The Kristal
| Industry | Video game development |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1980s |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | The Kristal |
The Kristal is an adventure game that debuted in 1989 on the Amiga, with subsequent versions released for the Atari ST and MS-DOS. Created by the UK company Fissionchip Software, it saw European publication through Addictive Games and was distributed in the United States by Cinemaware. Distinctively, this title draws inspiration from the 1976 theatrical work The Kristal of Konos, with direct involvement from the original playwrights during development; notably, the play had never been staged before the game's launch. The game's introductory narration was provided by renowned astronomer Patrick Moore.
In this game, players take on the role of the pirate Dancis Frake, whose mission is to retrieve the "Kristal" on behalf of the Kring of Meltoca.
The gameplay combines several traditional genres, including hand-to-hand combat, space flight and battles, along with limited point-and-click adventure mechanics.
Reception
Upon its release in 1989, Dragon rated the title 4½ stars out of 5. Conversely, Computer Gaming World criticized it for unresponsive controls and monotonous dialogue, considering it nearly unplayable except for arcade enthusiasts prepared to invest time mastering its difficulties.
Reviews
- Info (November 1989)
- The Games Machine (June 1989)
- Atari ST User (June 1990)
- The Games Machine (April 1990)
- The One (April 1989)
- Commodore User (March 1989)
- The Games Machine (July 1990)
- Computer and Video Games (June 1989)
- ASM (Aktueller Software Markt) (February 1989)
- ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment) (July 1989)
- Power Play (April 1989)
- Jeux & Stratégie #60