Editing Chrono Cross (section)

==Gameplay==
''Chrono Cross'' features standard [[role-playing video game]] gameplay with some differences. Players advance the game by controlling the protagonist Serge through the game's world, primarily by foot and boat. Navigation between areas is conducted via an [[overworld]] map, much like ''Chrono Trigger's'', depicting the landscape from a scaled-down overhead view. Around the island world are villages, outdoor areas, and dungeons, through which the player moves in three dimensions. Locations such as cities and forests are represented by more realistically scaled field maps, in which players can converse with locals to procure items and services, solve puzzles and challenges, or encounter enemies. Like ''Chrono Trigger'', the game features no [[random encounter]]s; enemies are openly visible on field maps or lie in wait to ambush the party.<ref name="perfect-10">{{cite web|date=January 6, 2000 |first=Andrew |last=Vestal |title=GameSpot: Chrono Cross Review |url=http://www.gamespot.com/chrono-cross/ |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=January 19, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107112812/http://www.gamespot.com/chrono-cross/ |archive-date=January 7, 2014 }}</ref> Touching the monster switches perspectives to a battle screen, in which players can physically attack, use "Elements", defend, or run away from the enemy. Battles are turn-based, allowing the player unlimited time to select an action from the available menu. For both the playable characters and the computer-controlled enemies, each attack reduces their number of [[hit point]]s (a numerically based [[life bar]]), which can be restored through some Elements. When a playable character loses all hit points, he or she faints. If all the player's characters fall in battle, the game ends and must be restored from a previously saved chapter—except for specific storyline-related battles that allow the player to lose. ''Chrono Cross''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s developers aimed to break new ground in the genre, and the game features several innovations.<ref name="gameprointerview2">{{cite magazine|date=October 17, 2000|title=Interview with Chrono Cross Developers|url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/6764/chrono-cross-development-team-interview-and-contest/|magazine=[[GamePro]]|access-date=July 2, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202153219/http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/6764/chrono-cross-development-team-interview-and-contest/|archive-date=December 2, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="gameprointerview"/> For example, players can run away from all conflicts, including [[boss (video games)|boss]] fights and the final battle.<ref name="perfect-10" />

===Battle and Elements===
[[File:Chronocrossbattlescreenshot.png|left|thumb|In battle, players can attack, use Elements, defend, or run away.|alt=Two characters in foreground in battle poise, menu with "Attack", "Element", "Defend", "Run Away", boxes with health statistics for characters "Serge", "Kid", and "Mel", stone floor, gold robotic enemy facing the characters]]
The Element system of ''Chrono Cross'' handles all magic, consumable items, and character-specific abilities. Elements unleash magic effects upon the enemy or party and must be equipped for use, much like the materia of 1997's ''[[Final Fantasy&nbsp;VII]]''. Elements can be purchased from shops or found in treasure chests littered throughout areas. Once acquired, they are allocated to a grid whose size and shape are unique to each character. They are ranked according to eight tiers; certain high level Elements can only be assigned on equivalent tiers in a character's grid. As the game progresses, the grid expands, allowing more Elements to be equipped and higher tiers to be accessed. Elements are divided into six paired oppositional types, or "colors," each with a natural effect. Red (fire/magma) opposes Blue (water/ice), Green (wind/flora) opposes Yellow (earth/lightning), and White (light/cosmos) opposes Black (darkness/gravity).<ref name="perfect-10" /> Each character and enemy has an innate color, enhancing the power of using same-color Elements while also making them weak against elements of the opposite color. ''Chrono Cross'' also features a "field effect", which keeps track of Element color used in the upper corner of the battle screen. If the field is purely one color, characters are able to unleash a powerful summon element at the cost of one of the player's stars. The field will also enhance the power of Elements of the colors present, while weakening Elements of the opposite colors. Characters also innately learn some special techniques ("Techs") that are unique to each character but otherwise act like Elements. Like ''[[Chrono Trigger]]'', characters can combine certain Techs to make more powerful Double or Triple Techs.<ref name="perfect-10" /> Consumable Elements may be used to restore [[hit point]]s or heal [[status ailment]]s during or after battle.<ref name="perfect-10" />

Another innovative aspect of ''Chrono Cross'' is its stamina bar.<ref name="perfect-10" /> At the beginning of a battle, each character has seven points of stamina. When a character attacks or uses an Element, stamina is decreased proportionally to the potency of the attack. Stamina slowly recovers when the character defends or when other characters perform actions in battle. Characters with stamina below one point must wait to take action. Use of an Element reduces the user's stamina bar by seven stamina points; this often means that the user's stamina gauge falls into the negative and the character must wait longer than usual to recover. With each battle, players can enhance [[Attribute (role-playing games)|statistic]]s such as strength and defense. However, no system of [[experience point]]s exists; after four or five upgrades, statistics remain static until players defeat a [[boss (video game)|boss]]. This adds a star to a running count shown on the status screen, which allows for another few rounds of statistical increases.<ref name="perfect-10" /> Players can equip characters with weapons, armor, helmets, and accessories for use in battle; for example, the "Power Seal" upgrades attack power. Items and equipment may be purchased or found on field maps, often in [[Power-up|treasure chests]]. Unlike Elements, weapons and armor cannot merely be purchased with money; instead, the player must obtain base materials—such as copper, bronze, or bone—for a blacksmith to forge for a fee. The items can later be disassembled into their original components at no cost.

===Parallel dimensions===
[[File:Navigatingelnido.png|right|thumb|Players navigate the game's tropical setting by boat.|alt="Home World", an archipelago featuring fishing settlements, a city, and a volcanic mountain range surrounding a stone fort]]
The existence of two major [[parallel universe (fiction)|parallel dimensions]], like time periods in ''Chrono Trigger'', plays a significant role in the game. Players must go back and forth between the worlds to recruit party members, obtain items, and advance the plot. Much of the population of either world have counterparts in the other; some party members can even visit their other versions. The player must often search for items or places found exclusively in one world. Events in one dimension sometimes have an impact in the other—for instance, cooling scorched ground on an island in one world allows vegetation to grow in the other world. This system assists the presentation of certain themes, including the questioning of the importance of one's past decisions and humanity's role in destroying the environment.<ref name="ignreview">{{cite web|date=August 15, 2000 |first=David |last=Zdyrko |title=Chrono Cross Review |url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/162/162503p1.html |website=IGN |access-date=July 24, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060810021705/http://psx.ign.com/articles/162/162503p1.html |archive-date=August 10, 2006 }}</ref> Rounding out the notable facets of ''Chrono Cross''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gameplay are the [[New Game Plus|New Game+]] option and multiple endings. As in ''Chrono Trigger'', players who have completed the game may choose to start the game over using data from the previous session. Character levels, learned techniques, equipment, and items gathered copy over, while acquired money and some story-related items are discarded. On a New Game+, players can access twelve endings.<ref name="endingcount">{{cite web|year=2005 |title=Chrono Cross Endings |url=http://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Endings_(Chrono_Cross).html |work=Chrono Compendium |access-date=July 24, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615191711/http://chronocompendium.com/Term/Endings_%28Chrono_Cross%29.html |archive-date=June 15, 2006 }}</ref> Scenes viewed depend on players' progress in the game before the final battle, which can be fought at any time in a New Game+ file.