Remasters are all the rage at the moment, so a recent rumour which claims that Square's Chrono Cross is getting the same treatment should come as no great shock.
Originally released on the PlayStation in 1999 (Japan) and 2000 (North America), Chrono Cross takes place in the same universe as Chrono Trigger, the classic SNES JRPG. The game was developed by many of the same people who made the 16-bit outing, including Masato Kato, Yasuyuki Honne and Yasunori Mitsuda.
It was composter Mitsuda who got the ball rolling on the rumour back in October. It was reported that a 'big PlayStation remake' was on the way after Mitsuda retweeted a post by folk singer Éabha McMahon (AKA: Ava) who had said in a radio interview that she'd recorded an Irish-language theme for the game with composer Michael McGlynn and his daughter.
Speaking on the XboxEra podcast, co-founder Nick Baker added more credence to the rumour:
Chrono Cross Remastered, I think, was already on the Nivida leak list, so the game shouldn't be a surprise - it was on Nvidia's list. But I was told that that VGC article is about Chrono Cross Remastered.
Baker added that he believes the game won't be exclusive to PlayStation:
What else I was told-because everyone's working under the assumption that it's a PlayStation exclusive-I've been told that it's not. The only word that was used was 'multiplat'. Now, when I hear JRPG and multiplat, I automatically assume PC, PlayStation, Switch, that's my assumption. That's not what I was told, that's just my assumption. All my source said to me was 'multiplat'. That's what they said, they told me it wasn't PlayStation exclusive.
But I think there's confusion because it says that PlayStation is set to announce it, so everyone just works under the assumption that PlayStation is announcing something that would exclusive, which they don't always do. Pragmata isn't exclusive, they've announced plenty of stuff [that isn't exclusive].
Square Enix's recent RPG remasters include Legend of Mana and SaGa Frontier, both of which were previously PlayStation exclusives.
[source videogameschronicle.com, via eurogamer.net]
Comments 80
Yo this would be awesome if it came to Switch or PC, I loved the DS version of Chrono Trigger and the 2D animated scenes were great!
Thought Square would be getting sick of being in bed with Sony anyway. Hope this comes to Switch and Xbox.
I much prefer Chrono Cross but this game has its charm. I haven't been on the Square boat lately, I think most of their games have been meh to good aside from Dragon Quest 11 and FFXIV Online, but we will see.
I think they're probably very careful with what they remake right now and that's why they didn't pick Chrono Trigger. If you screw up a classic like that it would make a lot of people very, very upset.
this game looked fantastic on its original hardware so I would love to see what they can do to make it look great for current gen!
A disappointment sequel to one of the best RPG. The soundtrack is one of few things l liked with it but otherwise it was a let down imo.
Replayed Chrono Trigger a hundred times but never got around playing Chrono Cross. I hope they do it justice with the remaster
I played the game this year, it was clearly a product of much love but I didn't exactly love it, the battle system was unique but the elemental system wasn't great and despite having a massive cast of characters (which I do like) the game clearly wasn't built around supporting such a massive cast when you're only allowed two party members in addition of the main protagonist. Many parts of the game also just were really boring with lot of time spent just running around, talking to people for hours on end.
Still I liked the story and the world, the soundtrack was really beatiful and the game did have a strong artistic direction and for a playstation game it really did look nice and colouful (which game at the cost of it running like poo, but I'd assume that's something a remaster would fix at least).
My favorite RPG of all time!
Oh boy, more rumours. And I try not to make too much fun of others' typos (especially considering all the ones on my own end), but "composter Mitsuda" is genuinely hard to pass by.😮😅
The original is in my top ten games but I had no clue their was a sequel, if it comes to Nintendo consoles then I will get it.
It wouldn’t sell on PlayStation anyway. PlayStation, for me personally, has become a CoD-/Battlefield-/GTA-/FIFA-machine that dislikes more niche games. Good, when the remake also comes to other consoles.
