Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Remastered Edition

Even though I spent so little time actually playing it, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles remains one of my favorite childhood games. There's something to be said for the experience, that it creates memories that powerful. But memory is all-too-often unreliable, often building things up to be better than they ever were. In this second trip with the crystal caravan, I did still delight to discover the cheerful tales and chipper tunes of days gone by. Less welcome were the dated systems for item management. Not welcome at all was the modern update to multiplayer. Turns out cross-platform is not always the answer. I'll take my beat-up old GBA as a traveling companion any day.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition is a fantastic game that is hindered by some multiplayer hindrances. With a few updates and some additional work, this game could overcome its flaws and relive its glory days. Unfortunately, there's no telling whether or not these changes will be made, or how serious Square Enix is about maintaining the title now that it has been released to the wild. Players should try and take the game at face value, as difficult as it may be to look past its differences from the original.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition is perfect for those who want to preserve the original game, but has too many elements that have aged badly.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles was never the best Final Fantasy. We can't even say that it was the best spin-off of the series. However, it was and still is a very special and magical game. And it offers a more than remarkable cooperative experience. Back in the day, the limitation of having to use multiple GBAs for multiplayer was a handicap for many. The current problem is that the online of this remaster does not quite solve it, putting obstacles through an absurd progression system. Despite everything, it is still a very fun and addictive title. As a remaster, I could be more careful.

There’s some good stuff here and it is definitely a piece of gaming history that should be honored and remembered. It just doesn’t compare to more modern conveniences in cooperative RPGs, and things like needing to constantly create new lobbies or make sure you have a certain number of party members can hold you back.

I had a great time returning to Crystal Chronicles, but there were times where I wished they pushed the remastered offerings a bit further. The new dungeons, semi-UI improvements, and more refind graphics were great for old fans like myself, but that may not be enough to grab the attention of new players.

An upgrade from the original, but sometimes for the wrong reason. The lack of local play is an odd decision, considering the original thrived on it, and especially when so much thought and execution was put into the online multiplayer aspect of the title this time around. The fighting system probably won’t win over most fans of the series or of the original 2004 title, but the charm of the original game is still intact through this edition’s exploration and treasure discovery. In the end, this game still contains some fun aspects of its original gaming intentions, but only if you can see through its faults.

As it stands, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered is a tough game to suggest for everyone. Playing through the game alone works perfectly fine, you’ll still get a pretty good experience provided you are willing to put up with the repetitive nature of the action combat and revisiting dungeons over and over. And the online multiplayer component works well too, I had no real issues connecting with other players, no problems with lag or disconnects. But the core co-op experience feels decidedly empty and does a poor job of echoing back to the experience I had with the original game, so much so that I leave the game a tad disappointed overall.

Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles Remastered is a good multiplayer game. You'll spend hours exploring dungeons and perfecting your characters. The main feature of the game is of course its multiplayer dimension, and you'll have fun whether you play with friends or with strangers. However, the experience is tarnished by incomprehensible choices such as the disappearance of local cooperation or the gameplay's lack of dynamism. In conclusion, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles Remastered is a lazy port of an excellent game.

Without much reward for playing single player—and an obtuse and difficult to navigate multiplayer system—Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition simply creates too many barriers to entry for the player to overcome. While the simple gameplay could be fun with an easier interface, the complicated multiplayer will likely only be enjoyed by the most hardcore of fans. Not an outright bad game, but certainly a difficult game to play.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered can only be recommended to the most die-hard of Final Fantasy fans, and only if they play in its single player mode. Those looking to play multiplayer with friends are going to be sorely disappointed.

It’s a shame many quality-of-life improvements that could have been made to Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles aren’t present in this Remastered Edition.

If the Final Fantasy franchise has appeared intimidating in its more modern form, then Crystal Chronicles Remastered might be a decent entryway. The game is clearly its own beast. Again, I’m all for trying something new and if a lot of the things I found particularly annoying about the gameplay loop of Crystal Chronicles were overhauled, it could actually be pretty fun. The return to a sword and sorcery fantasy setting since Final Fantasy IX is in itself refreshing but that’s pretty much the only kudos I can muster right now. A product of a different time, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered is a game that makes a hard case for itself to solo players.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered is a better take on the GameCube classic from 2003. The game does a few things better, like the multiplayer. Still, there are enough obstacles for the game to be really fun. The chalice restrains you from moving freely and the multiplayer still feels outdated. In terms of graphics there were steps taken but the game still looks like an old game, only in HD. For fans this is a must by because of the new things added, but newcomers better skip this caravan.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles is a gem of the good old days, and this remaster aims to bring its former glory to the modern era by implementing crossplay and online multiplayer. The beautiful score and a visual style that stands the test of time make it feel worthwhile, and both are enhanced by this HD remaster. At the same time, this remaster also brings all the issues the original had, and doesn’t improve upon any of its flaws. Omitting a local multiplayer is the biggest mistake, as this stood central in the original experience.

Crystal Chronicles wasn’t the best spin-off of the series, and this remaster (as well as the issues and missing features it brings with it) won’t change that. It can be fun with friends, but there are better RPGs out there.

It's not the worst remaster but Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles should have been a great remaster but Square just didn't do enough to make the game feel like it belongs in this day and age. Co-op is a chore to even get started and having no couch co-op to play with your family takes away the identity of Crystal Chronicles and what made it such a stand out - traveling and exploring as a family.

The game that we ended up with is one that will sate the appetite of fans of the original, while also likely irritating the many that are interested in the multiplayer component. The online multiplayer feels very much tacked on and could have used more time to make the experience more friendly. Hopefully they’re able to make adjustments post-launch. Ultimately, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition is a game that, mechanically, shows its age, and even its newest features don’t feel quite as modernized as they probably should. By that rationale though, maybe the game will end up being exactly what you remember it as.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition falls short in its single player department and even more so when it comes to multiplayer. It’ll be a nostalgic trip for some, but not one that I can promise is worth taking.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition retains plenty of its original charms, enhanced by updated visuals and audio, but with its defining local co-op diluted by clunky online play, it simply doesn’t stake a strong enough case for its return.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition could have been a success had it simply nailed the multiplayer, but cumbersome limitations make it difficult to enjoy with friends. Overall the Remastered Edition is a prettier, yet lesser experience all these years later, so unless you're itching for that sweet hit of nostalgia and don't mind playing with strangers, it's perhaps best to sit this journey out.

There's still a memorable, charming adventure to be had in Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Remastered Edition, but the complete lack of local co-op cripples the game's original vision. Playing together online is always an option, but even that's poorly implemented, with convoluted invite systems and host-only story progression. As a mostly solo experience, Crystal Chronicles is a decent, if somewhat repetitive dungeon crawler -- but this remaster should have been so much more.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered is certainly prettier than the GameCube release, but with a definitive lack of local co-op and some bafflingly poor online multiplayer choices, that’s about all this remastered classic has going for it.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered presents players with an enjoyably short yet not overtly memorable single player experience with enough restrictions and issues to multiplayer matchmaking that only the most dedicated of fans will want to overcome. In an attempt to bring the game to a wider audience with a less cumbersome barrier of entry, Square Enix has over-complicated the experience once again.

A gimmick game without the gimmick. Without that, it’s a weak dungeon-crawler in today’s landscape.

An outdated gameplay, the elimination of local multiplayer and the too long loading times doesn´t validate the improved visual, sounds and the addition of its endgame content.