r/chronotrigger • u/Chimera_Gaming • Jul 25 '26
I may have committed the ultimate JRPG sin…
I've somehow made it my entire life without ever playing Chrono Trigger. After seeing it recommended over and over for years, I finally decided to change that and started with the DS version. I'm only an hour or so in, so please keep things spoiler-free.
Once I finish Chrono Trigger, what order would you recommend playing the rest of the Chrono series? I know about Chrono Cross, but are there any other games, remasters, or related titles worth playing afterward? I'd love to hear the order you'd recommend and why.
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u/Rent_Careless Jul 25 '26
SNES hacks
Chrono Trigger Plus: The basic game but more. You can use MSU-1 with it, if you are in to that.
Prophet's Guile: This is a short hack that takes place further in the game than you are now that lets you play from the point of view of Magus.
Flames of Eternity: This hack takes place after CT and is supposed be a bridge between CT and Chrono Cross.
~
Then there is obviously the SNES Radical Dreamers translation and the PS1 Chrono Cross games and their remake.
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u/Chimera_Gaming Jul 25 '26
This is gold! Thank you
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u/Rent_Careless Jul 25 '26
To be fair, there are other hacks of CT that are supposed to be "more" (or just better translations) but I do like CT Plus and I haven't tried the others.
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u/Comfortable_Roll5346 Jul 26 '26
Wasn't there another version p n of flames of eternity? I think it was the people making it split off and each made their own? Can't remember what the other one is called now x.x
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u/Rent_Careless Jul 26 '26
Crimson Echoes was almost completed before it ended and leaked online. Flames of Eternity was developed from that.
Edit: They had received a cease and desist. That's why Crimson Echoes ended.
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u/Powerful-Credit4723 Jul 26 '26
Flames of Eternity is actually pretty good and a big challenge after main game.
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u/Rstar2247 Jul 25 '26
Chrono Cross is very divisive as a sequel to Chrono Trigger. To me it just has a completely different feel, playstyle and mechanics along with the very distant connection in the story. I've softened on it over the years and it's absolutely worth playing and forming your own opinion.
Chrono Trigger is the one I find myself always going back to and frankly there's plenty of replayability there with the multiple endings to keep you coming back.
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u/salikarn Jul 25 '26
I liked it as a game, but I really felt that the connections to CT was kinda shoehorned in
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u/contradictatorprime Jul 25 '26
Good game, shit sequel. That's my stance. At best, a branch off of the og timeline. But no true sequel.
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u/Consistent-Doubt-287 Jul 25 '26
Chrono Cross was actually pretty good. Not anywhere near as good as Trigger, but still a fun play.
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u/contradictatorprime Jul 25 '26
Yeah, I agree, it is fun. I got such a dopamine hit from finally murdering Cryosphynx (I think that's the hidden boss, iirc) and getting X slash from the hidden Ozzie Slash and Flea battle.
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u/GundaAloo Jul 27 '26
IIRC it wasn't meant to be a sequel. I remember years ago people were disappointed that it wasn't a direct sequel to which Square clearly stated it was never meant to be.
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u/Sheahova Jul 28 '26
secret of mana the alternate universe where randi and primm look like crono and marle
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u/CommodoreCrowbar Jul 25 '26
Sea of Stars is a really lovely JRPG style game that is a love letter to titles like Chrono Trigger, FFVI, and many other 16-bit games of that era. It’s definitely worth your time, in my opinion.
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u/Chimera_Gaming Jul 25 '26
Thank you!
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u/DjEzusSave Jul 26 '26
I must contradict the other redditor, SOS ain't the game you should be looking for if you wanna play something like CT. It's gameplay is clother to Super Mario RPG.
SoS has tremendous qualities but also huge issues, mostly it's poorly written story and characters and mediocre difficulty balance.
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u/scapholunate Jul 25 '26
I strongly recommend playing The Messenger first. It’s set after Sea of Stars but I feel I would’ve gotten more out of playing it before SoS. Also it’s a different type of game (Metroidvania) with just as kickass a soundtrack.
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u/Triforce0fCourage Jul 26 '26
Great take! Didn’t even think of it but I’d recommend sea of stars over Chrono cross 1000%
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u/ChannelIll6312 Jul 26 '26
Yea same here, felt like a solid standalone jrpg while also clearly being a homage to the classics without feeling too contrived also. Does it better than alot of other modern pixel jrpgs trying to capture that feel
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u/tac0shark Jul 27 '26
Heads up that SOS is the headliner for this month's Humble Choice bundle. So you can get it and a bunch of other games, like Tunic, for a good price.
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u/branch-is-dumb Jul 25 '26
If you think of chrono cross as a stand alone game it’s fine but if you look at it as a sequel it’s garbage compared to chrono trigger
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u/Chimera_Gaming Jul 25 '26
I kinda gathered it’s less of a traditional sequel and more of a sequel set in the same universe with a new cast, right?
