CrossCode

 PlayStation 5
Metascore
tbd

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User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 6 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. Aperson4
    Nov 7, 2022
    9
    This is a criminally overlooked game that deserves to be mentioned with some of the very best indie games ever made. At first glace, a 16 bitThis is a criminally overlooked game that deserves to be mentioned with some of the very best indie games ever made. At first glace, a 16 bit RPG with an isekai premise sounds overdone but CrossCode if anything is more of a tribute to 2D Zelda games in the skin of classics like Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger. It attempts the action RPG in a 2D setting and while it can be a bit difficult to get used to the combat at first as you cannot just mash your way through it, when you learn how to break enemies it becomes so much more satisfying.

    I say this game is more of a Zelda game than a traditional RPG because of its puzzle heavy dungeons. Like Link's quests, you travel through some pretty intractate dungeons which branch out and wrap around each other, solving puzzles and defeating enemies. The puzzles are a fair bit harder than most Zelda games which might be a turn off for some but they're built up very well over the course of each dungeon introducing new elements and eventually you get sprawling brainteasers to deal with. The story is a bit slow going as it sets up all the characters but the characters are all good enough to keep you intrigued until Chapter 7 when the story takes a big twist and everything is recontextualised. This game is worth playing for Chapter 7 alone! The dialogue is also pretty witty and fully of meta humour that pokes fun at MMORPGs and video games in general. Apollo in particular is the best character in the game.

    Sadly there are a few minor issues which really hold the game back from being a 10/10. There is one puzzle towards the end of the game which, while forshadowed during the story, is incredibly obtuse and not very obvious what you're supposed to do, I had to look up online to figure out how I was supposed to do it. I also feel like the dungeon pacing is a bit warped as you do three dungeons back to back late game and they're all right next to each other on the map. In most Zelda games you at least have to traverse a new area to get to your next dungeon but while you get to choose between two dungeons at this point it can make everything feel quite long when you do a gauntlet of dungeons.

    I also have to give praise to this game's scale. This is an indie game that is longer than many triple A games, the fact that an indie studio made a 35 hour long RPG is a commendable feat in of itself. Its easy to spend well over that before you finish the game.

    Give this game a chance. If you love Zelda games and RPGs, you will love CrossCode.    … Full Review »
  2. SplitMind
    Jan 22, 2022
    5
    Crosscode is an inspired game with a retro feel that looks like a typical 2D RPG on the cover but there is so much more to it. Unfortunately,Crosscode is an inspired game with a retro feel that looks like a typical 2D RPG on the cover but there is so much more to it. Unfortunately, that 'so much more' is what I really don't like.

    CC's graphics make no secret about harking back to the 16-bit era of SNES games. I find these style of graphics to be generally welcome but it seems far too many indie developers are going for this style in recent years, making me a bit tired of seeing them. The difficulty with CC in particular is that there is a lot of platforming and simplistic graphics make it harder to differentiate between the latitudes. Having said that, I appreciate that it's also a clever way of working around the lower budgets indies have.

    The big problem I have with CC's graphics is that I experienced some serious framerate and screen tearing issues early in the game that left an early bad impression. I had to search online and turn off many of the video settings just to get it to run decently, ironic given the 16-bit graphics. The fact that both PS4 and PS5 versions of this game exist also makes it less acceptable to find these issues.

    The RPG elements of CC's gameplay are very good, mostly. What I really didn't like was having to collect so much materials to allow me to buy equipment rather than just use cash or get them from enemies.

    This brings me to another big issue I had with CC. 90% of the few hours I played were just gather and fetch quests. I don't mind some of these as they help you learn the mechanics and story of a game, but they really were used to excess here. Apparently this improves as you venture further into the game but the idea of a game is to compel you, not hold up promises that things will get better.

    I did not expect puzzles to play as much of a role as they do in CC. Again, I like some puzzle elements, but CC really took this to excess for me. The first dungeon was just room after room of puzzles. Just when I think I got to the end there were even more and I lost my patience with the game. I do like the creativity in some of the puzzles but the shooting feels very slippery and imprecise for how often it's needed in puzzles.

    The story of CC was what captivated me most and I'll be most sorry to miss out on that. The character being a largely silent protagonist is always a divisive approach, in this case for the better as there is enough dialogue already. The story felt very meta as it reminded me of Assassins' Creed where you are in the Animus, which felt a lot more original than standard fare RPGs. Unfortunately it wasn't enough to keep me going in the game.

    Overall, Crosscode seems to be another critically-acclaimed indie darling that leaves me very sceptical of the overwhelmingly positive praise. I accept that it may just not be my cup of tea but it left me remorseful that Sony do not allow refunds, so lesson learned for me to do more research or buy on Steam.    … Full Review »
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