Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles: Gamecube Previews


Platform: Gamecube Genre: Role-Playing Publisher: Square-Enix Developer: Square-Enix ETA: February 2004 Related Links: Review: Final Fantasy X (Playstation 2) Review: Disgaea: Hour of Darkness (Playstation 2) Review: Grandia Xtreme (Playstation 2) Be notified of site updates. Sign-up for the Newsletter sent out twice weekly. Enter E-Mail Address Below: Subscribe \| Unsubscribe	Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles Nintendo fans have had it rough the last seven or eight years when it comes to Square games. Since the company moved onto working exclusively with the Playstation in the mid 90s you would sooner see a game from Square hit the Wonderswan than a platform from Nintendo. Now this is slowly changing as we’ve already seen Final Fantasy Tactics Advance come to the GBA and soon we’ll see Square make an entry onto the Gamecube with Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles. The world of Crystal Chronicles is one covered in a deadly vapor that can’t be inhaled. Thankfully there are crystals that can be used to keep the gas at bay, being placed at inhabited areas to protect the locals and made into crystal cages to facilitate travel. Unfortunately they lose energy over time and can only be replenished through Mana Water from the Crystal Trees. Compounding the problem is the fact that these trees are extremely rare, and as such protected by very powerful monsters. In the game players lead a party who must track down enough of this water to keep the crystals working, and maybe, if they’re lucky, find a more permanent solution to dealing with the vapor.
	An interesting aspect of the game is that it will allow up to four player simultaneous play through the Gamecube and GBA’s connectivity. Because of this, Crystal Chronicles does away with leveling up, a staple of most every RPG in existence. It’s a logical decision when you consider that other players can join in the game at later stages if they so choose and would inevitably be at a lower level than someone who has been playing it from the beginning. So in order to strengthen your character you must acquire relics from the various dungeons that can augment characters’ stats as well as collecting the usual mix of weapons and armor.	Advertisement
	Character creation will be two-fold, first will be the return of the Job System from Final Fantasy V and Final Fantasy Tactics. With this players will be able to choose a profession, each bringing its unique talent to the table. On top of this players will be able to choose their characters’ race. Battles are inline with what we’ve come to expect in a Final Fantasy game, selecting from a series of options then going after the enemy. Players will also be given the option for their characters to charge up their attacks for extra damage, but this can leave them open to enemy attacks while doing so. If there’s any one thing that Square has made a name for itself with, it’s for the level of detail they’ve been able to pour into their games’ graphics and Crystal Chronicles is no exception. With a more cartoon-styled, less realistic motif, the game’s visuals are reminiscent of those found in Final Fantasy IX as the characters and scenery have a far more whimsical look to them. On top of this the swirling gases of the game world and lighting effects are looking very promising. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Square make a game for a Nintendo console, and it would seem that most Gamecube fans are salivating over Crystal Chronicles. Their wait won’t be too much longer as the game hits store shelves in North America in February 2004. - Mr. Nash (November 11, 2003)