Update on Crystal Chronicles' multiplayer

[OB1]

Stupid Nintendo:

July 08, 2003 - Nintendo today updated its Japanese info website for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles with confirmation that the final game will indeed require GBA units for its multiplayer mode.

Though pre-release versions of the game (such as the one we experienced at E3) enabled standard controllers to be used when playing with two or more players, the final Japanese game requires that each player uses his own Game Boy Advance unit, connected to the GameCube controller ports via GBA link cables.

The single player quest can be enjoyed with three different control configurations:

1. Standard GameCube controller
2. Game Boy Advance as controller
3. Standard GameCube controller & GBA

To make the multiplayer requirements a bit more palatable, the Japanese version of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles ships with a free GBA link cable.

When a Game Boy Advance is connected, the handheld functions as a menu screen.

While the left GameCube screen shows all the action, the GBA screen to the right displays attack and defend commands (blue bars), abilities like Fire, Blizzard, and Thunder (pink bars), and items like the life-renewing Phoenix Down (green bar).

The right side of the GBA display shows character stats, such as strength, defense, magic, etc. Here's what the two displays look like side-by-side:



As seen at E3, there is also a GBA map mode that helps pinpoint the player location.

No word yet on whether the US version will have the exact same requirements, but given the relatively close launch date, we're expecting the two versions to be identical. We'll have more on Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles soon.

Wonderful.