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Destructoid review: FF Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time photo

The Crystal Chronicles series of games has never really seemed to catch on, despite having the prestigious Final Fantasy name attached to it. That might have something to do with them rarely being very good. Not exactly terrible, but not great by any stretch of the imagination.

The controls are dodgy, the platforming action messy at best, and the blend of RPG sensibilities with real-time action awkward. Luckily, Echoes of Time has done absolutely nothing to fix those problems, and in fact seems willing to make them worse than ever before. 

If you were expecting a glowing review, you've obviously never played a Crystal Chronicles game. Come with us as we review Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes on Time.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time (Wii, DS [reviewed])
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Released: March 24, 2009
MSRP: 
$39.99

For what it's worth, the game's story revolves around stopping an evil German Librarian who has shattered your village's Crystal, causing most of your friends to disappear. While he talks of some great incoming tragedy that will strike the planet, you must collect pieces of the shattered crystal and restore order. The story is light and unfortunately lacks characters as memorable as those in Rings of Fate. However, the game is more customizable this time around, allowing you to choose from one of the series' four races and create your own character. 

The title attempts to capitalize on the Monster Hunter craze that is still captivating Japan, putting the focus on four-player multiplayer and quests that can be completed at leisure. You can switch between single-player and multiplayer at any save point, but it's highly recommended that you don't bother unless you're going to play locally. The online mode, at least in the DS version, is utterly pathetic. The platforming action, already hampered by a number of control and camera issues, is made impossible by lag, as characters respond to commands whole seconds after input. While the developers are to be commended for allowing online interaction between the DS and Wii versions of the game, such commendation is meaningless when the interaction simply doesn't work

You can choose to create some AI companions, but really ... don't bother. AI has never been in a Crystal Chronicles developer's vocabulary, and you might as well just go it alone if you can't get any local players to join you. The main quest is mainly focused on making you play through the same areas multiple times, and coincidentally, so are the rather shallow sub quests. 

The worst aspect of Echoes of Time is that it threatens to be enjoyable so often. I have a soft spot for Crystal Chronicles games, and the character customization, equipment leveling, spellcasting and cute artistic style are all present and can often be fun to play with. Unfortunately, for every positive aspect of the game, there is also a negative that severely hampers any fun that could be had. It's hard to stay mad at some games. It's impossible to stay forgiving of this one. 

Most of the game is spent in its dungeons, short enough to suit a portable game, but long enough to be demoralizing if you die inside them and have to start from the last save point. Simplistic combat and equally simplistic platforming are the meat of the gameplay, but both of them are incredibly flawed, mostly marred by issues that plagued the last game. First of all, platforming with an isometric camera angle is just ... stupid. I would use a more eloquent word to describe it, but such an exercise in awful gameplay design deserves no such word. It's fucking stupid, and it needs to stop. It's difficult to judge jumps, especially the trajectory of swinging ropes. It's not fun in the least, and for a game sold in 2009, it's absolutely appalling that we're stuck with a mid-nineties camera. The fact that it's a DS game is no excuse. The fact it's also a Wii game is just disgusting. 

As far as combat goes, it's just as rough and sloppy as last time. The magic system has been improved, replacing the rubbish Magicite system with a more traditional MP meter, but aside from that, it's the same lack of targeting and random button mashing as before. Also, please don't release a portable game with no pause function. Getting trapped in a menu while being beaten to death by an enemy is not my idea of a good time. 

I stuck with Echoes of Time as long as I was able to because, like I said, there is fun to be had somewhere. However, the game's unquestionable commitment to being terrible fights you every step of the way, and each time I started to get into the game, another problem, usually one that Square Enix should have fixed from prior games, rears its ugly head. Messy and chaotic combat, characters not picking up the right objects because is clustered and cluttered, platforming disasters that we've not seen since the N64 era. It's all there for the taking in Echoes of Time, and frankly, it's not worth your time, or my time, to see through to its grisly conclusion. 

As far as the graphics go, this is one of the better representations of 3D graphics you'll get on the DS. It looks as good as polygons will get on the handheld system, and the designs are are cute and affable as always. Bear in mind that the game looks the same on the Wii as the DS. Yes, it really comes to something when an apparently current-generation home console is sharing graphics with the DS, but there you go. The music is catchy and the sound effects and voices are all pretty good. The presentation is the best part of the game. It's a shame that the bits that make it a game are absolutely rubbish. 

I really want to like Echoes of Time, I truly do. However, you'd need the patience of a saint and the mind of a fish in order to stomach the piles of garbage that cover what could have been a really nice portable adventure. Sequels are supposed to build upon the flaws of the last game while maximing the good points. Somehow, Square managed to reverse that formula, giving us Echoes of Time

Avoid it. The few glimmers of enjoyable action simply aren't worth the hassle.

