crystal-chronicles
Latest
Echoes of Time coming to Europe on March 27
Europeans rejoice! You don't have much longer to wait for the next Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles title than your American cousins. Both the DS and Wii versions will be available on March 27 and, as you're no doubt aware, will allow you to play across platforms -- similar to the original Gamecube title's gameplay; sans requiring you and your mates to purchase otherwise-pointless GBA link cables. Square Enix hasn't given us a price for the game yet, but we'll keep you updated.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time clocks in March 24
Square Enix sent word by Moogle mail today that Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time should arrive punctually at North American retail on March 24. Echoes allows Wii and DS gamers to play alongside one another with a bit less hassle than the original Crystal Chronicles. Remember all those link cables?The game will cost $40 on either platform and will allow Wii players to use their Miis, some of which no doubt already look like Final Fantasy creatures. Gallery: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time
FFCC: Echoes of Time makes North American debut this March
Those of us who've been seeing what is going on with FFCC: Echoes of Time and happen to live in North America, know that we get our chance to check out the DS-Wii compatible game on March 24th, when both the DS and Wii games will ship to retail. Square Enix has just cleared the game for release in the region, so you can be sure that we'll be looking to check it out then. What about you all? Looking forward to getting your hands on Echoes of Time? Gallery: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time
Echoes of My Life as a King
New screenshots of the dual DS-Wii release Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time show off a lot of rather interesting new things! First, and most obviously, hey, it's the King and Chime from My Life as a King! Actually, as far as we can tell, it's player characters in costumes resembling the stars of Square Enix's WiiWare strategy game. Second, it seems that the Wii version has received a bit more of a visual upgrade since we last saw it. It's smoother, anyway.Echoes of Time features a (fairly standard) "New Game Plus" mode in which players can start again after finishing the game, to find more items, including many that are unavailable the first time through. We assume that's the only way to get these costumes, for instance. You can choose either to start again with your same character and continue building, or to start a new character, which increases the difficulty! Gallery: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time
Final Fantasy Cattle Drive Chronicles
The latest update about Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time, Square Enix's DS/Wii action RPG, shows off some of the extra stuff that can be done in-game with pals. You can get new quests from Stiltzkin the Moogle, who has previously appeared in Final Fantasy IX and both previous Crystal Chronicles games, as well as from people around town.One of the quests shown: wrangling wayward cattle in a dungeon! Your team must use red flags to direct wandering cows to their destination without allowing any of them to get killed. Now that's adventurin'!When not corraling, you'll also be able to play a few multiplayer minigames, including boss rush and some kind of game about getting a floating beach ball into a whirlpool. Gallery: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time
First look at the Echoes of Time DSi
Square Enix has finally revealed the special edition DSi for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time that was announced last month, and it's just as described: a cat in a bowtie. But the smaller detail really helps this design stand out; unlike the last round of limited edition handhelds from Square Enix, with their gray or black-on-white designs, the Echoes of Time system has a little color. Not a lot -- just a soft splash of blue here and there -- but the effect is simple and stunning. For those looking to buy the Wii version instead, or in addition to the DS version of Echoes of Time, the Wii title will include a trailer for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers, the game that is, apparently, still going strong. Let's just hope it's a new trailer. Gallery: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time
Crystal Bearers trailer included with Echoes of Time
Anyone who picks up a copy of the Japanese version of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time will get a bonus: a trailer for the oft-discussed, much-delayed, and not-canceled The Crystal Bearers. As to whether or not it's an all-new trailer, we can't say. We can only report that it's a "special" trailer. But hey! The real news here is that Square Enix wants us to be reassured that The Crystal Bearers lives, and it's coming. And maybe we'll get lucky and it will be an all-new trailer filled with amazing footage that will knock our socks clean off. We'll find out come the end of January, when Echoes of Time is released.%Gallery-3302%
