Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King
Encyclopedia
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King is a video game developed for the WiiWare
service of the Nintendo
Wii
console
by Square Enix
. Square Enix decided to make a game for the WiiWare
service that would be high profile, and it was decided that the game would be a simulation game and, later in development, a Final Fantasy
title.
It is a city-building game
set in the world of the action RPG
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
and is the third title in the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
series. Following the events of the first Crystal Chronicles game, the son of a king who lost his kingdom during the first game establishes a new kingdom and sets about rebuilding a peaceful and prosperous kingdom.
A WiiWare launch title in all regions, it was released on March 25, 2008 in Japan, May 12, 2008 in North America, and May 20, 2008 in Europe. The game costs 1500 Wii Points
and takes up 287 blocks of the Wii's internal memory. Reviews of the game were generally favorable. A followup, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord
, was announced at a Nintendo keynote speech at the Game Developers Conference
2009. The game is also one of the first games to support Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Pay and Play; it offers Downloadable Content
that can be bought with Wii Points
(the DLC consumes more blocks, though). The Wii Points used for it must already be on the Wii Shop Channel
.
To continue using the crystal to build up the settlement, the player must accumulate elementite which must be obtained from the dungeons and caves that surround the town. Instead of actually gathering the crystals first hand, the game prompts the player to recruit young citizens to do so. These "adventurers" are paid via taxes the player collects from the residents of the town, as well as from treasures found during their quest. The player can follow their progress by reading message boards placed around town, as well as by talking to their penguin assistant, Pavlov.
The player must also tend to the needs of their residents by building amenities such as a bakery to increase their happiness, or a weapons shop to better equip their adventurers. As the game advances and the number of quests increases for the player, their adventurers will be able to gain experience and new aspiring adventurers will also appear, asking to be recruited. Players are also rewarded for repeatedly talking to their citizens.
My Life as a King also includes a New Game Plus
feature, available upon completion of the storyline. It offers higher difficulties for subsequent playthroughs which retain the adventurers, with their statistics and equipment, from the previous playthrough.
including new dungeons, races, buildings, and ways for the player to customize their avatars and Chime's wardrobe; more content will become available with time. Additional content was priced between 100 and 800 Wii Points. The downloadable content was first made available on April 1, 2008 and 8 items were initially offered. Users who purchased and downloaded the game before April 1 can download the update from the add-on software menu within the castle.
My Life as a King takes place after the events of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
, in a remote area of the peaceful world. The king, having lost this realm to the Dark Lord, now tries to revive his kingdom through a mysterious power called "Architek" that he received from the crystal. The king pays for research for new items for his warriors to purchase and sends them out to purge the land of evil. The player is free to give the kingdom the name of their choice, with "Padarak" being the suggested default.
wanted to be one of the first companies to make games for the WiiWare
service to attract more attention to their game as it was very different from other Final Fantasy games. Several gameplay ideas were considered for the project, including making it an action role-playing game. The game originated from the concept that the player should control a king, rather than the hero. The battle system went through four revisions before the final design was agreed upon. The development team found it difficult to write dialogue that would keep the game exciting without actually participating in or even witnessing the battles.
, reviewing the Japanese version of the game after its launch, was impressed with the quality and expansiveness of the game, saying that it was a "good start" to Nintendo
's WiiWare
download service. In a later review of the North American release they cited disappointment at not being able to undertake quests, calling it "a Final Fantasy game where you stay at home and send other people out to play Final Fantasy", and felt that elements of the game were repetitive. However, they praised the presentation and felt the game could be "engaging if [the player] put enough time into it". 1UP.com
compared the game to Animal Crossing
but with a distinct RPG
feel, and praising the game for its depth. Other reviewers felt it had a "plodding" pace, but had a soundtrack that is "quite good". Some wished the game ran in progressive scan mode, a deficit rectified in a later update.
The Official Nintendo Magazine gave the game 88% commenting that it was 'incredibly deep' and that it was 'highly addictive'. They did however mark it down for being 'Slow and really niche'. N-Europe gave the game an 8/10, praising it for being 'surprisingly deep' and said that it was worth its weight in points, despite the pricey downloadable content. WiiWare World gave the game a 9/10, saying "Of all the WiiWare titles to date, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King is easily the most ambitious game on the wii and cheap. The scope of the game is enormous and there's never a lack of things to do as you live out each day of the game's adventure." Mike Smith of Yahoo! Games
commented on the addictive nature of the game, stating "Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King is harder to quit than crack cocaine".
However, while GameSpot
thought the game had visual charm, they believed the game was in large "shallow, limiting, and padded with unrewarding gameplay", and felt constrained by their belief that much of the game's variety comes from the downloadable content. Wired
's Chris Kohler also felt the pricing for the game's downloadable content was "exorbitant", with all available items at the time of review costing almost as much as the game itself to purchase.
A sequel to the game, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord
, was released in 2009. Playing as Mira, the daughter of the predecessor's antagonist, players discourage the growth of the kingdom while keeping adventurers from taking siege of her tower.