Score: 4.0 -- Below Average (4s have some high points, but they soon give way to glaring faults. Not the worst games, but are difficult to recommend.)









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Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize. Likes PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3 Meet the rest of the team



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41 comments | showing # 1 to 41
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Naim Master's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 14:17
Naim Master
I loved this game , but I won't rage , I will allow you to have a opinion (even is it is a mediocre one) , but one thing , wouldn't it be nice if Collete also did the review , I mean , we get the opinion of a microsshiting fagtart and a genre fan ...
frozenbabylon's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 14:25
frozenbabylon
I dunno. I actually honestly enjoyed the game for what it was. Just a hack'n'slash dungeon crawler on the DS. I didn't go in expecting anything different so I was pretty happy with the finished product.

The AI partners were bad though. So bad. I often just kept them around so that if I died they'd either bring me back to life or afford me the time to look for a pheonix down. You know, Meatshields.
Halidar's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 14:25
Halidar
Crystal Chronicles will forever be a curse series.
zomginterweb's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 14:31
zomginterweb
Looks like most of your review pertains to the DS version and not the Wii version. Usually when a console and a handheld version of a game are released, the portable version is pretty shitty and watered down. Did you play both of them or just the DS version? I'd like to know how the Wii crystal chronicles is, as I know better than to get a hand held port of a console game.
Kyousuke Nanbu's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 14:32
Kyousuke Nanbu
@Naim

So you have no intentions to rage but you just called him a fagtart and want someone who's a fan of RPG's(I.E someone with a little bias) to do the review.

The hypocrisy is so thick I can practically taste it.
frozenbabylon's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 14:36
frozenbabylon
@zomginterweb: Man, You have that way backwards. If you'd done a little research, you'd know that the Wii version is actually the port, Not the other way around. The game is just emulated on the Wii. It's still the same game.

Screenshot here.
ChopmasterT's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 14:37
ChopmasterT
Wish I read this before I bought it :< A good review though
EternalDeathSlayer's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 14:39
EternalDeathSlayer
If it plays like the last one for the DS, I won't be buying it. That game sucked.
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 14:49
Chronic Logic
They should REALLY take out the Final Fantasy names from their crappy or mediocre games, otherwise they'd just tanish the franchise.
Naim Master's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 14:52
Naim Master
@kyosuke nanbu

Obvious sarcasm is obvious ...
Wedge's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 15:00
Wedge
I found the last one to be passable, some of the combat was sort of interesting with the variety of characters you got. Eventually got bogged down with the shit poor level design and gave up though.

Played this one for about five seconds and gave up when realizing it hadn't made any improvements and seemed a lot more boring and there were good games like Suikoden to play.
dip's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 15:17
dip
@Chronic Logic: Like they care about that. They want that shit to sell...
Syn's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 15:19
Syn
As I expected. Haven't touched a FF:CC game since the first one.
Capm Trevo's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 15:22
Capm Trevo
I disagree completely.

I love this game, and so do the 5 other people i convinced to buy it. We all play it pretty regularly together via WiFi, whether it be questing, farming for mats, or just running through a stage for the hell of it.

The game mechanics themselves are well done in my opinion. The mix of Action/rpg/platform was brought together nicely. Even the controls aren't that bad, you just have to be good with your thumbs ( I haven't had any problems anyway).

The leveling of one's character and equipment is an awesome new addition, as well as the ability to infuse stat boosting jewels into everything you make, and actually knowing what they do (which is an improvement since ring of fates).

Anyway, what I'm saying is, this game is great, and that's it.
Darren Nakamura's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 15:22
Darren Nakamura
Haven't played a Crystal Chronicles game since the first one, but I really dug that. I don't intend to get into the newer ones unless they shape up.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 15:23
Jim Sterling
"Wait, this game tries to capitalise on the Monster Hunter craze just because it's exactly like the franchise games that came before it? What the..."

Was there online and paid subquests in the last one?
zomginterweb's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 16:23
zomginterweb
@ frozenbabylon

That makes me very sad.
aivan's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 16:38
aivan
I got around to the half way point and said fuck it. Jim is right though, there is definitely something to like about the game, but there is just too many bad design choices.

