CrossCode

I followed the development of this game since it was first announced. Played the demo, and knew that once the full release would come out it would be one of the best games I ever played. I played it first to completion before the DLC came out, and finishing it I was catatonic for a week, just amazed at how it delivered on everything I hoped. Now I played it again, and even knowing the plot points, I was once again brought to tears at some of the reveals. Playing the DLC this time around, I am once again amazed. The announcement of Alabaster Dawn, and the clear parallels in gameplay are nothing to me if not a promise that the next game is just going to be just as amazing as this game is. Honestly, that CrossCode does not have the same status as Stardew Valley, Undertale, or Slay the Spire is mind boggling to me.

My favorite game of all time. every aspect is perfect to me, the combat, the puzzles, the dialog, the music, the art, everything. my love for this game is boundless. i will always love you crosscode

CrossCode is action-platformer-RPG. I liked it but I haven't played it so much, it's not for me. I like the presentation, it looks and sounds lovely. It's also easy to control, and I'm amazed platforming puzzles work as well as they do in such perspective. This is a single-player game about a multiplayer world, it's a lighthearted adventure about RPG and MMO tropes. It's fine, and it's competently made, I respect the developer and wish there'd be more games like this. It failed to capture me personally, I felt I've seen enough after the first major dungeon. The games tries to spin too many plates for my taste, and none of the system feel great except maybe traversal. There are many puzzles, but a lot of mechanics of said puzzles are obscure and it's not clear if you have to be more precise about your input or have to use a completely different approach. The combat is the meat of the game - it's an RPG with stats, skills and equipment - but it feels basic and simple. The world is big and there are many sidequests parodying MMO tropes, but often end up being as repetetive and boring, especially considering the equipment crafting system already requires you to grind for components. The story is OK, I guess. That's what it is, it's a fine game. I don't regret my time with it.