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+frostmourne1986 We would have had an updated remake that was made entirely by fans and was even almost complete. However it got a cease and desist letter from the company so... :-(
+frostmourne1986 And they need to finish Chrono cross in the remake.  I read that they were rushed to complete it when it was far from finished.  That's why Chrono, Marl, and Lucca had to sum up and explain a bunch of stuff about Zeal and stuff.  That's also why Guile was never revealed to be Magus.  They didn't have time to make the best parts of the story that would have been the most like Chrono Trigger and connected the two games the most. I want them to do everything they were going to do, but couldn't.
+fffffffart I agree, they were rushed and because of that most players did not see the reasons why the trigger characters were not in the sequel or what part they played in it.
You have just earned a subscriber. I've spent years telling RPGers about this game and I always receive a bored yawn about how "it's not Chrono Trigger". Nobody gives this game a fair chance.
+Patrick Bick It's clearly not better than Chrono trigger, don't exaggerate. The aliased noisy low rez graphics of the game don't even come close to the beautiful pixel art from Chrono trigger, just to name 1 thing.
Alliased low res... you mean... they were... pixellated!?!?! Chrono Cross was in line with other Square titled at the time in its art style, but might brighter and more colorful than most (certainly better than FF7, which was drab everywhere but a handful of locations). You could level that complaint against an entire generation of Square RPGs. I'm not exaggerating. Chrono Cross was a better game. The only reason why anyone thinks worse of it is because they came in expecting Chrono Trigger 2. It feels like this game was one of those games where they already developed most of the game when they decided to brand it as a Chrono game and wrote some tie-ins.
+Allen Babylon That sucks. From the time I saw the box art I didn't even know it was a sequel. Then someone told me it was. And then someone quickly told me it wasn't. And I was like whatever it looks cool and I will play it. I got totally lost and confused at like age 13 by everything that was going on, but was still memorized by the environment and music that I didn't mind too much and just consulted the guide. I replayed it when I was about 22 and was blown away. Played it again about a year ago. It's so good.
They should...while multiverse is a thing these days....Square ( whatever it is named now )...should embrace this opportunity and make everything right this time.
Fun Fact: When I was a kid, my dad came home with a Playstation 1 and a copy of Chrono Cross. It was the only game he got because it had our last name in it and consequently caught his eye. Who'da thought it'd turn out to be my favorite game ever.
your videos are the highest quality I've ever seen on RU-vid. Your amazing at what you do. I've enjoyed every video and looking forward to the next. Stay humble :)
I played Chrono Cross first and frankly I think it genuinely effected my self in an integral capacity. Chrono Cross gave me an open mind. This same idea of being open to differences leads me to believe Chrono Cross, while not spiritually anything like Chrono Trigger, it supplemented Trigger. Together they build a very beautiful cohesive story and I think they're together some of the best inter-dimensional/time based stories that exist today.
This channel never ceases to excite me. I feel like you analyze games for the exact same reasons that I do, and with the same interest in your favorites and things that matter to you over whatever's hip and now. Plus your video editing quality is, at this point, the best of any youtube analyst I've seen, and I watch them all. Watching this video made me really want to revisit an analyze Tales of Symphonia, the most important game to a fifteen year-old me, and if I do I'm dedicating it to you ~_^
Satchell has once again captivated me. Chrono Cross was the first game I had ever played, and seeing someone else defending this game as a work of art truly warms my heart. To see how much time, effort, and passion behind these videos has a hugely significant impact on me, and probably you all too. It is a CONCRETE FACT that Satchell will always be one of my favorite people on RU-vid.
This is one of the best channels I've discovered on RU-vid in a very long time. I mean that sincerely. Amazing work. I look forward to seeing more of your stuff!
I am glad that I know one more person that can actually understand how great this game was. You know that people kinda overate ff7 though I personally think that ff9 is better...
Definetly! As a kid I was a Sephiroth groupie like almost everyone in the internet, but after playing FFIX at 25yo... there's no mistaking the maturity of this game, despite the cartoony graphics and characters
@@Dzzy123 ya probably got lost in the shooter craze of the 360 exclusives. Honestly though if you can afford to, a 360 and odyssey or a gamepass sub and a xone is totally worth it to play LO is your an ff fan.
Okay. Your heart-felt analysis was, on its own, truly fascinating to listen to and absorb, as it reflects so much of what I felt in my childhood when I experienced this game. Like you, it left a lasting impression on me, not just in terms of memory, but my thought processes and creative inclinations. That said, what really grabbed me were your parting words. "Stay humble". I have never seen another video content producer exude that quality, much less vocalise it. I am deeply, truly impressed. You are an exemplary soul, and I understand wholeheartedly why Jared and Heidi hold you in such high esteem. Please don't stop. You are incredible.
