This topic is for discussing my second test run for my upcoming side LP of Crystalis for the NES.

Awhile ago, I simply did an unofficial pre-test run, just to create my save states and refresh my memory of the game. At this time, I'm just trying to create my own notes to minimize grinding.

Does anyone know where I can find a list of the absolute minimum level necessary for killing bosses? A lot of FAQs (including RPGClassics) have recommended levels, but not necessarily the minimum level. For example, I know that at Level 2, you can't even damage the first boss. IIRC, Level 3 is the minimum where you can start damaging it.

EDIT: Of course, the very next source I look at AFTER posting this question, I find what I'm looking for.

Thanks for your help.

You're welcome? ;)

I've never played this game before and with all the games I'm juggling through right now (Replaying FF9, 2nd playthrough of SD3, Dragon Warrior IV, replaying Phantasy Star IV) I'm not sure if I can add another game to that list. But hell I'll keep up with this topic at the very least.

I've only ever heard this game referenced in HC's LP's....so its another new game experience for me :D

I think all this information is at least mostly accurate. It's been a long time since I've last played the game.

Vampire: Level 3, Wind
Giant Insect: Level 4, Fire
Kelbesque: Level 7, Wind
Vampire 2: Level 10, Wind
Sabera: Level 11, Fire
Mado: Level 11, Water
Kelbesque 2: Level 13, Wind
Sabera 2: Level 13, Fire
Mado 2: Level 14, Water
Karmine: Level 14, Thunder
Draygon: Level 15, Thunder
Draygon 2: Level 16, Thunder
DYNA: Level 16, Crystalis

Click for source

EDIT: Now I reread your post and notice you don't need it. Lol

Also something worth noting is the game's Japanese title. "God Slayer: Sonata of the far off Heavens" I find that odd since I don't recall anything in the game being referred to as a God. :P

Reminds me of the early Ys games with being a minimum level to damage the damage, except I think in that game you always do at least 1 damage. I can't remember.

Terranigma had the same problem too, particularly against Bloody Mary.

Never played this game before I must say, or seen it for that matter, like the other people that commented on here. There's something about the name though that I really like. I don't know why though, I guess it just sounds cool.

I must say though, defeating the enemies at the lowest level possible reminds me a lot of Ys.

I heard that Crystalis was fairly popular back in the day, or at least as popular as action adventure games got without "Zelda" in the title. It's very good and quite advanced for an NES game. I would put it right up there with any early Zelda or Mana game.

I made it through the first area today and learned something new. Armor reduces damage from direct contact with an enemy, while shields reduce projectile damage. I suppose this may be obvious to some people, but I conducted some testing to figure this out. Since there's only a couple enemies that use projectiles in the first dungeon, it's perfectly acceptable to skip the first shield purchase.

In a way I think its a LOT like Ys actually, Ys3 in particular, just top-down POV instead of side/platforming POV.

I got to like the final dungeon but I wasn't a high enough level to damage one of the bosses so I got stuck there a while till I FAQ'd it and decided I didn't like that mechanic so I stopped playing.

For some reason I just like being low level on games. IIRC I've beat both FF7 and FFT in my late 30's. Heck, I think my Monk SCC on FFT I was like 32 on Balk 2 and the FAQs recomended ATLEAST 35.

will you be giving us recommended areas to level/gold grind?

Also will you be showing teleconisus(major sp) dialog when ever you reach new areas? And will you be showing off different dialog scenarios from the transformation?

Crystalis, huh? Well, I've played this game exactly once. I rented this game one time, and although I remember enjoying it, I also remember not enjoying it enough to save up my allowance to buy it, or ask my parents to get it. So, yeah, I've basically got nothing. :D

heh I think it was just the fact that you needed to be at a certain level to fight enemies/bosses. I also do remember there are certain areas that restrict access if you haven't reached a certain level such as the ice mountain in the second area.

btw for people that have played the game, who would you say is your favorite character? Mine is Stom

Yeah, that might have been it. It was so long ago, I can't remember what it was, but I do know that I had severe patience problems when I was a kid, especially when it came to games. It wasn't until I really got into RPGs that I began to realize that sometimes, patience in a game was a good thing. The NES Dragon Warrior (Dragon Quest) games got me into them. I actually had the original DW for over a year before I really started to get into it.

My big breakthrough, though, was Final Fantasy IV (or, of course in the US it was Final Fantasy II). I loved that game. After that, I was completely hooked on RPGs. Sometimes I wish I would've went back and given Crystalis another try, but, I didn't. Maybe watching HCBailly's LP will give me motivation to finally play it again. :)

Ok i've been seeing you guys say that your playing some of these games like sd3, breath of fire and crystalis. But how is it possible to play these games nowadays???? Unless you guys kept your old nes' I just dont see how its possible. Can someone please enlighten me?

