Just looking at this game made me go "I bet this was originally designed for Amiga" and sure enough, it was. It's just got that... British designed Amiga feel. It's hard to explain but it just reeks of the design language of the Amiga and Atari ST in Britain in the late 80s.
I'm so glad that point and click adventure games switched to just using the 'talk to' action and gave you a list of options you could ask. Trying to think of what to write was just waay too confusing back when I was a child. I liked the idea, but the gameplay was rather difficult.
Going by the aesthetics and the look of the main character, I think the developers took inspiration from Zardoz, a weird indie film Sean Connery was in.
I think The Kristal was based on a play the way Oblivion was based on a graphic novel. Hint: The graphic novel was never published and its creator really wanted to make a movie all along.
I was given this game in the 90's by someone who didn't want it any more - I never really got anywhere with it. I do seem to remember solving the mystery of what "Flow" was, and why everyone kept telling me to "Go with the flow". Some shady character somewhere offered to sell me some "Flow", leading me to believe that it was some kind of narcotic that everyone was on.
Holy crap. Compared to this, the amiga version almost seems like a masterpiece... Almost. It's impressive that they managed to keep the intro with just the pc speaker.
@seandewar5 Hehe, yeah there are some awesome moments with the dialogue in this one. I just wish the rest of the game matched its occasional witty banter!
@MrShot97 I realized after I'd already made the video I forgot to make that complaint. :) It looks like hi-res EGA, making heavy use of dithering. But it is technically VGA. The Amiga and Atari ST versions look great in comparison.
no, it doesn't mean "yes or I agree with you" lmfao - it means "same here" and it is not the appropriate response to a general statement such as "this is the only game that doesn't have a let's play"
it was set up with elaine paige and patrick moore and a few others, cant remember if it ever played. i will ask rodney, he developed it and wrote the play with a guy calked mike sutin.
I had this game, because it was one of the few games that was ever sold in B-Wise. My experience was identical to Mr. Clint Basinger's. What's happening at any time? What am I supposed to be doing? And why? I'd love to see the play script, just to find out what the fuck the story was supposed to be.
You need to free the princess out of the hands of Lotarr, Redhead and another bad guy the name I cannot remember. The problem is is you dont ask the guy "Gloop" you meet randomly the question "What are you doing?" you will never know of that. He gives you an invitation and you go to the palace. I found that out after one year of playing. There you meet the king, his advisor and the princess which is later on kidnapped. But dont think the game becomes more logic afterwards.
@PituDitu It does have a lot of that classic, campy sci-fi vibe and for that it's awesome. But compared to the other campy sci-fi games Cinemaware released that actually DO feel like an interactive movie, it sucks. Glad you enjoyed the review!
"Galagher wearing a homo-erotic wolverine costume.." I laughed so hard I had to pause the video to gather my shit. By the time you referred to him as "Wolvergalagher", I'd completely lost it. Thanks for the laughs, LGR!
@rpmmelby It was going to be last month, leading up to Duke Nukem Forever's release. But then the game got delayed again and I got too depressed! I'll still review the games sometime...
I don't think I've ever seen a game that uses 640×200 mode before. Also that Fissionchips logo could give most modern metal bands a run for its money in the unreadability department.
If you collect more than 100 strenght you can pass the executions chamber. There is Redhead then, a pirate who cooperates with Lotarr who kidnapped the princess you met in the King's palace. After you finished him in a swords fight you get to a prince whose name I forgot who challanges you for a pchic duel. This was, where I always died. Although I foud out many things more than you, everything is still unclear.
Honestly? It doesn't look that bad. I guess this is one of those things where the gameplay really kills it. And well, that does happen. It looks pretty funny and campy and the graphics seem quite excellent really. Too bad it's not actually that much fun apparently. Maybe it'd be well suited to a reboot if someone felt up to doing so? Or just some sort of hack or patch.
Ha. My home page is set to wikipedia's Random Page. Today, /wiki/The_Kristal popped up and I landed on your review. Good work, and I'm glad to see you're still doing these.
You think _American_ consumers get belittling and condescending packaging? Look at German movie title translations, and you will feel proud of that little bit of cheese in your box art. We have to endure much higher levels of cringe on a daily basis...
hi LGR, great video clarifying another mystery from Dos era. Can you make a review for an old western game named "Colorado"? I am sure you know that game. It was interesting and hard to understand when I was a kid. still don't know what the main objectives were. You would do a great favor for your fans, dude.
