Round Up: The Reviews Are In For Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers - Nintendo Life

Image: Square Enix

Apart from LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, one other big release this week is Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition.

In case you didn't already know, it's a remaster of the 1999 PlayStation JRPG. More and more reviews of the game are now starting to surface online, and so we've rounded up a bunch of them.

Of course, be sure to check out our own review - we said it was a "fair port" awarding it six out of ten stars:

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Siliconera praised the game, awarding it 10/10:

"CHRONO CROSS is an RPG that transcends time and space, unfolding across two interlinked parallel worlds. With over 40 party members to meet, people and dimensions will intertwine in this epic drama about the planet itself. Chrono Cross has always been an essential JRPG, and this The Radical Dreamers Edition remaster makes it feel even more important."

Destructoid said it was "Alright" awarding it six out of 10:

"And really, that’s all you need to know: it’s a PlayStation-era Square RPG. Can you still stand to play Final Fantasy IX and Parasite Eve? Then Chrono Cross is worth your time, and here’s an okay way to play it. Is that era too antiquated for you? Then this remaster has no chance of changing your mind. Regardless of what you think of the game or genre, it’s not a very loving or respectful port, and Chrono Cross deserves better."

RPG Site gave it 7/10:

"Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition is a wonderful remaster marred by an unoptimized Switch port. While you could argue that they could have gone further in places, like maybe offering players the ability to further customize which parts of the experience they wanted to be presented with old or new graphics, it feels nice that one of my favorite PS1 era JRPGs got so much love. I adore both of the games in this collection from the bottom of my heart, and I’m glad they’re more accessible than ever. I hope the Switch version can be an easier recommendation in the future, especially since the only way to own it physically seems to be on that platform."

Our friends over at Push Square awarded the PlayStation version 4 out of 10:

"Parts of Chrono Cross really haven't aged well, but it's still a charming, characterful JRPG that evokes feelings of the genre's golden age on PS1. It's a game that deserves better than The Radical Dreamers Edition, which, at least at launch, is a dreadfully poor remaster. Crippled by frame rate issues, it beggars belief that a title from 1999 could run this badly on modern hardware. Unless you're desperate for the nostalgia, we strongly recommend waiting to see whether Square Enix releases a patch to improve the package on PS4 and PS5 before buying."

Wccftech gave it 4.5/10:

"The crippled frame rates, which remain a constantly fluctuating 15-20 FPS in battles, are only exacerbated by providing players with the ability to slow down and fast forward gameplay without having to finish the game first. In another time, another place, perhaps Chrono Cross The Radical Dreamers Edition would be more critically revered this second time around but I can find little reason to recommend this particular bundle over the PlayStation 1 release based on the core game alone."

Will you be trying out this game on the Nintendo Switch when it arrives later this week? Tell us down in the comments.

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2022-04-06 05:05:00Z
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Windows 11's new meeting features improve eye contact, framing, and background blur - The Verge

Microsoft is building new intelligent meetings features directly into Windows 11. Four new features are coming soon that will improve background noise suppression, eye contact, framing, and background blur. These new features will arrive first on Qualcomm devices and take advantage of neural processing unit (NPU) chips to improve video and audio in meetings.

While Microsoft Teams already has a noise suppression feature, Voice Focus will be built into Windows 11 and can automatically remove unwanted audio during meetings and calls. Microsoft’s eye contact feature is also being rolled out more broadly on compatible devices, instead of being limited to the Surface Pro X.

Eye contact uses AI to automatically adjust where your eyes are looking in a video call to ensure you always appear to be making eye contact with the camera. It works well if you’re reading notes, if the camera lens is off to the side, or if you’re just trying to watch a football game during a meeting.

Microsoft is also adding automatic framing and portrait background blur directly into Windows 11. Automatic framing will ensure you’re always in focus during a video call whether you stand up or move around, and the portrait background blur option softens the environment around you instead of the more jarring background blur effects typically found in video conferencing apps.

“We’re excited to make meetings best on devices with an neural processing unit (NPU), so that people show up well and everyone can be engaged and productive,” explains Paul Barr, principal group product manager for Windows. “Because these intelligence features run locally on a device, it means they’re available across Windows 11 apps with minimal performance or battery life demands, and you can trust they will respect your privacy.”

Devices will need a neural processing unit (NPU) to use these new Windows 11 features, which means they’ll show up first on Lenovo’s new ThinkPad X13s, which is powered by Qualcomm’s 8cx Gen 3 compute platform.

“These new chips mean we can deliver these remarkable features to your device through Windows without taking away from the processing power you’re using to get stuff done,” explains Barr.

It’s unlikely we’ll see most of these features appear on non-ARM devices, though. Qualcomm’s chips are ideal for the processing requirements needed here, without impacting system performance or battery life. A separate Voice Clarity feature is appearing first on the Surface Laptop Studio in April, though.

Voice Clarity will eliminate echo and can enable simultaneous audio communication across apps like Teams, Discord, and Xbox. It takes advantage of the Studio Mics found on the Surface Laptop Studio to suppress background noise and allow you to walk around a room while chatting.

