Crystal Heroes

This is a review for Crystal Heroes for RPG Maker VX created by Avvy. Crystal Heroes is an Action RPG game where players control a group of 4 playable characters. Enemies appear on screen in real time and you can attack those enemies using physical attacks or magic. I'm a big fan of Action RPGs so I was looking forward to having a fun and fast experience playing this game. But was I ever disappointed!

Sound:

The music is fast and upbeat. It gives a huge flow of energy to the game. It seemed appropriate for an action RPG and I really thought it was well chosen. In addition the sound effects for the game were well fitted to the effects. All around there was no issues for me in the sound department.

Graphics:

Crystal Heroes uses the default RPG Maker RTP. The maps are more in the mid road for me. They do show a level of competence, but are nothing to really get excited about. I didn't really feel like there were a lot of different types of areas in the game. The game, for its short length, is spent mostly in a forest.



Story:

4 people are wandering in a forest and are randomly chosen by "GOD" to save the princess. They are given all the equipment and skills they will need to complete this quest and are sent on their way. In essence there is no real investment in the story or characters here. The game is there for the sake of doing stuff. Hack and slash all the way to the end without worrying why your doing it. I don't mind this sort of game, but if your going to do this then what's the point of having so many meaningless conversations during the gameplay. Just send me on my way on be done with it!


Gameplay:

Where to start?! Well I'm not saying its totally terrible and there's certainly room for improvement. I mean going around attacking enemies and using various skills can be fun (Like Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance.) Somehow the game goes from a forest where enemies never respawn to a final dungeon where enemies are constantly respawning without any break between. Add if you never really changed your party members then you might have 1 character at a high level, but 2 or 3 other characters still at level 1. What else? The characters move around so slowly, as a result you are constantly changing from pressing the Shift key to Attacking. And its game over if your front character is killed, but your remaining 3 characters are still going strong. I could go on with more, but I think the next screenshot explains it all.




Overall:

I really like to play short games where I don't need to invest a whole lot of time into them. I also like Action RPGs that have deep strategy and "REAL" puzzles. Crystal Heroes offers a short game, the combat can be interesting, and the sound is well chosen. But there is ALL that other stuff holding it back. The final nail in the coffin came to me in that final bug. I just decided that I had enough and it was time to seal the deal. I think its more than fair to give this game a 1.5 / 5.