FF: Crystal Cronicles for the Gamecube?
 

I just saw a commercial about Final Fantasy: Crystal Cronicles on the Gamecube. Can anyone more well-informed than me (basically anyone) expand on this for me? I wanted to play the last one but I don't have a Gameboy. Is this the same game with better grarphics or what?

It's basically a four-player Gamecube Final Fantasy without the in-depth plot or battle system that the series usually has. It can be played single-player, but I hear it's incredibly lackluster without friends playing with you. IGN gave it a 7.6. If Electronic Gaming Monthly doesn't give it higher, I'm definitely skipping it. I know that you use the Gameboy Advance as a controller or something, but I don't know the specifics about that.

-Lasereth

So since I don't have any friends that are into FF, I guess I'll skip it to. Might give it a rent, though.

To play 4 player you need
-Four GameCubes (EDIT: Only one is needed)
-Four GBA's
-Four Link Cables
-Four copies of Crystal Chronicles (EDIT: Only one is needed)
-Four friends

Screw that shit.

I'm pretty sure you only need 1 Gamecube and one Crystal Chronicles to do the four-player, but you do need four Gameboy Advances. That doesn't change the fact that using the GBA as a controller doesn't work well at all. Oh well...we can always look forward to FFXII!

-Lasereth

Correct Lasereth - only 1 GC for four players - but 4 GBAs are needed along with 4 warm bodies. If you pre-order your FF CC game from most places they will give you a free Link Cable. I got mine from EB.

Jesus lord.....you guys are some picky people. Please dont say shit that isnt true, and scaring off people who might want to play this game....Mr.Deflok...do your research. Thank you LNCPapa and Lasereth.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2003/20030825l.gif

So....so, wait. Do I NEED a Gameboy to play the Gamecube version? Sorry, I'm sure it's pretty clear to everyone but me.

nah, I was about to ask the same question, glytch ;)

I've always seen gba hookups as augmentations, not required. This isn't true?

it's not required to play.
I have the japanese version, and YES it is required for multiplayer, but you do not need it for single player.
Though the game is severely impared without the 4 GBAs and 3 friends to play with.
As much as I admire Nintendo and Square someone made a bad call on this one. The ROI is waay too high.

ROI?

so, what, gang, it's no fun by yourself?

IGN said the game would have got even lower scores if it was based off of the single-player experience. They said it's incredibly lackluster, especially the fact that half of the game is based on multiplayer puzzles and fights. It's designed for multiplayer, and that's what they reviewed it based on.

-Lasereth

Pssh, it's still damn expensive to play multi. Though it's a great idea to be hooking up your GBA to your GC to unlock hidden extras a whole god damn mode of play shouldn't be considered an extra.

damn. sucktastic. and i had such high hopes... but I only have juan to play w/ me... 2 players enough? or does it REALLY need 4 to shine?

yes. but 3 players makes it pretty rocking too..
basicly.. if i knew 3 ppl with GBA's and cables (highly unlikely) i'd rent the game and have a go, but I cannot endorse a purchase of this game with only 1 or 2 players.
The single player is very very limited. Oh well.. maybe next game.
*sighs*

really people...
I'm saying this as a Nintendo fan... do you have a better Gamecube game to invest in anyways?

yeah:
Made in Wario
Donkey Konga
Phatasy Star Online Card Battle
Sonic Heros

other than Made in Wario (is that really comin out already?)... FF:CC looks like ur best bet for now...

I dont think Donkey Konga is comin out till later too...

NGC's getting a DK? Wicked!!!

from what I've heard, it's more like a DDR knockoff then a DK game... :/

Just looked into it, that blows chunks! When are we gonna get a decent new DK game?! DK Racing for the NGC got canned and there's no word on anymore DK's... Perhaps the DS will have something we can look forward too... Oh, and preferably a new DK where you play as DK (never really liked playing as Diddy/Dinky (sp)). [/THREADJACK]

oh man, Tycho from Penny-Arcade just flamed the shit out of IGN's review. It was bad.

check it out at http://www.penny-arcade.com

That's some flameage ladies and gents.