That sounds like the voices in my head O.o And thats the FIRST THING I thought when I saw the guy, that he looks exactly like Ghallager. If smashing watermelons are involved in this game then I'm sold.
it's like a real early version of a game called Laser Lords for the cd-i. both are side-scrolling sci fi adventure games with weird senses of humor and mediocre "action" sequences. wonder if there was some crossover between dev teams or if the people that made laser lords were just fans of this.
This is the oddest VGA color scheme I've seen. It reminds me of the Tandy 16 color scheme with some EGA mixed in. It definitely isn't 320x200 at 256 colors (or it didn't take advantage of the 256 colors or resolution). Was it just an EGA mode that was ported to VGA?
@@stunheart I think it's 640x200 (might be 240) with an EGA colour palette. My guess is that it has 64 colours, but only 16 can be shown simultaneously.
"I think this section of the game was supposed to be fun" is the greatest piece of writing in game criticism ever.
'Skringles' is the best name for a currency I've ever heard...
Just looking at this game made me go "I bet this was originally designed for Amiga" and sure enough, it was. It's just got that... British designed Amiga feel. It's hard to explain but it just reeks of the design language of the Amiga and Atari ST in Britain in the late 80s.
It really does
Ah, Sir Drancis Frake. I remember him from my History classes, along with Parco Molo.
Oh yes, they were both introduced right next to my favourite explorers, Merdinand Fagellan and........Christopher Columbus
@@martinkratochvil8488 Christopher Columbus? I think you might be mistaken friend.
@@planescaped Must have been talking about Costopher Chrilumbus. :/
Hope this game has Mractice Pode (I'm stretching this aren't I?)
Leave us not forget Yalvin Ork, Maudie Urphy, and Tharry Lorne!
I'm so glad that point and click adventure games switched to just using the 'talk to' action and gave you a list of options you could ask.
Trying to think of what to write was just waay too confusing back when I was a child.
I liked the idea, but the gameplay was rather difficult.
"Fissionchip" I will never not think that is clever
I thought Fissionchips was highly amusing. then again I was 13 years old at the time. thanks for the review
Too bad the guy on the box didn't have an epic mustache like the guy in the game. It would have sold way more copies.
Going by the aesthetics and the look of the main character, I think the developers took inspiration from Zardoz, a weird indie film Sean Connery was in.
And probably Flash Gordon too.
I think The Kristal was based on a play the way Oblivion was based on a graphic novel. Hint: The graphic novel was never published and its creator really wanted to make a movie all along.
I was given this game in the 90's by someone who didn't want it any more - I never really got anywhere with it. I do seem to remember solving the mystery of what "Flow" was, and why everyone kept telling me to "Go with the flow". Some shady character somewhere offered to sell me some "Flow", leading me to believe that it was some kind of narcotic that everyone was on.
magma2050 lmao
That makes almost a little too much sense considering how out there the rest of the game is.
They thanked George Lucas and Steven Spielberg for ... "keeping away". I don't think those two had to try very hard to stay away.
Holy crap. Compared to this, the amiga version almost seems like a masterpiece... Almost. It's impressive that they managed to keep the intro with just the pc speaker.
@seandewar5 Hehe, yeah there are some awesome moments with the dialogue in this one. I just wish the rest of the game matched its occasional witty banter!
@MrShot97 I realized after I'd already made the video I forgot to make that complaint. :)
It looks like hi-res EGA, making heavy use of dithering. But it is technically VGA. The Amiga and Atari ST versions look great in comparison.
This was a weird game. I remember trying to unsuccessfully figure it out how to play it on the Amiga.
That dude looks like Tony Iomni during the 70's.
More like Geezer Butler tbh.
this game is one of the few games that hasnt got a lets play
Same
what is the same??
Orbrun it means yes or I agree with you.
***** same :p
no, it doesn't mean "yes or I agree with you" lmfao - it means "same here" and it is not the appropriate response to a general statement such as "this is the only game that doesn't have a let's play"
Just in case anyone out there might be curious about playing this, a walkthrough for it DOES exist: you have to get the book Quest for Clues III.
4:25 I can't help but stare at the "R" trying to figure out why nobody fixed it..