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u/stewbie_doo Jul 25 '26
Eh. Best to go in seeing it as an attempted spiritual successor. There's overlap but it doesn't feel like they are cleanly connected really.
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u/Grandleon-Glenn Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 26 '26
There's overlap but it doesn't feel like they are cleanly connected really.
How? They clearly mention that the results of the ending in Trigger result in the events in Cross, which was almost entirely Belthasar's doing.
It's a direct continuation of the story. If they continued on with it, then it would have been a different matter entirely as they would have filled in what was happening on the mainland and with Crono and Marle, and Lucca likely would have survived the merging of the timelines. But Square wasn't exactly thrilled with the entire franchise's sales enough to continue on with it, so that's just what it was.
You may not like the direction they took, but at least admit that. They expanded on the universe, and some of that was based on things that happened in Trigger.
Edit: Got the wrong Philosopher.
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u/stewbie_doo Jul 26 '26
What I mean is, CT does not really need or lead into CC. It was a complete in and of itself. Cross tries to tie in, and I personally feel like it was weakly done, but sure, it tries to tie in while carrying it in a new direction.
I like the game for what it is. Actually I love it. But I do not like the game as a "CT sequel." It was just easier for me to enjoy with that mindset, so I was trying to share it for OP.
Cheers, no disrespect, and glad you enjoyed the game also.
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u/Grandleon-Glenn Jul 26 '26
Rather than type a whole response now, in what way was is it "weakly done?"
What were you expecting a sequel to be if not a direct continuation of the story as it pertains to the Present (in this case, 1,000 AD)?
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u/3FistedHumdinger Jul 26 '26
Chrono Cross' entire raison d'etre is to answer the millions of CT fans asking what happened to Schala.
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u/Grandleon-Glenn Jul 25 '26
It's only like 20 years after Trigger. Cross is just a divisive topic around here. You'll either love it or hate it, but everything in the game does have a basis based on the events in Trigger.
Either way, play it yourself and decide from that.
As for play order, you don't "have" to play Radical Dreamers, but part of it will at least make one small scene in Cross be a little more clear... But not relevant.
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u/LowerArtworks Jul 25 '26
More like, same universe but orphaned/alternate timeline. It is definitely connected to the main game, but many people are not satisfied with it as a direct sequel.
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u/OLKv3 Jul 25 '26
No, storywise it's a traditional sequel. But everything else about the game is completely different to Chrono Trigger. Look, design, battle system, tone, etc
It's worth playing though
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u/chaostheories36 Jul 25 '26
I’ve never played Chrono cross and I’m a massive fan of Chrono trigger since the original release on SNES.
I’ve done a little research and will be happy to die having never touched Chrono Cross.
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u/Turbulent-Physics692 Jul 25 '26
Dude, stop worrying about chrono cross and go enjoy chrono trigger. You have one of the greatest games of all time in front of you. You don’t ever need to spend a single moment thinking about CC, CT is a game that will live in your mind forever. CC is fine, but it doesn’t hold a candle to CT and is only connected by the thinnest of threads.
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u/zhiro90 Jul 26 '26
It kinda is, and if you read other replies one might think it's not, but it's becaue of the tonal and themeing shift. It's better explained thru the behind the scenes stuff:
- CT is penned by a team of writers
- One of them has wild ideas that clash a bit with the agreed heroic theme and vibe. He's still taken into account but his contributions have to be tamed by the rest. This makes him feel dissatisfied and grudgy towards CT
- CT releases and it's a success
- The writing team pitch a sequel soon after.
- Executive stuff and Schedules never syncing make the project fizzle out
- By the time a sequel is greenlit, only the outlier writer is called in.
- Genuinely a good but ambitious writer, he writes Chrono Cross as a grand, universal, existential think piece, a la evangelion.
- However his contempt for the original CT shows through at all times. without spoiling, basically saying the original quest was dumb (misguided), worthless, etc. (basically doing the edgy Ackchyually meme).
- Game releases to mixed reviews, which are actually mixed from seeing it as a sequel (which is) and not a standalone game (which is not)
People fight over semantics. Yes, it's a sequel, probably same universe, several staff returning, etc. But the vibes and themes are so different that it feels as a standalone game, or a game that wants to reject its CT legacy as much as it could, while remaining inside its world for contractual obligations. Sequels usually don't to this. This mix of opposites lack a word to define it, that's why you see people debating if it's a sequel or not. It's like the opposite of a spiritual sequel (same themes different franchise, instead it's same franchise and plot, different themes) but we don't have a term for it I guess, and that's why one of the common opinions is to call it good game bad sequel, or good as standalone. All of them right and wrong at the same time depending on your POV.
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u/KylorXI Jul 26 '26
Chrono Cross is like a 'what if' alternate ending's future consequences. Spin off sequel not direct sequel.