This channel is going to be huge... I've been on RU-vid for a loooong time and I haven't subscribed to a new channel that's this unique or interesting in way over a year.
I was one of those people who had fallen in such love with Chrono Trigger that I was disappointed in Chrono Cross when it came out. I was frustrated by what happened to Chrono, Nadia and Lucca, and it had no closure on that front. I was frustrated with how poorly the story of Porre's rise to power came about and ending simply baffled me. I was young at the time, I think I was 16. Then I played it again about six years later. I was more mature, I knew what I was getting into and had no expectations of a direct sequel to Chrono Trigger, and I formed a new love for this game. I understood a lot more out of it, and I took the time to dig a little deeper into the story, I actually predicted it was Dalton who was behind the rise of Porre before the DS re-release of Chrono Trigger came out. I feel like this game was ahead of its time. Certainly among my friends, I'm the only one who actually learned to like this game. It wasn't the Chrono Trigger sequel that we wanted, but it still told a great story full of memorable characters. I only wish Squaresoft would have worked on Chrono Brake.
I'm a huge fan of Chrono Trigger, and when I picked this up...I just wasn't feeling the same magic I felt from Chrono Trigger. I felt no attachment to any of my party members, I felt the new tech system was too much like FF7's Materia system, I just started to feel like it lost it's identity as a part of the Chrono series, and became more of a Final Fantasy spin-off in the middle of production. And...I've never beat it. Just from reading some of the Wiki, I don't even think i'm a third of the way done with the game. I want to give it the chance to wow me the same way the original did, but seeing I've developed this...I guess you could say strong disappointment...before I've even beaten the game, I'm probably too nostalgia blind, but... I want to give it a chance. This overview has given me a desire to try again
GreyPikmin334 I really hope that you do give it a try, and even if you have to use some cheats to help you get through the game a little quicker, I wouldn't blame you. It is a beautiful game, and it does have a nice story to it. It's also insanely complex. I like to think of the Chrono series like this: Chrono Trigger dealt with time travel along different points in the same timeline. Chrono Cross dealt with time travel at the same points along different timelines. I'd like to think that Chrono Brake would have dealt with time travel on different points between different timelines in an effort to bring the trilogy to a close.
Thanks. I just want some closure to the series, because there still some ambiguity and possibility. Like, where did Lavos come from? What happened to Crono and Marle, since it's implied they survive (As I've read on a wiki), is Lavos REALLY dead? Like...REALLY dead? He's survived twice somehow, so could he really be gone? I really think we need a Chrono Break or Chrono Saber or whatever they could name it.
Lutranereis Yeah my expectations were let down when i played this game at first also, because chrono trigger was so much better. You appreciate this game a lot more when you look at this as a completely different game than as a sequel to the original.
GreyPikmin334 This happened to me with FFX and everyone acts like its the best one, but I fucking hate it. I hate all of the characters and connect with no one. I loved Chrono Cross though. It's got this nostalgic feel somehow even the first time I played it.
Happy to see someone else who appreciates Chrono Cross so much. It truly Is a special game. I love Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross felt like a bittersweet accompaniment to it, but it also stands apart. It touched me and fascinated me and when it was all over, it stuck with me. I played it several years ago but am still thinking about it today. I just recently bought the soundtrack finally (although I've been listening to it for years).
Man one of the main things that grabbed me about this game that at first I completely failed to engage myself in was the world of Chrono Cross. How each NPC almost felt human-esque with their own dreams and ambitions. I actually wanted to talk to every NPC, not looking for items or powerful abilities but simply because I wanted more exposure to these characters and those around them. Your actions do have changing resolutions as well here. First time I played this I was completely alone when I went to another world. Next time I had a partner or two traveling to Termina for the first time in turn providing their own context. This game is amazing and if it didnt catch you the first time give it another chance throw down your expectations and engage yourself in this world as much as you can because its amazing.
It's weird I just got the soundtrack to this game recently, definitely a strong influence on me as well playing this game back then, I was excited to see this pop up in my feed and even more satisfied to how you reviewed it. Thank you and keep up the great work!
This is very well put together. As a huge fan of Chrono Cross, I felt you overall did justice to the game. The only part I felt you should have mentioned, is how a couple choices in the game (such as saving kid or not) opened up new content and quite a bit of dialogue. This wasn't really present in JRPGs back then, and to my knowledge is still pretty rare even now. As far as the technical parts of the video, there were problems with footage, lack of consistency and incorrect aspect ratio. I noticed a few background noises (particularly near the end of the video) which your microphone picked up. Aside from these technical issues, I think you did an excellent job, and I'll certainly keep an eye on your content.
Your videos... They are exactly what I've been looking for. You, my sir, are freaking amazing! :D BUT SERIOUSLY HOW THE HECK HAVE I NOT SEEN THESE BEFORE?