Ahh, Crystalis. I actually owned the game when I was a kid, but I never did complete it back then. I got pretty far, getting to the whirlpools and stuff, but I traded it in before I beat it. It was years later when I cracked down and completed the re-release GBC version.

Emulation

What Dasboot said, although I do have a working NES...at least last time I checked...somewhere in storage. I also have other old systems as well that should still work.

I've kept my old systems, I also use emulators/roms and theres WiiVC and XBLA and such which I don't have so I don't know what's on there but still...

I have a working NES, SNES, and N64 sitting in my closet right now. But also emulation. :P

Crystalis has some amazing music, btw.

Behold the glory of 80s NES commercials.

The only "old' system I've had is a Nintendo 64(Which i don't use anymore). Everything else i emulate.

Oh wow, I did not expect Crystalis to look something like that. Now though I'm intrigue in this game even more. I'll have to remind myself to learn more about this game later.

By the way, that commercial was awful. Why do you have the main protagonist get stoned in the commercial?

@Acynder - The Nintendo 64 is also the only "old" system I have. I still play on it every once in a while though.

I used to own a Sega Genesis, Game Boy Color, Sony Playstation and Sega Dreamcast (I loved this damn thing so much). PS2 if you to count that as "Old". Don't have any of them anymore though :/

Let's see, I've had a Atari 7800, an NES, a SNES, a Game Boy, an Xbox, and every Sony system
Yes, I have been playing video games since the Atari 7800 was out.

I was the same way as a kid. I was so horrible at the Dragon Warrior series because I couldn't stand fighting and grinding. All I would do is RUN. Today though I'm still impatient but I do grind when necessary. Luckily remakes have reduce the annoyance of having to grind

I defeated the Giant Insect today. Sadly, I could not do it at Level 4, so I had to grind for 5 minutes to get up to Level 5. The problem is that I think it's impossible to defeat Stom at Level 4. Even with binding the turbo B button to my controller, I still couldn't defeat him. At Level 5, he become easy enough that I didn't even need turbo.

I remember the level-grinding being much more time-consuming as a kid. Yet so far from this test run and the previous one, it's not bad at all. Certainly far less labor-intensive as the Dragon Warrior games.

Will you be doing a test run of the GBC version, or is that too much for a side LP?

I don't plan on it, but may consider it. I have played it, but it's garbage.

I never played it. But how is it garbage?

Being on the GBC, the screen is smaller, making it even harder than it already is to see an incoming enemy. Monsters also no longer have elemental affinities, so any sword will work on any monster, negating most of the strategy in the game. They also switched the final two bosses around, which really screwed with the story in addition to how they had to change it, since the remake was after 1997.

Oh wow, I would have thought they'd just make it easier to switch weapons on the GBC, not make switching entirely moot. Strange.

Yeah, they definately should have made switching weapons easier, it was such a tedious endevour, and you had to do it for every other enemy almost.

Systems I Own
NES, SNES, GB, GBC, GBA, DS, N64, GC
Genesis, GG, 32X
PS1, PS2, PSP
Atari 2600

I want a Wii, and maybe a PS3

from my understanding, it's impossible to defeat Stom on your first attempt. From what I heard, the more times you attempt it, the better you get. I think it takes four or five turns to defeat him. It's not based on levels from my understanding

I also started with a 7800. The fact that I'm actually old enough to remember that system is pretty depressing. :(

Console systems I own or have owned:
Atari 7800, NES, Super NES, N64, Wii, PS2, PS3

Handhelds:
Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance (2 different kinds), DS (the original), and recently, a PSP.

My first was the 2600.

I've always wondered if you'd do this, ever since I started following you back with FF1. Crystalis is really one of the most underrated games in history. It's great. The GBC remake ruined it, though...

I don't really recommend the Wii. You're mostlikely better with a DS, PS3, or 360

Systems I've Own:
Atari ####
NES, SNES, Original Gameboy, Slim Gameboy, N64, Wii, DSi
Genesis
PSX, PS2, PS3
PC

XBox & Halo hater here :D

Wow, that actually worked! Thanks a lot, Zerro. I'll make sure to credit you for your help. I was able to easily beat Stom at Level 4 without (ab)using turbo.

You "can" beat Stom on the first try, but if you're playing in real time it's very unlikely. If you move to the side there's a two-pixel wide area you can stand in where you can hit Stom and he can't hit you back. Of course, if you're not using emulator slowdown that's quite impractical so it's much easier to keep failing until he gets easier.

Well the Wii has Smash Bros and a Zelda coming out eventually, I could probley think of a dozen others I want too if I tried.
I have a DS, so far the 3DS is just remakes if thats what you meant so I don't want it yet. (Not that I can, no money)
And I don't like XBoxes, the controller is stupid and all it has is shooting games and stuff like that, that I don't like. Though, I would probley like Star Ocean but, oh well.