Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (series)

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles logo
Genres	Action role-playing, city-building
Developers	The Game Designers Studio, Square Enix
Publishers	Nintendo, Square Enix
Creators	Akitoshi Kawazu
Platform of origin	Nintendo GameCube
First release	Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles JP August 8, 2003
Latest release	Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers JP November 12, 2009

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (ファイナルファンタジー クリスタルクロニクル, Fainaru Fantajī Kurisutaru Kuronikuru^?) is a series of video games by Square Enix. Created by Akitoshi Kawazu, the Crystal Chronicles series is a spin-off series of the Final Fantasy media franchise, and has so far only appeared on Nintendo consoles.

Titles

• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (GameCube) (2003)
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates (Nintendo DS) (2007)
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King (WiiWare) (2008)
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time (Nintendo DS, Wii) (2009)
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord (WiiWare) (2009)
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers (Wii) (2009)

The series also comprises a browser game, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King - Everyone's Kingdom, and a manga, titled Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles ~Hatenaki Sora no Mukō ni~.

Setting

The titles in the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles series take place in an unnamed world inhabited by four humanoid races. The titles take place at different points in the world's history.

History

See also: Crystal Chronicles and Ring of Fates

Ring of Fates takes place during the legendary "Golden Age" where all the races lived in peace,^[1] and when the Great Crystal—into which "all fates are etched"—protected the people from the "malefic glow of the blood-red moon".^[2][3] The world is protected from miasma by the Great Crystal, which uses memories as the source of its protective effect.^[4] Rebena Te Ra stands as an illustrious city and capital of the Age.

Thousands of years later, a meteor strikes and fragments the Great Crystal, setting up the events of Crystal Chronicles. In this time, the world is covered in a noxious gas known as "miasma", to which direct exposure can prove fatal to humanoids. Monsters are immune, but towns, villages and other settlements throughout must be protected from the ill effects of miasma by fragments of the Great Crystal, which generate a barrier that miasma cannot penetrate. The crystals' effect last for about a year before they must be recharged with the liquid substance "myrrh" obtained from "myrrh trees". Due to its close proximity to the Meteor's point of impact, Rebena Te Ra is a monster-filled ruins that was rendered as such almost immediately after the Meteor fell. My Life as a King takes place shortly after Crystal Chronicles and portrays the world as free from the effects of miasma as kingdoms are rebuilding.

Years later, the events of Crystal Bearers occur following the apparent extiction of the Yukes in a war with the Lilties who became the world's ruling race. Through the Liltie world order, technology is run by the crystals and magic was made illegal and an arrestable offense, especially in the case of the Crystal Bearers.

Races

The world of Crystal Chronicles is inhabited by four humanoid races: Clavats, Lilties, Selkies, and Yukes.

The Clavats (クラブァト, Kurabato^?) are biologically similar to humans and are a very peaceful race.^[5] In Crystal Chronicles, Clavats' main advantage in battle is their high defense, they fight with swords, and use shields as their race-exclusive armor. They also wield axes, as seen first in Echoes of Time.

The Lilties (リルティー, Rirutī^?) are a proud, stout race of warriors and knights. In the past they ruled the world in an empire,^[6] founded off the weapons forged from materials of the Cathurigian mines. The Lilties have a unique, flower-like appearance and are the shortest race in the game—as an adult Lilty is noticeably shorter than most other characters, though they are redesigned for Crystal Bearers to be more human like in size and physique. Of the four races, Lilties are the most powerful with a naturally high attack stat that lets them do heavy damage. In Crystal Chronicles, they take the longest time to cast a spell, equip gauntlets as their race-exclusive armor, and use spears as weapons. Lilties can also use hammers in Ring and Echoes and are use urns for various reasons in Rings. By the events of Crystal Bearers, the Lilties are the dominant race of the world.

Selkies (セルキー, Serukī^?) are taller than Lilties, around the same height as Clavats, and usually have silver, blue, yellow or light purple hair. They are a rugged race that dress in furs and stolen goods, and are mostly thieves. They usually put their own interests first and are often scorned by the other tribes.^[7] In the past, the Selkies were under the control of the Liltian empire and migrated from their ancestral homes to search for a safer place to live. It is said that they come from the sea. Selkies are the speediest of the races and tend to take enemies down with a hit-and-run tactic. In Crystal Chronicles, Selkies' race-exclusive armor is belts and they use rackets as weapons. In Ring of Fates, Selkies attack with bows are the only species able to double jump. By the events of Crystal Bearers, the Selkies tend to be at odds with the Lilties every so often.

Yukes (ユーク, Yūku^?) are tall, slender creatures adept in magic that assume form within suits of armor. Yuke armor tends to have long, feathered, striped arms and small, vestigial wings.^[8] Yukes are powerful magic casters, but are weak physical attackers. In Crystal Chronicles, Yukes use hammers as weapons and their race-exclusive armor is helmets. Their "Defend" command in the game is possibly the most useful for Yukes, as it makes them immune to all physical and magical attacks. Yukes can use the "magic needle" ability in Rings and equip spell books as done in Echoes. Prior to the events of Crystal Bearers, the Yukes were seemingly driven into extinction after their crystal was destroyed. Also on "Crystal Bearers" It shows that if Yuke could die if their armor is damaged beyond repair and can enter unpossessed back up bodies in such cases.