As a 31 year old, this game has always resonated with with me since I was a young kid. Shout out to "Satchbag's Goods" for putting my thoughts into words. I love Chrono Trigger, but Chrono Cross was underrated and didn't receive the recognition it deserved.
CC was by far the best JRPG of that era and still, one of the best today (if not the best) in my opinion. You make some good points about the reviewers at the time simply not "getting it" and not really judging the product for what it was: an excellent RPG with an innovative battle system and beautiful art/music design. Regardless, I think it has stood the test of time and will go down as one of the best JRPGs in an era. And yes (IMO), it is a more complete and enjoyable experience than Chrono Trigger (obviously CT is excellent).
+RallyCarDelta Not disagreeing. But there is also one that the same developers made for the ps1. It's called Xenogears. If you don't know it. I highly recommend it :D
Thank you for this Satchbag. Chrono Cross was my favorite RPG growing up and it still holds a place in my heart to this day. It was the first game I replayed over and over. I really appreciated the care you put into this video. Thanks again.
wow an indepth review of a game where the reviewer isn't a shameless shill who is on the take, such a thing is quite the rarity with online reviews. Anyway this review gave a valuable insight into an interesting game.
Transformers And Power Rangers Toy Reviews yeah squ'eeninx really don't need to make a sequel to Chrono Cross. CT didn't need a sequel but CC is as good a sequel as we'll get so I'm glad they know where to draw the line.
When this game first came out I was in the group of players who hated it because I was so glued to ChronoTrigger in my mind. Now that I have had many years to relax and grow my interests ChronoCross has gained A TON of ground for me. I can appreciate what it offers now instead of comparing it 100% to ChronoTrigger the entire time. This review only offered more solidification to my interest in playing through ChronoCross without my previous biases. Thank you.
This video was amazing and echoed many of my feelings regarding this amazing game. I was about the same age when I first played (10-11, I think) and it still influences me to this day. I think it gets a bad rep, and I wish that more people could look past it's status as a sequel to Chrono Trigger and keep clear eyes when they evaluate it.
Thank you again for reviewing Chrono Cross, and giving it the recognition it deserves, despite being slightly overshadowed by Chrono Trigger over the years. It stands alone as a beautiful piece and addition to the superb list of Square games in the mid to late nineties through the early 2000s. Also, thank you for the amazing effort you put into your work online!! It's an honor to be one of your earliest of followers. Keep it up and as usual, Much Love from Tx!!
I love you for this video Satch! this game is so under-appreciated it's almost criminal. This is one of many games I've enjoyed in my childhood that deserved way more attention and love than it really did, and it's one of many games that inspired me to start a series I'm working on myself. This video felt like a symphony to me, where every praise was a beautiful note passing through my ears! Everything said here was everything I always wanted to say whenever I brought up this game to friends for discussion, yet sadly they wouldn't know what I was talking about. If I wasn't already subbed to you Satch, this video alone would have been enough to make me do so for it's indepth information and brilliant production value. Can't wait to see the future Satchbag's Good videos! P.S. - always had a video game crush on Harle ever since I was a kid to this very day. She's just so adorable and the french accent she had was just as cute and adorable as her character design.
@@JihadBunnydick She has you killing these creatures just because she thinks their scales are pretty. The other world's swamp is dead because hunted hydra to extinction for their own benefit. Other world's Blue Dragon Isle is all dried up for similar reasons. Chronopolis and FATE come from a future that is overwhelmed with human technology trying to take over everything for their benefit, in this case, time itself. Dinopolis is the result of Reptite technology evolving to be harmonious to the planet, rather than harmful. And back in Chrono Trigger, its stated that Lavos, the alien parasite that started it all, mutated and evolved humans in its likeness, which is why they're so destructive to the planet. In Trigger, they also learn a very different form of magic compared to Cross, which is specifically stated to come from the planet.
If there is anyone on RU-vid who deserves fame, it's you Satch. Seriously, you're videos are beyond incredible, the production you out into each episode is staggering, no detail is missing and the camerawork is so professionally done I can't believe this isn't a TV show. I eagerly look forward to your next video and will be there to comment once again about how great it was as well :)
I played Chrono Cross before Chrono Trigger. I thought those two games are just as separated as one Final Fantasy to the other. Knowing this game is the direct sequel of Chrono Trigger just adds up to my already beautiful experience.
Wow... I had no idea about this game at all. I thought it was a 2D game and direct sequel. I had no idea it looked like FF9 graphics and had such an amazing system!
