CRYMACHINA

Ultimately, if you want a hack-and-slash RPG with high-speed and fun gameplay but with a middling storyline, this could be a sleeper hit for some players. While not as deep as I wanted it to be, the game handles its mission format and character-progression system well enough. I just wish the story had a little more depth to match its intriguing post-apocalyptic themes and world setting.

Crymachina is a touching tale that touches on the nuances of human details and its hidden and primitive insecurities. Speaking through a common language, already seen in the works of Yoko Taro and in the history of FuRyu productions, but nevertheless manages to find flashes of originality, especially when the three main protagonists are explored in depth. The game design doesn't shine but it doesn't disappoint either, managing in any case to stimulate the player's interest through a good skill-based combat system. It's a shame that the graphics, very dated and often an eyesore, don't offer further emotions.

After the excellent Monark, it seems that FuRyu is struggling a lot to hit the target. To demonstrate this, Aquria's latest effort has unfortunately proven to be yet another half-successful action RPG: a galvanizing combat system that pays attention to customization is counterbalanced in this case by a narrative structure devoid of character, a defeatist level design and, more generally, from a graphics sector that is a few generations behind. Add to the cocktail a limited longevity and the shortage of secondary content, and you will hardly be able to justify the outlay requested on day one by the publisher NIS America.

Crymachina is not the triumphant return that many were hoping for from FuRyu Corporation. The game has a story that, while potentially interesting, feels like it squanders its potential, partly due to an excessively stereotypical cast of characters that could easily fit into a teen drama. Even from a gameplay perspective, things don't improve significantly. The game is certainly playable and functional, offering some initial fun, but its lack of depth makes it repetitive after just a few hours. When you add in some inexplicable choices regarding certain game mechanics, it becomes clear that Crymachina can only be recommended to die-hard fans of the genre, as it truly lacks anything that would make it preferable to other titles.

Crymachina is continually plagued by its imbalance. The emotion can be impactful, especially with the relationships forged between the characters, but it is bogged down by a convoluted story. Combat is snappy and fast, but slowed down by an excessive upgrade system and grueling grind. Lighting and effects are gorgeous and colorful, while areas remain repetitive and bland. It takes too much work to get to the good of Crymachina and only those desperately itching for a sci-fi action RPG will enjoy completing it. It’s a shame because the concept it uses to explore humanity is an interesting one, but too many issues dampen its emotional punch.