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After the official revelation of Chrono Cross' existence came from Japan, most fans eagerly awaited the response to one question above all others: would it take place in Chrono Trigger's world, either as a prequel or a sequel? The release of blurry screen shots in Japan's Shonen Jump magazine and initial impressions of the demo disc packed with Legend of Mana clearly left many disappointed -- not only was the game seemingly independent from Chrono Trigger, but it seemed like a standard RPG at best. Much to our delight, both judgements seem to be premature. The Chrono Cross demo unfortunately begins in what must be one of the most boring and drab dungeons in the game. Only afterwards does one exit into a colorful and rustic town reminiscent of Chrono Trigger. (The main character even awakes in bed after hearing his name, throws opens the shades, greets his mother and two cats, and collects 200 gold from under his bed.) But because the demo is in Japanese, few English-speaking importers have realized where to go and what to do in order to complete the demo. The ending movie that plays after completing the final area (27 new screen shots available here) reveals a great deal about the real Chrono Cross. One witnesses a new rendered CG sequence, several intriguing and varied scenes of dialog, new characters, and more that all leaves us looking forward to the final game far more than the feeling one has after the first half of the demo. The shocker, though, comes with the identification of one of the finale's key locations -- Lucca's house, engulfed in flames. Serge ventures through the inferno and comes across a wall covered with childish sketches of Chrono Trigger's heroes: Crono, Marle, Lucca, Robo, Frog, etc. Upon looking at the Lucca drawing, Serge reads text which states "Please address this person as 'oneechan' (big sister)." While "oneechan" can often be used as a term of endearment in Japan, it seems as though Lucca gained a sibling after the end of Chrono Trigger. In addition, a secret door opens up after examining the picture. Serge enters a room with Lucca's glasses lying haphazardly on the floor and a heavy-set figure facing a window. The screen fades to black as the figure turns, but the figure appears to be Serge's feline rival Yamaneko. So, does all this mean Chrono Cross takes place entirely in Chrono Trigger's world? Surprisingly, no. While plot details are still sketchy, Square of Japan's newly-opened Chrono Cross section prominently displays the following text: "In Spring 1995, we crossed time and space. In Winter 1999, we'll cross dimensions. A Chrono to surpass Chrono is coming!" It seems as though Chrono Cross will take place across multiple worlds -- or, much more likely, multiple versions of the same world. And at least at two points, the original Chrono Trigger world is revisited -- Guardia castle is seen and mentioned in the final demo sequence as well. Along with a movie depicting Serge and Glenn's X-Strike attack, we've got the entire 6+ minute demo finale available for download. One of Chrono Trigger's most recognizable themes is audible during the during the spectacular sequence. While clocking in at a massive 38 megs, the download is certainly worthwhile for Chrono Trigger fans looking for the best -- and most promising -- glimpse at the upcoming sequel. Alternatively, 27 screen shots of the finale are also available. Thanks once again to Jeremy Parish for the finale capture -- head on over to his homepage for a walkthrough of the demo disc.
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