Every time I see a video I posted by you, I stop what I'm doing and watch. The way you approach the analysis of games, astonish is me. So often I see game analyzers go to a place of just comedy , where as you approach it with true passion. You have been by far one of my favorites youtubers to follow. I hope through time that other people can enjoy your talents and skill of execution. Thank you so much for doing these videos. It shows me that people can truly find the deepest most beautiful parts of gaming.
great video despite one or two flaws one of which is your description of the elements system the elements are not fire water wind lightning light and dark they are actually red blue green yellow white and black each color is attached to two element types for example Blue has ice and water or types redhead fire and lava/ magma types yellow has earth / lightning types Green has plant / wind types white has light / holy types ( and yes there is an actual difference between the two light is pretty much the scientific definition of light whereas holy is pretty much angels and the Bible cross whatever) and finally black has darkness / space types
... I was just going into a more correct explination of the element system in Chrono Cross it is a bit tricky to notice but after playing the game and using most of the elements you can see for yourself
Fox Carlson Yes I have played both games and sat through MULTIPLE TUTORIALS about the ELEMENTS in CHRONO CROSS not once are they refereed to as Fire water earth etc. but as different colored elements I am not one to argue with Solt Pepor and Radius
+FlapHedge you're rigth, it's not elements, but colors, because there are characters that use yellow "spells" like earthquake and others than use "thunder" so for my point of view it's more like the split phisical/special types used in pokemon, each color having thier phisical and special attacks
+FlapHedge If I recall correctly, there was even a lore reason for colors. They were mostly synthetic, made by, if I recall, Lucca and Robo, whereas Fire, Lightning, etc, as seen in Trigger, were more primal and natural. As explained in Trigger, most people can't use real magic. But with these synthetic colored elements, everyone has magical abilities.
I just have to say that you sir, you GET IT. For YEARS I have explained these points to people ignoring a game I NOW they would love based off their tastes but ignored solely because it wasn't the Chrono Trigger 2 that they wanted. If it was a game by any other name it would have been one they came to enjoy if not love. I love both games but honestly, I prefer Cross to Trigger for the reasons you brought up here. The game is much deeper than many people care to realize and it's funny that the things they call out as weaknesses actually heavily add to the game's strengths when analyzed correctly. One in particular being the speech generation system they used for each character in the game including NPCs. That is highly impressive technology that a lot of games today could only benefit from. A lot of creativity and care went into this game and after going through the game recently again and analyzing it more, it became clear that the game as great as it is clearly was meant to have MORE but for what I'm guessing are budget and time constraints, got cut and altered to give us the final version we have now. If you have played it or have a desire to cover it, I think vagrant Story should be next. There are so many parallels between it and CC on nearly every level that covering it in this style would make for another amazing video that I'm sure very many would appreciate.
Why can't we have nice things!!! Why can't there be more people like you Satch!! I know why, it's because the internet has become so reliant on negativity and hatred that everyone forgets the good feeling of positivity. That's the only reason I can think why Satch isn't as popular as say AngryJoe, or JonTron (other than that you haven't been around as long as them). But damn, your videos are so refreshing I can't stand it. Keep on being you Satch, and sure enough you'll get the fame you deserve.
Even today, I still consider CC my favorite game of all time. I understand a lot of Trigger fans felt like CC wasn't a proper sequel but I strongly disagree. I remember the first time I played this game (around 12 years old) and, even though I loved the game then, the storyline was so complex that I couldn't understand what was going on. But every time I have play Chrono Cross again, I make new connections with both games. For example, CC was a philosophical exploration (i.e. a kind of 'what if' scenario) to what Chrono and friends did in Chrono Trigger. I mean, if you really think about it, Chrono and everyone else travelled to so many points in their history, changing so much, that it would be absurd to think they didn't create dozens of different alternate realities. Chrono Cross was about these realities, these mistakes, Chrono and his friends made and as well intentioned as they were, they nonetheless didn't foresee that many of these timelines would eventually crash into one point in time. To be honest, Serge ought to thank Chrono and his friends since Serge is (SPOILER) actually supposed to be dead. Lavos (from an alternate dimension Chrono created in one of his adventures) was still alive and the same is true for Serge - Chrono created an alternate dimension, one where Serge was still alive. So, quite honestly, the entire game is actually completely caused by Chrono Trigger. The world, the characters, the shift between alternate realities...all these were caused by what happened in Chrono Trigger. This is probably the most sophisticated game I've ever played and for this reason it has become my number 1 game of all time. Well, anyway, that's my take on it. Hope this made sense haha.
Actually, there was a game between Cross and Trigger called Radical Dreamers but top dogs in Squaresoft count it as fail project. So the complain of Trigger fans should be answered in Radical Dreamers. I love Chrono Cross even i found it is cruel and make me sad but it is okay with me.
He seriously needs more views. His reviews and descriptions are so well-developed and spot on without having to exaggerate or impress his opinion too heavily on any of his statements. He should serve as a prime example for all game reviewers; especially on RU-vid.