WiiWare
WiiWare is a service that allows Wii users to download games and applications specifically designed and developed for the Wii video game console made by Nintendo. These games and applications can only be purchased and downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel under the WiiWare section...
service of the Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
by Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
. Square Enix decided to make a game for the WiiWare
WiiWare
WiiWare is a service that allows Wii users to download games and applications specifically designed and developed for the Wii video game console made by Nintendo. These games and applications can only be purchased and downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel under the WiiWare section...
service that would be high profile, and it was decided that the game would be a simulation game and, later in development, a Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy
is a media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is developed and owned by Square Enix . The franchise centers on a series of fantasy and science-fantasy role-playing video games , but includes motion pictures, anime, printed media, and other merchandise...
title.
It is a city-building game
City-building game
City-building games are a genre of strategy computer game where players act as the overall planner and leader of a city, looking down on it from above, and being responsible for its growth and management...
set in the world of the action RPG
Action role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
is a action role-playing game for the Nintendo GameCube. It was published by Nintendo and developed by The Game Designers Studio, a shell corporation for Square Enix's Product Development Division-2. A spin-off of the Final Fantasy series, the game spawned a metaseries of the same name...
and is the third title in the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (series)
is a series of video games by Square Enix. Created by Akitoshi Kawazu, the Crystal Chronicles series is a spin-off series of the Final Fantasy media franchise, and has so far only appeared on Nintendo consoles.- Titles :...
series. Following the events of the first Crystal Chronicles game, the son of a king who lost his kingdom during the first game establishes a new kingdom and sets about rebuilding a peaceful and prosperous kingdom.
A WiiWare launch title in all regions, it was released on March 25, 2008 in Japan, May 12, 2008 in North America, and May 20, 2008 in Europe. The game costs 1500 Wii Points
Wii Points
Nintendo Points are a currency that Nintendo uses for its Wii and Nintendo DSi systems through the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop respectively...
and takes up 287 blocks of the Wii's internal memory. Reviews of the game were generally favorable. A followup, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord is a tower defense video game developed and published by Square Enix for the Wii and distributed through the WiiWare download service. It is the most recently announced game in the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles series...
, was announced at a Nintendo keynote speech at the Game Developers Conference
Game Developers Conference
The Game Developers Conference is the largest annual gathering of professional video game developers, focusing on learning, inspiration, and networking...
2009. The game is also one of the first games to support Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Pay and Play; it offers Downloadable Content
Downloadable content
Downloadable content is official additional content for a video game distributed through the Internet. Downloadable content can be of several types, ranging from a single in-game outfit to an entirely new, extensive storyline, similarly to an expansion pack. As such, DLC may add new game modes,...
that can be bought with Wii Points
Wii Points
Nintendo Points are a currency that Nintendo uses for its Wii and Nintendo DSi systems through the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop respectively...
(the DLC consumes more blocks, though). The Wii Points used for it must already be on the Wii Shop Channel
Wii Shop Channel
The Wii Shop Channel is an online shop for the Wii video game console that allows users to download Virtual Console and WiiWare games, and new channels. Downloading may require redeeming Wii Points. The channel launched with Wii on November 19, 2006...
.
Gameplay
My Life as a King is a fantasy city-building simulator in which the player creates a kingdom from the ground up. Starting with a barren town consisting of a lone castle and a large power crystal, by using the crystal's power the player can magically place a variety of buildings to populate the settlement and draw in residents. The game makes limited use of the Wiimote's motion-sensing abilities and can be played one handed. Each "day" lasts approximately 10 minutes (depending on kingdom morale) and players are given an increasing amount of options and as to what to do that day as the game progresses.To continue using the crystal to build up the settlement, the player must accumulate elementite which must be obtained from the dungeons and caves that surround the town. Instead of actually gathering the crystals first hand, the game prompts the player to recruit young citizens to do so. These "adventurers" are paid via taxes the player collects from the residents of the town, as well as from treasures found during their quest. The player can follow their progress by reading message boards placed around town, as well as by talking to their penguin assistant, Pavlov.
The player must also tend to the needs of their residents by building amenities such as a bakery to increase their happiness, or a weapons shop to better equip their adventurers. As the game advances and the number of quests increases for the player, their adventurers will be able to gain experience and new aspiring adventurers will also appear, asking to be recruited. Players are also rewarded for repeatedly talking to their citizens.
My Life as a King also includes a New Game Plus
New Game Plus
A New Game Plus is an unlockable video game mode that allows the player to start a new game after they finish the game at least once, where certain aspects of the finished game, such as experience or items, affect the newly started game...
feature, available upon completion of the storyline. It offers higher difficulties for subsequent playthroughs which retain the adventurers, with their statistics and equipment, from the previous playthrough.
