Crystal Story: The Hero and the Evil Witch
- May 29, 2020
- lan14n
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreIn "Crystal Story: The Hero and the Evil Witch," players join the lighthearted adventure of Mercenary Inc. They explore randomly generated dungeons, battle monsters, and collect loot in this 2.5D turn-based RPG. The game features diverse characters, dynamic leveling, crafting, and strategic combat, with the goal of defeating the evil witch and saving the world.
PC
Phone
Windows
Android
Linux
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- The game successfully captures the nostalgic feel of the original Crystal Story while updating the graphics to a more modern 2.5D style.
- The customizable battle system and controls allow for a personalized gameplay experience, enhancing player engagement.
- The side quests are fun and interesting, and the humor in the dialogue adds charm to the overall experience.
- The new skill point and disk systems are seen as shallow and less engaging compared to the more complex systems in Crystal Story II.
- The game feels rushed and lacks depth, with many players noting that it doesn't hold up against other RPGs on the market.
- Navigation through menus is cumbersome, and the absence of a master volume or mute button for sound options is frustrating.
- story34 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 85 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story of "Crystal Story" is a remake of the original game, which some players feel lacks the charm and depth of its sequel, "Crystal Story II." While the game retains the open-ended quest structure and nostalgic elements that fans appreciate, many reviewers express disappointment in its execution, citing issues with character expressions, quest clarity, and overall narrative engagement. Despite these criticisms, dedicated fans still find enjoyment in the game, hoping for future installments that capture the essence of the series more effectively.
“Crystal Story is honestly a fabulous game you did an amazing job in developing it, and I am overjoyed to be able to give you a fraction of the joy you have given me. Crystal Story is one of my favorite games; I remember the long hours I spent playing it when I was younger.”
“That being said, this remake of Crystal Story 1 is still fun.”
“This is a remake of the old Crystal Story, and somehow the original is much better.”
“I tried my best to give this game the benefit of the doubt, I did the side quests, I tried to progress quickly and go through the story, I overlooked the first several blunders but there just really isn't anything salvageable here.”
“It's essentially a remaster of the very first Crystal Story game, rather than a sequel.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics have seen notable improvements, particularly in character artwork and battle visuals, which are described as cool and clean. While the overall graphical quality is decent and a step up from previous installments, some users feel that the game still falls short in other areas compared to earlier flash versions. The humor in the dialogue and art style adds a positive touch, enhancing the visual experience.
“The battle art style looks pretty cool; I like that it's voiced and the character artwork looks way better.”
“I loved the updated graphics compared to the previous installments (6 years!), more sounds, and a stable battle system.”
“The art style is very clean.”
“It's improved graphically, but the rest, well, not so much.”
“Hard to recommend when the flash game is a tad better than this, just graphically worse.”
“The graphics are decent, but the overall experience falls short.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Overall, the gameplay is praised for its smooth mechanics and enjoyable experience, with many players appreciating the polished feel and quick updates addressing initial criticisms. However, some users feel that it lacks memorable elements, likening it to an experiment that didn't fully succeed.
“The mechanics and simple art is something I really enjoy.”
“The gameplay was the thing I enjoyed the most.”
“The gameplay was really smooth and enjoyable.”
“It feels like an experiment that went poorly and was just shipped out, but to give full credit, updates were made in response to criticism very quickly and the quality of the gameplay improved substantially as a result.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's soundtrack remains largely unchanged and is well-received, with particular praise for the battle music. However, some players feel that the absence of victory music after battles and a more generic leveling system detracts from the overall experience.
“Moving on, the soundtrack of the game hasn't changed much from what I remember, and I love it for that.”
“The music in this game is very good, in my opinion.”
“The battle music is my favorite.”
“The victory music doesn't even play after every battle, and the level-up system is painfully generic, moving away from the three bars to a more generic system that, in a way, removes the diversity from the characters.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that the grinding in the game is excessively repetitive and tedious, often involving the same dungeons, which detracts from player engagement. While some players appreciate the character customization and find the game enjoyable overall, the grind can feel soul-crushing and demotivating, particularly in the post-game content.
“What I got was characters about as interesting as mildly wet cardboard that were more two-dimensional than their actual 2D sprites, and a game that is so unbelievably grindy and repetitive with the exact same dungeon over and over. It's still an absolute slog even if you do said soul-crushing amount of grinding.”
“I spent about 1 hour grinding and did a small amount of the post-game, but it's just some new boss battles, essentially. I can't work up the motivation to come back and complete the post-game or achievement hunt.”
“Basic but great can be grindy at times, and a bit samey the way through. It's an indie game and it's great for what it is; the customization of the characters is good too.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a classic turn-based style that resonates well with players, evoking nostalgia and enjoyment as they engage with its mechanics.
“I played this and its sequel when they were still on websites. I'm only a few hours in right now, but so far I'm enjoying the game's classic turn-based atmosphere.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features humor through its dialogue and art style, adding a lighthearted touch to the overall experience.
“The game features clever humor in its dialogue and art style.”
“I love how the humor is woven into the gameplay, making every moment enjoyable.”
“The witty one-liners and funny character interactions kept me laughing throughout the game.”
