CrossCode Reviews
CrossCode perfectly encapsulates the MMORPG experience within the confines of a riveting single-player adventure.
CrossCode is a fine 2D action RPG thanks to its challenging combat and excellent puzzles. It music and characters are also great, but the game is lacking in pacing. There are also some annoying bugs that should have been fixed.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
The PlayStation 4 version of CrossCode is both a tribute to the classics that inspired it and a masterpiece in its own right. It hits all the right marks because it knows the audience all too well. At the same time, it finds the perfect balance between appealing to ones nostalgia while also being an original experience.
I found CrossCode to be enjoyable. Despite my depth issues, they’re minuscule in comparison to the good. While the game is grind-heavy to obtain items needed to trade, it’s all mindless and the perfect activity to do while you’re listening to a Podcast. Though, I will say the music in-game are great listens. The map is interconnected and will encourage you to explore. Do so to find ways to climb cliffs and to find secrets. I was enamored with learning the lore and Radical Fish Games did a fantastic job of immersing me. They hit it out of the park with the online game feel. Perfectly emulated. The gorgeous pixel art and combat is a love letter to the SNES era. The influence of Secret of Mana is too obvious. I couldn’t help but smile when I saw the homage after defeating a boss. The sound effect and explosion. The writing is charming and the amount of effort put into this should be acknowledged. While the Nintendo Switch version had issues at launch, those have been largely fixed. What hasn’t been isn’t enough to be a dealbreaker.
It may look like a 16-bit retro-esque game at first glance, but it’s a well-polished action RPG that offers so much that it can compete head-to-head with its modern high-budget counterparts.
Last year was such an amazing year for indie games that it felt like CrossCode got a little lost in the shuffle. I would strongly suggest people who missed out on the game initially check it out now. The 1.1 update added some free content including a major arena mode that adds even more longevity to the game. Casually it can run you between 10-20 hours depending on how much of the sidequests you want to engage in. While the NMG (No Major Glitches) records are currently hovering just above two hours, it’s also a fun game to just take your time with like you would in a real MMORPG, and for $19.99 that is frankly a steal. While there are obvious comparisons to be made (story-wise) to the massively popular Sword Art Online, the gameplay was a whole lot tighter. As a result, with a whole lot of practice, Lea feels much more like a real badass who responds exactly to how good you are at the game itself.
CrossCode is a well-executed and interesting story, with a charismatic world, captivating characters, an addictive combat system and creative puzzles. The result is a game that was visibly made from the heart. Even with imperfections in performance and other details, the action RPG from Radical Fish Games proves to be a hidden gem that deserves all possible recognition.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
CrossCode isn’t just a love letter to the golden age of JRPGs, this German-made gem might actually belong there.
All-in-all, CrossCode isn’t a title you should glance over, but rather, actually try as it’s a great title that won’t break the bank for what it has to offer. Just trust me when I say this, Deniz Akbulut definitely deserves a round of applause for the music created for the game as the soundtrack is simply unforgettable.
Fast paced action & chin stroking puzzles will keep you entertained in this 16-Bit MMO styled adventure.
CrossCode is a wonderfully told, and downright fun to play game. Fans of Secret of Mana and similar RPGs will find themselves right at home. CrossCode is full of charm, and with the accessibility sliders available, there is no excuse for not getting your paws on this game and enjoying everything this polished title has to offer. And did we mention it’s coded completely in HTML5? CrossCool!
The classic formula of an old school 16-bit RPG, perfected.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Cross Code, officially, my sleeper, my surprise of 2020.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
GREAT - CrossCode is a great action/RPG that features beautiful graphics and an amazing soundtrack. The setting and story are unique but didn’t really wow me as much as I had hoped. The combat and puzzle solving are fun, but some might find aspects of the game too challenging. That being said, there’s a ton to like here and this is a great game for the Switch!
CrossCode really impressed me. Instead of overly leaning on the retro-inspired graphics, the developers created an exceptionally unique and incredibly fun RPG experience. Thankfully, the console release doesn’t change that, even with a few controller issues.
Overall, despite a few drawbacks and the infernal botanics menu, CrossCode is a really solid title that made me habitually forget I was playing it by myself. The characters are all pretty interesting and unique, the dungeons and puzzles are challenging but not impossible, and the combat is smooth. While there is a lot of menu lag and some of the quests can get a little frustrating, ultimately the latter is something you have to deal with in any RPG, and the former can be generally ignored by staying out of certain menu features. CrossCode is definitely worth checking out, and now that it's on the Switch, you can bring it with you too. If you're any fan of .Hack// or Trials of Mana, take a look into CrossCode, you'll probably be pleasantly surprised.
Overall, CrossCode does the overwhelming majority of things right. However, the game definitely drags in certain areas (especially the dungeons) and has frustrating platforming elements, which mar the experience. But anyone who wants a heavy dose of nostalgia that’s finished off with a smooth and refined finish should look no further than this gem of a game.
With an audiovisual section bordering on the honors, Cross Code does not remain a simple pretty face and offers us an adventure of about 40 hours in the form of Action RPG of the old school. Despite the framerate problems that it has, it is a 100% recommended experience, yes, taking into account that it does not have a Spanish translation.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
It is clear that Radical Fish Games is a devoted and talented developer who wants to make an excellent game. I think that if you love long sci-fi or fantasy RPGs, you’ll absolutely love this. If you want a game guaranteed to give you your money’s worth, CrossCode will satisfy. But you should be warned: this game is very grindy, the story beats are spaced hours apart, and the dungeons are as aggravating as they are punishing. This game is insanely popular, but as I get older, I don’t have the mental willpower to push myself through a 50+ hour grindfest laced with aggravating puzzle-platforming. If you are young, or young at heart, you’ll find a lot to like about this game, but if you’re a busy adult who doesn’t like long, difficult games, CrossCode asks a lot of your time and patience.
For an indie pixelart RPG, there’s a lot going on, and Crosscode is polished, ambitious and charming. Combat is a treat, although it can get very challenging with the tactical demands of some enemy types. The puzzles are up there with the classics of the genre, but there are so many of them that the temples can become a marathon slog, only to find an unbeatable boss that’s so hard it’s no longer fun.