The Road Not Taken: Consequences of Skipping Kid in Chrono Cross
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Choosing to not save Kid in Chrono Cross drastically alters your gameplay experience, particularly during the early to mid-game. Rather than embarking on a quest to find Hydra Humour and infiltrate Viper Manor to save her, the game opens up a new, distinct storyline in Another World. This path allows you to recruit Macha, Glenn, and Doc, characters you wouldn’t otherwise obtain so early, or at all, if you saved Kid. It also significantly delays access to the Astral Amulet, delaying the ability to freely travel between the Home World and Another World. While it might seem like you’re missing out on a crucial element of the story, opting not to save Kid offers unique gameplay opportunities and character interactions, altering the narrative flow and your team composition. It is a different, but a completely valid way to experience Chrono Cross.
The Rippling Effects: Unveiling the Alternative Path
The decision to leave Kid to her fate at Fort Dragonia initiates a chain of events. Here’s a breakdown of what unfolds:
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The Hydra Marshes are Skipped: You bypass the arduous trek through the Hydra Marshes, a zone filled with tough enemies and essential side quests like saving Razzly. While you miss out on these challenges and the potential rewards within them, it does save you a considerable amount of time and frustration, particularly if you’re not a fan of grinding.
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Macha Joins the Party: Macha, a spunky and powerful red innate fighter from Guldove, becomes an early and valuable addition to your team. Her physical prowess and access to fire elements make her a strong asset in combat.
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Glenn’s Recruitment Becomes Possible: The biggest draw for many players is the opportunity to recruit Glenn, the legendary hero of Termina. He’s a powerful green innate swordsman who wields two Einlanzers (swords). The chance to have him in your party early on is a compelling reason to choose this route. Without saving Kid, you can find Glenn in Termina when you return after raiding Viper Manor.
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Delayed Astral Amulet Acquisition: Since you avoid the Hydra Marshes storyline, obtaining the Astral Amulet, required for traveling between worlds, is delayed. This changes the order in which you explore the game’s environments and tackle certain quests.
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Doc Joins Later: After the events on the pirate ship, upon returning to Guldove you are able to recruit Doc.
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Early Game Steals are Missed: This path does mean you miss some steals that are only available if Kid is in your party early in the game.
A Matter of Preference: Why Choose This Route?
While Kid is a popular character, there are strategic and narrative reasons to consider skipping her rescue:
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Team Composition Variety: Some players prefer the characters available on this path—Macha, Glenn, and Doc—over Kid. This is based on preferred playstyles and how well their elements fit into their team.
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Glenn’s Popularity: For many, Glenn is the decisive factor. His status as a legendary hero and his impressive combat abilities make him a highly sought-after party member.
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Narrative Curiosity: Exploring an alternative storyline provides a fresh perspective on the game’s events. It allows you to see how the world changes based on your choices and how characters react to different situations.
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Difficulty Preference: Skipping the Hydra Marshes can be seen as making the early game slightly easier by avoiding a challenging area.
Ultimately, the decision hinges on individual preferences. Do you prioritize Kid’s fiery personality and thieving skills, or the allure of Glenn’s legendary status and a different set of companions? There is no “wrong” answer.
Navigating the World: Gameplay Adjustments
Choosing not to save Kid has several implications for your gameplay:
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Element Grids: You’ll need to adjust your element grids to accommodate Macha and Glenn’s innates. Macha, as a red innate, will need fire-based elements, while Glenn, a green innate, benefits from wind and earth elements.
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Techs and Combos: You’ll have access to different Techs, combos, and Triple Techs depending on your team. Experiment with different combinations to find what works best for your playstyle.
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World Exploration Order: The delayed acquisition of the Astral Amulet means you’ll explore different areas in a different order than if you had saved Kid. This can affect the availability of certain items and side quests.
Conclusion: Embrace the Choice
Choosing to not save Kid in Chrono Cross is a significant decision that shapes your gameplay experience in profound ways. It’s a testament to the game’s depth and replayability, offering a compelling alternative path with unique rewards and challenges. Consider your priorities, weigh the pros and cons, and embrace the path less traveled. Who knows, you might find it even more rewarding.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions regarding the decision of whether or not to save Kid in Chrono Cross:
1. Can I still get the “good ending” if I don’t save Kid?
Yes, you can absolutely still achieve the good ending without saving Kid. The requirements for the good ending revolve around defeating the Time Devourer using the Chrono Cross with the correct element sequence during the final battle. Kid’s presence in your party isn’t a necessity for this.
2. Will I miss out on any essential story elements if I skip Kid?
While you’ll experience the story from a different angle, you won’t miss any essential story elements. The core narrative remains the same. You’ll simply uncover it through different character interactions and events.
3. Is Glenn a significantly better character than Kid?
“Better” is subjective and depends on your playstyle. Glenn is generally considered a powerful physical attacker with access to strong green elements. Kid is a fast and versatile thief with access to potent red elements and stealing abilities. Both characters are valuable assets.
4. Does choosing not to save Kid make the game harder?
Initially, it can make certain parts of the game different, but not necessarily harder. You avoid the challenges of the Hydra Marshes, but you will need to strategize with a different character set. The difficulty of the game is largely dependent on how well you build your element grids and manage your resources.
5. Can I still get Kid later in the game if I choose not to save her initially?
Yes, you will still automatically recruit Kid to your party later on in the game whether or not you rescue her during the Fort Dragonia events.
6. How does the game compensate for the loss of Kid’s stealing ability early on?
You might miss out on some early-game steals, but the game provides ample opportunities to acquire rare items and equipment through other means. You can also recruit other characters with stealing abilities later on.
7. Does this decision affect the availability of other characters besides Macha, Glenn, and Doc?
No, the availability of most other characters isn’t directly affected by this decision. You’ll still be able to recruit the vast majority of the game’s 40+ characters regardless of whether you save Kid.
8. Is there a “best” playthrough – one where I save Kid or one where I don’t?
There is no “best” playthrough. Both paths offer unique experiences and rewards. Many players recommend experiencing both paths to fully appreciate the game’s depth and replayability.
9. How early can I recruit Glenn if I choose not to save Kid?
You can recruit Glenn after you return to Termina following the raid on Viper Manor.
10. Does choosing not to save Kid lock me out of any side quests?
Yes, it locks you out of quests related to saving Razzly in the Hydra Marshes.
11. What are the advantages of having Macha in my party?
Macha is a strong physical attacker with high HP and access to powerful fire elements. She’s a reliable and sturdy fighter who can withstand a lot of damage.
12. Does skipping Kid affect any of the endings besides the good ending?
No, choosing to save or skip Kid does not influence the ten New Game+ endings.
13. If I choose not to save Kid, does that mean I don’t get the Astral Amulet until much later?
Yes. Choosing to not save Kid means that you don’t get the Astral Amulet until much later, significantly delaying the ability to switch between worlds.
14. Can I get both Glenn and Kid in the same playthrough?
Yes, you will still get Kid later in the game. However, to recruit Glenn, you need to choose to not save Kid in the first place.
15. Does the order in which I recruit characters affect their stats or abilities?
No, the order in which you recruit characters does not affect their stats or abilities.