Another Crusade sees you play as Sir Rai Reysend, a knight on a quest to find what is responsible for mysterious mystical barriers appearing. Along the way, he is joined by others who will assist him on his quest and join his party, each with their own skill sets. Another Crusade has a story that is charming and funny, with dialogue that typically doesn’t try to be extremely serious and yet it works. But what will attack many is the gameplay in this RPG.
Another Crusade uses a turn-based combat with timing mechanics just like its inspiration Super Mario RPG, but this can be a bit hit and miss. It can be very hard to get the timing right at first, and if you use a set of Joycon replacements that do not have Rumble features, then the game will be even more challenging, as the Rumble really does help with timing things right. These timing mechanics are also more than just attacking and defending because special moves like healing and special attacks will see you do things like hold down a button for some time, or move the analog stick in a certain way, and it doesn’t end up feeling gimmicky at all, but rather extremely involving.
Another Crusade goes for a Diorama-like art style that calls to mind Super Mario RPG, and battles and exploration play out in a similar perspective to that game. The boss fights are challenging, and if you lose a fight, the bosses will taunt you when you try again. There are also first-strike attack options, as well, and there are also some touches of its own that the game has that help it stand out, even aside from being a spiritual sequel to a classic game.
As mentioned, the art style is Diorama-like, with characters resembling wooden puppet designs and it genuinely feels like how the classic Super Mario RPG art style would look in HD. Those who are looking forward to that game’s remake but wish the art style was closer to the original, may be interested in Another Crusade for this reason. This is not even getting into the exploration aspect, since while most areas are linear, there are branching paths to discover and many secrets to find, and a great world map to use and explore. The music in Another Crusade is also amazing, and calls to mind classic 16 bit soundtracks pS1 soundtracks and the best of modern indie games. The sound effects when you hit a timed action properly are great, and the various musical cues and small touches make the game work well.
Another Crusade never really outstays its welcome and ends right when it should, providing a great experience that works both as a tribute to a classic game and a game modern fans can enjoy without having ever played that classic. I keep bringing up Super Mario RPG because Another Crusade was designed to be a tribute and that comparison cannot be avoided. The fact that Another Crusade is able to stand on its own as a great RPG as well as as a tribute is something that is hard to pull out but the developers did it.
Another Crusade is a game that stands alongside Super Mario RPG, not just in its shadow and is easy to recommend even with Super Mario RPG’s remake coming soon. Both will have the effect of making you feel you came across a classic, but for different reasons.
Disclaimer: A Review Key Was Provided
