Chrono Cross

 PlayStation
User Score
8.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 488 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 420 out of 488
  2. Mixed: 32 out of 488
  3. Negative: 36 out of 488
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  1. SSJGodku
    Jul 18, 2023
    8
    It's been years since I originally played this on PS1. It was actually the first game I ever played on the console as well. I remember being addicted to the game and playing it daily after school. The story and characters aren't the most well thought out but I still had a fun time playing it. The Hi Ho Tank was my hardest battle and it actually took me a year to get past it
  2. Orcman66
    Jul 13, 2017
    9
    great game, great story, one of the few RPG's with a lot of playable characters and that their availability depends on the decisions you make through story. you can play it 3 times, and obtain different characters in each. Cool abilities, and story, after final fantasy VIII and VII, one of the best games i've ever played.
  3. ReiAyanami
    Nov 27, 2018
    10
    This is one of the best stories in any RPG. It's one of the few that actually grab your emotions, and at certain points can abuse them. Its very deep, and might require a second playthrough to fully understand, but thats what makes it so amazing. It is one of the few that can actually offer comedy, sadness, anger, and every other emotion. Now on with the story:

    You are a teenager named    This is one of the best stories in any RPG. It's one of the few that actually grab your emotions, and at certain points can abuse them. Its very deep, and might require a second playthrough to fully understand, but thats what makes it so amazing. It is one of the few that can actually offer comedy, sadness, anger, and every other emotion. Now on with the story:

    You are a teenager named Serge who is transferred between 2 worlds. you go on a journey to find out what makes these 2 worlds different. Unlike Chrono trigger, you don't do any time traveling, just dimension hopping. You meet many characters along the way. You battle with "fate" and the main antagonist Lynx. You have options at certain points that can determine different outcomes of the story. you have many side-quest that can also help clarify certain characters background. this game offers amazing character development, and once again, the best story I've ever encountered in a game. It drags you in and doesn't let go from beginning to end. It also features one of Game informer's top 10 plot twist ever in a video game. Interesting huh? Its kind of hard doing this without spoiling it, but I will say that I went into this game not knowing a thing about it, and it turned out to be the best story there was. you will learn to love some characters, and even some NPC's as well.

    This is one of the best games I've ever played. Total a must play for everyone, ignore the Trigger fanboys    … Expand
  4. Jucarock
    Apr 28, 2018
    10
    This is one of the great games I've played. The story, in which you will find from comedy to drama, is amazing, a lot of characters and each of them has an interesting background, stunning soundtrack, great battle system. Chrono Cross is a game that I will never forget the experience of playing. Thank you for existing.
  5. Himsa
    Sep 10, 2018
    9
    While more of a "spiritual" sequel to the acclaimed Chrono Trigger than a direct one, Chrono Cross certainly stands apart from it's peers. The graphics, while not ground breaking, were absolutely perfect for the tone and mood of the game. The soundtrack is, to this day, one of the best in any RPG. The combat is an innovative take on traditional turn-based mechanics. The story does kind ofWhile more of a "spiritual" sequel to the acclaimed Chrono Trigger than a direct one, Chrono Cross certainly stands apart from it's peers. The graphics, while not ground breaking, were absolutely perfect for the tone and mood of the game. The soundtrack is, to this day, one of the best in any RPG. The combat is an innovative take on traditional turn-based mechanics. The story does kind of begin in a very open-ended way, which can leave some a bit confused at first. However, it doesn't take very long before things begin to fall into place and you can't help but get absorbed into it. Also, for having as many playable characters as they have, they all feel very unique from one another and in my personal experience, I've never felt as though any of them were "copies" of others. With that, party makeup flexibility is very present, lending excitement in the prospect of multiple playthroughs just to see how different characters react during the story as well as how they perform in combat. I literally only have one or two qualms with the game and even they are minor and completely subjective to me. I would have liked either a little back story or just a bit more informative plot build up in the beginning and also, I'm personally not as big of a fan of the "silent protagonist" angle but as I said before, neither of these things are deal-breakers by any means. Overall, I'd consider Chrono Cross and absolute "must play" for any and all RPG fans.… Expand
  6. pmasterfunk
    Jan 8, 2021
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I just replayed Chrono Cross from start to finish for the first time in about 15 years. It has always had a special place in my heart, but how does it hold up after 20 years? Is it still great, or am I just looking through rose-tinted glasses?