Echoes of Time gets spring release in North America
Square Enix has announced plans to release Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time in North America next spring. The cross-platform ARPG will let players of the DS and Wii editions fight, level up, and build junk together, regardless of which console they're playing on. Both versions will come out on the same day, because that's kind of the point. Worryingly, GameStop has the Wii game priced at $10 more than its DS cousin -- in Japan, both cost the same.Lumping DS and Wii players together means both games are pretty much identical (minus some on-screen furniture), but also allows us to pass the DS gallery off as a Wii gallery. Handy! [Via press release]
Rumor Roundup: LittleBigPlanet PSP in 2009 and more from December's EGM
Another day, another hint at LittleBigPlanet coming to PSP. The latest rumor mongering comes from EGM (via NeoGAF), whose December issue suggests a PSP version will debut in 2009 -- supposedly, it'll be "fantastically ambitious and will further flesh out the PS3 LBP experience." What it won't have, it seems, is Media Molecule at the helm, as the developer is rumored to be working on an online RPG (in addition to a LBP sequel?). Previous mutterings pointed the finger at Sony's Studio Liverpool (WipEout Pulse) being the developer.Other juicy gossip from the 'zine: Square Enix has quietly canceled Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers (gasp!), Capcom is bringing 1980s side-scrolling shooter Forgotten Worlds to Xbox Live and PlayStation Network (more gasps!) and Silicon Knight's unannounced Sega title is now looking for a new publisher. December's EGM should soon be on newsstands everywhere. Update: As noted in the comments section (thanks ... Fer-nan-do), Square Enix has released a statement denying the cancellation of Crystal Bearer. The publisher "has every intention of releasing it" but no date is currently known.
Nintendo reveals early 2009 lineup, Mario & Luigi 3 in Feb.
Nintendo has revealed its Japanese lineup for the onset of 2009 (via IGN). Unsurprisingly, the list consists largely of games that will likely never see an official release overseas, but a few titles stand out. Mario & Luigi RPG 3 is coming February 11 to DS (no release date yet for other regions), while Castlevania Judgment and Play for Wii Mario Tennis are coming January 15. As previously revealed, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Echoes of Time will be coming to both DS and Wii on January 29.Not listed are the recently unveiled Sin and Punishment 2 and Punch-Out!! for Wii. Looks like we'll be waiting a while before getting our hands on them.
Square Enix trademark could be new Crystal Chronicles game
Fans of the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles line-up of games from Square Enix are in for a treat. Not only because the upcoming DS-and-Wii compatible Echoes of Time looks really sweet, but because a recent trademark by Square Enix has opened up the door for another Crystal Chronicles game.Recently, Square Enix filed a trademark for Crystal Defenders in the US Patent Trademark database. This new trademark has nothing to do with Echoes of Time, seeing as how Square Enix trademarked that back in July. Of course, there's also the possibility that this isn't for anything new and could be tied to a mobile title from the company, Crystal Guardians W1, says Spencer over at Siliconera. We guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Shonen Jump reveals Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time for Wii, DS
Square Enix has revealed a new chapter in the long-titled Final Fantasy sub-series, Crystal Chronicles. According to the latest issue of Shonen Jump (via Gamekyo) FF:CC:Echoes of Time is coming January 29 in Japan for both Wii and DS. The game will allow DS and Wii users to play alongside one another simultaneously, and will enable Mii characters to be used in the DS version. No other details are provided, but given the timing of this issue, we'd be surprised not to see Echoes of Time at this month's Tokyo Game Show.[Via NWF, Final Fantasy Union]
Developers dish on My Life as a King on the Nintendo Channel
While we do love all different kinds of trailers and videos to spaz up our normally dull internet lives, we really appreciate when we come away with something useful after watching one. That's why we love developer's diaries, especially ones that involve the beloved Square Enix, and especially when said Squeenix game is WiiWare's My Life as a King. With the exception of the almost monotonous voice-over work, we found the video and the tidbits of info offered interesting. Note, though, that we're still a little bitter about the "content updates," which is the developers' euphemism for "Square Enix maiming our wallets for stuff that should have been included in the first place." Nothing else too special hit the video channel, aside from some previews of upcoming games. Here's the full list, though, for you to judge: Developer's Voice - FFCC: My Life as a King (embedded above) SPOGS Racing Info Video Get Wii Fit with Alyson: Strength Training We Love Golf! Info Video LEGO Indiana Jones Info Video Little League World Series 2008 Info Video Final Fantasy IV Info Video (DS) Soul Bubbles Info Video (DS)
