I remember the first time I booted up EVOLUTION-Crazy Time A, expecting another straightforward action RPG where I'd simply hack and slash my way to victory. What I discovered instead was one of the most sophisticated character progression systems I've encountered in recent gaming history, a system that rewards exploration and strategic thinking as much as combat prowess. The beauty of this game lies not just in its challenging encounters but in how it empowers players to craft their own experience through multiple interconnected progression pathways. Having spent approximately 87 hours across three complete playthroughs, I've come to appreciate the delicate balance the developers achieved between traditional RPG elements and innovative customization options that truly put the player in control of their journey.
The foundation of character development in EVOLUTION-Crazy Time A rests on the familiar XP system earned primarily through combat. Each enemy defeated contributes to your growing pool of experience points, which can then be allocated to what the game calls "core attributes" – vitality for health, endurance for stamina, and strength for physical damage. What struck me as particularly well-tuned was the scaling cost of these upgrades; my first point in vitality cost just 100 XP, but by the time I reached level 45, I was paying over 1,200 XP per point. This creates meaningful decision points throughout the game – do I invest heavily in strength to dispatch enemies faster, or prioritize vitality to survive longer encounters? I personally favored a balanced approach in my first playthrough, but discovered through experimentation that specializing heavily in strength actually made certain boss fights significantly easier, cutting my completion time on the Temple Guardian boss from nearly 12 minutes down to just under 4.
Where EVOLUTION-Crazy Time A truly distinguishes itself is through its supplementary progression systems that operate alongside the traditional stat upgrades. The Phantom collection system is nothing short of brilliant – these equippable spirits provide passive bonuses that can completely transform your playstyle. I'll never forget discovering the "Crimson Whisper" Phantom about halfway through my second playthrough, which boosted my health recovery by approximately 2.5 points per second. This might not sound like much on paper, but in practice it meant I could engage in more aggressive combat styles, knowing my health would regenerate during brief lulls in battle. With 23 distinct Phantoms to discover throughout the game world, each offering unique attribute modifications, the system encourages thorough exploration of every nook and cranny. I found myself revisiting previously cleared areas multiple times, and I'm embarrassed to admit I completely missed the "Azure Guardian" Phantom on my initial playthrough despite it being hidden in the very first level.
The collectible systems add yet another layer to the progression puzzle. Finding every collectible in a level rewards you with Vengeance Points, which can be allocated to three distinct damage types: physical, elemental, and arcane. I particularly appreciated how this system rewarded meticulous exploration rather than just combat proficiency. During my third playthrough, I made it a personal challenge to find every single collectible in the Forgotten Catacombs level, which took me nearly three hours of careful searching but resulted in enough Vengeance Points to max out my physical damage boost. Meanwhile, the glowing red crystals scattered throughout each environment provide permanent improvements to both XP gain and health recovery when destroyed. I tracked my crystal destruction progress religiously and noticed that after finding approximately 65% of them, my XP gain had increased by roughly 40%, dramatically accelerating my character's development in the latter half of the game.
Perhaps my favorite innovation in EVOLUTION-Crazy Time A is the companion system, which allows you to summon NPC allies during boss encounters. These companions aren't just temporary aids – they represent a progression system of their own. By summoning and defeating "antagonistic versions" of these same NPCs, you can upgrade their capabilities. I formed a particular attachment to Kaelen, the warrior companion I unlocked in the second chapter. After defeating his antagonistic version in a brutally difficult optional encounter that took me at least 15 attempts, his damage output increased by nearly 60%. This created a wonderful risk-reward dynamic – do I challenge myself with these difficult optional fights to strengthen my companion, or proceed without this advantage? I found these companion versus companion battles to be among the most challenging content in the game, but ultimately worth the effort.
What all these systems collectively achieve is an unprecedented level of difficulty customization that operates subtly beneath the surface. Unlike many games that offer a simple "easy mode" toggle, EVOLUTION-Crazy Time A allows players to fine-tune their experience through strategic investment in various progression systems. If you're struggling with combat, you can focus on collecting Phantoms that boost defensive capabilities. If exploration is your priority, you can hunt down crystals to improve your health recovery, reducing downtime between encounters. The game even includes a proper easy mode for those who want it, though I personally never felt the need to use it thanks to the robust customization options. I've spoken with other players who approached the game completely differently – one friend ignored the companion system entirely while another focused almost exclusively on Vengeance Points for damage boosts. The fact that all these approaches can lead to successful completion speaks to the remarkable balance the developers achieved.
Looking back at my time with EVOLUTION-Crazy Time A, what stands out most isn't any single boss fight or story moment, but the satisfaction of watching my character evolve according to my preferred playstyle. The game respects player agency in a way few titles in the genre do, offering multiple pathways to power without ever making one feel obligatory. While I might quibble with the occasionally obscure placement of some collectibles – I'm looking at you, phantom hidden behind three consecutive illusionary walls – the overall execution of these progression systems represents a significant achievement in game design. EVOLUTION-Crazy Time A doesn't just tell you to "play your way" – it gives you the tangible tools to actually do so, creating a deeply personal journey that differs meaningfully from player to player. In an era where many RPGs pay lip service to customization while funneling players toward optimal builds, this refreshing approach has firmly placed EVOLUTION-Crazy Time A among my favorite role-playing experiences of the last decade.