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.

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

Basically this. The controls are tight but it's not really in service of anything. Gameplay is uninspired, takes 16 bit era stuff but doesn't really throw anything interesting into it. Enemies feel spongey and typical, leveling up is bland and grindy, and the combat is repetative. Plot is reminicent of .hack, cute twist on the silent protagonist but honestly didn't really give me anything to grip on to. Characters are cutesy with no real depth beyond their upfront charactures. Draws a lot from online/anime culture if that's your bag. Visually it looks like it drew a lot of inspiration from the SNES era top down games without really launching off into anything unique, honestly I got bored of the visuals pretty quickly. Overall, it's not a bad game, but doesn't really do anything to set it apart from the pack.