Is Crystalis Worth Playing Today? - SNESdrunk

[@sihing6488]

Strangely enough, the day that I finally beat this game was in the afternoon of October 1, 1997 (The End Day). I thought that was a bit ironic and it comes to mind every time I see this game.

[@SNESdrunk]

That's pretty cool

[@travisspeer3151]

I did make sure to play it on that day lol but I don't think I beat it that day.

[@patrikbengtsson3883]

Do you guys know what portmanteau means?

[@poshko41]

Bro… you saved the world.

[@TheAltruisticAutistic]

@@travisspeer3151 were you trying to summon covid or something then, to create the end times?

[@Jedi-For-Hire]

I really like the way you review games on your channel. They're never longer than they need to be and you always include the most important information for anyone interested in playing or purchasing a game. It's great not having to sit through 20 minute review for only 3 minutes of actual information, so thanks for that.

[@SNESdrunk]

That's kind of the idea, thanks for watching

[@ConsoleWars]

I love this game. A SNES sequel would've been sick.

[@kabutops87]

SNK was gonna make a sequel for the Neo Geo but ended up cancelling it for whatever reason.

[@trippint82]

Just figured i would drop this in here. Check out Evil Quest on steam it uses same game play as this game did. Loved this game as a kid and is in my top NES games. Also they greenlit a Evil Quest 2.

[@Spram2]

Gotta make more fighting games!

[@ArlanKels]

The fact it never got a sequel is one of those things that sends me into raging anger fits of doom from time to time. I just randomly walk down the street and punch people shouting out CRYSTALIIIIISSSSS

[@kingtimmy88]

I love that game and I give it away to my friends as gifts every chance I get

[@AtticusStount]

I discovered Crystalis but a week ago, and it's one of very few games to keep me glued for hours on end.

[@Endarire]

And Crystalis has a WONDERFUL soundtrack!

[@andreaodessa9181]

Then check out this symphonic version of the intro theme kzbin.info/www/bejne/ape4p39_isqkjck

[@ocarinaplaya]

Eeeeh Willow was better imo

[@the_kombinator]

My four year old loves it.

[@randmiller88]

I loved this game as a kid, it was really ahead of its time!

[@chrisbidwell895]

Even more heartbreaking, Crystalis 2 is rumored to have been in development for the Neo Geo, but no footage, prototypes or even screen shots have ever been uncovered.

[@GiordanDiodato]

I think that would have been difficult given the arcade-like nature of the Neo Geo. I dunno, maybe it would have been a clone of Wonder Boy in Monster World.

[@Kylora2112]

@@GiordanDiodato Yeah, the AES was just a home console you could play arcade games on...Neo•Geo was first and foremost an arcade platform.

[@williamoverton7775]

Damn... That's one my imagination is whittling as we speak. Samurai showdown rpg was barebones dull but I'll bet neo crystalis would have blown the doors off magic knight ray earth on saturn

[@johnsimon8457]

Would have been ok for neo geo cd

[@FnRenner]

Short answer? Hell yeah Crystalis is worth playing in 2019! Great game!

[@VenusSatanas]

I still love this game years later. i found a grinding spot where you can max out your levels

[@justworkman6320]

You’re talking about the jellyfish? That’s what I always do...I love this game, it’s my childhood.

[@TheAltruisticAutistic]

Where?

[@TheAltruisticAutistic]

@@justworkman6320 Jellyfish? Remind me where that is? I remember the Squids were good exp when surfing, but I don't see easy exp there.

[@adamavery3906]

@@TheAltruisticAutistic yeah in the cave with all the jellyfish (or squid, whatever they are) you just use the Fire bracelet if I remember correctly and you can kill them all really quick and they give you a bunch of xp, and everytime you leave the cave you can kill the octopus outside too for a bit more.

[@youngstownassault2438]

there are a few: the big blobs, the weirdo weed/tentacle things, jellyfish, and scorpions are all good grind spots w the monsters giving the most points at that point in the game

[@PelvicGaming]

So this game just came out on the Nintendo switch and I've never really looked into it before. Thank you for this quick and concise review. :-)

[@SlyBeast]

Glad you covered this one. It's one of my favorite NES games.

[@cerabraladventures]

I love this game when I was a kid! Some of my favorite memories are playing Crystalis with my mom on those dreary rain soaked Washington days.

