CrossCode

Genre: Top-Down Action-RPG / 2-Stick Shooter

Players: 1

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Review:

CrossCode is an Action-RPG with strong 2-Stick Shooter elements originally released on PC in 2018 and ported to multiple platforms including the Nintendo Switch in 2020. Players take the role of Lea, the avatar of an unknown player in a MMO world who suffers from amnesia and is playing through the game to try to spur on her memories, while some people she encounters work to help her and others seem to have mysterious designs for her.

The presentation in this game is wonderful, with some really gorgeous, imaginative, and colorful pixel art visuals and lovely soundtrack that evokes memories of classic Super Nintendo Action-RPGs like Secret of Mana (albeit with more frequent futuristic touches), along with some wonderful writing and memorable characters (even its mostly-silent protagonist has a lot of personality in her expressions).

However, CrossCode’s gameplay combines the exploration, RPG mechanics, and melee combat of a game like Secret of Mana with Two-Stick Shooter mechanics, with players able to alternate between strong close-range attacks and fast long-range attacks as the situation calls for it. The combat mechanics here are actually quite excellent and varied, and they’re greatly enhanced by a wide variety of equipment you can buy/craft at shops, as well as a sizable skill tree that starts out already pretty big, but eventually expands to nearly ten times its initial size.

What’s more, built into those excellent combat mechanics is a great risk-reward system, as every enemy you defeat in succession increases your current combat ranking, giving you more rewards for defeating enemies… but you only regenerate damage when you allow this combo to lapse. This means that once you get a good combo going, you’ll be teased with more enemies to fight to get even greater goodies… but as your health dwindles, that’s a risk you may not want to take. It’s a clever system that really makes things interesting.

While the combat and RPG stuff in CrossCode is all well done, what’s surprising is the way this game handles exploration, as players are challenged to navigate a multi-level environment without traditional platforming skills, with raised platforms enticing players to look at the scenery to try to find ways to use the automatic jump your character makes at a ledge to get from one platform to another. It’s rare that a small stair or incline in a game elicits the sort of delight it causes in CrossCode, as something as minor as this has the potential to open up whole new areas if used wisely.

As for complaints, I suppose I have a few minor issues. Enemies can be damage sponges, even common enemies that pose little threat. Also, the environments can be a bit repetitive within each region, and the similar visuals can make it difficult at times to tell how high a platform is, something that can make a huge difference when trying to reach a certain area. Also, the similar-looking environments can make looking for something specific for a quest a bit of a drag.

While there are areas where the game could be improved, overall CrossCode is a phenomenal Action-RPG that is a must-play for fans of the genre, especially those who enjoy fast-paced action. The blend of melee and Two-Stick Shooter elements feels excellent, the world and its characters endearing, and the vast array of RPG upgrades available give players plenty of options to customize their character. If any of this appeals to you, you should definitely give this game a look.

tl;dr – CrossCode is an Action-RPG that combines the melee combat and RPG elements of classics of the genre with fast-paced 2-Stick Shooter action, and pairs it with a wonderful world to explore. There are places where this game could be improved, but overall this is a phenomenal entry in the genre, and Action-RPG fans should definitely take notice.

Grade: A-

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