Donkey Konga.. notice the 'A' at the end of Kong..
It's like Mambo a Go-Go or Capcom's Taiko Drum Game.. similar to ddr, but a little different.. it's not a platform DK game..
Sorry to get your hopes up..

It is very fucking fun btw ;)
*hugs NCSX and Play Asia*

Penny arcade did post on it, and for anyone having ANY doubts on how good this game it, just trust Tycho. Here is the article.

IGN's Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles review is pretty amazing. It is as though they had written a review of the sun, but forgot to mention that it was hot. There are so many details omitted from their calculation of the game that one wonders how, in four pages, they couldn't find the space to mention them.

Perhaps it's because so much of the review is given over to truly incessant carping about the divergences from Final Fantasy. Don't get me wrong, it's a fact that needs to come out - this is not a sixty hour single player epic where the protagonist is the dream of a lost city whose dad is not only a real dick but also an immortal monster. I would be surprised if anyone was still under the impression that Crystal Chronicles was that kind of game. It's a four player action game, dense with Final Fantasy fan service and extraordinary production values for the genre. But the mere fact that Crystal Chronicles isn't an RPG in the classic sense, something they could glean from five minutes' play, is held against the game in every conceivable way. It is as though they were presented with a race car, and then spent an hour criticising all the ways it differed from chocolate cake.

You know what I hate about multiplayer roleplaying games? This applies to Massive ones, as well. You miss a couple nights, maybe a week, and once you get back in your friends are all riding dragons or wyverns or something, they're all level awesome and you're level bullshit. That never happens in Crystal Chronicles. Why is that? Well, because of all the things the reviewer complains about, basically.

Yes, it's true enough that you do not keep spells from level to level - at least, not at first. If any character grabs a water orb, they're a water mage now in addition to whatever else they want to do. If any character grabs a Heal orb, they can heal other players. You can even drop them out and trade them, as often happened in our group. You'd have a couple battle mages, a melee guy, and somebody who walked the line. What if you want one of those battle mages to be in command of the Phoenix Down, to raise teammates from the dead? No "white mage" required. Even your melee guy could do it - with no explicit classes or even levels of those classes, people can do what they want to and even change their minds halfway through. Want a more powerful spell? Have your party cast two or more spells on a foe. Want to elementally enhance a melee attack? Cast it as someone charges into battle. And in higher levels, when you enter an extremely tough spot and have to get by with no magic until you earn it back? Exhilarating. Maybe it's just one player that gets to the Phoenix Down and brings the whole party back. I'm trying to figure out exactly what we're bitching about here.

There were also cross words for the "experience" system in the game, referred to as "bizarre and unfair," and where the reviewer found such assholes to play with is a mystery - though I guess we can presume they work at IGN. You don't gain levels in the game, so if they're thinking of it as "experience" that can be stolen from you in some "unfair" manner, it's no wonder they're frustrated by it. Here's how it works: At the beginning of a level, you receive a directive that shows up on your GBA. Maybe you need to avoid attacks by enemies, maybe you need to not pick up items or refuse to heal yourself. Then, you and your crew rock the house throughout the whole level, collecting the loot you'd expect to - money, magic, food - and some things you might not expect, especially if you read that review. For example, you can sometimes collect special materials which, combined with the proper recipe, will produce brand new equipment. You also collect what amounts to stat bonuses - they can bolster you temporarily during the level, but when it's over they're laid out for party members to choose. This final screen might also include special materials, items that give you more hearts, as this game handles hitpoints in the Legend Of Zelda way, or magic rings that let you have spells permanently - I wouldn't call any of those things "experience." You're then ranked according to how well you did satisfying your directive, which determines who gets "first dibs" on any of these bonuses. There is typically plenty for everybody. This is where things get bizarre and unfair, apparently, when you are recognized based explicitly on your performance. If "merit" is suddenly a distasteful method for justifying reward, then I'm not sure what to say to that. I guess I'm sorry that everybody doesn't get a hug at the end of the level. Jesus Christ.