[@the_kombinator]

For me it was with my uncle. He had me grind the enemies lol. I'm replaying it now with my son and you can really skip the grinding - just play the game ;)

[@ubernerrd]

One of the best games on the NES.

[@Isoquant]

Came here to say exactly this.

[@megagrey]

A game I only tried THIS YEAR, in 2016, and it was BOSS. Why couldn't THIS be on that NES Classic Edition!?

[@ashleyredacted3553]

Because unfortunately there's an extremely narrow view of retro gaming (even from a lot of people within the hobby) that it's all about re-living your childhood rather than ALSO going back and checking out classics you missed, games you DIDN'T play when you were a kid but deserve it because they're good regardless of when they were released. It's more about the latter for me (my childhood was awful and chaotic and I had no friends for most of it and I'd rather NOT remind myself, I've moved on) but other perspectives doesn't seem to matter and/or just aren't as profitable.

[@shifterx]

Its on mine. Thank God for Hakchi. :)

[@briguy459]

Little late, but it's finally on NES Online

[@GiordanDiodato]

well we have SNK 40th Anniversary collection, which also includes the Japanese version.

[@kurisu7885]

@@ashleyredacted3553 And that drives me nuts. Part of why I'm somewhat ok with the Switch online game selection sometimes is that i'm getting to at least try out games I only ever got to read about before.

[@cronquist09]

Great video as always. You've really helped rekindle my love for these old school games. The best ones are really kind of timeless. Keep up the good work!

[@ohitsallama]

There are so many TERRBLE game reviewers on KZbin. Your reviews are refreshing short and concise- very well done!! I’ve been really enjoying them. If I have one critique it’s that when you show your room and yourself it isn’t as good. I don’t know how to explain, but your narration is so professional but when I see you and your dog in your basement it ruins the illusion somehow. Anyway, ignore me and keep the videos coming.

[@SNESdrunk]

Thanks Charles, just happy to be useful

[@knghtbrd]

The trick to making Crystalis playable is always keeping your sword powered up to at least level one as soon as you have the ability to do so, if not level two. Do that and then keep your distance from enemies.

[@daver7178]

One of the all time greats on the NES.

[@Spram2]

This was my favorite NES game.

[@EvaAdorable]

I've been pronouncing the title wrong since I was seven years old.

[@AtticusStount]

Damn that public school education :p ;) They don't teach people pronunciation rules of English, so they can say made up words :p

[@zanegandini5350]

I don't think the problem lies within public school education, but rather the English language itself. There's no consistency whatsoever in the English language, so if you see a new word, you can't just look at the syllables and pronounce it phonetically, as you can in languages like Japanese.

[@Shishiyahuda0703]

This was one of my first ARPGs on the NES. I put so many hours into this game. Also, I'll never forget "Find the goggles in the flower bed." Ugh, My friend and I looked for hours for those stupid goggles, and even went to local grocery stores to look up info on the game in the Nintendo Power magazines that were popular at the time. Memories.

[@w00dyp0p]

A co-worker and I were discussing the the pronunciation of Crystalis just yesterday! Good to have the confusion finally put to rest. lol

[@metalstalin]

Always was a fan of this game.

[@BobbyDigital6411]

Man... I've been min-pronouncing this game for 30 years and it was one of my favorites. Thanks for clearing that up.

[@TNGfan8794]

I just played this for the first time on NSO last month! I stumbled upon it, thought I'd give it a shot, and was thoroughly impressed! Would not have expected something like this for a NES RPG. I will say, I kinda wish it had been a SNES game though. The mechanics could have benefited from the extra buttons. It definitely was an ambitious little game.

[@TheRmm1976]

The music is *great* in this game! Good review/overview but I just wanted to emphasize this!

[@joylanda2691]

My all time favorite NES game. I didn't find it that hard, but it helps to level up by beating crummy monsters for a while. Also I used the NES advantage controller to have the turbo on for the sword, just taking it off when I needed to power up. I think that made it a bit easier.

[@2WhiteAndNerdy]

Woohoo! Just came across this game at my local used game store (for a fantastic price!) and snatched it up right away thanks to your review. Can't wait to play through it!!!

[@LuriTV]

The game is now announced for the Switch :)

[@SNESdrunk]

Awesome

[@tiefighter3445]

Was a great game. I still own it. Was able to buy it in early 2000s when GameStop was still selling nes games for cheap prices.

[@missgrinch5940]

Just started playing this on my switch and it’s fantastic! I love the leveling up system and how in depth this game is for its age. It sure as hell is challenging but definitely fun and worth it if you’re a fan of Zelda and old school rpgs.

