Chrono Cross
1999
- role-playing (rpg)
- turn-based strategy (tbs)
- adventure
- fantasy
- open world
- single player
The story
CHRONO CROSS, the sequel to the SNES favorite CHRONO TRIGGER, is one of the most ambitious role-playing games ever made. There are over 40 playable characters, each with their back-story, special moves, abilities, and weapons. The story spans two discs and follows the story of Serge, a young man who is able to cross dimensions. Suddenly he is pulled between worlds, trying to figure out his own past at the same time. The graphics are bright and beautiful, utilizing the PlayStation's capabilities to the fullest. The polygonal character models are huge and detailed, and the pre-rendered backgrounds are immaculately detailed. The music is composed and arranged by Yasunori Mitsuda, and features very realistic-sounding synthesizers. The battle system revolves around Elements, which are used to grant magical powers, as well as to summon huge monsters. For anyone that wanted to see the story of CHRONO TRIGGER continue, this is your chance.
What it’s like
Bright, sun-washed pre-rendered landscapes paired with chunky polygonal characters give Chrono Cross the look of a late-nineties storybook come to life: lush tropical coastlines, glowing ruins, and dreamy skies that shift between dazzling daylight and eerie, saturated dusk. The score by Yasunori Mitsuda leans on warm, slightly uncanny synthesizers and gentle melodic loops that feel both wistful and hopeful, with plenty of quiet, reflective stretches between battles. Its vibe is wistful adventure with a melancholy undertow, best suited to a long weekend immersed in a second world, or a patient evening exploring a village at your own pace. The pacing is unhurried and sprawling, with optional side quests, minigames, and a lot of backtracking across dimensions, while the emotional arc follows a young man slowly uncovering who he really is and what he's lost. Combat is turn-based with frequent deaths and fights against creatures and robots, but the violence stays cartoonish and bloodless, and the tone is more bittersweet than frightening. It suits players who love sprawling, character-rich RPGs, nostalgic fans of its predecessor, and anyone who enjoys a gentle, melancholic journey through strange, beautiful places.
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