The thing is, aside from the special things I mentioned, these bonuses just aren't all that big a deal. It's cool to have this much defense or this much whatever, but don't forget - this is an action game. The guy with 20 defense and the guy with 40 defense are both going to take damage from the big monster if they wander into its maw. Also, and here's where the asshole portion comes in: if you need something, why don't you just work that out with the group? This isn't deathmatch, where you need a leg up on your opponents - you're going to need every one of these motherfuckers when that huge orc comes out. Guys on the frontline need the hearts, problem solved. This shit is only complex if you play with a bunch of dumbfucks.

The review disregards the creation of items, the role your family plays, the letters home, how dungeons can change significantly from year to year, how gravity spells can down extremely dangerous birds, and no mention whatsoever of the minigames. I doubt that in their whirlwind tour of Crystal Chronicles they even saw any of these things. I'm completely infuriated - the "annoying" chalice, a.k.a., The Bucket? You mean, the one that keeps your party together? I guess it is pretty annoying, especially when you're all going the same way and working together to defeat fabulous beasts in one of the most beautiful games available for any system. Yeah, it's super annoying.

It all becomes clear when you understand that a professional reviewer's objective isn't to complete the game - their objective is to complete their review. In order to do that, some combination of codes, strategy guides, or FAQs are no doubt employed to lubricate the trying, time consuming gaming that is their cross to bear. Look at them now, beaten and bloodied, hauling a Gamecube trailing four controllers down the Via Dolorosa. A game's greatest crime to a person in their position is that it be inconvenient, which Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles unabashedly is. You need to hook up GBAs to it. You need to carry a chalice. You need a bunch of people. It's sometimes very difficult. You know what else? It's also very rewarding - at least, when it it's not your job to endure it.

(CW)TB out.

Why would we trust a reviewer over a critic? Electronic Gaming Monthly gave it 8/10, 8/10, and another 8/10. They said the single player is crap, but the multiplayer is fun, but nothing original. IGN gave it a 7.6 out of 10, saying basically the same thing. I'll trust either one of those sources over the guys at PA...none of them are game critics or reviewers.

Did PA actually read IGN's review? There is ONE paragraph out of FOUR pages that mention how it's unlike previous FF games. ONE paragraph. PA exaggerated this...the rest of the review is spent describing the game. You know, what reviewers are supposed to do.

Uhh, IGN didn't bitch once in their entire review about losing your magic. They said it actually improves spell fusion and teamplay in the dungeons. Again, PA exaggerated the review and actually made false statements.

IGN has said that certain dungeons in the game don't give enough artifacts to boost everyone's stats or EXP at the end of each one. That's just personal experience. Maybe IGN had that experience, and maybe PA didn't -- neither one is merit to say IGN's review is bad. Maybe the game is designed to be open-ended; IGN is just saying what happened in their gameplay.

IGN didn't bitch about that. Again, did the PA guy even read IGN's review?

Umm, IGN didn't say the chalice was annoying overall, they said it was annoying for the player carrying it. That person is slowed down and usually can't fight in the battles, thus losing the chance for teamplay and action. If the character holding it wants an item, too bad, they can't drop the chalice or the party can't move. That DOES sound annoying.

Yeah, having to have four Gameboy Advances, four link cables, and four people to play at all times to get the full experience IS troublesome. You can't get around that.

The PA guys have always got on my nerves, but this pushes it over the edge. They're a bunch of fanboys that want to go against any professional critic simply because they make comics that are funny 1/3 of the time.

I don't care if they write a review on the game, but they don't have to write it just to spite Imagine Games Network. That's really unprofessional if you ask me...it's also saying that we probably shouldn't take their review seriously. This just shows that IGN's review is truly bothering them which makes me feel really happy. :)



*EDIT* This is from Penny-Arcade as well:

Actually, Tycho, most knowledgeable reviewer, the XBox version (which you linked on the PA page) does NOT feature left-trigger shortcut menus. You use the D-Pad to do it, and that's what IGN complained about. Think about it...if you use the D-Pad to do it, then that means your thumb isn't on the left analog stick, thus your character cannot MOVE. If you're gonna bitch, at least look at the PS2 review that does feature left-trigger shortcut menus.

