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The JRPG genre has seen its fair share of time travel adventures, with classics like Chrono Trigger, Radiant Historia, Tales of Graces F, and Final Fantasy XIII-2 setting the standard. Dreams Uncorporated, a Columbian indie developer, enters the fray with Cris Tales, a love letter to the genre infused with its own distinct charm. But does it live up to the hype and the legacy of its inspirations? Let’s delve into the world of Crisbell and discover the magic and challenges within.

A Classic JRPG Experience Reimagined

Dreams Uncorporated doesn’t shy away from its JRPG influences. Within minutes of starting Cris Tales, veterans of the genre will recognize familiar tropes and story beats. The game opens with Crisbell, a young orphan living in the Narim cathedral with Mother Superior. A talking frog named Matias steals a rose from the cathedral garden, prompting Crisbell to give chase. This seemingly simple event sets off a chain reaction, culminating in Crisbell discovering her destiny as the Time Mage, able to perceive the past, present, and future simultaneously.

Now burdened with the responsibility of saving the kingdom of Crysallis from the Time Empress, Crisbell embarks on a journey across four major cities. Each city echoes the classic elemental themes often found in JRPGs, reminiscent of Final Fantasy I. Crisbell’s unique ability allows her to witness the cities across different eras, observing their evolution and the lives of their inhabitants.

This tri-temporal perspective provides a compelling narrative layer. You might encounter a talented violinist in the present, only to see him become a destitute thief in the future due to unforeseen circumstances. This motivates players to intervene and shape the future through their actions in the present. Matias, the talking frog, facilitates this by traveling through time to influence events. While the game offers choices that impact the future, the butterfly effect is somewhat limited in scope.

Cris Tales

While the core narrative is engaging with its twists and turns, the pacing occasionally falters. The developers sometimes overutilize padding between plot points, stretching the story thinner than necessary. Completing side quests is highly recommended, however, as they enrich the world-building and can have tangible consequences within the game’s narrative.

Cris Tales

Innovative Combat and Strategic Time Manipulation

Cris Tales features a turn-based combat system with a unique twist. Players control a party of three characters positioned in the center of the screen, facing enemies on either the left or right. Crisbell can send enemies to the past or future, adding a layer of strategic depth to battles.

Cris Tales

This time manipulation mechanic opens up creative possibilities. Players can exploit elemental weaknesses across time, such as rusting metal enemies by sending them to the future after dousing them with water in the present. However, manipulating time can also strengthen enemies, requiring careful consideration.

Manipulating time adds a layer of strategic depth to battles, encouraging players to think creatively and exploit enemy weaknesses across different eras.

The game also incorporates a timing-based mechanic for both attacking and defending, adding an element of action to the traditional turn-based formula. While this might feel unusual for purists, it adds another layer of engagement to combat.

A Visually Distinctive World

Cris Tales eschews the typical anime aesthetic of many JRPGs, opting for a unique style reminiscent of a European storybook. Character designs are expressive and full of personality. However, this artistic choice sometimes results in certain environments, particularly forested areas, appearing somewhat monotonous. Thankfully, the vibrant cities offer a welcome contrast with their colorful and detailed landscapes.

The unique art style sets Cris Tales apart, giving it a distinct visual identity reminiscent of a classic storybook.

The Patience Test: Long Load Times and Sluggish Movement

Despite its strengths, Cris Tales suffers from a significant drawback: excruciatingly long loading times, especially on the Nintendo Switch. Encountering enemies, a frequent occurrence in classic JRPGs, results in a 10-15 second loading screen. This wait time repeats after every battle, disrupting the flow of exploration.

These loading times become even more pronounced within cities, sometimes reaching 30 seconds when transitioning between areas. This issue is compounded by the slow movement speed of the characters, further impacting the pacing of the game. These technical shortcomings detract significantly from the overall experience and can be frustrating for players. Additionally, the inability to capture screenshots or videos on the Switch is a puzzling omission.

In conclusion, Cris Tales offers a unique and engaging JRPG experience with its innovative time manipulation mechanics and distinctive art style. However, the lengthy loading times and sluggish movement significantly hamper the enjoyment, particularly on the Switch. Addressing these technical issues would elevate Cris Tales to its full potential.