Words: Dan Wilson
After playing through the recently released retro-styled action of Streets of Rage 4 (our review, here), I've had a pixel-shaped-itch to scratch. And what could better satisfy said itch than the release of another 16-bit-era-indebted title - albeit this time an RPG adventure that's already much loved.
CrossCode first released on PC back in 2018 (after three years in beta), but it's only just come out for consoles - Nintendo Switch (the version I'm playing), Xbox One and PlayStation 4. And I've got to say: it's about time, because Radical Fish's game is, on first impressions at least, a belter that I can really see myself investing some serious time in.
The story in CrossCode is inherently meta - it's essentially a game within a game, and that game is a futuristic, Zelda-like VR MMORPG called CrossWorlds. You play as Lea, who suffers from amnesia and is playing CrossWorlds in the hope of recapturing her memories. Confused much? Without going too far into potential-spoiler details, the story does draw you in with its dual narrative structure, and after a couple of hours in its company, I'm excited to see how it develops over the next... Well, CrossCode is anywhere between 35 and 80 hours long, depending on just how much of a completionist you are.
There's not much to not love about this game. The graphics are pixel perfect - reminiscent of Square's much-loved Chrono Trigger. From its emotive character portraits to its luscious scenery and contemporary animations, there is excellent attention to detail throughout CrossCode that really does separate it from other pixel-art titles that tick said aesthetic box while forgetting to update it for the 21 st century.
Not only does CrossCode look amazing, but it plays great too. The controls feel tight, crisp and responsive on Switch, making the battles more all the more enjoyable when they start to get a little tricky.
I love the frenetic energy of the combat, which is in Secret of Mana-like real time and not turn-based in a Chrono Trigger style. It's easy to get to grips with, but it's not long before enemies start to get more intense, and the boss fights are where you really need to have turned those intuitive early steps into something nearer a mastery of the game's mechanics. Lea is equipped with Virtual Ricochet Projectiles, or VRPs, which are essentially electric balls which inflict damage on the enemy and can also bounce off walls - essential for solving the game's puzzles. You get the chance to flex your skills in Zelda-recalling temples, the first serving as a good introduction into how the game's mechanics work.
Once you go through the initial stages - which does feel a little long - you can start to recruit party members and go on side-quests and 'hunts', which can be tracked within the intuitive user interface. You also have classic character progression systems in play, with potential upgrades to HP, defense and so on.
Even if you didn't grow up in the era of the Super Nintendo and Mega Drive, or aren't too familiar with 2D RPGs, CrossCode's modern spin on the classic 16-bit style ensures that it'll be exciting to play for anyone, if they're up to the challenge. And with tens of hours of gameplay ahead of me here, and a story that's already got its hooks in, I can see this being one of my favourite games of the year.
CrossCode is out now for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, developed by Radical Fish Games and published by Deck13. Switch code for this coverage was provided by the publisher. The game is also available to pre-order in a range of limited-edition physical versions via StrictlyLimited Games/ININ Games.
Topics: Xbox, Nintendo, PlayStation, Indie Games, The Legend of Zelda
