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A very promising return of the FF series to Nintendo

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 66 / 83
Date: October 29, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The Final Fantasy series which originated from the Nintendo platforms finally marked a return to its roots this year with the Crytal Chronicles landing on the controversial GameCube platform.

To distinguish itself from the numbered series that now prosper on the Sony consoles, Crystal Chronicles mark a huge diversion in terms of game play and design. Musch emphasis was placed on the multiplayer module that allow up to 4 players to play at the same time with their GBA connected to the GameCube. The most stunning aspect of this multiplayer mode was there is no split screen but all characters are limited in movement by the crytal cage that protects everybody from the poisonous mist in the world.

The single player mode which was less mentioned in fact offers the same degree of satisfaction for players. Instead of having friends carrying the crystal cage, a moogle (an FF icon) carries it for you (but from time to time will tell you it is tired and you have carry for it to maintain a good relationship with the moogle). Battles are in real time action similar to Kingdom Hearts but you have more strategy involved rather than hack and slash. You can power up your attack with a target ring, but you need to predict the moves of your enemies to score your hit. This is the same for magic used in Crystal Chronicles.

Magic are obtained through magical orbs dropped by enemies or found in chests, but they can't be kept in your possession after your left the area. This might cause a bit of nuisance to traditional FF players but since they are so readily available, you won't be missing out too much. However, the annoying part will be you have reassign the command slots that you need to scroll with your L/R button in every area you enter to your advantage for battles. Nonetheless, the game will remind you to do so before you enter the area. If you want to keep the magic, you have to find the magic rings and equip them to your characters. Certain magic like Gravity are resulted from orb combination, but the game will tell you when you assign them side by side in the command slots.

In terms of levelling up, it is done through acquiring different type of antiques in the Crystal Chronicles world. There are heaps to collect and they are dropped by enemies or found in chests. However, you can only keep one of the antiques after you clear the area, so if you want the whole collection for a lot of levelling up, then you will need to visit and clear a particular area again and again until you get them all. This could cause a bit of nuisance for some people. Nonetheless, you can always eat different kinds of food to boost your magic, strength and defence temporarily.

Each character has a family business which in return will be a necessity for different forms of levelling up. Different families provide different unique services to you such as food, weapons and armours that you can use to level up your character. Any family that are not assigned to a character yet, their house hold will be occupied by a moogle instead until you "inhabit" every single one of them.

In terms of control and game play, it offers more handy experience to players when compared to Kingdom Hearts but as mentioned, the reassignment of command slots can cause a bit of nuisance. Nonetheless, if you assign a Phoenix Down to one of the slots, it could revive your character immediately when it is killed, which could be handy for difficult boss fights.

The graphics is stunningly detailed and designed. It was afraid that the return to the style similar to FF 9, which is not that successful, would hinder the game a bit, but it turns out it works really well with the environment and the world of Crystal Chronicles. A lot of details have been attended to landscape, water effects and light effects - you can see the defracted image of your character from the crystal cage when the miru water is filled to a certain level.

Storywise, it is unfolded during different encounters on the road and during the initial description of the areas your first visited. So the more encounter you made, the more you would know about the story.

In all, Crystal Chronicles is a very promising return of the franchise to the Nintendo platform and surely it will provide you a whole new experience in the Final Fantasy series.

Unlike any before it... and still definitely Final Fantasy.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 21 / 26
Date: February 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles is, like many have pointed out, not part of the main Final Fantasy ("numbered") series. In Final Fantasy terms, it's almost the exact opposite of Final Fantasy Tactics. Instead of a deep, twisting plot that almost required cliffs notes, and long battles that could last 30 minutes, FF:CC is a much faster game.

That is not to say that it's brainless, or just hack-and-slash. FF:CC definitely has a plot, but it unravels slowly -- in letters from home or friends, musings of moogles, and in the various encounters you will have during your travels. Talking to people multiple times reveals more information that they didn't reveal when you first talked to them. You'll soon see an interesting undercurrent about the loss of memories. FF:CC has a very slow development of plot, and yet, it doesn't seem out of place to the game.

