Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time for Nintendo DS Reviews by Gamers

While not a rabid fanboy, I've enjoyed the Final Fantasy franchise ever since its first release. Given my past experiences, I was naturally eager to try Crystal Chronicles on the DS. Unfortunately for me, it turned out to be a sizable departure from the usual formula. Crystal Chronicles plays more like a mediocre Zelda clone than Final Fantasy, mixing a somewhat complex RPG engine with an action element that is better suited for games far less complex.

Instead of trading blows with a specialized battle screen containing various offensive and defensive commands, you'll be running around in circles, jumping to and fro. While doing so, you'll be mashing the A button in the hopes that perhaps THIS time you're finally facing the right direction to make contact with your foe.

The challenges beyond battle are far less compelling. You'll be faced with a myriad of tiresome and uninspired puzzles that generally involve tedious jumps from one platform to the next, casting spells on certain objects, and pushing large blocks around. Many, if not most of these puzzles involve some form of time imposition; the lazy man's way of adding additional challenge to dull game elements that would otherwise offer little of it.

The rest of the game is essentially what you would expect from Final Fantasy; pleasant graphics and music; stories of shattered crystals, etc. Otherwise, there is little in Crystal Chronicles to suggest a connection with its roots. I think that's too bad.