About 18 years ago the world first encountered the masterpiece called Pokémon Crystal. Meanwhile, we are many generations ahead, both in the field of Pokémon games and Nintendo systems. Recently Crystal was taken to the 3DS via the virtual console and in this Pokémon Crystal review you can read if the game still impresses!
Pokémon Crystal was a unique part in the series of Pokémon games, which at the time did not count as many parts as now. Although the game, which was put on the European store shelves in 2001, did not seem to differ much from predecessors Gold and Silver at first glance, Crystal brought a wide range of new gameplay features that made Crystal the right to use the superior version of the three might be mentioned.
For example, Crystal introduced a female protagonist for the first time in the Pokémon series. Nowadays, this is not to be forgotten from the Pokémon games, since in the most recent games you can even change your eye color, hair color, skin color and clothing, but in the past we really had to do with one standard, male character. Kris (the official name of Crystal's protagonist) changed that, finally giving us the option to explore the world of Pokémon as a woman.
But a new protagonist was not the only beauty that Crystal had to offer. For example, Pokémon now had animated sprites for the first time, which made the fighting a lot more interesting. In addition, the legendary Pokémon Suicine plays a major role in the updated storyline of the game, which also combines cool elements (and of course legendary Pokémon) from Gold and Silver. Finally, players could enter the ultimate battle in the new Battle Tower. For his time Crystal brought enough news, but the question is of course whether the game is still relevant today.
From the moment Pokémon Crystal is started via the virtual console of the Nintendo 3DS, the feeling of nostalgia is overwhelming. The same familiar 8-bit tunes and of course those beautiful 2D pixel graphics that we know from the early Pokémon games. To avoid any confusion: this version of Pokémon Crystal is a pure port, it is not a remaster or remake. So just like the other Pokémon games that previously appeared on the Nintendo 3DS via the virtual console: Gold, Silver, Red, Blue and Yellow.
Is not it just a simple cash grab from Nintendo? No definitely not. For the Pokémon fans and collectors the physical version is especially interesting, where the download code is packed in a box that is very similar to the original game from 2001. You do not have to leave the price, as Crystal has a small price tag of only € 10, - (both physical and digital). Moreover, the main advantage of this version is simply the convenience of a modern system such as the Nintendo 3DS; you no longer have to pick up your old GameBoy Color from the attic every time, dusting and hoping that it will still work to be able to play the game.
What is quickly noticeable is that Crystal on the Nintendo 3DS actually runs even better than its original on the GameBoy Color. The screens of the modern 3DS make the graphics (especially the colors) a lot more honorable than the ones on the GameBoy Color. The screen is also a bit bigger, but fortunately the game does not take up the whole screen of the Nintendo 3DS. This ensures that elements are not unnecessarily stretched; everything looks fine and proportional. The same applies to the audio, which sounds wonderful through the speakers of the Nintendo 3DS.
Where some virtual console games allow you to save your game via the emulator itself, Crystal does not do this. This means that you are the original way (in the game) must save. This is possibly one of the only downsides to this version of Crystal, if you could call it that: it does not take advantage of all the possibilities of the virtual console. Certainly in a Pokémon game it would be nice to be able to save your progress during a fight, but since this was never an option it is not a big loss.
To the question i asked earlier in this review, namely whether Crystal is still relevant today, we can answer "Yes" completely. Whether you take the game out of nostalgia again, or if you still have it on your list: Pokémon Crystal is always a good choice. And for just € 10, - Crystal on the Nintendo 3DS is well worth the price.
Pokémon Crystal is available for the Nintendo 3DS.
✔ Classic now at your fingertips
✔ Modern hardware lifts experience to a higher level
✔ Boxed version very cool for fans and collectors
✔ Same masterpiece as 18 years ago
✖ Do not use all the possibilities of the virtual console
Thanks for reading, I hope you liked it!
Share the joy by inviting others!
