Chrono Cross story, staff revelations

[07.20.99] » Surprising new findings reveal that Chrono Cross' storyline is borrowed from an older Square title known as Radical Dreamers. Plus, a translation of Square's Chrono Cross website reveals complete character bios, further plot details, staff comments, and the possibility of future Chrono titles.

   Thanks to a translation of Square of Japan's newly-opened Chrono Cross webpage, tantalizing new details concerning the game's storyline and staff members have surfaced. Much more surprising, however, is the news that Chrono Cross appears to borrow much of its core storyline from a Super Nintendo game titled Radical Dreamers, released only in Japan three years ago.

   According to videogames.com, a Square title called Radical Dreamers was released for the Super Famicom's Sattelaview, a short-lived peripheral add-on. Square released four titles for the add-on in total. Masato Kato directed and wrote the game, and composer Yasunori Mitsuda scored the music. A "multiscenario digital novel," Radical Dreamers starred three characters known as Serge, Kid, and Gill. The trio ventured off to steal an item known as the "Freezing Flame" during the course of the game from a manor owned by Yamaneko. Serge, Kid, and Yamaneko are, of course, the three primary characters in Chrono Cross. Radical Dreamers reportedly also made allusions to the original Chrono Trigger's characters, dealing with their fates past the RPG's ending.

   It's not clear whether or not Chrono Cross borrows Radical Dreamers' plot entirely, but the "story" section on Square's Chrono Cross website presents the following poem, loosely translated:

     By the star's dream, cleansed of darkness,
     A future is born.
     However this is, just the opening for
     A new nightmare...
     Searching for legendary 'Freezing Flame',
     For dragon and human and fate, beyond dimensions,
     The final battle is about to begin...
 
          The star's dream
               has not yet ended...

   The "Freezing Flame" line provides strong evidence that at least one major element from Radical Dreamers is incorporated into Chrono Cross -- and is perhaps even Serge's primary goal throughout his quest.

   Other items of interest in Square's new section include a prominent line which seems to indicate the company isn't intending to stop with simply one new Chrono title: "The first title in the revived, new 'Chrono' series is ready for PlayStation!" Could Square be intending a whole new string of games in the Chrono series? Travel across time and multiple dimensions certainly leaves enough room open for a massive variety of plots and premises.

   Square's page also provides short biographies of the game's three main characters, including information which indicates Serge has been travelling across dimensions after becoming trapped in another world:

Serge - Main Character

The main character of this story. Bright and clever boy.
Lost and wandering in another world, going on adventures that
cross beyond dimensions. His weapon is called Sisuro.

Age:                17 years old
Sex:                Male
Job:                Housework Assistant
Birth:              Aluni
Height:             170cm
Weight:             58Kg
Figure:             Average
Weapon hand:        Right

Kid - Traveller

The Heroine of this story, going on all sorts of adventures
with Serge. It is unclear what happened between her and Yamaneko
in the past. Bravado personality ­ never wants to show any
weakness. Her weapon, which always lays close to her body, is a
pair of daggers.

Age:                17 years old
Sex:                Female
Job:                No job
Birth:              Unknown
Height:             165cm
Weight:             45Kg
Figure:             Thin
Weapon hand:        Both

Yamaneko - Catman

Long time rival of Kid. A members of the catman sub-species.
Surrounded in mystery, he is a cold, cruel and calculating person.
He uses unbelievable skills and controls monster lynxes. His path
will cross many times with that of the Hero's.

Age:                ??
Sex:                Male
Job:                No job
Birth:              Unknown
Height:             182cm
Weight:             80Kg
Figure:             Strong
Weapon hand:        Right

   Finally, several of Chrono Cross' key team members were given a chance on the site to express their feelings on the development of a new title in the Chrono series. Composer Yasunori Mitsuda, believed to have left Square of Japan a few years ago, explained why he's back on the project: "It is true that I have left Squaresoft. That happened after the completion of Xenogears. The reason for my leaving is because I want to pursue the study into all sorts of different styles of music. Now I¹m taking on the challenge of a freelance musician. And the result of this experience is this music for Chrono Cross. Hope everyone likes my new 'Powered Up' soundtracks..."

   Masato Kato, Chrono Cross' director and writer, spoke of Chrono Cross' relation to Chrono Trigger: "It has already been 4 years since the release of Chrono Trigger. In that period, so many things happened, I worked on various projects ­ FF7, Xenogears etc... Chrono Cross is not Chrono Trigger 2, there maybe familiar things, but this is another Chrono, a different one... Everyone, when you reach the ending, I hope you will know what I mean. Thus, the star's dream has not yet ended..."

   Square has also been quick to point out that the exclusion of the original "Dream Team" leaders -- Akira Toriyama, Yuji Horii, and Hironobu Sakaguchi -- won't negatively affect the game. Apart from Toriyama, Horii, and Sakaguchi, most of the original Chrono Trigger staff has been re-grouped for the project known internally as "Project Kid": "Producer Hiromichi Tanaka is a veteran from FF 1, 2, 3, Seiken Densetsu 2, 3 and Xenogears. While Director Masato Kato was the original scenario writer for Chrono Trigger. The re-gathering of the Chrono Trigger team, the platform switching to PlayStation, plus the new character design from Nobuteru Yuki (Record of Lodoss War, Five Star Stories, Seiken Densetsu 3) forms Square¹s strongest team line-up!" The page later states: "Huh? Without 'Dream team', will the game be any good? No need to worry! This team has inherited the spirit from the 'Dream Team'. Headed by Chrono Trigger's scenario writer, Masato Kato, this is the gathering for Square's best project! Most other staff comes from the Chrono Trigger and Xenogears team. Event Making, Battle Effects, CG Movie by Final Fantasy VIII staff. The ultimate combination."

   A huge thank-you goes to Katsura for the translation of Square's Chrono Cross webpage.