Crystar

Release Date: August 27, 2019

RPG, TPP, fantasy, action RPG, jRPG, singleplayer

6.7

OpenCritic

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Crystar is a classic representative of the Japanese action RPG genre. During the adventure, the player takes on the role of a girl named Rei Hatada, who accidentally killed her sister. In order to free her, the protagonist is walking through the corridors of Purgatory.

Plot
Mechanics
Technical aspects

Crystar is a typical representative of the action RPG genre. FuRyu is responsible for the production of the game. The game was released by Spike Chunsoft.

Plot

The action presented in Crystar focuses on the character of Rei Hatada - a girl who accidentally killed her own sister. To save her, the heroine decides to make a deal with the demons and go to Purgatory to fight the souls living there.

Over time, Rei encounters more and more characters to help her cross the Purgatory. Each of these three people have their own story, which the player gradually learns.

Mechanics

In Crystar, the player explores the corridors of Purgatory and confronts the ghosts he meets. The fight takes place in real time and has an arcade character. Tears play an important role in the game. By gathering them in the right amount it will be possible to summon a guard who will provide support during the fight. Additionally, it is possible to switch between four different characters.

There was no lack of character development system. As the game progresses, the player gains experience, which can be used to improve their character stats and unlock new skills.

Between the skirmishes the player can leave Purgatory and move to the protagonist's room. There you can prepare for the next fights and play with your dog.

Technical aspects

Crystar has a manga-style graphic design.

Originals

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Videos and Screens

[2:40] Crystar Nintendo Switch launch trailer

[1:54] Crystar launch trailer

6.7

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 34% of Critics. There are 40 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

Daily Mirror: 3 / 5 by Eugene Sowah

It’s fair to say that there aren’t many emotionally driven games like Crystar on the market, and it excels in creating a heartfelt experience from start to finish. The battle mechanics and gameplay systems have been tailored well to keep in tune with the game's themes. For its relatively short duration, there is an admiral amount of content that will see the completionist looking to finish the memoirs of the dead. However, Crystar can feel really repetitive with its constant reuse of reskinned enemies and level designs which can be frustrating at times.

Full Review

PlayStation LifeStyle: 8 / 10 by Lucas White

CRYSTAR won’t be competing with Devil May Cry in the video game as video game-ass video game department, but as a story it absolutely earned its spot on my shelf.

Full Review

Reno Gazette-Journal: 7 / 10 by Jason Hidalgo

Crystar gets a Switch port following its earlier release on the PS4 and PC, giving you one more avenue to cry on the go. Crystar is actually one of those cases where a game boasts a strong and compelling story that’s unfortunately saddled with action gameplay that’s OK at best. Folks who prioritize top-notch combat mechanics and don’t particularly care for storytelling might want to look elsewhere. If you love games with a strong narrative and interesting characters, however, Crystar is definitely worth a trip to Purgatory despite its faults.

Full Review