Nintendo Wii is Taking Final Fantasy Seriously?

Square Enix's Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers Shows Promise

Oct 6, 2009

Final Fantasy is the biggest name in RPGs. Sony makes fortunes selling Square Enix's top-notch games. With the Wii's Crystal Bearers, is Nintendo ready to do the same?

After a multi-player GameCube dud and limited successes for the hand-held Nintendo DS, Nintendo finally seems to be taking Square Enix's hit Final Fantasy saga seriously.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers is the first real sign of life Nintendo has breathed into the Final Fantasy mega-empire. Per NintendoWorldReport.com, Crystal Bearers will be available for Nintendo's Wii console shortly, set for a Japanese release on November 12, 2009, and an American release on December 25, 2009.

Square Enix's Crystal Bearers Will Not Be the Wii's First Traditional RPG in the Final Fantasy Series

To the displeasure of die-hard, Final Fantasy traditionalists, Crystal Bearers is not a true role playing game (RPG). Instead, it plays like an action-adventure along the lines of Zelda: Twilight Princess. However, unlike Nintendo GameCube's Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, Crystal Bearers is more grown-up.

The graphics resemble a cross between the cartoonish Final Fantasy IX and the manga-ish Final Fantasy X for PlayStation 2 — not quite as good as Final Fantasy XII or as Final Fantasy XIII promises to be but considerable in their own right.

More importantly, Crystal Bearers is a single-player game. This means no running around with ridiculous chalices, no deadlocked decisions as to what to do or which way to go, and no awkward gameplay moments that hinder the overall enjoyment of the video game.

Crystal Bearers Retains Certain Elements of Nintendo GameCube's Final Fantasy Products

Like Crystal Chronicles for the GameCube, Crystal Bearers takes place in a world of Clavats, Yukes, and Lilties. In fact, its story takes place 1000 years after the events of Crystal Chronicles, according to Square Enix's website.

Layle, Crystal Bearers's hero, is a young mercenary living in an age of science. Magic is a rarity in this world, and Layle, a crystal bearer with extraordinary power, is feared and hated for his misunderstood abilities. His magical skills are akin to telekinesis.

Layle is hired to protect a new airship. During its journey, the airship is attacked by monsters led by the game's likely villain. It is Layle's confrontation with this villain that begins his journey and sets up the game's plot.

With Final Fantasy XIII Coming Out for Sony's PlayStation 3, Will Square Enix's Final Fantasy Games Compete for the Same Market Share?

Final Fantasy XIII for Sony's PlayStation 3, also produced by Square Enix, is currently scheduled for release on December 17, 2009, nine days before Crystal Bearers hits North American stores. Lucky for American and Canadian gamers, that's a release date for Japanese stores. Thus, Final Fantasy XIII will likely arrive in the western hemisphere sometime in the spring, giving dedicated Final Fantasy fans plenty of time to finish Crystal Bearers before buying the PlayStation game.

Certainly, the PlayStation Final Fantasy will be a more comprehensive game than Crystal Bearers, in-line with earlier, true RPG versions. Fans who own both consoles will likely shell out $50 to $60 for both games, but Final Fantasy XIII may require additional purchases (e.g., strategy guide) and play hours in order to fully complete the game.

Further, Crystal Bearers is rated "T" for teen but is sure to please most gamers. It will incorporate, in part, the Wii's motion system. Final Fantasy XIII is intended for teens and adults. Since both are made by Square Enix, the name in RPGs, the games will most likely feature repeat Final Fantasy gil, creatures, and weapons and satisfy with quality Final Fantasy music.

Neither game will be available for the holiday season, although Crystal Bearers may reap the benefits of returns and exchanges with its day-after-Christmas release date. Although Crystal Bearers is appropriate for children, its gameplay may be too difficult for children less than eight years-old.

The copyright of the article Nintendo Wii is Taking Final Fantasy Seriously? in Role-Playing Video Games is owned by Jason Parent. Permission to republish Nintendo Wii is Taking Final Fantasy Seriously? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.