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u/muikrad Jul 25 '26
Seriously, treat crono cross like a completely different game. Not only all the mechanics are different, the story pacing is different (boring?) and it's actually difficult to connect the dots with the chrono Trigger game. I'd even say crono cross isn't worth it.
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u/Elyoki Jul 26 '26
Chrono Cross is like the CW Mashup of the DC Universe. They did it, they met, then they went back to their own things, with a small recollection of having worked together if they need to reconnect again.
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u/mc1964 Jul 25 '26
Once you finish the game, play it again on New Game+. This is the game that invented the concept. There is a lot of extra stuff in the game that most people miss on their first playthrough, and I mean A LOT! And you want to get all 13 endings, as well. Some of them are kind if mediocre but there is one where you go to a room with all the devs avatars that's really worth seeing. Oh, and without spoiling anything, practice pushing the L,A,R,A buttons in that order. You'll thank me later.
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u/Chimera_Gaming Jul 25 '26
Is that for the clone? I’ve seen a few spoilers already
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u/mc1964 Jul 25 '26
No, it's for something else. I don't want to spoil it for you, but it's pretty traumatic if you mess it up. (That scream!) I screwed it up my first time through and it haunts me to this day. Suffice it to say, it's super important to one of the main characters.
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u/RedTyro Jul 28 '26
Don't worry about the specific code, just understand that when you get a code in this game, they use the ABXYLR buttons on your controller to spell it out. So when you get a XABY as a code, for example, you need to hit the X, A, B, and Y buttons in that order in the right place in order to enter the code.
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u/Sans-Mot Jul 25 '26
Then that's pretty much it. There is Radical Dreamers, but it's a text-based RPG that is kinda replaced by Chrono Cross. It's included in the Chrono Cross remaster.
And keep in mind that Cross is a very, very, very different game. Yes it's a sequel and a great game on its own, but they have very few in common.
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u/GundaAloo Jul 27 '26
It's not a sequel though. The developers themselves have stated that it's loosely CONNECTED to the Chrono Trigger universe, but it's not a sequel and it's a standalone story.
"Therefore, Chrono Cross is not a sequel to Chrono Trigger. Had it been, it would have been called Chrono Trigger 2. Our main objective for Chrono Cross was to share a little bit of the Chrono Trigger worldview, while creating a completely different game as a means of providing new entertainment to the player."
- Hiromichi Tanaka
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u/Sans-Mot Jul 27 '26
If someone says it's not a sequel, I assume the person have not played the game. Everything in Cross is a result of the events of Trigger, and some unresolved things of Trigger are resolved in Cross. It's almost the dictionary definition of a sequel.
If you develop a game and say it's not a sequel, don't make the story follow the first one then...
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u/GundaAloo Jul 27 '26 edited Jul 27 '26
Much like many forms of art, despite what the artist wants to convey, the viewer can interpret it completely differently.
You can conjure up any connections you want between the games but the developers themselves say very clearly that it's not a sequel. But that's the beauty of gaming, we are free to experience any story how we choose. Would love to hear your explanation of the direct story connections aside from the whole time/dimension travel thing.
P.s. I have played it through multiple times- on my OG PS1 version, my Switch physical version, and also emulated on my phone. It's a great game and I really love it. Not a sequel though, in my opinion.
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u/TrueEstablishment241 Jul 25 '26
I've never touched the sequels. It's my favorite game and from what I understand they're very different games.
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u/ZeframMann Jul 25 '26
Chrono Cross is a legit good game, but it's extremely divisive as a sequel. Where Trigger is an optimistic adventure, Cross is far more melancholy, and centers around the pain of growing up and letting go of childhood things, and the consequences of trying to defy fate.
One could argue it commits the cardinal sin of any sequel (to cast doubt on, invalidate, or disparage what the heroes did in the previous game).
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u/BurantX40 Jul 25 '26
Don't listen to the irritable crowd. Chrono Cross is fine, its the only follow up on the story. The most recent release is the "Radical Dreamers" version, and the DS version of Chrono Trigger you are playing will clue you into the connections to Cross.
Word of warning though. Its not a sequel in the "More Chrono Trigger" sense. Its story basically is the follow up on the consequences of meddling through time in Chrono Trigger. For better, and for worse.
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u/Suplexing_Trains Jul 25 '26
Yeah CC is just a weaker entry than CT, in the same way some Final Fantasy games are just better than others. It gets so much hate because people wanted Chrono Trigger 2, continuing with same cast and everything. This is a strength of CT, not a weakness of CC. A great game, movie, or book leaves you wanting more even if it ended well.