This guy amazes me more and more.

-Lasereth

Lasereth, maybe that blow-by-blow review of PA belongs in...well...the PA forums? Or maybe an email addressed to the man?

Hey, someone posted the entire PA review here, so why can't I post a commentary on it? This is about Crystal Chronicles, and I'm replying to a review of it. I find that OK since this is the Crystal Chronicles thread in the Gaming Section.

-Lasereth

let's go back to talking about the game rather rthan bitching about tycho and gabe, please? this isn't politics...

looks like IGN Insider posted a nice counter-rebuttal-pwnage. Tycho took the time to post it on the main page of Penny-Arcade.

Ha ha, IGN basically said what I said above. www.penny-arcade.com

I'd buy it if it had a better single-player mode. I don't hate playing with friends, but I do hate not being able to play the game to its fullest extent without them. Oh well, like I said before, FFXII is ahead of us. :)

-Lasereth

Ickuber and Lasereth: argh, hey you two.. seriously.KNOCK IT OFF. Stop being jackasses and try to be courteous and "nice" memebers again. YUou dont own this forum, and you are BOTH annoying the shit out of me and others.

-Ganguro

they weren't annoying the shit out of me.....besides, Penny Arcade is just naturally wrong in this argument. I feel very informed now that Lasereth explained how the PA fellers didn't give the whole truth.

Just because two people are trying to explain something to each other doesn't mean a warning is warranted, does it? Unless I missed something in the rules.......

this is a thread, if I'm not mistaken........where people talk to each other :)

now if lasereth and ickuber were calling each other stupid or something like that, I'd be with the warning

What the hell are you talking about? Have you even read what we typed? IckUber didn't even SAY anything. He just quoted Penny Arcade. I simply posted a reply to their review. Owning this board? Jesus, all I did was reply.

-Lasereth

fine issue resolved.. contine with your whatever it is you were doing.. im done with it

lol :lol:

/me shares her midol w/ Ganguro ;)
Now, discussion is fine, boys, but geeze, let's not tear apart the sources sentence by sentence? it's ponderous, and largely pointless. say "Gabe's full of shit, here's the way it really is" if you must. :P

That said, I'm seriously bummed... I don't OWN a link cable to my GC for my GBA. :(:( are they expensive? worht picking one up to rent FF:CC and give it a try? i'd need 2, though... kinda sucktastic. *glares @ square* y'all foobarred.

This topic makes me sad... I was looking forward to this game.. Oh well :(

I can't wait for it. sitting down with four buddys playing FF Classic. It does suck that you need 4 GBA's and Link cable to play but it's new never been done before. From what i played of the JP version and the E3 demo THis game rocks. Don't be sad SquareEnix and Nintendo working togther is great and it sold great in Japan.

IGN and other gaming sites are a joke. I'll trust my friends that played the import and said it was great and get it when it comes out.

I tend to trust gaming critics and reviewers because they have a basis of knowledge about comparing videogames. When I ask my friends about the best games, they automatically tell me whatever they've played last, despite the fact that the game SUCKED. Yeah, Devil May Cry 2 is a great game! The Bouncer is awesome! Postal is a quality game.

I never listen to my friend's recommendations for games, mainly because I don't think they're qualified to compare games to each other in a non-biased point of view. Videogame companies are in existance because of their ability to do this. IGN is not biased. EGM is not biased. Both are full of reviewers who have played literally thousands of videogames all the way through. Until my friends have a comparitive base of a thousand games to compare to, their recommendations mean jack and shit, and jack left town.

Sorry, I just feel the need to defend gaming companies. Most people hate them without reason. I can give them credit on recommending hundreds of games in the past years that are great. They let us know which games are good, they sort through the shitty games to save us money, and by saving us money on games they also save our time. I, for one am grateful that a group of companies out there take the time to play through every shitty game that hits the market, just so we can know which ones to play.

-Lasereth