Crystal Story II
- February 6, 2015
- Lanstrash
- 160h median play time
"Crystal Story II" is a turn-based RPG that follows the journey of a young dragon named Homare. As Homare, players will explore various areas, complete quests, and battle enemies in tactical combat. The game features a variety of customization options for weapons, armor, and skills, as well as a crafting system for creating new items and equipment. With an emphasis on story and character development, "Crystal Story II" offers a rich and immersive RPG experience.
Reviews
- The game offers a charming and nostalgic experience, especially for fans of classic RPGs.
- The combat system is engaging, utilizing a unique speed mechanic that adds depth to battles.
- The character customization and leveling system allow for diverse builds and strategies.
- The story is somewhat generic and lacks depth, making it feel predictable at times.
- Some players may find the game too easy, especially in the early stages.
- The graphics and animations may appear low-budget, which could deter some players.
- story378 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Crystal Story II" is generally considered straightforward and somewhat cliché, revolving around familiar tropes like gathering crystals to defeat a villain. While some players find the narrative engaging and humorous, with quirky characters that add charm, others feel it lacks depth and originality compared to its predecessor. Overall, the light-hearted and entertaining execution of the story, along with its comedic elements, keeps players invested despite its predictability.
“The story is a little stereotypical but it's executed well enough that it didn't bother me at all.”
“However, the developer acknowledges this and instead of trying to glorify it, he has fun with it, plays with various cliches and over-used tropes and ends up creating a very entertaining, fun story which...miraculously...even manages to surprise you at various points in the game.”
“The story is light and fairly predictable, but keeps your interest with quirky characters that do a good job both paying homage to and flipping cliche conventions.”
“You see him on the desert, he attacks you, you do a bunch of quests and all of a sudden he wants to be on your team and the team just accepts it?”
“The characters in Crystal Story 2 didn't have this charm; the story was only a little bit more fleshed out than the first, but the characters took it much more seriously, losing the charm that Crystal Story 1 had.”
“The weakest part of the game so far has been the story.”
- music90 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its outstanding quality and catchiness, often describing it as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. While some players noted that certain tracks can become repetitive over time, the soundtrack is generally considered a significant asset, fitting well with the game's atmosphere and gameplay. Overall, the music is seen as a strong point, contributing to the game's charm and appeal.
“The music is practically a selling point in and of itself.”
“Accompanying the battle system is an incredible soundtrack that seriously blew me away, even on the flash websites.”
“Oh and the music is surprisingly rather catchy, and you're also supporting a small team who clearly have put love and attention into the game.”
“The music isn't as catchy and the repeatable final mission feels repetitive after playing for a while.”
“The background music was getting on my nerves after a while too.”
“It has so-so graphics, 'eh' voice acting, and an okay soundtrack.”
- gameplay78 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by classic turn-based mechanics and a variety of attacks, which keeps it engaging despite some repetitiveness. While some players find it enjoyable and easy to understand, others feel it can become mechanical and grindy over time. Overall, it offers a charming experience with a good balance of challenge and accessibility, making it suitable for casual play.
“Turn-by-turn gameplay usually starts to drag quickly for me, but the leveling and upgrading system makes it so that you can get through almost the whole game without grinding at all, and you can get a huge variety of attacks, so it never really got boring.”
“Overall charming game with a good story, enjoyable gameplay, lots of side quests, and minigames.”
“This game is an adventure fantasy RPG that features a classic save-the-world plot, original lore, light-hearted humor, simple yet charming art, a unique leveling system, and addicting gameplay.”
“The gameplay just isn't enjoyable for me.”
“The gameplay is rather typical.”
“This process, however, becomes almost mechanical after a while since you'll never run out of the ingredients required for these items.”
- graphics76 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting their simplicity and low resolution, often comparing them to retro or indie styles reminiscent of RPG Maker or MS Paint. While some criticize the visuals as lacking polish, others appreciate the charming and colorful art style, emphasizing that the gameplay and character customization more than compensate for the graphical shortcomings. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they serve the game's fun and engaging mechanics well.
“Fun mini games, great characters, unique level-up system, and graphically looks cool.”
“While the animations and art style are nothing compared to Da Vinci's famous works, you will find it's quite beautiful in its own Picasso format.”
“That said, the simple style of the graphics makes it incredibly easy to tell where and what everything is at a glance, making the visuals intuitive and easy on the eyes.”
“Parody on a+ titles, in almost everything - graphics, which looks like MS Paint crossbred with RPG Maker, cliché story... but, and the word 'but' should be written in big letters, this game surpasses many of today's A+ titles in gameplay and content.”
