Post by dafishies on Apr 24, 2009 14:58:23 GMT -5
FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES ECHOES OF TIME
The Crystal Chronicles series of Final Fantasy isn't a very well enjoyed one. I've heard around on other forums, reviews and websites that the series has major flaws and disappointments. But for Echoes of Time, I feel its the best of all three games. If you take the gameplay and look from the first game, improve the multiplayer from the second game. and improve the story and a few gameplay mechanics, you've got Echoes of Time.
~Graphics~
Graphically wise I'm very impressed. It does tend to look a little polygonish but for what is capable to do on the Nintendo DS, I'm more than satisfied. The biggest problem I had was the fact that the Wii version of the game looks EXACTLY like this one. It makes sense b/c its easier to play, but I really think they could have improved the way the game looks on the Wii. There are a couple parts in the game that are a bit hard to manage because of the way the Camera is designed, like for instance I have to jump on a hangwire to slide all the way down, but I can't see where it is cause the camera is at the wrong place. It did frustrate me a LOT, but it wasn't very hard to eventually find out where I had to be at to get to the next location.
~Gameplay~
The gameplay is easily handled and pretty basic. B to jump, A to attack, and then tap the magic icons to select a spell. very simple, yet surprisingly complex. It's more the strategy than just hack and slash at your enemy. Sometimes you'll need to freeze enemies before attacking for massive damage, or for certain puzzles use magic spells to activate objects to move or doors to open. A new feature in the series is "online" co-op. Co-op was in Ring of Fates, but could only be used locally, and not many ppl had the game. So you were left alone a LOT. But with Echoes of Time, hop on your wifi internet and play with anyone around the world, or if you don't have internet, there is a certain shop to make new characters and take them into battle with you. Now these AI characters don't do anything to help u in puzzles. Hell, they don't even "stay" on command. They just run around and help you fight.
But I'd highly advise you to play online multiplayer b/c the experience is just amazing. I had really fun times with other players beating the game, or just messing around in the mini game section. But some of the puzzles are almost IMPOSSIBLE to manage without another player. I spent an hour looking for a way to beat a certain puzzle, but I had to go online for someone to assist me just b/c i couldn't reach something. The only downfall I found with the multiplayer online portion was that it lagged a LOT at time, and then it was super smoothe at others. Some people quit right when you invited them to your own "world" and some people just sat there afk'd the whole time.But despite those flaws, the online was one of the games strong points, and the DS to Wii and Wii to DS I didn't notice anything different about the players, I didn't even know if i was playing with someone on a DS or a Wii.
What I found to be the best part, was the Armor/Weapon system. Once you buy a certain armor of weapon, it actually looks like that weapon or armor on your avatar. So you change your appearance quite a few times during the game. and you can also find "Jewels" to enhance your armor to say fire or ice boosts.
~Sound~
In Echoes of Time, the music changes depending on where you go like all other RPG's. But these songs sound very nice, and are pleasant to the ears. Noramlly an RPG would have a certain 20 second song looping over and over and over and over, but Echoes of Time has a whole song for each level that is very different from the last. One of the funniest parts of the game is having a certain "platform" you can stand on, and a special tune plays while your character dances in different ways. First time i saw this I laughed. It was unneeded in the actual game. But was a fun add on to do. The main title and end credits music is certainly amazing. If you have the game, certainly beat it for the music if you hate the game.
~Story~
(SPOILERS DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED ABOUT THE STORY AT ALL)
Taking place in a different timeline, Echoes of Time faces a serious crisis. There is only 1 crystal left throughout the whole world and its in your own forest town. But once your friend gets sick, you go to a nearby town and get a Archaeologist to help heal her. In doing so you are set on a task set out by this Archaeologist to open 2 "Satellite things". One on Fire mountain, the other on Ice mountain. After doing so, you find out you accidently opened a magic spell that the Archaeologist wanted you to do! He destroys the last remaining crystal and its your job to defeat him and restore the crystal back to the forest.
(SPOILERS OVER)
Yes I would say this is very cliche'd but I still think the story is good. It gets deeper and more dramatic later on in the game. I was surprised at least twice by what happens in the story. By the end you feel like you actually have accomplished something by beating the game. The story is rich, full of different characters and has many twists and turns to keep anyone occupied.
~OVERALL~
Graphics - 7.5
Gameplay - 80
Sound - 8.5
Story - 8.0
Overall Score - 8.2
~Final Notes~
A lot of game review sites like gametrailers rated this game below an 8. But I don't think the game did THAT bad of a job. The developers certainly learned from their mistakes and fixed.......some of them. But for its ups and downs It deserves in my opinion at LEAST an 8.0