Crystal of Atlan has launched globally, with its official release happening on May 28 for PC through the Epic Games Store, Android, iOS, and PlayStation 5. Developed by Nuverse, this action RPG MMO offers dynamic gameplay akin to Genshin Impact, while featuring unique twists.
After spending countless hours in-game, I'm excited to share an overview of its graphics, gameplay, progression, performance, and overall experience in this review.
Visual and Sound Quality
Considering its status as a multiplatform game that includes mobile compatibility, Crystal of Atlan delivers impressive graphics. I set the visual quality to maximum during my playtime, and it met my expectations for a free-to-play game.
During combat, vibrant skill animations enhance the visual experience. The sound effects align perfectly with actions like dodging, casting magic, and attacking, immersing you in each fight.
The user interface (UI) deserves a mention as well. Although the store and events tab can feel cluttered, the layout helps players navigate smoothly. Switching character skills and equipment is a breeze.
Character Creation: Pros and Cons
Character customization is a central feature, yet it has limitations. During class selection, you’ll notice that each class aligns with a specific gender. For example, Magisters are exclusively male, while Fighters are female. This can be frustrating for players seeking diversity in character appearance.
After completing the initial story quests, you can modify certain aspects like hair, eyes, and skin color. However, options are limited; you can't alter height or weight, which makes many characters look alike.
Predetermined Portraits
One drawback is that your character's portrait—visible in your profile or during PvP matchmaking—remains a predetermined model for the chosen subclass. This consistency can hinder immersion, as it doesn't reflect your own character’s unique look.
Exploring Classes and Subclasses
In Crystal of Atlan, you can choose from a variety of classes: Swordsman, Musketeer, Magister, Puppeteer, and Fighter. Each class unlocks two subclasses, with the Magister offering three distinct playstyles. Here’s a breakdown:
- Swordsman: Magiblade and Berserker
- Musketeer: Bounty Hunter and Gunner
- Magister: Elementalist, Warlock, and Magician
- Puppeteer: Scytheguard and Blademaiden
- Fighter: Cloudstrider and Starbreaker
Unlocking subclasses happens at level 15 through specific quests, expanding your gameplay options. This system caters to diverse player styles; for instance, an Elementalist Magister deals area damage with fire and lightning, while a Magician uses playful skills that confuse foes.
Flexibility in Skill Allocation
You can experiment with different subclasses repeatedly before making a final decision. If you decide to switch, you don't lose your skill points. Instead, you can reallocate points to unlock or enhance new skills, encouraging players to adapt their builds.
The game allows creation of skill tree presets, enabling one-click changes for different playstyles. For example, you might set up one build for PvP and another for PvE, tailoring your approach according to the game mode.
Engaging Gameplay from the Get-Go
From the moment you enter the world of Crystal of Atlan, you're immersed in action. The tutorial seamlessly introduces you to combat mechanics, exciting you for what's to come.
Unlike other games, which sometimes overwhelm you with lengthy cutscenes, Nuverse opted for an engaging start. You jump straight into battles, ensuring the pace remains brisk in the initial hours.
As you progress, completing tasks and facing bosses earns you experience points (XP). You’ll traverse various dungeons and unlock subclasses, ensuring ongoing excitement in both PvE and PvP scenarios.
During my first day, I encountered a bottleneck with battery resources. The game limits dungeon runs and quests based on battery levels, which recharge daily. Running out can impede progress, particularly during quests that require additional gameplay time.
However, after completing chapter two, the game opens up. You gain access to ranked PvP matches and other content options that foster ongoing activity without depleting resources.
Diverse Content Variety
Crystal of Atlan excels in offering an impressive range of activities despite the battery limitations. Players can challenge themselves in various modes, such as:
- Ranked PvP: Fast-paced 1v1 or 3v3 matches to climb the ranks.
- Tempered Trials: Team-based events where you fight waves of enemies for rewards.
- Arena: Engaging boss fights with no revives available.
- Duels of Bonds: Compete against significant story characters for unique rewards.
Additionally, the Wonder Challenge, available during the game's first two weeks, features casual minigames reminiscent of Fall Guys. These mini-events will keep players captivated without needing to deplete battery resources.
Progression and Experience
Progression in Crystal of Atlan has sparked debates. While the game provides numerous challenges and events, leveling primarily hinges upon dungeon completion and the main story. This means that spending time in the arena or Tempered Trials doesn’t always yield XP, which can be frustrating.
However, once you invest your battery in dungeons, leveling up feels rewarding. You'll continually unlock new content, including additional challenges and exciting features as you advance through each level tier.
Gacha Mechanics and Monetization
Crystal of Atlan incorporates a gacha system that's relatively friendly toward players. You don't need to rely on gacha for character unlocks; all classes and subclasses are available for free. The system mainly offers exclusive skins, enhancing your character's look with added stats.
You can expect substantial buffs from premium skins. While it's possible to unlock these benefits with the gacha system, players aren't pressured into a pay-to-win scenario. Free-to-play players can still enjoy the game immensely without investing money.
Performance Assessment
On PC, the game performs remarkably well, maintaining high FPS even during intricate team battles crowded with skill animations. After 20 hours of gameplay, zero performance issues arose, even on maximum settings.
Playing on mobile devices revealed a different story. While the controls and movement were functional, the gameplay wasn't as fluid. However, given the device's limitations, Nuverse managed to deliver commendable performance.
Mobile Device Specs:
- Operating System: Android 14
- Processor: 2x 2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 + 6x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A55
- RAM: 8GB
Despite the performance gaps between platforms, Nuverse shows potential for improvement with upcoming updates.
Pros and Cons Recap
Pros:
- Vast content variety, including PvP modes.
- Excellent performance on computer platforms.
- Diverse gameplay styles with various subclasses.
- Engaging and dynamic combat.
- Early challenges provide engaging content.
Cons:
- Limited character customization.
- Battery constraints can disrupt pacing.
- Normal story mode quests may feel easy.
- Some chapters have disconnected plots.
Final Thoughts
Crystal of Atlan deserves the spotlight. If you're a fan of MMOs or titles like Genshin, it's a must-try. The engaging combat and diverse gameplay keep things fresh, and I highly recommend diving in, especially with friends!
