Chrono Cross Least Characters Run
Welcome to vivify93's Chrono Cross Least Characters Run! Now, the guest of honor...
Hello! Four days ago I got the urge to replay Chrono Cross, but this time I wanted to make it a bit different. For many years now I've wanted to do a playthrough to get the theorized lowest amount of characters - sixteen - for the purposes of documentation. Yesterday I decided I wanted to present my findings to the Chrono Compendium, since it wasn't that well-received on GameFAQs. I hope you enjoy my findings.
First of all, this is the final list of characters I had as I was standing outside Home World's Opassa Beach for the last time.
In order of recruitment...
- Serge
- Guile (Of course you can pick Nikki or Pierre)
- Sprigg
- Radius
- Norris
- Karsh (Zoah is still option here as well)
- Orcha
- Grobyc
- Riddel
- Viper
- Fargo
- Marcy
- Zoah (Or Karsh if you picked Zoah)
- Leah
- Steena
- Starky
My guest characters were Orlha, Kid, Korcha, Lynx, and Harle. The bulk of the characters join Lynx.
I've found if you choose to leave Kid in Guldove, Glenn is suddenly required to join your team. My guess as to why they did this is because of the three-person puzzle in the yellow room at Fort Dragonia. Since Korcha joins to help Serge and the manor guide get the hydra humour but later leaves (And can be declined at his next recruitment opportunity), you must take the path of saving Kid if you want the standard sixteen.
When I was done with the first 1/3 of the game, I came to the conclusion you only need Serge, Kid, and the manor guide for it.
I accepted Irenes' request to find someone who could talk to Home World's Fargo, but declined to recruit her. Later, when I brought Another World's Fargo to talk to his counterpart, things went exactly as they were supposed to.
What this means is that you do not need to recruit Irenes at all to begin the "saving Marbule" side quest. Whoever began spreading the information that she is necessary was completely, utterly, and simply incorrect.
Starky is required to open his spaceship to get the anti-gravity device so you can go to Terra Tower. No way around it.
After going back in time and saving Kid, as we know, Radius tells us Luccia wants to see her; however, I've found you don't need Luccia on your team for this to happen. But after this event, the mad scientist cannot be recruited at all.
Lastly, no, Kid is not required for the last 2/3 of the game. She can just lay and rot in her coma forever if you so wish. In fact, if you ignore her at Another World's Cape Howl, she doesn't need to join at all.
Greco and Neofio can both join Lynx, but Luccia cannot. I also believe if you get the shark tooth as Serge and take it to Mojo as Lynx, that lovable straw doll can join him as well. Miki can join anytime after the concert, and it appears there is no cutoff time for her. But I've found there is one for Sneff... which, coincidentally, appears to be after concert. Irenes disappears after the concert for some reason, never to be seen again. Also, FlagBearer cannot be gotten while you're Lynx. Furthermore, there are cutoff times for Mojo and Home World's Poshul. I don't know when exactly it is, but when I tried to go recruit her when I was done with this challenege, she told me she "can't play" at the moment. The fisherman who gives you the shark tooth simply has his dialogue changed and no longer offers the item to you.
Since Zappa doesn't join, you don't get the smith spirit or the prism equipment. However, the denadorite stuff works just as well, or so it seems.
Thank you for reading, and I hope I've helped the community somehow. I apologize if this is all old news, however. Very Happy Have a lovely day! Forum thread is here.
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