Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 68 | 21 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 76% | 72 | 725 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 46 | 22 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 88% | 82 | 8 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 19 reviews sampled · 23 total reviews in window · weighted 14.8 up / 1.9 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (41)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 70
“Crystar combines a stunning supernatural setting with simple hack-and-slash fighting to draw you through a complex and profound plot that bounces betweens realms.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Crystar is a good story with serious themes and interesting characters, which gets bogged down in a swamp of dull one-button gameplay, monotonous corridors, the same opponents and artificially prolonged gameplay. If the developers reduced the length to 10 hours, corrected the camera and combat mechanics, or simply released a visual novel, thousands of players would be much happier.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“The game tells an engaging story, but repetitiveness and mediocre combat hold it back from being a heavenly experience.”
read full review ↗ - 63
“Crystar is firmly in that class of games that I'm interested to play and experience, but that in terms of their storytelling have me pretty well lost from go...”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Repetition of enemy design and dungeon levels at a certain plot point make Crystar tough to endure. However, the way tears are used in terms of story and equipment is highly inventive. The macabre narration is sensitively handled, with the depiction of depression expressed exceptionally well. Desiring the sisters to be reunited is a constant theme, but even that has several twists, and finishing Rei's journey causes its own bittersweet feelings. Post-game content includes fighting previous bosses again, but replay value is high as the tale is so engaging.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Overall, I have to say I quite enjoyed my time with Crystar. While the combat and areas you progress through tended to get a little repetitive, the storytelling, art, and music direction, as well as an interesting cast of characters, is what really keeps the title together. While I wouldn’t recommend picking up the Switch version if you already own Crystar, it is quite nice for a title that you can pick up every so often to go through a floor or two, or some of the shorter stages, without feeling the burnout.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Crystar is an excellent story wedged between way too much repetitive and meaningless combat inside gorgeous yet long-winded dungeons. The non-stop button mashing fights add no value or depth to the story except for the simple reason to progress. Unfortunately, what initially started with a shocking plot and opening unfolded quickly into a tedious gaming experience.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“A trigger warning in game form - without any trigger warnings. Had a lot of potential, but unfortunately misses the mark.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Is Crystar a tear-jerker? Anyone who’s a bit of a softie will probably shed a tear or two during the story, but it doesn’t go over the top.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“FuRyu and NIS bring their dark and grim world and interesting characters to Nintendo Switch players.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“While the combat mechanics weren’t very deep or innovative the dark storyline of Crystar is what you really should be checking this game out for.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“I’m late to playing Crystar myself and hate that I couldn’t play it sooner. The small group of people that have found Crystar, a diamond hidden in the rough, have all praised it from years ago and now I pray that more can see it too. The amazing art, voice work, and fixable gameplay are something that makes Crystar a standout classic in the making.”
read full review ↗
Pure Nintendo
GameMAG
RPGamer
Nindie Spotlight
Cubed3
Chalgyr's Game Room
NintendoWorldReport
GameGrin
Gaming-Village
CFG Games
ThisGenGaming
Niche Gamer…and 29 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- [10/28] PATCH NOTESOct 28, 2019