Crymachina Review (Switch) – An Action RPG with a Mix of Style and Repetition

Crymachina offers a fast-paced combat system and striking visuals, but repetitive elements hinder its overall impact.

FuRyu has established a reputation for delivering RPGs that, while enjoyable, often fall short of being truly exceptional. Titles like Monark, Caligula Effect, and Crystar fit this pattern, and now they bring us another entry, Crymachina. This new IP, set in a distant future, introduces players to a world where they fight hordes of eerie robots alongside a group of melancholic girls. It’s a fun experience, though far from perfect.

The story begins with the player assuming the role of Leben, a girl who succumbs to a mysterious illness and dies after venting her frustrations about the world and its inhabitants. However, she is revived 2000 years in the future by Enoa, a mysterious AI who has also brought back several other high school girls. Enoa reveals that humanity faced extinction due to a world war over dwindling resources, but before the end, a group of scientists launched a spaceship called Eden in the hope of reviving humanity.

Eden is governed by eight godlike AI, including Enoa, each tasked with a role in the revival of humanity. However, things have gone awry over the millennia since the ship’s launch, and some of the AI have turned rogue. Leben and the other girls are referred to as ‘partial humans,’ revived by Enoa from the encoded memories of people from before the war. To be recognized as real humans and bring back humanity in full, they must exterminate enough robots to accumulate sufficient “ExP.”

The narrative is quite intricate, but it is bogged down by an extensive amount of exposition and dialogue in the opening hours, much of which is written in a stiff and awkward manner. The overall tone leans towards angsty, and the characters often come across as moody teenagers. The frequent brooding is played completely straight, leading to unintentionally humorous moments that might elicit a chuckle or an eye roll.

Gameplay in Crymachina is a mix of action combat segments and visual novel sequences that advance the plot. In between missions, players can level up characters, adjust loadouts, upgrade abilities, and engage in mandatory or optional dialogues with team members. Combat missions are relatively short, taking around 10 minutes each, and involve exploring linear environments, occasionally branching out into side paths with treasures or tougher foes. The gameplay loop feels satisfying but can grow repetitive during extended sessions due to the similarity of many dungeons.

Combat employs a live-action system resembling a less polished version of Nier: Automata’s combat. Players use the ‘Y’ button for a flurry of light attacks, building an enemy’s launch bar. When full, players can double-tap ‘X’ to launch the enemy into the air, setting them up for a powerful finisher move. Additionally, players have two ranged weapons, a dodge, and a counter for managing enemy threats.

While combat is enjoyable, it can feel inconsistent. When facing a small group of enemies, it offers exciting dodging, ranged attacks, and launching combos. However, boss battles can become tedious button-mashing exercises, lacking combo variety. The absence of meaningful hitstun animations creates a sense of weightlessness in combat, making it feel unimpactful.

The game’s strength lies in character growth and equipment upgrades, which occur at a satisfying rate. Resource scarcity adds a strategic element, forcing players to plan their character builds. The dark, sci-fi aesthetic suits the game well, featuring memorable character and enemy designs. The uncanny valley appearance of the girls adds to the eerie tone. However, environmental variety is lacking, with most levels featuring generic dark, high-tech settings.

In summary, Crymachina offers an enjoyable, if repetitive, action RPG experience. The engaging combat system and rapid character progression make it worth trying. However, its overreliance on repetition dulls its appeal over time. It’s a decent outing for fans of FuRyu’s work or those seeking a low-commitment action RPG focused on style over substance. Consider picking it up during a sale.

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