Lets just cut to the chase: TimeCrest is a serious cut above a lot of the other choose your own adventure games. I havent played ALL of them, BUT Ive played quite a few, starting with LifeLine.
Suffice to say, not one has captured my interest like TimeCrest. I am *dying* for the sequel, TimeCrest 2 to come out. But!
In the meantime, Im playing again, and again, and again. I want to experience the roads not taken, the endings unseen (I got the true ending my first try, basically on accident). Ash, the protagonist, is a really fun, dynamic character. Hes the kind of person Id love to have as a friend, and even though hes fictional, I have a blast "talking" to him. The other characters in TC, both good, evil; and unknown, are dynamic with plenty of mystery and personality even if youve only read one or two lines about them. There is so much conveyed so quickly. A rich, fantasy world, magic, time travel, and a life and death mystery that must be solved quickly. What more could you ask for?
I dont want to spoil anything, so Ill leave it at this: play TimeCrest. You dont have to buy anything. Time Crystals are nice but not necessary and theres only a few reeeally long, drawn out wait times towards the end but its not like its a major deal (although I bought a .99c pack becsuse I was dying to see the story and to support the devs. I regret nothing).
I plan on buying at least another $4 in crystals which says a lot because I dont buy many $5 iOS games. Im very frugal BUT TimeCrest has given me hours upon hours of entertainment and it is worth that and then some and the devs deserve my thanks. And my dosh.