Okay, pause—fun fact before we get too deep: this cart was developed by Nextech and brought to North America by Atlus. Nextech has been pretty quiet compared to the big houses, but they squeeze a lot of detail into these Genesis sprites, and Atlus keeps rescuing oddball Japanese titles and giving them a shot over here. Feels like a small-team labor of love as we go.
I love that. Alright, Corona is standing in Soleil Town again—fourteen and already solving world-threatening problems. We are playing Crusader of Centy right now and I have to say the opening overworld music makes even grocery shopping feel heroic. Soundtrack and sprite work are immediate highlights; the animation is crisp and the environments have personality.
Combat is snappy. The base swordplay has a nice weight to it—the swings feel meaningful, not floaty. The real twist is the animal companions. Equipping the penguin to the sword and watching your blade gain an ice edge is genuinely satisfying. It changes enemy weaknesses from “hit-and-repeat” to “figure-out-the-right-companion.” That design choice keeps the game consistently engaging.
I appreciate that it leans into puzzle-solving as well. Dungeons are mostly logical, and you are often solving problems with newly found animal abilities rather than obscure fetch quests. There’s a Zelda vibe but the animals make the puzzles feel distinctive. I just beat a cave where I had to swap between the penguin for freezing water and a mole companion to dig—clever level design.
It is fair to say it leans familiar. If you have played Zelda on a console, much of the flow—overworld, towns, dungeons—will feel comfortable. That is both strength and weakness. On one hand, it helps the game be immediately accessible; on the other, it sometimes plays it safe where it could push harder. There are moments when enemy variety dwindles and you can get into combat patterns that feel repetitive.
The pacing is generally pleasant, but the difficulty curve has spikes. Some bosses throw multiple phases at you and require quick swaps of companions under pressure. The final boss? Right now we are in the last gauntlet: the music swells, the screen goes dark, and the creature keeps shifting forms until you use a combination of the ice blade and the flying companion to reach a weak point. It’s cinematic, and I like that the animals aren’t just gimmicks; they are crucial for the climax.
Memorable moment right there—the final phase where Corona cannot speak to humans but is shouting at seagulls telepathically. For an RPG-lite action game, the storytelling through gameplay beats a lot of text-heavy scenes. There’s an emotional beat when you realize some animals you befriended earlier turn the tide in the final fight. It feels earned.
Hot Tips while we catch our breath:
- Always equip companions to the correct slot—some grant passive boosts, others active attacks. Try every combo; some secrets require a specific pair.
- Exploration pays off. Hidden paths often hold healing items or rare companions that make later bosses manageable.
- Save before a boss and learn its patterns rather than brute force. Some bosses are pattern-heavy and punishing if you attempt to button-mash.
- Upgrade your sword when possible; the extra reach is surprisingly useful in cramped dungeons.
The inventory and menu system could be tighter. Switching companions mid-dungeon can be a little clumsy when enemies are on-screen. It breaks rhythm. Also, the game is on the shorter side compared to sprawling RPGs; you can finish the main story in an evening if you know where you’re going. That makes replays tempting but the map isn’t large enough for prolonged exploration to feel fresh.
I will be candid: it is a solid, confident title with a few rough edges. The design is clever and playful, but it does not always explore every idea it presents. Still, the strengths—tight combat, excellent sprite work, memorable animal mechanics, and a satisfying final boss sequence—are enough to recommend it to anyone who enjoys top-down action with light RPG trimmings.
For anyone in 1994 picking this up, know that you are getting a polished experience from a team that understands the hardware. It is not the deepest RPG on the block, but it delivers consistent fun, a charming protagonist who does a lot more talking to critters than people, and a few moments that genuinely surprise. In short: dependable, clever, and often delightful.
No cheesy send-off—just one last note from the couch: if you like action games with personality and don’t require a 60-hour epic, this is worth the time. Now, pass the controller—there’s a secret tunnel I want to explore before the credits roll.
more info and data for Crusader of Centy provided by mobyGames.com
