Final Fantasy sequel Crystal-izing on Wii, DS

Echoes of Time to reverberate on Nintendo platforms with interconnected online play in spring 2009.

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.

64 Comments

  • gat0rl1vebeatz

    Posted Dec 21, 2008 6:19 pm PT

    this sounds good --- I need my FF fix after FF 13 is delayed...

  • TehUndeadHorror

    Posted Dec 19, 2008 10:02 am PT

    "According to Square Enix, gamers will also be able to switch between single-player adventuring and multiplayer modes without exiting the game. "

    Burnout Paradise? ;D

  • ThaddeusK

    Posted Dec 12, 2008 10:25 am PT

    BigBoi: the hardcore gamers can get FFIII, IV, and Chrono Trigger instead

  • Serbine

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 4:23 pm PT

    Heck Yeah, I can't wait for this game, it going to be totally awesome.

  • Mr_Hoohah

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 2:04 am PT

    To grahamx: The 1st was probably fairly weak due to the fact that it was one of the first of its type. It can only really be considered "generic" now because of how many crap games spawned from it.
    Also, I agree with you that what defines a game is its gameplay, that's why I say all a game needs to be a Final Fantasy is moogles, Cid, and funny-named spells, because they're all different otherwise, gameplay and all.
    For instance, checking out the first screenshots of 13, did it look like anyone could have a clue what the gameplay would be like? Probably not, but it certainly looked freakin' cool.
    That's all you can really expect from any new Final Fantasy; the franchise name is there to tell you, "Hey, check me out, I'll probably be a pretty badass RPG."

  • Walkori

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 9:44 pm PT

    omg i liked ffcc because it was a multi player rpg but not an mmo... diablo is the only other good game like that... its also the only reason i want echoes... echoes better have good connection, not use the mii's, and not need a wii copy for multiplayer... miis suck

  • X-Remnant

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 4:32 pm PT

    I'll cross my fingers but I won't hold my breath. I'm not expecting big things from this.

  • Wrecked69

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 12:13 pm PT

    Crystal Chronicles was the weakest FF game of all time. Ill skip this one and wait for 13.

  • Arkk_Angel

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 12:06 pm PT

    Gosh...Square quickly became another Ubisoft. Looks like they REALLY don't want my money. It's okay. I'll give it to Sega.

  • KrzyJoe

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 11:36 am PT

    damn the DS gets everything

  • BigBoi17

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 11:09 am PT

    I never liked Crystal Chronicles, they were lame and repetative. Square could've did a lot better with it, but it's just a prime example of how Developers don't take Nintendo and its Hardcore audience seriously...

  • supreuph

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 10:58 am PT

    @ Aizou

    This isn't happening because the percentage of wii owners who play more traditional style games (fighters, RPGs) isn't as hefty as the number PS3 and 360 owners who play them. Especially considering that the main series hasn't graced a Nintendo console since FFVI.

  • Dark_sageX

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 10:56 am PT

    Oh com'on Square Enix! Don't you think you gave the DS enough games?! Sure you made lots of awesome titles but when is FF13 coming out?! Its been like 4 years now and nothing has changed! You already gave the Wii a title (CC My Life as a King) and you gave 360 Last Remnant and Infinite Unidscovery, when is PS3's turn!

  • Aizou

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 10:49 am PT

    All I want to see is a regular part of the FF series on the Wii, not another Crystal Chronicles. Considering more people own a Wii than an XBox 360 or a PS3 I'm failing to see why this isn't happening.

  • cajunstrike

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 10:24 am PT

    Agreed. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time is no Final Fantasy XIII...

  • zgreenwell

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 9:27 am PT

    Now maybe they'll make you buy 4 DS's and 4 copies of the DS game to get the full experience from the Wii version.

  • Link_86_1

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 9:22 am PT

    I liked the one for the GCN. Never played the DS one, didn't seem to appealing, I hope this one isn't such a disappointment.

  • leonheart_z

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 8:46 am PT

    please i dont even care about the crystals or chronicles..give me 13!

  • josef8

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 8:08 am PT

    Square Enix dont put effort on games anymore, they just want it easy

  • Fareru

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 7:49 am PT

    Cool, I've been a fan of Crystal Chronicles since its first game, and it really is a cool side series! This should be fun to play on the DS

  • Rect_Pola

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 7:41 am PT

    How on earth would Miis fit into it? That's sounds fugly on epic proportions.

