Crimson Tears Critic Reviews

An excellent blend of a beat-em up game with an RPG. Fans of both genres will agree.

This is one of the slickest-looking games on the PS2.

The character advancement system is satisfying as is the combat dynamics and the weapons system adds an additional layer of depth to the intrinsically deep RPG dynamics.

A decent enough beat 'em up adventure with interesting roleplaying elements. It is way too repetitive, however.

The bosses are straight out of a mid-nineties arcade quarter-muncher, with identifiable patterns but, frequently, no real way for a character to safely get in to melee range.

8 / 7 / 7 / 7 - 29

A devilishly addictive blend of role playing game and button-bashing fighter. I found the game quite a bit of fun to play, but really didn’t have any nagging urges to return to it once I put it down.

With a better approach to dungeon crawling, less fetch questing, and a better inventory system, the sequel could definitely blow some doors off.

This isn't a story-driven RPG and it isn't a pure action game. But if you can appreciate the way Diablo fused the two genres, and if you don't mind the distinct anime artwork, Crimson Tears is a real gem.

If Crimson Tears did a better job of eliminating or even just disguising its leveling grind, it could have started a BrawlPG trend. For now, it's merely good but repetitive - it could have leveled up more before its release.

For us, it's an enjoyable hackandslash with a thoughtful combat system, some nice integration of RPG elements, and a story that kept us interested once it stopped trying to confuse us by failing to clarify who or what anything was or had to do with anything.

Worth looking at for its high production values, but its gameplay lacks depth. If your favorite part of "Final Fantasy X" was seeking out rare items to upgrade your weapons, you will love this game.

The game has its share of ups and downs, but if you're willing to overlook the occasionally frustrating fixed camera, it actually gets better the more you play it, just like the characters with whom you'll be fighting.

Given the complexity of a lot of what's out there, it's always nice to just sit back and beat on things, and when it looks this nice, well, if you're so inclined, this is one of the better pick-up-and-play games around.

A repetitive game that is bound to bore a large majority of gamers after just a short time of playing. It reeks of old school gaming, but not in a good way, and in an age where innovation and longevity are all that keeps a game from falling into the bottomless pit of obscurity, Crimson Tears already seems doomed.

A fairly unique game that is, overall, quite fun. Its flaws lie, unfortunately, in the largest part of any game - the gameplay.

Tight control and unlockable combos keep you from falling asleep, but the rote, dungeon-hacking gameplay wears think quickly...especially solo.

A classic dungeon crawl with a couple of twists. It's set in futuristic Tokyo and it's cel-shaded. Unfortunately, those two nifty wrinkles aren't enough to make up for the game's otherwise lackluster play.

Good enough to be a solid rental, but anything else and you'll wonder exactly how many times you can run from room to room smacking broken record-voiced enemies over and over again to make things worth your $50. Trust me, even with the number of times you'll revisit levels and bust out the same combo chain, it's not enough.

Oddly addicting. It's as hard to put down as it is hard to pick up and play once you become frustrated over the design imperfections. How you will fare depends on your temperment in this reality.