Croixleur Sigma

Looks can be deceiving. No game seems to embody that notion more than Croixleur Sigma - or at least tries to make good of it. Souvenir Circs hack and slash focuses on the more trivial parts of the genre - but do them really well.

The approach of a stripped-down, polished game that limits assets and mechanics to only what it finds necessary is more associated with an indie mobile game than a console release. Croixleur Sigma has gained a cult following, however. It is of keen interest to find out why.

Two girls, one mission

Hope you were not looking for a story, and I really hope you were not looking for any meaningful dialogue. We will say now, Croixleur Sigma has absolutely none of this. Apart from the game's basic premise, the narrative consists of thus. Two girls clad in typical anime style vying for control of a single tower that somehow rules their land. You won't be pulling anything particular immersive from the backline.

That is not the point of the game, however. The aim is to provide a very accessible hack-and-slash that starts you off with easy to learn techniques and becomes hard to master. The game is laden with mechanics for those who love a challenge and definitely delivers on that front.

Croixleur Sigma simplifies just about everything when it comes to the assets. Environments are limited to just circular arenas, enemy variations are few, and there is not much inventory as equipment to work with. The combat is the core focus - using all the time and energy of the developer. Weapons vary a fair bit, and enemies do get harder, forcing you to change your approach every once in a while.

You will need to battle bosses and take on wave after wave of foes. Learning techniques and conjuring combos to eliminate them from existence, all wrapped in a cutesy anime package. In contrast to what could be said about the game - the simple nature does make it quite refreshing. One could argue it as a very high-end arcade game challenging through the four fronts of its similar modes. Does that make it a playable product, however?

Embrace the grind

The market for this type of game is apparent - those that enjoy the grind and get innumerable pleasure from ranking on the high scores. The lack of variation is intentional for the sake of the flow. It only wants to see players enjoy the game through continuing their killing spree of enemies, finding the best ways to do so.

Without a doubt, the game is a button-mashing spectacular. There are a fair few players that would enjoy the visual spectacles of the combat and colorful arenas for a while. Having said that, Croixleur Sigma fails to deliver anything engaging. That is where gameplay loses out for the majority - the grind falls flat without a tangible reward system. The offering seems a bit reminiscent of the remarkably average X-Blades, just fair more but of polish.

Sure it may be cute, and it can provide some small burst of fun. One does have to admire the approach to creating a game that channels focus. Limiting its design principles enough so that mechanics and gameplay are seamless all the way through.

Pros

• Very polished game with seamless combat
• Visuals and animations flow nicely with the supplemented coloring
• A decent playthrough for those seeking a challenge

Cons

• Polish comes at the sacrifice of variation
• Every asset outside the combat is very limited in option or presence
• Repetition will be annoying after a few hours