Released in 1999, Chrono Cross was to be the long-awaited sequel to Chrono Trigger (and Radical Dreamers: Le Trésor Interdit). Which it isn't. The only reference to Chrono Trigger are when Lynx (main bad guy) calls Serge (main character) "the assassin of time, the Chrono Trigger!!" There are also two guest appearances by Crono, Marle, and Lucca, two of the Gurus, and even Schala, lots of references to Lucca, and one to Janus (Magus). Apart from that, it really has nothing to do with Chrono Trigger whatsoever except that both games take place in the same world. Occurring 32 years after the events in Chrono Trigger, yet not dealing with anything from the previous game in the least, Chrono Cross crashed into the gaming scene with wonderful graphics, beautiful music, and a complex and compelling storyline, although the turn-based battle system was a bit of a let-down, despite its "novelty." The rest of the game was great, even though some CT veterans were probably a bit disappointed with the lack of CT parallels.

Chrono Cross is really a great game, though, as long as you don't go into it expecting it to be a true sequel to Chrono Trigger (thankfully I played CC before playing CT, or I might've been disappointed, too). The battle system is completely different from Chrono Trigger's, and the only thing that could've made it better were active-time enemies, like in CT, but that might've gotten a bit too complicated. There are lots of characters (44+), some of which don't have much of a backstory, and most of which you need to dig deep to find it. The storyline is great, and the whole having to find some of the characters' level 7 techs is damn cool.

Chrono Cross is the story of a young boy named Serge (you), that wakes up on a normal day and goes hunting for Komodo Dragon scales on Lizard Rock for a necklace for your supposed girlfriend, Leena. Upon completing the task, you head to Opassa Beach, where you're supposed to meet her. That's where the "normal" day becomes anything but normal. You get sucked into a portal, and your day's pretty much shot to hell from there. You are flung into a world completely unknown to you, where you learns that the fate of both worlds lies in your hands... But you are not alone on your quest. There are many people along the way who help you, and many that try to harm you. Enter the world of Chrono Cross, take the step into the unknown, and face danger and destruction head on.