History VideoGame / Crystalis

In November 2018, the NES version of the game was re-released as part of the ''[[CompilationRerelease SNK 40th Anniversary Collection]]'' on the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, marking the first time the game was re-released since the 2000 UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor remake, after skipping the UsefulNotes/VirtualConsole services.

* BigBad: Emperor Draygon.

* TheCameo: Athena and Kensou (fresh off their debuts in ''VideoGame/PsychoSoldier'') appear as two of the four Sages. However, Athena is called "Asina" and Kensou is rendered as "Kensu", a clear case of Engrish.

* ChargedAttack: Every sword comes with a base level 1 charge. Most can charge to a level 2 attack after you acquire an orb to go with said sword (except the Crystalis sword, which also automatically comes with this), and the four elemental swords can hit a level 3 charge when an appropriate bracelet is equipped.
** The Crystalis sword's apparent three charge levels is the result of a {{g|oodBadBugs}}litch and the sword was always meant to have just one charge level. If you go into your inventory (or the status screen) and come back out, the "extra" levels of charge disappear. Furthermore, assuming you have a bracelet equipped, if you avoid going into your inventory between receiving Crystalis and the battle with the tower's computer systems DYNA, you'll find that [[GogglesDoNothing the "extra" levels do nothing.]]

* FlingALightIntoTheFuture: TheHero and Mesia.

* GiveMeYourInventoryItem

* HumanPopsicle: The main character.

* ManaMeter

* OneWingedAngel: Draygon, after you shoot the Bow of Truth at him.

* ProtagonistWithoutAPast

* SacrificialLion: Stom (and possibly Akahana).
* ScienceIsBad

* SlippySlideyIceWorld: Mt. Sabre.

* SoundOfNoDamage

* SwordOfPlotAdvancement: Crystalis.

* UpgradeArtifact: There are magical orbs and bracelets that can enhance the magic of your swords, and will be required to access other areas in the game.
** The orbs may be another ShoutOut to Athena from ''PsychoSoldier''.

* VillainExitStageLeft: General Kelbesque, Sabera and Mado of Draygon's "Finest Four". Unlike the other boss enemies they flee upon being defeated the first time except for Karmine, who's only fought in Goa Fortress where you get to take all four down for good.

* GoodBadTranslation: "How do feel today?" Uh, okay...
** ''"After the people of Draygonia are gone, the utmost fear of the people is released."''[[note]]As one FAQ writer put it, "THIS DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE!"[[/note]]

In November 2018, the NES version of the game was re-released as part of the ''[[CompilationRerelease SNK 40th Anniversary Collection]]'' on the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, making the first time the game was re-released since the 2000 UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor remake, after skipping the UsefulNotes/VirtualConsole services.

''Crystalis'' (known as ''God Slayer: Sonata Of The Far-Away Sky'' in Japan) was an ActionRPG created by {{Creator/SNK}}. It begins [[AfterTheEnd about a century after a nuclear war that destroyed most of humanity]] and sent all of its inhabitants back to the [[MedievalStasis metaphorical Middle Ages]]. To prevent this from happening again, the survivors built a [[SwordOfDamocles floating tower]] to allow people to govern from high above. However, the [[BigBad evil emperor Draygon]], using magic and [[ScienceIsBad up-until-now-forbidden science]], has assembled an army and plans to TakeOverTheWorld by accessing the tower.

* MindScrew: "Wait, were Azteca and Draygon the same person or were there minds linked somehow? And how does that work if Azteca was really an android the whole time? And why was he an android anyway?! I'm so confused!"

* ExcusePlot: The GBC version of the game has this. The NES original had a surprisingly deep plot for an NES game back in the day, full of several plot twist that are likely able to catch the player off guard. The "plot" for the GBC version, however, can be summed up as: "There's a [[EvilSorcerer wizard]]. He's [[CardCarryingVillain evil]]. Go kill him." It even goes as far as to ''spoil the major plot twist of the NES version '''in the very first opening cut scene of the game!'''''