Oh, and the AI is dumb as bricks. They really are next to useless.
moominsean's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 17:11
moominsean
i managed to play about 10 hours into the last cc ds game. it was really fun at first, but 10 hours later, it was just annoying. a whole lot of the same, and the following characters were completely useless....would have been better to have one character on the screen and just let you flip between them as needed. but it got very redundant and i got bored with it. i'd imagine the new game is more of the same.
Lcdscreen's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 17:34
Lcdscreen
Lag? More like Lame. I really wanted a portable online hack 'n slash dungeon crawler, but lag is a big nono. Guess I'll just have to wait for Phantasy Star Zero. ;D
Discarded Couch Sandwich's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 17:45
Discarded Couch Sandwich
I really liked the first one, and i'd play it all the time if I could. Unfortunately I cant, because I dont have four GBA cables and four friends who are also into Crystal Chronicles and have Game Boy Advance's, that I am able to summon at will for a game.

This is a great series at its heart, but as said, its hinderances make it pretty much impossible to realise. Its a real shame that the idea has to go to waste so often..
BlackSunEmpire's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 18:31
BlackSunEmpire
@zomginterwebs

Not only is the Wii version a port of the DS, theyve put both screens side by side on the wii and control has changed from touch to ultra-sensitive wii mote waggling. If you want to waste your cash on this game, do yourself a favour and get the ds version.
manasteel88's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 19:46
manasteel88
I dont mind a handheld port to the wii...its just I don't want to have to rely on somebody else playing with me to have a good time...because if the AI is crap whats the point.
jjwet35's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 20:54
jjwet35
um......doesn't anyone here have any friends to play online? or at least go on nintendo wifi and join or host a game. i regularly go online with my 3 other regular friends on nintendo wifi network, and never once have had the lag issues that is stated in this review, so i am utterly confused by the claim. something sounds wrong with your connection dude. in any case, this game wasn't designed to play by yourself with 3 bots. if that is how u intend to play, you definitely should not buy this game. no way. listen, bottom is, if you have 3 other friends to go online with, this is a great game to go questing on. this review is just bizarre. this game will not win any awards, but it is indeed fun with friends. just a quick note for people not in the know. the wii and ds are completely identical graphics-wise. in fact, like others stated, the wii is a port of the ds version. second fact is the wii version is vastly inferior for one major reason that isn't really stated anywhere, but you will find out after you buy it. the wii version of the game can only host. the wii cannot join any parties online. the ds version can do both, host or join games. just a warning out to people who didn't know.
Quantum Zombie's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 21:05
Quantum Zombie
I agree that there are a number of issues with the game, primarily related to platforming, but I would have to disagree with the appraisal that Echoes of Time is worse than Ring of Fates. Ring of Fates had all of the same issues as the current installment, plus the infuriating magicite system and thoroughly broken dungeons (several dungeons in the original could be completed in a matter of minutes due to the Selkie double-jump). The magicite system, as mentioned, is completely gone, and the dungeons seem to have more varied puzzles that are, for the most part, Selkie-proof. It's a net gain situation, but it's definitely not Citizen Kane on the DS.
Benson's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 21:08
Benson
sigh, I enjoyed the game, but now you have ruined it for me, thanks for shattering my bubble of ignorant bliss.

I really hope they fix these problems for the 100% likelihood of a sequel. Oh wait! you ruined my hopes there by pointing out this isn't the first to have these issues....Damn you!

All the Best.
jjwet35's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 21:09
jjwet35
a little more detail about this game if anyone is interested. the person hosting the game will have their game saved at the save points. the 3 people joining do not. but they can save their character, and the leveling up at a save pt. the person hosting can in fact switch back and forth from single player or multiplayer mode by going to the crystals (a save point). so if the person who was hosting the multiplayer game quits out of it and continues the story mode in single player mode, the 3 guys that were playing with him will miss out on the action when they join up again at the last save pt. you can play this game in local mode or network mode. on network mode, you can grab random people to join your game, or you can join a random person's game. or you can do it with people on your friend list. there's fighting in the game and magic, but there is also a heavy emphasis on puzzle solving. so people looking strictly for a hack n slash, should keep this mind.
Korolev's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 21:16
Korolev
When I was young a stupid, I got crystal chronicles for the GameCube, and yes I even got an extra game boy to play it with my brother (god I was stupid back then). We never finished it, despite spending the money on it - because the storyline was crap and the world felt unfinished and mostly empty.

