Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates Critic Reviews

It's balanced and has just the right loot curve, unlike games such as Champions of Norrath, which offer too many loot drops but nothing worth keeping. Come for the single-player appetizer, but stay for the multiplayer grandeur. Ring of Fates is a keeper.

An excellent title. It features memorable gameplay, stunning graphics, and a great multiplayer mode. It is also a very long title, and will keep you playing for quite a while.

Easily the best Square title on the DS available now, and possibly the best value for money title on the system too.

Loses a tiny little something if you're not ever going to see the four-player stuff, but it's undoubtedly a very cool and enjoyable hack-'em-up no matter how you play.

A satisfying multiplayer adventure with more than an hint of "Phantasy Star Online" about it.

A surprisingly valiant effort. It has variety and charm, and even though the RPG elements feel a bit wasted on the action-heavy gameplay, it still flows well.

The story is well written and very entertaining, and the cast of characters really grow on you.

Its no-nonsense, pick-up-and-play sensibility is perfectly portable, and for many Final Fantasy fans it’s an excellent stopgap while waiting for the DS remake of Final Fantasy IV.

We’ve been watching Crystal Chronicles DS for over three years now, and the final product was well worth the wait.

Ring of Fates does what Crystal Chronicles couldn't do (make the game worth playing alone).

Probably the best single-player dungeon crawler we'll see on the DS for some time. Game balance is great, the game looks beautiful, and there's even some really fun writing hidden beneath the youth/casual storyline.

Like its predecessor, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates is strong on action, and it's a kinder, gentler Final Fantasy that's relatively easy to pick up and play.

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.

Just as Diablo recreated the sheer joy of finding fifty bucks on the sidewalk, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates rinds and nails a perfect loot-rinse-repeat rhythm.

If you're a J-RPG/action RPG fan, you can't really go wrong with $39 spent on Ring of Fates.

Things like AI and cluttered controls will test your patience, but never enough to sour the experience or remove the sheen of quality.

Despite the dodgy AI, Ring of Fates is easily a big step up from its predecessor. The action is more satisfying, the multiplayer is easier to get into, and the story mode is a huge leap forward.

Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles - Ring of Fates surpasses the Gamecube original in terms of scope, ambition and gameplay, offering some truly inventive multiplayer moments.

While the shonky AI and cumbersome controls take away from the game, there is no denying that Ring of Fates is another solid gaming experience from Square Enix.

It isn't remarkably better than the first game, but it is a slight improvement.