And despite the slower plot speed, the game moves along at a fast clip. In terms of gameplay, this game almost has more in common with recent Legend of Zelda games (or, for Final Fantasy fans, it's most like Final Fantasy Adventure). FF:CC focuses on exploration and combat more than other games in the series. Combat is usually fairly short, but boss battles in single-player mode can take a while.

What's almost most interesting is the atmosphere this game evokes. Instead of the mysterious world being understood by a main character with an enigmatic past, a lot of the story- and character-development cards are on the table early. The main world seems rural and quiet -- and the dungeons are unbelievable. The music (save the Wonka-esque Daemon's Court tune) is haunting but enthralling. Monsters have their own unique behavior. Orcs are easily confused and outflanked, stopping frequently to raise their swords and taunt you with a laugh. Ahrimans float overhead and threateningly attack unless grounded... and so on.

Water effects are unbelievable, and I have found myself many times stopping in the game just to soak in the atmosphere of an area.... the distant water of a mine, dimly lit by pinpoints of lantern light... the quiet meadow near the Jegon River... and so on.

Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles is unlike any other game in the series, but still distinctly a Final Fantasy. The themes evolve slowly -- and if you're expecting grand developments in the tradition of 6 or 7, you're in for some serious disappointment. If you are just expecting a grand adventure, Crystal Chronicles is your game.

I personally haven't been this interested in a game since Ultima 9, several years ago. Unfortunately, that game's fascinating atmosphere was soured by the fact that it crashed several times and required an unbelievable system at the time. I keep seeing and experiencing things in this game that make me think of my old adventures in the Ultima series... or moments when I was saving Hyrule from certain doom in the Zelda series.

FF:CC is primarily designed for multiplayer play, but it is possible (though difficult) to complete in single-player mode. And despite what some reviews may say, I think the single-player mode holds up very well. Just remember when you set out on your journey: in Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, getting there is half the fun.

Crystal Chronicles of Boredom

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: May 09, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I convinced three friends of mine to get GBAs and link cables when Nintendo was pushing the whole connectivity thing. We all thought that a whole flurry of these GBA/GC games would come out and it would be awesome. What we got was Four Swords, a good game, and Crystal Chronicles, one of the most mediocre games I've ever played.

I'm an old school RPG player. I was playing them before they got popularized. I remember Final Fantasy 1 and the original Dragon Warrior with very fond memories. I must have beaten each at least a dozen times. RPGs have come a long way since then, especially with the incorporation of great interactive story lines. So I expect both a challenge and some involved storyline in an RPG. Maybe that's my problem.

Crystal Chronicles is ridiculously easy. You run around and smash the A button. Sure you can do combos with people if you want, but they are completely unnecessary. There is no incentive to work together, which I feel defeats the point of having a 4 player cooperative game.

Crystal Chronicles has a very basic theme. I wouldn't call it a storyline because there is no progression. Basically, you must collect Myrhh every season or so to prevent your town from being destroyed. That's it. Do that for a while and you can beat the game. There's no sense of accomplishment because you do the same thing over and over, and you never get anywhere.

When this game was coming out I was expecting an epic storylined Final Fantasy game which incorporated a four player game system something like Secret of Mana with four people. What we got was a game with some pretty cut scenes and terrible gameplay, without any story at all. It reminds me a bit of the old CD-i Zelda games that Phillips released. Those were slightly worse than this game.

Do not buy. If you have four GBAs, I recommend picking up Nintendo's Four Swords instead.

Worst...game...ever.

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 13 / 20
Date: August 30, 2006
Author: Amazon User

My bias is that from a Final Fantasy fan. Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles is NOT a Final Fantasy game. It doesn't even come close to the Legend of Zelda in terms of action/adventure. It is a waste of time, space, energy, and money. All together.

I made the regretful mistake of putting this product on my Amazon Wish List when it first came out. After testing it at stores and reading about it, I quickly realized the game was cheese. I forgot, however, to remove it from my Wish List. My brother and sister bought it for me for my birthday one year! Aye yie yie!

So because of the $50 they scrounged together in my honor, I figured I'd give the game a thorough shot.

