When Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates came out on the Nintendo DS, it was actually quite impressive to the point that it showed us that the DS is more than capable of handling an epic RPG of this caliber. So it came as no surprise that the series continues on the DS and - surprise - is just as impressive if not better than the first DS game of this series. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time for the DS is yet another reason your wallet will remain empty this month.

I should mention that Echoes of Time is also available for the Nintendo Wii. Usually, I wouldn’t mention another console’s version of the same game but the Wii version offers connectivity with the DS version of the game. Using my DS’s Wi-Fi connection, I can actually play the multiplayer portion with Wii gamers and vice versa. I should also point out, though, that while the versions are nearly identical, it is the Nintendo DS version that comes off as the clear winner and this mostly has something to do with the controls. This is definitely a game that was designed with the DS in mind.

With that said, Echoes of Time features a decent story that might not be deeply compelling but it isn’t a bad tale either. You start by picking your character’s race (be it a Clavat, Yuke, Selkie or Lilty) as well as your gender. Once you’ve done that, you find your character waking up from a nightmare only to find out that your character overslept on your most important day. You see, this is the day of your 16^th birthday and it is your Coming-of-Age ceremony. On this day, you must prove yourself worthy of being considered an adult by going into the forest and face a trail that will not only test your strength but also your bravery.

The ceremony is also where the game introduces you to the game’s battles as well as your characters different attacks depending on what race you selected in the beginning. If you picked the human like Clavat then you are a balanced character with good sword skills while the Yuke are the spell-casters. It is after the battle with the biggest foe in the forest that you earn your place as an adult and come home to find that one of your friends has fallen ill to the mysterious disease connected to the Crystal. With no cure in your village, your only choice is to break the village law and venture out of your home in search of the cure. And so begins a lengthy and impressive quest to save a friend.

Of course, you will not jump into the main quest on your own because other towns will introduce you to up to three other characters that will join your party. The most interesting part is that you not only get to pick your allies but also customize them they way you see fit. If you like a party consisting only of magic-users then you can do just that. You can mix and match your party with different races unless you always wanted a four-person crew of only Selkie warriors. As far as customization options go, there’s a nice diversity here and you can always customize your own character anyway you see fit.

The main quest takes you through a number of locations on the map that include a number of towns and villages as well as other key locations. It is in these towns and villages that you can also participate in side quests offered by characters in the game or even the Adventurer’s Guild. The actual field is big with a few platform-jumping puzzles along the way and numerous enemies that range from small opponents to some huge brutes.

Much like Ring of Fates, the dual-screen and controls work perfectly. There’s a bigger emphasis on combat in this game and it is also handled beautifully enough so that you’re not only swinging your enemy but you can also pick up your foe and smack it around or slam it against a hard surface. You can also jump and slash as well as unleash a powerful blow. Casting spells is also a lot better in Echoes of Time and you can even stack your magical spells to double their effect. All of this helps make combat less of a chore and more an entertaining event.

Unfortunately, your AI-controlled allies are just too unreliable in combat and are prone to making some dumb decisions. You can issue commands that will have them following your lead, attacking mindlessly or curing themselves when they need a healing potion. Sure, you can manually switch between characters and control them during battle but would have been cool if your characters actually had enough brains to lend you a hand instead of having to baby sit them.

When you’re not exploring the villages, towns and various dungeons the map has to offer, you can participate in multiplayer side quests with actual players online via the wireless Wi-Fi connection. As I mentioned, you can even play along with gamers playing the Wii version of the game. You can have up to three friends aid you in the main game or participate in head-to-head co-op contests such as Culinary Capers, Smash-O-Rama or Starfest Counting Song. It’s fun stuff, indeed.

Graphically speaking, Echoes of Time does look just as gorgeous as the first Nintendo DS Crystal Chronicles game. The backgrounds are beautifully rendered and colorful enough that it lights up the dual screens nicely and the cut scenes will not fail to impress. The game’s sound is excellent as well with a great soundtrack that sounds a little too familiar and detailed sound effects.

In the end, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time is yet another game in the series that will make you happy that you own a Nintendo DS. It does have its share of problems but these problems are overshadowed by the more action-packed and enjoyably epic adventure. This game was definitely made with the DS in mind and outshines the Nintendo Wii version if you were wondering what version to buy.

Gameplay: 8.5
The story might not be incredibly deep but it does justice to the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles series. There’s plenty of RPG-styled exploration and dungeon crawling but there’s more action in this game than the first DS Crystal Chronicles game.

Graphics: 8.5
Visually, the game looks great on the Nintendo DS and the details stand out beautifully throughout the game. There are some great visual effects and the character models look really good during cut scenes or during the action.

Sound: 8.5

Normally, I would shake my head at a game that uses the soundtrack of the previous game (in this case, Ring of Fates) but that soundtrack was totally awesome. Add some voice clips and a diverse number of sound effects and you have an impressive visual and audio treat.

Difficulty: Medium
Playing solo, you will come to realize that your AI teammates are too dumb to think on their own and since you can’t heal them you’ll have to issue commands for them to do it themselves. Some of the weaker enemies don’t pose much of a threat but you’ll encounter some tough enemies along the way.

Concept: 9.0
Once again, you are off on an epic adventure with a lot to see and do along the way. There are also character customization options available to make your character really stand out. You can play online with others via a Wi-Fi connection whether you play with gamers using a DS or the Wii version of the game.

Multiplayer: 9.0
You can team up with up to three other players via a Wi-Fi connection and, for the most part, the game runs smoothly enough even while playing with gamers playing the Nintendo Wii version. There are plenty of chat options and there’s a keyboard when you want speech to be a tad more elaborate than the preset options.

Overall: 8.5
Echoes of Time for the Nintendo DS certainly is a leap in a better direction for the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles series and it is definitely a game with a lot to offer fans of the genre. While there are a few issues that do hold it back, the overall package makes the handheld version of this game the one you should buy.