Some Original Chrono Cross Character Art was Unfinished Until the Remaster

Various character art came up as part of the almost hour-long Chrono Cross interview Square Enix shared. We already knew that Character Designer Nobuteru Yuuki created new art for the remaster. However, during this discussion Producer Koichiro Sakamoto and Project Manager Mariko Sato went over how that came to be because the original art was unfinished. Sato then explained how Yuuki was the one to ask to redraw the characters. As a reminder, both Sakamoto and Sato confirmed every Chrono Cross character’s was redrawn or retouched for the remaster.

First, Sakamoto explained how they broached the idea of revisiting the Chrono Cross character art.

We also asked Mr. Nobuteru Yuuki to refine the character illustrations. Some of the original illustrations were actually unfinished. So we had Mr. Yuuki draw them…

…There are so many great characters. Some people may be emotionally invested in the original illustrations. So we let you switch between the original and the remastered versions…

…Some of the color filling is a bit different. Some people will be able to tell the difference.

Project Manager Sato then brought up how Yuuki agreed, but then also asked to create new designs.

Initially, I went to ask if we could use the illustrations. He had a few regrets about them and he said, “Let me redraw them.” That sounded like a boon for us, so I asked him to do it.

Initially, we were just asking to use them. But there are so many characters in Chrono Cross that I wondered if he could get it done on time. He said, “Let me check my schedule!” And he managed to get it done on time.

Here’s the full Chrono Cross and Radical Dreamers interview with Director Masato Kato.

Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition is available on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.