Being a child during the 90s, there was a lot of cult-classic 80s films that I missed out on, though my mother owned a ton of classics on VHS that I would pour through. While I was more interested in Power Rangers, Jurassic Park, and my NES, I never was exposed to the Dark Crystal. The few ads I saw for the film at the start of a few of my tapes all kind of creeped me out as I was a sensitive kid with a lot of fears. Recently, I traveled to Seattle for PAX West and one of the games I was asked to check out was The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics, a title similar to Final Fantasy Tactics built on the new Netflix prequel series of a beloved and massive undertaking of puppetry and fantasy. This opportunity sparked the want to know why this film has so much love and why the new series feels so important, which led me to Netflix to dive headfirst into The Dark Crystal.
For those unaware, The Dark Crystal is a puppetry movie from the legendary Jim Henson team, directed by Jim and Frank Oz; they were surrounded by incredible talent on all fronts. There is a lot of great history out there about the film’s creation that is definitely worth seeking out but even today the film holds up thanks to practical effects that still look really good and adds to the pure fantasy of Thra, the strange planet on which The Dark Crystal takes place. The story revolves around Jen, a Gelfling that is suddenly tasked to restore a fabled crystal that’s being held by the vulture-like Skeksis that sit decaying upon thrones as rulers of a dying planet. All of the Gelfling, aside from the main hero and Kira, have been eradicated, reduced to a liquid known as essence to fuel the immortality-hungry Skeksis lords. Thus Jen travels across Thra to complete a prophecy, end the tyrannical reign of the Skeksis, and restore natural order to Thra.
While the plot may seem simple, there is a complexity in Dark Crystal that makes it stand out. There are no human characters, only various races and creatures that each feel carefully considered for this fantasy world. Character writing is rich with meaning and some of the interactions and scenes are about as iconic as they come. I don’t think I’ve ever been more disturbed by the feasting Skeksis or the look upon the faces of those drained by the crystal. There are sinister and heavy themes permeating the Dark Crystal’s sometimes playful fantasy, a hallmark of the flavor of The Dark Crystal that continues in the 2019 Age of Resistance prequel series.
I have since finished Age of Resistance and I find myself infatuated with it. Even with the addition of some CGI, most of the film has been created with masterful puppet and set design that feels authentic to the original work. For those who have seen the original film though, there is a sense of dread that permeates the new series. Not seeing the 80s film could completely change how one views Age of Resistance and that’s interesting.
I’m not one to review most films and shows, mostly because others do it far better than I, but I will recommend The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance to just about any viewer. Younger viewers may find the monsters terrifying though.
Based on the show’s ending, it does seem like we’ll be thankfully getting even more of this masterful approach to a hand-crafted world.
Current pop-culture does seem to revolve around nostalgia to the point of near absurdity but yet here I am, completely devoid of nostalgia for this series, wanting more and more from this world. Thankfully, the aforementioned Age of Resistance Tactics game will provide additional characters, story, and makes the world of Thra interactive.
I was able to play the game while at PAX West for about 45 minutes, spending much of my time discussing various tactics game mechanics of the greats compared to what the developers are doing in Age of Resistance Tactics. I found that the people from Bonus XP are extremely passionate about tactics games and they were genuinely excited to work on a turn-based project. They also seem to have a knack for detail and went through extensive research to ensure they got the Dark Crystal right.
Now, being as I am new to the Dark Crystal, there is much that went over my head during the demo. However, as a longtime tactics fan, there is a lot that I was enjoying in the upcoming game. Familiar characters like the Chamberlain make an appearance. Various classes can be customized for lots of options. There are harder modes for those looking for a challenge or an easier mode for those just wanting to go through the story. It all seems to be fitting together nicely; the multitude of pieces are being fitted together.
Graphically, I considered the game to be pretty weak but we were told that the build we were playing was much earlier than the one they were prepping for the release. That said, I hope to see some significant updates in presentation. Audio seemed fitting and I really enjoyed some of the attacks and strategies on offer. I immediately felt at home, flying through menus and planning several moves in advance. I used to tear through the class system in the Final Fantasy Tactics titles, so I hope there are lots to tinker with as there appears to be.
I was also able to speak to the studio’s president Dave Pottinger and that interview will be available soon.
All in all, I am a bit skeptical of the Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics but I am confident in the efforts being made to make the game feel like an authentic experience for fans of the film and fans of tactics games. That said, I look forward to giving this game a try.
Yep, surprisingly I have become a pretty big fan of The Dark Crystal. I love the history around the film’s development and there’s some fascinating work present in Age of Resistance, and it looks like plenty of effort is being put into the upcoming game.
For longtime fans of The Dark Crystal, this year must feel amazing.
For more information on The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance check out the official website. Information on the upcoming Age of Resistance Tactics video game can be found here. We were given a private demonstration of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics while at PAX West, which included discussion, interviews, and light refreshments.
