Crystal Story II

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 221 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Crystal Story II Game Cover
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"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.

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Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 221 reviews
story43 positive mentions
grinding25 negative mentions
  • The game features a charming and nostalgic art style that appeals to fans of classic RPGs.
  • The combat system is engaging, utilizing a unique speed mechanic that adds depth to turn-based battles.
  • The character customization and class system allow for diverse playstyles, making each playthrough feel unique.
  • The story is somewhat generic and predictable, lacking depth and originality.
  • Some players may find the game repetitive, especially in terms of grinding and dungeon design.
  • The graphics and animations may feel dated or low-budget compared to modern RPGs.
  • story189 mentions

    The story of "Crystal Story II" is generally considered straightforward and somewhat cliché, revolving around familiar tropes of heroism and adventure. While some players find it engaging and humorous, with charming characters that add to the experience, others feel it lacks depth and originality compared to its predecessor. Overall, the narrative is enjoyable enough to complement the gameplay, but it may not stand out as particularly memorable.

    • “The story is interesting, with some funny parts and some weird but enjoyable side characters, one of whom forces himself into your party even though you don't want him (for a short time).”
    • “However, the developer acknowledges this and instead of trying to glorify it, he has fun with it, playing 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.”
    • “The story isn't really fleshed out either.”
    • “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.”
  • music45 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 fitting and memorable, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere and gameplay. Overall, the music is seen as a significant asset, with many players appreciating the effort put into its design and composition.

    • “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.”
    • “Fun graphics, enticing gameplay and an amazing soundtrack.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay39 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by its classic turn-based mechanics, offering a mix of enjoyable and repetitive elements. While some players appreciate the engaging leveling and upgrading systems that minimize grinding, others find the gameplay can become mechanical over time. Overall, it provides a charming experience with a variety of attacks and side quests, though it may not stand out visually or innovatively compared to other titles.

    • “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 mini-games.”
    • “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.”
    • “The gameplay itself is pretty standard stuff, and it's not too big of a game so it won't take up too much disk space.”
  • graphics38 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally described as simple, low-resolution, and reminiscent of older styles, often compared to MS Paint or RPG Maker aesthetics. While some players find the visuals charming and easy to navigate, others criticize them as lacking in detail and sophistication. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they do not detract from the enjoyable gameplay and unique features of the game.

    • “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.”
    • “If you care about graphics, then this isn't the game for you because its graphics are minimalistic and sort of anime-esque.”
    • “This game got a lot of flack for the boring opening and low-budget graphics, but if you can get past that then it's actually a pretty awesome RPG with a very interesting character upgrade system.”
  • grinding25 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game receives mixed feedback; while some players appreciate the unique leveling system and the ease of obtaining upgrade materials through the battle arena, others find the required grinding tedious, especially for boss encounters and post-game content. Overall, grinding can be minimized with strategic play, but it remains a significant part of the experience, particularly for those aiming for completion or facing tougher challenges.

    • “A good RPG with a simple story, the leveling system is unique, although I would have preferred to have the option of automatic level up/skill tree unlock, as grinding (which you'll need to do to continue somewhat late in the story) can get pretty tiresome.”
    • “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.”
    • “I'm not sure if it would get worse, but it has a few issues regarding simple grinding that break the flow of combat - once you unlock the battle arena, you are immediately treated to a fight against several groups of weak enemies that yield a large amount of skill points, crafting parts, and money in one go; there is no restriction to the number of times you can do this, so with each character having a hit-all move, this can be quickly rushed through several times, granting far more rewards than it deserves.”
  • humor22 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and light-heartedness, with many players enjoying the witty dialogue and lovable characters that contribute to a fun experience. While some found the humor to be subtle rather than laugh-out-loud, it effectively enhances the straightforward story and adds a playful tone to the gameplay. Overall, the game is noted for its amusing elements and clever use of parody, making it a refreshing departure from more serious titles.

    • “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.”
    • “The jokes fell flat and felt forced throughout the game.”
    • “I expected more clever humor, but it was mostly cringeworthy.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Users highlight the game's high replayability, noting it offers around 100 hours of engaging content and is considered infinitely replayable. The combination of extensive playability and replay value makes it a standout in this aspect.

    • “Infinitely replayable.”
    • “How about 100 hours worth of replayability?”
    • “High replay value.”
    • “The game lacks meaningful choices, making replayability feel pointless.”
    • “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
    • “The limited variety in gameplay mechanics really diminishes replayability.”
  • character development5 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its clever and balanced leveling system, contributing to a straightforward yet engaging story. Additionally, the character designs are noted as visually appealing, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “Especially the character development as well as how clever and balanced the leveling up system is.”
    • “Nonetheless, it has good music, great character design, and combat is fun and doesn't get repetitive too fast.”
    • “Story is straightforward and character designs are nice and easy on the eyes.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its catchy 8-bit music and appealing art style, which effectively complement the standard JRPG narrative. While the story and characters are typical, they contribute to a cohesive and engaging atmosphere, supported by enjoyable voiceovers and animations. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that elevates the gameplay experience.

    • “The fast-paced 8-bit theme also adds to the atmosphere of this small segment of the game and is really catchy too.”
    • “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 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 likable voiceover - just nails it!”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with smooth performance and only minor glitches reported, such as dialogue cutscene issues and occasional item discrepancies. While earlier flash versions had significant flaws, the current iteration shows improvement with minimal impact on gameplay.

    • “The flash versions of the second one were far from completion and had many glitches and flaws.”
    • “Some dialogue cutscene glitches (no impact on gameplay).”
    • “The game runs smoothly, but there are small glitches, such as dismantling a talisman giving an amethyst instead of a sapphire.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted through its diverse cast of characters, each embodying distinct emotional traits, from the brooding to the overly enthusiastic. Players express a deep connection to the narrative, with returning to the game after a break evoking feelings of heartbreak and nostalgia.

    • “You have the spiky-haired, half-dragon protagonist, the over-excited rogue/thief, the broody emo, and the over-emotional teenage girl.”
    • “Coming back to an RPG after leaving it for 3 weeks with 40 hours is heartbreaking.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally positive, with smooth performance and only minor glitches reported, such as incorrect item drops.

    • “The game runs smoothly, and the glitches are minor, such as dismantling a talisman giving an amethyst instead of a sapphire.”
    • “The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for seamless gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
    • “I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the performance, making the experience enjoyable without any noticeable lag.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization model is positively received, as it includes features like achievements, cloud saves, and trading cards without the presence of ads, enhancing the overall user experience.

    • “The monetization model is fair and doesn't feel intrusive, allowing players to enjoy the game without constant interruptions.”
    • “I appreciate that there are no ads, and the optional purchases are purely cosmetic, which keeps the gameplay experience intact.”
    • “The game offers a balanced approach to monetization, providing value without pressuring players to spend money.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

160hMedian play time
120hAverage play time
40-200hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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