Developer: NEXT Studios
Publisher: Team17 Digital
Platform: Switch, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tested on: PS4
Crown Trick (PS4) – Review
Almost a year ago we first laid our hands on Crown Trick, this Turn-Based Roguelite game really won over our hearts and was another great game from publisher Team17. Now we are able to experience the PlayStation 4 version of this highly acclaimed title. After a rather strong intro, we delve deeper into the dreams of Elle, or should we rather call them nightmares?
Story
Our story begins when Elle wakes up in a strange world. She is approached by a mysterious talking crown, asking her if she needs help navigating through these parts. Here you can decide on playing the tutorial or skip it. Elle is now faced with a new reality: she is stuck in the Realm of Nightmares and needs to venture deep into her dreams to put an end to the nightmares for once and for all. Her ultimate goal is to defeat Vlad, who is the source of all these issues. A long time ago Vlad did a forbidden sacrificial ritual and unleashed the monsters upon the Nightmare Realm, thus turning nightmares into something much more dangerous.
Just like most roguelike games, the story starts strong at the beginning, but once you get to the point where you start making progress, it just halts. Because these games have a certain difficulty threshold, they mostly only have a bit of story progress after completing large chapters.
Graphics
In Crown Trick, the visuals are pretty colorful but in a dim, eerie way. On one hand, it tells you that you are in a dream, but the darkness surrounding the edges of the map, and accurate creepy lighting, make the whole game feel more ominous. There is a large variety of different items, relics, and enemies, to ensure that every run feels different each time, just like your dreams.
Sound
As talkative as the graphics might be, the sounds are a bit more toned down. Thanks to its Turn-Based setting, you get the feeling of playing an old RPG with a blend of calm music during exploration and more peppy music during combat. The game knows how to properly implement audio cues, which will certainly aid you in battle as well.
Gameplay
Crown Trick is a Turn-Based Roguelite where you must survive your haunting nightmares. It all begins when Elle wakes up and encounters a talking crown. This crown becomes Elle’s mentor as she must traverse the Nightmare Realm and defeat an evil human called Vlad. The trip there won’t be easy, and Elle will have to keep on trying in order to make it out in one piece. You will fall asleep many times in the trial of completing a nightmare dungeon, but sooner or later you will succeed.
The reason why Crown Trick is labeled as a Turn-Based game is that the world around you only moves when you move. This gameplay feature is amazing. Not only does that mean that you don’t have to pause the game for anything, but it also means that you have enough time to plan out your attacks beforehand. This sounds ideal, but you will soon discover that you will need these strategies if you want to make it through the many monster-infested rooms of the Nightmare Realm.
Luckily you are not left to your own devices, the crown will carry your weapon and strike at your command, and this allows Elle to carry anything from swords to axes and guns. There is a large variety of weapons and different rarities between their ranks. Some weapons only attack one square, others penetrate or attack the squares around you. Finding a good weapon that suits you is both a matter of preference and luck, as drops are completely random. Another weapon in your arsenal is the usage of familiars. These entities were once enemies that have now joined you as a token of appreciation. You can equip two familiars at a time, and use their powers to your liking. Their abilities may vary from summoning an ally, to filling the floor with lava, or sucking enemies into a large empty void. It seems that either Elle has already survived some nightmares, or the crown has a few old drinking buddies on speed-dial, as you start the game with a handful of familiars already at your disposal.
Getting around in combat might not seem easy if you can only move when the enemy moves. Fortunately, the crown gives you a pair of Blink Boots, and with these boots, you can teleport on the map without using a turn. The usage is limited but they will recharge when entering another room. Controlling your character is pretty easy and as you play it in a turn-based style, you have plenty of time to think about your next move. The biggest trap about this feature is becoming too comfortable with the movement and accidentally overshooting your steps and falling into the deep end.
Conclusion
Crown Trick is a rather unique title that combines both the stress and fun of a Roguelite game with the calm and slower gameplay of a Turn-Based title. Overall the graphics are really great and set the proper atmosphere for this nightmare-infused adventure. The sounds effects are decent and the background music is likable even after long gaming sessions. As the game is very varied in combat, collecting items, and having more and more familiars to summon, you’ll be able to spend a lot of evenings trying to escape from the Nightmare Realm.
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