''Crystalis'' (known as ''God Slayer: Sonata Of The Far-Away Sky'' in Japan) was an ActionRPG created by {{SNK}}. It begins [[AfterTheEnd about a century after a nuclear war that destroyed most of humanity]] and sent all of its inhabitants back to the [[MedievalStasis metaphorical Middle Ages]]. To prevent this from happening again, the survivors built a [[SwordOfDamocles floating tower]] to allow people to govern from high above. However, the [[BigBad evil emperor Draygon]], using magic and [[ScienceIsBad up-until-now-forbidden science]], has assembled an army and plans to TakeOverTheWorld by accessing the tower.

* ApocalypseOfTheWeek: "The End Day" was slated to occur on October 1, 1997.

* VillainExitStageLeft: Draygon's "Finest Four", unlike the other boss enemies you face flee upon being defeated the first time except Karmine, who's only fought in Goa Fortress. You only get to take them down for good the second time you face them.

* HeroicMime: Mostly played straight, as the hero has all of four lines, three of which are used to tell mortally wounded characters (first an AlmostDeadGuy on Mt. Sabre, then Stom and Akahana in Shyron to hold on if they want to maximize their remaining time before having a CriticalExistenceFailure.

* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: Emperor Draygon is definitely the BigBad and has been for the entire game. When you kill him, you then get whisked off to the flying tower. The actual final boss is the tower's computer, DYNA, who also happens to be [[AnticlimaxBoss ridiculously easy]] compared to [[ThatOneBoss Draygon]].]]

** The Crystalis sword's apparent three charge levels is the result of a {{g|oodBadBugs}}litch and the sword was always meant to have just one charge level. If you go into your inventory (or the status screen) and come back out, the "extra" levels of charge disappear. Furthermore, assuming you have a bracelet equipped, if you avoid going into your inventory between receiving Crystalis and the battle with [[spoiler: DYNA]], you'll find that [[GogglesDoNothing the "extra" levels do nothing.]]

* DamselInDistress: Mesia. Somewhat subverted, as her main ability is summoning the [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon Flying Tower]] [[DoomsdayDevice of]] [[DoomyDoomsOfDoom Doomy Doom Doom]].

* EvilOverlord: Draygon.

* FourIsDeath, on both sides: There are four benevolent Sages, but there are also four evil generals who work for Emperor Draygon.
* ForcedLevelGrinding: In the NES version, you cannot damage enemies or bosses if you aren't sufficient level. The GBC version averts this.
* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: Emperor Draygon is definitely the BigBad, and has been for the entire game... [[spoiler:until right at the end, when you kill him and then get whisked off to the flying tower. The actual final boss is the tower's computer, DYNA, who also happens to be [[AnticlimaxBoss ridiculously easy]] compared to [[ThatOneBoss Draygon]].]]

* HeroicMime: Mostly played straight, as the hero has all of four lines, three of which are used to tell mortally wounded characters (first an AlmostDeadGuy on Mt. Sabre, later [[spoiler:Stom and Akahana in Shyron]]) to STFU if they want to maximize their remaining time before having a CriticalExistenceFailure.
* HeroOfAnotherStory: Kensu, right up until the point he teaches you Flight. Whereas the other wisemen dedicate themselves to helping the hero, Kensu takes on the Empire himself. If not for a lucky shot from Karmine, he might have freed the other wisemen himself after Shyron fell.

* KingInTheMountain: Your character -- and Mesia! -- are asleep until the time comes to either save the world or destroy it.
* LadyLand: Amazones. They insist that men are forbidden in town, but you're still free to purchase goods or rest at the inn.
** But before you can do this, you must [[GenderBender morph into a female form]] to trick them into letting you in.

* MagicVersusScience: The skills in the game include an array of common [[MindOverMatter psychic]] tropes but are referred to in-game as spells, seemingly an inability to decide which they are if either. This could mean that these abilities are thought of as both or it could be a ShoutOut to ''PsychoSoldier'' due to the cameos made by Athena and Kensu.
* MasterOfDisguise: The hero, after he learns the "Change" spell. He'll need to [[GenderBender change himself into a girl]] in order to get into the aforementioned town of Amazones.
* MindScrew: "Wait, were [[spoiler: [[JekyllAndHyde Azteca and Draygon the same person]]]], or [[spoiler: were there minds linked somehow?]] And how does that work if [[spoiler: Azteca was really a robot the whole time? And why was he a robot any damned way?!]] I'm so confused!"
* LaResistance: Hero, Mesia, Zebu, Tornel, Asina, Kensu, Stom, and possibly Akahana. Whether [[spoiler: Azteca]] was truly a member of the resistance is unclear due to [[spoiler: his connection with Draygon, who also may have been his elaborate alter-ego.]]
* NoOntologicalInertia: The GBA port has General Kelbesque cast a spell on Zebu that disintegrates him into a million pieces. Defeating the general causes Zebu to be restored (and appear in the next room.)
* OneWingedAngel: Draygon.

