Searching for Humanity Down the Rabbit Hole

What would happen if you took American McGee’s Alice and turned it into a roguelike action RPG with an anime design? The answer is CRYMELIGHT from FuRyu Corporation. Just as CRYMACHINA grabbed my attention for its similarities to NieR: Automata, the third game in this trilogy hooked me with its resemblance to American McGee’s Alice. The result is a unique experience that retells a classic story while exploring the same themes as its predecessors.

CRYMELIGHT is a thought-provoking journey down the rabbit hole that explores the themes of what it means to be human, using Alice in Wonderland as a framework. It is a game that will get your attention with its design aesthetics and art style, keep you invested with its story, and make it fun with its roguelike RPG gameplay.

Sins of Wonderland

The story follows a girl known only as “Alice,” who wakes up with no memories of her past, a spirit that has lost its sense of self. Guided by a mysterious voice, she evades being purged until she discovers herself and gains a physical body. She is then greeted by her guide, the White Rabbit, who tells her and those at the Tea Party that they have been selected as challengers in the Killing Game. The rules are simple: battle your way through Wonderland and slay the Queen of Hearts. Succeed and you win your freedom. But what that freedom means is left as vague as possible. To earn her freedom and reclaim her past, Alice must fight through Wonderland with the help of Mary, a mysterious girl who was not invited as a challenger.

As in CRYMACHINA, the foundation of the story is laid out at the start to give you purpose, while everything else is slowly fed over time. This builds mystery around not just Alice’s predicament, but also the world of Wonderland and those who surround her. The similarities go beyond story structure to the themes and concepts of the overall narrative. Players will once again control a character in a dark world, deprived of her memory and past. As they journey through the depths of this world, they will not only get closer to the truth, but also reclaim their humanity.

Meaning to Sin

CRYMELIGHT blends action RPG gameplay with roguelike elements, while its story is told through visual novel segments. If you have played CRYMACHINA, all of this might feel familiar on a foundational level, yet it is designed to fit not just the world of Alice in Wonderland, but also the concept of death and rebirth.

Combat is built on light attacks, heavy attacks, and dashing to evade enemy strikes. Chaining these moves unleashes powerful combos and special attacks that deal heavy damage to your foes. The core of the combat is the Wonder Cryme, an ability that draws out the guilt in a user’s soul and turns it into a power used to fight. It can be enhanced with Cryme Cards, which are collected after clearing each stage. Cryme Cards also have a poker element: collecting cards of the same number or suit forms a hand, which levels up and strengthens the cards’ effects. But there is a catch: chasing a poker hand might cost you other abilities.

Every trip into Wonderland follows a different path. Each stage changes its layout, challenges, foes, and rewards. You can also interact with each stage by destroying the setting and letting the Wonder Dimension take over. The more it spreads, the more the battle turns in your favor, boosting your Sin gain and action speed at full bloom. However, the journey ends one of two ways: defeat the floor guardian and win, or die and return to the Tea Party. Every death takes Alice back to the Tea Party, turning the roguelike loop into part of that theme of death and rebirth.

It is at the Tea Party that you will learn about who you are and the world, and prepare yourself for what is to come. You will confess your sins, which will unlock new powers and boost your skills. Speaking to the Tailor will unlock new weapons or upgrade your existing gear. The Tea Party also allows players to learn more about not just the core characters, but also those who provide support.

Crystal of Prayer

One thing it needs to be commended for is being a radical departure from its predecessors in terms of design and gameplay. CRYMELIGHT’s look is a break from that of CRYMACHINA and CRYSTAR, which can be a risk at times. Such changes may turn away fans of a franchise because they are not what they are used to, and they signal a new direction from what makes a franchise beloved by the audience. While this change is a departure from previous entries, the fundamentals and tone that have defined the series are still present.

CRYMELIGHT is one of those games that will get your attention because of its visual design mixed with anime aesthetics. It presents a world in a macabre style, using 2D art with the artistic design of an anime. Together, they create a twisted Wonderland that has the hallmarks of the classic story, while also giving the sense that something feels off about this world. This concept works in tandem with the story to create an atmosphere of uncertainty as players explore who they are while unraveling the mystery of this Wonderland.

Also, the White Rabbit constantly reminding Mary that she is a “Plus One” is mean, but it will give you a good chuckle.

Better Luck Next Time

During my playthrough, there were some issues with CRYMELIGHT that really stood out and were hard to overlook. The first was that while each floor has a different theme, the level layout, though small, gets repetitive way too fast. Some things will get moved around slightly or traps will be in a different spot, but you will begin to see the same patterns really quickly. Unfortunately, this is also extended to the soundtrack as the music can also get repetitive. Next is activating the special attacks, as they do not respond to your command fast enough, so you miss out on using them when prompted by the game. This becomes even more infuriating when you are in the midst of an intense battle and really need them.

Yet these shortcomings should not deter someone from giving CRYMELIGHT a chance as these issues can be overlooked when compared to what makes the game great.

Reclaim Your Humanity

CRYMELIGHT is what happens if you remake American McGee’s Alice as a roguelike action RPG with the same thought-provoking themes and an anime design. FuRyu Corporation made a gamble by taking the third CRY game in a radical direction in terms of visual design and gameplay. Yet it kept what has made the series beloved by its fans in terms of story, themes, and tone. The result is a unique take on the classic Lewis Carroll story. For fans of the CRY series and dark takes on Wonderland, this is one rabbit hole worth falling down.

Disclaimer: The publisher, through a PR representative, provided the game used for this review.

This review of CRYMELIGHT is the critique of one gamer. If you want to see how other critics felt, then check it out on OpenCritic.

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides insight into the gamer community of the San Francisco Bay Area.

CRYMELIGHT (PC)

9

Excellent

9.0/10

Pros

• Retelling of the classic story with its own take.
• Easy to learn gameplay mechanics, especially if you played CRYSTAR or CRYMACHINA
• Its atmosphere of mystery makes you want to dig deeper into the world.
• A radical departure from past CRY titles that works to its advantage.

Cons

• Level design and soundtrack gets too repetitive very quick.
• Input command issues when trying to activate special attacks.