CHRONO CROSS: THE RADICAL DREAMERS EDITION: everything you need to know

The classic RPG returns April 7, 2022 for Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and Steam… and it’s better than ever. Learn about all the enhancements here, including the inclusion of RADICAL DREAMERS!
By Duncan Heaney

UPDATE: This article originally incorrectly stated that users can switch between original and remastered soundtracks. Please note that this was in error and only the refined music can be played.


Here’s something that we know some of you have been (radically) dreaming of for a while: CHRONO CROSS is back!

We’re excited to announce that CHRONO CROSS: THE RADICAL DREAMERS EDITION will release digitally for Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and Steam on April 7, 2022. The classic RPG has been significantly enhanced with new visuals, illustrations, music, and more. It also includes the RADICAL DREAMERS adventure - released in the West for the very first time.

There’s a lot to talk about, and we’ll go through it all here. But first, for anyone unfamiliar with the original game, we should explain…

CHRONO CROSS: THE RADICAL DREAMERS EDITION Trailer

What is CHRONO CROSS?

CHRONO CROSS is one of those RPGs that’s considered a true classic of the genre - and for good reason.

It tells the story of Serge, a young man living a simple life in a small fishing village blissfully unaware of what fate has in store for him. One day, he finds himself transported to a parallel world where no one recognizes him, and is surprised to learn that this world’s Serge died years ago as a child.

Joined by a tomboy thief named Kid, Serge embarks on an epic quest across two parallel worlds, to unveil the mystery of the connection between his own existence and the future of the planet.

CHRONO CROSS: THE RADICAL DREAMERS EDITION screenshot

Originally released in Japan in 1999 (and then 2000 in the US), the game is packed with innovative ideas, many of which still feel fresh more than 20 years later. For example, it features one of the largest and most diverse casts of playable characters of any RPG with more than 40 potential party members, each with their own Element affinity and unique skills to unlock.

It also includes a deeply strategic turn-based battle system, where mastery of elements and stamina is key to success.

And we’d be remiss not to mention the absolutely incredible music by composer Yasunori Mitsuda - which makes a strong case for being among the greatest videogame soundtracks of all time.

Simply put, CHRONO CROSS is a really good game. And now, with the THE RADICAL DREAMERS EDITION, it’s even better!

CHRONO CROSS: THE RADICAL DREAMERS EDITION Screenshot

What’s new in the CHRONO CROSS: THE RADICAL DREAMERS EDITION?

The upcoming release features a wealth of enhancements, which make this already great adventure more visually appealing and satisfying to play. There’s new content too, in the form of RADICAL DREAMERS. Here’s a rundown of what to expect:


Upgraded models and fonts

3D models have been converted to high-definition visuals, making them look beautifully crisp on modern displays. The font has also been reworked for HD and there’s a background filter available too.


Character redesigns and new artwork by Nobuteru Yuuki

The original character designer for CHRONO CROSS has returned to create brand new artwork and character redesigns.


Newly refined music by Yasunori Mitsuda

The acclaimed composer of the original CHRONO CROSS is also back with a new track, and most of the music has been refined, meaning the sound quality has been improved!

You can switch between new and updated visuals, font and 3D models!

You can choose between playing with the updated 3D models, fonts, illustrations, and filtered backgrounds and the original graphics. So if you’re a purist (or just nostalgic) you can enjoy the game as it was originally presented.

(Note: The 3D models, illustrations, font, and background filter cannot be toggled separately. They will all be switched together.)


Battle enhancement features

A host of quality-of-life improvements are coming to the battle system, including:

  • Auto-battle function

  • The ability to turn off enemy encounters

  • The ability to change the game speed - you can make the game faster or slower (except for cutscenes) right from the beginning

  • Battle Boosts - get an edge on the enemy to make battles easier if you just want to progress through the story

All these make the game even more convenient to play!

RADICAL DREAMERS is included!

“RADICAL DREAMERS - Le Trésor Interdit” is a text-based adventure that originally released in 1996 for the Satellaview - a peripheral for the Super Famicom.

Satellaview never released outside of Japan, so Western players never had an opportunity to experience RADICAL DREAMERS (dramatic pause…) until now!

As the name implies, CHRONO CROSS: THE RADICAL DREAMERS EDITION includes the text adventure, now fully localized into English, along with French, Italian, German and Spanish subtitles. It tells a story that has strong links to CHRONO CROSS and shouldn’t be missed.

When is CHRONO CROSS: THE RADICAL DREAMERS EDITION releasing?

The good news is that you won’t have to wait that long to start exploring the amazing worlds of this classic RPG. CHRONO CROSS: THE RADICAL DREAMERS EDITION will release on April 7, 2022, for Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and Steam.

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