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Post InfoTOPIC: A sequel? CT vs CC.
Posted By: Xwing1056

Posted On: Feb 12, 2003
Views: 660
A sequel? CT vs CC.

I think the difference between Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross can be summed up pretty easily. The few detractors of CT said that it was childish, shallow, and themeless. Chrono Cross, though, really was.

I haven't played Chrono Cross in a while, but I did make ten or fifteen hours progress before I quit. What I remember is distinct lack of substance. Before long, the painfully relaxed air it gave off felt numbing. It was almost as if the game never left the sunny seashore village where it started. There were battles, but their music was laid back, their enemies were uninteresting, and the deep beauty in CT's battles had given way to a few sensationalistic flashy effects. It still amazes me how disinterested I was when I learned Luminaire. There were plenty of exchanges between characters, but most conversation was vapid nonsense. Contrast that to Chrono Trigger, where every conversation was a memory worth treasuring.

The message of Chrono Trigger was a deep one. It was about a simple, noble heart's resolve pitted against darkness at its heart. It was about friendship, and companions who rely on each other - emphasized by the combination system and the frequent interaction between characters. It was about a grim soul who long ago let vengeance consume him, but in the end began a journey away from that dark path. It was about restoring the world to beauty by going around doing good works. It even alluded to an Entity, who empowered the heroes by creating the gateways, and who, after Lavos's end, was "satisfied."

The message of Chrono Cross? I noted nothing worth mentioning in a dozen hours of playtime. Perhaps its message was to relax, let things flow, don't worry about anything. Its theme appeared to be its anti-thematic outlook. Its music was mellow, the characters forgettable, the battles unexciting, and the plot uninspired. I suppose it did invite players to relax. Still, I doubt that many were "satisfied" with Chrono Cross after they had finished it. And, if not, does that mean Chrono Cross was better off not being released?

I would say so. If another Chrono Cross is in the works, I'd just as soon let it pass. But who knows? Maybe another Chrono Trigger is on its way. The next Chrono adventure should only be released if it is really, really good.

Mark


Posted By: Ybrik Metaknight

Posted On: Feb 13, 2003
Views: 649
RE: A sequel? CT vs CC.

You see, Xwing, the thing about Chrono Cross is that the story doesn't get really good until you're pretty far into the game. Something intriguing and fairly original happens at the halfway point of the game (sorry, no spoilers here), and after that it starts getting better: in the Dead Sea in Home World and then again in the Sea of Eden in Another World you begin to see many coherent links between the stories of the two games. Just before you fight the final boss [mild spoiler warning], one of Chrono Trigger's dangling plot threads is finally tied up.

I agree with many of your other points, however. Much of the game lacked any real substance, especially in the characters. And CC suffered from the same problems that FFVII and FFVIII did in that the characters didn't have enough uniqueness in battle, but compounded that problem (which was already more extreme than in those two FFs) by having far too many characters to properly develop more than two or three outside of battle. Aside from Serge, Kid and Lynx, few characters had notable personalities, and the ones that did were not as well-developed as I would have liked. I do not, however, agree that the music was not good in the game. While not as good as that of its predecessor, CC's music was still very good, very much filled with emotion, very relaxing.

Don't get me wrong, I think that CT is by far the better game. I just think that you should give CC a little bit more of a chance. I think you will probably enjoy it more if you just stick with it a little while longer.


Posted By: Xwing1056

Posted On: Feb 13, 2003
Views: 646
RE: A sequel? CT vs CC.

You may be right, and I'm sure that Chrono Cross has a few redeeming aspects. I've definitely played worse. But it struck me that CC's better points were usually pale reflections of similar things in CT. Like Serge, for example. He wasn't a terrible character, but he didn't light a candle to Crono - even though the resemblance was obvious.

Was Akira Toriyama responsible CC's characters? I've never checked, but I'd guess not. He really mastered characterization in Dragon Ball Z. Chrono Trigger came not long after the series ended, and I think its characters were his greatest works.

If Chrono Cross gets better midway through, maybe I'll give it another try. Maybe I'll like it more. But either way, if Square plans on making its next Chrono game in CC's image, I'd rather see it under a different name. At least then it wouldn't be overshadowed by a game that's so clearly better.

Mark


Posted By: Ybrik Metaknight

Posted On: Feb 13, 2003
Views: 641
RE: A sequel? CT vs CC.

Again, good point about being overshadowed by a better game. And Akira Toriyama in fact was not responsible for the character designs in CC. You nailed that one right on.


Posted By: anonomous

Posted On: Feb 15, 2003
Views: 616
RE: RE: A sequel? CT vs CC.

CC was a lot better than CT in every aspect. The characters were good, gameplay was good, story, everything was good. I could not stop playing CC. Unlike CT.... CT was pretty bland. Still good but bland. CC has ten times better replay because of more endings and a lot more playable characters and all of the extra stuff you can get in the Extra game. CT was also not half as visually pleasing as CC. All the worlds in CC amazed me but a lot in CT left me thinking "There has been better on the SNES." So I would have to say, CC is a lot better than CT. Duh...


Posted By: Xwing1056

Posted On: Feb 15, 2003
Views: 614
RE: A sequel? CT vs CC.

>>CC was a lot better than CT in every aspect. The characters were good, gameplay was good, story, everything was good. I could not stop playing CC. Unlike CT.... CT was pretty bland. Still good but bland. CC has ten times better replay because of more endings and a lot more playable characters and all of the extra stuff you can get in the Extra game. CT was also not half as visually pleasing as CC. All the worlds in CC amazed me but a lot in CT left me thinking "There has been better on the SNES." So I would have to say, CC is a lot better than CT. Duh...<<

It's nice of you to reassure everyone that Chrono Cross was "good" and Chrono Trigger was "bland," but, really, I've played them both. Believe me, I can tell what's good and what's bland. If you're hoping to convince me that my favorite game was "bland," you should give a bit more evidence. So far you've told me that CC has more endings, more characters, and more extras. CT had enough endings for me, I don't care about extras, and having that many characters could ruin any RPG. You said the Chrono Trigger was not "half as visually pleasing" as Chrono Cross. I say that Chrono Trigger's artwork, largely done by the acclaimed Akira Toriyama and praised as some of Super Ninendo's best graphics, is unmatched. Chrono Cross's graphics are fair, but not memorable. The eye candy factor has no effect on me.

So what we're left with is. . .nothing. Nothing except what I've already said was right about CT and wrong with CC. Scroll up if you want to see that. Or if you'd rather not, I'll put it in your terms: Chrono Trigger "is much better than" Chrono Cross. "Duh. . ."

Mark


Posted By: Snake Eyez

Posted On: Oct 21, 2003
Views: 586
RE: A sequel? CT vs CC.

Can't we all just get along? I happened to like both CT and CC. Both had memorable qualities. CT was original, and helped open the way up for later RPGs with its amazingly original storyline, memorable characters, and solid gameplay. CC continued the story on nicely, as far as I'm concerned. It was very deeply involved (especially when you find out about the world's origins in Chronopolis) and was surprisingly innovative as far as the storyline was concerned. Once again, you have to get past the cartoonish, lah-de-dah first half of the game before you can experience anything good, but it's well worth the wait.

So which is better? That's hard to tell. I've come to a point where I can hardly mention one and not recognize the other. It's kind of like the original Star Wars Trilogy: by themselves, the three movies were pretty good, but when they're combined into the Trilogy, they form a great story. The same can be said for CT and CC; by themselves, they're great games, but together they're even better.


 

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