Nintendo Wii Fanboy

After the recent back-and-forth, is-it, isn't-it on the fate of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers, Game|Life's Chris Kohler sat down and did a little in-depth examination of the situation, and in his opinion, things aren't looking too great for Square Enix fans hoping for an epic SE experience on the Wii. While he grants that Square Enix stated outright that the game still exists and is still in development, he calls it vaporware and seems to doubt that the title will ever see a release. There's some interesting analysis of SE's press release that's worth looking at, as well as prior statements on rumors from Electronic Gaming Monthly.

Either this is going to be the best game ever, or something -- like Dragon Quest IX and Final Fantasy XIII? -- is diverting resources. Even SE can only make so many sprawling gaming experiences at a time. We diehards need to just settle back and wait for the dust from Final Fantasy XIII and co. to clear (if it ever does); after that, we'll probably get word on The Crystal Bearers. Chris Kohler may not agree, but if Square Enix says The Crystal Bearers are coming, well, we'll just believe they are. Someday, at least.

Update: Huzzah! Square Enix says the game is still on.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers is more than just a long title -- it's also a questionable game with a sketchy history. It's a history that may finally have come to a close, however: after back-and-forth rumors of the game's continuation and demise, apparently the latest issue of EGM points toward the game's cancellation. While the EGM rumor may be off track, we're certainly not surprised if it does turn out to be the truth. We've been considering it gone for some time, and only now, as we are reminded of what could have been, are we saddened again. Lament with us in the comments, if you wish.

[Via GoNintendo]

We've been greatly concerned with the fate of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers for the Wii, considering the system needs more RPGs, and certainly a Final Fantasy game (outside of Wii Ware). There have been rumors, however, that the game was canceled, and we've been biting our nails and waiting for news. It looks like we've finally got some, though from an unlikely source: an interview about the latest DS games in the franchise.

The staff at Kikizo recently sat down with some of the creative forces behind Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates, and in the course of the discussion, the possibility of connectivity between the Wii and DS Crystal Chronicles games came up. Ring of Fates director Mitsuru Kamiyama indicated that the Wii title is, in fact, still in development. We are so very relieved.

There's just one problem that sheds a little doubt on the Crystal Bearers reference -- either the Kikizo staff wasn't too familiar with the DS titles, or this is an old interview. There are questions asked about well-known features of both DS games (such as the lack of inclusion of Wi-Fi multiplayer), and we're forced to take the whole thing with a grain or two of salt. However, we're willing to hope that we've just been thrown the tiniest of bones reassuring us that we have a Final Fantasy experience to look forward to beyond what's coming on Wii Ware.

[Via GoNintendo]

Well, 66% new, at least -- but that's more than we had a mere week ago. The good folks at Square Enix seem to make us want to suffer. They're teasing us with glimpses of this strange new Final Fantasy, the game that's not quite in keeping with the franchise's glorious RPG tradition. But exactly what do they have in store for us? At this rate, we'll find out sometime in late 2010.

Just let go, guys. Give us the Crystal Bearers trailer and let us see it in action. That one teaser just wasn't enough!

It's been a while since we've seen anything from Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers, but this single image popped up this week in the Japanese media in the aftermath of the Square Enix Party, and it's got us dying for more. Alas, even in recent interviews, they're not saying much about this action-oriented RPG .... Thank goodness we have all kinds of Final Fantasy fun to look forward to on the DS as well, or we'd be burning with anticipation.

[Thanks for all the e-mails on this one!]