Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles is something of a cult classic, largely due to the extremely high barrier to entry that was required to play it. Though the single player mode could be played with just a Gamecube, controller and disc, it was very clear that the game was intended to be played in multiplayer with friends. Only problem was that in order to do so, each player had to own a GameBoy Advance and have a special cable that could connect it to the GameCube. This made it very difficult for players to enjoy the game for what it was meant to be, resulting in only a small group of gamers actually playing the game.
Fast forward 17 years to the year 2020, and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles is being remastered. Fans are hyped as the game will be available on PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Mobile, and will even feature complete cross-play support. For many, it seemed that the barrier to entry had dissipated, but recent news has shown that it isn't completely gone just yet. Square Enix has announced that Crystal Chronicles will not support local co-op, meaning the only way to play with friends is online.
The Fall of Local Co-op Games
To be fair, the prominence of local co-op games has been on a steady decline for years now. More and more titles like Crystal Chronicles are ditching couch co-op in favor of refining online multiplayer modes, which is understandable given that those types of games are often much more sustainable and profitable for companies. That said, it is extremely disappointing to see a game like Crystal Chronicles take this route, as readily available co-op was one of the biggest selling points for the remaster and something which would set it apart from the original game.
This doesn't necessarily detract from the amazing accomplishment of bringing this classic title back to life in a way that many more gamers will be able to experience, as Crystal Chronicles having full cross-play right out the gate is a good move, but there are certainly some negatively affected parties. For the most part, adult gamers have already made the transition to playing online with their friends and family, but kids and couples are particularly let down by this development. These groups rely on and enjoy games they can play with each other at home offline, and it seems as though this is no longer an option for Crystal Chronicles.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Lite
There is a saving grace, though it doesn't solve all the problems inherent with this online only model. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered offers players a free lite edition which allows them to play through the first three dungeons in the game for free. Lite edition player can play through these dungeons together, and should they ever decide to upgrade to the full game their save data will transfer over. What makes this so unique, though, is that a lite edition player can play with someone who owns the full game through up to 13 dungeons.
Since Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered is available on mobile, this means that almost everyone will have this lite version available to them. It may not be ideal, but the at worst those wanting to experience couch co-op will have to buy one copy of the game and then everyone else will need to play on lite modes in order to play as well. This is oddly reminiscent of the issue which held Crystal Chronicles back 17 years ago, so hopefully it won't have the same effect here. Ultimately, time will tell, and maybe local co-op will be added in sometime after launch.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered releases on August 27th.