Nintendo World Report

Storyline details, gameplay tidbits and an explanation of the game’s delay are revealed in the latest issue of Famitsu.

After years of silence regarding the game’s development, Square Enix has slowly been releasing information on the Wii-exclusive RPG Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers. The game is set to look and play differently from the earlier Crystal Chronicles titles, right down to the game’s setting. Crystal Bearers takes place in a futuristic world in which magic has been long forgotten and technology has replaced weapons of old. The Yukes have disappeared for good and the crystals are created by the Lilties. The game’s protagonist Layle, a Crystal Bearer of the Clavat race, can manipulate gravity at will. As videos on the official website have shown, this element plays heavily into both combat and exploration. When pointing with the Wii Remote, players can have Layle grab monsters and stop them, flip them upside down, or toss them at other enemies. Various other elements of the game’s world can also be affected by this ability.

Famitsu also chatted with the game’s creators, Akitoshi Kawazu and Toshiyuki Itahana. In the talk they explained the combat a little more, revealing that the game doesn’t have a traditional character leveling system. Upgrades are instead acquired through accessories. This allows Layle to strengthen his gravity abilities, with the game’s world reacting to these changes accordingly. One of the more interesting tidbits is why the game has been in development for so long. According to the game’s creators, they hadn’t even started development when the Crystal Bearers was announced.

While no final release date was announced, Famitsu lists the game as being 60% done.

Pedro Hernandez, Staff Writer