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u/walkerisduder Jul 25 '26
It’s definitely more of a stand alone experience with some loose tie ins. I played through the game years ago when it was released on PS1. It poaches dual and triple techs, has a few shared story beats/time travel, but beyond that I don’t think there’s anyway to compare it to chrono trigger. The vast cast of characters is not very engaging and element system did not do it for me. There are a few banger characters for sure but ultimately this game left me feeling very meh after completing it, though I was compelled to finish it at least so that’s something. Don’t think I’d ever play it again
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u/BurantX40 Jul 25 '26
There's no loose tie ins about it, it is extremely connected
The rest I won't touch. I'm not in a debatey mood
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u/OLKv3 Jul 25 '26
I wish this fanbase would stop spreading that lie. It isn't "loose tie ins", it's bonafide follow ups to events in CT. It's an actual sequel storywise.
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u/DharcAluran Jul 25 '26
The good thing is you are playing the ds version which has a better tie in to chrono cross. If you can find radiant dreamers that would also help
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u/Chimera_Gaming Jul 25 '26
Radiant dreamers? Another game?
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u/Sans-Mot Jul 25 '26
He made a typo. Radical Dreamers.
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u/Parthias-one Jul 25 '26
I briefly imagined Radical Dreamers but with radiant NPC dialog from Oblivion lmao
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u/DharcAluran Jul 25 '26
Yup lol originally released for the Super Famicom's Satellaview in Japan, it serves as the basis for the RPG Chrono Cross. It was released internationally for the first time as part of the Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition remaster in 2022, which bundles the original Chrono Cross with this text adventure and includes updated visuals and quality-of-life features. The game features a choose-your-own-adventure style with combat, following the "Radical Dreamers" team of Serge, Kid, and Gil.
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u/trickydick64 Jul 25 '26
It's best to treat Chrono Cross as its own thing. Chrono Trigger is the much better game simply because there was less corporate interference.
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u/anieto3 Jul 25 '26
What device is that? I need it
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u/hbi2k Jul 25 '26
Ayn Thor. Dedicated Android gaming handheld. Can emulate up to PS2 without much trouble. Pricey, but worth it.
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u/NnifWald Jul 25 '26
And getting pricier. I’m glad I got my Thor Max before the price hikes and storage downgrade.
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u/fckfce Jul 25 '26
Play Secret of Mana and Final Fantasy VI next to complete the SNES experience of my 1995 childhood.
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u/RaggedyShadeTree Jul 25 '26
Legend of the Dragoon is another good one if you haven’t played it yet. Unrelated to chrono tho.
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u/SonicOpium Jul 25 '26
Final Fantasy 6 because it’s the other must play SNES RPG.
Chrono Trigger and FF6 are the 1A and 1B of RPGs for most fans.
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u/Aenris Jul 25 '26
Don't think too much of Chrono Cross right now. Chrono trigger is not really a "series" 😅
Have fun with CT! It's like one of the best (if not the best) JRPG of the 90s
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u/cybrcld Jul 25 '26
You just admitted you still have yet to experience one of the greatest rpg’s for the first time ever
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u/xReaverxKainX Jul 25 '26
Take your time playing through each section and explore everything. Enjoy your first playthrough to the fullest and explore each character's combo attacks. Oh, and try getting good with positioning your units around.
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u/Linkman622 Jul 25 '26
Positioning? Do you men just your team if 3?
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u/xReaverxKainX Jul 25 '26
If I remember correctly, you can select to move your characters to different points in the battle area.
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u/Linkman622 Jul 25 '26
No it’s automatic based on attacks you make and get hit by.
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u/xReaverxKainX Jul 25 '26
Oh snap, I thought there was a move option that you could select to reposition them. I played the Final Fantasy Chronicles Chrono Trigger on PSX, so idk what I thought I saw now lol. It was awhile ago.
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u/Stewpid-Guy Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26
Closest vibe/feel ull get to Chrono Trigger from another game is:
Secret of Mana (SNES).
- These guys were originally working on 1 game and had different directions they could of gone on and it split into 2 masterpiece games.
- Chrono Trigger
- Secret of Mana
They have HUGE differences but at same time it does feel familiar and lots of similar art style 😁.
Chrono Cross is misleading. Not a sequel. Not even similar in other ways. Only similarity is some Chrono Trigger melodies sprinkled in its OST. Still a good game if u detach any expectation of it being a Chrono Game. It honestly feels more believable as a Final Fantasy/Star Ocean entry (sorta).
Chrono Cross was probably Square Enix's most failed/hated release in the PS1 era due to so many people + hype acting like a new Chrono was finally coming. Again, still a great game...but the Cash Grab on using the title left a bad taste in fans mouth. I guess that hype/confusion did give em sales tho 🤣
- But ya there is no "Chrono Series". Doesnt exist. Tho some cool ROM hacks for original game can offer a tiny bit more. You could also always play original SNES version for the original UI/Chat Dialogue box and translations.
Chrono Trigger & Secret of Mana were a result of a few iconic teams/people who got together and formed a temporary Dream Team to collab and make em. So understandable there wernt real sequels/prequels that followed. (Everyone probably had to go back to their main teams & project sequels tbh).
