Crystalis
Overview
In Crystalis, you are the world’s last hope to save it from the nasty creatures
that now inhabit it, and the power-mad Emperor who wishes to rule it. As in
most role-playing games, as your character accumulates experience points, he
can advance in level—to a maximum of 16. The money he earns can be used to buy
stronger armor and shields, as well as healing fruits and magic items that will
aid him on his journey.
The ultimate goal is to reach the floating tower above the planet, and destroy
the super computer that keeps it aloft. Unfor tunately, it’s hardly a straight
shot to the tower. First, you’ll have to build your strength and magic powers,
solve dozens of riddles, and find or earn the enchanted weapons that are
essential to your quest.
Graphics 10/10
Although most of the characters are tiny, the designers have taken great pains
to make them look realistic. The scenery and background drawings are also
excellent, and include many nice touches, such as the hairline cracks in the
walls and foundations of buildings.
Gameplay/Controls 10/10
The world of Crystalis is immense! There are a dozen or so towns and lots of
huge, meandering underground caverns and mazes to explore. There is an
impressive assortment of weapons, armor, and magic items for you to find, spells
to be earned, and puzzles to figure out. Finding items and determining how they
work is a big part of the game. You can buy some of the more common items in
the village tool shops—if you have the cash (earned by defeating monsters).
There are also inns (where you can rest and regain your strength), taverns (a
good source of gossip), and pawn shops (where you can sell the stuff you no
longer need). Although most normal enemies are tiny, you’ll have to figure out
which weapon works best for each and how to mount an attack without taking too
much damage. The super villains are extraordinary—both in size and the
difficulty you’ll have defeating them.
The “save game” feature is the best I’ve seen. No more pressing Reset while you
turn off the NES, hoping you didn’t screw it up. You can save in any village
just by choosing the option on screen. Games for two different players can be
saved this way, or you can use one of them as a backup.
Sound/Music 10/10
The sound effects are very good. You’ll tremble when you hear the whir and
crack of the bolos and whips used by some enemies. The music is mostly tidbits
of sound—with different tunes in different areas. All very pleasant.
Replay Value 10/10
If you like exploring games like Zelda II, you’ll love Ciystalis. It’s one of
the best NES adventures of its time.
Overall 10/10
Crystalis is a much bigger game than I first thought. A thorough exploration of
the many villages, caves, and plains took several weeks. Adding to the challenge
was the constant nagging feeling that “Maybe I’m missing something important
here” or “Am I really doing things in the right order?” Getting the key items
requires paying the utmost attention to clues and not being reluctant to
backtrack frequently
- By Tora Kouhi
