Crystal Project

Crystal Project's encouragement for exploration and building your own adventure is both the game's strongest and weakest point, as finishing your goal too early leads to the journey becoming stale.

90%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, character development

92% User Score Based on 3,566 reviews

Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

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Buy NowGet on Steam $13.99

About

Crystal Project is a single player tactical role playing game with fantasy and mystery themes. It was developed by Andrew Willman and was released on March 31, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Crystal Project is a non-linear JRPG where you are the maker of your own adventure. Explore the world while you find Crystals, unlock classes, learn abilities, and create a strategy capable of taking down the world's toughest bosses. Or just stick to exploring; it's up to you.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,566 reviews

story146 positive mentions

grinding334 negative mentions

Incredible exploration and platforming mechanics that reward curiosity and creativity.
Deep and engaging combat system with a robust job/class system allowing for diverse strategies.
High replayability with randomizer options and a wealth of content to discover.

Difficulty spikes can be frustrating, especially in the late game with bosses and encounters.
Platforming can feel tedious and punishing, leading to excessive backtracking.
Lack of a substantial story or character development may leave some players wanting more.

story
1,056 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
74%
12%
The story in "Crystal Project" is minimal and often takes a backseat to gameplay, focusing more on exploration and combat mechanics than on narrative depth. Players seeking a rich, character-driven plot may be disappointed, as the game features a sparse storyline with little character development and few dialogue interactions. However, the light narrative allows for a more open-ended experience, encouraging players to create their own adventures within the game world.
- “The story, while minimalistic, was still emotional at times and interesting to follow.”
- “The story may not be the focus of the game, but the worldbuilding is quite charming and certainly makes up for the somewhat bare plotline.”
- “I actually really liked the way the story was loosely and sparsely scattered throughout, really encouraging exploration over goal seeking, but in the end the story just felt a little too thin.”
- “The game's story isn't its main focus, so if a deep narrative is important to you, this might not be the best fit.”
- “There is essentially no story, and the few dialogues are not good, but it’s still fun.”
- “If you're a person who plays RPGs for their story and character development, this is definitely not the game for you, but I personally like the light, unintrusive story.”
gameplay
830 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
65%
6%
The gameplay of "Crystal Project" is highly praised for its engaging turn-based combat, deep class customization, and intricate mechanics such as threat management and buffs/debuffs. While the exploration and platforming elements add a unique twist, they can also be frustrating and tedious at times. Overall, the game is recommended for those who prioritize gameplay over narrative, offering a rich experience reminiscent of classic JRPGs with modern enhancements.
- “While it may be lacking a detailed story or character development, the gameplay is some of the best in the genre.”
- “The integration of the class system with combat mechanics and various items allows for a diverse range of attack strategies and synergies.”
- “The gameplay is fantastic, especially the jobs and battle systems.”
- “Platforming mechanics are unforgiving and tedious garbage.”
- “I just wish those clever ideas didn't have to be chained to such tedious, repetitive, punishing gameplay.”
- “The exploration mechanics are a little dull and simple.”
music
566 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
44%
1%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its quality, variety, and ability to enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack, primarily composed of royalty-free tracks from various artists, is noted for its catchy and atmospheric qualities, fitting seamlessly with different environments and gameplay moments. While some reviewers mention that certain tracks may not be particularly memorable, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's charm and nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic JRPGs.
- “The soundtrack is fantastic, perfectly straddling the line between classic design and modern quality.”
- “The music is amazing, and while there seem to be a bunch of different artists, they are put together well and the soundtrack really fits each area's theme.”
- “What a wonderful gem; very well implemented turn-based combat, a very fun world to explore which just keeps on expanding, in its sparse storytelling a great balance between maintaining a sense of epic fantasy and a whimsical adventure, and an absolutely stellar soundtrack.”
- “The battle music especially sounds meh.”
- “The music is largely royalty-free library music, which means it lacks the truly personal touch of music composed for specific events, but it's chosen from a large catalogue so it's also better than badly written game music.”
- “Con: music variety is a little lacking.”
grinding
346 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
2%
97%
