Video Game Review

'Crystal Chronicles' fulfills gamers' fantasies

The latest edition in the revered "Final Fantasy" series, "Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles" ($46.95, Amazon.com), brings a different kind of game play to this old favorite.

By connecting to the Nintendo Gamecube using either multiple controllers or Game Boy Advanced SP, up to four gamers can play together. The multiple player capabilities of "Crystal Chronicles" allows many gamers to experience the whimsical world Square Enix USASquaresoft dreamt up for the first "Final Fantasy" game for the Gamecube system.

Rated "T" for teens due to fantasy violence, "Crystal Chronicles" is nonetheless an enchanting game that can be played by the whole family.

In the game, players are charged with saving a village from the threat of miasma, a kind of poisonous gas that threatens to overtake everything in its path. In order to keep the miasma from spreading, players must replenish the power of protective crystals. The crystals regain their power from myrrh — the water of life — a substance players must collect from myrrh trees. All the trees are guarded by beasts that players must defeat.

"Crystal Chronicles" has a variety of character tribes players can choose. Gamers can play as a Clavat, Selkie, Lilty or Yuke, all of which are different species living in the world of the game. Each tribe has its own strengths and weaknesses, such as the Selkie's ability to use powerful focus attacks and the Yuke's strength in magic use.

Players can customize their characters by choosing their gender, tribe and hair and clothing variation. In all, there are 32 character types to choose from, which allows for endless playing combinations.

One fun feature of the game is that each character has a family back at the home base village. Whenever a player defeats a guardian monster, a moogle — a cute, furry staple of the "Final Fantasy" series that looks like a tailless cat with bat's wings — delivers a letter from a member of the player's family. Players have many options when creating their families, including the choice of the family's trade. If one chooses to be in a family of blacksmiths, the family will be able to buy things such as armor.

The graphics are simply breathtaking. Smooth lines and vibrant colors dominate everything in the game, from the characters to the lowliest bush.

One downside is that if a Game Boy is chosen as a controller using the GBA link cable, the game will freeze if it is left unattended for a few minutes. Also, while every member of the party who has a Game Boy as a controller will be able to use his or her own status and menu screens, any member of the party who doesn't have one will have to use a menu on the television screen, which interrupts the action for all other players.

Considering the character customization, replay value and overall beauty "Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles," no one touched by its charm will be able to resist this stellar game. Round up your friends and start the adventure.