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The Crystal Key | Discount Price: $2.84
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Platform: Macintosh, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows 95
Brand: Dreamcatcher
Binding: CD-ROM
Release Date: 1999-11-26
ESRB Age Rating: Everyone
A Game? [Posted on 2003-07-26]
I have to agree with my fellow reviewers this game was highly disapointing. The graphics aren't that impressive, the easily motion sick people I suggest that you stay away from this game for when you move the graphics get quite blurry and the movement is quite wreckless.
I got extremly board with the game and have yet to finish it (which I don't think I ever will.)
This game (if you could call it that) is a waste of money and time. As many others have mentioned this game has little point and no clues as to where to head next.
Beautiful, but lacking a story and a good payoff [Posted on 2003-09-14]
The Crystal Key has environments just as breathtaking as the ones shown on the box. Exploring them is a joy. However, there is practically no story. You crash land on a planet and basically puzzle your way "out", which involves transporting to other worlds, etc. The puzzles are interesting, but often too easy and too linear. This is the type of game where finding a screwdriver on the ground means you'll be needing it for a puzzle around the corner. Some environments, like the subway and the corporate skyscraper in the lake, are so well designed you want to see them populated with people. At the very least, you want some sort of character interaction. But there is none whatsoever. Don't expect a good payoff ending. An anticlimactic ending is a pretty common complaint with most adventure games, but this one is pretty bad. It just suddenly ends. The only adventure game with a more abrupt ending is "Lighthouse", but at least that one had a few mythical characters living in its rich environments. Still, if you love exploring awesome settings, this is the title for you. It's definitely worth the low Amazonian price. Just don't attempt to compare it to the great adventure games, like Riven, Morpheus, and Obsidian.
The second-worst Myst ripoff ever! [Posted on 2004-12-15]
Okay, maybe not. But it's the second-worst I've ever played, Entombed (a $3 game so awful that Amazon doesn't even have it) having worse graphics and even more nonsensical puzzles.
STORY: WEAK
Who is Ozgar? Who are the Arkonians? Why do they hate each other? Why does Ozgar hate you? Is Ozgar really Darth Vader or does he just act like it?
These questions, alas, shall go unanswered. I don't think I'm willing to buy the second game to see if there're any new revelations.
Graphics: Mediocre
Am I unique in not liking when when the resolution is better during movement cutscenes than when you're standing still? I don't think so. "Wave that picture around, I need to get a good look at it."
PUZZLES: What?
Much too simple and uninventive. What is all this stuff and what's it for? If I can figure out a code simply by trying random combinations, it's too simple.
ENDING:
You get one screenshot. It doesn't even move. That's your reward for slogging through this awful game.
REPLAY VALUE: Why?
If you're really bored- and I mean REALLY bored - maybe you might see how fast you can run through it or something. But only if your friends are all sick, your internet connection is down and you've played all the Minesweeper you can stand.
VERDICT: STAY AWAY. STAY FAR AWAY. Play Myst. It's better.
Not Good at All [Posted on 2005-07-14]
Confusing and impassable. Think I'm talking about NYC traffic? No, this was the Crystal Key. In my opinion, this was the worst game I have ever played! I couldn't even get past the first "land", even after following two walkthroughs! The plot didn't make sense, and wasn't exactly great. I would advise to play the real Myst instead, instead of some spinoff trying to live up to Myst.
A Good Puzzle Game [Posted on 2007-01-26]
There will always be games with gameplays similar to Myst's.Some of these "Myst Clones" are terrible, but The Crystal Key is one of the better ones.
In the Game, Earth has intercepted a message from an alien race (the Arkonians) that an evil being called Ozgar has been defeated(but not destroyed). This being appears in Earth's skies several days later, and wreacks havoc with sattelites that disturb Earth's infrastructure. You are sent in a ship to the place where the message came from.
The story is not the best, but pretty good, although its a bit hard to trace in some places. Most of the puzzles are well done and possible to solve but some can be so difficult that it may take a long time to solve them. Many are inventory based, and these are handled well.
The worlds featured in the game are beutiful and fun to explore. The graphics are good (but a little fuzzy in some places). The backround music and sound effects fit with the mood well, the music is lonely sounding, beutiful and mournful, although in a few places there is none at all. The navigation is done by point-and-clicking to puzzles and hotspots. There is almost no character interaction aside from holograms, attacks by Ozgar's guards and shots of Ozgar. However, the diologue in the holograms helps you understand the story and makes you feel for the people. All of the worlds have an abandoned feel to them.
There are a few cons, the ending is a little abrubt and doesnt answer any unanswered questions, the disc switching is annoying and there are some annoying dead ends you can come to. But on the whole it is a well done game.
Graphics:4/5 Interface:3/5 Gameplay:4/5 Intelligence:4/5 Sound effects:3/5 Music:4/5 Characters and Voice Acting:3/5 Overall:4/5
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