Music

See also: Music of the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles series

Crystal Chronicles, Ring of Fates, and Echoes of Time have had released soundtrack albums to date, and Crystal Chronicles and Ring of Fates each have an associated single. Kumi Tanioka is the main composer for the series, having composed the three released soundtracks. Hidenori Iwasaki is filling that role for The Crystal Bearers, while the composers have not been announced for the other unreleased titles. Nobuo Uematsu, the main composer for the regular Final Fantasy series, contributed one track to the Ring of Fates soundtrack. Yae and Donna Burke sang the Japanese and English versions of the theme song for Crystal Chronicles, respectively, while Aiko sang the theme song for Ring of Fates.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Original Soundtrack was released by Pony Canyon in 2003, as was its single, "Kaze no Ne", and a promotional album Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles - A Musical Journey. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates Original Soundtrack and the double A-side "Hoshi no Nai Sekai"/"Yokogao" were released by Pony Canyon in 2007. The latest release is that of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time Original Soundtrack by Square Enix in 2009. All the albums and the singles received generally positive reviews, although the Crystal Chronicles album was the most universally appreciated of the three soundtracks. Unlike the soundtracks to the numbered Final Fantasy games, no songs from the Crystal Chronicles soundtracks have appeared in any compilation albums produced by Square Enix or any official Final Fantasy concerts. "Morning Sky", the opening theme for Crystal Chronicles, was played in the first Games in Concert performance in Utrecht, Netherlands on November 26, 2006.

See also

References

1. ^ Daujam, Mathieu (2004). "Secrets - Scenario - The Myth of the Original Land". Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Official Guide. piggyback interactive. p. 136. ISBN 1-903511-58-5. "A few years after their departure, the Tipa caravanners start hearing tales of the world as it was in the days before miasma. Sometimes presented as legend, sometimes as a fairy tale, the main thrust of the tales remains the same. Whether mentioned by Stiltzkin or later by Mio, whether appearing as part of the annual Diary summary, or in the books hidden in Moschet Manor, the tales all point to the same conclusion." 
2. ^ Daujam, Mathieu (2004). "Secrets - Scenario - The Myth of the Original Land". Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Official Guide. piggyback interactive. p. 136. ISBN 1-903511-58-5. "Originally, the entire planet was bathed in the blessed aura of a great crystal that stood in the spot now occupied by Mount Vellenge. Touchstone of the Becoming, and keeper of all forms of Duration, the destiny of all humankind converged in this crystal.
   The role of the crystal at that time was simple: it protected the people with its glow. It was by the grace of memory that mankind could be inscribed in Duration while evolving in a natural state of Becoming." 
3. ^ "FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: Ring of Fates PAL Street Date Announcement". January 18, 2008. http://www.mcvuk.com/press-releases/34437/Final-Fantasy-Crystal-Chronicles-Ring-of-Fates. Retrieved March 10, 2008. 
4. ^ Daujam, Mathieu (2004). "Secrets - Scenario - The Myth of the Original Land". Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Official Guide. piggyback interactive. p. 136. ISBN 1-903511-58-5. "With no miasma to tarnish it, the crystal shined brightly, a beacon for everyone who wanted to live in peace. Strengthened by such confidence and animated by such harmony, men and women were able to experience life in the fullest sense of the word. They were free to travel the world, explore new horizons, have unexpected encounters... and therefore create numerous precious memories. These memories, whether happy or painful, revealed the richness of human existence. They would spontaneously purify the crystal and ensure its perpetual renewal..." 
5. ^ "A gentle people that value harmony above all. Many of Tipa's residents belong to this tribe of unity and friendship. They are gentle by nature and dislike conflict. When disputes arise, they do whatever they can to resolve them. It is said that tranquility follows them wherever they go." Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles instruction booklet, The Game Designers Studio, Inc (2003/4).
6. ^ "Little warriors [that] have lived all over the world since ancient times. Long ago, they ruled the world, and many still believe themselves to be superior to others. Though they can be hotheaded, they are also confident and down-to-earth. Liltian merchants are some of the best around." Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles instruction booklet, The Game Designers Studio, Inc (2003/4).
7. ^ "Rugged individuals [that] clothe themselves in fur decorated with stolen goods. Unlike other tribes, they believe in putting themselves first. Many Selkies are agile and athletic, traits they put to good use as thieves Though the other tribes tend to scorn them, some Selkies now reside in Clavatian villages." Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles instruction booklet, The Game Designers Studio, Inc (2003/4).
8. ^ "Mysterious tribe of great lore and wisdom. Many of these sages live quietly in Shella. In the ancient wars, they were able to resist the invading Liltian armies thanks to their magical prowess. Now they spend their days, teaching magic to others. Some say that Yukes assumed their current form to augment their magical talents." Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles instruction booklet, The Game Designers Studio, Inc (2003/4).

External links

• Official developers' blog
• Official developers' blog (Japanese)
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (Series) at the Final Fantasy Wiki (Wikia)