"Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles" represents change for the "Final Fantasy" series. Besides the obvious fact that the game is on GameCube and not PlayStation or PC, there are other elements of the game that set it apart from its brothers.
First off, the fighting system is completely different. Instead of turn-based fighting, "Crystal Chronicles" has instead implemented a system similar to "Kingdom Hearts" or "Zelda." Whether or not this is a good thing depends on personal preference. If you prefer the "Crystal Chronicles" fighting system to the usual "Final Fantasy" turn-based system, the fighting isn't anything extraordinary, or even that great.
Unfortunately the story isn't too gripping either. You are on a quest to gather drops of elements in order to restore the power to your town's crystal, the source of life. Still, the gameplay is decent enough, and the solid graphics and frame rate will persist with you on your adventure.
The game's saving grace is the multiplayer mode. Being able to travel on your adventure with friends is actually pretty neat. However, this has its drawbacks. First, you have to have one or more friends willing to sit down for a while and play. Second, all players must have a Gameboy Advance to play. Third, you have to have a Gamecube and chances are if you are a "Final Fantasy" fan, you have a PS2 and not a Gamecube. However, if you can cover your bases here, you're in for a treat.
All in all, the game is not bad. There are not really any problems with "Crystal Chronicles," and if you are a fan of RPGs (role-playing games) or a GameCube/ GameBoy lover, you will want to pick up the game.
