The simple fact that it was the sequel to one of my favourite games of all time, Chrono Trigger, had me divided when the hype began to rise around the game. Did I really want another Chrono in my life? Then when I found out there was going to be over 40 playable characters, and that the storyline would actually fluctuate and change around the individual choices made through the game (unlike in Chrono Trigger, where only endings really changed), my skepticism grew immensely. That could be why I found it so immersing a game when I actually got my hands on it. The plot revolves around Serge, who (twenty years after events in Chrono Trigger) has been pulled mysteriously into another world very much like his own, but different--most notably because he finds that the Serge in this other world has been dead ten years. The quest to get home starts off innocently enough, but soon after Serge discovers he's the key in a devious, involved conspiracy that leads to a final confrontation with a very unlikely foe. Though many of the 40-some characters found in the game lack any depth at all, and were, to be honest, much too cutesy in some cases for my liking, the manner in which they all seem to join your little party has a down-to-earth feel to it that makes the more plot-orientated characters seem even more important and the story itself come alive in a way that I had never experienced in other RPGs. The battle system seems only a confusing make-over of the classic point and click menu system at first, but after a few battles and the extensive tutorial the superb depth of battles is revealed. Graphically, the entire game is rich with vibrant colours and organic animations that bring such life to Chrono Cross's backgrounds. The characters are well crafted, and each individual has their own style of fighting very different from the others, which adds enough depth to make you want to put a few of the two-dimensioned characters in your party for a few rounds of battle. And of course the full motion video takes, though not used extensively, are well done and used in the right moments to help carry the story even further. Musically, Chrono Cross is exceptional. Yasunori Mitsuda's use of original composition, Chrono Trigger rearrangements, and inclusion of music from the little known first sequel to Chrono Trigger, "Radical Dreamers", delights the ears, while adding ambience and emotion in all the right places, not to mention the instrument synthesis is probably the best ever heard on a PSX. The overall story itself, billed as a continuation of Chrono Trigger, but not as a true sequel, manages to walk that fine line that will keep most Chrono Trigger fans happy while not taking away from those who never played the classic. People who did play CT will definitely get more out of the game's incredible revelations, and recognize some of the more subtle references, but I was really disappointed in the lack of true "Nu" (there are things called "beach bums" which I believe were trying to be passed off as Nu but I won't be fooled). The only other bothersome thing was that some of the characters were... more or less rip offs of CT characters, which makes me wonder why not just include the original characters as playable and let them contribute to the plot? In a perfect world perhaps. Chrono Cross, though, is a great experience which I recommend to anyone that likes a little innovation once in awhile. It's a worthy addition to the "Chrono" Universe.
