Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition Now Available
Square’s controversial classic is finally back from the past! Chrono Cross, which originally released in Japan in 1999 for the original Playstation, has been cleaned up and restored for modern-day gamers. If you missed it the first time, don’t make the same mistake twice!
It’s been over twenty years since CC’s original release, and it hasn’t been made available since in any form beyond an emulated version. What took the game so long, you ask? The usual problems were in the way: lost source code and assets. The code had to be untangled from scratch and the backgrounds had to be upscaled from standard definition. They used some AI algorithms this time, with mixed results (better than how Final Fantasy IX looks, but it still wouldn’t fool anyone). I would like to think Square has learned from all these reverse-engineered reconstructions and now saves all their work, but…this is modern-day Square we’re talking about so probably not.
This is one I’ve been impatiently waiting for, so I took it for a spin last night the second it became playable at midnight. The backgrounds definitely look Vaseline-y, but you can still see all the care that went into creating such a colorful, tropical world. There is slowdown, but only in the places where it was originally there (it’s not a dealbreaker for me). The music, thankfully, remains untouched (there were rumors of a redone soundtrack, but this was for a separate product). Chrono Cross has the best soundtrack of any video game ever made — I’m not gonna tell you the game is perfect, but you need to play it just for that.
- 3D models converted to HD*
- Brand new artwork and character redesign by Nobuteru Yuuki*
- Refined background music by Yasunori Mitsuda
- Switch enemy encounters on or off
- Background filter feature*
- Battle enhancement features
- Auto-battle function
- French, Italian, German and Spanish localization now added
- Switch between imitation pixel font and HD font*
- Change screen resolution
- The inclusion of RADICAL DREAMERS – Le Trésor Interdit -, never before released in the West.
- Players can choose between playing with original or updated graphics*
*The 3D models, illustrations, font and background filter cannot be toggled separately. They will all be switched together.
Chrono Cross has gone from nowhere to everywhere: if you have a game-playing device, you can experience it now. The newfangled HD version is out now for Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch, XBox One and PC via Steam.
chronoxiong
April 7, 2022 @ 2:34 pm
I would have preferred a sequel or remake, but a remaster will do. I still want to see a new game, though. I am still bitter when Square Soft ordered a cease in decease to the attempted fan game remake years ago.
chronoclast
April 7, 2022 @ 2:56 pm
Hmm… This remaster is all I could ask for a long time. It captures the original game’s elegance while upgrading it just enough to maintain its nostalgia. It may be a ‘new’ release… However, comparing it to recent games isn’t the best comparison. We want the game to be loyal to itself as it was in 1999.
If you want to play a game with more modern gameplay, I recommend checking out some of the other new RPGs every year.
amichan
April 7, 2022 @ 3:04 pm
I’m excited to give this game a shot as someone who has never played it before. Looks like a fun blast from the past. I love Boomer Games.