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rainbowdragonz's review against another edition
3.0
TLDR: The story elements (plot, characters, dialogue, etc.) are fun and well written. The fighting fantasy parts were poorly laid out, included multiple errors, and were at times confusing and frustrating. This book was either poorly play tested or not play-tested at all and contains multiple proofing errors, as well as poorly laid out path.
This review does contain mild content spoilers. Major spoilers are hidden.
To start off I want to say that this is not my first pick-your-path book, or even my first fighting fantasy book. I've not read them all by any means, but I know how this type of book works and how to successfully get to the end. Yet, this book was confusing at times, and at one point I had to go and check the rules in another fighting fantasy book I own in order to understand what I was meant to do.
In terms of plot, characters, and storyline this book was nice, although many sections were a little more light-hearted and childlike compared to the original fighting fantasy books. The characters were likable enough, you had a decent reason for pursing your main goal, and there were enough descriptions that I found it easy enough to picture what was happening. Where this book fell flat for me was it's main hook: the fighting fantasy elements. And it was not just one or two elements; it was all of them, to the point where I feel that no playtesting was done before release.
Firstly a minor gripe: The adventure sheet in the back was poorly laid out. (Also I felt that the rules and sheet should have been at the front like normal). There was not enough room for all the items I collected during one playthrough, yet there was a ton of empty space in the codewords section (which I ended up commandeering for additional items). There was also no space for any additional notes, despite there being multiple times where the book told you to make a note of some key information. There are also multiple proof-reading errors, a full list of which can be found here: https://fightingfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Crystal_of_Storms_(book)#Errors
When it comes to following a path it was initially very simplistic (not necessarily a bad thing, particularly in a children's book), and implied you would be able to go back and recheck areas multiple times to make sure you hadn't missed anything. Now looping is not a bad thing, particularly for completionists, but it can become one when it is not accounted for. There were multiple times where the book gave you a free option for you to go back to an area you had already visited, only to direct you to the exact same pages you had just done, including fighting the same monsters you had just defeated. Not very well thought out.
Endless loops were not the only way you could end your playthrough. There were also a large amount of endings where you just ran out of money, this was particularly bad if you. Unlike the originals there were very few death scenes, even at times when you lost a battle (and therefore died) there was no description. The book simply told you to turn to page ?? "if you win". There was no if you loose criteria, and it was assumed you would just know to start again.
Another area where the lack of playtesting seemed to come through was on "testing your skill". At multiple points throughout you may need to test your skill by rolling two D6's (regular dice), with a number equal to or below your current skill level meaning you passed. Your skill score was set at the beginning as 6+1d6 (or 6+ one roll of the dice). The problem here is that you have 1/6 chance of rolling a 6 and having a skill score of 12. This means you will always pass every skill check. There was one item I found which permanently increased your skill by 1, making it even more likely you would get a number which automatically succeeded. There was one point towards the end of the book where your skill was -1 during certain situations. But again for me that meant any dice roll other than 2 sixes would succeed a skill check. This did make me question the point of having a skill check so often.
I also found the codewords to be annoying at times. They seemed to only add flavour, not be needed to finish. There were also multiple times where I felt like I had forgotten to write a codeword down, as the information I received after stating I did not have particularly code word was information I already had.
This poor path layout, errors, and lack of planning let me to get bored near the end, with me skimming through quickly, only to come to a very unsatisfying finale. To me the conclusion to the story happened too early, and the actual ending was not worth the effort it took to get to.
This review does contain mild content spoilers. Major spoilers are hidden.
To start off I want to say that this is not my first pick-your-path book, or even my first fighting fantasy book. I've not read them all by any means, but I know how this type of book works and how to successfully get to the end. Yet, this book was confusing at times, and at one point I had to go and check the rules in another fighting fantasy book I own in order to understand what I was meant to do.
In terms of plot, characters, and storyline this book was nice, although many sections were a little more light-hearted and childlike compared to the original fighting fantasy books. The characters were likable enough, you had a decent reason for pursing your main goal, and there were enough descriptions that I found it easy enough to picture what was happening. Where this book fell flat for me was it's main hook: the fighting fantasy elements. And it was not just one or two elements; it was all of them, to the point where I feel that no playtesting was done before release.
