Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates is an action RPG set in the kingdom of Fenrir, where siblings Yuri and Chelinka set out to defend their homeland after it's invaded by a mysterious entity tied to the crystals on which the survival of the entire world depends. The game carries over the atmosphere and combat system of the original GameCube Crystal Chronicles, but tells its story in a much more focused and linear way, emphasizing the relationship between its two main characters.

For the Nintendo DS, the game was built around the console's specific features – controls largely ran through the touch screen via the stylus, the bottom screen served as a map and hub for inventory and spells, while the actual action played out on the top screen. The game also used the Download Play feature, letting up to four players join a co-op multiplayer session sharing just a single copy of the game between them. This wireless cooperation over a single shared copy was central to the handheld version, and you won't find it in quite the same form anywhere else in the Crystal Chronicles series.

The story also unfolds through short chapters interspersed with dialogue between Yuri and Chelinka, unlocked gradually as you progress through the game, so on the DS's small screen the narrative feels much tighter than the larger, exploration-focused home-console entries in the series. Combat is streamlined so it can be handled with a combination of button presses and touch gestures without needing a complicated menu, and once you finish the game it also offers harder variants for players who want to run through the dungeons again against tougher opponents.

Why play: For players who enjoy cooperative action RPGs with simple but functional stylus controls and want a more cohesive story than other entries in the Crystal Chronicles series.