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{{About|the video game character|3=Chrono (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox character
|name=Crono
|image=Chronotriggercronopicture.png
|caption=Crono as designed by Akira Toriyama
|series= [[Chrono (series)|Chrono]]
|firstgame = ''[[Chrono Trigger]]''
|creator = [[Masato Kato]]
|designer = [[Akira Toriyama]]
}}
'''Crono''', known as {{nihongo|'''Chrono'''|クロノ|Kurono|lead=yes}} in Japan, is a fictional character in the ''[[Chrono (series)|Chrono]]'' series of video games by [[Square (video game company)|Square]] and the series' namesake. He has appeared in two games, starring as the protagonist in the 1995 [[role-playing game]] ''[[Chrono Trigger]]'' and ''[[Chrono Cross]]'', where he makes a brief appearance. Crono is a silent swordsman protagonist who uses facial expressions to communicate. During a party in his hometown, Crono finds himself on a quest to protect Princess Marle. Though he is successful, the main character finds himself on a major quest to protect the world from a giant creature known as Lavos that will destroy the world in the future. Reunited with Marle and new allies, Crono goes on multiple quests to save the world.

Crono's design was originally created by ''Chrono Trigger''{{'}}s story planner, [[Masato Kato]], and finalized by [[Akira Toriyama]]. While his design did not change much throughout the game's development, Kato's idea to kill the protagonist resulted in negative feedback from Square higher-ups for being too dark for the story, and thus Crono became able to revive. Since his appearance in ''Chrono Trigger'', Crono has received generally positive reception and has gained a strong fan following. He has been praised as a likable blank canvas for the player to project themselves onto, and his death scene in ''Chrono Trigger'' is considered by critics to be one of gaming's most memorable moments.

==Concept and creation==

Crono's initial design was created by ''[[Chrono Trigger]]''{{'}}s story planner, [[Masato Kato]]. The hero retained his "innocence": His hairstyle, clothing, the Japanese sword he wields gave an image that stayed the same since the game's development. The only difference was that his expression belies his youth in sketches.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=V-Jump Player's Guide|publisher=Shueisha|language=Japanese|title=Toriyama Sketches|year=1994|page=188}}</ref> His crimson hair is a symbol for his blazing courage.<ref>{{cite book | editor = Studio BentStuff | title = Chrono Trigger Ultimania | series = [[Ultimania]] | date = January 20, 2009 | publisher = [[Square Enix]] | language = Japanese | isbn = 978-4-7575-2469-9 | pages = 22}}</ref> The concept behind Crono was that his adventure begins when he goes to save a girl who was sucked into a time warp created by a teleportation device. Despite the simplicity of such a quest, it gradually reveals itself as you travel through time to each different era, far surpassing the story's creation. The adventure Crono embarks on while time-traveling was the key appeal to the audience. His design was meant to be highly notable in order to make fights more entertaining.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Gamest|title=Chrono Trigger Development Team Special Talk|pages=211–215|language=Japanese|publisher=Shinseisha|year=1994}}</ref> Crono was the first written character to star as a young male, resulting in Square balancing it by adding female characters as well as non-human characters to balance it and make the party more entertaining.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=V Jump Books Dokusen Project|publisher=Shueisha|language=Japanese|title=It's a scorching hot TALK BATTLE!!|year=1995|page=269}}</ref> Crono's most developed parts are his Japanese blade, which gives a hint of the Orient.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=V-Jump Video 1|publisher=Shueisha|language=Japanese|title=Chrono Trigger Prerelease Coverage|year=1994}}</ref>

Crono's final design was created by [[Akira Toriyama]]. In the initial design sketches, Crono was a "bad kid" wearing goggles and a cape.<ref name="theperfect">{{cite book | editor = V-Jump staff | title = Chrono Trigger: The Perfect | url = http://berriblue.blogspot.com/2009/01/chrono-trigger-v-jump-interview-v-jump.html | series = V-Jump Books Game Series | date = June 1995 | publisher = [[Shueisha]] | language = Japanese | isbn =  | pages = 263–269 | access-date = 2024-02-27 | archive-date = 2009-12-29 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091229110447/http://berriblue.blogspot.com/2009/01/chrono-trigger-v-jump-interview-v-jump.html | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="katodesigns">{{cite book | editor = Studio BentStuff | title = Chrono Trigger Ultimania | series = [[Ultimania]] | date = January 20, 2009 | publisher = [[Square Enix]] | language = Japanese | isbn = 978-4-7575-2469-9 | pages = 584–585}}</ref> While he was called Chrono in the Japanese version, this was changed in the North American version. Crono is a [[silent protagonist]] who uses facial expressions to communicate; this is never addressed by any characters in the games he appears in. Concerning his death in the game, Kato noted that his policy has always been "to try and create games that run counter to users' expectations, surprise them."