During our visit to the NIS America booth, our primary focus was on Disgaea 7 and The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie. While we were present, we witnessed a proposal being made to Prinny. At Anime Expo 2023, attendees had the unique opportunity to obtain a special Disgaea 7 keychain by completing a particular fan activity. To receive the reward, guests had to check out the Disgaea 7 Cosplayers and scan kiosks for Disgaea 7, The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie, RHAPSODY: MARL KINGDOM CHRONICLES, and CRYMACHINA. Out of all the available demos, we spent the most time with NIS America’s CRYMACHINA demo.
Before Anime Expo 2023, I had only heard of CRYMACHINA one other time and that was at PAX East 2023. Despite meeting with NIS America at PAX East, I did not get the chance to play the game; instead, I got a brief presentation on what the game was about and a trailer showcasing the world. At Anime Expo 2023, we finally had the opportunity to check out what we had been teased with. Guests in attendance had the opportunity to try out a variety of NIS games. Earlier, we covered our time with Disgaea 7; in that preview, I stated that because the demo started at a random point in the game, it was harder to get an overall feel of the game compared to starting at the beginning.
A Better Demo
This is where CRYMACHINA succeeded compared to Disgaea 7. Rather than throwing us into a random combat situation, the demo slowly eased us in, explained what was going on, and built upon itself. Yes, tutorials can be rather boring, but the CRYMACHINA demo went above the stereotypical demo. Combat in the earlier parts was fairly simple, but the first boss fight kicked it up a notch. No not FromSoftware Souls level, but more of a challenge than most games.
CRYMACHINA Demo Impressions
Leben wakes up from a deep slumber and finds herself in an unfamiliar environment. She is no longer a schoolgirl, but a “battle-ready” angel fighting in a war against robots known as Machina. The game’s visuals give off a mix of Sailor Moon and Cyberpunk vibes, which is exciting considering the success of EdgeRunners and the revival of Cyberpunk 2077. The plot may seem confusing at first, but it should become clearer after the game is released later this year. The combat in the game feels smooth, although the dodge mechanic may be a bit confusing initially.
Initially, the combat style felt more like Hellpoint or Elden Ring, but after spending more time with it, it felt closer to Bayonetta 3. Taking a few hits won’t kill you, but it will hurt, so you’ll need to bob and weave to avoid enemy attacks. You can still go in for attacks, but you need to be careful not to make the wrong choice and die immediately. It will be interesting to see how the game’s combat evolves as the story progresses.
Unfortunately, the demo only provided a small taste of the game’s combat system. Instead, it focused mainly on the story. Although it seemed slow at first, it still made it clear what was happening. The demo was very user-friendly.
Upcoming Release
I must say, CRYMACHINA really stood out amongst all the game demos I played at Anime Expo 2023. The demo was so impressive that I made sure to mark the release date on my calendar. It’s set to launch on October 24, 2023, and will be available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. Even with tough competition, I have a feeling this game will do exceptionally well. Keep an eye out for it!