The My Life as a King DLC you've been waiting for
We didn't just get one WiiWare game and one Virtual Console game this week. We also got ... some DLC for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King! Well, that's much better! The new content includes four new dungeons: the Infinity Spire pack for 300 points, which contains two dungeons, one of which levels up when it's completed, Castle Renovation for 100 points, a dungeon that enables you to rename your adventurers and listen to the game's music in a jukebox mode, the Library for 200 points, a dungeon that adds libraries to the game and lets you teach your adventurers skills. In addition, for 100 points each, you can buy new outfits for the King and Chime. That's right, the Chime bikini DLC has finally arrived. Just in time for summer for furtive, shameful downloading![Via press release, image via Siliconera]
Virtually Free: Crowned King
We've got a winner in our latest contest: reader Nathan, who was looking forward to Tetris. After all, what's life without a little Tetris? We can only hope he's also looking forward to Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King, since he's picking up a copy on us! Didn't win? Don't worry -- we'll have something new on offer next week!
Virtually Free: Last day as a king
Interested in trying out a (few) day(s) as the little king of a little region? Then jump on over to our Virtually Free giveaway and throw your name in for a chance to win Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King. The contest winds down tonight!
Virtually Free: Live as a King
Don't forget that we're offering one reader a chance to experience life as a (Final Fantasy) king! Head on over to our latest edition of Virtually Free for a chance to win a copy of the WiiWare title Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King. Remember, you can enter once per day until the contest winds down Monday night!
Wii Warm Up: Born for WiiWare
There are two things that led to this particular question of the day: our new column, Born for Wii, and the release of expanded games like Dr. Mario Online Rx. Are there other properties you'd like to see get this kind of enhancement for WiiWare? Or maybe you'd be more interested in something like the direction Square Enix went with Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King -- in that it's a nice break from the typical with the Final Fantasy franchise.There are tons of original games for WiiWare, sure, but there are equally as many possibilities for things like this, from board games to expanded online mini-games based on popular characters. What would you pay for?
Virtually Free: Life as a King
We've got something special for you in this week's Virtually Free giveaway: the chance to live as a king! Manage your peasants, live in a castle, and jaunt around in puffy shorts, all on our dime. Of course, it's virtual, but hey -- we never promised the moon. Or a kingdom. But we are promising Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King ($15) to one lucky reader!So what do you have to do to win? First of all, you have to leave a comment (with a valid e-mail address) on this post telling us what WiiWare games (current and announced) excite you most. Second, you must be a legal resident of the United States with an American Wii (sorry, Canadians, we have to leave you out of this one; blame the gifting system and not us!) and 18 years of age or older. You may enter once per calendar day between now and Monday, June 16; the contest comes to a close that night at 11:59 PM Eastern time, and we'll select a winner in a random drawing the next day. Questions? Check out the official rules.
Europeans: start painting those Moogles
It's not exactly clear when the European armof the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Moogle Paint contest opened up, but it looks like it was originally set to end before June 12th, since the official rules still say that's when winners will be notified. We think it has actually just started, and that the June 12th date is supposed to be for the U.S. contest. In any case, you have from (some time) until the end of July.If you're in Europe (there's a list of eligible locations in the official rules), you've got Ring of Fates, and you like painting Moogles, you're (eligible to be) in luck! You could win framed art, a soundtrack, or other prizes signed by character designer Toshiyuki Itahana, or even have your design used in a future game! Unfortunately, you can only enter once, so you'll have to pick one KISS makeup design to use instead of submitting them all separately.%Gallery-3462%[Via press release]