Chrono Cross is many things, one of which is worth the analysis it was given here. Personally though, I think Vagrant Story was able to balance both elements of turn based combat and real-time action much better than Chrono Cross, as careful timing and tactics go hand in hand, equipment plays an incredible factor into success and the use of magic was such that it was both an incredible tool and a deadly weapon. Still, another well-put together, thoughtful video on the medium of video games and one of its more interesting titles.
Satch, awesome video! I too loved Chrono Cross when I was young for pretty much all the reasons you mentioned. Additionally, I played Chrono Cross before I played Chrono Trigger, so I went without the expectations of a sequel to that game. Keep doing what you're doing man, I love this channel! It's the most intellectually engaging video game channel I know of, and I think that's awesome.
Dude I love your work. I found you about two weeks before Normal Boots announced you were coming on to the team and I was so happy for you. You deserve any and all accolades coming your way.
Chrono Cross was an enjoyable game, I just wish it had more to do with Chrono Trigger. The original characters are barely even mentioned in the game, and the plot is completely different. Hell, it doesn't even seem to take place in the same world as none of the locations are the same as in CT. It helps if you don't think of them as being related, it's a good RPG in its own right.
It does take place in the same world. Needless to say, there was some timey-wimey nonsense involved and the Archipelago was made by Balthasar's computer.
Its like the Xenogears/Xenoblade/X metaseries. They don't really have much to do with each other, its just to put games from a certain concept into a certain series.
TheDirtbaggrif Yeah, I know there are references to Porre and all that, but having _some_ of the same locations and NPCs would have gone a long way to making the world seem cohesive.
This is a great bit on Chrono Cross. There's two big components that always stuck out to me that I was surprised weren't brought up. Negatively was the paired or triple attacks. While they existed in the game, there were so few that it was questionable why the few that were selected were even put in. Sana Glenn's and surge's X-attack via Trigger's Frog and Chrono's none of them really stuck out. Given the large cast and the lack of these attacks which could of been an element for interesting pairings represented in the battle system in the game I always though of it as this title's biggest failing. To the positive of the game was the interesting New Game + and how it upped the anti of that feature, and gave it a bit more tie to it's predecessor with the ability to slow down or speed up time. This was such a huge boon for a long game where when replaying certain sections or traversing a land you've been through before can lose all it's wonder and become a crawl I feel really was a touch that has helped the long term impression of this game as it's easier to replay. This is the exact feature that takes people who own many a classic RPG to emulate these kinds of titles, because it's such a promising feature.
I do agree on the Double-techs thing. I felt that was part of the thing that helped Chrono Trigger carve it's identity, and was a very logical move. I mean, if I were fighting monsters, it's only natural to combine attacks with your companions. Even with only Seven characters, it still left with many possible combinations of party members with powerful skills and abilities. I'm not too far into the game, but there hasn't been a single mention to combining attacks. And, if there are really as few as there are...it might give more credence to the haters who like to theorize Chrono Cross wasn't meant to be a Chrono Trigger sequel and the references to Chrono Trigger were just tacked on mid-production.
GreyPikmin334 I always thought that was a weird complaint. I mean what if this was FF 9 instead of Chrono Cross, would people have given it more or less flack?
Well, hard to say...seeing most of the fanbase for FF pretty much thinks everything goes downhill after 7, but...I'm willing to bet it would've gotten less flack. I like to compare this game to Dragonball. Both are just good, if not better than the original/sequel, but just aren't as popular among the fanbase for some reason. Chrono Cross is an incredible game on it's own, but I feel that the Chrono Trigger connection is what hinders it. I'm not saying it doesn't deserve to be considered an official sequel, I mean, I like the game from what I've played, but I can't imagine too many people complaining if this game's connections to Chrono Trigger were severed and instead treated more as Soul Successor.
GreyPikmin334 Good point. I wasn't singling you out at all, just a thought. I will say that people impression of 'the state of Final Fantasy" varies widely from one group to another. I know a lot of people who think 6 or 8 is the best. A lot of people who think 13 was a failure despite being the 4th best selling in the franchise. Then so on...
Yep, it's a very weird thing that way. Pretty much 6 and 7 are the most acclaimed, from what I've heard, while 13 is widely considered to be terrible. Everything else between seems to get a mix of reactions
I came here to check out what Chrono Cross was all about before jumping into it myself, but holy heck am I floored by your video. You are what youtubers should aspire to be; professional, thoughtful and brilliantly welcoming. You earned a subscriber, and I'll be frequenting your videos from now on.
I liked CC it just didn't feel like a sequel to me I feel like it should have been its own game sperate from CT series. I preferred CT's combat and level up system over CC so when I first played CC I judged it harshly only after replaying this game some time later could I actually enjoy it for what it was. That being said I personally believed CT is the better game and I also believed a 3D remake of CT would be great.
