Leaks regarding Square Enix updating the iconic JRPGChrono Crossfor modern platforms led to some unfair expectations among the game’s fanbase. When Square Enix revealedChrono Crossto be a very straightforward remaster of1999 PlayStation game, there was certainly some disappointment that it wasn’t a higher-budget project. Square Enix is now working to establish healthier expectations, sharing a series of newChronic Crossremaster screenshots showing just how the JRPG’s visuals have been enhanced.
Four new screenshots have been shared from Square Enix, with all four stemming from a single scene inChrono Cross. The scene in question is absolutely a spoiler, albeit a light one, due to the inclusion of two characters that players would otherwise not know to be friendly until well into the game. As a showcase ofChrono Cross' remastered visuals, it’s an odd choice, but it does provide a glimpse at the game that may otherwise have never been showcased.
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The scene is a conversation between twoChrono Crosscharacters, Harle and Starky. It’s a scene where Starky, an alien, confronts Harle over “fluid” coming from her eyes. Harle is crying over an encounter with Lynx, who she loves. Harle then goes on to explain to Starky what a tear is and how it flows from your eye when you are sad or hurt, which Starky then confirms he understands. It’s just a charming moment between two interestingChrono Crossfriends.
The visuals in the scene don’t really differentiate between the screenshots. They each show the same content. There are both Harle and Starky’s 3D models, the ship that they’re standing on, the text box above their heads, and each of their 2D profile pictures shown. The ship itself has been updated with a painterly rendering system that smooths out theold art’s pixelization, but is otherwise identical. The 3D models are actually quite odd. Harle’s harlequin hat cones, for instance, have rigid polygonal corners where the old 3D models were much more finely detailed. Her face does have a higher resolution texture, though.
Harle’s profile picture shown in the text boxes used for the conversation show a dramatic change, too. Harle’s picture is much higher resolution, as if it was a perfect scan of a piece of concept art. TheolderChrono Crossartwas very much pixelated and lacking fine detail. This, too, could be a matter of taste, though. The style of the new picture jives with the 3D model dramatically, where the old art seemed more in line with the old 3D art.
Ultimately, Square Enix’s decision to do a very standard visual remaster ofChrono Crossis likely to remain a controversial choice. These four screenshots show that while the resolution has improved in Harle’s 3D face and 2D picture, the stylization of the oldChrono Crosshas been lost in translation, to a degree. For one of the best-lookingPlayStation JRPGsof that generation, Square Enix’s remaster may not have had the scope necessary to do the classic what it deserved, but fans can decide for themselves come launch.
Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreams Editionreleases April 7 on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