    Visually, it hasn't aged very well. Even when upscaled on an emulator, the PSX z-buffer pop-in is still distracting, and the grainy backgrounds look pretty rough on HD screens. The art direction is still impressive to this day however.

    The game has some amazing music, but the main battle theme gets old pretty quickly. I think the instrumentation picked for it is a poor choice, it ends up sounding like weird intense clown music. All the other tracks are quite good and appropriate, so it's a bit strange that the most commonly heard song is the one that sounds most out of place.

    Gameplay-wise, it truly is unique, there isn't another game with this battle system, and I think it's refreshing and fun to play. However, the pace of battles is quite slow, and makes battles become mundane.. Special attacks - "elements" in game - still look pretty good, but they are often very slow and can't be skipped. NG+ actually has a turbo button... kinda telling.

    The game's difficulty is a poorly balanced. The vast majority of a game is a breeze, but a few bosses prove to be massive difficulty spikes. The MC, Serge, basically blows through enemies and most bosses in a breeze by himself.

    Now for the story. It starts off really interesting, but near the end of the game everything feels rushed and quickly thrown together. I wonder if the writers wrote themselves into a corner, and then some producer was like "Hey, this is a Chrono Trigger sequel, so make sure to reference the characters, and Lavos, too", and everyone in the writer's room kinda went "uh oh". I'm not sure I can properly critique the story without spoilers, so I'll mark the section where it gets really spoilery.

    The story starts off as the tale of young Serge, an unassuming teenager who accidentally ends up in a parallel world where he has been dead for 10 years. He tries to find a way back home, and ends up tangled in a strange web of confusing character arcs and plot holes involving a clone, dragons, a super computer, and a familiar alien.

    ***SPOILER ALERT***
    So for the first 3/4 of the game, the story line mostly involves chasing after Lynx, the main antagonist, who is competing with the secondary character, Kid, in looking for "the Frozen Flame". The first time I played the game, I confused the Frozen Flame with the Dragon Tear, because it's never really well explained what the Dragon Tear is or does, and it actually looks like a flame that is frozen. Its use in the plot is to have Serge and Lynx switch bodies. So Lynx becomes "Dark Serge", and Serge becomes Lynx.

    Then begins the last stretch, in the city of Chronopolis. After all sorts of hijinks, Lynx (OG Serge) finally faces Dark Serge in battle, and we learn that he (OG Lynx, Dark Serge) is the physical embodiment of a super computer called FATE. He's also Serge's dad, mutated. FATE is from the future, and to ensure its own future, it basically mind controls everyone in El Nido for thousands of years. And it turns out FATE has actually sealed off the Frozen Flame (wasn't Lynx searching for it?) because in the future, a dimensional portal brought reptites - from the future - into the human world, and a war broke out between humans and reptites. So these reptites had weird organic advanced technology to control the planet - explainied by Belthasar from CT - and that this weird organic robot thing was the "Dragon God". However, to more easily control the "Dragon God", it was split into 7 parts, 6 representing each of the elements used in battle, and the seventh being the second moon (what?). The 7th one took human form, Harle, and secretly tried to unseal the Frozen Flame by hanging out with Lynx, knowing Lynx was FATE. So by beating Lynx, and I mean OG Lynx, aka Dark Serge, FATE craps out, and the Frozen Flame is unsealed. The 7 dragon gods merge into the one Dragon God, which is then defeated, turns a tower into a big tree, and then you gotta fight Lavos, who has merged with Schala. Who cloned herself to create Kid.
    ***END SPOILERS***

    Ok, so I hope you're confused now. And all this information comes in massive exposition dumps in the last 2 hours of the game. None of it is foreshadowed, and nothing learned beforehand is explained through this. Once I got to Chronopolis and started seeing references to Chrono Trigger, everything kinda went south. FATE was never an antagonist until I faced it. The Dragons weren't antagonists until I beat FATE. The Final Boss wasn't an antagonist until after I beat the dragons. Whatever themes were approached during the game become irrelevant in the face of the death of the planet.

