Cris Tales is one of the finer examples of a studio creating a unique vision out of their love for 16-bit RPGs. Propelled by a classic combat system with a twist and stunning art direction, the game might feel too strapped to the past for some.
Cris Tales is one of those games that will be strapped with the somewhat flattering “love letter” moniker.
When developers grow up on a diet of specific consoles and games, it’s hard not to imagine they would wish to craft their interpretation of a childhood classic. If you told me developers Dreams Uncorporated and SYCK were devotees to Chrono Trigger, any SNES Final Fantasy, Breath of Fire, and any number of turn-based JRPGS, I wouldn’t be surprised. Cris Tales‘ blood runs red with those pixelated classics.
You love something. You want to express that love in your own game with, hopefully, modern sensibilities. And Cris Tales is just that. It’s an expression of love for classic JRPGs with a decent amount of modern flair. However, the game does have a tendency to get ahead of itself by forgetting that some archaic design choices still don’t feel that great, slightly impacting the overall package.
Players follow the story of orphan girl Crisbell who starts a normal day working at her orphanage under Mother Superior. As these things tend to happen, Crisbell’s world is turned upside down when she chases after a frog named Matias who has taken a rose she’s trying to claim. Within a few minutes, Crisbell discovers she is the newly awakened Time Mage and has the ability to see into the past and future and manipulate them. Turns out, the Time Empress is threatening the fate of the world and its kingdoms and Crisbell sets out to stop it.
Games featuring the protagonist’s sudden turn from everyday person to the chosen one destined to save the world aren’t anything new. And it might be easy enough to knock Cris Tales for playing things pretty close to the chest. But I consistently enjoyed my time with the game and its story. If it wasn’t already obvious, the game is obscenely gorgeous, invoking the kind of hand-drawn animation one might expect from Cartoon Network or Nickelodeon. Motion is fluid and colorful regardless if players are exploring the world, watching a cutscene, or engaging in a battle.
It’s this aesthetic that often elevates the traditional story. That and the unexpected fully-voiced dialog. Cris Tales looks and feels the part of a bigger budget RPG, one that would have been given top billing 25 years ago. There’s an amount of care given here that allows players to become attached to the world, Crisbell, and the plight of her party. Along her journey, Crisbell will be able to use her time manipulation to complete side quests and aid those in need. While the results don’t often impact the outcome of the main story, they allow players to insert some of their personality into Crisbell and how the world functions.
Players are able to recruit a handful of companions along the way, each one adding their own piece to the puzzle. Often I couldn’t help myself but get wrapped up in the world Cris Tales was showing off. Because often, the most palatable stories can be simpler. They are, after all, classics for a reason. And Cris Tales frequently evoked those memories of playing Final Fantasy VI or Super Mario RPG, which has to be what the developers were going for when making the game.
Combat is equally nostalgic, being turn-based fare where players select a party member, select their attacks, and watch the action unfold. But what makes Cris Tales appropriately unique is how Crisbell’s Time Mage powers can be used to manipulate actions and enemies to the party’s advantage. Have a well-armored foe with high defense? Toss some water on their armor and go the future where that armor is now rusted and provides less protection. Poison an enemy in the present and watch it slowly tick away damage, or fast-forward time to have the damage over time burst in one go. Much like MP for casting spells, Crisbell’s Time Mage powers aren’t infinite and players will have to use CP to manipulate time. Having other party members set up these combos can result in an engaging dynamic during fights as players learn over the course of the game what enemies are prone to being affected by which time powers.
Additionally in fights, players have the ability to perfectly block or attack by timing the right button press with an attack. Negating a large portion of an enemy’s attack can be essential in many fights, especially boss ones. Cris Tales often doesn’t pull any punches in terms of difficulty. It can feel particularly old school having players grind out levels in hopes of being able to take on challenges more efficiently. But saving can be problematic as it can only be done at certain points, meaning death during an extended dungeon or battle can result in significant lost progress. Thankfully on PlayStation 5, load times before and after battles are cut down but I can imagine those being frustrating to some just looking to get on with the action.
Exploring the world of Cris Tales is highly enjoyable because often, players are seeing it in three different slices. With the past on the left, present in center, and the future on the right, recognizing that artwork was done for all these permutations makes the game that much more impressive. Crisbell can send Matias into the different times to nab an item while there are several puzzles requiring thoughtful–but not intensive–solutions to complete.
Coming in around 30 hours at the minimum, Cris Tales is a dense game that shows its hand fairly early on. Enemies will change over time that force players to think about how best to use Time Mage powers and new plot twists attempt to rope players in. But if the combat and the story don’t seem meaty enough, its charm may wear out rapidly. Personally, I rarely wanted to skip over the voiced dialog but recognizing that time can be valuable wouldn’t always be so patient. While I understand why some would trim down Cris Tales, players invested in this genre would likely reject many things that dampen not only the length but the world building.
Cris Tales‘s modern take on the classic JRPG formula is an inventive, beautiful opportunity to invoke some of the best memories players have of the genre. A tried and true story is enhanced with a beautiful art style while the turn-based combat is supplemented by creative manipulations of time. Those looking for a specific amount of nostalgic boxes to check should consider strapping in for Cris Tales and be wrapped up in its charm.
