We knew since June of 2019 that Square Enix would be bringing Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition to Android, and after several more announcements, we learned that the game would be released on August 27, 2020. If you do not realize, that is today, and so Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition is officially available in the Play Store as a free-to-play release, with cross-platform co-op available for free and paid players. This setup provides fans with an easy way to test the game, while also enhancing co-op for everyone, and if you want to unlock the entire title, you’ll have to pay $ 25.99 down. Unfortunately, the Android port lacks many expected features for such an expensive title, and shows that Square Enix has still learned from its mistakes in the past.
If you’re not familiar with Crystal Chronicles, it was originally a Gamecube dungeon crawler designed for co-op, where everyone would connect their Game Boy Advance to the Gamecube, providing a gimmicky but enjoyable way to to play the game with friends. Well, the Remastered Edition still offers co-op, but this time it’s focused on online connections, and so couch co-op is foolishly excluded. This means you can not make caravan trips with friends, you can only play dungeons with them, which destroys the community aspect of the original game where you could watch your friend’s families grow up with you in the home village.
From the beginning, players have to choose their server before starting the game, so that regions are split, which reduces the matchmaking possibilities by breaking the player base. Of course, it’s nice to see that the title game supports across platforms, but the split regions are still a sticking point.
Those who choose to play for free can indeed jump into online co-op with friends, even if these friends play on iOS like a console like the Nintendo Switch. Of course, if you unlock the entire title through the $ 25.99 in-app purchase, you can play past the first chapter by opening solo content to all dungeons.
For some reason, the Android port lacks any signs of physical controller support. Everyone is forced to play around with the touchscreen controls, and these controls suck while needing far too many buttons to get anything done. Now I could make my way through the first dungeon, show that the key controls are at least serviceable, they just are not fun to use, and wrong entries will happen often, because Square Enix decided to use small buttons for everything ( and I play on a 6.65 “screen, this should not be a problem).
Save data transfer, but only if you have paid for the game
Cloud storage is also mysteriously absent, though there is an option to transfer your data from one device to another once you have unlocked the entire game (and yes, you keep your savings on the original device after the transfer ), but this missing option does not support add-on content, as these purchases can cause issues between platforms, due to the fact that they all use their own stores.
I’m also sad to see that Square Enix did nothing to support different screen ratios. The whole game is pillar on my Red Magic 5S, so unless your phone is 16: 9, yes, expect large edges on the sides of your screen. This is a running issue with the majority of Square Enix’s mobile ports, and it’s absolutely annoying to see in a remaster.
Must love that pillar box
Then there are the loading times. Apparently, Square Enix has done nothing to improve them, and because there are so many, you expect to spend a lot of your time watching the game load between scenes or other plot points. You can not even turn off the screen of your device without going back to a loaded screen.
So while it’s nice to see that Square Enix has finally provided a free option to try one of their latest mobile releases, it’s clear that the company has cut corners almost everywhere, while also excluding features that should be standard in a $ 26 game. Sure, you can still hang out with a few friends if you play for free, especially if one of the group bought the game to open the title dungeons for the free players, but otherwise there are too many problems to to count to actually count recommend Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition. Plus, Square Enix’s history of mobile support is anything but good, so I would not expect any repairs anytime soon. Of course, if you want to check out the game yourself, you can grab the free installation from the Play Store widget below.
WHIMESE ADVENTURES WAIT FOR FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLE REMASTERED EDITION – NOW AVAILABLE!
LOS ANGELES (Aug 27, 2020) – SQUARE ENIX® today welcomes adventurous adventures and newcomers to explore a world like no other, as FINAL FANTASY® CRYSTAL CHRONICLES® Remastered Edition is now available on the Nintendo Switch system, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and the App Store® and Google Play ™ Store for mobile devices.
To view FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition Launch Trailer, visit: https://youtu.be/F3L9pKapfxo.
In FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition, adventurers can start an enchanting adventure either solo or with friends via online multiplayer with cross-play functionality *. Including a host of new and updated features like updated graphics, a newly assembled soundtrack, high-end end-game dungeons, a new Mimic mode feature and more, FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition welcomes all players to the Crystal Cup to take and explore a unique and magical world.
Players can also try the game for free from today with the release of FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition Lite **, which gives access to the first three dungeons in both single-player and online multiplayer with cross-play functionality. In addition, players purchasing the full game will be able to hold multiplayer sessions with players using FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition Lite, allowing a full party of up to four caravans up to 13 dungeons to play in the fantasy adventure along with one copy. of the entire game. Save data can be transferred from FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition Lite to the full game, ensuring players can continue their progress in the magical fantasy adventure.
For returning FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES players who want to relive their memories, new downloadable content is also available, allowing characters to take on the look of classic FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES series characters through the new Mimic mode of the games like Layle (FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: The Crystal Bearers ™), Leo (FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a King ™), Sherlotta (FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: Echoes of Time ™) and many more. In addition, special weapon bundles are available to allow adventurers to embark on their adventure in style.
Layle, Leo and Sherlotta Mimic phenomena
Fans who want to know more about the development of FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES can also watch the recently released ‘Inside FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition’ featurette at: https://youtu.be/rFszE0sydNc
FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition is rated T (Teen) and is now available on the Nintendo Switch system, PlayStation®4 system, the App Store® and Google Play Store.
For more information visit https://sqex.link/tig
Related Links:
Official website: https://sqex.link/tig
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FinalFantasy
Twitter: http://twitter.com/finalfantasy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finalfantasy/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/finalfantasy
#FinalFantasy* An active PlayStation®Plus subscription is required to play online for PlayStation®4 users and an active Nintendo Switch ™ Online account is required to play online for Nintendo Switch ™ users.
** For iOS and Android gamers, FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES is a free downloadable app that has the same content and functionality as FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition Lite. Players can access the full game via an in-app purchase to deliver the remaining story and gameplay content found in FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition on the Nintendo Switch system and the PlayStation®4.About Square Enix, Inc.
Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO® brand content throughout the United States as part of the Square Enix Group of Companies. Square Enix, Inc. is affiliated with a worldwide network of leading development studios such as Crystal Dynamics® and Eidos Montreal al. The Square Enix group of companies has a valuable portfolio of intellectual property, including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold more than 154 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold more than 82 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold more than 78 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix, Inc. is a US-based subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.Learn more about Square Enix, Inc. can be found at https://square-enix-games.com.
