DISCLAIMERS:
- the reviewer has not finished the game with 100% completion
- the game was played on the New Nintendo 3DS XL through the Virtual Console service using the version of the game intended for United States audiences
One year after the release of Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver, an updated version of those games was released only on Game Boy Color. Like in Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver, the player goes through a standard Pokémon campaign in Johto, but with the original Kanto region also included. This review will judge the Virtual Console version released on the Nintendo 3DS in 2018.
The gameplay of Pokémon Crystal is similar to that of Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, but much more polished. This makes manipulating the game through means unintended by the developer much difficult than it was in the first generation Pokémon games. Otherwise it is the same classic Pokémon campaign formula, with 100 new Pokémon, and some new systems like the day and night system. The only area that is not quite as well done is the difficulty balancing, with a sharp jump in difficulty between the final gym and the Elite Four. The game is highly replay-able and new features like the Battle Tower provide a lot more reason to keep coming back to the game even after the player has defeated the Champion of the Johto and Kanto reasons. The new wireless trading added in the Nintendo 3DS version works well, and the ability to transfer Pokémon to newer generations through Pokémon Bank helps justify the purchase of this game even for owners of the Game Boy Color original. Overall any fan of Pokémon games or classic JRPGs in general should have fun with Pokémon Crystal.
In terms of sound Pokémon Crystal is only as impressive as the first generation Pokémon games. The new music for the Johto region is not quite as good as the music for Kanto, but it is still generally well made, and Kanto is also included so it is hard to criticize the game for this. Other sound effects are about what one would expect from a Game Boy/Game Boy Color game, and are all basically unchanged from the first generation Pokémon games.
Technically Pokémon Crystal was a rather impressive game on the Game Boy Color. This is because the game was so well optimized that they were able to fit essentially the entire first generation of Pokémon on the same cartridge. The game is also less easy to manipulate through glitches compared to first generation Pokémon games, too. Pokémon sprites were also greatly improved in terms of their resemblance to official art compared to the first generation Pokémon games. The Game Boy Color’s ability to display color graphics is used well in this game. Overall this game was a technical miracle and it looks surprisingly good on the 3DS’ screen.
The story of Pokémon Crystal is not particularly note-worthy. It is essentially the same story from the first generation of Pokémon games and there are no surprises or interesting conflicts to be found. Probably the greatest aspect of the world of Pokémon Crystal is how the writing is similar to the great writing in Earthbound.
In terms of value Pokémon Crystal for the Nintendo 3DS is rather good. It is heavily discounted compared to its original release, but still provides a large amount of content, even compared to many 3DS games. It is also a valuable tool for players who have Pokémon Bank and 3DS Pokémon games, as this release can be used to get Pokémon that would be more difficult, or even impossible to get in the 3DS Pokémon games.
Overall the reviewer would give the game a 9 out of 10.
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