In the scheme of things, Final Fantasy should have remained on Nintendo’s various consoles since the franchise found its home in Japanese homes via the Family Computer (or what we in the States would later call the Nintendo Entertainment System). It wasn’t until several years later (and a number of Final Fantasy games on the original PlayStation) that a Final Fantasy game found itself on Nintendo’s GameCube. Aside from the Crystal Chronicles game, more Final Fantasy games (plus other interesting Square Enix titles) have been finding their way on to the Nintendo DS with some success. So, as a fan of the first Crystal Chronicles game, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates is a very welcomed addition on the DS.

Ring of Fates tells the story of twins Yuri and Chelinka who suddenly find themselves on an epic quest that revolves around the Great Crystal and an ancient prophesy. It is up to them - as well as their friends Meeth, Alhanalem and a Selkie youth named Gnash - to set out to do battle against a growing evil that threatens everything they hold dear including their kind father. The journey, of course, won’t be easy considering the fact that many obstacles will get in their way but make no mistake the adventure is a good one.

The game is filled with charming characters that really stand out so it’s hard not to like the story or the situations that bring these characters together. As we find out in the beginning of the game, the twins are the center of a prophesy that states that these twins who share a special power will use the Great Crystal for good. It is, however, Yuri that gamers control and navigate through the huge world map. Using Moogles (the game’s cute magical characters) to offer up a brief tutorial, you’ll learn all the basics including combat and how to solve puzzles. Yuri can pick up objects and toss them about or pick up puzzle pieces to open gates.

Your companions also play a huge role in the game, many of which have their own unique Tribe Abilities. Yuri, for example, can unleash a powerful blow with his weapon. At times you’ll have all four main characters battling on screen at once and thus adding their own special attacks or magic. Along the way you’ll find various items you can use for your character such as different armor pieces and weapons. You start the game with a light axe your father gives Yuri and Chelinka but there are other more powerful weapons along the way. You can always buy new equipment in shops in the various towns you’ll find along the way and there are treasure chests aplenty.

Much like the Final Fantasy III remake on the Nintendo DS, Ring of Fates has plenty to see and do. You’ll not only be exploring various dungeons and caves but also a number of other environments. Different places also have different enemies and Final Fantasy fans will certainly recognize many of the monsters that make up this game’s universe. Thankfully, combat is fairly simple and you can even unleash some basic combos. Yuri can pick up enemies and toss them against walls or do a jumping slash. You can even combine attacks with the other characters in the game.

There are some challenging puzzles to solve in the game but most of them are puzzles that require you to open doors by pulling latches or dropping a puzzle piece into a puzzle box. Other times you can push a block on a pressure pad or to fill a gap in the road. The early puzzles are not very difficult to solve so you won’t find yourself stuck or scratching your head over what to do next.

The game also includes a multiplayer mode that allows you to team with up to three other gamers wirelessly. Multiplay mode allows you to form a party that has you picking from different races and genders and take your created characters on a quest in Free Mode. The environments in this mode come directly from the game’s main Story Mode so you’ll be visiting familiar locales such as Rebena Te Ra. It’s an interesting mode, to say the least, but it is hindered by framerate problems similar to the framerate stutter that plagues the single-player Story Mode.

That’s right, the framerate is a major problem in this game and it does get bad during multiplayer and sometimes in the single-player game when you’re in a massive battle. The game does feature online functions using the Wi-FI connection but it is reserved to trading Moogles with others. It’s hardly a worthy substitute for going on quests with other gamers. Still, with a game with solid controls and good use of the touch screen, you can’t complain too much. Using the Stylus you can unleash your Tribe Abilities as well as other things.

The game’s graphics are actually downright gorgeous but not in the same league as the Final Fantasy III remake on the DS. Still, what is seen here is nothing to sneeze at seeing as there are detailed environments and character models both in-game and during the wonderfully colorful cut scene sequences. Even the visual effects are impressive in this game. Ring of Fates also has a lovely cinematic score that plays throughout the game and, while some of it sounds like your average RPG fare, the rest of it gives the game it’s epic feel. The voice acting is another highlight and you’ll swear that this game sounds like a good anime feature. Overall, gamers will be very impressed with the quality of both the visuals and the audio.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates is not just a worthwhile Final Fantasy game for the Nintendo DS but it is also a charming and well-executed game fans should not miss. It has its share of problems, of course, but they are overshadowed by a great story, an epic quest and an interesting multiplayer mode. If you’re a Final Fantasy fan or love the Crystal Chronicles brand, this is a game you should pick up right away.

Gameplay: 8.0
The world map offers plenty to see and do and the story is written well so expect likeable characters and an interesting tale of heroism. While the framerate takes a dip one too many times throughout the game, it’s easy to forgive this major flaw due to the overall grandeur of the quest.

Graphics: 9.0
The graphics are actually quite pretty and the animated cut scenes are what you might expect from a Final Fantasy game. The in-game environments and character models are also handled beautifully in the game. The DS is certainly capable of displaying some great graphics.

Sound: 9.0
There’s a gorgeous soundtrack that plays throughout the game and the voice acting is really top notch (except for the voice behind Alhanalem). The quality of the sound effects is also at the top of its game to the point that you’ll really be impressed with the DS.

Difficulty: Medium
Some battles require you to really level up and take advantage of your characters’ Tribe Abilities. There are also some challenging puzzles but they’re nothing that will cause gamers to be stuck.

Concept: 8.5
Wonderful storytelling and great production values make for a sweeping tale of adventure and nicely designed characters to fill this created universe. There is much to the game even though the battles are pure hack-and-slash and you can even play the game with up to three other friends. Even the touch screen is implemented well.

Multiplayer: 8.0
If it wasn’t for the poor framerate, the wireless four-player multiplayer portion is good fun. Thanks to Wi-FI connectivity, you can create your own avatar and tackle on the quest together as well as trade Moogles online.

Overall: 8.0
Calling Ring of Fates a truly fun and enjoyable Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicle would actually be an insult. It’s an impressive and completely absorbing handheld game that does hack-and-slash action right as well as provide a story true to the Final Fantasy brand. It has its share of problems but they pale compared to the overall package.