<ref>{{cite web | author = GIA staff | title = Chrono Cross interview | url = http://terror.snm-hgkz.ch/mirrors/thegia/sites/www.thegia.com/news/n990724b.html | work = Gaming Intelligence Agency | date = July 24, 1999 | accessdate = April 20, 2009 | archive-date = June 15, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090615130750/http://terror.snm-hgkz.ch/mirrors/thegia/sites/www.thegia.com/news/n990724b.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Chrono was his name originally, but it lost the "h" due to problems with memory and the names. Chrono had six letters, while five appeared to be the limit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.rpgamer.com/ask/qak040898.html|title=Tupon, Chupon and video game females|website=RPGamer|access-date=2024-02-26|archive-date=2024-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226012502/https://archive.rpgamer.com/ask/qak040898.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Masato Kato]] and other developers held a series of meetings to ensure continuity, usually attended by around 30 personnel.<ref name="gamest">{{Cite journal |date=March 1995 |journal=Gamest |publisher=Shinseisha |url=http://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Supporting_Material_Translation.html#Chrono_Trigger_Gamest_Coverage |pages=211–215 |title=Chrono Trigger Development Team Special Talk |access-date=2024-02-27 |archive-date=2010-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119231921/http://chronocompendium.com/Term/Supporting_Material_Translation.html#Chrono_Trigger_Gamest_Coverage |url-status=live }}</ref> Kato and [[Yuji Horii]] initially proposed Crono's death, though they intended for him to stay dead; the party would have retrieved an earlier, living version of him to complete the quest.<ref name="dsultimania">{{cite book | year=2009 | editor=Studio BentStuff | title=Chrono Trigger Ultimania | page=581 | language=Japanese | publisher=Square Enix | url=http://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Supporting_Material_Translation.html#Chrono_Trigger_Ultimania | isbn=978-4-7575-2469-9 | access-date=2024-02-27 | archive-date=2010-11-19 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119231921/http://chronocompendium.com/Term/Supporting_Material_Translation.html#Chrono_Trigger_Ultimania | url-status=live }}</ref> Square deemed the scenario too depressing and asked that Crono be brought back to life later in the story.<ref name="dsultimania" /> Although Crono does not appear in the sequel, the staff has often been asked about what happens to the character. Taking into consideration the fall of the Kingdom of Guardia and the rise of Porre's militarism on the main continent, Kato suggested the couple might have been involved in an incident.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/GamePro_Interview.html|website=CronoCompedium|access-date=2024-02-27 |title=GamePro Interview }}</ref> When discussing a theoretical game to follow ''[[Chrono Cross]]'', Katō discussed an idea where [[Kid (Chrono Cross)|Kid]], Lucca's adopted daughter, went on a quest to save her, Crono, and [[Marle (Chrono Trigger)|Marle]]. He ultimately rejected this idea due to his principle that "the past is the past".<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J6WztAEACAAJ |title=Hors du Temps: Chrono Trigger/Chrono Cross |publisher=Libellus |last=González |first=Mariela |year=2018 |isbn=978-2916768175 |access-date=2019-08-24 |archive-date=2024-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108024425/https://books.google.com/books?id=J6WztAEACAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Appearances==
Crono is the spiky-haired, silent protagonist of the ''[[Chrono Trigger]]''. He originates from the year 1000 A.D., where he lives in the village of Truce with his mother. While attending the Millennial Fair, he meets a young girl named [[Characters of Chrono Trigger#Marle|Marle]], and the two go see a teleporter created by Crono's friend [[Characters of Chrono Trigger#Lucca|Lucca]]. As Marle tries the teleporter, it reacts with her pendant and creates a time gate, leading Crono to travel back in time 400 years to rescue Marle. This begins a series of time-traveling adventures where Crono and his friends discover that Lavos, an extraterrestrial monster who crashed on Earth in pre-historic times, is set to awaken in 1999 A.D. and destroy civilization. Crono is tried and arrested on charges of kidnapping Marle, and sentenced to death by the current chancellor of Guardia. Lucca and Marle help Crono escape prison, haphazardly using another time portal to evade their pursuers. This portal lands them in 2300 A.D., where they learn that an advanced civilization has been wiped out by a giant creature known as Lavos that appeared in 1999 A.D., and find the last remnants of humanity living in undergrowth domes subsisting off of machine energy in place of food.<ref name="dayoflavos">{{cite video game |title=Chrono Trigger |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=August 22, 1995 |platform=Super NES |level=Arris Dome |quote='''Marle:''' Say, what does this button do? / '''Lucca:''' 1999 A.D.? Visual record of The Day of Lavos... / ''''Marle:''' Wh, what...IS that? / '''Lucca:''' Lavos?... Is that what's destroying our world?! / '''Marle:''' We must truly be in the future...}}</ref> The three vow to find a way to prevent the future destruction of their world. After meeting and repairing Robo, Crono and his friends find Gaspar, an old sage residing in an atemporal space known as the End of Time, who offers them the ability to travel through time by way of several pillars of light.

