Anyone who upholds FF7 as a pinnacle of anything needs to take a long hard look at their tastes in entertainment. (Not to bash FF7; its vastly over-rated but fun, in my opinion
And I'm not holding it in the pinnacle of things, (nor, in reverse, am I Cross) and that's rather presumptuous to think that. I chose that for the comparison because both games were worked on by Kato. A large portion of FF7's hype is from utilizing a new means of cinematic presentation to emphasize emotional elements unlike anything done before in game, or at least on an accessible scale. By today's standards now, it isn't as good, but as a product of its time, that's where it stands out. I could've also suggested Xenogears (which I would say is better than Cross and FF7) but I felt that FF7 is more universally experienced, and thus would get a larger range of replies.
I do find the replies rather interesting though, particularly since many missed the question comparison (which at least someone admitted they weren't sure what I meant) and instead focused on the two games as a whole. I'm trying to be an aspiring writer in fiction works, so when I play games, I place a greater amount of attention on the separate parts of the game, and then later the whole, which is why I brought up a focus aimed strictly at emotional character weight.
Yea, the characters of FF7 are cookie cutter, more designed to fit known roles in the Final Fantasy archetype, but what makes each story different is the dynamic tension, which the characters themselves go through. I found myself bored with Cross, like with an assigned novel and research paper; its characters and environment 'unbelievable' or rather, unconvincing. The effects on Cross that events can change by who you recruit into your party is okay, but the lack of direct association anyone has to the story outside of Kid and Serge is horribly lacking. They're not so much tied to the cause of saving time and dimensions, but rather just choosing to work with Serge for whatever. It felt more like everyone else is out of the story loop and that this was Square's way of trying to be a Suikoden. (which handles large casts and stories very well) By the comment on 'optional' characters, I'd just about associate that with the entirety of the cast of Chrono Cross. Its 'better' characterization is both lacking in quality and overwhelming in quantity.
As a game, Cross is a bit the better, showing the signs of experience and success in its gameplay. As a story, (or as a story being told) I find it weaker, especially being a 'Chrono' game. I think if they'd severed ties with Chrono Trigger and aimed it as a stand alone universe, it would've made the game that much more interesting.
