Developer: Nextech Publisher: Atlus Release: 03/95 Genre: Action RPG
Action RPGs were a rare commodity on the Genesis. For every Landstalker there were countless generic platformers and sports games. Meanwhile SNES owners were feasting. I will say however that the ones it did receive were generally excellent. While everyone sings the praises of Beyond Oasis and calls it a hidden gem Crusader of Centy deserves the same spotlight. This underrated classic has an interesting story and gameplay to match and will entertain action fans for many hours.
In the land of Soleil boys who hit age 14 are sent out in to the world for training to become warriors. On his 14th birthday Corona receives his father’s sword and shield to follow in his footsteps. His simple goal soon places him at the heart of the conflict between humans and demons and will uncover many uncomfortable truths about the world as well.
Despite appearances the story is deeper than you expect. Due to events early in the game Corona loses the ability to communicate with humans and can only understand animals and demons. As such he gains a new perspective on the world and his experiences will make you question who the real villains of the story are. You get to see both sides of the conflict between the humans and demons and it is handled very well. You revisit many of the game’s locations twice however it is not for padding but for story purposes. This is just one of many ways Crusader of Centy distinguishes itself from the title it resembles.
It would be easy to dismiss Crusader of Centy as a Zelda clone. But outside of the main protagonist and its overhead view the two games could not be any more dissimilar. Okay you can throw your sword like Link but I promise that’s it. Rather than elaborate puzzles based around exotic tools the focus in Centy is on action and light platforming. The controls can be a little sluggish at times which is annoying. The hit detection is also spotty. Most of these problems are easily ignored due to the animal helpers and the depth they provide.
The animal companion system is the most unique element in Crusader of Centy. Throughout your quest a large number of animals join you and grant different abilities. Some are simple: Chilly the Penguin and Inferno the lion add ice and fire to your sword respectively. Cecil will make your sword bounce of walls while Rio the Armadillo can become a platform you can pick up and throw. Flash is the crowd favorite; he doubles your movement speed and jump distance. You can equip two helpers simultaneously and sometimes these combos create new effects. Combining Combining Monarch and Dodo will allow you to control your sword to grab remote items. If you are creative you can use them in unintended ways. Dippy is used to cross water but since he floats he can also avoid ground based AOE attacks. The animal helpers and their variety are what make the gameplay great.
The gameplay mechanics of choosing the right helper for the task at hand and playing around with the possibilities make Crusader of Centy fun. However the game does not call on them as much as I may have given the impression. Puzzles are simple and for the most part involve hitting a switch or pushing blocks. The occasional bit where you tackle a problem in a clever way hints at the game’s potential but it never lives up to it. The late stage areas like the Tower of Babel further reinforce this. Luckily the game remains fun regardless but I’ll be damned if it isn’t a missed opportunity. Just thinking about the kinds of puzzles they could have crafted around the different combos makes me sad. But I can kind of see why it turned out this way as the game is a little short.
Overall most will complete Crusader of Centy in around eight hours which feels adequate. The game does not overstay its welcome. There is not much in the way of side quests and the game is extremely linear. It keeps you on one path for the entire length of the game and only opens up toward the end. There is not much in the way of secrets to find so there is little reason to explore. It is also easy. Your life bar is generously long to start and increases after every boss battle which is frequent. Even though there are no health restoring items (aside from one optional follower you buy) chances are you will die rarely. Some of the animal combos can utterly decimate bosses in seconds as well. These are not complaints though; the game is enjoyable regardless.
In Closing
These are the games I like to shine a spotlight on. Crusader of Centy is a great game that deserves a higher profile. It is one of the best action RPGs for the Genesis and deserves a re-release. It excels in every category from graphics to gameplay and especially music. Play this one folks, its great.
