Battle System Basics: How To Play 2

Dive into Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition's battle system! Learn about standard attacks, chains, elements, and when to defend or run.

Alright, let's break down how fighting actually works in Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition. It's a bit more involved than just mashing the attack button, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be chaining attacks and unleashing elements like a pro!

Standard Attacks:

When you choose to attack, you've actually got three options: a weak, a strong, and a fierce attack. The tougher the attack, the more damage it'll do, but it also has a lower chance of actually hitting the enemy. Think of it like this: a weak attack is super accurate but doesn't hit hard, while a fierce attack can really pack a punch but might whiff entirely. Each attack also uses up Stamina, with fiercer attacks costing more.

Chain of Attacks:

Here's where it gets interesting! If your character still has Stamina left after an attack, you can immediately choose another one, creating a 'chain'. You can keep going until you run out of Stamina, which is capped at 7 points. So, you could do seven weak attacks in a row, but that's usually not the best strategy. The game suggests chaining a weak, then a strong, then a fierce attack. This is generally a solid plan because each successful hit in a chain actually increases the hit rate for all your subsequent attacks! For example, Leena's fierce attacks might start at a 65% hit rate, but after a few successful hits in a chain, that could jump up to 87%.

When you're out of Stamina or just want to end the turn early, you can choose to Defend. This saves your remaining Stamina and also sets you up for the next turn.

Elements:

This is basically the game's magic system, and it's pretty neat. Elements are like spells or consumable items, but you have to 'equip' them to your character's Element Grid first. Think of the grid as having different slots for different power levels.

During battle, using standard attacks actually builds up your character's Elemental Power Level. The more you attack, the higher this level goes. Once you have a certain Elemental Power Level, you can use any Element from your grid that matches or is below that level. For instance, if your Elemental Power Level is 4, you can use Elements from Level 1, 2, 3, or 4 slots. But, be warned: using an Element immediately ends your turn and costs a flat 7 Stamina. Plus, your Elemental Power Level will drop by the level of the Element you used. So, using a Level 4 Element will bring your Level 4 power down to 0.

Defend:

If you're facing a tough enemy or anticipate a big hit, defending is a smart move. It cuts incoming damage by 50% and also helps you regain some Stamina. It's a good way to survive when things get hairy.

Run Away:

Sometimes, discretion is the better part of valor! If a fight is just not going your way, you can always choose to Run Away. It has a 100% success rate, and get this – you can even run from bosses! So, if you need to regroup or just want to live to fight another day, don't hesitate to bail.