is a problem with the Chrono Cross games that Amazon sells. Also, for some reason the game freezes on a Playstation One and Two, but not a Playstation Three. Anyways, I mailed the game to Square Enix and they are gonna replace it with a working copy. So in conclusion, be warned! Do not buy this game from Amazon or you will have to pay for shipping and handling both to and from for a replacement.

It's no Final Fantasy, but it's still a very good RPG...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: February 12, 2001
Author: Amazon User

The story is very abrupt.. it didn't flow quite as well as I thought it should have, but it didn't detract too much from the game. It's a very innovative battle system, and it's very fun to fight without random battles.

The best part of the game, hands down though, is the soundtrack. It's incredibly captivating and really gets you into the realm of fantasy. Play the game, go buy the soundtrack... you'll think the game was a lot better afterwards. :)

With OUT a Doubt one of the most sweetest games of all time!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: June 04, 2001
Author: Amazon User

To start off,this game is so far one of the best I have ever played! It is even given the standard to be equally reperable with FF VII! Basically for along time I was out of the video game gig and really wasen't interrested in them. Then I saw the an advertisement on TV for this and I was blown away! I bought it and eventually got right back into the groove. Although many say the prequeal, Chrono Trigger, was better I have to say not. Chrono Cross has it's own original story and many say it was a disapointment. But everyone was expecting too much of the game and don't enjoy the beauty of the game! It has great characters(Especially Harle and Nikki!) and a great plot! With the world hangging in the balance one boy named Serge to save it! With the time travel element and the choice of an arsenal characters; which makes the game take a different turn every time you play; you will never get board. Especially if you chose to have Nikki and go to the Concert. The ending is also very good! And if your like me you will want to beat the game but want to have more to the story once you beat it! This is an entrapping RPG which to me many missed when it wasen't exactly another Chrono Trigger. TRUST ME if you even like any type of Video Game, BUY THIS ONE!

Simply amazing - A masterpiece and an instant RPG classic!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: June 01, 2006
Author: Amazon User

RPG fans won't want to miss this masterful follow-up to the legendary Chrono Trigger on Super NES. Chrono Cross has turned out to be one of those rare gems that manage that have all the qualities needed in order to make a truly memorable role-playing game experience. It does just about everything really well and does many things better than the original ever been did before. If you're a fan of RPGs, there's no doubt that you'll be pleased with this game and owe it to yourself to go out and buy it at your earliest convenience.

First and foremost, the storyline in Chrono Cross is probably the most ambitious that any has ever been carried out in a console RPG, with the possible exception of Xenogears. The writing quality of Chrono Cross is exceptional and is nearly as good as the brilliant job that was done by the team responsible for Vagrant Story.

What makes all of this even more impressive is that Square was able to give each of the game's 40-plus playable characters different characteristics and, in many cases, distinct accents and speech patterns. The accents were handled surprisingly well and most were pretty consistent throughout the entire game. That combined with the fact that each of the characters in the game plays an important role in the plot of the story help brings them to life as individuals.

Without spoiling anything, the plot is very elaborate and deals with many issues, such as humanity's role in the destruction of the environment and how fate plays a role in our lives. Plus, it brings forth the idea of parallel worlds and how the outcome of one's life can be greatly effected by what happens during certain significant events in one's life. All of this has been pulled together nicely and the end result is one of the most intricate plots that one will ever encounter in a videogame.

Not to be too cliched, but Chrono Cross is a truly epic role-playing game experience that has cemented its place in the annals of RPG history. It's easily one of the best RPGs currently available on PlayStation and has surpassed Vagrant Story as my personal favorite. If you're a fan of role-playing games, then you must go out and buy a copy of Chrono Cross.

A Fantastic Game...But No Chrono Trigger

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: October 20, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Chrono Trigger...the greatest RPG ever made. No matter what anyone says, it is truly one of the best. About 5 years later, Squaresoft unveiled the highly acclaimed sequel to Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, and I was down at Electronic Boutique the day it came out (August 15th, 2000).

I couldn't wait to get home and play this, and as soon as I did, I popped it into my Playstation. The opening FMV was amazing (better than FF8). And then I started to play. Everything was going great so far, then I got into my first battle...

What the heck!?! The battle system was completely different than the Chrono Trigger one that I loved so much. It mixes the Xenogears attack system (3 different attacks, used to make combos) and for the element system, it's like the FF7 materia system (customize your guys with different elements). Soon later, I found out that the game takes place only in 2 worlds, and there wasn't any time travel.

I yelled, I cursed, and I swore never to play this game again...Ten minutes later, I found myself glued to it.

The more of it that I played, the more and more I enjoyed it. The story is truly engrossing, but it still doesn't compare to Chrono Trigger. The basic story is this: You play as Serge, a boy living in the small fishing town of Arni. When you go to meet your best friend Leena on the beach, a title wave occurs and you black out. When you come to, you find yourself on the beach where you last were. When you try to talk to everyone you know, they have no idea who you are. You then find out that you drowned 10 years ago in the title wave, and you are now in a world in which you are dead. This is only the beginning.

Chrono Cross is a truly fantastic game. You really have to give it time to develop however. If you are a really big fan of Chrono Trigger (like me), you will feel a little disappointed with the new format of it. In time, you will accept Chrono Cross as a great game on it's own.

Chrono Cross stands out as one of the best PSX titles out there, along with Xenogears and Final Fantasy Tactics. Even though all of those games are great, none can compare to the beautiful masterpiece known as Chrono Trigger.

Great Story but Loses Some Steam (Plus Too Many Endings)

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: July 05, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Chrono Cross is a great game and well thought out story, plus it has great music! Being that I have not played the original Chrono Trigger I cannot judge its value as a sequel. Regardless, Chrono Cross opens up with enough action and an intriguing storyline to captivate someone who is totally new to the series, or RPGs in general. The concept behind the story is like a mixture of Jewels Vern's Time Machine, Star Wars, and Indiana Jones.

The basis of the story (without giving too much away) is about a boy named Serge who is transported to a parallel world just like his own except in this parallel world he died when he was just a boy. Next ensues an adventure with TONS of characters to try to figure out the role that a force called FATE, Six Dragons "Gods", and mankind have in either saving or destroying the future.
While the way the story develops is great throughout the 1st CD and most of the second my problem with Chrono Cross is the poorly planned ending in my opinion.

I beat the game with the "good" ending that requires you to find Chrono Cross and use it properly(among other things), but I still feel that more could be resolved with the way the story ties together at the end. One great feature about Chrono Cross is that you can start a new game after beating the first if you remember to save after the final credits when beating the last boss (don't get impatient and cut your Playstation off just press start and save). This allows you to start a New Game + mode where you have all your abilities and you get a device that lets you go back to "where it all started" and fight the last boss at almost any point in the game, this gives you access to all the various endings depending on where you are in the game and what characters you have (I hear there are around 9 endings), so far I have found two endings. This feature and the ability to speed up the flow of the game in the New Game + mode are nice.

Personally I would have rather seen the developers focus on one or two great endings rather than 8 or 9 pretty good ones.

Overall Chrono Cross is a good game that has enough to keep you busy if you want a brief break from Final Fantasy! Looking for a sequel.

Lush graphics cannot save a game

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 11 / 22
Date: November 13, 2002
Author: Amazon User

...Being a fan of the legendary Chrono Trigger, I was enthralled by the coming of this game. "Chrono Cross" is actually not a true sequel (as said by the creators), but originally a game called "Radical Dreamers." Anywho, this game DID NOT live up to my expectations at all. Read on to see why.

THE GOOD
First of all, the graphics are actually quite colorful. The backgrounds are well colored and animated. The battle graphics also flow quite well. Even if some of the characters are not all that great, they are nicely created. However, these are the only good points I can say about the game.

THE BAD
About the characters: there are about 40 characters jammed into this game and they virtually have no personality. It's like the creators wanted to boast about the character quantity as opposed to MEMORABLE, AWESOME characters that we play the game for. Who cares about 40 characters?! The music: The remixes of Yasnuori Mitsuda's themes from CT are actually excellent, but the rest of the game's music is strictly mediocre. Quite a shame, considering the same musical composers from CT are here. The battle system many have boasted about is not that great at all; You virtually don't even level up. It's pretty much a Final Fantasy Materia/Xenogears combination of a battle system, but it comes off very heavyhanded (not to mention the colors are annoying).

THE UGLY
The critical point about this game is the fact that it doesn't really transcend well into CT. The Glenn here is NOT Frog (as many have said), and is a very vindictive character that we quickly dismiss. Schala was VERY MESSED UP at the end of the game, being blonde and in different physical shape. Lavos was supposedly killed in CT and yet, he somehow survives... something which the game doesn't even explain it well at all. Which leads to the worst part about the game: the storyline. What could've been a unique storyline is muddled by inconsistencies and loopholes (examples: humans evolved after apes, BUT in CT, the people were human LONG BEFORE Lavos entered Earth; Lucca supposedly gave up her purpose in life, that is creating machines, to be the head of an orphanage, which goes against Lucca's character. She also talks about regrets, which contrasts the more confident Lucca from CT; The game states that Guardia was destroyed and the Masamune was stolen, but why even bother when it doesn't even appear as ruins in the game??).

AND THE ULTIMATE SIN...
Robo appears in the game VERY BRIEFLY, and once you find him, he dies! He was my favorite character in CT (in a close race with Frog) and killing him off like a worthless character was the ultimate sin. Speaking of Frog, the game assumes that he died and the Masamune was stolen from him.

OVERALL
If you take away the references to CT, it doesn't hurt nearly as much, but it's still a rather generic RPG. RPG fanatics no doubt love this game (which is why this game is very overrated) and I would've given it three stars. However, since it blatantly defies the CT legend with a muddled storyline, unappealing characters, merely average music, and just for being VASTLY OVERRATED... this game doesn't deserve anything above 2 stars. You'll hate me for this, but I demand that an RPG has a decent storyline, a decent battle system, and appealing characters. This game fails in all three departments. ONLY GET THIS GAME IF YOU'RE AN RPG FANATIC. Otherwise, pass it on, ESPECIALLY if you are a fan of the classic Chrono Trigger.

On a closing note, don't get me wrong, people; The majority of Squaresoft's games are excellent. The point I am trying to make (by the statement at the very beginning) is that there are TOO MANY fans out there that are blindly devoted to the company; they make hits and misses like everyone else. Fortunately, this is one of their few misses.

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