The game's grinding mechanics have received mixed reviews, with many players finding it necessary for progression, particularly in terms of leveling up abilities and acquiring gear. While some appreciate the depth and customization offered by the job system, others criticize the grinding as tedious and frustrating, especially during difficulty spikes and when exploring hidden areas. Overall, the game provides options to adjust difficulty and reduce grinding, but many players still feel that it can become a chore, detracting from the overall experience.
- “Rewarding exploration, minimal to no grinding, no drawn out exposition and a lot of variety in combat.”
- “Tough but not grindy.”
- “Not grindy even with hard mode.”
- “You cannot get through this game without a decent amount of grinding, regardless of what the game may tell you.”
- “The grinding is annoying because enemies don't just 'respawn.' You have to reset them with an inn.”
- “After a certain event, the game's difficulty spikes, and it feels super grindy and tedious.”
graphics
226 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
64%
3%
The graphics of the game are a blend of charming pixel art and voxel aesthetics, reminiscent of classic JRPGs while incorporating modern elements. While some players appreciate the nostalgic feel and simplicity, others find the voxel style less appealing, comparing it to Minecraft and noting a lack of detail in certain areas. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received for their unique charm and effective world-building, despite some criticisms regarding their execution and the use of stock assets.
- “The voxel art style works very well for this play style and navigating the world is satisfying and rewarding.”
- “The graphics are perfect for the setting, making the game feel well tied together.”
- “The art style is beautiful, charming, and a faithful recreation of the JRPGs of old, blended with a modern voxel style.”
- “It's slightly better than RMVX on account of being actually 3D, but it's still hideous and I remain baffled why anyone would willingly make a game in this graphical style.”
- “In terms of visuals, I'd say the overworld is rather bland, but it's voxelated so that's not a surprise; only so much you can do with a square and some textures.”
- “I avoided this game for a while as I'm not a big fan of the voxel art style, and people saying there was no story I thought would turn me off.”
replayability
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
61%
8%
The game offers significant replayability through its extensive randomizer options, challenge modes, and customizable class systems, allowing players to create unique experiences and explore various strategies. While some users noted a lack of replay value initially, ongoing updates and modding support have enhanced the game's longevity, making it appealing for those who enjoy experimenting with different gameplay styles. Overall, the combination of free-form exploration and diverse gameplay mechanics contributes to a high replay value.
- “Since releasing, the single developer has continually updated the game and added extensive randomizer options to keep replayability high.”
- “The fully customizable randomizers and boss refights mean this game now has essentially infinite replay value.”
- “Alongside genuinely hard gameplay, many accessibility options, and loads of replayability with the randomizer settings, this game has a lot of lasting power.”
- “Get it on sale, it really has no replay value, but it's very fun, again, if you just like the JRPG mechanics part.”
- “My current big issue with the game is the lack of replay value.”
- “Once the game is beaten, however, there is some replay value in just attempting to break the normal route as much as possible, for example, getting the last mount early, leaving the starting area without getting any crystals, and killing bosses by luring them into lava, killing them instantly.”
humor
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with many players appreciating its lighthearted and goofy writing that adds charm to the experience. While the story may not be deep or impactful, the engaging dialogue and funny NPC interactions keep players entertained, reminiscent of classic JRPGs. Overall, the humor effectively compensates for other shortcomings, making the game enjoyable for those who appreciate a comedic touch in their adventures.
- “Really though, this game has a little bit of everything. It's a lot of collectibles, lots of exploration, and finding secrets and fun little scenes. The story isn't necessarily impactful, but it was engaging enough, and plenty of humor showed the dev wasn't taking himself too seriously.”
- “The humor in this game reminds me of the original FFVII, but modernized.”
- “The npcs and world feel alive, with all sorts of funny situations and dialogues to find.”
optimization
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
53%
18%
Overall, the game is praised for its excellent optimization, running smoothly on various platforms without performance issues or crashes. Players appreciate the ability to easily respec and optimize their party builds, although some find the optimization process can become repetitive. While combat can be challenging, the game offers a rewarding experience for those who enjoy tweaking character builds and strategies.
- “The game is very well optimized.”
- “Lots of fun optimization of your party; if you enjoy the build tweaking and synergy-finding gameplay (and a little platforming), this game will be for you.”
- “Optimization is also trivial, as you can easily respec and gender swap from early in the game.”