    All in all, I still enjoyed most of my time with the game, but the end prevents it from being an all-time great.    … Expand
  7. Naamtar
    Oct 26, 2018
    10
    No hay manera de poner una calificación negativa a esta obra de arte, a menos que tengas la mala intención de bajar su calificación. (Algún hater de square o de playstation)

    Es un juego hermoso, perfecto, profundo y atemporal. Me inspiró para ser escritor al mismo nivel que "El Señor de los Anillos", y es un juego tan magistral que aún hoy se sigue viendo muy bien. Sencillamente algo    No hay manera de poner una calificación negativa a esta obra de arte, a menos que tengas la mala intención de bajar su calificación. (Algún hater de square o de playstation)

    Es un juego hermoso, perfecto, profundo y atemporal. Me inspiró para ser escritor al mismo nivel que "El Señor de los Anillos", y es un juego tan magistral que aún hoy se sigue viendo muy bien. Sencillamente algo que todo gamer debe jugar.    … Expand
  8. Tirael
    Dec 4, 2021
    10
    One of the best JRPGs ever done. I hope that someday we will see a remake or remaster of this wonderfull classic.
  9. Kunray
    Feb 15, 2019
    10
    Word cannot describe my love for this game.
    Must try for RPG : Masterpiece, 10/10
  10. Leontorres7
    Nov 15, 2018
    10
    Legendary game, play it, this game changed my life for good, all I have for this game is LOVE.
  11. Harax
    Feb 28, 2019
    10
    Honestly this game is one of my favorite, if not my favorite, game of all time. The soundtrack is amazing. The programming and list of available characters is impressive. not to mention a divergent story path at multiple part of the game, for a PS1 title!? It was far beyond its time.
  12. Syfin
    Jun 5, 2020
    10
    Лучшая jrpg за всё время. Большинство ругали игру за то что она не похожа на chrono trigger. Но я проходил сначала chrono cross. А потом уже сравнивал наоборот. Но chrono trigger доставил мне намного меньше удовольствия чем chrono cross. До сих пор считаю эту игру самой лучшей вообще из всех игрЛучшая jrpg за всё время. Большинство ругали игру за то что она не похожа на chrono trigger. Но я проходил сначала chrono cross. А потом уже сравнивал наоборот. Но chrono trigger доставил мне намного меньше удовольствия чем chrono cross. До сих пор считаю эту игру самой лучшей вообще из всех игр
  13. SomaKurusu
    Nov 19, 2019
    10
    Hablar de este juego es recordar los momentos gloriosos de Squaresoft, cuando realmente tenían esa magia insuperable en el género JRPG. Este es uno de los mejores juegos de todos los tiempos. Su diseño artísitico es de lo mejor que he visto en videojuegos, además de que sus gráficos eran top para una PS1. Su Banda sonora es una de mis 3 favoritas de todos los videojuegos a cargo delHablar de este juego es recordar los momentos gloriosos de Squaresoft, cuando realmente tenían esa magia insuperable en el género JRPG. Este es uno de los mejores juegos de todos los tiempos. Su diseño artísitico es de lo mejor que he visto en videojuegos, además de que sus gráficos eran top para una PS1. Su Banda sonora es una de mis 3 favoritas de todos los videojuegos a cargo del maestro Yasunori Mitsuda. Su jugabilidad cambia con respecto a Chrono Trigger en cuanto a los combates, pero es mucho más variada y estratégica, y su historia, es de lo mejor que se ha hecho nunca. En fin, obra maestra, infravalorada por los fanboys de Akira Toriyama, y juego imprescindible en cualquier época.… Expand
  14. blessme
    Dec 8, 2019
    9
    This game is indrebly beautiful and has one of the best game OSTs ever made. The battle system is very interesting, but the game never really lets you use it's full potential, as it's pretty easy. It's a great game, and a must play RPG.
  15. Josenolito72
    Feb 21, 2023
    10
    Uno de los mejores rpg de la historia y sin ninguna duda el mejor de la primera play station
  16. jerdabile87
    Jul 4, 2020
    9
    I enjoyed the game a lot. Square was huge in the PSX era. I loved the characters, all of them had a backstory and a personality, the development system was not the best but the story was amazing. The battle system was fun and engaging. a must play
  17. Spokey34
    Jun 20, 2020
    9
    The game gets boring at endgame when leveling up but the game sound track is a masterpiece.
  18. Cless
    Jul 27, 2020
    9
    I love this game so much. While it is a departure from Chrono Trigger.. this is still an amazing game. The OST is one of the best. The graphics are insane for its time. And the gameplay was fun and the vast cast made it more interesting. The story was very good and the whole art direction made this game a memorable experience.
  19. ichiroide
    Jun 28, 2020
    10
    Muy buena jugabilidad, diferentes finales, es rejugable, muy buena historia, tiene un diseño de escenarios parecido a las obras de Vincent van Gogh.
  20. Aiprawn_Dinnae
    Jul 13, 2020
    10
    This game has heart and it has soul. It's truly awesome and I love it so much! The game is just interesting and engaging. The sound track is second to none! Yasunori Mitsuda is a God among mere mortals! The battle system is awesome! The story is awesome! i love how the common battle theme is in the odd time signature of 9/8. Truly engaging and never gets old! Perfect game!
  21. r3giment
    Dec 8, 2020
    9
    What a wonderful game. I revisited this in 2020 and it's just as wonderful now as it was almost 20 years ago. Unfortunately the 3D graphics have not aged as well as I thought they would have (the pre-rendered backgrounds are still beautiful).

