I first encountered Crystalis in a 1990 issue of Nintendo  Power and it seemed attractive to me due to the look reminding me of the first Zelda somewhat.  Having now finally played the beginning chunk of the game, I can see that it pays more a resemblance the YS games then it does to Zelda. That’s not a bad thing as I do enjoy that series as well. My adventure through the first few caves and towns were enough for me to want to continue to play this game, though it looks like I’m stuck at the moment with what to do next. If I recall, Nintendo Power actually ran a complete strategy walkthrough of the game in later issues which I do have…maybe its’s time to pop them out!

From wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystalis

Crystalis takes place in a post-apocalyptic world,^[10] one hundred years after a global thermonuclear war has reverted civilization to a primitive, medieval existence populated with fierce mutated creatures.^[5] Science and advanced technology have been abandoned, though the old ways ofmagic have survived.^[5][9] The survivors of the terrible destruction built a floating “Tower” to prevent any future cataclysms, as its occupants would have the power to govern the world due to the Tower’s weapons systems.^[5][8] A man known as Emperor Draygon, however, has revived the forbidden ways of science and combined them with magic.^[9][10] With these skills, he controls the world’s last remaining military power and seeks to conquer what’s left of the planet by attempting to enter the Tower.^[5][8]

The protagonist awakens with no memory, but, guided by four wise sages, gradually learns that the world is sinking into turmoil due to the Draygonia Empire’s destructive influence.^[5] Entrusted with the Sword of Wind, he seeks to aid Mesia, another survivor from his time, and to combine the four elemental Swords of Wind, Fire, Water, and Thunder into the legendary sword, Crystalis.^[5] Together, they must defeat Draygon before he uses the Tower to achieve his evil ambitions.^[8]