Difference between revisions of "Chrono Cross Speedruns and Techniques"

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*'''Viper Manor - Where lies the key to the past...'''
 
*'''Viper Manor - Where lies the key to the past...'''
  
:11. Charge the gate and focus on Ketchop. Team should be Serge, Kid, and Leena.<Br />
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:11. Charge the gate and focus on Ketchop. Team should be Serge, Kid, and Pierre.<Br />
 
:12. Feed 10 dragons, get the key, and fall for the Viper Manor trap (0/0).<Br />
 
:12. Feed 10 dragons, get the key, and fall for the Viper Manor trap (0/0).<Br />
 
:13. Kill the guards and hear Glenn's conversation. Grab the Dragoon's Honor before following him.<Br />
 
:13. Kill the guards and hear Glenn's conversation. Grab the Dragoon's Honor before following him.<Br />

Revision as of 01:30, 1 May 2007

Welcome to the Chrono Cross Speedrun and Advanced Gameplay Techniques section. Here, the Compendium aims to document the fastest Chrono Cross players alive and the techniques employed to achieve their low times. Other esoteric gameplay information will be presented in addendum, along with pressing issues and possibilities that may shave off even more seconds of playtime. Traditional speedruns are recognized by the Speed Demos Archive, and are videotaped on a console. Emulated speedrun listings also exist, called "tool-assisted speedruns." Emulators are also used for rapidly evaluating new skills and techniques for later application in a traditional attempt. Since a tool-assisted speedrun doesn't exist for Chrono Cross, and since a traditional speedrun has edged out the TAS for Chrono Trigger, the Compendium will cover traditional speedruns. Successful runs have been described as relying on two factors; the first is skill, "that which makes it possible," and the second is luck, "that which makes it happen." Other challenges are presented at end of this area. This page is co-authored by Molotov.

Current Record Holders

  • World Champion

Kimura Masa on April 22, 2000

Bad Ending - 7:16:01
Good Ending - NA

  • U.S. Leader

Wesley 'Molotov' Corron on June 4, 2006

Bad Ending - 7:55:08
Good Ending - 7:59:15

Molotov has reported faster times through emulation, and aims to make a new console run.

Route List and Notes

This is Molotov's route list. Route lists map out a speedrunner's path through a game and explore possibilities and difficulties. Elements listed here appear in singular form. Optional steps are marked with two hyphens.