Firstly a minor gripe: The adventure sheet in the back was poorly laid out. (Also I felt that the rules and sheet should have been at the front like normal). There was not enough room for all the items I collected during one playthrough, yet there was a ton of empty space in the codewords section (which I ended up commandeering for additional items). There was also no space for any additional notes, despite there being multiple times where the book told you to make a note of some key information. There are also multiple proof-reading errors, a full list of which can be found here: https://fightingfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Crystal_of_Storms_(book)#Errors
When it comes to following a path it was initially very simplistic (not necessarily a bad thing, particularly in a children's book), and implied you would be able to go back and recheck areas multiple times to make sure you hadn't missed anything. Now looping is not a bad thing, particularly for completionists, but it can become one when it is not accounted for. There were multiple times where the book gave you a free option for you to go back to an area you had already visited, only to direct you to the exact same pages you had just done, including fighting the same monsters you had just defeated. Not very well thought out.
Endless loops were not the only way you could end your playthrough. There were also a large amount of endings where you just ran out of money, this was particularly bad if you
Spoiler
decided not to go after the cockroach that stole your money.Another area where the lack of playtesting seemed to come through was on "testing your skill". At multiple points throughout you may need to test your skill by rolling two D6's (regular dice), with a number equal to or below your current skill level meaning you passed. Your skill score was set at the beginning as 6+1d6 (or 6+ one roll of the dice). The problem here is that you have 1/6 chance of rolling a 6 and having a skill score of 12. This means you will always pass every skill check. There was one item I found which permanently increased your skill by 1, making it even more likely you would get a number which automatically succeeded. There was one point towards the end of the book where your skill was -1 during certain situations. But again for me that meant any dice roll other than 2 sixes would succeed a skill check. This did make me question the point of having a skill check so often.
I also found the codewords to be annoying at times. They seemed to only add flavour, not be needed to finish. There were also multiple times where I felt like I had forgotten to write a codeword down, as the information I received after stating I did not have particularly code word
Spoiler
particularly the code word Eye SpyThis poor path layout, errors, and lack of planning let me to get bored near the end, with me skimming through quickly, only to come to a very unsatisfying finale. To me the conclusion to the story happened too early, and the actual ending was not worth the effort it took to get to.
magpi3's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was very fun to read! I used to love these as a child but had no luck in progressing through them. This is so much better. Rhianna's video game background shines through with an easy to follow layout and the ability to explore all possible paths before continuing. This did lead to getting stuck in a loop but it was easy enough to correct.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence
taaya's review against another edition
3.0
Now this was hard. I'm not sure if I got very very unlucky with my dice, or if that book is supposed to kill you (or keep you at 1-3 stamina points ALL the time, once you left the first three islands).
In my opinion there wasn't enough opportunity to stock up on food/potions. I died with 12 GP two fights before the end. (Yep, kept on reading as if I won after that, because I REALLY didn't have any motivation to repeat the 5 hours of gameplay that led up to that.) And I only encountered one market with only three items? (And yeah, there are a lot you just find and don't have to buy, but they're still too few for so many fights.)
Also, on some points the rules need to be more specific. If I fight two enemies together, do I add their skill levels (and then add the two dice)? In at least one fight that would've meant that there was no chance of winning at all. (Which is why I cheated there.)
And do potions or food enhance the submarine's stamina? (Again, cheated here, because otherwise I would've died in the submarine FOUR times.)
Apart from that it was a fun adventure, even though I prefer interactive stories with more possible ends.
In my opinion there wasn't enough opportunity to stock up on food/potions. I died with 12 GP two fights before the end. (Yep, kept on reading as if I won after that, because I REALLY didn't have any motivation to repeat the 5 hours of gameplay that led up to that.) And I only encountered one market with only three items? (And yeah, there are a lot you just find and don't have to buy, but they're still too few for so many fights.)
Also, on some points the rules need to be more specific. If I fight two enemies together, do I add their skill levels (and then add the two dice)? In at least one fight that would've meant that there was no chance of winning at all. (Which is why I cheated there.)
And do potions or food enhance the submarine's stamina? (Again, cheated here, because otherwise I would've died in the submarine FOUR times.)
Apart from that it was a fun adventure, even though I prefer interactive stories with more possible ends.
kates_book_nook's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
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