It's a good game but it's not a Chrono Cross sequel at all.
Chrono Cross coming to Switch would be interesting, but a little annoying if the much more popular Chrono Trigger wasn't also coming.
Chrono Cross is cool though. I like the game's style, but I never actually finished the game, unlike Chrono Trigger which I finished twice.
It has a very good soundtrack too!
One that I liked very much is the first track:
Time's Scar
https://youtu.be/uhXGgVLbz_M
Strange game that I never got very far in, despite trying several times. It didn't click.
However, much like Legend of Mana, I support remasters with my wallet, and who knows it might click this time. Legend of Mana didn't, in the end, despite getting much farther this time around, but I didn't regret my purchase.
Crystal Chronicles on the other hand...
It would be cool to have this game available on modern platforms... Otherwise it would be unobtainable digitally once the PS3/Vita store closes, which is just a matter of time at this point.
But what I really want is a Switch port of the DS version of Chrono Trigger. Yes, I know that it is available on PC and mobile devices but this version is lacking content compared to the DS version and it would fit the Switch perfectly.
On an unrelated note, I really want a rerelease of Terranigma. This game is still stuck on SNES and that's a real shame...
"It was composter Mitsuda who got the ball rolling on the rumour back in October."
I imagined a dung beetle.
@Pigeon Chrono Cross altogether with
..of which only Saga Frontier 1 was released in EU for the first time a few months ago
...What Square did back then was a crime against humanity and it needs to be repaired!
This game was ok to play back when it came out. The draw of it was multiple characters being available. I put many hours into it and almost completed it but didn’t as it fatigued me. It is one of those “You must beat multiples times to complete 100%” games.
The soundtrack was insanely good and I think I may still have the CD that came with it??
I would be more impressed if they did it as a proper Chrono double pack remaster and look good and not like a mobile game.
But as much as I played it before, I am good without it returning.
@MadmanMike The soundtrack is among the best ever made for a game. Maybe even THE best.
Not suprised as Squeenix is just rolling out re-masters as they cant be bothered to create new games, just squeeze as much money they can out of old games.
"multiplat" definition by Square Enix : every console except the Nintendo Switch as it is "Not Powerful Enough" (and we cant be bothered with it)
YES PLEASE! I've been waiting for a remaster/remake of Chrono Cross for years.
Is there any reason why we can’t get chrono trigger on either switch PS4 or Xbox? Xxxx
@BlackenedHalo At least FF Tactics and Valkyrie Profile made it to the EU on PSP! Still got my UMD for Valkyrie Profile Lenneth in the attic
@Krull somehow...i need them on a big platform to count as a true EU release! both games were also released on Android, but I just do not count such platforms
YYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chrono Cross is a legendary 10/10 game. Personally for me, I enjoyed it more than Trigger, FF7,8,9. Here's why:
30 playable characters that each have 3 limit break cutscenes, many dual and triple limit breaks based off which characters are in your party, 6 cutscene summons, best OST of all time (songs still on my phone and car), you can switch between the 2 realities, you can change the fonts, new combat system, beautiful and colorful environments, if you want, no random battles, beating the game once unlocks FF, play as the bad guy, 9 endings, 1 developer ending has a sick and twisted joke resting your game to title without saving, the dev ending also has a joke battle and the entire OST.
Day one purchase on Play Asia if it's true. I'm pretty sure Square won't give it a physical release in the West, just like how they didn't give one to Final Fantasy VII/VIII Remastered, Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy X-2, Dragon Quest Trilogy, or Legend of Mana.
Honestly it's a bit weird that we're not getting the first game in the Chrono Trigger series first, but Cross has been ignored for much longer.
I hope this is true. The music in Chrono Cross slaps so hard.
Believe it when I see it
@Bunkerneath what a bad comment. Square Enix published 9ish new games this year, which is a lot by any normal measure, with more than half having gone to Switch in some way, has multiple announced for next year already, and every remaster barring Nier has been on Switch as well.