The ruined Ocean Palace then rises into the air as the Black Omen, Queen Zeal's floating fortress. The group turns to Gaspar for help, and he gives them a "Chrono Trigger", a device that allows the group to replace Crono just before the moment of death with an identical [[doppelgänger]]. The party then gathers power by helping people across time with Gaspar's instructions.<ref name="itll-help">{{cite video game |title=Chrono Trigger |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=August 22, 1995 |platform=Super NES |level=The End of Time |quote='''Gaspar:''' Just as you touch the lives of every life form you meet, so, too, will their energy strengthen you.}}</ref> Their journeys involve defeating the remnants of the Mystics,<ref name="generals">{{cite video game |title=Chrono Trigger |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=August 22, 1995 |platform=Super NES |level=Ozzie's Fort |quote='''Ozzie:''' Magus! You lied when you said you wanted to create a world of evil! You used me! / '''Magus:''' Oh, how dreadful. Say, can you hear that? It's the sound of the Reaper...}}</ref> stopping Robo's maniacal [[artificial intelligence|AI]] creator,<ref name="extermination">{{cite video game |title=Chrono Trigger |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=August 22, 1995 |platform=Super NES |level=Geno Dome |quote='''Mother Brain:''' Listen well humans. [...] / '''Mother Brain:''' We robots will create a new order... A nation of steel, and pure logic. A true paradise! Our «Species» will replace you... So stop your foolish struggle, and succumb to the sleep of eternity... [...] / '''Marle:''' What IS this?! We have to do something! / '''Magus:''' Hmm... A human processing plant? / '''Frog:''' What be this?! We must rescue them!}}</ref> giving Frog closure for Cyrus's death,<ref name="cyrus">{{cite video game |title=Chrono Trigger |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=August 22, 1995 |platform=Super NES |level=Northern Ruins |quote='''Frog:''' Dear Cyrus... Thou must...think ill of me. / '''Cyrus:''' On the contrary! You have come far, my friend. When Magus defeated me, I thought of all those whom I had left behind. King Guardia, Queen Leene, and of course, you... Your skill and dedication is superior! I can rest now, knowing that everyone is in good hands. Good bye, my friend!}}</ref> locating and charging up the mythical Sun Stone, retrieving the legendary Rainbow Shell, unmasking Guardia's Chancellor as a saboteur, and restoring a forest destroyed by a desert monster.<ref name="entity">{{cite video game |title=Chrono Trigger |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=August 22, 1995 |platform=Super NES |level=Fiona's Forest |quote='''Robo:''' After 400 years of experience, I have come to think that Lavos may not be responsible for the Gates. / '''Marle:''' What do you mean? / '''Robo:''' I have come to think that someone, or something wanted us to see all this.}}</ref> If Crono is resurrected before defeating Lavos, his sentence for kidnapping Marle is revoked by her father, King Guardia XXXIII, thanks to testimonies from Marle's ancestors and descendants, whom Crono had helped during his journey. Crono's mother accidentally enters the time gate at the Millennial Fair before it closes, prompting Crono to set out in the Epoch to find her.<ref name="crono'smom">{{cite video game |title=Chrono Trigger |developer=Square Co |publisher=Square Soft |date=August 22, 1995 |platform=Super NES |level=Leene Square |quote='''Mom:''' Look, Crono! Your cat's running away because you haven't been feeding it! Hey, come back here! / '''Marle:''' Oh, great! Crono, that Gate will never open again! / '''Lucca:''' Well it looks like we have no choice but to go after them! / '''Marle:''' Go after them?! But the Gate's... Lucca, don't turn off your brain, yet! / '''Lucca:''' I forgot! We have a Time Machine!}}</ref> If Crono is not resurrected, Gaspar knows how to resurrect Crono; If resurrected, Crono jumps on to help the group.

