Crystar Reviews
While the combat mechanics weren’t very deep or innovative the dark storyline of Crystar is what you really should be checking this game out for.
A trigger warning in game form - without any trigger warnings. Had a lot of potential, but unfortunately misses the mark.
FuRyu continues to be the publisher to watch for anyone who likes their games with a bit of genuine artistic credibility.
Crystar presents a truly unique and consistent game world with simple and enjoyable action RPG dungeon crawling.
FuRyu and NIS bring their dark and grim world and interesting characters to Nintendo Switch players.
Crystar is firmly in that class of games that I'm interested to play and experience, but that in terms of their storytelling have me pretty well lost from go...
This game might make you want to cry. You can take that any which way you’d like.
An action RPG with a striking shonen-like story that simmers, but the simplicity of the gameplay and its overall art design exerts too much of a counterbalance.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Overall, I have to say I quite enjoyed my time with Crystar. While the combat and areas you progress through tended to get a little repetitive, the storytelling, art, and music direction, as well as an interesting cast of characters, is what really keeps the title together. While I wouldn’t recommend picking up the Switch version if you already own Crystar, it is quite nice for a title that you can pick up every so often to go through a floor or two, or some of the shorter stages, without feeling the burnout.
Crystar is a hidden gem for niche JRPG fans with a beautiful music assortment to boot.
Crystar is an action RPG that gives up precisely the action part to focus on the story, an element that, by itself, already compensates for the battle simplicity. Its audiovisual presentation also leaves nothing to be desired and captures very well the sensations and feelings transmitted throughout the plot. The game may not please fans of RPGs with more elaborate systems, but those who like more complex themes certainly can't let this opportunity slip away.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
For those looking for a more mature story that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Crystar is sure to satisfy that itch. Just be sure to line up some podcasts or streams to enjoy while playing.
Crystar’s gameplay can be a little lackluster at times, however the fascinating narrative does more than enough to keep you playing for hours on end! Some hit and miss combat mixed with a story filled with an interesting unpredictable direction makes for an enjoyable, but occasionally tedious experience!
There’s some plots to be thickened around every corner, but the overwhelming combat system may discourage some players from picking up their Switch. UI isn’t the most convenient and the map is designed to intentionally drag to force more play hours. Combat feels too frequent and the depth of skills and item upgrade design is too much for an average gamer to handle, compared to the minimal changes in the end result. The game’s main plot has a concept of fairy tales falling into despair which may have its own niche fanbase. When the ending fades into the quote ‘Thank you for playing’, I felt like I didn’t leave anything behind which meant that the story was solid enough. If you started to play this game once, I'd recommend playing it until you see the true ending at the very end. Thankfully, the game devs have at least provided a small convenience in allowing skipping the entire first half of the story for multiple playthroughs attempts.
Review in Korean | Read full review
While I do feel the gameplay in Crystar is simple, the story and aesthetics truly make this a one-of-a-kind title. I really want to gush about all the great twists and turns in the story and about how these characters grow as the game progresses, but that’s all spoilers and I think everyone should play this one for themselves. I played around 30 hours and completed all of the main story. I did feel that making you run some of the latter stages three times with just a few story changes was a bit much, but there was a good payout on in the end so I can let that slide a bit. I feel like this game is well worth the $59 price tag if you’re into games with a deep and meaningful story. I feel like this one might get buried by bigger releases this generation, but I hope people don’t overlook it. Crystar is a very special title that I feel everyone should give a shot.
Despite the combat and gameplay becoming slightly monotonous if going for the platinum (due to a lot of grinding), CRYSTAR is a beautiful game which evokes a lot of emotions through its brilliant narrative and haunting Memoirs. Just when you think the game is over, you realise you’ve barely begun as you get whisked back to the start in order to build upon the experiences you had the first time and pick new paths to uncover a new narrative each time. This brilliant mechanic along with the memorable protagonists, absolutely superb voice acting, mesmerising music, and truly disturbing lost Memoirs of those you execute, all combine into an experience you shouldn’t miss if you love action RPG games with an emotional narrative and fantastical visuals.
A truly unique and wonderful experience, Crystar tells a story that will stick with its players through to the end and beyond. Highly recommended.
Crystar offers an interesting, thoughtful story that extends into a couple of the gameplay mechanics and actually makes a bestiary something interesting to read for a change. It looks and sounds good as well, making the time spent with Rei on her quest an entertaining one. However, repetition is bound to set in at some point due to a somewhat shallow combat system and a lack of variety in enemies and environments. If you can overlook the somewhat repetitive nature of the gameplay, Crystar felt like time well spent due to the narrative and characters.
Maybe it will not conquer your heart for being the best ARPG in the market, but can do it for its dark and mature narrative, its treatment of complicated issues and the philosophy present here.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The game tells an engaging story, but repetitiveness and mediocre combat hold it back from being a heavenly experience.