Everything else at least looks like letters..
the Kpistal, lol!
Your DOS reviews make me miss my Amiga.
I don't know why the play never became a thing. The protagonist is named Dancis Frake, for crying out loud.
I know, right? God.
I think I found the play: soundcloud.com/rodneywyatt/sets/the-kristal-of-konos
@@tobiasbanks3743 oh my God.
it was set up with elaine paige and patrick moore and a few others, cant remember if it ever played.
i will ask rodney, he developed it and wrote the play with a guy calked mike sutin.
I had this game, because it was one of the few games that was ever sold in B-Wise. My experience was identical to Mr. Clint Basinger's. What's happening at any time? What am I supposed to be doing? And why? I'd love to see the play script, just to find out what the fuck the story was supposed to be.
You need to free the princess out of the hands of Lotarr, Redhead and another bad guy the name I cannot remember. The problem is is you dont ask the guy "Gloop" you meet randomly the question "What are you doing?" you will never know of that. He gives you an invitation and you go to the palace. I found that out after one year of playing.
There you meet the king, his advisor and the princess which is later on kidnapped. But dont think the game becomes more logic afterwards.
That sounds very impressive for the PC speaker man!
Is the speech at the title screen voiced by Sir Patrick Moore?
+Karl Slicher I thought the same and looked it up. Yep it's the GamesMaster himself, Sir Patrick Moore.
+Karl Slicher
I thought it sounded familiar.
We need just the recording of that...
Matrick Poore
Yes it is
@PituDitu It does have a lot of that classic, campy sci-fi vibe and for that it's awesome. But compared to the other campy sci-fi games Cinemaware released that actually DO feel like an interactive movie, it sucks.
Glad you enjoyed the review!
"Galagher wearing a homo-erotic wolverine costume.."
I laughed so hard I had to pause the video to gather my shit.
By the time you referred to him as "Wolvergalagher", I'd completely lost it.
Thanks for the laughs, LGR!
"They couldn't act their way out of a furniture-outlet commercial"
Those sound bites are like eavesdropping on a b29 pilots conversations with his team
I cannot! "...you are greeted with a lie."
It's said SO nonchalantly!
gooseguse, that part made me laugh too!
@DatabaseGeek Can't say I've ever played it, but I will certainly give it a try and see what it's about!
You have to admit it's kinda good for the way his hair bounces with every step.
@rpmmelby It was going to be last month, leading up to Duke Nukem Forever's release. But then the game got delayed again and I got too depressed! I'll still review the games sometime...
hallo
The guy doing the narration is sir Patrick Moore , or at least sounds like him anyway.
It was indeed Patrick Moore!
Wolvergalager is not bad, so I would suggest Galgerine
Bob Dobbs That sounds like either an STD or an off-brand mouthwash. ...or both.
Mouthwash.
I don't think I've ever seen a game that uses 640×200 mode before. Also that Fissionchips logo could give most modern metal bands a run for its money in the unreadability department.
If you collect more than 100 strenght you can pass the executions chamber. There is Redhead then, a pirate who cooperates with Lotarr who kidnapped the princess you met in the King's palace. After you finished him in a swords fight you get to a prince whose name I forgot who challanges you for a pchic duel. This was, where I always died. Although I foud out many things more than you, everything is still unclear.
I'd highly recommend Ancient DOS Games. He only posts them on blip.tv, so just go to his website (pixelships[dot]com/adg)
You are seriously my favorite youtuber!
I'm so glad to find out that furniture commercials are the same everywhere.
Honestly? It doesn't look that bad. I guess this is one of those things where the gameplay really kills it. And well, that does happen. It looks pretty funny and campy and the graphics seem quite excellent really. Too bad it's not actually that much fun apparently. Maybe it'd be well suited to a reboot if someone felt up to doing so? Or just some sort of hack or patch.
Don't mind me I am just watching older LGR videos on a binge
Ha. My home page is set to wikipedia's Random Page. Today, /wiki/The_Kristal popped up and I landed on your review. Good work, and I'm glad to see you're still doing these.
I never finished this game as a kid, we had the same box art here in Australia. Ahhh I miss the IBM286
Another excellent review here Phreak!
Only person on youtube I've come across that pronounces Giger correctly.
The graphics are pretty damn cool, even though the gameplay seems severely lacking.
