Crymachina, developed by FURYU Corporation and published by NIS America, is an action RPG set in a post-apocalyptic world where mechanical girls strive to become “Real Humans.” The narrative unfolds as Leben Distel, a young girl on the brink of death, wakes up in a dark, post-apocalyptic world greeted by an android named Enoa. The central theme revolves around the pursuit of humanity and the struggle to survive in a world filled with mechanical enemies. We were immediately intrigued and tested it on a PlayStation 5.
The game introduces three playable main characters – Leben Distel, Mikoto Sengiku, and Ami Shido – each with their unique perspectives on what it means to be human. The dialogue and character interactions, voiced by actors such as Hikaru Tono, Risa Tsumugi, Ruriko Aoki and Minami Takahashi in the game’s Japanese dub, contribute to a heartwarming story of love told by synthetic beings.
Venturing between the battlegrounds of Eden and the safe haven of the Imitation Garden, players engage in fast-paced action RPG combat against mechanical enemies. The game offers a variety of tactics to customize weapons and challenges players to discover the unknowns of the dark world as they go around exploring it. The Imitation Garden, on the other hand, serves as a base for relaxation, weapon customization, and engaging in lighthearted conversations between the girls – very much a change of pace.
The visual presentation of Crymachina is a standout feature, with character models that showcase detail and individuality – despite dealing with synthetic beings where you wouldn’t expect this. Cutscenes and dialogue portions can feel a tad stiff though, hinting at slightly lower production values for this one. On the PlayStation 5, the game supports a 4K resolution and high frame rates, providing a visually stunning experience.
However, the thematic depth of the narrative, touching on concepts like the Fermi Paradox and cyberspace, isn’t always explored deeply enough. The game’s focus on character development, especially the hyperbolized female forms, may be perceived as leaning too heavily into fan service as well – especially without more depth in the higher level concepts that are touched upon. While the side dialogues are interesting, there’s still a sense that a few interesting concepts were largely left unexplored.
The combat system, a key element of any action RPGs, falls into a middle ground between simple button-mashing and intricate combat that demands timing – but never really settles into something that feels unique. The color-coded attacks, while providing satisfaction, can be confusing and non-intuitive at times, and the difficulty spikes (especially with enemies that stun you) can cause some frustration.
The progression system, which lets you use experience to gain character levels, is a bit slow-paced – and this is especially felt when you’re clearly playing with an under-leveled character. Grind-heavy periods and the fact that diving into side content doesn’t let you grow your player levels quickly are rough spots in that sense.
While Crymachina offers a vivid anime style and a surprisingly colorful cast of characters, the backdrops against which the adventure unfolds could have been more varied. As a result, the game doesn’t really stand out in a relatively saturated market of action RPGs, as Crymachina leaves several good ideas on the table with untapped potential. It’s a decent game that plays well, but it doesn’t fully capitalize on its promising concepts.
Score: 6.8/10
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