[@tsuki9991]

This game got released on Nintendo Switch NES and I've been enjoying it alot. The gameplay is sooo fun and I feel like it was ahead of its time.

[@DariaPlaysRPGs]

Woot! I was right about the pronunciation of Crystalis! >.> Also going to saw that it's not quite as hard as Star Tropics - only because I've beaten Crystalis legit when I was a kid and Star Tropics would go probably go undefeated it it weren't for save states. That last dungeon in particular was a total bitch.

[@julesmcgrules3860]

DariaPlaysRPGs hey your channel is dope 👍

[@ricardoshillyshally3000]

The plot sounds a lot like Nausicaä.

[@Rpodnee]

The first boss is based on the giant bugs from Nausicaa. And the tower seen in the opening is an homage to Laputa.

[@brewsburgers]

I had never heard of this game in it's height of popularity, I bought it at a garage sale years later and thought it was the coolest game. not sure if anyone has mentioned it but there was a cheat code, when you leave the screen to enter the next screen if you pressed select on the OG NES paddle it would make you warp

[@thenostalgiafactor5023]

Total length of video: 221 secs. Total length of "SNES Drunk": 1 sec. .45% of the video was spent listening to "SNES Drunk".

[@CaptNRetro]

Legend of Zelda is my favorite NES game.. Crystalis gives it a serious run for its money.. Had it been Called God Slayer, it would have been a top seller

[@thrillington2008]

it came to the states right around the time Mario 3

[@miamimagicians]

Mario 3 was so good 16 bit genesis games where left in the dust!

[@oonegro82]

I vividly recall playing and beating this Classic of a game! If it had continued the series on SNES, I believe that all of the interaction problems with the menu would have been fixed and the Game would be on the level of Chrono Trigger.

[@IceHedge]

As a 16 bit megafan and not so much a fan of the 8 bit era, Crystalis has been the only NES game I've sunk more than 10 hours into since the early 90s. It's grabbed my attention so far and I want to beat it. There are a LOT of choke points though. Where to start? At the beginning you're told to use your power to break down a wall but all you're given is healing. It doesn't differentiate key items and one time use items so you have no idea if something that would help in a boss fight should be saved or if it's something you need to use to advance the game. Later when you're told to find the wind bracelet, you're supposed to use rabbit shoes to go up a slope, but you have to unequip your magic power, which who would know to do that? All other items work with magic equipped. So many points in this game were made with assuming you have a guide which nowadays yeah there are plenty online, but it's nice to sit back and not have to reference an encyclopedia of the entire game just to move the story along every 15 minutes . I do like it so far, just shows it's age.

[@TheFLOMAN76]

Yes! Play this GREAT lil game if you can! The music alone, will seduce you. I have very fond memories playing this game, alongside my Aunt Betty. Love n Miss you. 😔 R. I. P.

[@In_The_80s]

This was always my "go to" game back then. I loved this title growing up. It offers so much more then most of your basic NES RPGs. There's always new paths and items to unlock and thanks to the Internet maps are a breeze. To bad we had to draw them all out by hand back in the day lol. This game is definitely worth giving it a shot, you'll most likely end up wanting more.

[@MagnumCrackoff]

The artwork on this game is very nice also. Glad I picked it up 4 years ago.

[@ThunderstruckGames]

This game is available on the Switch with the SNK 40th Anniversary Collection, and is coming to the PS4.

[@henrydave6603]

This was one of my favorite rentals back in the day. Heck was one game I searched for when I started collecting! I remember this one point I couldn't figure out when I was young and years later I found out you where suppose to just hit this witch with your sword a couple times! As for a sequel ... the game kind of ends with no real opening for one, but something akin to Crystalis would have been cool. Heck using the shoulder buttons to scroll thru swords would have been useful!

[@nateblack8669]

I love futuristic stories that take place in the 90s, like A Scanner Darkly (the book) takes place in 1992 and people are wearing high tech suits that allow them to conceal their identities with a distorted mixture of human faces, in other words technology we don't even have in 2019, well, the technology, maybe, but not the scramble suits :P

[@MistyKathrine]

I loved this game as a kid!

[@andrewmartinsharples]

played the heck out of this as a kid, it was sad that a lot of the plot was lost in translation, but it was always an amazing game nonetheless

[@Fakan]

This was honestly one of my favorite NES games back in the day. I LOVED it. Although I had to wait until the invention of save states to actually beat it decades later. ;)

[@Chino-Kafu]

I know this is old but 2019 yes. my favorite nes game.