    The music is incredible, the characters are fantastic, and the story is wonderful. The combat and level up system is very unique and I prefer it    What a wonderful game. I revisited this in 2020 and it's just as wonderful now as it was almost 20 years ago. Unfortunately the 3D graphics have not aged as well as I thought they would have (the pre-rendered backgrounds are still beautiful).

    The music is incredible, the characters are fantastic, and the story is wonderful. The combat and level up system is very unique and I prefer it over the random battles of many other JRPGs from that era.

    And to top it off, it is a great sequel to Chrono Trigger. Although in the beginning it may seem like it has little connection with. But progression proves otherwise.    … Expand
  22. Davevault
    Mar 12, 2022
    10
    One of the best RPGs I have ever played. It is a game worth returning to over and over again.
  23. Vonservigne
    Feb 17, 2021
    10
    I've finished this game a few times, and it feels like reading poetry. You may not fully understand at first but you get the feeling you're being drawn into a beautiful and mysterious story. It's philosophical, it's artistic but also funny and joyful. It's the perfect balance between having bright and colorful graphics, and dark and suspenseful story. And the OST covers all that the bestI've finished this game a few times, and it feels like reading poetry. You may not fully understand at first but you get the feeling you're being drawn into a beautiful and mysterious story. It's philosophical, it's artistic but also funny and joyful. It's the perfect balance between having bright and colorful graphics, and dark and suspenseful story. And the OST covers all that the best way possible to actually become one of the most beautiful and well done game soundtracks ever.… Expand
  24. Squall_MWA
    Mar 26, 2022
    10
    Just perfect! Amazing! The "Squaresoft" games are the best! The "Square Enix" games are horrible!
  25. Leviata_Reis
    Aug 3, 2021
    8
    Chrono Cross e divertido , tem os desafios na medida tambem , e uma otima musica . Na minha opinião 3 4 ou 5 personagens e o suficiente pra jogar rpg , e aqui tem mais de 30 personagens pra jogar , sendo chato e desnecessario . Tambem não gostei do sistema de evolução por contagem de inimigos . Obrigado Japão por ter colocado meu fucinho no Serge , eu gosto sim dessas paradas nos jogos .Chrono Cross e divertido , tem os desafios na medida tambem , e uma otima musica . Na minha opinião 3 4 ou 5 personagens e o suficiente pra jogar rpg , e aqui tem mais de 30 personagens pra jogar , sendo chato e desnecessario . Tambem não gostei do sistema de evolução por contagem de inimigos . Obrigado Japão por ter colocado meu fucinho no Serge , eu gosto sim dessas paradas nos jogos . Chrono Cross (8/10) .… Expand
  26. Minus_Infinity
    Jul 10, 2022
    10
    Default one of the best RPG's of its era. Serge, Kid, and many other characters are awesome and really interesting. Music is great, combat is weird at first, but you learn about it pretty quick. Graphic-wise, the Akira Toriyama style has been abandoned, but the designs for Cross are impeccable and I wouldn't want them any other way.
  27. NoLameGames
    Dec 1, 2021
    9
    Great story filled with interesting concepts and views. Phenomenal soundtrack, fun combat system, and a vivid and colorful world(s) to explore. I highly recommend this title for those who like more experimental and thought provoking games.
  28. Tokujiro
    Feb 18, 2022
    10
    This is my most favorite JRPG of all time. Overall "Excellent!." I love time travel games and this suits to my style. Chrono Trigger too. I can't wait to play this again as a remastered on PS4.