''Chrono Trigger DS'' adds a scenario in which Crono and his friends can help a "lost sanctum" of Reptites. The second scenario adds ties to ''Trigger''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s sequel, ''[[Chrono Cross]]'' where they have a limited role as ghosts.<ref name="dsultimania" /> The group can explore several temporal distortions to combat shadow versions of Crono, Marle, and Lucca and to fight Dalton, who promises in defeat to raise an army in the town of Porre to destroy the Kingdom of Guardia.<ref name="daltonpromise">{{cite video game |title=Chrono Trigger DS |developer=Square Enix |publisher=Square Enix |date=November 25, 2008 |platform=Nintendo DS |level=Twilight Grotto |quote='''Dalton''': If it weren't for you, I'd have been the ruler of an age all my own! You robbed me of everything I'd worked so hard for! My wealth, my home, my loyal underlings... You took it all away! It's unforgivable! So come on! Have a taste of the suffering I've endured because of you! / '''Dalton''': Hmph. I think that's enough for today. But don't you dare think this is settled! Just you wait! I'll raise the greatest army the world has ever seen in Porre, and use it to wipe your pitiful little kingdom off the map!}}</ref><ref name="magusdsending">{{cite video game |title=Chrono Trigger DS |developer=Square Enix |publisher=Square Enix |date=November 25, 2008 |platform=Nintendo DS |level=Twilight Grotto |quote='''Magus''': Hmph. If this is to be the way of things, then let me abandon all that was and fade away as well. Should a part of me somehow even then remain, then perhaps that will be the birth of something new—something with greater meaning than all this. / '''Magus''': Who...who am I? What's happened? I...I don't remember anything. There was something...something I needed to do. Something I needed to...to find. / '''Magus''': I must find a way to remember. I will.}}</ref>

==Reception==
Since his appearance in ''Chrono Trigger'', Crono has received generally positive reception and has gained a strong fan following.<ref>{{cite web |title=Crono - Chrono Trigger |url=http://www.ign.com/characters/crono-chrono-trigger |work=[[IGN]] |accessdate=2013-08-02 |archive-date=2014-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408224851/http://www.ign.com/characters/crono-chrono-trigger |url-status=live }}</ref> In a special Chrono Trigger Cross Review, ''[[Famicom Tsūshin]]'' scored Crono a 30 out of 40.<ref>CHRONO TRIGGER CROSS REVIEW - キャラクター: クロノ. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.332. Pg.68. 28 April 1995.</ref> [[GamesRadar]]'s staff ranked Crono as the 21st best hero in video games; they claimed that while he seemed like a typical hero from a role-playing game, he makes a large impact on the characters around him. They also praised the game's narrative for Crono's quality as a lead character.<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 100 Video Game Heroes |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/top-100-video-game-heroes/ |work=[[GamesRadar]] |author=GamesRadar Staff |date=2012-11-09 |accessdate=2013-08-02 |archive-date=2012-11-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111101246/http://www.gamesradar.com/top-100-video-game-heroes/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Crono has also been called a likable "everyman" by [[IGN]]'s Jesse Schedeen and GamesRadar's Matt Bradford. Bradford claimed that while Crono did have some advantages, he took on the role of a hero without them.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cast of Characters: Chrono Trigger DS |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/07/03/cast-of-characters-chrono-trigger-ds?page=2 |work=[[IGN]] |last=Schedeen |first=Jesse |date=2008-07-08 |accessdate=2013-08-02 |archive-date=2014-04-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409002204/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/07/03/cast-of-characters-chrono-trigger-ds?page=2 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gaming's Greatest Everyman Heroes |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/gamings-greatest-everyman-heroes/ |work=[[GamesRadar]] |last=Bradford |first=Matt |date=2013-01-08 |accessdate=2013-08-02 |archive-date=2014-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101095912/http://www.gamesradar.com/gamings-greatest-everyman-heroes/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Crono has been referenced by a character in the [[NBC]] TV show ''[[Heroes (American TV series)|Heroes]]''. The character [[Hiro Nakamura]] compared himself to Crono due to his newly acquired time-travel ability.