Microsoft is also planning additional video call improvements based on ARM chips, and Barr says these “are just the start of new effects we’re building to improve video calls.”

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2022-04-05 15:00:00Z
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Crystal Dynamics announces next Tomb Raider game, made in Unreal Engine 5 - Eurogamer.net

Tomb Raider franchise developer Crystal Dynamics has confirmed what we all rather suspected already - that it is working on the next major game in the series - and that this project will be made in Unreal Engine 5.

The announcement capped off today's Unreal Engine 5 presentation by Epic Games, which was timed alongside the engine's general release.

Unreal Engine 5 is the powerful toolset behind Epic Games' recent The Matrix Awakens demo, and which also runs the ever-changing Fortnite.

"This new engine translates to next-level storytelling and gameplay experiences, and that's why we're thrilled to announce today that we've just started development of our next Tomb Raider game, powered by Unreal Engine 5," Crystal Dynamics said today.

"Our goal is to push the envelope of fidelity and to deliver the high-quality cinematic action-adventure experience that fans deserve from both Crystal Dynamics and the Tomb Raider franchise. We can't wait to take this journey together."

Crystal Dynamics is incredibly excited about the future of Unreal and how it will help us take our storytelling to the next level. That's why we're proud to announce that our next #tombraider game is being built on Unreal Engine 5! pic.twitter.com/UFMiWzJAZc

— Tomb Raider (@tombraider) April 5, 2022

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Crystal Dynamics previously developed Tomb Raider: Legend, Anniversary, Underworld, Guardian of Light and the Temple of Osiris, as well as the series' big 2013 Tomb Raider reboot and sequel Rise of the Tomb Raider.

Since then, Crystal has been kept busy with the poorly-received live-service game Marvel's Avengers - leaving 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider to sister studio Eidos Montreal.

Crystal Dynamics is also currently working on the next Perfect Dark game, assisting development at Microsoft's The Inititiave studio - and a recent report suggested it had taken a much larger role. (All of which begs the question - how much of Crystal Dynamics is now left on Marvel's Avengers?)

There was no word on when we might hear more on the Tomb Raider project, or when it might see release.

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2022-04-05 16:07:15Z
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Days before release, the first Chrono Cross remaster gameplay has finally been published | VGC - Video Games Chronicle

The first lengthy gameplay footage of Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition has been released, days before the remaster’s release.

Posted to YouTube by Japanese publication Famitsu, the footage is from the PlayStation version of the game, although whether it’s being played on a PS4 or PS5 is unclear. Gameplay footage of the Nintendo Switch version has yet to be shown.

At the time of writing, the game isn’t currently available for preorder on PlayStation platforms. However, it can be preordered for Nintendo Switch for $19.99 / £15.99.

Since its reveal, no extended footage of the game has been shown. In the gameplay from Famitsu, while the game certainly looks better than the PlayStation original, the framerate appears to be inconsistent, which has prompted negative reactions from some fans online.

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Commenting on the gameplay, ResetEra users ‘Jett’ wrote: “Framerate in battles fluctuates between 60 and 15fps~ lol. The filter on the backgrounds is really awful. Maybe the PC version will be salvageable.”

While the overworld gameplay footage appears to be more stable, in battles severe framerate drops can be observed. This may be partly due to the remaster’s option to speed up random battles. However, in practice, it makes for a very inconsistent looking experience based on the footage.

Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition also includes Radical Dreamers – Le Trésor Interdit, an “audio novel” that was originally released for the SNES Satellaview add-on in Japan only.

Chrono Cross, which was released for the original PlayStation in 1999, was one of many unannounced titles listed in an Nvidia database leak in September – a list the company subsequently admitted was real, even if it said the games didn’t necessarily exist.

Radical Dreamers Edition makes several changes to the original, such as the ability to avoid random battles. Character models have also been updated and the game’s soundtrack has been remastered.

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2022-04-05 10:22:27Z
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PlayStation Plus will have "all the big names present", promises Jim Ryan - Eurogamer.net

PlayStation boss Jim Ryan has been talking up his big new subscription offering, and the quality of games which will be available via the service.

Speaking via the official PlayStation Podcast, Ryan said that subscribers would be able to look forward to "all the big names" in the service's upcoming library of games.

When asked to name more games set to be available, Ryan replied that Sony had "massive publisher participation... We have all the big names present".

Eurogamer Newscast: Is PlayStation Plus Premium a Game Pass killer?

"We have big publishers, we have small indie publishers. We have over 200 partners working with us to put their content into PlayStation Plus, so the lineup is going to be really strong," he continued.

However, as expected, PlayStation Plus will not be where you go to play upcoming first-party launches on the day of their release.

So, unlike Halo Infinite or Starfield's launch via Xbox Game Pass, you shouldn't expect God of War: Ragnarok as part of your subscription price.

"The games that we make are getting bigger; they’re getting better, they’re getting more beautiful, they’re getting richer, the narrative is getting stronger," Ryan said.

