Written by Anthony L. Cuaycong
Title: CrossCode
Developer: Radical Fish Games
Publisher: Deck 13
Genre: Action, RPG
Price: $19.99
Also Available On: Steam, XB1
CrossCode makes no bones about its conceit. In fact, it trumpets its willingness to straddle seemingly incongruous situations. As a single-player role-playing game set within a massive multiplayer online RPG, it has players control Lea, an avatar who has lost both her memory and her voice, in an effort to solve the mysteries behind the development. And, what's more, she gets to mingle in the physical world as well. Thusly, two stories in two settings get intertwined on the way to the denouement.
Significantly, CrossCode makes Lea's progress within the CrossWorlds MMORPG run just about like any other player's character in real life. She's a Spheromancer with the capacity to launch both ranged and close-quarter attacks during inevitable combat phases. There's likewise a large portion of interaction with other characters, including with some slated to join in exploration, as well as a fair amount of crafting and farming in order to raise attributes to the levels required to take the measure of opponents in battle. Parenthetically, skill trees are extensive and can open up more opportunities, particularly chain attacks, in this regard.
Simply put, CrossCode gives off a decidedly MMORPG vibe without players actually needing to go online. And, creditably, it proves to be just as deep and as populated, not to mention as aesthetically and aurally pleasing as the best ones in the industry; the 16-bit art style complements the throwback music, adding to the lure and allure of the gameplay. If there are any negatives, they're in the frame rate drops when the screen gets busy, and in the audio glitches that occasionally crop up.
On the whole, though, CrossCode proves to be worth its $19.99 price tag as a well-made port of the crowdfunded release on the personal computer. With progressively challenging puzzles through seven themed dungeons, it's a satisfying 50-hour romp that gives off a Zelda-esque vibe in an MMORPG environment. Sweet.
THE GOOD
- Solid gameplay
- Balanced and fair combat mechanics
- Visually and aurally pleasing
THE BAD
- Populated screens lead to frame drops
- Audio glitches evident on occasion
- Side quests can be repetitive
- Grinding required
RATING: 8.5/10