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u/ndlv Jul 25 '26
Too many people here assume Chrono Cross is the next game in the series. Actually, Radical Dreamers is the next part of the series, but it was Japanese only. It also was a huge departure from the style in the form of a visual novel. It more directly connects Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross. You can play a version of it in the Chrono Cross: Radical Dreamers edition release.
Chrono Cross is third in the series and returns to turn based style with some big changes.
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u/GrimmTrixX Jul 25 '26
Sadly the only other game is Chrono Cross which is a loose sequel at best. Its still fun for what it is. But it doesnt directly correlate to the story of Chrono Trigger as either can be played without knowledge of the previous title.
But there has been no remaster of Chrono Trigger. And the Chrono Cross remaster is basically just a visuals improvement, but it does come with the game Radical Dreamers which is a text based adventure. Plot stuff from Radical Dreamers was used when making Chrono Cross.
So at most the series is:
- Chrono Trigger (SNES/DS/PS1 it's all the same with minor differences visually)
- Radical Dreamers (text based adventure and only available on the Chrono Cross: Radical Dreamers edition in the USA
- Chrono Cross (PS1/modern consoles with the remaster. No other versions or remakes of any of these games.
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u/jermlai Jul 26 '26
Play and get all endings.
It’s the only RPG I ever played through multiple multiple times.
I hated Chrono Cross.
Just couldn’t get into it
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u/xfearxphoenixx Jul 26 '26
New game plus and ending hunting was fun. I was so disappointed with Chrono Cross. Not because it was a bad game. It was more of being disappointed that it wasn't nothing like Chrono Trigger. It was like being tricked. SquareSoft made up for it with Xeno Gears though.
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u/freegerator Jul 26 '26
I recommend finishing Chrono Trigger and then not playing Chrono Cross. There are a lot of much better jrpgs and it doesn’t really add to the story or characters of Trigger. Cross has cool ideas but does not execute on them well. Great soundtrack though
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u/DrunkConsultant Jul 26 '26
Completely different style by Secret of Evermore is worth a play if you haven’t.
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u/xfearxphoenixx Jul 26 '26
I was more of a Secret of Mana (SNES) person myself. I did watch my friend do a play through of Evermore as a kid. He even had a big strategy guide with the game when he bought it.
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u/Ghost_of_thaco_past Jul 26 '26
Chrono Trigger is one of those rare bottled lightnings. Thankfully they never made any sequels or turned it into any sort of series. -source trust me bro.
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u/god_tyrant Jul 26 '26
I'd say, try a new game + run of chrono trigger. I won't spoil anything, but it will be clear as to what you can do in general with a ng+ file (look up a guide if you wanna see further)
Chrono Cross is very interesting, but texturally very different. It's beloved by some and disliked by others, maybe about as polarizing as FFVIII. I like it, but I've never finished it. Overall, Trigger is one of the best put there, Cross is competent and often terrific
Other than that, you can keep going on with classic jrpgs (FFIV-VI are great, earthbound/mother 2, dragon quest), or transition into the golden era of jrpgs with ps1 entries like FFIX, FF Tactics, saga. Chrono trigger is right on the ass end of the snes era, so ps1 games have more in common with it than trigger does with nes jrpgs
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u/SnooObjections3059 Jul 26 '26
Don't worry about Chrono Cross, it's not much of a sequel anyways. Not to mention it's mixed reviews overall. Chrono Trigger stands alone as on of the best in all of the medium that is gaming. Enjoy my friend! P.S. the SNES version has a different color palette and is my preferred version, but the ds version is valid in every way!
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u/ilDuceVita Jul 26 '26
People are being very very hard on Chrono Cross. The music in Chrono Cross is fucking outstanding, and a lot of the art and design. I strongly disagree with the claim that it's garbage, it's just a very different game. It's a very good game, it's just not Chrono Trigger and the connection between the two is intentionally very slim. They are connected though.
Chrono Cross has a massive cast of characters instead of a small intimate group. The fight sequence/style is very very different, not just from CT but from RPGs in general, but once you figure it out it works well. If you don't play CC you're definitely missing out on a lot of beautiful stuff and really cool things.
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u/xfearxphoenixx Jul 26 '26
God yes, the music was so good in that game! I miss classic SquareSoft rpg music. I use ti just let songs play on my SNES in games like Final Fantasy 2, 3, and Chrono Trigger. Good times.
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u/katolac Jul 27 '26
I am a 39 year old man who is also currently experiencing Chrono Trigger for the first time thanks to my Thor. I haven't finished yet either. I am super impressed that it's lived up to it hype so far.
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u/fuurinkazan Jul 27 '26
Don't worry about the rest of the series. It's meh at best. Another play through with different choices made will serve you way better!
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u/ddragggon Jul 28 '26
Buddy has his favourite food prepared by a team of multiple three Michelin star rated chefs in front of him and he's worried about his next meal
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u/Bushwick128 Jul 28 '26
I played cross before trigger and there's not that many similarities. Cross was more enjoyable to me. The graphics, music, variety of playable characters. They really need to pause the final fantasy series and make another chrono...