@Bunkerneath
Bravely Default II
NEO TWEWY
Balan Wonderworld
Voice of Cards
Dungeon Encounters
That's like five brand new Square Enix games this year off the top of my head. And currently they're working on:
Stranger of Paradise
Triangle Strategy
Star Ocean Divine Force
Square Enix are actually making like a ton of new games IN ADDITION to all their remade classics. I don't see the problems, especially since their remakes (aside from Crystal Chronicles) have been pretty good versions.
Only legal way to play in the UK is a US account and PS3.
Crazy this hasn't been given another chance in some form, very good game.
If this happens, I want Chrono Trigger on modern platforms. Both the original, and the remaster.
@Daniel36 yeah, 100% agreed, followed only by trigger.
Everyone wants a Chrono Trigger remaster, but forgets that Squeenix isn't the greatest at ports. They would likely just put a fresh coat of paint on the lackluster mobile version and call it a day.
I'm honestly more optimistic for a Chrono Cross port over Chrono Trigger.
I've heard of this game but have never played it, so it potentially coming to Switch (or even PC) would be great. I have played Chrono Trigger via the excellent DS version.
I haven't played this in 20 years, so I'd get this in a heartbeat. So many great memories!
They did great with the Actraiser remake I have hope this will be good. I keep buying em with hope they remake Einhander.
I wonder if we will get Trigger at some point now. Maybe in that pretty 2D-HD style with sprites.
Color me HYPED since this is in my top 5 favorite games of all time.
Personally enjoy it immensely more than Trigger.
It needs a remake not a remaster. Mana remakes sucked though so it’s maybe for the best. Hope it won’t get the GTA trilogy treatment,
It definitely needs one.
Let’s hope so! While I don’t think this is anywhere as amazing as Trigger, it’s still enjoyable…and when it connects with the original it absolutely shines!
Now if we could just get Chrono Trigger on the Switch...
They should do the remake treatment with Chrono Trigger. Best RPG of all time.
I'd be up for a chrono trigger remaster. It's not like I played it to death on SNES emulator and DS. Hopefully this isn't just a rumour and will eventually lead to 2 remakes, then the release of Chrono break which will be the first game with an average of 120% on metacritic... Is it too much to ask?
Wouldn't be smart to make is Sony exclusive right now. You got the entirety of that market split. Many are waiting to get their hands on a PS5, and Sony is waiting on new to tech make more. Not many would be buying any games in the opportunity that they can get a PS5.
Square knows they cannot live on their hype games being "waited on," ports and lowkey remasters are far more likely Switch-bound now to make up the losses they are currently having. Hell, they stated as much in the Spring.
How bout releasing Radical Dreams first before this crappy game.
Great game never finished it.
Chrono Cross remake or remaster would be amazing! The game would need a lot of rework however, it has not aged the best. I wonder if the plot may be re-worked, it was a bit of a mess. But honestly I'd prefer to have Chrono Trigger on Switch/modern platforms first. Doesn't have to be a remake, just a simple SNES or DS port would be fine, the original game holds up incredibly well. The only remake style that could work for Chrono Trigger would be the HD-2D like Octopath (would be a great style for Chrono Cross too, would bring the series more in line). Also is DQ3 HD releasing next year?
I was so excited for Chrono Cross & bought it when it first released but, other than the graphics & music, was disappointed with it. I ended up trading it in a couple of weeks later. I just couldn't get into it. I'm willing to give it another try, though.
I was quite surprised to hear this news. Chrono Trigger is my all-time favorite game, whereas I was greatly let down by the sequel. Not because it wasn't "Chrono Trigger 2" - rather, because it didn't even feel anything like its predecessor. Very heavy and somber in its tone much of the time - including the way CT's happy ending was essentially ripped to shreds just for the sake of Cross's back story. Also, with 44 playable characters instead of 7, the characters felt like things to collect rather than people to care about. Possibly the thing I loved the most about Chrono Trigger was that I got a lot of face time with all 7, the game focused on each one quite a lot, and each one was a big part of what was going on. And last but not least, the plot of Chrono Cross was one of the most convoluted, over-the-top, hard-to-understand things I've ever experienced in gaming. To be honest, I couldn't reasonably believe the insanity of a lot of it.
