Chrono Cross, although it is the canonical sequel to Trigger, is nothing like its predecessor. The combat system, art style, and overall storytelling are different. With that being said, I love this game. The premise of there being two parallel worlds, and being able to explore both of them is a treat. One thing I loved to do was take party members from one world, to talk to their counterparts in the other world. This ranged from a few lines of dialogue to full blown sidequests. Speaking on the characters, not all of them are fleshed out; however, I don't really mind that all too much. To me, the characters all have their own motives to join your party, whether it be the frozen flame, to stop Lynx, or because you gave birth to them in a basement. I vibe with the fact that you can have a party with a bunch of randos who may not be friends, but are in it until the end.
I do understand the gripes that come with the game though. The ending parts of the game are filled with lore dumps, the normal battle theme aint the best, and most importantly, how saving Kid locks you from getting Glenn. Regardless, the overall atmosphere and theme of the game are top notch. Even the smallest action, such as existence, has major implications on the future (I mean look at the consequences of Serge surviving the Panther). Every living thing influences the course of time and life itself, making no single being useless. This all culminates with probably the best end credits theme I've heard in a while. Gosh I love this game.