* SacrificialLion: [[spoiler:Stom]] (and arguably, [[spoiler:Akahana]]).

* VillainExitStageLeft: The Draygonian bosses, unlike the other boss enemies you face, flee upon being defeated the first time [[spoiler: except the last one, who's only fought in Draygon Castle]]. You only get to take them down for good the second time you face them.
* WelcomeToCorneria: Using telepathy in the GBC version always gives the same message all the time. This was not the case in the NES version, where the advice changes as you progress through the game, and where one of the contacts could remotely restore your MP.

* AfterTheEnd

The hero is a young boy who was [[HumanPopsicle frozen in a cryogenic sleep]]. With the aid of four sages, he learns that the world is about to be doomed again, and that he will need to find four elemental swords to fight Draygon's army and prevent his goal of conquering the Tower a reality.

* ConspicuousLightPatch: Some sections of walls can be destroyed with the level 2 attack from particular swords, and they're all conspicuously visually different from the rest of the wall.

* MasterOfDisguise: The hero, after he learns the "Change" spell. He'll need to [[AttractiveBentGender change himself into a girl]] in order to get into the aforementioned town of Amazones.

** The village elders of two towns are also named Ralph (Ralf) and Clark, the ''VideoGame/IkariWarriors''-originated soldiers who're now far better known from ''KingOfFighters''.

* {{Egopolis}}: The '''Draygonian''' [[TheEmpire Empire]]. That is all.

* CowboyBebopAtHisComputer: The manual! The story given in the manual is completely inaccurate and, in fact, makes the story in the game harder to understand! (Why would Draygon be searching for the tower if he built it?)

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Back when SNK thought the NeoGeo might make it as a console (and not just be used as a cheap arcade machine) there were plans to remake Crystalis for that platform.

* MagicVersusScience: The skills in the game include an array of common [[MindOverMatter psychic]] tropes but are referred to in-game as spells, seemingly an innability to decide which they are if either. This could mean that these abilities are thought of as both or it could be a ShoutOut to ''PsychoSoldier'' due to the cameos made by Athena and Kensu.

* ElementalRockPaperScissors: Some enemies are completely immune to one or more of the sword (e.g. the insects in the forest near Oak can only be [[KillItWithFire damaged by the Sword of Fire]].)

* HelloInsertNameHere: If you leave the name entry screen blank, the NES version names you "[[CreatorCameo SNK]]" while the GBC version names you "{{Si|gnificantAnagram}}mea]".

** The village elders of two towns are also named Ralph (Ralf) and Clark, the ''IkariWarriors''-originated soldiers who're now far better known from ''KingOfFighters''.

** The Crystalis sword's apparent three charge levels is the result of a [[GoodBadBugs glitch]] and the sword was always meant to have just one charge level. If you go into your inventory (or the status screen) and come back out, the "extra" levels of charge disappear. Furthermore, assuming you have a bracelet equipped, if you avoid going into your inventory between receiving Crystalis and the battle with [[spoiler: DYNA]], you'll find that [[GogglesDoNothing the "extra" levels do nothing.]]

* DistressedDamsel: Mesia. Somewhat subverted, as her main ability is summoning the [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon Flying Tower]] [[DoomsdayDevice of]] [[DoomyDoomsOfDoom Doomy Doom Doom]].

* HelloInsertNameHere: If you leave the name entry screen blank, the NES version names you "[[CreatorCameo SNK]]" while the GBC version names you "[[SignificantAnagram Simea]]".

* SacrificialLion: [[spoiler:Stom]] (and arguably, [[spoiler:Akahana]])