Final Fantasy sequel Crystal-izing on Wii, DS

Final Fantasy fans will soon have a new Crystal Chronicles spin-off to submerge themselves in, but it won't be the long-MIA The Crystal Bearers. First revealed by Japanese magazine Shonen Jump in October, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time for North America was officially announced today by Square Enix. With the game's Japanese release slated for January 29, Square Enix said that Echoes of Time will arrive across the Pacific on the Wii and Nintendo DS in spring 2009.

With a theme not unfamiliar to Final Fantasy faithful, Echoes of Time tells the story of a teenaged hero who sets out on a quest to save a similarly aged girl from a disease that is as life-threatening as it is mysterious. To get at the heart of the "crystal sickness," the boy-champion must delve into the secrets of a long-dead civilization.

Echoes of Time on the Wii and DS will play similarly to Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates, which was released to warm reviews for Nintendo's portable in March. The game relies heavily on action role-playing elements as well as various puzzles. There will be four playable races, and Wii gamers will be able to import their user-created Miis for play in the game.

As noted in October, the game's most distinguishing feature is online multiplayer interconnectivity between the Wii and DS editions. According to Square Enix, gamers will also be able to switch between single-player adventuring and multiplayer modes without exiting the game.