Cris Tales is a JRPG with a huge new mechanic that elevates it above all others in the genre. Time. Okay, sure, there are other JRPGs that use time, I admit that. However, the reason that it’s better in Cris Tales is the implementation of time as a mechanic, rather than the sample fact that it’s being used. The protagonist, Crisbell, discovers she’s a time mage within the opening few minutes. This means that she’s able to use time in specific ways, one of which is being able to see through it. You’ll see this manifest as the screen splits into three, the past, present, and future, and you can see them all at once.
This is where Cris Tales separates itself from other JRPGs. You can now see into the future, and therefore tell people about what’s going to happen. You can also send a companion into another time zone for side quests, something that never gets old. Finally, time is also a pretty big part of combat, even if the uses of it are underutilized. You can send enemies into the past or future, which will age them up or down through the various stages of their evolution accordingly. By applying certain elements or laying traps, you can pull off pretty big moves that cause a lot of damage if you get things right.
I’ve never really paid too much attention to the most unique elements in my given JRPG. They always pass me by because I can’t understand the subtle differences between them all. However, Cris Tales is different. Time feels important to pretty much everything in the world, and that’s how it feels for most of the game. There’s never a moment that the time aspect of the game falls by the wayside. You’re always thinking about how it could be used, and what it might change if you decide to use it in a specific way.
I still feel that Cris Tales could have more time mechanics, but as it is, the game is a cut above the rest of the JRPG genre with what it has. If you haven’t already tried it, do so.
