Crystalis
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In keeping with the spirit of my other "rediscovery" threads*, I came/saw/conquered Crystalis today.
I hesitate to call this game an RPG, since it plays almost exactly like The Legend of Zelda, which I do not consider an RPG. This is an action/adventure game with a leveling system. It is extremely linear. You move from one town to the next, and the townsfolk tell you exactly where to go.
One interesting thing about this game is that it has one of the most spoiler-filled instruction manuals I have ever seen. The item lists tell you where you will find the item, and what you will do with it. That's fine. The game actually has an in-game hint function in the form of telepathic communication with the wise men. I didn't use telepathy much in my play, but I did notice that it stopped being useful right after reaching Mt. Hydra. The wise men no longer had any new information.
The walking speed is equal to what would be a run in any other game, which is much appreciated. I was in no particular hurry to blaze through the game, but the fast walking speed does make this game more enjoyable.
I spent four or five gaming sessions on this game. It was a satisfying game to complete. I made a few crude maps of the caves and such, so as to avoid going around in circles. Some of the areas are particularly confusing, with many paths ultimately looping back around to areas I had already explored.
I got all the way to the final area when I realized I was still missing the water bracelet. I had fought several rather difficult bosses who were only weak to water. No wonder they were so difficult! I would have had a much easier time if I had the level three water attack. I teleported around trying to figure out how I missed it. I then remembered (both from in-game text and previous memory) that there was supposed to be a town filled with only women. I was then able to retrace my steps and discover the town, where I found the bracelet sitting in a basement.
Overall, it is as great as I remember it. I am not 100% sure that I completed the game when it was initially released. I don't recall much of the game, but some of it came back to me as I played. However, I didn't remember anything from Goa on, so I probably just rented the game, played for my three days, incomplete, and returned it
The world is safe again!
*previous threads
Comments
I wonder who SNK paid for this game. There is no way the company which made only terrible arcade ports for the NES could have done this on their own.
Zelda definitely feels like a bigger world for some reason, even though I'm nearly certain that Crystalis actually is a larger game.
Zelda is pretty rudimentary by comparison, though.
To me, this game is almost the NES equivalent of Secret of Mana
If that's true, I need this game!!!
I think it resembles more the Soulblazer series. I never checked if anyone who worked on Crystalis also worked on Soublazer, Illusion of Gaia or Terranigma.
I can't read your sig without hearing "Get over here!!"
I think it resembles more the Soulblazer series. I never checked if anyone who worked on Crystalis also worked on Soublazer, Illusion of Gaia or Terranigma.
I can't read your sig without hearing "Get over here!!"
That`s the intention
I
had always assumed the main character was intentionally androgynous, so
both boy and girl players would feel comfortable. However, by the end of
the game, it is clear that the hero is male. He still looks pretty
feminine to me.
I always assumed it was a girl. I even thought how cool it was for the game to have a female main character The cover art should be a clue tough.
Love the graphics and the music, great game play and story. I used to get stuck on the mountain with the slippery slopes and always loved being in the town by the waterfall.
Game is magic.
What if Nintendo released a new game for the 3DS. I think it'd be perfect, despite myself probably not going to own a 3DS until they're a penny on the dollar of the $250 cost. They have the rights. And besides the GBC port being terrible, this game could seriously be an ace in the hole for not releasing a big-named game but still have one that can compete with the best. Maybe competing with Zelda is what they're afriad of, though....
What was terrible about the GBC port? It was easier, sure, but otherwise played the same.
One of my favorite NES games. Another often overlooked classic action RPG: Scheherazade. Lots of innovations and a nice meld of genres in that game.
Also, I agree that it feels more advanced than Zelda, but hey they did come out 4 years apart.