Chrono Cross
Posted by Skrud at Friday, September 30th 2005 at 1:18pm
Why does everyone keep hating on Chrono Cross? Why does this sequel to the best. game. ever. have such a bad reputation? Beats me.
I mean, surely Chrono Cross isn’t nearly as good as Chrono Trigger, but neither is any other game (except, of course, for some of the Final Fantasy games.) Harley loaned me his modded PlayStation and FFVII, and Wajdi loaned me Chrono Cross (as well as Final Fantasy VIII and Xenogears), so that I could catch up on the history of awesome games that I missed while owning an N64. I’m a little ashamed, but at least I had Goldeneye.
So far, I’m immensely enjoying Chrono Cross. The game is a helluva lot of fun, and the music (which consists mostly of remixed Chrono Trigger music) is fantastic. The game also has a similar feel, with its style of humour, passages through time/dimensions, and a storyline with loads of depth. In fact, I’m convinced this game has more depth than I could ever possibly discover on my own. That feeling adds to the immersiveness factor (not to mention potential replay value). One thing that suprised me (in a really awesome way) was when I did something silly (like forgetting to go the mayor’s manor to learn about the combat system, etc. before getting launched into another dimension) and started over again. In the opening scene of the game, you’re in a party of three. When I restarted, one of the characters was different. He spoke with a different accent, too. There’s a ridiculous amount side-quests and other potential party members that will completely change how your game is played depending on whom you team up with. There are different story arcs and passages and everything! The excrutiating detail is mindblowing!
The combat system is very different than what RPGs are usually like, and maybe it’s complexity is what drove people away, but I kind of like it. It adds a new degree of challenge to a routine that in most games is an all-too-often attack-magic-heal-attack-magic-heal-attack-magic-heal…. For example, each character has a range of three physical attacks (light, medium, fierce), and each attack has a different probability of hitting your opponent (inversely proportional to the damage). On top of that, the ‘magic’ system is based on ‘elements’ that can be used only once per battle. This means that you can’t rely on having a powerful magic user, but you actually have to time your attacks so that you can use your elements to their full potential. Furthermore, the elements that are used leave a lasting effect on the playing field (called the field effect) so that elements of the same colour as the dominant field effect will be more powerful. In addition to all that, each character and enemy has an innate element type, so that you have to strategically fill the field effect with elements of the opposite colour to weaken them… whoo!
Another thing I love about the game is that a lot of the auxiliary characters that you run into have names of characters from Chrono Trigger. Like Glenn, Lucca, etc. On the other hand, the names of the main characters in Chrono Cross suck. Which is disappointing. The main character’s name is Serge. What the hell kind of SquareSoft name is that? SERGE? (If your name is Serge, I’m sorry, but it’s a silly RPG name). Then there’s Kid, how unimaginative! And Pierre is t3h suck (but less-so than Pierre). What Chrono Cross needs is cool names like Cloud, Merle, Chrono, Frog, Magus, Tifa, Wedge, and Biggs. Sweet.
Still, Chrono Cross is a helluva lot of fun. I can’t wait to beat it, and get on with Final Fantasy VII.
I agree to a certain extent to everything in your post. Except I do not feel like Frog is a very imaginative name for a freekin’ frog :)
“They call me Gato; I have metal joints. Beat me up to earn 15 silver points!”
And no, Gato is not spanish for cat. In Japanese, his name is “Gonzalez”, and rather than having metal joints, he says that he is strong! (Hooray for OVAs!)
One of the first video game “sing-a-longs”, along with FF6’s Celes song, which, everytime I think it of it, a stream of MIDI “54 - Voice Oohs” get stuck in my head.
Oh, the times when weekends were the days I didn’t have to do homework. I think the last time I actually had any “free time” was just about the time I finished playing those games, so they’re dear to me.
I’ve seen the OVA… I’ve also tried my hand at the Japanese version of the game - but too damn tough to read. :P
I think Trigger got its bad rep just like FFVII did because it was being compared too much to its predecessor…
You still have huge debates about how FFVI is the greatest thing since sliced bread and FFVII is just awful in the sense of characters and story…But honestly we all know that FFVII was just pure awesomeness…the characters were awesome and the story was VERY VERY good…..yes FFVI is right up there and could have a better story but I know deep down inside in my square heart I like FFVII more…
What annoys me is the people who go with the flow and even though they like trigger or FFVII more say they don’t like it just to be with the majority..
shame shame double shame
I’m surprised to find out that you haven’t played FFVII! That was actually the first game that I ever played when I got my Playstation.
Yes it is a great game. Good story, good character development, and a great ending. Mind you, I truly believe that FFVI has a superior story and dialogue, and better characters, but FFVII makes up for it with good graphics and some fun “side games” (I LOVE the Battle Arena).
My only complaint is that the weapons in FFVII become way too powerful near the end making the battles much too easy. Still, it’s better than the disappointing FFVIII.
BTW, see if you can find Final Fantasy Anthology for the Playstation. It has FFIV, FFV and FFVI adapted to the Playstation.