CrossCode

It seems well done, although I'm not a fan of the combat. I don't care for aiming with my right stick; I'd prefer aiming in whatever direction I'm facing with a modifier button to hold direction so my thumb is still available to use the button pad. My bigger problem with the game though is the degree of uninteresting dialog so far and way overly long tutorials. The first hour or so is just a slog, at which point I gave it up. Take five minutes or so to show me buttons, then give me some dungeons or whatever to try it out, then dump on the exposition when I'm engaged.

I was excited too play it but unfortunately I didn't like it all; the level design is atrocious, too much enemies on the map and a lot of grind. Pass.

The game looks gorgeous, it nails the 16-Bit aesthetic rather well, but improves on them in subtle but noticeable ways. The music is rather nice too, catchy chiptunes all the way, pure joy. It certainly has the classic jrpg look. So I prepared myself for a funny action adventure. Only the game is neither an rpg, nor an action adventure. It is a twin-stick-shooter with an attached rpg mechanic. You have a ranged attack, which demands absolute precision and fast reflexes, even on the lowest difficulty settings. The target overly might from time to time be missing, depending on the readiness of your ranged weapon, and might blend in rather splendidly with rain and other (stunningly beautiful) graphical effects. And you will need it, for puzzles (with timers, none the less), and enemies which stay away and force you to shoot them. (You could try with the mouse, here at last aiming is better. But then you have, different from the controller, to click spam your attacks with the mouse buttons. This is Carpal Tunnel in the making.) Dodging and your shield is bound to the very same button (not customizable), the action depending on your character moving or standing still. Enemies will absolutely throw themselves or their attacks onto you perfectly zeroed in, so you are forced to dodge with lightning quick reflexes or eat up the damage. But, this is an action rpg? For sure a bit of actual action should be expected? Yes, of course. But. Above mentioned elements are not woven into the rpg system. You can't level to increase your dodge time. You can't spend experience points to make targeting more forgiving. Hence, those elements are dependant on your reflexes and raw skill, so "get gud" or leave. It's like buying Mass Effect, but instead getting thrown into a round of Fortnite against a bunch of hyper skilled twelve year olds. If I wanted to play a brutal action game, I wouldn't have bought an rpg. Pity.

Smooth gameplay, dynamic combat, extremely satisfying puzzles, and intriguing plot. Can't wait for final version.

CrossCode, falls short due to its generic storyline and excessive quirkiness. The game's characters and plot seem all too familiar, lacking the freshness and innovation that one would expect from an indie title. The excessive quirkiness, while perhaps intended to add charm, instead becomes a distraction, diluting the overall gaming experience." Moreover, the game's mechanics, while serviceable, do little to distinguish CrossCode from its peers. The combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving elements, key components of any RPG, feel generic and uninspired. The game's quirky elements, instead of adding depth, seem to be a superficial layer that doesn't contribute to a substantial gaming experience. CrossCode, despite its potential, fails to deliver a unique and engaging JRPG experience