Story:
Cross Tails story is one about two nations that have been at war with one another for over a decade, and is is told through two different perspectives, one for each nation. Though the story isn’t unique to tactical RPGs, it’s still one that is rather deep.
Gameplay:
Once you pick a story perspective to play, the game presents you with cutscenes of dialogue and then you head into battle. Aside from the story cutscenes outside of battle, you can sometimes have cutscenes play out on the battlefield. Battles take place with each side having units placed randomly and the conditions are provided before each battle starts, and usually, these conditions are that all enemies are defeated, but can include a condition of a specific character not dying or an item nearby being gathered.
Chests are also present on the battlefield which contain either useful items, equipment, money, or the occasional key item needed to help turn the tide of battle. These key items when present are a condition of winning the battle.
Each battle is from a 2.5D/isometric perspective and characters are moved around the battlefield on a grid system which defines the limits of movement and attack area. Once a character has moved to its chosen position or attacks, there is an animation to reflect this then a direction to face is chosen to end each character’s turn. Between battles, you can speak with townspeople, party members, purchase items and equipment at a merchant and adjust the equipment of your party members. All of this takes place inside a menu system with dialogue, with there being no world to wander around in.
Graphics and Performance:
Graphically speaking, the game looks really good, as each character on the battlefield has a lot of detail and are all just the right size to not look squished or out of place. One thing that hurts this detail is the fact that every character has a heavy and dark outline around them, but I expect this to be so that they are easy to see regardless of each map’s color palette. Outlining the characters to help define them is something I would expect to see if this game was on say the GameBoy Advance or some other inferior hardware, not on something as powerful as the current platforms this game is available on.
Each location you fight in has a lot of detail with varying set pieces and environmental elements that make the area feel vibrant. Given the only action found in the game is in the battle sequences, the game performs very well. There isn’t any lag or frame drops that I ever noticed in the hours I’ve played the game, and load times are usually quick and either consist of a black screen with a loading icon or hidden behind a preview of the battlefield. The In-game menus are pretty basic with a good choice of colors and feel snappy and responsive.
Sound:
What Cross Tails offers in the sound department isn’t a wide variety, but rather feels curated. Regardless if you’re in a menu off the battlefield, reading story elements, or in the heat of battle, the music always helps give it character. The menu system/town music is upbeat and catchy without being a drag to listen to and the music in battles feels hard and punchy which helps to keep you engaged in the fight and can change depending on what’s happening on the field. Sometimes there are changes in tempo if a particular character comes onto the field or a particular event takes place, other times it could change altogether to help accentuate these elements. The Sound effects and the sounds characters make in battle are crisp and clear, without feeling repetitive.
Conclusion:
I went into this game with the expectation that it would feel like a mobile game given the games KEMCO has been publishing over the last few years. But was pleasantly surprised that it doesn’t, in fact, the game feels like a true modern platform strategy RPG.
Another expectation I had was that it would be a game that played more like Shining Force with towns you can walk around in, shops to purchase equipment at, and NPCs you could speak with. Instead what you get is more like what you would find with Fire Emblem or Final Fantasy Tactics. Though I would prefer the former, what you get with this game is nothing short of spectacular.
Cross Tails has a lot to offer from a deep and engaging story to large-scale battles with a lot of variety. There really is something for everyone with this game, even if you’re not into tactical RPGs. I would recommend picking up this game as it’s definitely a hidden gem.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