@huhabab Ha, there is a sort of mid-1990s Romero vibe going on with that cover.
@Lvl22nerd Yeah, I've gained about 195 pounds since I was born. A real tragedy, thanks for pointing it out!
going back to these old videos your voice slowly became full Duke Nukem :D
I remember this game. We (in Australia) had the same box art as the American Version...
I couldn't figure how to play it when I was a kid...
Nice analogy.
I just found this game on cassette on my national version of Ebay. I shudder to think how bad the 8-bit version of this would be.
could you review Sid Meier's Pirates?
Never heard actual dialogue from the pc speaker, sweet!
Your pizza analogy, was beautiful.
When paying programmers with weed and letting them design on the way, was an option.
In the manual: "Chocolate Skringles?"
The puppets in Team America. Couldn't have explained it better myself.
12 years... Holy cow!
You think _American_ consumers get belittling and condescending packaging? Look at German movie title translations, and you will feel proud of that little bit of cheese in your box art. We have to endure much higher levels of cringe on a daily basis...
Yeah. I am not German, and even i knew that your movie titles sucks.
I tested this game before release.
"You are met with, a lie"
Clint i freaking love you man
That art is gorgeous! ...shame about the gameplay.
That seems to be a common theme for retro adventure games.
hi LGR, great video clarifying another mystery from Dos era. Can you make a review for an old western game named "Colorado"? I am sure you know that game. It was interesting and hard to understand when I was a kid. still don't know what the main objectives were. You would do a great favor for your fans, dude.
Sim Copter music in the background? Love it.
Good review!
Wow..."The Kristal Kronikles", very creative....
That voice! It’s Sir Patrick Moore, aka The Games Master!!
That's a brilliant idea, sir and/or madam. Thanks for that.
Awesome , like always!
love the intro screen dude :)
With games like this... just record your end time. Post it to a forum and congratulations, you are a world record speedrunner
This video pretty much sums up how I feel about Zelda II.
I would have loved this in the 80's if I had it.
@shaurz Or Mortal Kombat fans... perhaps the MK kreators were Kristal fans? Ha, K's in place of C's, how silly.
ahead of its time
I loved this game.
I couldn't get past the first planet.
But still I loved it.
God only knows why
@phreakindee Try running it in DOSBox and take a screenshot. This way you can find out which screen res it's using.
That sounds like the voices in my head O.o
And thats the FIRST THING I thought when I saw the guy, that he looks exactly like Ghallager. If smashing watermelons are involved in this game then I'm sold.
This makes me want a review of Hugo III.
Ty for share , greets
Heh... at 2:05 you turned into George McFly for a sec. :D
I like that you give bad games a fair tryout.
And that you give reasons why they suck instead of just saying "it sucks".
Haha I totally thought "muscle-bound Keanu" looked more like Ed Helms and Will from Will & Grace's lovechild
it's like a real early version of a game called Laser Lords for the cd-i. both are side-scrolling sci fi adventure games with weird senses of humor and mediocre "action" sequences. wonder if there was some crossover between dev teams or if the people that made laser lords were just fans of this.
@TheRetroGamerGuy Thanks :)
This is the oddest VGA color scheme I've seen. It reminds me of the Tandy 16 color scheme with some EGA mixed in. It definitely isn't 320x200 at 256 colors (or it didn't take advantage of the 256 colors or resolution). Was it just an EGA mode that was ported to VGA?
Higher resolution than 320cx20. Definitely.
@@stunheart I think it's 640x200 (might be 240) with an EGA colour palette. My guess is that it has 64 colours, but only 16 can be shown simultaneously.
"That's about as subtle a hint as a hammer to the balls"
is that doug hennning on the screen?wow the magic gig must have fell through..
@mistamontiel
The games are being reviewed from 4th to 1st place.
Part of me misses wishes I grew up during this time period of gaming and other parts of me are glad I was born later.
DANCIS, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE!!!!!
Yeah, thank's a lot, just bought this one, on the Amiga.
@ 9:35 when he turns around to give the thumbs up, the character looks like doug henning. it's not magic, it's an illusion.
From 2011 and still getting likes 👍
What was the old fighting game with a land shark?
why is it that you saying "NOPE" sounds so awesome!?!?!
gnarly dude
This intro should return.
Wait, what was that intro just now? Obviously it was Duke3D, but a custom map?