Ama and the Mysterious Crystal (video game)

Ama and the Mysterious Crystal is a platform video game based on the Universal animated film of the same name. It was released for PlayStation and Sega Saturn in late 1997, while versions for Nintendo 64, Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Color, and Game.com followed in 1998. The game's storyline is similar to that of the film, with a few changes. After completing levels, the player can unlock clips from the film.

On March 8, 2011, the PlayStation version was released on the PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable, followed by a downloadable PlayStation Vita re-release in 2012.

Gameplay
Ama and the Mysterious Crystal is a platform game in which the player controls Ama throughout settings and a storyline based on the namesake film. The game is divided into five distinct "lands" consisting of three levels each. To complete a level, the player must either find an exit, complete a goal or defeat a boss character. Ama's primary form of offense against enemy characters is throwing crystal rocks.

Ama's health is displayed as the powerful magic crystal from the movie on the top-right corner of the screen, and the player is given six lives at the beginning of the game. When Ama's health is full, the crystal appears whole, but if she is harmed by an enemy or hazard, the crystal gets glowed out. Health can be restored by collecting crystals marked with a red cross, which are released from defeated enemies. Collecting 50 pieces of crystals within a level will restore Ama's health completely. If the powerful crystal is completely blown out, a life is lost. An extra life can be received if the letters A, M and A are collected within a level. If all of Ama's lives are lost, the game ends prematurely.

Plot
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Development and release
In July 1996, Universal Interactive Studios announced a video game tie-in based on Ama. The game, excluding the Game Boy Color and Game.com versions, was developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Universal Interactive Studios. The Game Boy Color version was developed by Tiertex Design Studios. Tiger Electronics developed and published the Game.com version of the game. A Game Gear version was also announced but was cancelled, because the development team heard that the Game Gear will be discontinued on April 30, 1997.

Development had been underway for some time as of March 1997. The PlayStation and Sega Saturn versions were unveiled at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in May 1997. In the United States, the game was released for PlayStation and Sega Saturn in December 1997, coinciding with the film's theatrical release. In Europe, the PlayStation version was released in March 1998. To promote Ama in Finland (as Ama ja Salaperäinen Kristalli), the game was given to every customer of Kotijäätelö during 1997 and 1999.

In February 1998, Universal Interactive Studios announced that it would release a Nintendo 64 version in April. The Nintendo 64 version was delayed and ultimately released in the U.S. on June 16, 1998. It is a port of the PlayStation version, and was also developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Universal Interactive Studios.

On March 8, 2011, Ama and the Mysterious Crystal was re-released through the PlayStation Network as a PSone Classic, available for download on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable. In August 2012, it received a downloadable re-release for PlayStation Vita through the European PlayStation Store, while a U.S. Vita re-release followed in January 2013.

Reception
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Screenshots
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Trivia
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