Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

While almost exclusively developing for Sony consoles during the time of the Playstation and Playstation 2, Square did however undertake one major entry in the Final Fantasy Series on the Nintendo Gamecube. Dubbing it, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, this spin off series would establish a name of its own. Square would create and fund a new studio, named the Game Developer's Studio, in order to avoid their exclusive partnership with Sony.

Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles takes place in a world that is covered by a poisonous mist, the miasma. The mist will kill, and in order to prevent it, towns must use giant crystals that protect the people against the miasma. However, to maintain the power of the crystal, the trees must be watered with myrrh, magical water coming from trees scattered in the most dangerous parts of the world. Each town employs various caravans of heroes to trek across the miasma filled world and recover myrrh for their town, the player being in one such caravan.

The battle system borrowed some elements from the main Final Fantasy Series, such as magic and weapons and armor, but was on the whole unique. Four races, each wholly unique were available as well as a choice to be male or female, and a selection of look. The Clavats, most similar to present day humans used swords and had high defense. The Lily's were elf sized warriors powerful in strength and possessing spears. The Selkies are wolf like beings that used rackets to attack and were the most agile. The Yukes appeared almost alien like, and possessed magical attacks. As players ventured the world, they would either have a moogle partner, or one of the party members, carrying a chalice that protects the cast from the miasma. If a player steps outside the area protected by the miasma, he or she would loose health. Players would venture to the end of the level solving puzzles and fending off against monsters to the Myrhh tree, eventually fighting a boss. Additionally, a multiplayer mode was available, if each player possessed a Game Boy Advance and a GBA Link Cable. FF: CC is known as one of the best multiplayer experiences on the gamecube!

Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles has established a series of its own, with a DS game, Crystal Chronicles: Rings of Fate, focusing primarily on a multiplayer adventure, has just recently been released. A Wii Sequel, Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers, is also in development and will feature a predominately single player adventure.