Square Enix Shows Off Chrono Cross Remaster Comparison Screenshots

I radically dream of the day when Square bothers with a legit, full 3D remake of Chrono Trigger and/or Final Fantasy 6.

Looks a little less blurry.

Not being able to pick the sublime classic soundtrack hurts this remaster something fierce in my eyes. Some of the new arrangements have definitely been on the awkward side and even if they weren't, just having the originals there as an option would make it far easier to appreciate the new takes too.

@Ryu_Niiyama Yeah, why the hell would you draw ribs on Kid, it just looks freaky.

I think the "it's the same picture" meme would apply here.

@FishyS
Yeah, the art direction for the game is quite good. For a ps1 game it looked really nice and colorful but it also came at the cost of the game running like molasses at times.

@Andy_Witmyer if only that happened, a Chrono game with graphics like DQXI would be insane!

@Expa0 Agreed on that point. Touching up graphics is one thing, but certain games have iconic sounds that just shouldn’t be messed with!

I think I’d have preferred straight emulation without the mismatched sharpening job

Looks uhh slightly better. Better charge full price.

Honestly I'm happy the font in english is good looking.
For a second with the pics from the map with the text "on" "off" I thought there was a toggle between pixels/soft filter...

@Expa0 Do we know for a fact that the classic OST is not in the remake through a toggle?

Had to hold my breath about the remastered soundtrack. Just heard that the original soundtrack won't be included in this remastered so for those who are looking forward to this and want to know if the original soundtrack is included with the new one, it won't. Square Enix already confirmed that they are too lazy to just include it.
https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2022/03/chrono-cross-remaster-doesnt-have-the-original-soundtrack-after-all

@Specter_of-the_OLED Well that's most unfortunate. The best we can hope for is some premium version, DLC pack enabling the classic OST, as scummy as it is for them to pull a switcheroo.

The depixelization look looks smeared, especially on the map screen vs hand drawn from scratch. But I guess it would have risen the cost too much.

@AlexanderDaniels One has to wonder if perhaps there was deliberate timing by SquareEnix to "correct" their original statement regarding the OST being included until JUST AFTER digital preorders had been locked down on the eShop. In any case, the fact they made such a claim in the first place before redacting it less than a week from release is not a good look at all. How much of an imposition would it really be for them to patch in the option for the OST as a way of saying, "Sorry, we messed up" and making it up to players?

@Expa0 That's why I'm waiting for a steam sale + mods UwU

Who would think games were meant to be fun after reading through this comment section haha

i dont like the new arts ...they are less detailed...look at Kid and her skin and shadow all over her body, the new art completely lacks of it all

I think it looks awesome! Really happy that they stick to the original. Can't wait for the game. 🙌

That new 3D model looks way better.

Buying this on PC will at least allow me to do what improvements I want to the game, or just play the texture replaced PS1 game, knowing that I've actually paid for the game.

@Expa0 and @BloodNinja , I am preeeeeetty sure you can choose between OST and remakes. Don't quote me on it but I recall reading that.

I didn't know about the game not having the original music. It may sound silly, but that's a bit of a deal breaker for me. The OST was my favourite part of this game. I may still get it to support the franchise, but might get it on Steam cause modders will fix this.

@Pungu @Specter_of-the_OLED @AlexanderDaniels @Expa0
For those of yall concerned about the OST, it's not as bad as it's being made out to be. Mitsuda himself said that the "new" OST in this game is simply a cleaned-up version of the original. He said he was happy with the original music so he didn't change it, just rebuilt it from the original, uncompressed source files. The new music people are hearing lately and are concerned about are additional tracks he arranged which he said aren't part of gameplay but are available separately. The music that's in the actual game will be the original OST but cleaner, that's probably why there won't be a toggle. We have nothing to worry about.

