I've been in a burnout these days, not feeling gratification in gaming and lacking a feeling of vitality I get whenever I play something that connects strongly. I've tried other games from my list only to drop them due to lack of interest, or something at the moment not clicking. On a whim I tried Chrono Cross again because of the score for whatever reason resonating deeply at this moment in my life. Looking back now after finishing, I can't believe I allowed myself to gloss over this game for so long. It hit every check-mark and once in-tune with the battle system, it felt like the most intuitive gameplay in an rpg I've ever played.
Its story is surprisingly somber and philosophically absurdist, taking the right approach by branching from Chrono Trigger thematically in taking a introspective method of reflection of impermanence, self-purpose and whether life has inherent value or meaning, reasserting our own purpose and domain than assigned purpose, and how time travel would change us as a species in diminishing value of life. This is all perfectly cohesive to the hand-drawn art direction for its backgrounds and post-impressionist influence the game designers ran with as the artists and movements, too, embraced imperfection and the natural world being subjective; living simultaneously amongst other realities along our own; the moments that pass and the rhythms that surround us daily, capturing the ephemeral. The score has been spoken ad nauseam at this point, but is a testament to music enhancing experience and thematically emphasizing tone and story.
One of its biggest complaints is its roster being mainly swappable characters lacking in personality other than some colloquially written dialogue bits with some obtuse story/game design when it comes to obtaining certain members. Personally I'm in the minority thinking it as integral to its overarching theme, albeit its delivery could be stronger. We have ripple effects in the every-day interactions with people, some we resonate with while others we may not, the best friend in another world living outside our experience. It emphasizes this chain reaction the player creates in its world, as though the player is working collectively with humanity as a whole - people I've touched in whatever way or another joining hands, and others as missed opportunities that require xyz interaction to lead into them being a part of my life; the real-life Schroedinger's Cat we experience daily, beautiful to pontificate yet a somber reality.
Over the past years, I've tried playing Chrono Cross for honestly don't know how many times, having dropped it and lost interest rather quickly - from its unconventional battle-system at first glance being overwhelming to hearing how it lacks the same quality to Chrono Trigger. Just 2 years ago I also got through Chrono Trigger and was surprised how much it lived up to its hype, never growing up or having sentimental value towards it. Now playing Chrono Cross and also having no attachment, it's been treated unfairly despite its imperfections in obvious regards. However, after finally playing both and appreciating them for different reasons, they're akin to Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. Both well crafted experiences, one more straight forward than the other one and doing it well, and the other an experimentation on fate, animism, absurdism, and psychology. It's a poignant piece of art that will mark a lasting impression longer than CT personally, and is now one of my favorite pieces of media. It will always live in memory, as the story itself begs us as a species to not forget ourselves nor the ones we love: in an absurd world, that is all we can place faith and value on.
Its story is surprisingly somber and philosophically absurdist, taking the right approach by branching from Chrono Trigger thematically in taking a introspective method of reflection of impermanence, self-purpose and whether life has inherent value or meaning, reasserting our own purpose and domain than assigned purpose, and how time travel would change us as a species in diminishing value of life. This is all perfectly cohesive to the hand-drawn art direction for its backgrounds and post-impressionist influence the game designers ran with as the artists and movements, too, embraced imperfection and the natural world being subjective; living simultaneously amongst other realities along our own; the moments that pass and the rhythms that surround us daily, capturing the ephemeral. The score has been spoken ad nauseam at this point, but is a testament to music enhancing experience and thematically emphasizing tone and story.
One of its biggest complaints is its roster being mainly swappable characters lacking in personality other than some colloquially written dialogue bits with some obtuse story/game design when it comes to obtaining certain members. Personally I'm in the minority thinking it as integral to its overarching theme, albeit its delivery could be stronger. We have ripple effects in the every-day interactions with people, some we resonate with while others we may not, the best friend in another world living outside our experience. It emphasizes this chain reaction the player creates in its world, as though the player is working collectively with humanity as a whole - people I've touched in whatever way or another joining hands, and others as missed opportunities that require xyz interaction to lead into them being a part of my life; the real-life Schroedinger's Cat we experience daily, beautiful to pontificate yet a somber reality.
Over the past years, I've tried playing Chrono Cross for honestly don't know how many times, having dropped it and lost interest rather quickly - from its unconventional battle-system at first glance being overwhelming to hearing how it lacks the same quality to Chrono Trigger. Just 2 years ago I also got through Chrono Trigger and was surprised how much it lived up to its hype, never growing up or having sentimental value towards it. Now playing Chrono Cross and also having no attachment, it's been treated unfairly despite its imperfections in obvious regards. However, after finally playing both and appreciating them for different reasons, they're akin to Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. Both well crafted experiences, one more straight forward than the other one and doing it well, and the other an experimentation on fate, animism, absurdism, and psychology. It's a poignant piece of art that will mark a lasting impression longer than CT personally, and is now one of my favorite pieces of media. It will always live in memory, as the story itself begs us as a species to not forget ourselves nor the ones we love: in an absurd world, that is all we can place faith and value on.