I couldn't take it anymore by the time I got to the second level. It was atrocious. I felt sorry for the Final Fantasy name and for my relatives for dropping the cash.

Enough of the emotional banter. Let me try to give an analytical review of this game.

First of all, it does not meet the definition of a classic role-playing game. (Within the last couple of years, however, I have noticed "RPG" taking on a new meaning. Now it means simply playing as someone else. Grand Theft Auto, for example, is now classified as an RPG.) But with today's loose definition of "RPG," you can call it that, I guess. But I grew up with real RPGs, like Dragon Warrior, the Final Fantasy titles, Lufia, Breath of Fire, etc. (These were all turn-based RPGs.)

Second, FF:CC does not develop your characters sanely. Sorry, but whoever programmed this atrocity embarrassed the genre of action/adventure.

Third, I recommend you boycott any GameCube title that requires the use of the Game Boy Advance to play multiplayer. It is asinine to expect people/kids to pay money for such an inconvenient, expensive, and improper method to simply play with your friends.

Lastly, this game is best suited for gamers who do not like real RPGs but prefer an action game with unique challenges in gameplay. Yes, FF:CC is an action/adventure, but unlike most others, the gamer will simply have to learn this somewhat different style (it is more hack & slash than anything - the multiplayer functionality should have saved this game from a bad review, but it was disappointing at best). But other than that, the game will offer essentially ZERO to true RPG gamers, especially those who love the Final Fantasy series. Stay away from this game if you love Final Fantasy titles.

It's Final fantasy but something different

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: December 13, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I hated this game when I bought it; expecting a awesome comeback for Final Fantasy to Nintendo. I was dissapointed to say the least. Yet I loved the music and graphics...the graphics were absolutely stunning.

Well - I just picked it up again after a long time and started playing it. I must say I am enjoying it - despite the fact it is VERY different. The graphics are still great even after a long time since it's been released. I also decided to purchase the soundtrack to this series. The only thing I wish was different that it would be alot easier to play the multiplayer mode. I am the only person I know who owns this game so I can't really play multiplayer.

Overall, a good series and much different then usual Final Fantasy games but with the complex multiplayer as well as lack of storyline, it doesn't measure up to the more popular and well-known FF games.

Doesn't Measure up to the Final Fantasy Standard

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: March 10, 2004
Author: Amazon User

If you're looking for a Final Fantasy game like those in the more well-known series (IX, X, X-2 etc) then you're in for a disappointment. The only things it has in common is the name and some of the monsters, bosses and spells. Oh yeah, and the moogles.

I've come to expect excellence from Final Fantasy games and find that the GameCube installment falls far short. While the graphics, art and sound are still incredibly well-done, the story is nowhere near as deep and engaging and character development is next to non-existent. Quite frankly, the biggest thing this game lacks is, well...heart.

I confess I haven't finished the game. I've gotten to the point where I've collected myrrh from all levels except the very final one (where you have to use the 'mystery' element to cross the miasma stream). I'm now at the stage where I'm revisting dungeons I've already completed to level up, collect more items to build weapons etc before continuing to the final dungeon. I'm seriously considering not even bothering to complete the game. There is nothing about the plot development in the story that has made me care enough about the characters or what happens to their world to mindlessly repeat identical levels just to get to the ending.

Yes, the real time action-based battles are an interesting twist. The problem is that it doesn't vary much and while others may say that there's strategy involved, I've seen better. Even in single player mode, boss battles, though long haven't been difficult.

I've heard that the multiplayer mode is much more fun. However, given that each player would then require a Gameboy Advance of his/her own as well as a connection cable to play, it's just not likely to happen in my house.

While I appreciate the amount of effort that goes into game design, artificially lengthening a game by making the player revisit levels sometimes 2 or more times after it's first cleared is cheap and definitely not up to the standard set up by SquareSoft in their previous games. Heck, even the narrated introduction of each level is identical each time you revisit it. Nothing changes.