To the Sea of Eden

  • An Ancient Fort - Chasing phantoms in one's dreams...
1. New game (default name, skip cutscene, change settings to my liking, and finish Fort Dragonia).
  • Arni Village - Where the tides start to turn...
2. Talk to Leena and leave the village.
3. Go to Lizard Rock and get the scales in counter-clockwise order (no elements in-battle).
  • Opassa Beach - A calling from beyond time...
4. Go to Opassa Beach and select "I don't remember/We'll never forget this day!"
5. Run through Lizard Rock.
  • Arni Village - Nothing has changed but everything!
6. Enter Arni Village and speak with Leena.
  • Cape Howl - A reminder of one's former self...
7. Go to Cape Howl.
8. Kill Solt, Peppor, and Karsh (in that order, using Kid's elements when possible). Don't attack until the speech is done. Decline Kid, recruit Leena.
  • Heading North - In search of some answers...
9. Enter Fossil Valley and kill Solt before Peppor. Wait for the speech to end before attacking.
  • The Port Town of Termina - The pride of the Acacia Dragoons...
10. Enter Termina, talk to statue cleaner, get Pierre as a "guide". Grab Profiteer Purse, equip Ivory Vest on someone, scrap Profiteer Purse and Ivory Mail, forge a Steel Swallow and equip it.
  • Viper Manor - Where lies the key to the past...
11. Charge the gate and focus on Ketchop. Team should be Serge, Kid, and Pierre.
12. Feed 10 dragons, get the key, and fall for the Viper Manor trap (0/0).
13. Kill the guards and hear Glenn's conversation. Grab the Dragoon's Honor before following him.
14. Grab the Revive element while you wait for him to examine the code. Check it and leave.
15. Go to the treasure vault and grab the Silver Pendant.
16. Kill the Neo-N-Bulbs, leave, and input the code.
--- Optional: Grab the Dragoon Gauntlet from Karsh's room and equip it on Serge.
17. Beat Marcy and use the elevator.
18. Beat Lynx's shadow and sit through boring dialogue.
  • Guldove - Where ripples become waves...
19. Choose not to help Kid, and leave Guldove.
20. Get Glenn and Macha and use them both.
21. Forge a Steel Sword for Glenn, and if possible, a Ladle Fe26 for Leena.
22. Go to Marbule, buy Turn elements of every color. Stock up on Capsules too. Allocate the Turn elements. Switch Macha to Leena to avoid swimming.
  • From Pirate Ship to Ghost Ship - A mariner's worst nightmare...
23. Board the pirate ship, run from the first fight, beat the bosses, and run from the Crossbones who enters the room.
24. Examine the door that needs "the key." Untested: Save the pirate with "the key" and use it. Tested: Speak to the key duty pirate, then save the right pirate.
25. Dodge everyone and head to the deck.
26. On deck, run from the forced encounter and kill Deadhead.
27. Go to Marbule and buy Magnify.
  • Fort Dragonia - Ancient dragons' dream in ruins...
28. Go to Mount Pyre and beat Peppor and Solt in that order. Aim for a Sky Djinn Ring drop. Equip it on Leena, if you get it.
29. Beat the Fire Dragon.
30. Beat the three Devas (Magnify/MagmaBurst Marcy, then focus on Karsh) and leave Mount Pyre.
31. Kill the Dragoon and do things in clockwise order starting from yellow. Grab AeroBlaster in green, if you wish.
32. Kill Sun-of-a-Gun with Magnify/FrogPrince, go up, and kill Bunyip too (Magnify/FrogPrince helps).
33. Beat Viper and Lynx, then hit your party with 3/3/1 so that they do more damage.
  • Temporal Vortex - Where lost souls wander...
34. Get Sprigg.
35. Get Harle, return to Hydra Marshes, and then leave.
  • Termina - Knight or day...?
36. Opassa Beach failed attempt.
37. Whip Radius with Lagoonate (TurnYellow) and leave the village.
38. Go to Termina and speak to the dock guard.
39. Go to Viper Manor, get Norris, and get in your new boat.
  • Marbule - The village of the demi-humans...
40. Go to Marbule, speak to Toma about the Dead Sea, and leave while he's speaking.
41. Go to the S.S. Zelbess (let Sage through, listen in, talk to Fargo, lose, Inn, Sneff twice, Handle, Sneff, Fargo, whip Sage with melee only). Use TurnBlack Lagoonate on the Sage.
42. Use the Fiddler Crab, listen to Radius, and go to Hermit's Hideaway.
  • The Masamune - The blood-stained sword of evil...
43. When told to wait for him, go up the ladder and wait really close to the door. Speak to him as soon as possible.
44. Go to the Isle of the Damned and fight the Will-O-Wisp (lure him to WightKnight). Fight WightKnight and let Sprigg finish him. Fight Garai with your newly acquired WightKnight. Leave afterwards.
  • The Dead Sea - A place forsaken by the gods...
45. Enter the Dead Sea and fight Highwayman.
46. Enter the Tower of Geddon.
47. Fight Miguel and sit through more dialogue.
  • A Portal Reopened - And the planet began to shake...
48. Go to Opassa Beach and change worlds.
49. Go to Termina and choose Karsh (don't use him).
  • Back to Viper Manor - A captive audience awaits...
50. Enter Viper Manor and speak to Norris.
51. Go down to the sewer, push the barrels (farthest first), tighten the valve, and climb the ladder.
52. Go back into the sewer from the kitchen entrance, grab the Magic Seal, cross the river, open the valve, open the gate, tighten the valve, and kill Roachster.
53. Beat Hell's Cook, guards, and Grobyc.
  • Surprise Attack!!! - Pursuers with heavy-hearts...
54. Fight Gulliot twice and choose "Hehehehe..."
55. Grobyc joins, but don't use him.
  • Route split: If you want things to be easier, go with the Mastermune. If you want things to possibly be faster (but MUCH more difficult), go without the Mastermune. Choose now.