- “As frustratingly brutal as the combat can be when you encounter new enemies with a poorly optimized team, at least there's a sense that you can do something to give yourself an edge by simply going back to a save point and rearranging your builds.”
- “This game stinks of MMO stat and gear optimization and isn't really fun after the first half.”
- “They seemed to have anticipated this discomfort in having no idea how to build classes with an NPC saying something like, 'you can respec later, so just play the game and worry about build optimization at some point in the future!'”
emotional
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes a strong sense of nostalgia and emotional connection, allowing players to feel like children again through exploration and minimalistic storytelling. While the narrative is subtle and often plays in the background, it resonates deeply, providing a refreshing emotional layer that contrasts with more traditional JRPGs. Players appreciate the balance of freedom and emotional rewards, making the experience both engaging and heartfelt.
- “The sense of exploration and the rewards you get, both physical and emotional, are something I haven't had replicated by another game.”
- “This game made me feel like a kid again and is a phenomenal return to JRPGs for me.”
- “Even the story (which mostly plays out in the background) is touching.”
character development
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
Character development in the game is minimal, with many reviewers noting a lack of deep storytelling and character arcs. While players can create a party of heroes and enjoy some light banter, those seeking intricate narratives or significant character growth will likely be disappointed. The focus is more on gameplay and exploration rather than engaging character development.
- “In terms of character development, you make a party of four heroes chosen from a variety of classes, then go out and adventure.”
- “An excellent combination of open world exploration and character development.”
- “If you're a person who plays RPGs for their story and character development, this is definitely not the game for you, but I personally like the light, unintrusive story.”
- “This is both a pro and a con; while you won't have to be bothered by watching uninteresting unskippable cutscenes, there isn't going to be any intrigue or character development that pulls you into the game's world.”
- “Don't play this if you want: a deep story or complex character development, an easy JRPG to just coast through, or pre-defined characters in combat.”
- “If you play JRPGs primarily for story and character development, then you'll probably find Crystal Project to be lacking.”
stability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
63%
Overall, the game's stability is praised for its polish and bug-free experience, with users reporting no crashes or significant glitches on various platforms, including home PCs and Steam Decks. However, some players have encountered issues, such as game freezes when reconnecting controllers, indicating that while the game is generally stable, there are still some technical hiccups that need addressing.
- “But it was heavily outweighed by the utter completeness and bug-free experience I've had with the Crystal Project.”
- “+64-bit game - runs great on your M1 Mac (will heat up during certain parts but rarely ever drops framerates on max settings).”
- “From things like having a well-built and relatively (at least in my experience) bug-free game, to crediting the music that's playing as it comes on, this game screams passion.”
- “Reconnecting a controller usually freezes the game until restart.”
- “It is extremely buggy and can take you minutes to get back to the jump you failed.”
- “Performance and technical aspects felt great too so far, zero crashes, no weird bugs/glitches, solid frame rate, etc. The only bad thing in my opinion is the lack of a few elements to really make you care about the world/characters, and I think that could add a lot to this title since there's so much exploration to do in the game.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
37%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its vibrant and adventurous vibe, enhanced by a well-curated soundtrack that complements the visuals and character interactions. Players appreciate the blend of modern graphics with traditional pixel art, alongside a relaxing and diverse musical score that avoids repetitiveness. Overall, the atmosphere contributes significantly to the game's charm and sense of exploration.
- “Luckily, it's very well picked, much of it is by Vindsvept - it adds an insane amount of atmosphere, in particular of the 'hell yeah adventure!' kind.”
- “The atmosphere and character interactions are really interesting.”
- “I really enjoyed the music, super relaxing, atmospheric, and with a unique theme for each area, it is thankfully not repetitive; a common issue in this genre.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism for misleading advertising, as it promotes itself as an open-world adventure while failing to deliver on that promise. This has led some users to express disappointment and give negative reviews, despite not necessarily viewing the game as bad overall.
- “I do not think this is a bad game, but I have to give a negative review here because of the inaccurate advertising.”
- “I get that people want retro and what they enjoyed as kids, but the game advertising itself as an open adventure or go-where-you-like sandbox is pretty misleading, in my opinion.”