Along with hardware advancements, the shift to the 3D environment in the '90s prompted many developers to consider how they would like to handle innovation in their games. Some decided to introduce gameplay concepts that improved the overall delivery of their titles, while others invented a brand-new approach to certain mechanics that never really took off. Like several other iconic games of its era, Square's Chrono Cross featured a unique battle system that stood out from the rest.
Though it has been over 20 years since its initial release, the recent release of Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition brought joy to both younger and older generations of gamers. While longtime fans are finally able to enjoy the game on modern consoles, new players might find parts of the game confusing. There is a lot to Chrono Cross' battle system, but once players get the hang of its intricate workings, they can engross themselves in the game's rewarding experience.
How Stamina Works in Chrono Cross
Stamina is at the core of Chrono Cross' battle system. At the beginning of any given battle, characters have a total of seven stamina points, which are then deducted based on the potency of the attack. Players can easily keep track of the remaining points by consulting the respective character's information pane found at the bottom of the screen.
As every combat action consumes at least one stamina point, it is entirely possible for the players to end up below zero depending on the type of attack they perform. When a character's stamina reaches zero or goes negative, their turn ends. Fortunately, characters can recover lost stamina points over time either by defending or having other party members carry out actions in battle.
How Chrono Cross' Standard Attacks Work
Much like other turn-based RPGs, Chrono Cross features two types of attacks. Standard (melee) attacks are divided into three groups and remain accessible at all times, provided the character has enough stamina to execute them. Options 1, 2, and 3 correspond to light, medium, and heavy attacks. The numbers are also indicative of stamina points initiating the attack costs, regardless of whether it is successful.
Percentages in the brackets represent the success rate of the three standard attacks. If the character in question lands the initial attack, they can continue the chain by delivering consecutive blows until their stamina reaches zero. Every successful strike will increase the likelihood of landing the next hit, meaning players can approach battles strategically and experiment with different offense patterns. Another thing to keep in mind in such instances is that enemies can interrupt the character's chain of attacks, and if they do, any percentage increase will be nullified.
How Chrono Cross' Elemental Attacks Work
Elemental attacks are the second type players can perform during combat. They are Chrono Cross' take on magic spells and consumables bundled into one. Unlike standard attacks, Elements are not available at the start of a battle. Instead, characters have to build up their elemental power level by performing melee attacks first, which will increase their Element gauge based on the potency of the attack. Alternatively in the remaster, players can immeditately maximize their levels by activating Battle Boost. After reaching the desired power Level, they can initiate an elemental attack from the Element Grid up to that level.
To make the most of acquired Elements, players need to allocate them to the character's Element Grid outside of combat. Though each character has several levels and a varying number of usable slots, these will increase as the players progress through the story. Expanding the Element Grid will allow the characters to equip more Elements and access higher tiers.
By default, dispatching Elements will lower stamina points by seven and subtract the elemental power Level in accordance with the respective Element's level. While most Elements will recharge after a fight, they can only be activated once per battle. Conversely, consumable Elements feature a number that reveals the available charges, and they cannot be replenished automatically.
How Element Colors and Field Effects Work
In Chrono Cross, every playable character and enemy has an innate color representing one of the six Elements. These colors are split into three oppositional pairs: white (Light or Cosmos) opposes black (Darkness or Gravity), green (Wind or Flora) opposes yellow (Earth or Lightning), and red (Fire or Magma) opposes blue (Water or Ice).
While utilizing Elements that align with characters' innate color will enhance their elemental power, being on the receiving end of an enemy attack of the opposite color will have them suffer more damage. The easiest way to determine an enemy's innate color is by targetting them and looking at the bottom of the information pane. Another way is by paying attention to the colored trail their weapon leaves when performing a standard attack.
Element Field Effects add another layer of strategy by letting the players view the color of the three most recently deployed elemental attacks. The colors displayed in the upper left corner of the screen can help the players discern which Elements to use or watch out for. By and large, the system boosts the Elements of present colors while weakening those of the opposite. Chaining three elemental attacks of the same color will also allow the players to take advantage of Element Field Effects and unleash a devastating elemental summon.
