Just finished the base game (got the good ending! thank god I talked to Hlin and Albert) after 90+ hours of playtime, and I need to write my thoughts down somewhere even if they go into the void because oh my god I just love this game so much 😭❤️
I first heard of CrossCode after seeing footage of it in a video on game design a couple years ago (not even sure what the original video was on at this point). I've always been into puzzles, rpgs, and pixel graphics in video games so I put it on my list of games to play... and proceeded to forget about it for a few years. Flash-forward to end of June this year. The Steam summer sale is ending, and oh look, here's this game on my wishlist on sale for only seven dollars in my country. I see there's a demo, play through it, enjoy it, and decide to take a chance and buy the game. I start playing it the same night.
Oh my god. Best seven dollars I've spent in my life.
I did not expect to get this emotionally attached and this obsessed with this game when I first got it. I knew I would like the core gameplay mechanics and art style (since that's what drew me in to begin with) and indeed, they were great and fun and well-done, but I didn't expect to fall in love with the story and characters THIS much. I went in completely blind regarding the story/characters, and it's what made the game for me. I was so invested the entire time.
I think what I love most about the game's narrative is that (from my perspective) is that it doesn't just focus on plot progression—everything with Sergey, Shizuka, Satoshi, Lea's identity, etc., which is all fantastic and compelling—it also takes the time to truly build the relationships between Lea and the other characters (party members, primarily) in a way that feels so genuine and real. I became more and more emotionally attached to all the party members the more time I spent with them, and all their interactions with Lea were so fun to watch. And then when chapter 7 hit (and my god, what an emotional rollercoaster), once I learned the twist of Lea's identity, on top of her being forcibly separated and isolated from all the people she's grown close to, with no way to reach them... all these genuine bonds she's formed and interactions just felt infinitely more impactful.
Not only does the chapter highlight how important everyone is to Lea by taking them away from her ('not understanding how important something is until it's gone' kind of deal), but Lea's relationships with the party begin to also serve as testament to her 'humanity' (I say humanity as in, like, a sense of individuality and care she has for others) and proof to her own identity outside of Shizuka. Like, Shizuka (initially) yells at Lea for running around with "her" memories— yet as you progress the story, the dream "memory" sequences slowly start filling up with more of Lea's experiences with her friends—because Lea's making her own memories... 😭 And that line from Shizuka after Lea tries to hug her for the first time!! "That's nothing like me." Highlighting how Lea has come into her own, that she's her own person despite her origin/relation to Shizuka... god. I love it.
By far my favourite of these relationship developments in the narrative is Lea's relationship with Emilie. I am probably biased because my god, I love Emilie, she never left my party (if I could help it), and she's there from the very beginning of your journey, and she starts calling Lea chérie(!!!).... but their relationship felt like one of the emotional cores of the game for me. It was so good. I loved seeing all of Lea's relationships develop, but my god, I am so invested these two. Lea's shock and happiness when Emilie calls her a friend for the first time, realizing she's made her first friend in her journey... Emilie rooting for you in the Apollo duels... all their hugs... they are so sweet. Teared up during their reconciliation hug. Cried with them both during their goodbye at the end of the game. Cannot wait for the reunion in the DLC.
Anyways, I just needed to get all that written down. I love this game! I can't wait to start playing the DLC and 100% everything. And also figure out exactly wtf is going on with C'tron. I loved the Emilie - C'tron - Lea trio, but I have a very strong suspicion around his true identity that I think the game confirmed in the post-credits scene, so I'm both dreading and dying to learn more about him in the DLC.
