In thisCrystal of Atlanhands on preview, we will be exploring the core gameplay of the newFree-to-Play MMORPG, and giving you a look at the range of modes and features available at launch.
The game has a bright, anime-like aesthetic, it has an expansive class system, several game modes, and a strong combat system that is easy to pick up, but hard to master.
What is Crystal of Atlan?
Its aFree to Play MMO Action RPG, soon to be relaunched onPC, Mobile, Playstation 5. Originally released in 2023 in China, it topped the charts, and trended heavily on social media.
Now the development team aims to bring this success worldwide with a relaunch that has already been through several rounds of testing across multiple platforms.
It bringsAction RPGcombat, with a strong emphasis on fast-flowing combos, set in a Magicpunk world, mixing magic and machinery.
Explore the world of Atlan, and become a part of theAdventurer’s Guild, embarking on missions to help various colorful characters and eventually uncover mysteries around theCrystal of Atlanitself, reportedly the source of all energy in the world.
Players will explore mines, factories, the mysterious Void Realm and even aCircus-like Wonderlandarea in their journey, but let’s get into how the game plays.
Crystal of Atlan - Combat and Mechanics
It has a clear focus on combat, and it feels like the fighting system could easily be slotted into a dedicated action game with fast paced, fluid, responsive controls and impactful, punchy skills.
Abilities and Classeshelp distinguish gameplay themes, allowing players to engage with foes the way they want.
Crystal of Atlanleans more towards an Action RPG in this regard andless MMO. Even basic attacks are impactful. Enemies react to being hit and, depending on the skill, can be disrupted or outright stunned if their defense is broken.
There’s an element of tactical play as dodging is essential in some respects, especially with bigger bosses.
Aerial combat is fluid and well-thought out, with the ability to seamlessly move into the air with theBATK abilityacross all classes.
This is reminiscent of some action games, where a launcher allows for transitions between different combat styles, moving to midair and ground in the same way.
Certain skills change in mid-air too, allowing for yet more variability in playstyle. In saying that, the moves didn’t change completely, allowing someone who might be unfamiliar with a new skill to know what to expect.
Overall, the combat leans heavily on quick, snappy abilities that feel good to use, even hundreds of times.
Crucially, the game never appears visually confusing though, as color coding, effect speed, and smart use of camera angles meant that players were never distracted or drawn away from the focus in combat, even on longer, higher level animations.
Several well-established mechanics from MMOs such as “don’t stand in the fire” or “Hide behind the rock” make an appearance in Crystal of Atlan, along with some surprising additions.
Perhaps the most memorable is a boss in the Void, where the player has to attack the boss and its clone, but can only damage one of them depending on a buff that became active as the fight began.
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This buff is color-coded so that the character and enemy absorb attacks of the same color.
This changes regularly throughout the encounter, keeping players on their toes throughout. This added another level of thought to the gameplay at the time, and required close attention.
Crystal of Atlan - Classes & Subclasses
Crystal of Atlancomes withfive classesat launch, and more promised in the near future. Each is recognizable for what their specialty will be.
For example,the Berserker, covered in scars, charges into battle without paying heed to his own safety. In contrast,the Magiblade, immaculately dressed and presented, has a precise and calculated playstyle.
The Magipunk themeis well represented in classes, with a well-balanced helping of both magical fantasy, and chunky, neon-lit technology.
The newest class addition,the Fighter, and its related Advanced classes,CloudstriderandStarbreaker, fit in well here too.
The Fighteris an outright brawler initially, closing in on foes and damaging them with heavy punches and kicks.
It gains the capability of specializing in an elemental mix of range and close attacks with a magical flavor in theCloudstrider, or a hard-hitting, veritable comet of a warrior as theStarbreaker, reliant on flames, technological gauntlets, and airborne attacks to punish their enemies.
Classes also have their own mechanics, fromCrimson Barrierfor the Berserker (where they sacrifice their own health to create a barrier/shield), to Heat mode forthe Gunner(this provides a damage bonus, which can increase based on how much heat the player has).
This makes them engaging and curious minded players will want to know how they work and how best to maximize their abilities.
The classes could benefit from an explanation tooltip or reminder in-game of what certain gauges mean, as when we initially unlocked these, and you may have to go looking for explanations initially.
Design-wise each class fits well with the Magicpunk theme, and feel like they have the appropriate balance between magic and technology, depending on class.
The Magister(and subclasses) has a strong emphasis on magical abilities and therefore is focused on this, with very little “technology” to speak of on their character model, whereas thePuppeteerrelies on a mechanized marionette to perform and tag team abilities, relying heavily on the “tech” side as a result. Each class offers its own definitive perspective on the setting.
Classes have noticeably different playstyles, even within subclasses.Despite having the same origin, each class is clearly defined by what they do and sticks to it.
The Musketeerat heart is a ranged Tactical class.
While the subclasses have very different playstyles (the bounty hunter running and gunning, and the Gunner, a more stationary but heavier hitting class) they stay true to this core aspect.
Crystal of Atlan - Gameplay Modes
Exploration inCrystal of Atlanon the other hand, including quests and character interaction, is very much along the lines of an MMO, with quest givers and expansive hub locations.
The game can be enjoyed solo or in a group, and it’s really only the higher-level raid/dungeon content that requires a team. Multiplayer with friends is easy to set up.
Fleets (this game’s version of guilds) help with this, allowing players to link up with each other, and of course, friends can be brought along for the ride.
CoAhas a variety of game modes for players to dive into. Adventure mode takes the player through the story, allowing them to experience the world and meet its inhabitants.Co-Op Battleallows players to take on the various dungeons in the game. Currently,HexChessis the sole dungeon on offer, more on that later.
Ranked Match is the PVP mode of Crystal of Atlan, where players can challenge each other in groups, or one on one, andChallenge modehas a range of game styles, ranging from waves of enemies, challenging the characters from story mode, exploring the Void realm, and more, all for material rewards.
The Void Realmis an area which is focused on higher difficulty and rewarding players with high-quality materials. Aside from the obvious material benefits, the Void was a challenging and engaging place to spend time, allowing players to push themselves a little further thanAdventure Mode(which tended to be a little too easy).
This area is divided into stages:the Rim, Ravine, Valley, and Nest,each more challenging than the last. The realm is dark, mysterious and intentionally sinister, with Jalm (introduced as the player progresses through the main questline) acting as the player’s guide to the dark realm.
Players encounter tougher foes and challenges as they progress.Areas in the Voidare typically laid out in a similar sequence, with a linear path and multiple enemies to defeat, and players will need to use all of their abilities to dispatch foes effectively.
At approximately the midpoint of each area, the player will be faced with Side Challenges.
These are specific tasks or often mini-bosses, designed to test the player and usually give a hint as to the main boss ability for the area. These can be Mini Bosses, clearing enemy waves, platforming challenges, and more.
Crystal of Atlanemploys “teaching by doing” here, introducing mechanics for the later bosses in theseChallenges, allowing the players to get accustomed to them before engaging with the stronger bosses of each realm.
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During their jaunt through the void, they will encounter multiple bosses, each with their own mechanics, powers and abilities. Players should take care with these, as they can be surprisingly difficult, but the aforementioned side challenges weaken them.
There are six in total currently available inthe Void Realm,withthe Rim and the Ravinehaving two bosses each.
Mechanics in these fights had a distinct MMO flavor. Avoid damage by paying attention and moving out of indicated areas. Avoid crowd-controlling effects, and take advantage of openings and skills to break out of attack chains as and when needed.Despite this, combat still felt action-oriented.
The enemies and bosses felt a little more durable in the void, so took some more time to defeat, but every fight was still enjoyable.
The Voidoverall is considerably more difficult than the standard adventure mode.
However, it can be played co-op as well as solo, allowing for friends or Fleetmates to team up to take on the tide of enemies.
