Video Games : Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates (Nintendo DS)

Rating: - Nice Addition to The Crystal Chronicles Series
The Final Fantasy series is one of the most popular games of it's kind. It also houses countless spin offs, The Crystal Chronicles series is one of them.Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates is the newest addition to the series the story centres around the fraternal love between twins Yuri and Chelinka who lose their mother, they go on a journey and meet a whole host of interesting and unique characters.My first impressions of this was that I knew I was gonna enjoy this (alot more than FFIII, which I do love but thought was too slow)with the custom-made weapons which made it alot more fun and the graphics are amazing even the music is pretty good.The bad parts, even though you have 3 other characters fighting with you, they don't always fight I was on the first 'Fish' boss and all they did was stand there or fall in the water so I guess the AI needs to be tweeked also the set locations kinda bugged me, I mean it's cool in Final Fantasy Tactics because well, it's a tactical RPG but with this game theres only about 6 or 7 places you can actually visit.While I did love the game and completed it in just under 10 hours I felt it was quite short and the gameplay was very "Gauntlet" not that I mind button-mashing I just felt the bosses seemed to get easier and easier like the final boss!. But I do love the game and will play it around again.
I would recommend it to the younger gamer as in all honesty the story isn't as crucial as you'd think, there was parts where'd I'd skip the cut scenes and still know where to go and what to do.

Graphics: 10/10

Story: 6/10

Gameplay: 7/10

Extras: 7/10

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Rating: - Pretty good
I hadn't actually played the original Crystal Chronicles before buying this game, as I don't own a gamecube - so in terms of how it compares to the first game, I can't comment.
However, in my opinion this is the best Final Fantasy game on the DS so far. The graphics are beautiful, even in-game, and the gameplay is fun and easy to understand and grasp. Despite it's length, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Only two things let this game down - firstly, the voice acting, which was extremely grating after a while. There's only a certain amount of baby voices I can stand, and the first couple of cutscenes had me muting the sound a couple of seconds in. Secondly, the use of the touch screen. After playing Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and seeing the innovative ways it had you useing the touch screen, I couldn't help feeling that this game was a bit of a missed opportunity. Don't get me wrong, the gameplay was fun and much more engaging than FFIII, but it would've been greatly enhanced and a lot more fluid by using the stylus a little more.
Despite this, Ring of Fates is certainly worth a look.

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Rating: - Crystal Chronicles Strikes Back
Having played, the original gamecube version; I was greatly pleased with the new DS update of the game. However, it provides something much more fun and enjoyable than its predecessor. The Gamecube's Crystal Chronicles featured a character of the player's choice visiting a series of dungeons in order to access more dungeons. The characters development system was particurely dislikable due to the fact that the only way you could boost your character's stats; was to obtain an item at the end of each dungeon. These items would do things like 'boost attack by 1'; not a good way to level up and increase attributes. The game also seemed to lack a proper story with the only ressemblance to an actual plot (which the Final Fantasy games are so famous for) was a brief message every 3 dungeons.
Ring of Fates is completely different from the original. You play as Yuri; a young clavat who begins as a child but as the story goes on; he grows up. The story contains fantastic graphic cutscenes and develops into something much more dark than the gamecube original. A memorable cast features the 'young at heart' litlie; Meeth and the selkie who fails to grasp any part of the plot; named Gnash. There are 4 playable characters; each from one of the original tribes and they all have their own special skills. Admittedly, the controls for some of them do not work as well as others (Meeth's pot particurely) but the game can be completed despite this. The best new feature is the inclusion of a levelling system in which you gain experience by defeating enemies. The whole game is played out in real time as in the original.
Finally, the replay value. There is actually a completely different mode which is basically the same as the original Crystal Chronicles. You explore dungeons (levelling up) and there is also a chance to complete missions with friends who own the game. You can create your own 8 characters to attempt this mode with. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that you will have 3 friends to play it with and so it is hard to advance far on the missions. There is also a Story + and a Story ++ each with their own features and a secret dungeon to conquer.
Overall, the game measures up to be a good game and I give it 4 stars out of 5 stars. From the secret moogle shop in Rebena Te Ra to the many many bosses you can fight; there is lots to discover and enjoy.

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Rating: - Good Idea, not enough game time
I bought this hoping for a genuine FF experience. Im no stranger to the Crystal Chronicles on the GameCube so it wasent the gameplay that let me down, but there was definatly something lacking... so now less than three days after buying it, im sat here without a game to play and minus £30. its too easy, completed it within about 8 hours and then most of the game is filled with boring dialogue scenes and the story dosent actually make any sense. there is no refernence in the game to any "ring of fate" the magic system is very hard to use, in the instructions you are led to beleive you can create immensly powerful spells by combining smaller ones, but ive got through the game without using anything more powerful than the basic 3 spells, because you just dont need anything else and if you stand there trying to create these extra spells, the rest of your party dies straight away because they are uselss, even in a boss fight they just stand around triping over one another while you hack and slash away at him...

anyway, its alrite but if your looking for something to play a bit more long term avoid this one, its really not value for money.

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Rating: - The Crystal Chronicles Continue
This is not actually a direct continuation of the GameCube game, but is set in a similar world.

Two twins who have lost their mother years previously set out from home with friends for adventure. They don't stray too far at first, but one stormy night, something terrible happens. They suffer a terrible loss, though their bond grows stronger.

On their journey they will make new friends, despatch many monsters, use magics, and try to set the world right.

In the game you have a party of up to four characters and battle monsters in real-time. The DS's touch screen is used for special abilities such as mixing elements into spheres and targeting enemyies.

I gave the game 4/5 overall as it has an interesting and original storyline, seemlingly endless combinations of equipment and is highly playable. However, it can be frustrating to play due to the level design, and you'll find your companions play only a minor role in combat, usually dying constantly. It multiplayer mode it is more interesting, but it can only be played locally not over the internet thus limiting the options there.

I enjoyed it and will definitely be playing through it again in the future.