With Mastermune

  • To the Sea of Eden - Through the hidden holes in time...
56. Go to Hermit's Hideaway, talk to Riddel (don't use her yet), and sit through dialogue.
57. Buy a ThundaStorm trap at Marbule and pick up the Black Relic while you're there.
58. Fill Harle's spot with Karsh and Sprigg's spot with Marcy, then go to the Isle of the Damned.
59. Kill Solt and Peppor (that order), trap ThundaStorm, and then change worlds.
60. Replace Karsh with Riddel, buy a few FirePillar (if you don't have about 3+ by now), buy about 30 AeroBlaster, allocate them all around (FirePillar at 3, AeroBlaster at 4 and above), and leave Termina.
61. Start the Dario fight and use Magnify-2 (2/2/Magnify-2). Use 2/2/2/FirePillar combos until you inflict Burns, then switch to 2/2/2/AeroBlaster combos until he's dead. Use 3/3/<element> if you want to risk missing.
62. Go to Earth Dragon Isle and make the NPCs work (switch Riddel for Fargo).
63. Kill the Water Dragon (fighting the SideSteppa in the way first).
64. Kill the Earth Dragon (two necessary Rockroaches).
65. Go to Gaea's Navel, kill 6 enemies, fight Tyrano (steal the PowerSeal and equip it on Lynx), and kill the Green Dragon.
66: Go to the El Nido Triangle and grab the Star Fragment.
67: Fight MegaStarky. Change worlds and go to Mount Pyre.
68. Kill the Red Dragon (making use of his counter pattern and Magnify/FrogPrince with Marcy).
69. Kill the Sky Dragon and go to Guldove.
70. Beat Orlha and get the Dragon Emblem.
71. Change worlds.
72. Go to Guldove to get Steena and the Dragon Tear.
73. Go to Fort Dragonia, kill Dark Serge, and get Serge back.
74. Replace Fargo with Glenn.
--. If you wish to add to your damage output by a large amount, do the FlagBearer trick 5 or so times right now. Equip 2 of them on Serge and 3 on Glenn. Keep in mind, this consumes a rather large amount of time, and may not be worthwhile. Do what you feel is best.
75. Change worlds and get Glenn's second Einlanzer.
76. Change worlds again and head to the Sea of Eden.
  • The Arbiter of Time - On whom the three Fates smile...
77. Insert disc 2 and fight Vita Duo (for the innate advantage).
78. Kill PolisPolice, disable the level 2 lock.
79. Take the elevator to the 4th floor, listen in, and talk to the ghost downstairs.
80. Go back up to the 4th floor and take the elevator down to the 1st floor.
81. Talk to the chief on the dock and go up to the 4th floor.
82. Get the Card Key (after fighting the annoying Combot) and head down to the basement.
83. Purposely "fight" one of the Combots as he turns in his patrol and run away.
84. Run past the moron and enter the Fate room.
85. Kill Fate and sit through more dialogue.
  • Terra Tower - Caught in an echo of time...
86. Kill RoyalJelly (one X-Strike) and head to Terra Tower.
87. Kill the elementals in your way (yellow, red, green, black, white, and blue).
88. Beat the Lunar Dragon and change worlds.
  • Chrono Cross - The point where destinies meet...
89. Get the Chrono Cross (-7) and use the Time Egg. IGNORE THIS STEP IF YOU WANT THE BAD ENDING.
  • For all the Dreamers - Our planet's dream is not over yet...
90. Use the Chrono Cross on Lavos.