I was lucky in a way to miss out on most SNES RPGs until much later. I only really started delving into them on the PS1, so Trigger never swayed my opinion when I first picked up Cross. Its coastal aesthetics and malleable world instantly floored me. And even after only playing two Final Fantasy games, I could spot the innovations in Cross' gameplay. Perhaps Trigger is more accessible, more tightly constructed, but Cross' atmosphere and wild ideas will always be my preference.
Chrono Cross main idea was.....multiple main characters with multiple ending. While doing this was impossible that time with CD that can only contained 900 MB and making 8 CD of it would make the game price skyrocket.....well this time seems it is very cheap. With graphic cost lower, multiverse is happening now....i believe...it is the time...2019 - 2020 to finish the undone job of Chrono Cross. I love Chrono Cross but the pathetic Squaresoft picked FF over Chrono Trigger and made Chrono Cross as half baked food. No wonder they went bankrupt for FF and undermine the other huge idea in Chrono Cross.
So eloquently put about the Ocean's symbolism in the story. It's one of my favorite things about the game. I remember being a kid and playing for the first time, I could almost smell the briny ocean breeze in Termina.
Yeah, I love Chrono Trigger and grew up with it. I also grew up with Chrono Cross, but I didn't like it. Cross fans always chalk up all the game's shortcomings as fanboy complaints about how it's "not Trigger". I think it's true to a certain extent but it's not the only reason people don't like this game. For me, it has nothing to do with Cross being "different". I appreciate games that try things differently. I don't like Cross because I found the story's themes to be vague and confusing. I understand parallel worlds and even the idea of a timeline graveyard but I got lost when it introduced an A.I. controlling fate being connected to these dragons that are connected to the Reptites which has something to do with the Frozen Flame which has to do with the Dream Eater which has something to do with Lavos and Schala and is connected to Kid which is connected to Lucca which is connected to Lynx who has a connection to Serge whose somehow connected to the Frozen Flame... I think. And then there's a part where you switch bodies with the antagonist and end up in an alternate dimension because... uhh... *sigh* I don't get it. The way the game presents this convoluted mess of a story doesn't make it any easier to follow either. The plot has no clear direction and the game dumps paragraphs of dialogue onto you at the end expecting everything to just click. Maybe I'm just a moron but I grew so tired of the plot twists that I just didn't care by the end. I didn't care to piece together how it all made sense because there's hardly even a central story to the whole game. It lacks an anchor. The last half feels like a bunch of short science fiction novels mashed together in an attempt to inject as much philosophical meaning as possible. In the end it feels arbitrary because there's no real foundation for it any of it to stand on. For me, every new enemy was just another time shattering apocalypse that might end the world so I guess I'll go and kill it. By the end, I'm completely numb to the events, characters, and the world they encompass. To this day, I have no idea what the meaning behind my actions in the latter parts of Chrono Cross amounted to other than merging the two worlds. How? Why? I don't know. Because I did a thing, after killing a whole bunch of other things, so there's no more problem with the time thing. The end. So yeah... I don't like Chrono Cross. And I don't like that it's assumed I didn't like it because it wasn't Trigger. You don't have to agree. Just don't dismiss every complaint about the game being under the goggles of nostalgia. Chrono Cross tried a lot of new things, sure. That turned some people off, sure. But there's plenty of room for criticism that isn't simply whining about how legendary and sacred it's predecessor is.
Thoughtful response i fee the same. Calling the games plot convoluted and annoying immediately triggers an ocean of literal fan boys telling you to look up time travel parodoxes and mutliverse theories. People just wont admit square made a new game, slapped the chrono title on it while not caring about the story. They mashed 40 charcters into the game, most are meaningless, and tried to link the games with the weakest references to the most obscure parts of trigger. Even this guy tries to make an excuse comparing avengers to to a ps1 rpg. Ff6 had 13 characters which was alot in that era and never sacrificed plot, or character development. The only thing i can agree with is the score in cross is unreal. Still one of the bests in gaming history
Yeah, I mean, they took a series that had a great start because it was a simple story with a gimmick, a small cast that you got to know well, a straightforward goal, and they tried to make a follow-up that magnified each of the individual aspects and made them bigger and more complex. They mistook complex for better. Not to say it's a bad game, but adding more to a thing people like isn't always the right thing to do. More story, more sci-fi mechanics, more twists, more characters, etc. I think Chrono Cross is interesting, but from a structural perspective, it actually abandons the things that made Chrono Trigger great because they misunderstood what about it made it so great and accessible and loved by a majority of the fans. Or, at least the loudest ones
Hear me out: That doesn't mean I'm saying Chrono Cross is a bad game, but it in my opinion can't suffice as a sequel to Chrono Trigger, as nothing really can.
