Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles is the first Final Fantasy game on a Nintendo console, since Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars was released on the Super Nintendo. The game departs in many ways from the traditional games of its series. Players can move freely during combat, which is handled in real-time. There is also a multiplayer mode for this game that hosts up to four players, with additional Game Boy Advances.
Unlike previous Final Fantasy games, it requires you to create your own character, complete with gender, cloth choice, occupation and name. The created character will also have a family which they can send letters as well as gifts too. Depending on the quality of this relationship, it can have positive or negative effects.
Also, the player determines which areas of the map to travel to, rather than it being predetermined. Cutscenes are handled while traveling throughout the world map and during boss encounters.
Story
The story of the game takes place in a world filled with a poisonous gas called miasma. Although monsters can breathe the air, the miasma is harmful to the other citizens of the world. Fortunately, crystals were found that repelled the miasma, and cities were built. However, the effect of the crystals wear off, unless replenished by drops of myrhh. This is a liquid that is produced by myrrh trees, only found in the heart of dungeons, scattered across the map. Players will travel in caravans going to these dungeons, fighting off monsters and retrieving the myrrh anually. After three dungeons, the caravan will head back to the hometown and a year will be over.