If you want the bad ending, use the Chrono Cross element order anyway. After this, use 1/3/3 with Serge, 3/3 with Glenn, switch back to Serge, use 3/3 with Serge, and repeat until she dies.

Without Mastermune

  • To the Sea of Eden - Through the hidden holes in time...
56. Go to Hermit's Hideaway, talk to Riddel, and sit through dialogue.
57. Go to Marbule and grab the Black Relic.
58. Go to Earth Dragon Isle and make the NPCs work. Your team should be Lynx, Fargo, and Marcy.
59. Kill the Water Dragon (fighting the SideSteppa in the way first).
60. Kill the Earth Dragon (two necessary Rockroaches).
61. Go to Gaea's Navel, kill 6 enemies, fight Tyrano (steal the PowerSeal and equip it on Lynx), and kill the Green Dragon.
62: Go to the El Nido Triangle and grab the Star Fragment.
63: Fight MegaStarky.
64. Change worlds and go to Mount Pyre.
65. Kill the Red Dragon (making use of his counter pattern and Magnify/FrogPrince with Marcy).
66. Kill the Sky Dragon and go to Guldove.
67. Beat Orlha and get the Dragon Emblem.
68. Change worlds.
69. Go to Guldove to get Steena and the Dragon Tear.
70. Go to Fort Dragonia, kill Dark Serge, and get Serge back.
71. Replace Fargo with Glenn. Equip him with the Einlanzer.
--. If you wish to add to your damage output by a large amount, do the FlagBearer trick 5 or so times right now. Equip 2 of them on Serge and 3 on Glenn. Keep in mind, this consumes a rather large amount of time, and may not be worthwhile. Do what you feel is best. If you wish to do this, don't equip the Einlanzer until you've gotten the Dragoon's Glory. This saves a trip to the menu.
72. Head to the Sea of Eden.
  • The Arbiter of Time - On whom the three Fates smile...
73. Insert disc 2 and fight Vita Duo (for the innate advantage).
74. Kill PolisPolice, disable the level 2 lock.
75. Take the elevator to the 4th floor, listen in, and talk to the ghost downstairs.
76. Go back up to the 4th floor and take the elevator down to the 1st floor.
77. Talk to the chief on the dock and go up to the 4th floor.
78. Get the Card Key (after fighting the annoying Combot) and head down to the basement.
79. Purposely "fight" one of the Combots as he turns in his patrol and run away.
80. Run past the moron and enter the Fate room.
81. Kill Fate and sit through more dialogue.
  • Terra Tower - Caught in an echo of time...
82. Kill RoyalJelly (make use of X-Strike) and head to Terra Tower.
83. Kill the elementals in your way (yellow, red, green, black, white, and blue).
84. Beat the Lunar Dragon and change worlds.
  • Terra Tower - Caught in an echo of time...
85. Get the Chrono Cross (-7) and use the Time Egg. IGNORE THIS STEP IF YOU WANT THE BAD ENDING.
  • For all the Dreamers - Our planet's dream is not over yet...
86. Use the Chrono Cross on Lavos.

If you want the bad ending, use the Chrono Cross element order anyway. After this, use 1/3/3 with Serge, 3/3 with Glenn, switch back to Serge, use 3/3 with Serge, and repeat until she dies.