  • codeman5533

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 7:26 am PT

    hardcore is right casual not so much

  • swamptick

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 7:01 am PT

    Finish the ones you are working on before starting to make more.

    I think we are seeing the begining of the end of Square-Enix as we know it. They will not go under or anything like that but they do seem to be drifting away from what made them great.

    That said I hope these games are good!

  • corwinn01

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 6:47 am PT

    Well golly gee whiz . Since my last comment got reported by a tight pantied cry baby. I will say it again bring on the other Final Fantasies before you start making more.

  • Lisandro_v22

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 6:14 am PT

    @TehEliteElite: you are completly wrong, final fantasies such as 7 are indeed comercial but they are not intended for casuals, they are directed to hardcores that are a big part of the gaming market, but it's true that square is getting more commercial with the years, just compare advent children with the game, or the story of FFVI with the story of IX

  • grahamx

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 5:29 am PT

    I personally hated the original, it was a boring, generic hack and slash that was repetitive as hell, you even had to revisit the same levels 2 or 3 times. Even the combat was boring, and uninspired

    I hope they change the formula back to a classic turn based style, and contrary to how some people say an FF game only needs a guy named Cid, and moogles to be an FF game, your wrong. A game series is defined by it's gameplay at heart, otherwise, it's just a sub series. If this was not the case, Konami could very well of named Metal Gear Acid, MGS4, it's just stupid..

    Make a deep, involving classic style FF, Square! Your fans would love it.

  • shadowblade99

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 5:06 am PT

    I hope it's better then the prior game Crystal Chronicles for the GCN. I could really use a hardcore game for the Wii right now.

  • combatsoldier

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 4:02 am PT

    I want Final Fantasy 13. Give me 13.

  • e_riman

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 2:19 am PT

    I'm a huge FF fan, but I've never taken a liking to the Crystal Chronicles games, so this really doesn't appeal to me at all. I'm looking right past it for FFXIII

    My faves were IX and X

  • AnelZukic

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 2:05 am PT

    Crystal Chronicles is made for nintendo and it trys to hit the casual gamers. Almost the only thing which is same with the main series of Final Fantasy is the name, magics and moogles. I played all main FF games and to be honest I like XII at most. I really can't wait to see XIII, and I really excited to see how it is going to be sold for the 360.

  • flyingteddy

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 1:26 am PT

    usually im excited to hear about a new FF game but not this time

  • Alphamale001

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 12:12 am PT

    I really enjoyed what I played of the GCN FFCC. It was pretty neat and had wonderful graphics. Anyway, this sounds neat and I can't wait to see what they can do with this Wii/DS hybrid. Sounds really great and has a lot of potential.

  • ropumar posted Dec 1, 2008 11:58 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    ropumar

    Posted Dec 1, 2008 11:58 pm PT (hide)

    lame

  • lestat23l

    Posted Dec 1, 2008 11:54 pm PT

    AWw man, i hated the first Crystal Chronicles, it sucked having to get four friends who all owned GBA just to play, what a rip off that was.

  • mariokart64fan

    Posted Dec 1, 2008 11:41 pm PT

    no games on wii =bogus by the looks of this this will shut thier mouths 1ce and 4 all

  • ShadowLaguna

    Posted Dec 1, 2008 10:58 pm PT

    Woohoo, another Wii RPG!

  • Norgavue

    Posted Dec 1, 2008 10:30 pm PT

    Nice. Wanna hear more on this.

  • batman_is_me

    Posted Dec 1, 2008 9:47 pm PT

    For Mr Hoohah:
    There was a Cid and moogles in the first tactics game, never played tactics advanced so I don't know about that one, but Cid was your most powerful character in the original tactics. His name was Orlandu Cid(or something like that) and anyone who played the game will recognize that name as one of the most one-sided characters ever created lol

  • chappy_man

    Posted Dec 1, 2008 9:18 pm PT

    interesting, not sure how to feel about this one, so wheres that sequal to the gamecube version?