I bought this game and I'm sorry I did. I really believe this game to be substandard, period. It doesn't matter if it had a different title and didn't have the Final Fantasy legacy to live up to. The gameplay is mediocre, the storyline is weak and the character(s) are one-dimensional. Not what I'd expect from any game that has a lasting place in my video game library.

My advice? Rent it first. If you like it that much, you can then buy it. If you don't then you haven't wasted the money like I did.

3.5 stars??? WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: June 18, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Why does everyone HATE this game????? I loved it! In this game you can create your own characters, build your own adventures and a lot more.

GAMEPLAY:10/10 it's FINAL FANTASY, people, OK? why wouldn't the gameplay be great?

GRAPHICS: 9.10/10 I like the graphics. They are definitely GC graphics and the type of graphics that would be in an GC FF game.

MUSIC:10/10 especially because of the battle music. It's pretty SA-WEET.

NARRATING:3/10 because there isn't much, here- You Know the catch, we've heard better narration. :-).

SOUND:10/10 I like the noises. They're really awesome.

OVERALL THOUGHTS
Pretty cool. It focuses more on Combat and exploration than story. But AVOID THESE HATE REVIEWS, and just play this damn cool game today!

lets just call this this the worst ff ever

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: September 11, 2004
Author: Amazon User

this game starts when you pick a character....you can pick 8 but trust me after 1 year on the game, you'll only ever use one of them........you say goodbye to your family and you go off w/ a moogle to fight bad guys. the point of the game is to fill up this little glass jar w/ this liquid...3 drops fills it so you go to three stages beat the boss and get one drop for each boss. then you go back to your home town everyone lives for another year then you do it again, again , and agian....5,6 or 7 times. sounds fun huh...not!!!! there is almost no story advance in the first 4 years.... or about 7- 10 hours. your characters only gain exp. by killing bosses so basicaly you can kill a million monsters and you wont get jack sh*t. the games has no pros other than the graphics. so if you you get this, dont expect much from this colum. the game isnt turn based, you run around the screen swinging your sword at monsters...and wishing you had a real one so you could smash this game to pieces....you have magic but who cares cause you dont need it...only to heal. theres no random battles on the world map at all. now for the great challes..i think the spelling is wrong... the challes is the thing that collects the drops of liquid and must go where you go or you will die... mog will carry it but he gets tired and makes you do it..this becomes very iritating when your lost. this is what ruined the game in my opinion. the multiplayer is what the game is based on but you need gb sp and link cables to play...very expensive!! so if want to spend a fortune, not level up, do the same thing overe and over, carry a stupid little jar around, and basicaly not have any fun, then this games for you...enjoy!

If only negative stars could be given!!!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 5 / 8
Date: October 15, 2004
Author: Amazon User

yeah, this game sucks various parts of a donkey's anatomy. I advise anyone with half a functioning brain cell to avoid it like the plague! You may ask why this game is bad well the main reason is this: THE BUCKET! Yes thats right a bucket, you must take this bucket with you since it protects you from a deadly fog. Oh my God its fog, run away (sarcasm)! I would advise the reader of my informative unbaised review to play a real game such as shenmue or skies of arcadia, you can even play superman 64 ,yes even that is better than this crystal suckacles (note my clever misspelling). ha ha ha I winnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!

Crystal Chronicles, a ground breaker By: Kyle C.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: June 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

The game had originally seemed like it would be horrible when I first heard of it. I had made fun of the concept for months until it finally came out. My little brother rented it from a game store and I played, just for good laugh. I didn't have the Gameboy hook-up cables at the time, but the game still seemed fun enough. I thought to myself "Yeah... it's not THAT bad, but it's no FF7." And then it happened. My little brother bought a cable for himself, and his friend bought one. So when they finsihed playing I called my friend Matt H. over. We started a Multi-player adventure. I was enticed by this game. I bought two more cables and my friend Kevin M. bought one as well. We started a 4 player adventure, after picking up where me and Matt had left off. The game pulled us in so fast. We couldn't stop playing. So now we are on our 4th year in the game. We have almost finished but still, we cannot wait until we can play again today.

All in all this game would be fun if there was Friendly Fire capabilities, but overall, I give this game a 5 out of 5.

~Kyle C.

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