That said, Chrono Cross certainly has some great aspects to me. A few of the characters did end up being very memorable and special to me, and the soundtrack is obviously stellar. I've actually made many Chrono Trigger and Cross music levels in Mario Maker 1 & 2 as a result. All in all, I would probably be interested enough in a remaster of this to pick it up. (That's probably helped by the fact that it's been many, many years since the series has even been acknowledged, so I'm starved enough to jump on anything, lol.)
Not interested in games like this , final fantasy etc but happy for the people that are always great when a series you love gets a long awaited reboot
Considering Legend of Mana, Grandia 1 & 2, and SaGa Frontier already got multiplat remastered for Switch and PC both physically and digitally, I am sure this Chrono Cross remastered is probably following those same trend of classic remastered for modern platforms. Hopefully they continue to do these remastered until we got all the PS1 RPGs on Switch. Hoping we see more SNES and PS1 remastered classics like Chrono Trigger, Secret of Evermore, Parasite Eve, Brave Fencer Musashi, Ogre Battle, Tactics Ogre, Threads of Fate, Final Fantasy Tactics, Ehrgeiz, Vagrant Story, and Xenogears soon for Switch and PC.
I would love to revisit this one. I played it for a while and was really enjoying it, but after taking a break for a bit due to life interruptions I couldn't remember what I was supposed to do next and eventually gave up in frustration.
Great. Maybe CT will come along too.
It's not as good as Chrono Trigger, but I'm chuffed to bits. Hopefully Chrono Trigger comes home eventually.
@Specter_of-the_OLED
"Hopefully they continue to do these remastered until we got all the PS1 RPGs on Switch. Hoping we see more SNES and PS1 remastered classics like Chrono Trigger, Secret of Evermore, Parasite Eve, Brave Fencer Musashi, Ogre Battle, Tactics Ogre, Threads of Fate, Final Fantasy Tactics, Ehrgeiz, Vagrant Story, and Xenogears soon for Switch"
I agree ！！！
I would love a remaster. A remake would be cool, too, but only after a remaster.
Love to hear they coming out with something but I feel this one needs more of a remake then remaster. Doesn't got to be full on like ffvii.
I just have one request here. Include Radical Dreamers. From what I've heard, they were considering including it with the original version, so I'd love if they did that.
So they are going to take a 1999 rpg, and what add better textures? Maybe redo the cut scenes if we are lucky. I mean it’s a great game, but I think it will look like trash on TV's and probably not all that great in handheld mode. Would wrather a remake with new models, even if graphics were the only improvement.
Would wrather a set if it's going to just be minor improvements. Include Cross and Radical Dreamers.
I love both Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross. I never finished the latter though as my Disc 2 on PS1 was scratched and never could get past certain cutscene smh.
At this point, any positive movement with this series is something I'll take... remasters are cool, remakes would be better, but the best and imo better for a revivial of the IP would be a new AAA game in the franchise finally after so long... maybe the mysterious Chrono Break?
... Wun can only hope.
Never got to play Chrono Cross so I'd be very interested in a re-release of any kind.
Be interesting to see how the graphics will upgrade or not.
@Tasuki
In what way is Cross crappy?
It’s one of the finest RPGs of its era.
Is it as good as Trigger? No. But it’s still a brilliant game.
@malcire
Most of the games background are pre-rendered. Not much they can do about those. I’m assuming they don’t have the masters anymore, because they didn’t have them for Final Fantasy IX and the pre rendered backgrounds were still in 240p, which was the PS1 natively outputted. Next to updated models rendered at 1080p it was…. Odd.
That said, Cross’s art style and location setting would probably look a lot better anyway.
