23 years after its original release, Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition allows players to relive one of the authentic gems of the PS1 era with updated graphics and a handful of extra tips. It was released on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC but you can also experience it on PS5 and Xbox Series X | S thanks to backwards compatibility. Either way, regardless of platform, it’s a pleasure to see one of Squaresoft’s great JRPGs remastered even if it’s certainly not a perfect package. Substantial changes have been made to the pre-rendered 2D backgrounds, changing the look significantly, while the frame-rate is much less consistent than one would expect from a remaster of a game released four generations ago.
So is the Radical Dreamers Edition the best way to play Chrono Cross despite these problems, or is it even better to enjoy the original, perhaps with a CRT or HDMI scaler like a Retrotink 5X Pro?
Before answering this question, let’s take a brief look at what changes have been made. The first thing you will notice is that some of the character models have been updated, the artwork of the protagonists has been retouched and the backgrounds have been reworked with an AI upscaler. All these changes can be alternated from the special menu by switching from the updated to the classic mode but, alas, none of them can be adjusted manually: it’s all or nothing.
Regardless of which mode you choose, there are universal changes to the Chrono Cross remaster. First, there is a change to the iconic FMV opening sequence: a higher resolution version is now used, with much of the noise removed and clearer text (a very welcome improvement over the original version released on PS1. ). However, the downside is that the improvements end there: subsequent FMVs have remained raw and mostly unchanged. It is also a shame that the music in all FMVs is heavily compressed, apparently presented in similar quality to the original PS1. The good news is that Yasunori Mitsuda’s beautiful soundtrack, based on beautiful samples, is still absolutely brilliant. It remains a true highlight of the Chrono Cross experience, and although the arrangements have been left as they are, new orchestrated tracks have been added to this remaster’s launcher.
What about the graphics, then? The biggest change is the AI processing of 2D backdrop assets to accommodate the increased resolution. However, due to the dithering inherent in the original PS1 backgrounds (apparently used as the source for this project), this results in some artifact on areas with a pure color element (sky blues, for example). The result is sometimes pleasing as it creates a watercolor effect that fits the Chrono Cross aesthetic but, in other places, new details are added that were not expected: artifacts such as a repeating wave and bands are visible at times, while the shop signs are featured with an unusual pattern. Overall, it is preferable to use the AI upscaled backdrops of the new mode, if only for consistency with the new 3D models (although it is not always the ideal solution).
There are other changes as well. For both the new graphics mode and the classic one, for all 3D elements (character models and 3D battle sequences) we measured a native resolution in the region of 900p to 936p. The new character models are obviously exclusive to the new graphics mode, and this one also has a crisp 1080p HUD overlay. These revised 3D models are found on both PS4 and Switch at nearly matching quality. By contrast, Classic Mode uses the PS1’s original templates and also maintains its backgrounds and portraits at 240p, with more full-bodied text on the screen. This doesn’t look great on a 1080p or 4K display, especially in the global map, where you can see crisply presented 3D elements running over a pixelated map. Again, it is preferable to use the new mode on larger displays.
A clear weakness of the remaster is performance. In fact, the frame-rate on PS5 and Switch is as low as that of the original PS1 (and sometimes even worse when the “new” graphics mode is selected. The problems are evident right from the start, with the first opening corridor dropping to 20fps compared to 30fps on the original PS1. And it’s not the lowest point you can get down to either: the most demanding scenes can see the frame-rate cap shift to 20, 15, or even 10fps. This is not to say that the original version was perfect because even the first PlayStation ran the game with a fluctuating frame-rate between 10 and 30fps but it is worrying that a remaster on modern consoles ends up reaching lower frame-rates in some of the games. same scenes.
Selecting classic mode in the remaster menu improves things but doesn’t guarantee a 30fps lock. In general terms, it appears that frame-rates are again on par with the PS1 original, with battles still seeing dips below the 15fps mark. That said, regardless of the mode used, additional uncertainties are introduced in the remaster during battles that weren’t present on the original PS1.
All of these performance issues raise a question: How is it possible to achieve such underwhelming performance so many years after its release in 1999? One possibility is that the game is running as an emulated PS1 game, rather than being redone for modern systems. Supporting this theory is the presence of virtual PS1 memory cards in the save menu, while the PC installation directory even displays two archive files for each physical disk. Actual remakes are arguably more time-consuming than adding graphics changes and extra modes in an emulated version, but it’s hard to imagine that Square Enix predicted this inconsistency as the end result.
Given the performance issues on PS5 and Switch, we wondered if the game could run better and be more enjoyable to play on PC. Unfortunately, the situation is more or less the same: the opening corridor remains at 20fps in the new graphics mode while the battles drop to 15fps and less, even on a machine equipped with the RTX Titan. It’s clear that overall system power isn’t a limit here, but there must be a problem of some kind with the emulation generating these sensationally low frame-rates. The only difference on PC versus console editions is that you can press Escape to access a graphical menu that shows the game is running with MSAA and FXAA and gives you access to higher output resolutions, not really a solution to. problems with this remaster.
So here are our final recommendations: If you’re lucky enough to own the original game and its hardware, then this remains the best way to play. Using tools like a RetroTink 5X HDMI scaler can be a clever way to make gaming look better on modern displays without changing their essence, while the select few who still own CRT TVs or monitors can enjoy the original presentation.
If you don’t have the original Chrono Cross on hand, then the remaster can still offer some value. If you take the Switch version, playing in portable mode the resolution drops to 720p, bringing the 2D and 3D elements in the presentation closer together. Regardless of the platform, the story, gameplay and atmosphere of Squaresoft’s classic JRPG are still very enjoyable in 2022, despite some technical and artistic limitations.
Ultimately, then, this remaster is a major disappointment. Chrono Cross is a cult classic without a doubt but the Radical Dreamers Edition falls short in terms of both graphics and performance. While some issues may be addressed via post-launch updates, the issues encountered should cause Square Enix to question the validity of its approach to porting the PlayStation classics.
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