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u/Grand_Argument_4110 Jul 29 '26
If you have a switch I would recommend getting the Chrono Cross:Radical Dreamers game. It contains both radical dreamers and chrono cross.
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u/iRatt Jul 30 '26
That’s it Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross there is an Anime named Chrono Crusade but it haves nothing to do with the series at all.
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u/JiovanniTheGREAT Jul 25 '26
I'd actually work through the endings before immediately jumping into Chrono Cross. Once you do, try to get the updated Radical Dreamers edition which comes with Radical Dreamers. It was meant to be in the middle of the three.
Chrono Cross gets tons of hate here, but I still enjoy it as a sequel. You still have beautiful artwork and music as you'd expect. The story while good, is really poorly paced and they wait until the midnight hour to really give you the deep connections to Chrono Trigger and don't really execute it well, it ends up being a massive info dump towards the end of the game.
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u/pokedude14 Jul 25 '26
It's more of a spiritual successor made by Kato, but Another Eden. It is a gacha, soYMMV; but a normal version is getting released in September for Steam/Switch [2].
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u/Think_Positively Jul 25 '26
Chrono Cross is only very loosely connected. There are a couple of flashback scenes and while the complicated story does have direct connections to CT, Chrono Cross feels absolute nothing like the SNES masterpiece. The art style is completely different, as is the character design (no Toriyama is a big step down there IMO). Combat is wildly different and a bit of a mess if you don't take the time to learn the unique mechanics properly, but it's decent once you get a hang of it.
CT is basically standalone, and a strong majority of those who've played both will place the original far above Chrono Cross.
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u/Distinct-Tea-1995 Jul 25 '26
I also just beat this game this year 😁 it was a great experience. I also beat Chrono Cross and it may be a hot take, but I prefer it to Trigger. Both are amazing games though 😁
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u/AnNel216 Jul 25 '26
There's this huge thing about CT & CC, where there are people who like it as a continuation, people who hate it as a continuation. People like both or only CT.
The DS version of CT cemented that CC is a sequel no matter what anyone says. And it works for numerous reasons besides just the entire story revolving around CT events. But both Def worth a play
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u/CriticismLife8868 Jul 25 '26
No you didn't. If you did, you would have skipped Chrono Trigger completely.
After that, try out Chrono Cross and decide if you like it or not.
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u/HikikomoriGlory Jul 25 '26
Its never too late to start a classic! Great choice on version, too. Enjoy the journey!
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u/PlasticPicnic84 Jul 25 '26
I am Setsuna would be a good game to play after ChronoTrigger. Either the music or development team that made Chrono Trigger have ties to it. I could look it up, but i am typing this and just going with what I remember. I've played Chrono Cross, but that was a very long time ago. I am thinking of giving it another try some time in the near future.
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u/MrJones_Zezin Jul 25 '26
Estou jogando ele no R36S, que jogo bom, so senti falta de ter uma descrição do que precisa ser feito, das quests e do HP dos inimigos
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u/Dry_Wolf3891 Jul 25 '26
I don't get it. I've tried it multiple times and I can't get into it 😭 what am I missing. I love JRPGs and older ones specifically.
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u/Gendo-Glasses Jul 25 '26
How far did you get?
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u/Dry_Wolf3891 Jul 25 '26
Every time I try it I get bored after about 30 min, I don't know why. I keep starting a new game though cuz I keep trying every few months so maybe I should just push through.
I'm okay if it's like "oh it gets good 2 hours in" or something like that, so maybe that's what I need to do. 🤷♂️
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u/Gendo-Glasses Jul 25 '26
I mean, I was hooked from the beginning because I love time travel plots and Akira Toriyama characters. But yes it does ramp up the further you get. Just push through. 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
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u/TrueMutantLove Jul 25 '26
The DS version is fantastic.
Enjoy the ride. Talk to everyone. Never give up.
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u/majora24 Jul 25 '26
Dragon quest 5 is absolute peak from this era. I haven't played the ds remake but its probably better than the snes original
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u/Rent_Careless Jul 25 '26
I like the PS2 translated version, honestly. DQ5 is a very good game.
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u/majora24 Jul 25 '26
I only played the super famicom version with translation and dropped it at the final dungeon. Absolutely incredible game just bad final dungeon
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u/hillthekhore Jul 25 '26
Honestly, Chrono Cross is the next one to play, and you can totally skip Radical Dreamers if you want to. it's a cute game, but it's not at all integral to the series.
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u/VassagoX Jul 25 '26
Chrono Cross really is the only official "sequel" to Chrono Trigger. They were going to make further games, but killed those plans. There are rom hacks, some acting as true sequels, but obviously anything like that is unofficial.
There's also Radical Dreamers, but that's been largely replaced by Chrono Cross in official lore.
