And that's it. There's little else to the formula, though there are a few exceptions here and there. The different races in the game have different powers, some which involve new ways to destroy things while others are better suited for puzzles. The occasional bit of problem-solving does help break up all of the hacking and slashing, but only rarely did I ever get tired of killing things.
Unfortunately, the story mode is not without its quirks. Over the course of the adventure a number of warriors join your party, giving you both new ways to cause havoc and new characters with which to play dress-up. The problem here is that every one of the AI-controlled companions is the intellectual equivalent of a cardboard box. On the rare occasion that they rush forward to attack your enemy, they'll swing once and then stand there looking confused, possibly wondering why I spent so much freaking money buying them new equipment when they simply couldn't comprehend how to use it.
The other issue rests with the game's difficulty. Put simply, it's pretty easy, meaning you'll see the Game Over screen very rarely. I saw it most often during boss fights, though typically those were simple cases of me not realizing I was about to die and choosing to use a potion at the exact moment when the monster was trying to introduce its talons to my face. Still, anyone who keeps up with their equipment and pays a little more attention to their health bars should have no trouble getting through the game.
Aside from that, Square Enix has crafted a pretty enjoyable experience. The game's graphics are colorful and look very good on the handheld, the soundtrack is your typical Final Fantasy orchestration, and the game's villains are dressed absurdly enough to be interesting. And, provided you don't mind the social stigma of a bunch of people sitting around with their handhelds shoved to their faces, the multiplayer mode looks like pretty good fun. I haven't had much of a chance to experience it so far, but the little bit that I did showcased a pretty wide variety of quests that seem very well-suited for party gaming.
Just be warned: the game can be pretty addicting.
...or it might just be that I enjoy playing dress-up.
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates is rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) by the ESRB.
Article comments