Cris Tales is an indie JRPG set in a world that takes place in multiple time periods at once. It's a beautiful, colourful tribute to RPGs of old, while also bringing in some interesting new mechanics too.
It isn't an easy game either, with a few mechanics that you'll struggle to get to grips with initially. Here are a few things you should know before you start Cris Tales, ranging from combat tips to explanations of how the time travel mechanic works.
8 There Is No Autosave
A surprising feature that's missing from Cris Tales is an autosave, instead opting to only give you the option to manually save. So be sure to save before heading into battles and important in-game sequences, especially because you don't know what might happen next.
It also makes sense to make some backup saves too, Cris Tales definitely isn't an unstable game but a crash could lose you lots of progress so be sure to keep your saves up to date and backed up.
7 Scanning Enemies Gives You Lots Of Helpful Information
You'll get access to a plant that allows you to learn more about enemies, which can give you a big edge in combat. Some of the information you get can include their weaknesses, health or even what time period they're weak in.
This extends towards bosses as well. This is especially useful because bosses can change their weaknesses during combat. Scanned enemies will show their HP too, allowing you to know exactly how much health you have left to cut down.
6 Timing Button Commands In Combat Is Important
You deal and take less damage in combat if you respond correctly to time mechanics during combat sequences. Button inputs during attacks can massively increase the amount of damage you deal, its a bit tricky to get the right timing but the rumble in the controller will help out massively.
Practice truly makes perfect here, especially as you move between different characters as you advance through the game. It won't prevent you from progressing through Cris Tales, but it makes fights a lot easier if you can get this nailed down.
5 Make Use Of The Time Travelling Mechanic In Combat
Cris Tales' most interesting use of its time-travel mechanic is in combat. Enemies can change depending on the time period you're fighting them in. Moving forward and backwards in time can make enemies weaker, or stronger, but that's for you to experiment with.
It can lead to some interesting situations. Say you use a water attack on a mechanical enemy in the past, moving forward in time can lead to that enemy rusting up and becoming easy to defeat. Scanning enemies will give you a better idea of how to make the most of the time-travelling mechanic.
4 There Isn't Much Grinding
Unlike most RPGs, Cris Tales doesn't expect you to endlessly grind in order to progress through it. It might help things become a bit easier but you're able to get through the game by just playing along as long as you complete most of the content on offer.
Cris Tales is more about strategy and intelligent decision making than high-level weapons and attacks. All the equipment you get through playing the game is more than good enough to defeat even the toughest of bosses.
3 Equipment Can Be Found In Chests So Don't Buy It
Cris Tales' best equipment doesn't need you to spend lots of marbles in order to acquire it. The majority can be found in chests, which are located throughout its numerous locales. Alternatively, they can be picked up by completing sidequests which are dotted around the game's different locations and are fairly simple to complete.
Even endgame items that cost upwards of 40,000 marbles can be acquired for free, although there are some great items that are worth buying. You can easily save your marbles though without losing any sleep, just remember to explore and leave no stone unturned.
2 Rest At Inns Instead Of Buying Tents
Tents are available to buy for 10,000 marbles and can be used to rest in-game. It's a lot of marbles, especially in the earlier parts of the game and isn't that necessary considering the fact that Inns are located in a fair few places and can be used for a much cheaper price. All of those marbles can be used in much better places, things do not come cheap in Cris Tales.
Tents can be pretty useful, but you shouldn't buy too many of them when there are much better things to be spending your marbles on.
1 Parrying Attacks Is Crucial To Success
Parrying attacks is even more important than dealing additional damage on your own attacks; it can truly be the difference between defeating a major boss or having to replay an entire fight because they got that last big hit on you. Parrying attacks, of course, reduce damage, but it will also prevent status effects from being inflicted on your team.
Against tougher enemies, you'll need to parry attacks, there's no time to suck up damage and hope for the best here. Even deflecting attacks can be productive, but parrying will reduce the most damage. Some attacks can't be deflected so being to stop the ones that can is really important.