It's not just Taito properties that Square Enix will be releasing on WiiWare in April and May - They're also releasing the Final Fantasy spinoff Crystal Defenders, which comes in two parts - Crystal Defenders R1 and Crystal Defenders R2.
Crystal Defenders was previously released on iPhone and Xbox Live Arcade, with a PlayStation Network release coming soon as well. It's basically a Tower Defense clone - Those seem to be really popular lately!
Square Enix's press release is below:
London (3rd April 2009) – Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces the release of two downloadable titles for WiiWare™. The first of these defensive simulation games, CRYSTAL DEFENDERS™ R1 will be available for download in April, while a release date for CRYSTAL DEFENDERS™ R2 will be announced at a later stage.
Featuring jobs and locations from the popular FINAL FANTASY TACTICS® series, CRYSTAL DEFENDERS requires players to strategically deploy units to fend off encroaching enemy hordes and prevent them from stealing their party’s crystals.
The WiiWare version includes several improvements to the interface and a new design optimized for consoles. A worldwide ranking system allows players to upload their scores to leaderboards and see how they stack up against other players around the globe. These and other new features are sure to increase excitement and enhance replayability.
John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. comments, “The release of these two CRYSTAL DEFENDERS titles on WiiWare demonstrates Square Enix’s commitment to providing new downloadable content, meeting the needs of its customers. CRYSTAL DEFENDERS combines easy pick-up and play mechanics, great depth and an addictive quality that make it ideal for the platform. I hope that many people experience and enjoy it.”
About CRYSTAL DEFENDERS R1
Story
In a land ruled by might and magick, peace is ensured by the benevolent power of the crystals. When a young moogle charged with guarding these crystals learns of an evil presence gathering on the horizon, he calls upon heroes from the far corners of the realm to join forces and stand against this new threat.
Wielders of blade and bow, keepers of arts arcane, unite! As darkness draws nigh, only you can protect the light that binds us. The fate of Ivalice lies in the hands of…the Crystal Defenders!
Features
CRYSTAL DEFENDERS R1 is a defensive simulation game in which players deploy characters from the FINAL FANTASY TACTICS® series onto a variety of different maps to battle wave after wave of encroaching monsters. The first game in the series, Crystal Guardians, was released in Japan for mobile phones in January 2008. In December of the same year, iPhone 3G, iPod touch and iPod versions were released under the new name, CRYSTAL DEFENDERS. To date, the total number of downloads for the series have reached over 800,000.CRYSTAL DEFENDERS R1 is simple and easy to learn – monsters will enter an area and march through it until they are defeated or reach an exit, at which time they will steal one or more crystals. It is up to the player to decide – by pausing the action at crucial moments – when and where to deploy various jobs such as Black Mages or Soldiers that will attempt to defend the party’s crystals. Factors such as map terrain, monster strengths and weaknesses, job attributes, and more will play a crucial role in determining what steps a player should take.
Comments 22
One comment now... why not be the second?
Okay, why split it up into two games, are they trying to pull that pokemon version thing? Because they're going to run me into the poor house.
Edit: So they have to break it up into two games because of the size limit? I hope they keep their prices at about 700 each.
Each of these costs 1000 points in Japan
Screw that then, that's a whole points card.
Well, Square loves overcharging for WiiWare. First with FFCC MLaaK, then SI: GE, then DLC in BB, finally these to. It was expected.
But lucky Europe, I hope we get these all soon too
The high price point is probably because it's a "brand name," I'll get a generic RPG esque tower defending game then. But to the point of these games, if they release the games simaltaneously, or consecutivley, I might just get one, but if they have a decent spacing I'll get them both if I'm satisfied with the first/second one.
@Bahamut ZERO - I agree that Crystal Defenders is WAY overpriced (though I don't think My Life as a King was), especially considering that it's an inferior version to the other consoles.
As big of a Final Fantasy/Square Enix fan as I am, I will not be getting these.
I played the demo on XBox 360 and loved it then I downloaded it. Its quite fun if you have the right mind for it, I can't even beat the easiest map though; the last monsters kill me.
So those two games are the XBLA game split up in two, right? So why does it cost twice as much?
Yeah.....Wii owners are being bent over a barrel on this one it it's going to cost 1000 points for each of those "chapters." You get three of them on the Xbox 360 arcade version for the same price as one on the Wii.
2000 points for R1 and 2?
That's ridiculous. I paid €6 for R1, 2 and 3 combined on the iPhone and AFAIK the WiiWare version does absolutely nothing to distract from the fact that this is best played on the go, which of course is impossible on Wii.
Not interested. I hate tower defense games.
@ReZon: I was talking MLaaK DLC, not the actual game.
@Bass: Wait, this is on XBLA?
Yes it was.
All three (yes, three) gamees are in the XBLA version. I already hate S-E for cluttering our precious WiiWare slots with pathetic fractured games like this.
How much, and are they good?
I'll try it, I do have an I-Pod Touch, but to tell the truth I don't want to fill itys memory up (what do you do when its full?, do not answer this question). But Square Enix is ripping us off with the price for both games, but I'll see how good the first one is anyway.
@post 16:
It's only $10 for all three "chapters" on XBLA, and if you enjoy the genre, its pretty good.
wow square is even releasing this game in Europe soon lucky you guys are
Oh goodie, so its 50% more expensive on WiiWare. Thanks, Square Enix. I'm not buying this game/these games no matter what review it gets.
Indeed....almost a 200% price increase (7 dollars on iPhone in the US currently if I'm not mistaken) with 0 added content is an absolute insult. I feel I'm doing all I can to support Nintendo's assorted downloadable services, and I'm feeling pretty slighted at the moment...
I played it on XBLA, i loved it too. Ok, the idea of the game is nothing more, then some flash games have, but in combination with this characters and monsters its realy fun.
I like Tower Defense, but it's not the kind of game I'd sit down to play on a Wii.
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