This game was good in it's own right, but it should never have been labeled a sequel to chrono trigger. I was so disappointed this had absolutely no elements from the original. You at least expect a little bit of familiarity. I respect the game for what it should've been but don't think it should have been branded a sequel.
There was very little from Chrono Trigger that showed up in Chrono Cross. Personally I think they had too many characters in CC and the developers didn't try to create tech combinations between the characters. Everybody had tech combinations in CT. A lot of CT references were rather obscure. I think CC is a better game than the CT's original sequel on the Super Famicom released only in Japan. Magus made an appearance in the original sequel.
kasuto4 the only sequel is supposed to be chrono cross, unless you are referring to radical dreamers which really didn't even count because it was part of the satteliteview, and never an official true release. Plus it was more of a side story not a full game as any of the satellite games were. Weather or not it was better doesn't matter to me, what bothered me is that it should have been a completely separate game, any ct tie ins were kind of forced and weren't needed. I was disappointed because I was looking forward to some ct elements in the battle system and story. Even the final fantasy series has some sort of familiarity to the previous installments, yes the games don't share a timeline, but the battle system always has parts of the previous one, and there are reoccurring themes, such as the spells, creatures ( chocobos, mogles, the summon characters, etc.. ) I think that if cc was given its own name people wouldn't have judged it so harshly, by labeling it a sequel it set a certain expectation that wasn't met.
Michael Miranda I realize Radical Dreamers had a limited release. I was under the impression Radical Dreamers focused Magus, Kid, and Serge were working together to sneak into the Viper Manor and get the Frozen Flame. From what I remember from playing CC was a lot of the CT elements seemed as after thoughts. Lucca, Marie, and Crono make cameo appearances late into game. CC's Guile was loosely based on CT's Magus. Thanks for the response.
kasuto4 np. What you said there is exactly my point, the ct tie ins on cc seemed like they were after thoughts. It's like they set out to make a new game and one of the execs said " this has dimensional travel! Didn't we do a game with time travel? Since they are sort of related why don't we make this a sequel of that one?" To tell you the truth, I'm happy to be able to speak about it without someone getting bent out of shape. It seems there is always a person who takes it so seriously when I say I was disappointed in cc. It doesn't mean I don't like the game, I just wanted more of the ct feel. One of the things I definitely missed was the battle transition. I love the way ct had done it, and was disappointed when cc didn't. When I voiced that there were people trying to tell me that the PlayStation had to do the traditional way because if the way it loaded, I then asked them then explain to me how it worked in parasite eve.
We all need more content creators like you who constantly can produce enjoyable things with solid essays. Your videos are really unique because of your great effort as a designer. Please continue with more videos.
Chrono Cross was ok.......but really half-assed as far as a sequel to Chrono Trigger goes. It seems like Square was making a different game or made it earlier and just decided to connect it to CT halfway through the process in order to make some money. I heard a rumor that they redesigned an old game called Radical Dreamers which was available on a japanese satellite system called Bishorou Sanjoro or something like that. Honestly I thought that the Pokemon "Collect Them All" character set did detract from the game since it played to the popularity factor of completionism/collect-a-thon at the time. Donkey Kong 64 is a ridiculous example of this kind of tediousness. The ending was ridiculous, a ending you could only get if you knew a special sequence of spell casts......Schala running around modern Japan? What were they thinking exactly? I remember I criticized the game on an amazon review shortly after it was released. It had 16 of 17 until the game started getting older and everyone gave it much more credit than it deserved because it was a classic because it was over 5 years old. Now it is 17 out of 33 helpful votes. Kind of like how people consider a flawed game like Metal Gear for the NES a great classical game even though you have to enter a massive password to continue in the room you left off, the problems with the controls changing in the menus, glitches, bad grammar, etc.
i remembered playing this game when i just 11 years old. my father bought me the original CD, but the console break down before i finish the disc one. And just completed the game 8 years later when i'm in college in 2013. It's the longest time i have ever been to play completing a single game in my life. From my personal view. This game is awesome, after playing this. I am interested to play the chrono trigger from my android phone.
The problem with Chrono Cross is....well, a *LOT* of things. Chrono Trigger was by far one of the greatest games of all time, about as close to perfect as a game can possibly get. Chrono Cross is it's sequel, so you'd expect(and rightfully so) that they would take everything about the original and improve upon it. That clearly didn't happen. Instead, they threw nearly everything out the window, and they replaced it all with garbage. Awful battle system, awful characters, and massively butchered time travel element = awful game and even more awful sequel. I so badly wanted(and still do) to like this game that I keep going back to it every now and then, but it's so terrible and so boring that I never get far before giving up. I'd have to force myself to play all the way through. Yes, the graphics, cutscenes, and music are all incredible, but none of that is enough to make *any* game good. If the game is already good, then those things will make it that much better, but otherwise it's like putting lipstick on a pig. You can't fix ugly. 8:32 The difference is that FF6 and Kingdom Hearts had fantastic battle systems that were very fun. This one is a confusing mess, and it's not fun.