Advanced Gameplay, Possibilities, and Sequence Breaking

  • List of Mandatory Battles
As Serge: Komodo Pups (x3), Komodo Mama, Solt/Peppor/Karsh, Solt/Peppor, Acacia PVTs, Solt/Peppor/Ketchop, Acacia SGTs, Acacia PVTs, Neo-N-Bulbs, Marcy, Acacia SGTs, Shadow Lynx, Man-of-War group (run), Polly, Fargo, Crossbones (run), enemy group to save one pirate, Wraith (run), Deadhead, Solt/Peppor, Fire Dragon, 3 Devas, Dragoon, Taurosoid, GiantGloop, Sun-of-a-Gun, Bunyip, Viper, and Lynx.
As Lynx: Radius, Sage, Will-O-Wisp, Garai, Highwayman, Miguel, Roachster, Hell's Cook, Porre group, Grobyc, Gulliot (x2), Fire Dragon, SideSteppa, Water Dragon, Rockroach (x2), Earth Dragon, Beeba, Wingapede, Beeba, 6 enemy groups at Gaea's Navel, Tyrano, Green Dragon, MegaStarky, Sky Dragon, and Dark Serge.
As Serge again: Vita (whichever), PolisPolice, FATE, RoyalJelly, Terrator, Pyrotor, Anemotor, Gravitor, Luxator, Aquator, Lunar Dragon (Time Devourer form 1), and Time Devourer (form 2).
  • Access the Hydra Marshes Early (New Game +)

Start a New Game+, fight the final boss as soon as possible (Poshul is ok too, I think), get poisoned, and run away. Go to the Hydra Marshes and speak with the guy guarding the entrance. He should say you don't look so well and he'll cure your poison, if I remember correctly. Thing is, Serge steps past the man while doing this...allowing you to roam the Hydra Marshes quite early.

But wait, there's a catch: your path is blocked by two enemies. One is a dwarf on the first screen toward the left, who says some amusing things and you can fight him. He'll pass out when you defeat him, blocking your path in the process. The other enemy is a Beeba, who is in the second screen. If my memory isn't too fuzzy, he'll fight you and then say something about you being mean to him. Either way, he blocks your path.

Other than that, you are free to roam around in those spaces as much as you'd like. When you want to leave, just speak to the man guarding the entrance again (I think).

  • Enemies Don't Die from Poison

Simply put, enemies in Chrono Cross cannot die from Poison status. This may be a "duh" fact to some people, but if you InfoScope an enemy who is poisoned and let their HP hit 1, you'll notice it stops draining...even if you defend multiple times. The trick is to use an element (something harmless), which will drain the monster's HP by 7 points instead of 1. This causes the HP stat to rollover and display a totally ridiculous number: 4,294,967,292 or so. Nitrodon (a friend of mine) figured that out, so thanks go to him for that number.

The number is completely for show, since the enemy will still die in a single attack. You also cannot heal the enemy to 0 HP to make a kill, so there's a little fun taken away.

Radical Dreamer: Also, the large number thing is an issue with how C handles numbers. I'm assuming that they programmed the game in C, or a C like language, mind you. Numeric variables in C can be either signed or unsigned, meaning they can be positive or negative, or be only positive, but with a wider range. Since health is always going to be positive, they probably used an unsigned variable for enemy health, and insterted checks to insure that when it went below zero, it would stay at zero. Looks like they missed one.

Other Challenges

  • New Game + with Maxed Attributes

Kimura Masa on May 9, 2000

Bad Ending - 03:25:12

This time assumes that Kimura maxed out his characters in prior playthroughs. The drastic reduction in time is attributed to the Time Shifter's use; the internal clock of Chrono Cross does not account for the fast-forward function.

  • Defeating the Time Devourer in a New Game +

Kimura Masa on May 4, 2000

Developer's Ending - 00:06:09

This time assumes that Kimura maxed out Serge's strength and used a Spectral Swallow, Sunglasses, and two Power Seals.

  • One Element Game

On April 1, 2000, Kimura Masa attempted a game involving the use of one Element -- red, of course, to overcome RoyalJelly at some point. This means he would have to rely on physical attacks for most of the game. He maintained a journal of his progress, viewable here.

  • Maximum Damage Inflicted
  1. X-Strike on Aquator - 18573 (Kimura)
  2. X-Strike on RoyalJelly - 17887 (Kimura)
  3. X-Strike on RoyalJelly - 16,911 (Molotov)
  4. Z-Slash on Tutanshaman - 15965 (Kimura)
  5. X-Strike on Slash - 15498 (Kimura)

External Resources