Cris Tales
Right more than twice a day
“YOU’RE ABLE TO KNOCK FOES BACK AND FORTH THROUGH TIME.”
FORMAT PS5, PS4 / ETA 20 JUL / PUB MODUS GAMES DEV DREAMS UNCORPORATED, SYCK / PLAYERS 1
Timing is everything, the saying goes, and for this game’s lead character Crisbell that’s true, as it determines the fates of each kingdom she visits. This JRPG-inspired adventure casts you as a hero with time powers, using them not just to weave a tale where the future has yet to be fully determined, but to create inventive battles and dungeons too.
As you explore each town, you’re able to see the past on the left-hand side of the screen, and the current future on the right, with your present focussed in the middle. You need to travel around to track down crystal murals in order to save your world, but how each place you visit ends up will depend on your actions.
TIMELESS CLASSIC
The devs tease multiple endings, running the gamut from good to bad, depending on the choices and changes you make. They also promise the most excellent ending will be tough to achieve (remember the golden rule: be excellent to each other). You can’t cut any corners if you want to ensure time unfurls in ways that solve everyone’s problems rather than help you alone.
You don’t want to use your time powers to help enemies, though. Quite the contrary. You’re able to knock foes back and forth through time, meaning in some fights you might need to de-age enemies to make them weaker, while in others you must send them forwards in time to, say, rust a metal shield after you get it wet, leaving them vulnerable. Pulling off the right moves is like solving a puzzle.
Gorgeous 2D visuals pair with 3D, diorama-like maps, which feel almost like a pop-up book that you can run around. Dungeons boast unique mechanics to keep them fresh. For example, there’s one where you can push platforms around to port to different locations, including the ceiling. The best news? It’s almost time to play.