Incredible Timing: This week was dedicated to playing Brave Fencer Musashi, but a technical mishap disrupted my progress and left me feeling discouraged. Years of relying on auto-save features has eroded my instinct to save frequently. Consequently, I needed a quick replacement from my game collection. That’s when I stumbled upon Incredible Crisis, a game that I had never played before, but one that seemed like a suitable choice. However, my lack of knowledge about the game left me uncertain about whether it was a good decision or not. In hindsight, I should have done more research before diving in.
Screenshot by Destructoid: The game came with impressive credentials. If I had done my homework, I would have discovered that Kenichi Nishi, renowned for his work on Chibi-Robo and Love-de-Lic, wrote the script for Incredible Crisis. Beyond that, the game was initially released in 1999 in arcades and on the PS1 in Japan under the name Tondemo Crisis, which accurately translates to “ridiculous” or “outrageous.” The following year, it was localized for Europe and North America by Titus Interactive. Notably, Titus Interactive was infamous during the early 3D era for publishing subpar games like Carmageddon 64 and Superman on N64. However, Incredible Crisis stands out as an exception because Titus only handled the localization, while Polygon Magic developed the game and Tokuma Shoten Publishing published it in Japan. The translation is quite faithful, although two mini-games were removed due to heavy reliance on kanji. Nevertheless, the remaining 24 mini-games provide ample entertainment.
Incredible Concept: At its core, Incredible Crisis is a collection of diverse mini-games interwoven with a narrative. It’s reminiscent of WarioWare but with longer microgames and a more cohesive progression. Surprisingly, the game isn’t as bizarre as I anticipated. It begins with the family patriarch, Taneo, participating in a light disco exercise routine with his co-workers at the office. However, he soon finds himself pursued by a vengeful objet d’art. His subsequent adventures include abandoning his marriage to be with a woman on a ferris wheel, only for her to leave behind a bomb as she escapes in a helicopter. Meanwhile, Taneo’s wife, Etsuko, assists furries in a bank heist, performs a musical number to crack open a piggy bank, and snowboards her way to safety before returning home in a Harrier Jet. The family’s child gets shrunk by a giant teddy bear and chased by a praying mantis, while the daughter skips school for a shopping spree and ultimately returns an alien to its mothership. All of this chaos unfolds to avoid the wrath of the matriarchal grandparent, who simply wants everyone to be present for her birthday dinner.
Screenshot by Destructoid: The narrative showcases mundane family life themes, which are also reflected in the mini-games. Many levels resemble slice-of-life dramas from movies like Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones. For instance, one mini-game challenges players to balance their grocery bags to disarm a trap. Others involve navigating obstacles during various forms of transportation, while some require furious button-mashing. While Incredible Crisis can be frustrating at times due to its short instructional windows that force players to quickly grasp timing, rules, and controls, it still manages to provide an enjoyable experience. Each mini-game introduces something new, with plenty of surprises and attempts to trick players along the way. It can be completed in 2-3 hours for a first-time playthrough, considering failures and game overs. Personally, I found it to be just the right level of challenge, even when adapting on the fly. However, the difficulty does vary, and some concepts may require multiple attempts to master, while others can be cleared effortlessly.
Incredible Header: Many of the complaints about Incredible Crisis only matter if you approach the game with a serious mindset, which I believe is the wrong approach. The game’s primary purpose is to entertain while telling the story of a lonely old woman longing for her family’s presence on her birthday. The narrative unfolds through lavish cutscenes that wisely maintain the low-poly visuals of the actual gameplay. Unlike other PS1 games that aimed for realistic CG cutscenes, which seemed disconnected from the gameplay, Incredible Crisis seamlessly integrates its cutscenes with the game’s graphics. While a remastered version with improved visuals would be welcome, the current graphics are masterfully done and would shine even more without compression artifacts.
Incredible Crisis may not be groundbreaking, but it possesses a charming and meticulously crafted personality. It’s hard to give Titus credit for anything, but I appreciate them for bringing this game to the Western market, especially since it showcases a distinctively Japanese culture during a time when it may not have been widely understood. Thank you, Titus, even though the thought of acknowledging their efforts makes me cringe. For other overlooked retro titles, click here! Zoey Handley, Staff Writer – Zoey is immersed in the world of gaming, constantly exploring indie gems and retro classics. She joined the blogging community in 2018 and quickly gained recognition for her unique perspectives. While she may not be considered “cool,” Zoey’s gaming dedication is unwavering.
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