  29. Elronas
    Mar 27, 2023
    10
    El mejor rpg que he jugado en mi vida, aunque si que es verdad que es necesario jugar chrono trigger primero para disfrutar de este juego al máximo. Impresionante.
  30. Culex
    Apr 14, 2022
    8
    It's a game I very much like but I still give it an 8 (more like 8.4). The music is a 10, as well as the art. The story not so. The first half is very good, but later it gets boring and confusing. I think the mistake was focusing on the NUMBER of characters, an innovation at the time, but on huge detriment to the QUALITY. I can reconstruct the story of many games but not of this one afterIt's a game I very much like but I still give it an 8 (more like 8.4). The music is a 10, as well as the art. The story not so. The first half is very good, but later it gets boring and confusing. I think the mistake was focusing on the NUMBER of characters, an innovation at the time, but on huge detriment to the QUALITY. I can reconstruct the story of many games but not of this one after the first disc, let alone remember the sidequests, even after playing many times. Why? Because the characters help you to remember the story, and if the characters are not well developed then there is no connection, no bonding, the enjoyment is not going to achieve good enough levels to remember it later. Huge contrast with Chrono Trigger or games like FF9. Another flaw is that the villain or villains of this game are not well developed either. Then why I like this game? I really don't know, maybe the music, the art, the nostalgia and momentum given by Chrono Trigger. The story also had great potential and there are some philosophically interesting moments. The first disc and the beginning of the second save it.… Expand
  31. Gingercrisis
    May 11, 2022
    10
    Definitely should play!!! Best game ever, you will have a good time playing it. It has a great plot in the story, it will hook you to the game.
  32. ZephyrWeiss
    Jan 16, 2023
    10
    I'm not going to say anything to keep you curious, I only confirm that this game is in the Top 100 games with the best story/lore and if you are looking for something that will leave you with "existential void"...
  33. squarefenix00
    Aug 18, 2023
    6
    No me parece ni mucho menos el "juegazo" del que hablan en todas partes... Pero si te gustan los RPG los disfrutarás seguro. He leído muchas comparaciones entre The Legend of Dragoon y él, pero a mi parecer TLOD está bastante por encima.
  34. zaozabot30
    Jan 18, 2023
    8
    Graphics and style are amazing for PS1, sometimes even looking like PS2 title. Atmosphere created by beautiful world and music is breathtaking. Unique battle system mixed with interesting bosses makes this game one of the best jrpgs out there. Too bad there's no bestiary to review all amazing creatures you have fought through the game.
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best PS1 Game of 2000
2
#2 Most Discussed PS1 Game of 2000
2
#2 Most Shared PS1 Game of 2000

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
94

Universal acclaim - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. GMR Magazine
    100
    It wasn't quite the "Chrono Trigger" sequel most people expected, but it's a magnificent game by its own right. [Feb 2003, p.97]
  2. CheckOut
    90
    A beautifully crafted and fresh take on stale RPG gameplay, delivering an experience that rivals "Final Fantasy."
  3. CNET Gamecenter
    90
    From the incredible story line to the combat system to the great visuals to the overall feel of the game, players will get the sense of how much of an impact a game like this can have.
See all critic reviews »