Crono

A silent swordsman who cuts through history to protect the future.

Crono, known as Chrono (Japanese: クロノ, Hepburn: Kurono) in Japan, is a fictional character in the Chrono series of video games by Square and the series' namesake. He has appeared in two games, starring as the protagonist in the 1995 role-playing game Chrono Trigger and making a brief appearance in Chrono Cross. 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.

Quick Facts

Series: Chrono
First game: Chrono Trigger
Creator: Masato Kato
Designer: Akira Toriyama

Lore & Background

Crono's initial design was created by Chrono Trigger's story planner, Masato Kato, and finalized by Akira Toriyama. His crimson hair is a symbol for his blazing courage. 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.

Crono's most developed parts are his Japanese blade, which gives a hint of the Orient. In the initial design sketches, Crono was a 'bad kid' wearing goggles and a cape. While he was called Chrono in the Japanese version, this was changed in the North American version. Chrono had six letters, while five appeared to be the limit.

Masato 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. Square deemed the scenario too depressing and asked that Crono be brought back to life later in the story.

Reader's Guide

Crono is a silent protagonist who uses facial expressions to communicate; this is never addressed by any characters in the games he appears in. His design was meant to be highly notable in order to make fights more entertaining. 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. Crono'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. In a special Chrono Trigger Cross Review, Famicom Tsūshin scored Crono a 30 out of 40. 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.

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. Crono has been referenced by a character in the NBC TV show Heroes. The character Hiro Nakamura compared himself to Crono due to his newly acquired time-travel ability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Crono in the Chrono series?

He is the primary protagonist of Chrono Trigger who originates from the Kingdom of Guardia during 1000 AD. This silent swordsman travels through various eras using a time gate to stop an ancient threat.

How does Crono's journey conclude?

In the best ending, he waits at the End of Time for Marle after successfully destroying Lavos and saving history. He also makes a cameo appearance in Chrono Cross while residing in this timeless dimension.

Why is Crono considered the main hero?

As the series namesake, his decisions drive the plot forward and determine the fate of Princess Marle and the world. Without his intervention, the apocalyptic creature Lavos would have destroyed civilization permanently.

Does Crono speak any dialogue in Chrono Trigger?

No, he is a silent protagonist who communicates exclusively through facial expressions and animations. This design choice allows players to project their own emotions onto his character during conversations.

What players say: Player verdict on CHRONO TRIGGER® — Rotten Tweets