“It has so-so graphics, 'eh' voice acting, and an okay soundtrack.”
“If you care about graphics, then this isn't the game for you because its graphics are minimalistic and sort of anime-esque.”
- grinding50 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the unique leveling system and the ability to progress without excessive grinding, others find certain late-game requirements tedious and time-consuming. The introduction of the battle arena helps alleviate some of the grind, making it more manageable and enjoyable for those who embrace it, but it can still feel repetitive, especially when preparing for tougher bosses. Overall, the game offers a balance of grinding that may appeal to fans of the genre, though it may deter those who prefer a more streamlined experience.
“The only con I can think of is the heavy required grinding it takes to beat some of the bosses within the game, and the only reason it is a con in my eyes is because it is time-consuming and grows somewhat repetitive.”
“You also might need to grind a bit to get good enough equipment to beat some bosses, which is tedious.”
“One of the later dungeons requires quite a bit of grinding, which can turn off some people, but with the addition of the battle arena, it makes things a whole lot easier.”
- humor44 mentions
- 95 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with many players finding the characters charming and the dialogue consistently amusing. While the story is straightforward, it incorporates light-hearted humor and clever jokes that enhance the overall experience, making it enjoyable even if it doesn't always elicit loud laughter. Some players noted that the humor feels well-timed and fits seamlessly within the game's narrative, contributing to its parody-like charm.
“The story is quite straightforward but there's a lot of humor and the characters are very likeable.”
“The dialogue in this game is a blast; I was laughing uproariously at many points in this game.”
“Good soundtrack and this game has a level of humor that is honestly on point and never truly feels out of place or delivered at the wrong time.”
“Not funny, disappointing design on map and battle.”
“Not funny, disappointing design on map and battle.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its high replayability, with users noting it offers around 100 hours of engaging content and the potential for infinite replay value. Many describe it as a flash game that provides hours of enjoyable gameplay, making it a worthwhile experience to revisit.
“Infinitely replayable.”
“High replay value.”
“How about 100 hours worth of replayability?”
“How about 100 hours worth of replayability?”
- character development10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is praised for its clever and balanced leveling system, which enhances the overall experience. Reviewers appreciate the appealing character designs, noting that they contribute positively to the game's aesthetic. However, the story is described as straightforward, suggesting that while character growth is engaging, the narrative may lack depth.
“Especially the character development as well as how clever and balanced the leveling up system is.”
“Story is straightforward and character designs are nice and easy on the eyes.”
“Nonetheless it has good music, great character design and combat is fun and doesn't get repetitive too fast.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its catchy 8-bit music, appealing art, and engaging voiceovers, creating a cohesive experience that complements the standard JRPG storyline. While the narrative may be typical, the overall presentation effectively immerses players in the game's world.
“The fast-paced 8-bit theme also adds to the atmosphere of this small segment of the game and is really catchy too.”
“As far as I'm concerned, it's a typical JRPG in progression and play, but the atmosphere - the art, music, animation, and the surprisingly likable voiceover - just nails it!”
“Story-wise it's pretty standard, 'save the world from a thing, slowly learn more about it' - it nicely frames the gameplay, and has some nice characters; nothing exceptional, but it all tends to work within the game's desired atmosphere.”
“As far as I'm concerned, it's a typical JRPG in progression and play, but the atmosphere - the art, music, animation, and the surprisingly likeable voiceover - just nails it!”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally good, with smooth performance and only minor glitches reported, such as dialogue cutscene issues and occasional item discrepancies. However, earlier flash versions were noted to be incomplete and plagued with more significant flaws.
“Of course, the flash versions of the second one were far from completion and had many glitches and flaws.”
“Some dialogue cutscene glitches (no impact to gameplay).”
“The game runs smoothly, and the glitches are small, such as dismantling a talisman giving an amethyst instead of a sapphire.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game's characters, highlighting their diverse personalities, from the spiky-haired protagonist to the over-emotional teenage girl. The experience of returning to the game after a break is described as heart-wrenching, indicating a deep investment in the story and characters.
“Coming back to an RPG after leaving it for 3 weeks with 40 hours is heartbreaking.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is commendable, with smooth performance and only minor glitches reported, such as incorrect item rewards during gameplay.
“The game runs smoothly, and the glitches are minor, such as dismantling a talisman giving an amethyst instead of a sapphire.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The monetization model is positively received, as it includes no ads and offers additional features like achievements, cloud saves, and trading cards, enhancing the overall user experience.