Crosscode is one of those games that reminds of the Nintendo era filled with passion and without the lack difficulty curve to pad for time. Many call this game a hidden gem for a reason. Story-wise, it definitely starts a bit slow. As one goes further the storyline expand and develop ALL throughout the game. No matter how small. Like the person who sits on tables. Or the quest of the guy hiding probes around the map. It creates a world that feels very much alive. The writing is rather impressive. Not only is it competent, literate, and articulate, it's like this game was written by people who earnestly care about the characters and story not just pumping out text because it's their job (unlike most AAA games). That infectious passion draws the player into the world. Combine that with a deep and novel combat system, creative puzzles that make you feel smart, and a well-balanced pace, and we end up with an experience that veritably surpasses many of our favorite classic masterpieces. The controls are great. Everything that happens makes "sense". Moving is fluid, fighting is seamless. Controls are one of the most important parts of a game to get right. The auto-jumping is one of the bigger highlights of the game, and sets it apart from many other games. Having a jump button has become mainstream, but it would just be distracting in a game like this. The music, art, portraits, and locations are all very excellent. And they match the story beats - The scenery almost reacts to Lea's emotions. When she's happy, the world is vibrant, bright and lush. When she's mad, the screen might shake and flash. When she's sad, it may rain, or there'll be a lot more shadows onscreen. Etc. The world itself reminds you subtly of the dominant feeling of the scene, keeping you engaged. CrossCode has a professional level of polish that makes it feel more like an AAA game than an indie. It's tough to articulate what magical ingredients Radical Fish used to finally bring about a level of quality that so many other developers have fallen short of over the years, but it's safe to say that each of technical talent, artistic skill, and love for their creation were all vital. Overall this game is one of those games that comes in a few years and if you spare a few bucks it’s a real treat.