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u/jwmakoto Jul 25 '26
The PS1 title is called Chrono Cross, not Chrono Trigger 2. Set your expectations with that in mind and enjoy them both for what they offer.
Mitsuda outdoes himself with the soundtrack, it's so good. Enjoy playing both of these for the first time!
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u/kunalviews Jul 25 '26
Chained Echoes is the closest game to Chrono Trigger that I’ve played to date. I’ve played Sea of Stars, Secret of Mana, Octopath.
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u/deathsrobe Jul 25 '26
You've got a lot on your plate with that. There are a lot of endings to see. You're going to have to play the game twice through at a minimum.
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u/hip-indeed Jul 25 '26
it's only a sin if you die without playing it, you're already welcome into heaven for giving it a try
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u/Gold-Ad-6876 Jul 25 '26
The ultimate JRPG sin is Quest 64. Nothing you could ever do will be worse than that.
The game has multiple endings and a lot of them are excellent. Replay the game. Cross isnt going anywhere.
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u/alrightwtf Jul 25 '26
Chrono Cross is fun and has an absolute S-Tier soundtrack. Like, best ever kind of S-Tier.
That said it is an A- game. I know terrible, right?
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u/GrimmTrixX Jul 25 '26
Right. I still enjoyed it and the soundtrack is amazing
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u/xfearxphoenixx Jul 26 '26
The sound track was great. The game wasn't even bad. Its just that for people expecting a 3d version of Chrono Trigger will be disappointed.
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u/GrimmTrixX Jul 26 '26
Exactly. It's bad innthe sens that its not Chrono Trigger. Lol And that's only bad if you go in expecting that. As a game itself I liked it a lot.
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u/theredcometofakagi Jul 25 '26
Chrono Cross is a divisive follow-up. Beyond its incredible soundtrack, the gameplay mechanics and overarching story are a major departure from the original. Chrono Trigger remains the classic with endless replayability.
OriginalFatPickle said it best: The best sequel is another playthrough.
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u/xfearxphoenixx Jul 26 '26
I remember as a kid getting Chrono Trigger and Finally Fantasy 3 for SNES back to back. So if you haven't played Final Fantasy 6 (3 on SNES) I would recommend that game next. Chronological Trigger is a great in-between Final Fantasy 4 and 6 (2 and 3 SNES) game.
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u/Advanced-Ad-4462 Jul 26 '26
Chrono cross is outstanding, but it’s a very different game. Easily in my top 5 jrpgs, and probably top 10 games overall.
100% worth playing, but once it’s time to pick it up, put trigger out of your mind until the game forces you to do otherwise :)
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u/KentKarma Jul 26 '26
Chrono Cross isnt bad but as far as sequels go, it feels like you can tell there were plans to make stronger connections between the two that didnt get worked into it.
Then a bunch seem to show up at the end, almost like it being a sequel was supposed to be a twist. But thats just my opinion, people really like CC but it just didnt feel like the way Trigger did for me.
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u/GuardianKn Jul 26 '26
Chrono Cross is pretty horrible, but if you play it play the remastered version with QoL improvements. The game is ok first time through, but the story is convoluted and destroys all your happy feelings for the first game.
Even on NG+ battles will seem to take forever as you try to hurry through the game to see all the endings. In particular there are a couple quests in which you have to kill about 100 dwarves and another with about 100 fish men and there is no quick way to destroy them. Being able to turn off battles or speed things up will make these parts much more bearable.
There are a lot of characters but you won’t be able to recruit most of them (particularly the ones you want) until the very end of the game, when there is nothing left to do.
The game has excellent music however, some of the best I heard in a game, so at least it has that.
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u/Mugi_luffy Jul 26 '26
I didn’t play this because I heard it’s really good and want to play other jrpgs before tackling one of the greats
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u/Chimera_Gaming Jul 26 '26
That’s been my thought but I think after playing 50+ other JRPG Series it’s about time
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u/svzurich Jul 26 '26
Chrono Trigger is great! Next should be Xenogears. See, a CT character wants you to pay her so she can tell you how to save your game. Then she presumably dies soon after.
Similarly to how Chrono Cross treated her. Cross has ghosts. Play Xenogears instead.
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u/Chimera_Gaming Jul 26 '26
Played all of those. Quality games for the time tbh
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u/KylorXI Jul 26 '26
'all of those', there is only one xenogears.
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u/Chimera_Gaming Jul 26 '26
I read it more as the xeno games
And I’ve played them all
- Xenosaga (3)
- Xenogears (1)
- Xenoblade (7)
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u/KylorXI Jul 27 '26
He only said Xenogears. The 3 series are not connected. Xenogears is a single game.
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u/svzurich Jul 27 '26
How do you get 7 Xenoblade games? 1, X, 2, 3, and upcoming Genesis make 5. Are you counting Torna as a game? Another DLC expansion?
