Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers Preview

Layle’s Wii remote-driven abilities allow for an impressive amount of gameplay variation, and the game takes no time in demonstrating them as the opening sequence sees our hero falling through sky dispatching a group of aerial monsters in light gun-game fashion, before returning to more typically grounded scenarios where he uses his abilities to perform gravity-defying leaps and manipulate out-of-reach switches. Kawazu promises more variety along the way: “We can not talk about all of the unique mini-games, but there will be many, including rhythm-action dance scenes, chocobo races and even football games”.

Layle takes his new Blaze balloon out for a run by the Rivelgauge Monastery.

One unique aspect of the game that is sure to reward experimentation is the AI system that gives all NPCs and monsters their own set of likes and dislikes, allowing you to manipulate them. “You can create situations, for example if the wolf likes bones you can throw a bone to draw its attention. A wolf will also attack bone monsters like skeletons,” explains Kawazu. It will be interesting to see the extent to which this interaction is used as there is definitely potential for creative play.

Most noticeable to Crystal Chronicles’ fans will be the obvious shift in art direction from the endearing SD characters drawn from NES-era Final Fantasy to slightly moodier late teenage protagonists we have come to expect post-FFVII. Director and Character Designer Toshiyuki Itahana explains the changes: “We set of depicting a dramatic experience, therefore we needed a design with serious elements. On the Wii we are able to use much more dramatic detail, particularly on facial expressions.”

Moogles resume their letter-delivering duties from Final Fantasy IX. Kupo!

The Crystal Bearers continues to push the sub-series in new directions and given Final Fantasy XIII’s leap to multi-format status, we ask if we can expect to see Crystal Chronicles appearing on non-Nintendo consoles. “Our choice of platform was decided after talks with Nintendo’s [then] president Yamauchi as we wanted to take Final Fantasy in a new direction. The Crystal Bearers has accomplished what we set out to achieve,” he responds intruigingly. So having seen the series go from turn-based RPG to MMORPG, even becoming a fighting game most recently, what more would Mr. Kawazu like to see from the series? “Perhaps a zombie FPS game?” he replies humorously. “Square Enix is experiencing a lot of changes and we are always willing to do something new with Final Fantasy.”

FFCC The Crystal bearers is set for release in the UK in the unusually busy February of 2010 where we will finally get to see if Square Enix have succeeded in bringing that epic Final Fantasy feel back home to Nintendo. The first few hours set up a far more involving story than previous Crystal Chronicles games and the variety of gameplay looks to keep things interesting. The challenge in positioning Crystal Chronicles as a dramatic epic will be competing against the series’ own accomplished back catalogue.