Downloadable content
My Life as a King also features additional downloadable contentDownloadable content
Downloadable content is official additional content for a video game distributed through the Internet. Downloadable content can be of several types, ranging from a single in-game outfit to an entirely new, extensive storyline, similarly to an expansion pack. As such, DLC may add new game modes,...
including new dungeons, races, buildings, and ways for the player to customize their avatars and Chime's wardrobe; more content will become available with time. Additional content was priced between 100 and 800 Wii Points. The downloadable content was first made available on April 1, 2008 and 8 items were initially offered. Users who purchased and downloaded the game before April 1 can download the update from the add-on software menu within the castle.
Plot
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
is a action role-playing game for the Nintendo GameCube. It was published by Nintendo and developed by The Game Designers Studio, a shell corporation for Square Enix's Product Development Division-2. A spin-off of the Final Fantasy series, the game spawned a metaseries of the same name...
, in a remote area of the peaceful world. The king, having lost this realm to the Dark Lord, now tries to revive his kingdom through a mysterious power called "Architek" that he received from the crystal. The king pays for research for new items for his warriors to purchase and sends them out to purge the land of evil. The player is free to give the kingdom the name of their choice, with "Padarak" being the suggested default.
Development
Square EnixSquare Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
wanted to be one of the first companies to make games for the WiiWare
WiiWare
WiiWare is a service that allows Wii users to download games and applications specifically designed and developed for the Wii video game console made by Nintendo. These games and applications can only be purchased and downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel under the WiiWare section...
service to attract more attention to their game as it was very different from other Final Fantasy games. Several gameplay ideas were considered for the project, including making it an action role-playing game. The game originated from the concept that the player should control a king, rather than the hero. The battle system went through four revisions before the final design was agreed upon. The development team found it difficult to write dialogue that would keep the game exciting without actually participating in or even witnessing the battles.
Reception
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King received a generally favorable response. IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
, reviewing the Japanese version of the game after its launch, was impressed with the quality and expansiveness of the game, saying that it was a "good start" to Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
's WiiWare
WiiWare
WiiWare is a service that allows Wii users to download games and applications specifically designed and developed for the Wii video game console made by Nintendo. These games and applications can only be purchased and downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel under the WiiWare section...
download service. In a later review of the North American release they cited disappointment at not being able to undertake quests, calling it "a Final Fantasy game where you stay at home and send other people out to play Final Fantasy", and felt that elements of the game were repetitive. However, they praised the presentation and felt the game could be "engaging if [the player] put enough time into it". 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
compared the game to Animal Crossing
Animal Crossing
The Animal Crossing games have garnered positive response. The first three games are among the best-selling for their respective consoles. Animal Crossing has sold 2.321 million copies; Wild World 10.79 million; and City Folk 3.38 million...
but with a distinct RPG
Role-playing game (video games)
Role-playing video games are a video game genre with origins in pen-and-paper role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, using much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. The player in RPGs controls one character, or several adventuring party members, fulfilling one or many quests...
feel, and praising the game for its depth. Other reviewers felt it had a "plodding" pace, but had a soundtrack that is "quite good". Some wished the game ran in progressive scan mode, a deficit rectified in a later update.
The Official Nintendo Magazine gave the game 88% commenting that it was 'incredibly deep' and that it was 'highly addictive'. They did however mark it down for being 'Slow and really niche'. N-Europe gave the game an 8/10, praising it for being 'surprisingly deep' and said that it was worth its weight in points, despite the pricey downloadable content. WiiWare World gave the game a 9/10, saying "Of all the WiiWare titles to date, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King is easily the most ambitious game on the wii and cheap. The scope of the game is enormous and there's never a lack of things to do as you live out each day of the game's adventure." Mike Smith of Yahoo! Games
Yahoo! Games
Yahoo! Games is the section of the Yahoo! website in which Yahoo! users can play games either with other users or by themselves. The games on the website are typically Java applets or quick Flash games, but there are others which require a download. Many of the games that require a download...
commented on the addictive nature of the game, stating "Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King is harder to quit than crack cocaine".
However, while GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
thought the game had visual charm, they believed the game was in large "shallow, limiting, and padded with unrewarding gameplay", and felt constrained by their belief that much of the game's variety comes from the downloadable content. Wired
Wired (magazine)
Wired is a full-color monthly American magazine and on-line periodical, published since January 1993, that reports on how new and developing technology affects culture, the economy, and politics...
's Chris Kohler also felt the pricing for the game's downloadable content was "exorbitant", with all available items at the time of review costing almost as much as the game itself to purchase.
Legacy
On May 20, 2008, the web browser sidegame Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King - Everyone's Kingdom was launched on the North American Square Enix Members website. The game acts as a foil to My Life as a King, where the players are the citizens, encouraging the growth of the kingdom (seen practically as increasing house levels and unlocking features) and, eventually, fulfilling behests.A sequel to the game, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord is a tower defense video game developed and published by Square Enix for the Wii and distributed through the WiiWare download service. It is the most recently announced game in the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles series...
, was released in 2009. Playing as Mira, the daughter of the predecessor's antagonist, players discourage the growth of the kingdom while keeping adventurers from taking siege of her tower.