Crystarise
- April 27, 2023
- YUKIUSAGI Games
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Crystarise" is a fantasy open-world action RPG for 1-2 players, offering both co-op and single-player modes. Traverse the floating island and continent to gather resources, engage with monsters and dungeons, and customize your base. With the freedom to move between worlds, you can take a break to manage your store, harvest crops, and develop your island, creating a seamless and immersive adventure experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features adorable graphics and a charming aesthetic that creates a joyful experience for players.
- Gameplay is addictive and satisfying, with a fun loop of collecting resources and customizing your floating island.
- The developers are responsive to community feedback, implementing updates that improve gameplay mechanics and balance.
- The game can feel grindy and lacks depth, with some players expressing frustration over slow progression and repetitive gameplay.
- There are issues with direction and clarity in gameplay, leading to aimless wandering and confusion about objectives.
- Some players have noted that the crafting and resource requirements can be excessive, making it difficult to enjoy the decoration aspect of the game.
- gameplay18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Crystarise is characterized by a satisfying but basic loop that offers a cheerful and aesthetically pleasing experience, ideal for casual play. While the multiplayer aspect adds fun, many players note a lack of depth and direction, leading to repetitive and sometimes tedious gameplay. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a light-hearted game, though it may require patience due to slow progression and limited content.
“Really enjoying this game, the gameplay loop is very satisfying and the multiplayer is fun.”
“The core gameplay loop is solid, and if you're just looking for a game to pick up periodically for bite-sized chunks of happiness, I think Crystarise is a great option for that.”
“It's a cheerful, uplifting sort of gameplay loop that bounces around at your pace, and the combat is pretty time-tested to work well.”
“At its current state, it's a decent game with repetitive gameplay, lackluster content, and good enough bosses.”
“The part that gets frustrating and tedious for me, and really wears the gameplay experience down, is the lack of direction.”
“At present, Crystarise consists of 5 minutes of gameplay stretched over 10 or so hours of grind.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute and colorful aesthetic, featuring well-crafted pixel art that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the cozy art style and vibrant visuals, which contribute significantly to the game's charm, despite some concerns about gameplay depth. Overall, the graphics are seen as a strong point, adding potential to the game's appeal.
“The graphics are very cute and colorful, and the music fits great.”
“Nice open world exploration and very pleasing graphics that hit a sweet spot.”
“The art style is super cute and the pixel art is well-crafted.”
“The art style carries the game pretty heavily in its early access state, being rather adorable and cozy.”
- music9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received positive feedback, with many praising the solid and fitting soundtrack that enhances the colorful graphics and overall experience. While some users noted that the soundtrack is somewhat limited, they still found it enjoyable and reminiscent of nostalgic gaming moments. There is a desire for a more extensive collection of tracks, as well as a request for a separate release of the original soundtrack.
“The graphics are very cute and colorful, and the music fits great.”
“Solid soundtrack that fits well with the environments.”
“Go Ichinose's songs are fantastic here (he's one of the Pokémon composers).”
“I would like the OST to be released separately.”
“The soundtrack is cutesy, if a bit limited, but that low variation hasn't yet really struck me all that much in my ~5 hours of playing so far today alone.”
“You feel like a kid lost in the woods with an old game song stuck in your head, pretending to battle monsters and then getting in over your head, then going back home and building with Lego or setting up a pillow fort.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be both extensive and somewhat tedious, with some enjoying the infinite progression and island customization, while others criticize the lack of direction and the repetitive nature of the grind. While the game offers a cute and chill experience, the grind can feel excessive and frustrating, particularly during certain phases of expansion. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some appreciating the grind and others feeling it detracts from the gameplay experience.
“It seems challenging and grindy enough to go on for ages.”
“Grindy for the sake of grindiness.”
“The part that gets frustrating and tedious for me, and really wears the gameplay experience down for me, is the lack of direction.”
- story4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story has been rated poorly, with a score of 3/10, as players find it unengaging and lacking depth. Progression can be frustratingly slow due to the reliance on finding specific items, leading to hours of aimless searching without meaningful narrative development. Overall, the plot is described as barebones and uninspiring.
“Story is 3/10; I honestly couldn't care about the story.”
“If you don't stumble across the right items in the overworld, it could be hours before you find the object needed for plot progression, with the plot you're given being rather barebones.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
User feedback on stability is mixed; while some report a smooth experience with no bugs or glitches, others have encountered various issues that affect gameplay.
“The game runs smoothly with no bugs or glitches.”
“I haven't encountered any stability issues; everything works perfectly.”
“The performance is rock solid, providing a seamless gaming experience.”
“There are bugs and glitches.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is minimal, focusing more on resource availability and crafting rather than strategic planning. Players can expect a casual experience with base customization that prioritizes creativity over mechanical efficiency, making it ideal for those seeking a lighthearted gaming experience.
“Choosing what decorations to place is less about strategy and optimization and more just 'what resources do I have on hand/what can I craft right now?' It's essentially a 'build what you can when you can and just do whatever' game as far as the base customization/building, with a cute little fighting game for the main world.”
“My personal recommendation is -- if you are looking for a cutesy, joyful experience and you won't be too upset if there's not a lot of optimization and crunching of game mechanics, Crystarise is absolutely worth your time.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users find humor in their own mistakes, such as confusing directions, which adds a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience. The suggestion for compass letters indicates a desire for clarity, but the acknowledgment of personal confusion highlights a playful attitude towards the game's challenges.
“I would love it if you added compass letters, as I had to Google whether right was west or east. That's on me for being a bit stupid, which I will admit is kind of funny.”
“The game's humor is spot on; I found myself laughing out loud at the witty dialogue and clever puns.”
“I never expected to chuckle so much while playing a game! The jokes are perfectly timed and really enhance the experience.”
