A chip off the old FF franchise - 9/10
Final Fantasy: Ring of Fates is a very different approach to the unique turn-based fighting system of the original FF's behind it; instead revealing a 3rd person fighting system. Physical and elemental attacks remain at your disposal, along with hundreds of combinations of weapons and armors to use and customise.
Disappointed that it does not play into the standard emotional development and immersing storyline of original FF titles? Trust me, it's not as bad as it sounds. Rather, this game is one of the most enjoyable games you find to hit the DS gaming shelves.
The story starts with you as a young Yuri, constantly being nagged by you twin sister, Chelinka. As you go outside, you see your father chopping wood, yadda yadda yadda, you get a sword, yell "sweet!" and run into the first random open door/crevice that you can find.
This is where the real game starts. The first level is basically an introductory level, teaching you the basics of hatchet-weilding[(A) spamming], item gathering[(A) spamming] and monsters. As you play more, you start realising how diverse the game is. Monsters continuously provide a challenge for you(often blocking and escaping) and gradually you learn how to cater for these monsters. You realise that every item you pick up is significant in the long run, you realise that it's not just a game that a 3 year-old can cruise through. Often the map provides the player with a decent challenge, such as moving chunks of rock that are technically 30 times your bodyweight,[I know its just a game, but is it really possible? >.>]and pressing switches in specific orders. Basically it would take you about 5 minutes to fly through a level, but to get a grasp of how fun it really is, about 30 to 40 minutes.
Finally, you enter the room to find an ancient treasure chest-looking thingy. Out of nowhere, Scorponok appears and WHAM! your first boss battle. Once again, all the bosses provide a decent challenge for players, each with a difficult way to kill them[spam harder,better,faster!] and an easy way.[Up to you to find out.]
There are actually quite a few different levels, about 15 or so, featuring subzero atmospheres to ancient ruins of grand cities. However, you find that you will have to revisit some areas, and indeed they get a bit boring after a while.
Players will also find that their desired armors and weapons cannot be bought, rather must be crafted with scrolls and materials. It gives the player a decent challenge to collect all the required materials, and it's quite a surprise if usually what you expect doesnt turn out right. For example, a pastel hood turned into a fluffy hood with cute cat ears, all in a baby pink sort of colour.
However, the most impressive aspect of the game that i found was the Multiplayer mode. This would probably be the funnest feature of the game, and i would imagine many players would agree with me.
You are given the opportunity to choose a job from the 4 classes in-game[warrior,mage,alchemist,hunter]and you are to level him/her up,exactly like an RPG. What's better is that you can use this character to party with friends, and together can achieve much more than what the map had previously offered you.[hell yeah, im talking map glitches ;D]
This mode has solo play, where you can beef-up your character solo before going to party with a group of peeps, or multicard play. There is no Single Card mode for this game.
All up, i found this game very memorable and enjoyable. There were some certain aspects that the game could improve on technical-wise, but the storyline flows very smoothly.
Gameplay - 9/10
very smooth storyline, can be a bit confusing at times.
Music - 8/10
As usual, FF music never ceases to amaze.
Graphics - 9/10
Quite good for a ds.
Features - 10/10
Multiplayer mode absoloutley ripped-it-up!
Total - 9/10
Submitted by matchu
25/05/2008
141
10
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Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates
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