Googleshng:
OK! This is my kind of question! Actually, I just happen to have already written up a long detailed explaination for a friend of mine, so I can just cut and paste, fair warning though, that means you get to see my rabidly explaining something to a friend writing style:
Between fights, you get to attach "elements" (spells/items) to your element grids. This is basically an improved version of AD&D's spell system. The element grid for each character grows differently, 1 cell added each time you beat a boss, with the maximum dimentions being 8x8 (but nobody gets it totally filled) Each column is a level. So, basically you eventually have 8 levels, with varying numbers of spells per level. Each spell has a level and degree of varience (like "1 +/- 7" or "4 +/- 1"). These give the range of where you can put them. Some spells get used up, which basically means they're items. 1 slot holds 5 of that item. Plus there's unique abilities for each character which are always equipped and can't be moved.
Then, during the fights themselves:
Everyone starts with 7.0 stamina. Every character has their own stamina recharge stat, but they're close enough to 1.0 for most to begin with. Spell: 7 stamina, everyone else's stamina goes up by their recharge rate. Strong attack: 3 stamina, everyone else's stamina goes up by rechargex3, spell meter goes up by 3 if it hits, Medium 2, 2, and 2, Light 1, 1, and 1. Defending brings up everyone's by a bit. Plus, if an attack hits successfully, and you attack the same monster again right after (as opposed to attacking soething else, letting another character do something, or having a monster hit you), you have higher chances to hit. Since the basic chances are like 90 75 60 without bonuses, and Strong attacks do twice the damage of mediums I believe (which do 3 times strong, or some ratio like that) when attacking, you tend to start light and build up to strong, or you can go light medium strong spell (ending up at -6 stamina). There's tons of cool permutations. Spells are relatively simple. Obviously, you have to charge up to use them. Except for items, which you can obviously use up to 5 times, otherwise that'd be an odd limit, but every other spell can only be used once per fight. However, you shouldn't just power up to use your best spells because... There are 6 elements.
Every spell, character, and monster has an element.
Black (demonic stuff) opposes White (light/holy/meteors), Red (Fire) opposes Blue (water), Green (wind/plant) opposes Yellow (earth/electric).
If you cast a spell of your element, it does better. Spells of the opposing element do more damage to you, and here's the really cool part:

In the upper left corner of the screen is the element field. Basically, it's a record of the last 3 spells cast, and it starts with stuff reflecting the terrain (A beach would be say, Blue Blue Yellow). Anyway, these affect spells being cast. If there's a bunch of blue up there, red spells will be diminished (but they make it partially red) if there's a lot of red, red spells do good. So, if you're fighting a fire monster, it'll probably cast fire spells, and you'll cast water. Whoever casts spells faster ends up doing more damage, and it's good to time your best spells so that the field is mostly the right color. This also means if you don't cast any spells, boss spells will start to REALLY HURT. In FF8, Summons take forever, and if you're fighting a boss, you do nothing but summon. CC also has summons but uh... you don't see them often. Plus they're short. Let me put it this way. I'm 22 hours in. I have summoned something ONCE. It killed the boss I was fighting. In addition to all the normal restrictions on spells:
Summons cost MP. Specifically 1 MP, and your Max MP is basically equal to the number of bosses you've killed. The scary part is that you have 15 MP before you even have 1 summon... did I mention this game likes making you fight many bosses in a row?
You can't equip summons unless you're of the same element. So, only my mermaid can summon my frog thing.
and finally, you can't summon something unless the element grid is all the right color. So, if you want to summon the giant frog to kill the fire monster, you'll have to cast 3 water spells then summon it, before it casts one of it's fire spells and messes up the pattern.

Ahem, I think that about covers it, don't you? 8)

Googleshng:
That is quite the shape. Earthbound 64 was a game I was planning to get if they ever released it. On the bright side, I just heard mention of an even more anticipated sequel on Nintendo's next system. 8)

Googleshng:
Well, the specific thing I was refering to there is quite possibly the biggest spoiler in the game, but if I wanted to go out on a limb, here's some other vaguely Zelaznyish things about Chrono Cross: There are two parrallel worlds. The politcal/military balance of the worlds are constantly changing. The characters are all freaks. It gets VERY sureal at times, and, of course, one major character is a morally ambiguous jaded loner who smokes. Actually I'm surprised to see how many Zelazny fans read my column. Nice to know.

Googleshng:
I'm not sure how far you are, but Anti-elements are extremely common at the point I'm at. The other option would be to just fight things that don't cast spells that often. If I'm wrong on any of what I just said, PLEASE don't correct me, I'm sure Ryan will tomorrow. As for Xenogears, there is an exit, save point, and shop, all RIGHT before the last boss, so don't worry.

Googleshng:
All you get for feeding 100 dragons is some iron armor... which you can of course break down and make into some other kind of iron equipment. Not really worth it, but feeding the dragons isn't really as hard as it seems. As for missable characters, well, there's tons. Good thing there's plus games eh?

Googleshng:
Well, Square did state that they didn't want any walkthroughs, guides, and so on to be printed for FF9, which, while obviously is a futile goal, DOES seem to have been at least partially successful. Still, tomorrow's guest host imported the game, so he can tell you all you want. Just remember to send FF9 questions to him directly, not to me.

Hey Goog,

Everyone should re-direct there hatred for Fox for butchering Escaflowne smurfed you are at them.

-Radrisol-

What are those Frames I keep running across in CC?

Natron

Coyotes in the back yard?!? Where in the heck do you live?!?

What good is a tilde if I don't have my BOOM!?

Ramrod Zombie

One could always navigate the Logrus, but that would leave you temporarily mentally unbalanced.

The Eternalm

how many kitty cats do you have?

Hmmm, you gotta be a chick. No self respecting guy would have that many cats. That's kinda sad....got any human friends?

The Last Laugh: