Crystalis

Crystalis is an action-adventure video game developed and published by SNK Corporation and Nintendo Software Technology for the Famicom, Nintendo Entertainment System, and the Game Boy Color. The Famicom and NES versions were created and published by SNK and the Game Boy Color version was created and published by Nintendo. The Famicom and Nintendo Entertainment System version was released in Japan on April 13, 1990 and in North America on July, 1990, and the Game Boy Color version was released in North America on June 26, 2000; that version was never released anywhere else.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) Good graphics, which showed what can be done with the primitive color pallet that the NES provided its programmers.
 * 2) Characters and monsters will take on shapes very familiar to anime-goers.
 * 3) Great sprites, which are nicely detailed.
 * 4) The environments fit perfectly with the atmosphere of their respective sections.
 * 5) Excellent music. The melodies are well-crafted so that they don't seem repetitive, and they do a fantastic job of enriching the atmosphere.
 * 6) Crystalis was a Legend of Zelda clone that was actually GOOD, as opposed to many of the other Zelda clones that came out around that time.
 * 7) For a game that came out when it did, Crystalis has a nigh-perfect story. It deals with more serious themes and takes place in a more unique environment than the Legend of Zelda or Final Fantasy does, and the plot twists and character development far outdo anything else on the NES.

Reception
The original NES version of Crystalis was met with very positive reviews. The aspects that were praised the most were its plot, graphics, and soundtrack. The Game Boy Color port, while still receiving positive reviews, was not as positively received.