  • Mr_Hoohah

    Posted Dec 1, 2008 9:01 pm PT

    The Crystal Chronicles line is a completely different style of game than the other Final Fantasies. Number 1, they're multiplayer. Number 2, they're far more action-oriented. Number 3, no Cid. I don't think they were ever meant to mimic the more mainstream Final Fantasy games. The only semblance they have to the mainstream line is the presence of crystals and the names of the spells (Fira, Thundaga, etc.). Oh, and moogles. But Final Fantasy being a shadow of its former self? Granted the focus on crystals is all but gone in the mainstream titles since what, 5 I think, but since every game has been pretty much totally different from the others, you can't really say much about the line straying. The games have also had a different magic system in nearly every installment. Still, I wouldn't mind seeing a more classic approach to a future installment, something a little more close to the first, with a group of generic nebulous-background heroes and more focus on the crystals. But basically (and somewhat sadly), as long as they keep moogles, spell names that end in "ra" and "aga," and a character named Cid, it's Final Fantasy.

    P.S. - I can't remember, was there a Cid and/or moogles in Tactics or the weirder Tactics Advance games?

  • kkkkknaruto

    Posted Dec 1, 2008 8:48 pm PT

    this company used to be soo good are they confused or what? i mean they went japan exclusive for ff13 on the ps3 yet they put out the last remnant as a timed exclusive for 360 in japan.....i mean if they want the ps3 install base to grow as they keep complaining about y don't they stop making timed exclusives and console exclusives and support the damn ps3 already.

  • TehEliteElite

    Posted Dec 1, 2008 8:19 pm PT

    @ NickAnguiano: Square has ALWAYS been about the casual crowd. That doesn't necessarily mean the games are bad... Seriously, FF7? Could you GET more mainstraim for RPGs?

  • Kakua_Omari posted Dec 1, 2008 8:00 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    Kakua_Omari

    Posted Dec 1, 2008 8:00 pm PT (hide)

    sadly final fantasy is just a shadow of its former self.

  • NickAnguiano

    Posted Dec 1, 2008 7:50 pm PT

    I realize even Square Enix is catoring towards a more casual crowd and cares more about money then they used to when they were called Sqaure Soft. I mean c'mon.. Miis? I dunno but that's not really my complaint. I was gonna ask, even though I totally think they should try new and innovative ideas for their games... does anyone else miss the materia system from Final Fantasy 7? hell, I could spend hours just getting the right materia combination set up and collecting all the proper pieces.

  • DarthVillainous

    Posted Dec 1, 2008 7:14 pm PT

    That says a lot about the Wii hardware that a game is coming onto both it and a handheld.

  • Ovirew posted Dec 1, 2008 7:13 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    Ovirew

    Posted Dec 1, 2008 7:13 pm PT (hide)

    Too bad the last decent piece of work Square did in the Final Fantasy universe was FFX(, maybe FFXI if that's any good but I never got to play it). It's been like 7 years since that game came out, and I don't think anything in the franchise has come close to catching my interest in quite the way that the first 10 games and the original 'tactics' game did. They ran out of ideas, and it has been all about money since then - that's really all there is to it. Frankly, I'd rather like to see a third Drakengard game, worked on by whichever group made the first one.

  • brandiezelboat

    Posted Dec 1, 2008 7:11 pm PT

    Finaleve:

    So you're saying you don't want story or character depth? I understand slightly what you're saying, but if they pull it off correctly, it will be that much more engaging, as opposed to just playing a class and tearing through the game with no motivation besides collecting items.

  • finaleve

    Posted Dec 1, 2008 6:55 pm PT

    How would the Mii's come into play? I mean, chances are there are going to be paintings on the wall maybe?

    And I kinda hope they bring back the whole crystals aspect. It at least brought co-op into play more effectively. They also need to not use so much story...RoF really let down when they added story with character depth. Keep it light like they did with the first FFCC but have it all explained in the end on why things are the way they are...but keep the game going afterwards with some cool content.

  • Hungry_Homer111

    Posted Dec 1, 2008 6:51 pm PT

    Sounds interesting. I'll have to check it out. It will actually be my first Final Fantasy game, although I do plan to get others in the future (starting with Final Fantasy XIII on the 360). I like the sound of the online mode, how you play on the Wii, and play with people who are playing on the DS, and vice versa.

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