"Putting these games into a subscription service immediately upon their release would break this virtuous circle, and we wouldn’t be able to invest in the way that we’re currently able to. So we’re not doing it. We’re going to stick to the approach that we have and has served us well under many years now."

The revamped PlayStation Plus will launch in June with three tiers. PlayStation Plus Essential will offer the same subscription available currently, while Plus Extra will add ~400 PS4 and PS5 games. Plus Premium, the priciest of the lot, then adds ~340 PS3, PS2 and PS1 games to stream and/or download.

At launch, Death Stranding, God of War, Marvel's Spider-Man, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Mortal Kombat 11, and Returnal will be included in the Extra and Premium tiers.

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2022-04-04 11:52:51Z
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Apple issues warning to iPhone and iPad owners: update your device now - Express

The latest update available to iPhone owners is hugely important. Not only does the new version of its popular mobile operating system, iOS 15.4.1, fix issues with poor battery life that has plagued iPhone and iPad users, but it also quashes a zero-day vulnerability. For those who don't know, a "zero-day" flaw is the worst type of vulnerability as it means it's already known to crooks ...and being used by them to scam users.

Since the flaw fixed by iOS 15.4.1 is already known to bad actors – the clock is ticking. You should head to the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad, then navigate to General > Software Update to download and install the latest version of the operating system.

According to Apple, the vulnerability was discovered by "an anonymous researcher". Describing the flaw in the notes that accompanied the software update, Apple said "an application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited". It's common for companies to be vague about zero-day flaws as revealing too much about the problem could teach other bad actors about the existence of the vulnerability. More details will likely to forthcoming after Apple is sure that most iPhone and iPad owners have updated and are protected from the cyber attack.

And protecting yourself from this flaw in iOS isn't the only reason to update your iPhone or iPad.

Apple says iOS 15.4.1 will fix an issue that caused battery life to drain much faster than expected. Following the update to iOS 15.4, which was released a few weeks ago and introduced the ability to use Face ID facial recognition while wearing a face covering or mask, some iPhone and iPad owners had complained about their battery life depleting much faster than before.

With the arrival of iOS 15.4.1, Apple says that issue should be completely fixed.

"The update includes the following bug fixes for your iPhone: battery may drain more quickly than expecting after updating to iOS 15.4," Apple claims in the release notes.

However, it's worth noting that battery drain might continue to be an issue in the first few days after updating your iPhone or iPad to the latest version of the operating system. After a substantial update, your iPhone will analyse your photo library to create AI-curated photo albums. Apps might also update and rebuild their code libraries. This process drains the battery, which is why it's unfair to judge the battery life of your device during the initial 48-hour period.

Apple cautioned a customer about this fact from its customer service account. In a tweet to an iPhone owner, the company said: "Thanks for reaching out! We'll be happy to help. It's normal for your apps and features to need to adjust up to 48 hours after an update. Let's have you reach out to us in a DM if this is still an issue after that time so we can help you look into this further."

iOS 15.4.1 and iPadOS 15.4.1 are available to download and install today.

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2022-04-04 06:01:00Z
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Savvy PS5, PS4 Users Stocking Up on PS Now Subs to Convert into PS Plus Premium - Push Square

Shrewd PlayStation 5 and PS4 owners are currently stocking up on PS Now memberships to save significant cash when the service is rolled into PS Plus in June 2022. PS Now subscribers will be automatically upgraded to PS Plus Premium members when the change happens, with the top tier costing £99.99/$119.99. However, a loophole in the PS webstore is allowing users to claim a one-year membership to PS Now at the standard price of £49.99/$59.99, which is half of what PS Plus Premium will cost. Users are then stocking up on one-year subscriptions to save money in the long run.

Spotted by Wario64 and then documented on ResetEra, posters have revealed how they're stacking their PS Now subscription for up to six years, meaning they'll have PS Plus Premium for just as long starting in June. What makes this significant is that the standard PS Store on PS5 and PS4 only offers one-month trials to PS Now, so this loophole is saving users a lot of money. PS Now subscription cards have also been removed from retail stores, squashing any way of getting a yearly membership through the usual channels.

In order to take advantage of this loophole yourself, you must be logged into the PlayStation Webstore using your normal PSN account. If you're from the US, click this link. And if you're from the UK, you can use this link. You must do this through a PC and you have to be logged into your account for the purchase to appear — otherwise, you'll be sent to a screen that simply reads "not available for purchase". If it works, a box will appear on the righthand side of your screen with a "recurring subscription payment" tab for a 12-month subscription to PS Now. Repeat this process as many times as you like to stock up on years of PS Plus Premium.

Are you going to take advantage of this loophole and stock up on PS Plus Premium for the future? For much more information, all three tiers are explained through the link. As a quick reminder, the top tier includes PS3 game streaming and a back-catalogue of PS1, PS2, and PSP games. We shared our own wishlist for included titles over the weekend.

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2022-04-04 00:00:00Z
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