Initially released on Steam, Crown Trick has made its way to the Nintendo Switch retaining its gorgeous art style and engaging gameplay, but how does it feel on the handheld especially as you can now take it on the go.
For those who are unaware, Crown Trick is a rogue-like RPG adventure with elements of turn based combat. We play as Elle, after waking up in the Nightmare Realm; Elle comes across a mysterious crown who claims to be the guardian of this strange place and warns of a disaster between both realms which is linked back to Duke Vlad. In order to bring back peace, defeating him is a must!
The game takes place in a procedurally generated maze so every play through will be different. The main mechanic is a turn based feature which means that every movement you make affects the world around you. Traps and enemies will remain stationary until Elle makes a move, however you can also skip turns which will help you to strategically plan out attacks.
This becomes even more apparent as you go deeper in where you will be able to make use of the environment itself. Throwing fire on top of oil will burn your foes and mix lightning with water to electrocute your enemies. There are a number of combinations you can consider to move forward and it is suggested you take advantage of every possible opportunity.
Some attacks take up a certain number of spaces which will help you avoid taking damage and dealing it as much as possible.
One mechanic which does not take up any turns is Blink and this helps you by moving you further away than you would normally be able to. It is also pretty useful when coming up against obstacles that are difficult to get by. Available Blink usages are shown via the Blink Gauge displayed under Elle.
You are also able to engage an enemy’s break point. This will be a number value above your enemy which is reduced by 1 after they take damage. Once it reaches 0, they become stunned and are open to taking a lot more damage.
Throughout your journey, you will encounter stronger monsters called Familiars. By taking one down you will be able to make use of their abilities increasing your overall arsenal. Once this is done you can select which familiar’s skills you wish to go into the labyrinth with. The further you get in, the more familiar skills you can carry at one time.
At some points I did find things pretty challenging and being able to use Elixirs to recover both my HP and MP was useful, however the idea here is that death will help you develop and become even better. Also when you die you are taken to The Hall of Reincarnation. This is your safe haven where you can jump back into the Nightmare Realm or interact with other characters you meet through your play through.
These characters also play a part such as Barbara who can help you power up your Elixers. This is done with the use of Soul Shards which you collect as you play the game.
I would be remiss to not mention the gorgeous art style in particular the captivating opening sequence that had me locked in from the get go. It’s a hand drawn style that works so well for the game and its atmosphere. The Nintendo Switch further compliments this as the game looks incredible on both the big and small screen.
Crown Trick is a charming but challenging rogue like that will give you hours of fun if you are willing to be strategic and explore as many combinations as you can. Being able to play this on the go has been a delight as it was easy to get in a quick run before having to pop off and do other things.
If you are up for a challenge and enjoy a solid rouge like, then Crown Trick is for you!
