A gorgeous little RPG that may be a little shallow for some, Final Fantasy comes home in a magnificent new adventure.
By Andy Ryle (Ryle_Boy)
Traditional Format review #3
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It’s been far too long since I’ve played a game with the names Nintendo and Square-Enix on the credits. There are many different opinions regarding the progression of the Final Fantasy series. Some would argue that it just hasn’t been the same since it left the Nintendo squad. With the exception of FF7, the Sony-based FF games have gone down a different road and, great games though they were; they lacked a certain magical spark. Maybe it’s just nostalgia – maybe that magic is just about being a certain age? Well, that can’t be true because Crystal Chronicles has the magic, and it definitely has the spark.
In many ways, CC is a Final Fantasy only in name. The only aspects that keep it in FF land are the monsters and their magic attacks. In fact, it’s more like Secret of Mana for the GameCube. It’s the very latest version if Squenix’s magical multiplayer action RPG, and it could only be done on the GC. Despite being a MP game the majority of people will play CC alone, so I’ve spent most of my time doing the same.
CC tells the tale of a young adventurer who sets out on a quest to save his (or her) village. The world is filled with Miasma, a toxic mist that monsters thrive on. Villages around the globe are protected by huge crystals that keep the Miasma at bay, but every year the crystals have to be recharged with Myrrh. This life-giving liquid has to be extracted from Myrrh trees, and surprise-surprise, these trees are guarded by monsters. The game basically sees you clearing out an area before taking on the boss and collecting a drop of Myrrh. Each tree yields one drop, and you need three drops to recharge your village’s crystal. So hang on… that means you complete your quest by clearing out three areas, right? Well, n, because the game is set out in years. In your second year you have to set out again, but because you have already drained the nearby trees of their power, you need to travel further a field. In the meantime the cleared areas become a gathering ground for more powerful enemies due to the inactive Myrrh trees. It takes a few years for the trees to become active again, at which point you can revisit them. The more powerful enemies yield more impressive items, so it’s worth coming back.
Whenever you are on the field you need to be holding the Crystal Cage. This protects you from the Miasma by surrounding the holder with a limited area of clean air. Your friendly Moogle buddy, Mog, can carry that for you, which enables you to fight and pick up items. The downside to this is that Mog can’t take part in fights when he’s carrying the cage. Every now and then Mog will tell you he’s got a magic attack saved up. If you power-up your weapon or cast a magic spell, Mog will cast his own spell as part of your attack.
The combat system is really rather simple. There are a number of command slots, which are shown on screen by way of small circles. Two of these are taken up by Attack and Defend, but the others need to have commands assigned to them. For example, you can assign magic spells or healing items. In the case of the attack command, you can simply tap the A button to slash with your weapon. Short combos are possible with well-timed taps of the button. By holding down the button for a second you can unleash a power-up attack. Depending on the weapon you are using, this will result in different attacks.
As you travel between the different areas in the game you get treated to short cut-scenes. Some consist of you bumping into people and having a chat, while others may see you getting mugged by thieves. I would of preferred it if Squenix had added an extra level of gameplay into these sections. Perhaps there could have been puzzles to overcome, mysteries to solve, or side-quests to take part in.
I was also hoping that there would be significant differences in the game depending on which character you chose or what job class you made your family. Unfortunately, no matter which character you choose you start off in the same village and have the same story to go through. As far as job class goes, there is no major difference between being an alchemist and being a blacksmith. You can send items back to your family every now and again, but this should have been turned into a side-quest. How about having a number of items that you can only get by sending the right items to your family? No? Alright then…
In all honesty though, I’m in danger of getting a little bit over-critical here. The fact that CC doesn’t deliver the things that a die-hard FF fan would want doesn’t make it a bad game. It’s almost false advertising. If you ignore the words Final Fantasy and instead pretend that this is a continuation of the Secret of Mana series, you won’t be anywhere near as disappointed. It’s a multiplayer action RPG with gorgeous textures that is based on the existence of Mana Trees. When you come at it from that angle it’s a fantastic little game. It takes the classic SNES formula, updates the graphics and the tunes, gives it a new storyline and adds GBA connectivity. For those of you who like the general premise of fantasy RPGs but get bogged down in the stats and magic systems, this is for you. CC is a stunningly beautiful adventure game that might seem a little bit too shallow for the hardcore FF audience. However, if you open your mind and appreciate it on it’s own terms you are going to love it. A gorgeous and magical experience.
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Quick rundown of attributes...
Gameplay - Straightforward, but addictive. More challenges would've been nice.
Graphics - Some of the most detailed landscapes and models you'll ever see on a GameCube
Sound - Some fantastic tunes take you into another world.
Value - Nowhere as near the length of a Final Fantasy title,, but 12-15 hours is OK, it's also pretty cheap nowadays.
Reviewer's Tilt - I really enjoyed this game, simplistic gameplay and highly enjoyable.
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All in all, FF:CC is a great little game by Square-Enix that whilst a Final Fantasy title, isn't really a Final Fantasy game, and highly enjoyable. A fun, relaxing little RPG.
Overall Score - 8.5 - Great