When publisher Modus Games first announced Cris Tales, the game received a fair amount of praise for its unique art style and combat mechanics. But when the game finally dropped, it received a more mixed reception, with critics taking issue with the title’s decidedly old-school approach to RPG design, as well as its general lack of polish. Although not everyone will necessarily enjoy Cris Tales, that shouldn’t discourage you from trying it out. Numerous players, including myself, saw the game as an incredibly positive experience overall. And luckily, Cris Tales will become free to obtain next week on the Epic Games Store for a limited time. It’s the perfect opportunity for players to see if the game clicks for them.
Those who grew up with, and continue to play, classic JRPGs will likely find a lot to love about Cris Tales. It features the tried-and-true setup of a young protagonist discovering her powers and using them to save the world from an untold disaster, and it boasts a turn-based combat system that takes inspiration from all sorts of games.
What’s the unique hook?
Having said that, Cris Tales still manages to distinguish itself from the rest of the pack thanks to its emphasis on time manipulation. In most fights, the main character can send enemies into either the past or future. This can change both the stats of the enemy and the effects that certain attacks have. The game makes use of its time mechanics in plenty of novel ways, and they make the combat quite fun to experiment with.
Cris Tales will be free on the Epic Games Store starting on February 24. The deal ends on March 3. As of right now, Brothers – A Tale of Two Sons is free to claim, but once that offer ends, players who have any interest in Cris Tales should definitely pick it up.
