Crystalis

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Crystalis is a classic action RPG that debuted in 1990 on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). A Game Boy Color port followed in 2000, and the game has since been released on modern systems as part of SNK’s 40th Anniversary Collection. The NES version was praised for its sharp graphics, strong soundtrack, and engaging story, while the Game Boy Color version was noted for changes that many players found less appealing.

Story and setting
The game takes place in a post-apocalyptic world in 2097, one hundred years after a nuclear war in 1997 turned civilization medieval and filled with mutated creatures. A young magician wakes from cryogenic sleep with no memory, guided by four sages and a woman named Mesia. Their quest is to stop the tyrannical Draygon Empire, prevent a new Great War, and reveal the secrets of a legendary weapon called Crystalis.

Gameplay
Crystalis is played from a top-down perspective, with eight directions to move your character. You attack with one button and use magic or items with another. As you defeat monsters, you gain experience to improve your health, defense, and attack. You can equip armor and shields, and manage your inventory and status screens.

A key feature is the four elemental swords scattered through the game—Wind, Fire, Water, and Thunder (the fifth, Crystalis, is found in the final dungeon). Each sword has normal and powered-up attacks that shoot elemental blasts. The swords also help you overcome obstacles: the Wind sword might blow away barriers, the Water sword can create a bridge of ice, and certain enemies are weak to specific elements. Some bosses require you to be at a certain level before you can harm them, even if you have the right sword.

Characters and bosses
The hero is aided by the four sages—Zebu, Tornel, Asina, and Kensu—who teach magic and give information. In the NES game, the sages are a general guide; in the Game Boy Color version, each sage is tied to forging one of the four swords. A recurring group of four bosses known as Dragonia’s Finest (General Kelbesque, Sabera the Witch, Mado the Swordsman, and Karmine the Wizard) poses constant challenges. The final boss is Emperor Draygon, who transforms into a dragon-like form. In the climactic ending, you fight a machine called DYNA inside the Tower.

Game Boy Color version differences
When Crystalis was reissued for Game Boy Color, the story and presentation were notably altered. The opening sequence is different, the four swords are forged by the sages, and the final sequence was re-ordered. Draygon is renamed Dragonia in this version, and some plot items and dialogue were rewritten. The game also removes a death scene for a character named Azteca. The GBC version runs on the smaller screen of the handheld, which makes visibility and navigation harder, and some enemies can attack from off-screen. Unlike the NES version, enemies in the GBC edition aren’t immune to elemental swords.

Legacy and reception
The NES Crystalis was highly regarded for its depth, music, and visual presentation, drawing comparisons to Miyazaki’s Nausicaä. Critics praised its ambitious scope for an NES game, though some called its gameplay repetitive. It earned recognition from IGN, Nintendo Power, and other outlets, and was listed among top NES games by various publications.

Re-releases and modern availability
In 2018, SNK released Crystalis as part of the SNK 40th Anniversary Collection for Nintendo Switch, with later releases on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam. These versions made Crystalis available beyond Nintendo platforms for the first time. The Switch version received praise for its soundtrack and atmosphere, while some reviews noted the game’s occasional repetitive challenges. The Game Boy Color port remains a mixed bag due to its altered story, reduced resolution, and changes to pacing, but it is still remembered as a notable handheld adaptation.

Crystalis remains a landmark title in action RPG history, celebrated for its storytelling, sword-based magic system, and blend of exploration and combat that helped shape later games in the genre.