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/tt7dw4/the_soundtrack_for_chrono_cross_radical_dreams/

And the original tweet if yall can read Japanese:
https://twitter.com/CHRONO_CROSS_RD/status/1507507628955602953

As someone who diggs into pixel art a lot, I'm very very very happy that this horrible background filter can be turned off... I wish we would have the same options for all the Square Enix Remasters (and hopefully we have it for all future remasters)

@BlackenedHalo
Hmm the new Character Artworks look actually better (in my opinion) but the other changes ingame I will turn off, since they mostly look worse.

Physical release is not available in Europe?

@Wiss2wiss No its not, but you can buy it at play-asia.com

The difference is a lot less striking than Xenoblade chronicles and it's remaster. Which is weird considering Chrono cross is 2 generations older.

The new font looks awful, and they didn't need to touch 3D models and artwork. It's FF8 all over again.

@chocolate_supra

Thanks for the info!

I got curious and watched the remaster OST trailer Square released, and some of the tracks sound quite different. Scars of Time, Sailing and Termina were featured, and they all sound very different (and imo not as good).

Edit: To be clear, there was no mention of the these tracks being in-game, it's just a trailer highlighting some arranged music.

Square Enix: When we say Remastered / HD, what we mean is run the pixels through a smooth filter.
Fans: Oh. Can I at least have a semi-decent font for the reamastered text in this release please?
Square Enix: OK, OK OK! Jeez, just this once though OK? Here, have it in Times New Roman. Just be thankful it's not comic sans, but we're taking away the old OST privileges.
Fans: 😔

I was hyped about this until i found out the original soundtrack isn't an option in the game... that kinda killed it for me, unfortunately. The music is really one of my most favorite part of this game and not being able to enjoy it mean I'm gonna just stick to playing the original PS1 version instead. I hate to do it but... I'm giving this a pass, at least until the original soundtrack becomes available, then i will definitely buy it if that ever happens.

I'm going to wait for a sale. Too much stuff coming out this month and don't know when I will get to it.

its a remaster not a remake. Wish they would do the later, no huge upgrade

So it looks the same. Very not interesting.

@bluemage1989 That was fantastic. You win.

This was one of those games I owned for the PS1, but never got around to actually playing because I was stuck trying to figure out how to finish FF8. I'm looking forward to seeing what all the fuss is about.

At best it looks the same, at worst it has that annoying lifeless smoothed out gloss of modern mobile games. Lena's portrait looks terrible. And that soundtrack needed zero touching up. I'll stick with the Vita version for portable Chrono Cross, but I'll still buy this for the support and Radical Dreamers which I remember as being a boring slog (coming from someone who enjoys text based RPGs even) but maybe it'll be better the second time around.

@mjharper same, I am looking forward to seeing what the game is all about. I appreciate the improvements that have been made and for a very reasonable £15 as well.

@chocolate_supra exactly right, finally someone else who understands. The original music is still there, it's just been cleaned up. News sites didn't read the announcement and just went with a sensational headline. There's no option to choose between remaster and original because there is no remaster, just enhanced audio quality of the original. This isn't like secret of mana with two different soundtracks.

Still on the fence about this one. I love Chrono Trigger on the DS, so this should be a cert, but....I've heard mixed feedback. I do want to try this at some point, but I don't feel like now is the best time.

Anyway, this might be a good candidate for a gaming PC should I ever take the plunge and actually build one.

@Wiss2wiss It's not available physically in NA either but the Asian version should had language for English somewhere in there.

@chocolate_supra Alright I guess if Mitsuda says so I'll take his words for it.

@chocolate_supra @Term
I was getting ready to explain this myself, as I did in the YouTube video of the 8 rearranged tracks. Thanks for saving me the time.

Yeah, it just seems to be a case of not being clear enough (Square Enix using the word "refined" when describing the enhanced music while the rearranged pieces of music were up on YouTube), and readers panicking upon first glance (understandably).

I already have a brightness setting on my TV. I didn't need them to do it for me. That being said, still looking forward to playing this.