Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time

An excellent adventure for Wiimote wagglers or stylus junkies - and even better with both. [Apr 2009, p.62]

The game itself is fast and accessible, tailored toward the younger gamer, but with enough depth and interest to appeal to experienced gamers too.

The Wii version looks just like the DS version, which is to its detriment since the DS visuals don't look very good blown up on a big screen. [Apr 2009, p.82]

While the Wii version undoubtedly ends up a slightly less ambitious game, the overall package across both DS and Wii more than makes up for this shortfall.

This works well as a gateway into Square-Enix games, but experienced RPG fans will tire quickly.

While single players will need a bit of extra setup time, the enjoyable story and intuitive touch controls make Echoes of Time a blast to play for practically anyone – not just the diehard RPG fans out there.

You have to put a lot of work into the game (and the WiFi settings) to get a good experience out of it.

While I found myself disappointed in the percieved lack of effort in Echoes of Time for the Wii, I'll say this much: When you're playing it multiplayer, you quickly forget all about the blocky graphics or the lack of extra content.

Echoes of Time is a good sequel of this particular universe within the Final Fantasy franchise. If we can forgive the technical aspect of the title, we have to remark this is one of the few action RPG games with online mode, which is interesting given the fact that online play is dominated by third-person or first-person shooters.

Echoes of Time proposes us the ambicious idea of sharing a RPG experience with players all over the world. It has worked, especially on Nintendo DS, offering players an accessible and very suitable game to share adventures with another three users.

Unfortunately, the Nintendo Wii version of Echoes of Time feels like the game was simply slapped together with no real intention of making it specifically for the Wii. This is too bad seeing as the quests are fun and the multiplayer mode is amazing but it is held back by the controls. If you own a Nintendo DS, I highly suggest you pick up that version instead.

Whether it’s the similar gameplay (My Life as a King excluded) or the recurring four races or even just the general look of it, I usually know what I’m getting with a Crystal Chronicles game and usually I like it. The DS version of Echoes of Time manages to uphold that tradition quite nicely. The Wii version, sadly, does not.

Echoes of Time is a great DS game, and it should be played on DS.

Though scaled back from the depth of a typical Final Fantasy adventure, there’s still a fair amount of value in Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time, but you need to really want it.

Portability and touch-screen functionality give the DS game the edge. [Apr 2009, p.84]

While the online upgrade and improvements in the wireless multiplayer make it a feat to behold, just make sure to play the DS version instead of its unattractive, very unpolished console port.

The Wii version, however, suffers from a point drop simply because it's a lazy port that's got no effort behind it. So, as with so many Final Fantasy games, Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time is one for the fans.

Despite a groundbreaking multiplayer mode, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles - Echoes of Time is only for the hardcore RPG audience.

The most contagious thing about Echoes Of Time is its humour, and there's no shortage of intrigue and mishap in the quests to come. Nor, however, is there a surplus. [May 2009, p.96]

There's compelling dungeon-crawling action to be found here, hiding amid tedious puzzles and an awkward transfer from the DS.

Unbelievably Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes Of Time is a total DS porting: it features the same graphics and the same gameplay, in which you have to use the WiiMote just like you use the pen on the DS version, without any change in the gameplay that could make this game more enjoyable on Nintendo Wii...Anyway, the game has a good concept and sometimes it’s funny too.

But buyers beware, the best way to play this game is through the DS, so while both the DS and Wii versions go for about $39, the DS version is definitely the better buy.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time was clearly made for the DS, and on the DS is where it should have stayed.

Echoes of Time is a useless waste of time in Wii. You better expend your money in the NDS version, because this is just a 1:1 port of the handheld that has nothing remarkable at all. We will have to wait till Crystal Bearers comes out to the scene by the end of this year.

The console version is nothing but a quick cash-in for Square Enix.

It’s a real shame the game is so deeply handicapped by the archaic visuals and half-broken controls. Pick this one up on DS and have a blast!

It's a great game for the DS, and well worth playing. Avoid the Wii version though, I can't really stress that enough.