Completing each provides rewards that enables a player to craft better equipment and challenge higher levels, including the final Nest area. This also comes into relevance when attempting theDungeon/Raidcurrently available,HexChess.
During their search for theCrystal of Atlan, the players encounter “Hamlet” who entreats them to help him restore his kingdom and remove the current ruler, Claudius the Usurper. To do this, the player must invade the Forbidden Palace, breaking through defences to reach Claudius. This requires planning, and some skill to complete.
HexChess, as the name implies, is heavily chess themed, with mechanics and enemies all following this design. From Bosses, areas, and even buffs (selected by choosing specific chess pieces), the theme works well, and ties in well with the imaginative world of Atlan overall.
After findingHamlet,the players embark on a quest with him where he explains his goals.
The player is then introduced to the mechanics ofHexChess. They are invited to select a chess piece from a board during a battle preparation phase, before departing on their attempt to invade the castle.
There are several pieces to choose from, each with their own benefits or “Fate Effects” which provide benefits/buffs, such as increasing stats at specific times during their run. This was a clever idea, and gives the player a little risk & reward.
Once they have selected a piece, the players are then taken directly into a battle with aHexChess Guard Boss, then once they defeat this,they proceed to face off with the next boss,Ophelia.
OnceOpheliais defeated, the player is then offered to join Hamlet and help him against his opponent, and after a brief cutscene.
The player and Hamletwill retreat, ending the introductory quest.
This introductory quest effectively sets the player up for how theHexChessdungeon plays.
hey select the piece during battle preparation, then fight their own initial bosses. If they manage to defeat their Boss, they will have the opportunity to join other players to help them and progress further in the Castle.
Once the introduction is complete, players can accessthe HexChess Checkmate dungeon atany time.
COAhas a wide selection of modes to choose from, and a player could spend a lot of time (and energy) in the Void and more.
Hexchessin particular has the flavor of a big MMO dungeon that might take a night to complete in other games, but in our experience, maintained the snappy feeling of the rest of the game. A little more explanation on Nullification would have been appreciated, but otherwise, the mode is thought out and well executed.
Crystal of Atlan -Monetization
Crystal of Atlanhas a number of monetization areas, mostly within the shop where a player can purchase bundles of items and currency, among other options, to hasten their progress. The main incentive to purchase items isCharacter Energy.Characters have an energy meter which is depleted by varying amounts any time they undertake a major activity.This could be a deterrent to some players for a number of reasons.
This kind of restriction can be frustrating, especially when enjoying the game and wanting to see more. Players will receive multiple battery items over the course of their adventure, which can be used to replenish energy, but these are limited in daily usage, and I still found myself running out of energy. Batteries can also be purchased in the in game store as parts ofStarting Boost Bundles.
It’s also worth pointing out that when your first character reaches max level, any other characters you have are able to use an expanded secondary reserve Account Energy stock and aren’t restricted in the same way.
This can be partially mitigated by purchasing thePhantasium Passin store, which increasesthe Daily Energy Cap by 20, and the Account Energy Cap by 120.
The Phantasium Passhas a number of other benefits, such as increased adventure xp, accessing skills 5 levels ahead of when a character should unlock them, and more.
Thislasts for 15 days or 30,and while we did find the bonus useful, it could perhaps last longer for the prices involved. These passes do apply across an entire account, so those players who enjoy multiple characters, or who are switching due to running out of energy, will be able to take advantage.
Final Thoughts
In summary,CoAis an enjoyable, anime inspiredMMO Action RPG, that feels great to play and leaves the player wanting more. A few adjustments would help, such as more explanation of key mechanics (class and nullification), and a revision of the Energy mechanic to allow for more play (at least for the first character), but overall, We had a positive experience withCrystal of Atlan.Characters are easy to level without losing the sense of making progress, and there is plenty of content to dive into here, with a wide range of classes, environments, modes and multiplayer opportunities.
