Crystal Story: Dawn of Dusk

Das Spielt bietet eine Einführung in das neue Franchise "Crystal Story". Man wird in eine coole neue Welt eingesaugt und darf sich an wunderschönen Pixelgrafiken und vibiger Musik ergötzen. Der derzeitige Content ist innerhalb von 3 Stunden recht flott durchgespielt, aber ich sehe immense Potential für weitere "dynamische kostenlose Updates" - wie in der Beschreibung genannt und freue mich sehr auf mehr zu der Reihe. :) Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUCLYiJBN_0

+ Very quirky game in a positive way. + Nice soundtrack. + Most of the game feels similar to Omori-style PTSD game. + Traversal, puzzle gameplay feel good and have potential. - Turn-based combat is bad. Charging for arts isn't worth the effort. Art damage should be at least 5 times stronger than normal attack. - Mini challenges for each charge/ enemy attacks are frustrating. The game literally asks you to clear challenges without giving you time to know what they're about. Very very bad design and balance. - Level design is misleading. You always see many roads open at the same time, but in fact the game requires you to proceed in a particular order to progress. In another word, level design gives you the feel of an open world game, but it's actually a linear game. - The ending literally downplays any suspension the earlier parts build up. - Many many bugs. Be wary of invisible walls, you can be stuck forever there.

I'm leaving a positive review because Fred put a lot of work into this current release, but unless you're just really itching to play the game after waiting years after playing Awakening, I owuld personally hold off. Currently this release, 2.5 (as of 1/16/2024) is essentially the bare basics of the first chapter of the game. Future free updates will add side content that flesh it out and help the pacing, as well as the additional chapters, but it's simply not there yet for most people.

Crystal Story is a short but sweet game with eye-catching art and a nostalgic air to it that reminds you of all your favorite 8-bit rpg adventure games from the past like Zelda and Earthbound. The gameplay has elements of puzzle-solving, point-and-click adventure, and turn-based rpg mechanics for plenty of variety while you explore numerous, whimsical environments and get immersed in the charming plot and characters of the Crystal Story universe. For a first-time game developer, Fred Brown does a great job creating a colorful and engaging world full of places and characters that you want to see more of and a game that you want to play more of. So it seems that my main complaint would be that there isn't more of it to play! Yet, anyway, since Fred promises to continually add free updates to the game and add larger paid episodes later on for additional content. Overall, the game is very much worth the $15 price tag (comparable to a movie ticket) considering the time, labor, and skill that went into (and will continue going into) producing it. Definitely pick it up if you're looking for a fun game with great art that's easy to pick up and play at your own pace and that you will be able to watch grow and develop over time.

While I wouldn't like to give a small dev a bed review, the game is very lacking in content and feels VERY early access (like just 1 chapter of a game) and should be marked a such. also, there have been very little in updates in over a year. One day I would like to change this review but for now it will remain as a bad review.

Such a charming game that really has a mix of undertale, zelda, etc. feel that is so enjoyable to play.

This game is not worth it yet, it needs a lot of changes as it has a lot of jank. Really saddens me since it feels like it has potential.

There's so much to love about Crystal Story: Dawn of Dusk. It's a really stunning game with fantastic art direction and music in the style of Earthbound, while being a really innovative Zelda-like in its on right. Also, as a fan of The Magic of Scheherazade, I never thought there would be a retro-throwback game that borrowed its turn-based/real-time hybrid gameplay system. There are some really fun character moments too, and I hope to see more development from the main cast as the series develops. It's definitely not perfect as the dev continues to iron out the bugs and balancing (at the time of writing), but for a first (?) game, I think the game shows a lot of promise and I'm glad I picked this one up on release date.

Hit a few bugs where I had to reload the game but I was very much looking for a short adventure like this and really enjoyed it. Keen to check out future chapters, well worth a play.

Enjoyed my time playing this. Can't wait to see where the game goes from here.