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hiro's Blog: Where to Begin... |url=http://blogs.nbcuni.com/hiro_blog/2006/10/where_to_begin.php |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229211412/http://blogs.nbcuni.com/hiro_blog/2006/10/where_to_begin.php |work=[[NBC]] |archivedate=2012-02-29 |accessdate=2013-08-02 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Hiro's Blog: Mudslide |url=http://blogs.nbcuni.com/hiro_blog/2006/10/mudslide.php |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007004138/http://blogs.nbcuni.com/hiro_blog/2006/10/mudslide.php/ |work=[[NBC]] |archivedate=2008-10-07 |access-date=2013-08-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[Super Retro Squad]]'' developer Jay Pavlina wanted to feature a character based on Crono in the game but never got around to it.<ref>{{cite web |title=Interview: Talking ''Super Retro Squad'' with Jay Pavlina |url=http://www.gamezone.com/originals/2012/07/13/interview-talking-super-retro-squad-with-jay-pavlina |work=GameZone |last=Splechta |first=Mike |date=2012-07-13 |accessdate=2013-08-02 |archive-date=2014-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408221927/http://www.gamezone.com/originals/2012/07/13/interview-talking-super-retro-squad-with-jay-pavlina |url-status=live }}</ref> Crono has proven to be a popular choice for an appearance in the [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]] by IGN and IGN's readers alike, as well as ''GamesRadar''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Readers Go Smash |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/02/07/readers-go-smash |work=[[IGN]] |author=IGN Stars |date=2008-02-07 |accessdate=2013-08-02 |archive-date=2014-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408230441/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/02/07/readers-go-smash |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Smash It Up! It's Hip to be Square |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/11/10/smash-it-up-its-hip-to-be-square |work=[[IGN]] |last=Thomas |first=Lucas M. |date=2007-11-09 |access-date=2013-08-03 |archive-date=2013-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020073950/http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/11/10/smash-it-up-its-hip-to-be-square |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/super-smash-bros-switch-roster/|title=20 characters we want to see in Super Smash Bros. on Switch|website=GamesRadar|date=23 March 2018 |access-date=2024-02-26|archive-date=2019-05-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531082311/https://www.gamesradar.com/super-smash-bros-switch-roster/|url-status=live}}</ref> Due to the character's silent personality and lack of friends, ''[[VentureBeat]]'' said Crono comes across as a common archetype of lonely role-playing protagonists who tend to spend most of their time recruiting new allies, most of whom happen to be attractive women.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/games/rpg-heroes-are-lonely-people/|title=RPG Heroes Are Lonely People|website=VentureBeat|date=22 May 2010 |access-date=2024-02-26|archive-date=2024-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226012502/https://venturebeat.com/games/rpg-heroes-are-lonely-people/|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the same site, Crono is a common [[Akira Toriyama]] RPG hero, attributing his silent personality and spiky hair, which make him look more like ''Dragon Quest'' heroes as well as [[Goku]], the protagonist of ''[[Dragon Ball]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/ai/microsoft-showcase-next-generation-ai-and-computing-at-nvidia-gtc/|title=The Rime of the Ancient RPGer: Chrono Trigger|website=VentureBeat|date=26 February 2024 |access-date=2024-02-26|archive-date=2024-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226173745/https://venturebeat.com/ai/microsoft-showcase-next-generation-ai-and-computing-at-nvidia-gtc/|url-status=live}}</ref> In retrospect, Alexander Pan from IGN saw Crono's games at a festival while finding new people, which was one of the most nostalgic things he did as a teenager. He also liked Crono's design, as it reminded him of Toriyama's Goku.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sea.ign.com/chrono-trigger/132149/feature/why-i-still-play-chrono-trigger-today|title=Why I Still Play Chrono Trigger Today|website=IGN|date=26 March 2018 |access-date=2024-02-26|archive-date=2024-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226012503/https://sea.ign.com/chrono-trigger/132149/feature/why-i-still-play-chrono-trigger-today|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Comic Book Resources]] lamented the fact that the character was silent and believed he would be more appealing if he were given lines due to the large number of friends and enemies he possesses as well as his special techniques.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/silent-jrpg-protagonists-who-should-speak/#crono-chrono-trigger|title=10 Silent JRPG Protagonists Who Should Have Dialogue|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=29 November 2023 |access-date=2024-02-26|archive-date=2024-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227204459/https://www.cbr.com/silent-jrpg-protagonists-who-should-speak/#crono-chrono-trigger|url-status=live}}</ref> Should ''Chrono Trigger'' get a sequel, ''GameRadar'' demanded that in such an installment, the child of Crono and Marle be playable alongside his parents.