PSOne rpgs are the best. Do Brave Fencer Musashi next!
@TheRedComet
With SaGa frontier they had upscaled backgrounds, it wasnt perfect but was certainly not as bad as the FF games High-rez-models-on-psone-rez-backgrounds deal.
hoping something similar could work with this though the CC backdrops are more detailed than the SaGa ones.
seems square has been getting a lot better at re-releasing/remastering their legacy content on pretty much all devices (outside of the pre-VII FF games which have been mobile/steam only for nearly 10 years)
I would love to be able to play it, never have, but I think it would be weird to have it on Switch without Chrono Trigger as well
I played CT to death but never got around to CC. CC seems loved by fans to who didn't play CT, but seems divisive among fans who played both, so I'm intrigued. Whatever happened to Chrono Break...?
I hope this rumor is true. Also hope Nintendo and Square will work together on a Super Mario RPG remake or sequel.
@MeloMan
I’ve played through both multiple times and love both.
I think Trigger is the better of the two. For the longest time I preferred Cross, but I replayed Trigger two years ago and I feel like my original judgement was wrong. Trigger is the better game overall.
Mainly because Trigger stands completely on its own merit. Trigger has a masterfully crafted story that is explained entirely during the adventure.
Cross’s story is good. Very good. But if you haven’t played Trigger then a lot of it’s nuance is lost on the player. People who say Cross isn’t a sequel are wrong in my opinion. You have to play Trigger to really understand what Cross was going for in its story.
IMO, the central theme of Cross is an exploration of the consequences of Crono and gang’s time travel. One thing about Trigger’s story is that causality events only impacted the primary timeline according to the way it is portrayed. That isn’t how it would work. Every single different decision and event altered would have created a different universe where future events would unfold in unpredictable ways.
That’s what Cross was trying really hard to get across to gamers. It was exploring the unrecognized consequences of time manipulation.
The issue with Cross is that for most of the game, this isn’t really conveyed to the player. It ends up as three huge information dumps. First when the player reaches Chronopolis, where it is hinted at by several monitors and just the design of Chronopolis itself, since it closely resembles Trigger’s 2300AD assuming Lavos is defeated in 1999. Secondly, the majority is dumped on the player by Balthasar in a hilariously long cutscene with a mountain of text to read. Then finally by FATE itself, when it destroys the Prometheus circuit (aka Robo).
I feel like they should have spread this information across the entire game, rather than dumping it all on the player in three specific points.
Not that it really matters though. If the player hasn’t played Trigger, all of that is lost on the player completely.
Woah! Hope it will be released on actual consoles to it's released for the first time in Europe like Legend of Mana.
@Rhaoulos chrono cross doesn't deserve 120% for sure. On the other hand trigger deserves at least 200%
@TheRedComet loved trigger, finished it uncountable times on snes, and then some more on emulator.
I couldn't finish cross. I left the game at the last check point before the final boss. I've been struggling along the way and try to finish it, but I just lost all interest by then. Great music, great story, impeccable art direction, but something was missing, at least for me
@Ficxjo I was talking about the rumoured Chrono Break, not Cross
@Rhaoulos oh, my bad then ✌🏽
Its a great game and it looks fine. What is with this childish whining about graphics? Do I enjoy great visuals? Heck yeah. Do I enjoy retro 6 or 8 bit graphics? Heck yeah. Do I enjoy low resource studio indie games with atrocious graphics but tight and interesting gameplay, such as 3ds recent eShop release "Harold Reborn"? Heck yeah. Do I like boring repetitive games that are graphically beautiful? No...
Graphics come second to gameplay for any real fan of what games are all about. This remaster doesn't even look bad. Sure if this articles author wants to mention once that in their opinion the graphics COULD be better, that's fine. But the article seems to focus on that more than anything else, even referencing it in the title of the article. It's completely ridiculous and irrelevant. Nobody is going to like or dislike Chrono Cross because a rope does or doesn't appear jagged.
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