[@SilveiraNeto]

I am playing this game currently on the Switch. This game changed my views of what a NES was capable.

[@aaronwood843]

I LOVED this game growing up!!

[@TheAltruisticAutistic]

Secret of Mana is the closest thing to a sequel to this. Also, the GBC remake twisted the story around, and changed gameplay with the swords, where weaknesses were no longer really a thing, removing part of the challenge.

[@CitrusXVA]

I first heard about this game from the terrific (at the time) webcomic "How to make a webcomic in 8 Easy Bits" or simply "8 Easy Bits." Eventually, it had Myer from the game "Deadly Towers" duel against Chris from "Crystalis." The battle was obviously unbalanced, but the end result was hilarious. This does look like a terrific that I would check out if I has the NES Classic Mini.

[@SmoochyOF]

Love this game and I was not really a fan of RPGs and grinding to level up. Somehow Crystalis still got me.

[@marywallace3620]

I remember this game, i was like 4 or 5 when i first played it because my grandpa was playing it so I just started a save under his and i unironically got father than my grandpa did within the first two or so hours without even knowing how to read but to be fair the first dungeon/cave and boss were quite easy and they were nothing more than tutorials, getting you used to the gameplay mechanics and whatnot. But still, after that first area, me and my grandpa ended up working together to get thru the game and we managed to beat it with him letting me deal the final blow on the final boss because he had whittled the boss's hp down to by a lot and he wanted to see if i could deliver the final blow.

[@theelephantgun]

This is based on a book!

[@waaaaaaah5135]

Which one? I'd love to read it!

[@jolonghthong]

waaaaaaah chocolate thunder

[@ZSBrian]

I actually think you undersell this game a bit. This was easily one of my favorite back in the day. Solid music and good gameplay. The variety of attacks with the different swords is really cool. Highlyrecommended.

[@yippeeyokai5750]

i loved this game and i think they should remake it.

[@jmyers1385]

Every NES title 1-2 words, all Famicom counterparts: "Mystery of the God Dragon Slayer King Saga Story" or "Basic Brand Title: Long subtitle also probably involving a string of nouns followed by mystery, tale, saga, etc.". They like their game titles to be long-winded in Japan. I think the language just lends itself better to write out more stuff with less characters, but it's still kinda silly and amusing.

[@SNESdrunk]

YES. Unless it's a Street Fighter game. Then it's Street Fighter Alpha Omega Delta Disco Dream Miracle Dragon Sleeper no matter where it's released

[@jmyers1385]

True Story.

[@jmyers1385]

You forgot Omelet in there somewhere though I'm pretty sure, cuz fighting games, Japan, "do you even lift bro?!", and all that.

[@SNESdrunk]

J Myers Haaa

[@RichDolo]

I honestly didnt know about this game and i been playing snes for over 2 decades! Thanks man ! Edit. Ohh its nes but still a 💎

[@rightorracist8203]

This and Guardian Legend are my two fav NES games ever.

[@kurzninja]

I loved this game. I thought at the time the blending of the magic with technology storyline was epic

[@DoomRater]

Do Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves! A movie to video game that is a top down action RPG complete with having to search for things, use a menu to interact with people, a few additional game modes as minigames, and... a giant... boar fight? That music though, oh man. While the same riff would play over and over, they'd cycle the instruments to make it seem like it was longer, and it worked. You could go minutes without hearing the initial riff with the original instrument settings.

[@greensun1334]

...also the NES-Game with the best Music!

[@kodytiffany5686]

Crystalis is my favorite NES title period. It remains to this day a game I have memorized almost entirely (as in where to go and what to do), because I invested that much time and effort in my first play through... 20+ years ago. I will not lie in a play through of the game that I watched within the last year I was humilated by how quickly they made it through the game. Then i remembered playing through the game with a friend growing up and we did it within a day so I guess... screw it the game should of taken atleast 8 hours of play and was done in less than half of that, not cool at all. I did remember all the most confussing exploration elements (enough to know how many "chests" they skipped, but man is this game a classic to me. great choice of music from the game.

[@Hexydes]

I always thought Lagoon for the SNES had a similar style. Sequel might be a bit strong, but there were resemblances for sure.

[@TheGameGrinder]

I've yet to play this for some reason, but would like to have this in my collection at some point. Solid review!