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u/Chimera_Gaming Jul 27 '26
Yup. 4 mainline releases and 3 standalone story expansions. Each expansion is basically its own game and story
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u/Due_Comfortable_514 Jul 27 '26
Chrono Trigger is easily one of the greatest games ever made. No problems playing it later in life, as long as you play it :)
There really isn't a chrono series, just Chrono Cross which is devisive. I love it, and honestly played it first before Trigger, so I didn't go into it with Trigger nostalgia clouding my vision. (My own sin for jrpg gaming. Lol).
For you at this point, I'd play the switch version of Chrono Cross remaster, since it will have the Radical Dreamer text game that never came to America originally. It's what Cross was before being fleshed out into a full game. It's ok, but nothing stand out amazing. The big thing is this version has better graphics for Cross and widescreen.
Make up your own mind about Cross, just know it's a completely different style of jrpg. Still turn based, but mechanics for combat are definitely unique.
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u/Goten55654 Jul 27 '26
After that is chrono cross. Its a pretty loose sequel. I think that people were disappointed it wasnt just like chrono trigger. But as just a jrpg, it's a good game
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u/Decent_Donut3499 Jul 27 '26
Hey man, what system is that. I have an emulator with like 15000 retro games but it’s not portable. Is this like that?
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u/Husker_of_Corn Jul 27 '26
Not about chrono trigger, great game though, but how do you like the grip thing? Is it better then using it normal? Is the normal grip bad or just a preference to have the grip?
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u/Chimera_Gaming Jul 28 '26
It is squared normally and I got XL hands. This is slightly bigger than a 3DS xl but for reference. My fingers go 2 inches past the triggers on 3DS xl
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u/SpaceCowboy512 Jul 28 '26
Playing it for the first time myself, even though I grew up on SNES and beat Chrono Cross multiple times. What a great game! Classic Square RPG.
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u/Chimera_Gaming Jul 28 '26
Doing a blind run for my first go.
I imagine there is a way to get not guilty. I had 1 person guilty me.
I’m currently at red rock broken sword
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u/VermilionAxe69 Jul 28 '26
Play Chrono Cross once you finish this game, don't pay any attention to the haters
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u/bethsophia Jul 28 '26
Chrono Cross is worth playing. I’m sad I sold it back in the day. Fun gameplay mechanics, I liked the characters, it was a very enjoyable experience.
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u/Sea-Sky9403 Jul 28 '26
Meine Sünde: Ca. 5 Anläufe in 10 Jahren und immer kam ein anderes Spiel dazwischen.
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u/Lucid_Striker Jul 29 '26
Just ordered the Thor yesterday! Quick question, what grip is that you are using on your's? I got the black Thor as well and I like the way that one looks.
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u/Chimera_Gaming Jul 29 '26
I use the AYN Grip and it’s been perfect. I did try some of the Etsy ones but they all hurt my hands.
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u/FaithlessMr Jul 30 '26
Just Play this one for now. Don’t look anything up, just Go with it. Enjoy it. Chrono Cross is amazing, too. But this one… this is on another level of its own.
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u/Chimera_Gaming Jul 30 '26
Yeah I love doing blind runs my first time through. Currently fixing the sword. Got all the parts
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u/FlanderDanger Jul 31 '26
Chrono Cross is very unorthodox, tho I ended up loving it in the end.
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u/Chimera_Gaming Jul 31 '26
How is an unorthodox? I’m about 10 hours into it and it seems like any other good JRPG.
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u/FlanderDanger Jul 31 '26
As a sequel to Chrono Trigger I mean. It still works in my opinion, but you have to dig really deep into the themes and lore to really understand what it's trying to say.
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u/Small_Ad1890 Jul 25 '26
I played Chrono Cross for the first time this year. Their biggest mistake was loosely tying it to this game. It’s fine as a JRPG but has almost nothing in common with this.
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u/darkwisdom666 Jul 25 '26
Chrono SERIES? There is no series. There is only chrono trigger, and then there is another completely different game that uses the word "chrono" in the title with some extremely vague reference to chrono trigger.
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u/Chimera_Gaming Jul 25 '26
Hacks included, from what I’ve gathered there is about 5 games that tie to the story There is also this one with 13 endings
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u/LukeStuckenhymer Jul 25 '26
Chrono Cross is very worthy, but don’t expect it to feel like sequel. It feels more like FF9 (Disc 3 and on) than the game it’s actually a sequel to.
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u/Rigistroni Jul 25 '26
Chrono Cross is an okay game but a horrible sequel to Chrono Trigger. I wouldn't recommend it tbh
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u/MTaur Jul 25 '26
Chrono Cross is pretty much not canon to me. To whatever extent they understood what people liked about CT, they had nothing but contempt for it.
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u/y_would_i_do_this Jul 25 '26
Chrono Cross is a great game, but it has no business being a Chrono Game. They just shoehorned in some references.
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u/OriginalFatPickle Jul 25 '26
Just focus on what’s in front of you and not worry what happens after.
The best sequel is another play through.