Cross Tails is a nice shock for quite a few causes. It’s a nice shock as a launch from KEMCO, a publishing firm that has introduced us quite a few enjoyable however typically formulaic retro JRPGs. It’s a nice shock from Rideon, builders of the competent however considerably forgettable Mercenaries collection. And it’s a nice shock as an isometric, turn-based, technique RPG.
Cross Tails focuses on two separate however intertwining tales. At first, gamers will resolve in the event that they need to management Felix (from the Kingdom of Ravenfurt) or Shaimaa (of the Republic of Hidiq). What separates the kingdoms? Ears and tails. Though the characters look human, the Ravenfurts exhibit canine bodily attributes, whereas Hidiqs are extra feline. Is it any surprise they’ve all the time been getting ready to conflict? There’s additionally a reptilian nation, Dralbo, simply to shake issues up a bit.
Regardless of the way you facet on this cats vs. canines story, the story shortly reaches a degree the place a Hidiq city is attacked, sending the battle to a boiling level. In case you play as Felix, you realize the Ravenfurts aren’t accountable. In case you play as Shaimaa, you aren’t so positive. Both manner, the tales of the 2 central characters will proceed to overlap as they individually uncover simply what’s going round them.
It’s a typical JRPG plot line that’s meant to be skilled in separate playthroughs. Reasonably than full one after which the opposite, I discovered it attention-grabbing to flip between save information on the factors when the tales intersected. Felix, for instance, reaches the village assault a couple of battles into his story. With Shaimaa, nevertheless, it’s her first. This strategy to the narrative made for a singular methodology of storytelling I discovered compelling.
That’s vital as a result of different story points aren’t that compelling. Regardless of the crossing tales strategy to Cross Tails, the plot nonetheless feels very “been there, executed that.” That’s to not say it isn’t partaking, but it surely doesn’t really feel as recent as among the different turn-based JRPGs I’ve performed recently.
Additionally, though the primary characters and their counterparts are distinctive and memorable, Cross Tails depends on faceless recruits to spherical out your fight events. This strategy helps to maintain the central characters in focus, but it surely additionally means you received’t care about numerous the folks you’re taking into battle.
In case you don’t care in regards to the troopers, turn-based technique players will care about these battles. This, correctly, is the place Cross Tails shines. Fight takes place on the kind of isometric battlefield that’s typically in comparison with Ultimate Fantasy Ways. A extra correct comparability on this case could be God Wars: The Full Legend, each visually and technically. The background graphics are colourful, clean, and detailed, permitting the closely outlined (and chibi-esque) characters to face out successfully. The digital camera controls are a bit too delicate, however that doesn’t actually affect turn-based gameplay.
Battles begin with a fast overview of the map, adopted by deciding on the position of your obtainable troopers. As they’ll every have completely different talents—together with how far they will transfer and the way simply they will attain increased areas—getting them in the proper spot to be shortly efficient is vital. Order is decided by AGI, however the first couple rounds can typically be used to get your staff in an efficient offensive or defensive formation.
Cross Tails shortly overwhelms you with quite a few expertise and talents to pick out in battle, and also you’ll must rack up MP to make use of these superior assaults and buffs (or play in straightforward mode, which begins you off with loads of MP).
You even have entry to extremely efficient beast powers, or BP, however these are available restricted provide. Gamers may even decide the characters’ religion for numerous buffs.
Probably the most intriguing variation from comparable video games, nevertheless, comes through Hate. That is like aggro, making opponents extra prone to assault a personality the extra he/she assaults, heals, or makes use of talents. In different phrases, the extra troublesome a personality is on the battlefield, the extra the enemy will go after that character. It turns into an efficient technique, as you’ll be able to fade troopers with poor protection into the background and belief the enemy will go away them alone. In fact, that doesn’t all the time imply they may. So it goes in tactical RPGs.
One other massive change is Cross Tail’s reliance on cash. Expertise, talents, weapons, armor, recruits, job courses…all are upgraded or acquired via money, so you actually should handle your cash properly. And contemplating there are over 30 courses from which to decide on—every with its personal fight strengths and weaknesses—even the best improve selections can show annoying.
Sadly, getting the cash you want requires revisiting earlier maps for under barely modified battles. Typically, you’ll have to do that proper after finishing the map the primary time, making development an actual slog. That is one more reason I favored switching backwards and forwards between save information for the completely different paths; it helped to maintain issues recent when partaking in two or extra fights in a single sitting.
With a lesser sport, I’d’ve ultimately given up on it. However there are sufficient rewards in Cross Tails to push you thru. It actually helps that the intricate social gathering preparation and difficult battles are rewarding to beat.
Nevertheless it’s equally vital that the entire package deal is cohesive and logical. The cash-based system is smart when you get used to it, and every new factor, character, and talent appears like a logical extension of what you’ve executed up to now. A stronger story and livelier dialogue may assist transfer issues alongside, however Cross Tails’ competence and distinctive diversions from the norm ought to maintain your consideration for not less than one playthrough. You simply should resolve: cats or canines?