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/fan-made-chrono-trigger-video-reminds-us-we-want-a-proper-sequel-heres-five-things-wed-like-to-see/|title=Fan-made Chrono Trigger video reminds us we want a proper sequel – here's five things we'd like to see|website=GamesRadar|date=28 August 2010 |access-date=2024-02-26|archive-date=2023-10-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007142301/https://www.gamesradar.com/fan-made-chrono-trigger-video-reminds-us-we-want-a-proper-sequel-heres-five-things-wed-like-to-see/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The character's death scene is considered one of gaming's most memorable moments by critics. IGN called it "unforgettable" and felt that killing off the main character of a video game was both "brave and rare." They added that anyone who experienced this felt a "sting in their heart" when they thought about it.<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 100 Video Game Moments |url=http://www.ign.com/top/video-game-moments/39 |work=[[IGN]] |accessdate=2013-08-02 |archive-date=2013-06-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625004805/http://www.ign.com/top/video-game-moments/39 |url-status=live }}</ref> UGO Networks' K. Thor Jensen felt that in a genre notable for having plot twists, this was one of the most significant examples.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Most Shocking Twists in Gaming |url=http://www.ugo.com/games/chrono-trigger-2 |work=[[UGO Networks]] |last=Jensen |first=K. Thor |date=2011-11-10 |accessdate=2013-08-02 |archive-date=2012-12-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216060321/http://www.ugo.com/games/chrono-trigger-2 |url-status=live }}</ref> In another article, IGN felt this moment was sudden for the audience as the game had yet to reach its ending and it was rare for games to do this to their protagonists. The possibility of reviving Crono was still praised for making the game more complex.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/lists/top-100-video-game-moments/64|title=Crono's death|website=IGN|access-date=2024-02-26|archive-date=2024-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226012502/https://www.ign.com/lists/top-100-video-game-moments/64|url-status=live}}</ref> [[1UP.com]]'s Justin Haywald called his death the most memorable element of ''Chrono Trigger'', which he identifies as one of his favorites.<ref>{{cite web |title=Favorite Gaming Moments |url=http://www.1up.com/features/favorite-gaming-moments |work=[[1UP.com]] |author=1UP Staff |date=2010 |accessdate=2013-08-02 |archive-date=2013-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319043231/http://www.1up.com/features/favorite-gaming-moments |url-status=live }}</ref> While acknowledging the shock of Crono's death, IGN said his resurrection seems obligatory for the player due to the feeling of emptiness and loss caused by the literal absence of the main hero. This adds a bittersweet and familiar taste to an already very emotional and universal experience.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://br.ign.com/lista/60392/feature/as-5-melhores-ressurreicoes-dos-games|title=As 5 melhores ressurreições dos games|website=IGN|date=April 2018 |access-date=2024-02-26|archive-date=2024-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226012503/https://br.ign.com/lista/60392/feature/as-5-melhores-ressurreicoes-dos-games|url-status=live}}</ref> 1UP.com's Scott Sharkey featured him in a list of the 10 video game deaths that "didn't stick."<ref>{{cite web |title=They Is Risen - Top 10 Video Game Resurrections |url=http://www.1up.com/features/they-is-risen?pager.offset=1 |work=[[1UP.com]] |last=Sharkey |first=Scott |date=2007-04-08 |accessdate=2013-08-02 |archive-date=2013-10-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030162022/http://www.1up.com/features/they-is-risen?pager.offset=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Game Informer]]''{{'}}s Kyle Hilliard called his death the game's biggest surprise, due to the fact that you can beat the game without reviving him.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Why We Love ''Chrono Trigger'' |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/04/06/why-we-love-chrono-trigger.aspx |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |last=Hilliard |first=Kyle |date=2012-04-06 |access-date=2013-08-02 |archive-date=2017-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201153200/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/04/06/why-we-love-chrono-trigger.