[@DariaPlaysRPGs]

Good news Church - it's really really cheap! :P

[@TheGameGrinder]

I've come across it a few times, but never saw a price that was too good to pass up yet.

[@darsparx]

What ever you've seen it's worth it. I've not beaten it yet(got to busy to do so), but it's so much fun. It's hit detection is a little wonky but still better than Quest for Camelot on GBC(they really screwed that one up)

[@TheGameGrinder]

If that's the case, I'll try to nab it next time I see it.

[@darsparx]

The Game Grinder but be careful as there is the nes vs gbc which is a complete remake/reimagining by nintendo since SNK refused to port it over apparently. It's a interesting converstation piece but rather strange compared to some of thing the original had.

[@PaleHorseShabuShabu]

Maybe it's just me, but I never felt like the character was too fast or that the hit detection was wonky. Great game, glad I have the GBC version.

[@Shinmsl]

I only knew about this game in name only but it does seem quite good, you left interested in trying it out one of these days.

[@timshank42]

I swear I beat this game once every month for at least a year as a kid

[@the_kombinator]

I'm playing it now for the 20th or so time since I got it and I've never noticed a hit detection issue.

[@JoeyJ0J0]

I have this on SNK collection, its underrated and I wish we got the Neo Geo sequel

[@achimsinn7782]

Yeah. It is really sad that this game got forgotten. A SNES sequel would definitly have been nice. The game definitly had a good pacing and a good mix between action and rpg elements.

[@James_Johnson79]

This game really is such a huge hidden gem.

[@42ndStreetMatthew]

I loved this game as a kid. I think a modern remake would be awesome.

[@stevethomas5978]

I'm still trying to figure out what rpg had the goblins in Santa hats, played it in the early 90s, now can't find it or find out a title.

[@NevTheDeranged]

One of my all time favorites.

[@vongxiong5125]

Who remembers charging up your power and pressing one of the buttons on the second player controller to warp to different zones?

[@MH-dt4ib]

the music is "good"? no way man, its fantastic! :)

[@71dembonesTV]

Looks pretty cool. Kind of an atypical title for SNK but, that's not a bad thing

[@danikahicks2210]

That is the best looking NES game I've ever seen. Good to know that the game play and story are good too.

[@Verbalaesthet]

I remember this game. It wasnt bad. It was enjoyable at the beginning but I stopped playing it after some time. I dont remember why.

[@Steelflight773]

I liked it as a kid but got “stuck like Chuck” on what to do at one point. It is probably the worse I have ever got stuck in a game. I remember riding around on the dolphin or fish forever trying to figure out what to do. Been meaning to play through it again.

[@JRMAV1]

I almost never used the leather boots, hopped over everything with the rabbit boots.

[@sebastianlang5355]

One of the best games on NES, a Masterpiece ☺️☺️

[@thomario8639]

This is actually my favorite NES game and is on my top games of all time.

[@Red88Rex]

I used to play this game as a kid, but I never finished it. I'd really like to someday.

[@yozarian86]

I played a lot of it on switch online. Having save state really helps because saving is a very weak point to this game.

[@sidneyd.dacosta4361]

A very good 16 bit like RPG game.Dont know why it not so well know at the time

[@kyluya]

need something similar for the snes? gameplay wise look for secret of mana or secret of evermore.

[@TheHappychickadee]

I just discovered this game - it’s one of the best

[@csteegs8681]

Yea this seems way ahead of it's time actually

[@godsgrace7777]

What is that flickering graphical glitch right above the menu near the bottom? Was this an error in all carts or is removed in a later NES release that took care of it because it is annoying and in my copy too.

[@zachwhitehorn7926]

so good. as a youngern i always hit a wall. should really revisit.

[@tuxedocat47]

Great work! Loved it.

[@nickwest932]

I would love to see an unofficial remake. A sequel would be optimal, but I could live with an updated remake. Great review.

[@shinmusashi44]

There was a "remake" on the gamboy color. They added new story elements and changed some things.

[@frank4284]

I was today years old when I heard the "correct" pronunciation for the first time in 30 years. I don't think I can shake saying it the other way though

[@Dez7734]

Probably my fave NES game

Looks good enough for a quick play-through on Switch.

[@GeorgiaRidgerunner]

Somehow I've never seen this game...looks interesting think I'll pick up a copy as long as its under 20 bucks with free shipping (assuming that I buy it online of course)