Crystalis (NES) Playthrough
10,258
Published 2024-04-24
1997, October 1,
The END DAY
I can distinctly remember the first time I played Crystalis because of this line. I don't recall any other game, or at least not one in 1990, beginning with a predicted date for the apocalypse, only to then immediately follow it up with a vivid depiction of how it would happen. It wasn't the result of war, pollution, or rampant consumerism: the END DAY was an all-out nuclear holocaust.
In a fun coincidence, Terminator 2: Judgment Day scheduled a similarly fiery end to humanity around the same time, with Skynet pulling the trigger on August 29, 1997.
Somewhat less coincidentally, like countless other fantasy games from the NES era, Crystalis's story was clearly inspired by two classic Studio Ghibli films, 1984's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and 1986's Laputa: Castle in the Sky.
Crystalis was SNK's second in-house game developed specifically for a console, and though it wasn't a massive best-seller, it reviewed well and went on to become a cult classic that is still fondly remembered by NES fans all these years later.
It's an action-RPG that takes the basic structure of The Legend of Zelda and fleshes it out with a proper narrative, experience-based growth system, and a wide range of equipment and upgradable weapons, and it does it arguably better than any other NES game of its type.
There were so many things that made Crystalis memorable. The soundtrack, the vibrant graphics, the flashy cutscenes, and the story events are all standouts - who could forget changing genders to meet with the leader of a female-only town, riding on the back of a dolphin and taking to the open seas, or the death of Deo's best friend? (Not to mention how the Famicom version was named "God Slayer." That's quite a heavy title for an 8-bit ARPG, don't you think?)
Long time SNK fans will also recognize a few familiar faces here. Psycho Soldier's Athena and Kensuo are cast as "wisemen," and Ikari Warriors' Ralf and Clark both appear as NPCs.
Crystalis was, in my opinion, a seminal NES work that still deserves to be played today. Just do yourself a favor and stick with the original version. Nintendo's compromised Game Boy Color remake ( • Crystalis (Game Boy Color) Playthroug... ) doesn't do the game justice.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who wishes that SNK had followed through with their plans for a sequel on the Neo Geo.
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No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
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All Comments (21)
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Crystalis is easily in my top 10 NES games ever. Fantastic title.
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Crystalis was one of the most memorable action-adventures I ever played on the NES. Definitely my favorite of the SNK games for the system!
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I'm actually currently trying to remaster Crystalis. It's good to see people are still interested in it. Makes me feel like if I ever finish, people will actually play it.
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SNK is famous for making amazing game music, even this 8bit NES title has some really good tracks!
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According to a TV commercial: “Crystalis, new from SNK… for play on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Are you up to the challenge?”
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If there ever be a reboot of this, SNK Playmore and the former Neo-Geo should be on board without hesitation as some of their canon games are returning as of recently.
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One of my favorite NES games. Everything from the graphics & sound to the gameplay is beautifully crafted together to create one of the most underrated JRPGS ever made. I'm also a fan of the equipment actually showing up on your character. Very rarely will an RPG from this era have that detail in them.
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SNK's finest NES hour.
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Underrated gem indeed
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"You're great!" Another SNK / Metal Slug reference.
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This is my shit. I miss this game
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I'm so happy you finally covered this game!
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This game is so freaking cool. Dare it be...the greatest NES game?? ...Or at least one of the best. The Guardian Legend is hard to beat. It's got almost everything I love about 8-bit games, all in one, not to mention tells a relatively detailed and coherent narrative. What a masterpiece! I still remember when your channel introduced me to this game in an older version back in 2018 or so. Thanks, Alex.
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I do kind of wish this game was on the SNES instead, as it had more buttons, and you could possibly switch weapons on the fly, instead of going to a menu all the time. Regardless, a fantastic game.
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It's about time you did this underappreciated RPG, thank you! :D
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Ambitious game, especially for the time. I didn't really like the gbc remake, but the nes version is classic
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Soundtrack is really good
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So.... Link isn't the only guy with a beam shooting sword?
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one of the gratest late cycle nes titles i remember seeing this game and mario 3 having a tug o' war for the number 1 spot in nintendo power's power ranking list for like 3 years if i recall this also won several NESter awards (that magazine's traditional yearly award presentation during the 8 bit generation) including game of the year (it definitely earned it)
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Best yard sale buy I ever made!
