Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord Review for Nintendo Wii

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord box art

System: Wii (WiiWare)	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Square Enix	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Square Enix	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: July 20, 2009	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

As far as production is concerned, My Life as a Darklord is right up their with its predecessor. The visuals are great, with fun character and monster designs. Although the game takes place on a 2D playing field, all the character animations are in 3D, and everything mashes together quite well. The sound in Darklord is also very good, with some familiar Crystal Chronicles anthems accompanying each stage.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord screenshot

However, before I wrap this review up, I must mention the downloadable content for this game. Unfortunately, My Life as a Darklord features some pretty hefty downloadable content that makes the game easier for the less strategy-inclined players. At present, there is only 600 points worth of content for purchase, but this content adds extra spells and currency bonuses that are invaluable to players who find success elusive with the game's default options. Although I was able to successfully play through without the added help, this extra $6 purchase may be a necessity.

There are also plans to expand the DLC to include more bonuses and levels, and if the Japanese model is any indication (My Life as a Darklord has over 5000 points worth of extra content there), there is a lot left to come. Although having some DLC is a good thing for any title, once you add up the cost of the game and the presumed DLC, this downloadable title will cost more than a retail release for the Wii. Although none of the DLC is necessary to play through and beat the game, having those extra spells and power boosts available only as DLC doesn't seem very fair to those who want to play this game on a lower difficulty level.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord is a must-buy game if you are into strategy. Its vertical take on tower defense is unique and fun to play with, and even though the difficulty can be maddening, it is definitely worth your time to check out. Although My Life as a Darklord does not resemble its predecessor in any way in terms of gameplay, it is another great entry in the WiiWare Crystal Chronicles series, and is a lot of fun.

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Staff Contributor

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.5

Graphics
The visuals are on par with my life as a king, but the 2D environments and character models have a bit more pizzazz.

4.0

Control
Using the Wii-Mote NES style makes the stackable towers easy to navigate.

3.9

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Familiar-sounding tunes from the Crystal Chronicles universe sound great.

4.1

Play Value
There are plenty of levels to explore, and though the story is not as intriguing as My Life as a King, the tower defense structure is much more replay-friendly.

4.0

Overall Rating - Great
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Tower-style defensive strategy: Battles occur on every floor as players ward off adventurers and defend their home.

Enhanced presentation: Familiar settings and characters from the FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES series are accompanied by music and visuals that boost the game's heart-pounding excitement.

A wealth of replayable elements: A variety of side quests and a world map that can be unlocked as players progress offer extended hours of gameplay.

Split-screen presentation for easy-to-grasp gameplay: The Infiltration view provides a map that makes tracking the progress of adventurers simple, while the Adventure view provides a close-up look at the action on each floor.

Downloadable content: Players can enrich their game world with add-on content ranging from new monsters, traps and costumes for the Darklord to additional worlds with new stages and scenarios.