Introduction
Crystal project is a JRPG for Steam, and other platforms. It was developed and published by Andrew Willman, and was released on March 31, 2022. You can buy Crystal Project on the Steam Store for $13.99. On behalf of the Handheld Gaming Community I would like to thank the Developer/Publisher Andrew Willman for the review code.
Overview
This game is an RPG in the vein of classic JRPGs like Final Fantasy. You and your 4 adventurers have a whole world to explore, and you can do whatever you want to do. The game consists of a mix of 2d sprites and 3d low-polygon environments. This makes for a unique look.
Gameplay
Crystal Project incorporates classic turn based rpg combat with a modest amount of platforming. You have four heroes in your party from the start. You can customize their names if you want. I opted to stick with the default names. My party consists of a fighter, monk, cleric, and a black mage. I am not sure if that is standard, but my guess is the answer is yes. However that is just what you start with. As you progress your characters will get skill points and those can be used to add a different classes abilities to their arsenal of abilities.
Getting around in the world
The terrain in Crystal Project runs the gamut from flat to mountainous. This is where the modest amount of platforming comes in . There will be places where you have to find just the right path forward given that your character can only jump so high. The game is very forgiving if you don’t make a jump absolutely perfect. It would also seem that your character can’t swim. Thankfully the game doesn’t penalize you for jumping in the water.
Combat
All of the combat is classic turn-based combat. All of the enemies that you may fight are represented by a little blue flame. You can see these blue flames from a distance and can avoid them if you don’t feel up for a fight.
Home Points
At every town you will see a home point cube that you can use if you want to add a subclass skill or change your characters class altogether. You can also use it to be instantly transported to another cube you had chosen as your home point. You can also save at these points, though you can save anywhere in the game. At any point you can use your Home Point Crystal to be transported back to your chosen home point. It is extremely useful, since the world is enormous.
Graphics and Performance
The graphics in Crystal Project consist of a mix of low polygon environments, and sprites for the people you encounter. I think that the low poly environments add a depth to the world you are exploring. I especially like it when you have to travel down through a bunch of foliage to get to a town.
One thing I am not especially happy with is the character sprites. The sprites themselves look very nice, they give me all kinds of Final Fantasy vibes. However the way they are used in this game looks a little out of place. They are very obviously 2d. So much so that they are flat and you can see how flat they are against the 3d environment.
The other thing that bothered me was the camera angles you are permitted. I would have thought that given the 3d environment you would be able to freely rotate the camera with the right analog stick. Instead you are restricted to a minor peek with the shoulder buttons.
Crystal Project runs very well on the Steam Deck with no modifications needed to maintain a constant 60fps.
Sound
The sound in Crystal Project is very nice, and changes depending on where you are at, or the situation you find yourself in. It really enhances the experience of discovering new areas in the game world. The developer was sure to credit the composers as the music comes on for the first time.
Story
The story in Crystal Project is told through the random characters you encounter. This game doesn’t really have a main story in the traditional sense. Once you start your adventure it lets you go out and explore and do whatever you want. You will stumble upon certain areas that are important to the game. They will help further your progress once you complete them. I appreciated the freedom to go at my own pace, and explore the world, but I do wish that the NPCs had a bit more personality to them. However this game is going for that classic JRPG feel, so maybe this is spot on.
Value
Crystal Project is a very fun game, and I have enjoyed my time with it and will likely continue to play it long after my review has been posted. I have already put in several hours into the game so far, and I feel like I have only scratched the surface. You can buy Crystal Project for 13.99 on the Steam Store(and the Nintendo eShop). If you enjoy JRPGS from the 80’s and 90’s you will have a lot fun with this game.
Conclusion
Crystal Project is a RPG developed and published by Andrew Willman. It stands out in the crowded RPG landscape by integrating a Minecraft style 3d environment with 2d sprites for the characters. The game lets you decide what you are going to do, and in what order. The feeling of discovery that you get when traveling to an area that you had not visited before is very rewarding, and also is enhanced by the games soundtrack. If you enjoy classic rpgs, and getting lost in a massive world, then Crystal Project is a game you don’t want to miss. You can purchase Crystal Project on the Steam Store for $13.99. On behalf of the Handheld Gaming Community I would like to thank the developer/publisher Andrew Willman for the review code.
