Crystal Warriors
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| Crystal Warriors | |
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| Developer(s) | Sega |
| Publisher(s) | Sega |
| Platform(s) | Game Gear |
| Release date | 1991 (JP) 1992 (NA) |
| Genre(s) | Tactical RPG |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Media | 2-megabit cartridge |
Crystal Warriors is a tactical role-playing video game for the Sega Game Gear handheld system. It was released by Sega in Japan in 1991 and North America in 1992. The animation was done by Kugatsuhime, a Japanese video game company. The gameplay of Crystal Warriors is similar to both the Shining Force and Fire Emblem series.
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[edit] Gameplay
The player forms a party of up to nine units to fight in each level. The player starts on one side of the map and an enemy force of up to nine units occupies a castle on the opposite side. The player has to defeat the enemy force or move a unit on to the enemy castle entrance to complete each level. Each level has terrain features which form bottlenecks or change the speed of units. The player controls specialised units belonging to a particular elemental group and most of the strategy revolves around the element of a given unit and its correct usage. Each element is weak to one and strong versus another. Fire elemental units are effective against wind elemental units, while wind units are more powerful against water, and in turn water units are strong against fire. The exceptions to this rock-paper-scissors system are the earth based units who have no particular strengths or weaknesses.
Battles occur when units are within range of an enemy unit (usually adjacent) and consist of two rounds where the units can fight with melee weapons, spells or monsters.
Unit types are split as follows:
Warriors – Water/fire – basic fighters;
Lords – Water/fire – fighters with heavier weapons and more hit-points;
Rangers – Wind – fighters with higher movement speed and damage but with less hit points;
Healers – Earth – casters with low damage and few hit points (unless they reach maximum level at which point they become extremely strong);
Wizards – Earth – magic users with a variety of offensive elemental spells. In addition to being used in normal battles, spells can be cast at range and only enemy casters can respond;
Princess – Earth – fighter/healer.
Each unit acquires four experience points for defeating an enemy. If the unit gains ten experience points they increase in level, acquiring more hit points and damage, up to a total of nine levels. The player can also defeat and capture monsters (which are also assigned an element) on each level, and use them in subsequent battles. New units, weapons and spells can be acquired in towns along with predictions on the nature of the next level, which may affect the player’s choice of units.
[edit] Plot
The game follows the adventures of the Princess Iris of Ariel. The evil Jyn have overrun her father’s lands and stolen three of the four elemental crystals used to keep the peace. Her quest takes her through the lands of Ariel to fight the Jyn’s elemental governors and reclaim the crystals before facing up against Emperor Grynn and his mysterious overlord.
Aside from the introduction there is no plot development or dialogue in the game aside from the on-screen action.
[edit] Multiplayer
Crystal Warriors also features a two player competitive mode, where one player controls Iris and the other an evil princess named Cham. Iris can recruit eight units from all those the player comes across in the main game, while Cham can recruit up to eight of the various enemies. The players then select a map to fight on. This ensures a balanced game, unlike most strategy RPGs that feature a two player mode, as the players do not simply play with the parties used during their respective single player games (which could have vastly different experience levels).
[edit] Sequel
Crystal Warriors had a Japan-only sequel called Royal Stone, released in 1995.