The Final Fantay series is NOT known for its gameplay. It's known for its settings, it's characters and its story and its graphics.
BlackFreefall's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 21:30
BlackFreefall
The first one is all right. But after reading this review, I may not get it .
Askherserenity's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 22:07
Askherserenity
You guys have to stop thinking of this game as something more. It's just a fun, 4 player co-op hack and slash. There are tons of things to do in the game and lots of drops you can get. It's pretty cool seeing your characters appearance change with each new gear he/she gets. And seriously, 4 player co-op in this game is fun. I have yet to get any sort of lag yet, no idea what you were talking about, and either way, its better when four of you guys are in the same room. I would like to think of this game as more as a PSO game. Story is not that great, but its there. That's not what its all about. If you like PSO, give this a try.
smurfee mcgee's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 22:58
smurfee mcgee
I saw this at Blockbuster, and thought, "What the hell?"
I rented the Wii version, and shortly thereafter had my world collapse around me. How could anyone give that port the green light? Why?
I want to find whoever was in charge of porting, and destroy their fucking soul. 1/10. 1 for the ok game that is the DS version.
ProperlyParanoid's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 23:27
ProperlyParanoid
Oh man, this sucks. I love the GameCube one, and I had high hopes for this game. Oh well. Well, we still have Crystal Bearers. I hope that will be as good as I think it will be.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/12/2009 00:21
Jim Sterling
"It's just a fun, 4 player co-op hack and slash"

If you removed the word "fun" from that sentence, I'd agree with you.
Witherbucket's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/12/2009 01:26
Witherbucket
Oh, Jim, I am torn. On one hand you are the professional and a respected man in your field, and you say you hate the game. But these people seem to like the game, possibly even love it in a platonic way. Do you mean to tell me these people are to you what I think when I gaze at the roving horde of Twilight fans? Truly, I am torn.

P.S. This is my very first post. Hello, hello, hello!
Rucksack's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/12/2009 09:18
Rucksack
@AL3XAND3R

Whoa now, I don't think Jim qualifies as a yellow journalist. If anything, he's a delightful shade of chartreuse with a wonderful polka-dot overlay.
nightv's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/12/2009 11:12
nightv
Playing the Japanese version now as my girlfriend seems to really like it, And I have to say for a DS on the go game, I like it, I don't really have any problems with it.

And Jim I hate to pop your bubble on the Monster Hunter craze you speak of but this system comes from Phantasy Star Online way back on the Dreamcast and even some aspects Dioblo and other such games.

This type of thing is popular in Japan(I live in Japan) because the general gaming groups out here like to play together.

Also at one point Phantasy Star Online was pay to play when V.2 was released. That is a little over what 10 years ago.

As for there being no pause function, there should not be. What your going to pause some one else to in a game? This game was focused on multi user play, I dont know if it states that on the US copy but it does on the JP one. Also Look back to Phantasy Star Online for the no pause thing because they started it.

While this is a good review I think it was judge a little unfairly for what it really is. I rarely had trouble with this game, and if I did die it was on me. It is ment to be a 2-3-4 player game that can be played solo.
This is a game that really need 2 people playing it at the same time reviewing it.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/12/2009 11:52
Jim Sterling
"And Jim I hate to pop your bubble on the Monster Hunter craze you speak of but this system comes from Phantasy Star Online way back on the Dreamcast and even some aspects Dioblo and other such games."

You seriously don't believe that the massive success of Monster Hunter in Japan isn't influencing people to try and mimic it? You're not "popping a bubble" because I'm right. Pokemon wasn't the first game to have collecting and turn-based battles, but you saw a shitload more of that once it became popular. It's naive to assume that developers aren't trying to copy Monster Hunter right now.

I'm somewhat shocked that a couple of people seem to take offense at the Monster Hunter comparison. You clearly must underestimate the popularity of Monster Hunter over there. There's no way in Hell developers wouldn't try and mimic it, just like they try and mimic motion controls and anything else that takes an audience by storm.
Tubatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/12/2009 15:42
Tubatic
Whoa wait, they ported from DS to Wii?

As a professional porter, I'm impressed and dismayed.

To bad about this. I guess I'll have to stick to the My Life As games, and wait for Crystal Bearers.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/12/2009 22:21
Jim Sterling
I still say that the paid quests and online multiplayer were there because of Monster Hunter. And you're gay so I win, obviously.
smackifilia's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/13/2009 15:53
smackifilia
In recent internet news, Blog-poster trolls own blog with surprising success.
lovemana23's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/16/2009 18:36
lovemana23
This is a shame, because there`s potential for these games to be good. They have a similar folky charm to the Snes Mana games, although i hasten to add that the difference in quality is immense. I would imagine most of CC`s presentational charm is mostly derived from older games like that anyhow. I had some fun with Rings of Fate, and found the music and presentation very endearing, but agree that a lot of it is broken, and riddled with issues, mostly relating to that cornerstone of control awkwardness, isometric 3D.

I would like to hear Collettes view though, especially if she played with some friends......I hear this is when the game can shine.
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