“Cris Tales” reminds me of a lot of Japanese role-playing games I’ve played over the years. It’s undeniably an homage to the classic formula forged by series like Final Fantasy and Tales, though not always for the better. One element of old-school JRPGs that should stay in the past is the monotony — the endless grinding to level up, unskippable dialogue, and other frustrating hallmarks — and, unfortunately, “Cris Tales” replicates this so well that even its gorgeous art style and effortless charm quickly wear thin.
You play as Crisbell, your typical bubbly, bright-eyed heroine, as she comes into her newfound powers as a time mage. The story itself is also what you’d expect: Crisbell joins up with a misfit crew of companions and gallivants around the world to take down the villain whose evil plan threatens to destroy everything. What sets “Cris Tales” apart is its whimsical fantasy setting and character design, which both proudly lean into the type of over-the-top anime tropes that no doubt helped inspire the game in the first place.
The world of “Cris Tales" is something plucked out of the pages of a children’s storybook: It uses marbles as currency; its colorful cities are populated by goblins, bird folk and other fantastical characters; and your main form of transportation is a giant floating statue of a women. Oh, and throughout your journey, you’re accompanied by a frog wearing a bow tie and a top hat.
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