PlayStation LifeStyle: "CRYSTAR is a game that feels like it came out of nowhere. Double-A-ish Japanese action games have been kind of a dime a dozen since the PlayStation 3, yet this one’s narrative ambition and strength blew me away. Not only was I relating to the scenario in a bizarrely serendipitous way, but nearly every step of the way I could feel the respect and care taken when handling such sensitive, real life material. As much as CRYSTAR finds ways to beat down its heroes, it also goes out of its way to pull them back up, and give them opportunities to find new strength."
To atone for her sins, Rei must fight her way through Purgatory and save her fallen sister. Swap between a cast of four playable characters and unravel the truths and tragedies of their pasts. Turn your pain into power by summoning mighty Guardians to stand alongside you. And when overwhelmed with grief, draw strength from your tears to grow stronger. By overcoming the enemies around her, and the inner conflict within her, only then will Rei release herself from her own suffering.
WTMG's Fernando da Costa: "Crystar is a hidden gem for niche JRPG fans with a beautiful music assortment to boot. The narrative centers around rescuing your deceased sister and returning her soul to the land of the living. Meet mysterious characters and sign a contract that then sees you traversing the deep recesses of Purgatory. I’m in love with the focus on delivering a flood of creativity. It tickles my imagination and gets me excited to plow through to see what happens next. The portraits of the girls are beautifully drawn, though I could’ve used more animation during the dialogue sections. As it is, it’s rather lifeless, and movement would have helped drive home what was occurring."
Caught between immaculate presentation values and unrefined gameplay, Crystar is an RPG worth experiencing for the right crowd.
