Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers

Fans of Final Fantasy games will be aware that there is rarely a simple way to summarise the storyline of any game, so I won’t attempt it for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers.  However, as a brief introduction let me confirm that you play as Layle, a crystal bearer, gifted with amazing powers but ostracised from society because of those powers.  Layle belongs to the Clavats, one of the four main tribes of the game (the others being the Lilty tribe, the Yukes and the Selkies). 

The game opens with Layle escorting the Lilty’s flagship of power, the Alexis.  However, the ship is attacked and Layle faces his first foe of the game, a Yuke who uses a strange green crystal to absorb the crystal shards which power the engines.  Layle isn’t able to defeat the foe but does force them to escape, pocketing the green crystal they leave behind.  After Layle uses his powers to land the ship just outside Alfitaria Capital City, the main game begins.

As you would expect with a Final Fantasy title there is a plot full of twists and turns, unforeseen alliances and unexpected betrayals.  Many familiar faces are on hand, including Cid, the Moogles, chocobos and Bahamut.  However, despite staying true to the Final Fantasy storyline format the game is still refreshingly original.  Layle is just like every other Final Fantasy hero there’s ever been – cocky, arrogant, too much of an attitude but a heart of gold buried under the rough exterior – but still manages to come across as original.  Though the main storyline of the game progresses in a fairly linear fashion, each location has many extra tasks or surprises that can be uncovered with some thorough exploring and it is worth doing so, as it increases gameplay length considerably.

Movement and actions within the game are all managed using the Wii remote and nunchuk.  Using the nunchuck to control walking motion, you use the Wii remote to change the direction Layle looks in and ‘A’ to execute actions (such as opening a crate) and ‘B’ to grab hold of characters or objects, which can then be thrown or pulled towards you by flicking the Wii remote in the correct direction.  The controls are easy to master relatively quickly and Layle’s abilities mean you can make quite amazing leaps by grabbing on to objects with ‘B’ and using the power to swing you through the air.

Combat on the title is something of a different story.  It differs considerably from the system fans may be used to on earlier titles such as those on the PS1 and PS2.  As Layle you use the Wii remote to either grab hold of enemies and spin them or throw them into walls or other enemies or you pick up objects such as crates and barrels and throw them at the enemies.  It isn’t the easiest system to master and although it arguably has a more involving element than the combat system on other Final Fantasy games, there were times when I wished for a more hack and slash style combat, rather than throwing crates and barrels.  As the game progresses, however, it becomes easier to adapt to this style of fighting and provided you keep your distance from pursuing enemies - though not too much in case they go out of range! - you can usually use your projectiles fairly effectively.

There are numerous treasures to be found during Layle’s travels, particularly if you do embark on extra explorations.  Of particular importance are the myrrh fragments you can collect throughout the game.  There are 40 in total and each one extends your life meter slightly so you have the potential to make Layle extremely healthy indeed!  34 of these are earned by completing campaigns and 6 can be found in treasure chests.  Many other useful objects are also hidden in treasure chests, including gil and materials to enable Layle to build accessories.  Provided you have the correct materials in your inventory you can fashion items such as earrings, wards and rings, all of which will improve Layle's stats.  Although some materials can be bought from Moogle shopkeepers, some are very rare and you will need to complete small side quests to find them or stumble across the appropriate treasure chest. 

Finally, there are medals.  There are a staggering number of medals you can earn in the game (330 to be precise) and the achievements range from picking up a rare material to riding Bahamut for 30 seconds.  Many of them can be achieved easily, without any real effort.  However, some require more effort, such as a winning a chocobo race at the chocobo circuit or creating a garden.  You can pursue medals at any point in the game, though some may not be made available until certain events have taken place.  The only medal you can’t go back to is the ‘Bahamut Flyer’, which requires you to ride Bahamut for 30 seconds or more at least once, so it’s worth bearing this in mind when you encounter him.

In terms of length, it’s easy to see the hours mount up when you’re playing, particularly if you pursue all the medals and extra tasks.  Square Enix have shown their usual mastery in compiling a game that is full of mazelike locations, hard to find areas to explore and great bonuses for those who persevere.  If you really want to get 100% out of the game I would recommend Bradygames Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers Official Strategy Guide with detailed maps, medal listings and other extras.  However, even if you choose not to invest in this, I’m sure you’ll find plenty in the game to while away the hours. 

Some have argued that this is a valiant, though not entirely successful attempt to do something new with Final Fantasy.  I would disagree – I think this is a successful attempt to make an enduring and popular franchise accessible to new players, whilst still ensuring that the expectations of old players are met as much as possible.  Given the graphical limitations of the Wii, there are still some lovely landscapes and character details and very enjoyable cutscenes.  The retail price of £29.99 may seem high compared to other Wii titles but is completely justified given the amount of gameplay on offer.  All in all, an excellent addition to the Final Fantasy franchise.