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=This is How I Remember Chrono Trigger |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/blogs/editors/b/gikyle_blog/archive/2012/04/09/this-is-how-i-remember-chrono-trigger.aspx |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |last=Hilliard |first=Kyle |date=2012-04-19 |access-date=2013-08-02 |archive-date=2012-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708160328/http://www.gameinformer.com/blogs/editors/b/gikyle_blog/archive/2012/04/09/this-is-how-i-remember-chrono-trigger.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''Game Informer''{{'}}s Dan Rykert commented that while Crono was supposed to be "wish-fulfillment" for players due to his silence, his death contradicted that idea.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Characters That Died Under Our Watch |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/04/27/characters-that-died-under-our-watch.aspx |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |last=Rykert |first=Dan |date=2011-04-27 |access-date=2013-08-02 |archive-date=2013-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719211950/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/04/27/characters-that-died-under-our-watch.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> Among the game's endings, VG247 found it weird how in one of them Crono becomes the new Magus, while in a surprisingly shocking ending, Crono stops being a silent character and talks to his comrades for the first time ever.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vg247.com/a-tribute-to-chrono-triggers-weird-funny-and-depressing-endings-on-its-25th-anniversary|title=A Tribute to Chrono Trigger's Weird, Funny, and Depressing Endings on Its 25th Anniversary|website=VG247|date=11 March 2020 |access-date=2024-02-26|archive-date=2024-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226014004/https://www.vg247.com/a-tribute-to-chrono-triggers-weird-funny-and-depressing-endings-on-its-25th-anniversary|url-status=live}}</ref> In ''Playable Tragedy: Ergodic Tragedy in Chrono Trigger'', Luis Felipe Torres Meza discusses that Crono's death is a well-executed fictional tragedy based on the notable loss the player suffers, especially because the dead character acts as an avatar for him. The writer further compared the tragedy in ''Chrono Trigger'' with the 1997 video game ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'', where the player suffers tragedy upon [[Cloud Strife]]'s failure to save his comrade [[Aerith Gainsborough]] from the villain [[Sephiroth (Final Fantasy)|Sephiroth]]. Both scenes were compared for being highly engaging to the player, though Crono's death still comes across as a death that no gamer had seen coming, as referenced by the writers from the Square who wanted to surprise the audience. However, in the case of the story of ''Chrono Trigger'', Crono's death is overshadowed by Lucca's actions in the next sequences before the player ends the game, among other side quests involving the main cast.<ref>{{cite thesis|url=https://skemman.is/handle/1946/22720|title=Playable Tragedy Ergodic Tragedy in Chrono Trigger|date=October 2015 |publisher=Skemman|access-date=2024-02-27|archive-date=2024-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227204300/https://skemman.is/handle/1946/22720|type=Thesis |url-status=live |last1=Meza |first1=Luis Felipe Torres }}</ref>

In the book ''Reverse Design: Chrono Trigger'', Crono is described as an exceptional protagonist as he is both a player avatar as well as a hero destined to face the villain Lavos, as the resolution of such a battle does not affect the player highly based on how many sidequests he or she has accomplished. Nevertheless, the handling of Crono in the early parts of the game was praised for being able to fight alone by the video game developers or be assisted depending on the player's decisions.<ref>{{cite book|title=Reverse Design: Chrono Trigger|publisher=CRC Press|author=Holleman, Patrick|isbn= 978-1138323735|year=2018}}</ref> The death of Crono is also analyzed in the book ''Japanese Role-Playing Games: Genre, Representation, and Liminality in the JRPG'', as the impact is also notable due to him being the most powerful member of the party who was always available. While his death was not unique in gaming history, the gameplay changed forever. Although his return is optional, the narrative is not affected by this, as the plot now relies more on the entire party than mainly Crono.<ref>{{cite book|title=Japanese Role-Playing Games: Genre, Representation, and Liminality in the JRPG|publisher=Lexington Books|author=Hutchinson, Rachael|asin=B09XJP9TJ7|year=2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Chrono series}}

[[Category:Fictional prison escapees]]
[[Category:Male characters in video games]]
[[Category:Chrono (series) characters]]
[[Category:Science fiction video game characters]]
[[Category:Fictional mute characters]]
[[Category:Time travelers]]
[[Category:Video game characters introduced in 1995]]
[[Category:Video game characters who use magic]]
[[Category:Video game characters with electric or magnetic abilities]]
[[Category:Video game characters designed by Akira Toriyama]]