This Sequel to the Best JRPG of All Time Still Has Fans Divided Today

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Certain video games transcend simple entertainment, becoming truly iconic titles that endure for years and deeply resonate with players long after their release. This presents a challenge, though: how do you follow up a seemingly flawless game with a sequel? That’s exactly what happened with this wonderful Japanese role-playing game. While the sequel was enjoyable, it struggled to live up to the incredibly high expectations set by its predecessor.

Square Enix’s Chrono Cross faced a similar situation when it came out on PlayStation in 1999, four years after the release of Chrono Trigger, a role-playing game considered by many to be one of the greatest ever made. While Chrono Cross was initially well-received and later reintroduced to a new audience with Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition, it still sparked debate among fans. The game was often compared to Chrono Trigger instead of being appreciated on its own merits, and this connection shaped how people viewed it and the entire Chrono series.

Chrono Cross Had the Impossible Task of Following Chrono Trigger

Chrono Trigger is a truly special game, often hailed as one of the best ever made. Released for the Super Nintendo, it brought together the talented teams behind Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. Its story, which involves time travel, was both clever and easy to understand, showing how players’ choices impacted different periods. The battles were quick and exciting, avoiding frustrating random encounters and feeling incredibly engaging. Importantly, the game knew when to finish, offering multiple satisfying endings without dragging on. For these reasons, Chrono Trigger is considered a near-perfect gaming experience – a rare achievement.

As a result, Chrono Trigger became incredibly special to its fans. They played it over and over, talked about it constantly, and it grew into a legendary game. So when Square announced Chrono Cross as the next installment on PlayStation, many players anticipated a direct sequel. Instead, they found a game that existed in the same world and explored similar ideas, but felt very different in terms of gameplay and overall feel. Chrono Cross wasn’t a traditional Chrono Trigger 2, and that was the biggest letdown for a lot of fans.

Even though Chrono Trigger had a satisfying and complete ending, and a direct sequel wouldn’t have worked, continuing that specific story would have diminished the game’s powerful impact on players. Square Enix’s best option was to build upon the ideas and world of Chrono Trigger, which is what they attempted with Chrono Cross. However, this connection to the original game created confusion and continues to affect how people view Chrono Cross even now.

Chrono Cross Is an Incredible JRPG

If you approach it as its own game, separate from Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross is a truly impressive JRPG. Even now, its graphics are beautiful, featuring colorful landscapes and smooth character movements that really tested the limits of the original PlayStation. The music, created by Yasunori Mitsuda, is often ranked among the best video game soundtracks ever made. Songs like Scars of Time/Time’s Scar and Dream of the Shore Bordering Another World continue to captivate players, including me – I still listen to them regularly.

Chrono Cross took risks with its gameplay, moving away from typical RPG leveling. Instead of simply gaining experience, battles focused on stamina and elemental weaknesses, rewarding players who thought strategically. The game also featured a huge roster of playable characters, which was unusual for RPGs at the time. While not every character had a fully developed story, the large cast made the world feel expansive and connected. It didn’t have quite as many characters as the Suikoden series, but it was still a remarkably large number.

Chrono Cross explored complex ideas like who we are, the impact of our decisions, and the existence of alternate worlds – themes rarely seen in Japanese role-playing games when it was released. Unlike Chrono Trigger, which focused on different eras, Chrono Cross centered around parallel dimensions. Moving between these worlds let you find new characters, items, and progress the story. What you did in one dimension could actually affect the other, making your choices feel meaningful. Like the original Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross had multiple endings, and I spent countless hours trying to unlock them all and collect every character, constantly starting new games to do so.

Fans Have a Love Hate Relationship With Chrono Cross

Fan disagreements about Chrono Cross usually stem from what people expected from it, rather than the game’s actual quality. Many players were disappointed because it didn’t feel like a direct sequel to Chrono Trigger – familiar characters were missing or changed, and the story contradicted established lore. Those hoping for a nostalgic experience felt let down, seeing the game as a departure from what they loved – a pale imitation of its predecessor.

Initially, opinions on the game were different, but as players returned to it without anticipating a specific experience, its qualities became more apparent. Chrono Cross isn’t meant to be a simple continuation of what came before; instead, it’s a thoughtful look back at the past. The story explores themes of loss, unforeseen outcomes, and the price of altering events, and these ideas seem to connect more strongly with those who played the original, likely contributing to the game’s increasing popularity over the years.

When I first played the game, I unfairly compared it to Chrono Trigger. While I enjoyed it, a part of me wished it had been more like that classic title. I wasn’t the only one; many RPG fans had similar initial reactions. Over time, though, disappointment turned into appreciation as the game proved its own worth. It’s a fantastic game, but it suffers from being compared to such a beloved predecessor. Chrono Trigger is popular because it’s familiar, straightforward, and stands the test of time. Chrono Cross, however, sparks debate because it’s more demanding, innovative, and emotionally layered.

The debate surrounding the game continues even now. While Chrono Cross won’t likely surpass Chrono Trigger for many players, that’s not the point. Its strength comes from being bold and experimental when a more predictable approach would have been simpler. It would have been easy for Square to simply create Chrono Trigger 2, but they chose a different path. This decision cemented Chrono Cross’s legacy, not just as a divisive sequel, but as one of the most intriguing JRPGs of all time.

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2025-12-25 17:17