JMFSpike And maybe you could provide reasons that you think parts of the game are 'awful', or why Satchbag's reasoning regarding each of those parts is flawed. Sequels are not always about taking the original formula and improving on it. Sometimes they're a re-imagining. It seems that's what happened with Chrono Cross. The developers took the central idea of time travel and approached it from a different angle, to tell a different type of story. This resulted in a different feel in the game that doesn't fit the "original game, only better" expectation that some people have of a sequel. This is what Satchbag suggests in his video, and I would have to agree with him.
Marc Schroth I already pointed out most of the reasons why it's awful. I'm not going to repeat myself. I will add one more thing that I didn't mention before though. The FoE element of the battle system seems almost completely worthless. It makes very little difference in the damage you do to enemies. By the way, I'm fixing your post(for the LOL's). Sequels are not always about taking the original formula and improving on it. Sometimes they're about screwing it up. It seems that's what happened with Chrono Cross. The developers took the central idea of time travel and butchered it from all angles, in order to give the fans the finger. This resulted in a terrible game that doesn't fit the "original game, only better" expectation that most people have of a sequel. This is what Satchbag fails to understand, and why I would have to disagree with him.
Stop belittling the power this game held over you as a child. I played Chronotrigger a LOT as a child, but didn't get to play Chrono Cross until about 2 years ago. I started out jaded to the fact that it has little to do with the story that I remembered from Chronotrigger, but quickly grew captivated by the new world I found myself exploring and the vast cast of characters I was getting to know. The gameplay mechanics were similar to that of Chronotrigger; not functionally, necessarily, but conceptually in that it took what was working at the time and built upon it substantially. People as a whole seem critical of this game because gamers nowadays consists of a much larger ratio of "general mass" gamers to "core" gamers, which is not a bad thing, but inherent in that is several things. One of those things is that games are being pumped out rapidly. Another is that, due to there being so many games out now, people make broad generalizations to try and lose the least amount of time/money on "bad" games and spend their time on quality products. It's easy to see a jaded internet community and assume that it is indicative of the general consensus, when sometimes the reality is that the people that don't like the game are yelling about it online and the people that do are, well, playing the game. This post turned less into being about Chrono Cross specifically, and more about game culture in general, but my final point is that the game was awesome. I really enjoyed this video for verbalizing the things that I had felt whilst playing Chrono Cross.
Satchbag, you are absolutely my favorite channel! I don't think I've ever seen such high-quality video editing on RU-vid before, and I love how you are honest and open about what you like and dislike about the games you feature, but also remain objective about their quality and comparison to other games of the time. Keep it up! I'm sure your subscriber base is going to continue growing!
Chrono Cross and Legend of the Dragoon are the single two best games ever made. Best stories hands down. Both tugged at my heart and soul. Thank you for a great video my dude!
I love your videos because it doesn't try to print ideas in your brain, instead makes you think about the subject and come up with your own conclusions. Keep up the amazing work.
Thank you, thank you so much. Chrono Cross is my favorite game of all time. Like you I played it when I twelve years old, and I can honestly say I wouldn't be the same person I am today without this game. Because of Chrono Cross, I stoped looking at game as mere entertainment, and started to see them for what they could be... Art. Thank you, for reminding me of some of the most formative experiences of my childhood, and showing the world why this one piece of art matters so much. Thank you.
Just wanted to say thanks for the effort you put into these videos. I know it can't be easy to achieve such a level of quality and professionalism, but it truly makes them shine. I look forward to seeing where this channel takes you.
9:51 - 10:12 THANK YOU! I've been saying this for years and you're the first person who has taken issue with navigating menus mid-combat like I have. It does exactly as you said: Stunts the mechanics in what could be a much simpler control mapping. Also, more to the point, I GREATLY admire your ability to conduct such fascinating and intellectual analyses for these games. Bravo, sir.
Satchel, your content is second to none in terms of presentation and critical review! Even when you hold a bias you make sure to let the viewer know about said bias! I hope you continue to produce such awesome content!
Hey Satch, I came over here from normalboots.com after watching this video to tell you how impressed I am with everything about this video. From composition, concept and execution to your personal notes at the end. Others may call me a fanboy for this, but I absolutely agree with every point you made. I remember (fondly) the RPG era of the PS1 and how different this game was from the rest. Having such a large cast of characters and immersive world to fall in love with, as well as one of the best soundtracks I've ever heard all wrapped into this game that dared approach the genre differently definitely left its mark on me. Even today, when I hear any length of any of the songs from the game, I know exactly what it is and it immediately hits me right in the feels. Without getting too lengthy, I really do appreciate this video and the service you did for the rest of us that love these games so much. Thank you!
