#CRIMSON SHROUD 3DS CIA SERIES#

Also light and dark may trump each other. What complicates things further is that certain elements ‘trump’ each other, the game explaining that air trumps earth trumps lightning trumps water trumps fire trumps ice trumps air if you pardon the rather lengthy sentence.

There are eight elements within the game – Air, Earth, Lightning, Water, Fire, Ice, Light and Dark – and you must use each individual within the chain to reap such bonuses.

#CRIMSON SHROUD 3DS CIA SERIES#

Some action choices will require you to roll dice across the lower screen to see the strength of their effects, with combo chains through using a series of differing elemental attacks rewarding you with additional dice that can be used to further heighten your score. You’re regularly granted choices, an example being to either attack or sneak past a group of enemies, with a dice roll on the touchscreen required to see if you’d managed to do the former.Ĭombat is a turn-based affair, the players choosing between standard commands that include Attack, Magic, Items and Skills. Matsuno draws upon such ideals within Crimson Shroud, so much so that characters and enemies are represented by figurines. Choices must be made by the player, as well as battling foes that line the dungeon’s dark corridors, rolling dice to determine their success. The chosen game-master weaves their own tale for the other players as they navigate a dungeon. This reflects back to the days of table-top RPGs, with Dungeons & Dragons perhaps being familiar to most. Most players can finish the quest in well under 10 hours but there are occasional cheap hurdles to overcome that artificially increase play time like grinding to find a random loot drop, having no indication on where to go next, or backtracking needlessly.We’ve already been treated to Nintendo eShop releases of Aero Porter and Liberation Maiden from LEVEL-5’s Guild01, yet it is the latest arrival from the collaborative compilation that proves to be the most noteworthy.īringing his knowledge of crafting celebrated role-playing classics such as Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy Tactics, Yasumi Matsuno’s most recent project, Crimson Shroud, draws upon the origins of the genre. Each encounter could prove deadly as there is a higher difficulty factor that serious tabletop RPG players will surely appreciate. Instead, characters can change their stats and abilities by equipping different pieces of armor. Combat is strictly menu driven and forces the player to use strategy instead of mindlessly selecting the basic attack at every option using buffs and debuffs is critical to success. Three characters that follow the typical video game troupe of swordsman, archer, and the female magic user are labeled as the underdogs trying to complete an adventure against all odds – think minotaurs, skeletons, magic, keys and treasures chests. If not, look elsewhere.Ĭutscenes are long but expertly translated and depict a bleak fantasy world. Gamers with ADD and need of constant action will probably fall asleep before the first battle begins but the statues and dice rolling mechanics gives this downloadable title its greatest sense of charm.ĭoes this screen look fun to you? If so, you will probably enjoy this game.

Crimson Shroud, however, uses the circle pad or stylus to literally roll dice on a virtual game board and all characters are represented by static statues tethered to a pedestal attached to their feet the only animation in the game is a slight rattle of each statue character as they receive damage in combat.

With wordy text boxes, layers of menus, and a complete lack of animation and fancy visuals, this niche title will undoubtedly please fans of the hardcore RPG genre.Įven though players don’t see it, pretty much every RPG incorporates some type of behind-the-scenes dice roll to determine attack strength, preemptive attacks, defense, and even accuracy. Crimson Shroud is a standout 3DS eShop downloadable title and labor of love created by Yasumi Matsuno of Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy Tactics fame.

Crimson shroud 3ds cia