Crystal's Pony Tale Overview
Crystal's Pony Tale is structured around exploration and collection rather than combat. The player controls the Crystal Pony, who must free her captured friends from an evil witch by finding specific gems and using them at imprisonment sites.
Movement between locations is open, allowing the player to choose their path directly or via teleportation pictures. Horseshoes function as a currency collected in the environment to pay for passing through level gates. The game presents a fair challenge, as the protagonist cannot die; contact with enemies simply costs one horseshoe.
Direct conflict is limited to encounters with the witch, which are triggered upon using a gem correctly. Interaction with the world is key, as pressing an action button near objects or characters can yield extra items. Navigation includes an automatic jump for obstacles, though a manual jump is also available.