Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles MLAAK

[RYEB79]

Good afternoon fellow Wiitalkers. I asked yesterday for anyones views on this wiiware game before i downloaded it, after nil replys i went ahead and bought it anyway.
Here follows my view/review on the game up untill the 4.5 hour mark or Day 27 whichever way you look at it.

GAMEPLAY
The game centres around your quest to rebuild your kingdom from scratch using the magic power of Arkiteck by building houses/shops and parks etc...
Your choices are limited at first as is your amount of magic power, to continue to grow your town you must recruit adventurers who will go and look for magic outside of the towns walls. As they return from quest's you must support them by building armour shops and so forth.

So each new day (which at the outset only last about 4/5 mins) becomes a constent circle of get up, review yesterdays report, issue quest's, walk around town building new structures and keeping townsfolk happy through chatting to them, go to bed.
7.5 / 10

GRAPHICS
Whilst this game never pushes the Wii to its graphical limits it is non the less a very crisp and colourfull game. The characters and town will be instantly recognisable to anyone who played the GC prequels (the main story arc of which is mentioned in this game).
The animation during the building of your structures is first rate as pieces fly in from all over the screen while the building assembles before your eyes.
8 / 10

SOUND
The usual collection of FF background music and sound affects which suit the gentle nature of the game down to the ground.
The game would have no doubt (if Disk based) benifited from speech tracks as there is a lot of text to be read. As a result i feel sound neither helps nor hinders the game.
7 / 10

LASTABILITY
The game seems well paced and the town area large enough to start with (an option exists to develop realm through the use of morale orbs which may enlarge the game area. Having just started this phase i can't say for sure).
The game also offers a download service where for 100-300 points new clothing/buildings and dungeons can be downloaded from a local moogle.
7.5 / 10

OVERALL VIEW
A slower than normal paced game with a lot of speech and menus to navigate, but one in which you can lose a few hours in a moments notice.
A cracking little gem from the wiiware channel which proves a nice change from todays (real and game) hectic lifestyle.
8 / 10

Please be aware i am only commenting on the first 4 hours of the game and that this is my first attempt at a review.

[RYEB79]

Forgot to mention the price.
For approx £10.50 you get a fairly large and engaging game with Sqaure Enix polish. Any man, women or child who willingly chooses to go out and spend £15-£20 on trash like Ninjabread man and his stablemates instead of buying this doesnt deserve to own a Wii imho.
8 / 10

[NazzWii]

Thank you for the review mate. Nice one.

[snazy20]

Nice review RyeB, I'm keep close tabs on this game, and your progress

If you still like it next Saturday...I may join you in building my own kingdom

[RYEB79]

Ill post an update at the weekend then

[dazz159]

I must say, after not hearing stuff from people whether to get it or not, i decided to buy it, i also brought it coz i like simcity sort of games, and this is quite like it, and after about 2 hours playing, i 'll have to say i am chuffed about my purchase, i think it is a very good game, building ur kingdom. I love the music aswell, nice and relaxing. Only problem i have with it is the huge amounts of text when u first load it up.

Overall i will probs give it, 8.5/10

[the_nightwing]

thanks for the review. i'm still debating a purchase though

[RYEB79]

Quick Update.
Day 35 in the town of SCOTTSVILL and things are advancing nicely.
2 more structures unlocked, alot more funding for certain shops needed, shops need materials bringing, hire thieves as well as adventurers, legendary foes are hammering my men, trying to spread the wealth and keep the folks happy etc etc......

Oh and ive been a good little king, so im aloud out till later at night.

Overall mark nudging up
8.3 / 10

[RYEB79]

Ooh there's a bad guy, The Dark Lord (very scary and original).

Got myself an adventurers Guild Hall and a Black Mage Academy now, things are bubbling under now.

[NazzWii]

Keep it coming Rye !

I'm a sucker for storyline so your comments about this Dark Lord is really whetting my appetite. More of the same comments please.