TheWiiisn’t exactly a console most will remember as aFinalFantasy-supported platform. In this generation, the PS3 and even the Xbox 360 were the key systems for the franchise. The Wii did have almost all of the Nintendo classic releases such asFinal Fantasy III, akaFinal Fantasy VI, ported to the Virtual Console.
RELATED:10 Most Expensive Items You Can Purchase In The Final Fantasy Series, Ranked
Releases like those shouldn’t count as they are just ports, so nothing new was added to them to make them be considered Wii games. Discounting ports like that, there were seven spinoff games in theFinal Fantasyseriesreleased on Wii. Some of them were and still are exclusive, trapped on the hardware, while some went elsewhere.
7Crystal Defenders
In 2008,CrystalGuardiansreleased in three separate parts for mobile devices in Japan. In 2009, the game made it to the West via a plethora of digital stores including the Wii’s WiiWare section in the eShop. The art style is taken right fromFinal Fantasy Tactics Advancebut the gameplay is much different.
It’s a tower-defense game wherein players must buy soldiers in order to defend a crystal from invading monsters. It was a unique genre to chasefor the series, but ultimately a forgettable title. It can still be played relatively easily today thanks to numerous ports and updates.
6Final Fantasy IV: The After Years
Final Fantasy IV: The After Yearstook place after the original game’s story ended. It now starred children from the original cast out on a new adventure which was still a novel conceptfor the series. It originally released in 2008 for mobile devices in Japan only.
RELATED:Final Fantasy: 10 Things You Never Knew About The Ivalice Alliance Games
It would hit the North American WiiWare shop in 2009.The After Yearsis a cute side story that acts more like fan fiction and so it is not a must-play continuation for fans of theSNESoriginal. This game was added into various ports and collections ofFinal Fantasy IVafter the WiiWare version.
5Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life As A Darklord
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklordis another tower-defense game. It released as a WiiWare title in 2009. It is a sequel and/or spinoff to another game on the list, which will be elaborated upon later.
My Life as a Darklordis a much more involved game thanCrystal Defendersas players must guard a tower against invading heroes. The game never made itoff of the Wiieither.
4Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo’s Dungeon
Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo’s Dungeonis the third entry in this roguelike Chocobo series. The previous game was released in 1999 for thePS1in North America, withChocobo’s Dungeonbeing a 2008 release in the same region. Almost a decade is a long time to wait for a sequel and fans have been waiting just as long for another follow-up since this release is currently the last game in the franchise.
Chocobo’s Dungeondid get a remaster in 2019, making it the easiest game to play today. Besides that version, it might be interesting to know that theDSgot a port of this game in 2008 but only in Japan. Like other roguelikes, players control Chocobo in a series of dungeons filled with treasure, traps, and monsters.
3Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes Of Time
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Timeis the third and final new release in this multiplayer actionRPG spinoff series. It released for both the Wii and DS in 2009. Most games that do a simultaneous release like this usually have the console version being better than the portable version, at least visually.
The Wii game looks almost exactly like the DS version, so it is more like a version that people can play on a TV. Because of this, it was not well-reviewed for Wii but the DS version did get a moderate amount of praise. The games also support crossplay.
2Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearersmight be the most unique game in this sub-series. Instead of focusing on multiplayer, it is a solo adventure. It’s an action RPG but also doesn’t feature typical combat from the previous games. Players gain control of what basically amounts to telepathy.
RELATED:Final Fantasy: Ranking Every Game In The Main Series Based On Size (Using Locations & Time)
Instead of punching enemies directly, players use motion controls to grab objects to hurl at foes. On paper, this all sounded great and the overall scope of the game was ambitious. It was perhaps far too ambitious for a Wii game as the hardware and controller lacked the power and precision needed to make the title an outstanding one. As it stands now it has never left the system.
1Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life As A King
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Kingis the first in what amounted to two games. The previously mentioned entry was a tower-defense title. This one, a 2008 WiiWare release, was likeaFinal Fantasygamecrossed over withSimCity. Players assumed the role of a king in a destroyed town and it is up to players to rebuild it.
There’s not much action in terms of combat that one can interact with directly. Players, as the king, instead issue orders to warriors in order to keep the peace. It’s more about being creative in the simulation. Of the two games released, this is the better of the two and one of the Wii’s most unsung darlings. Because it was, and still is, digital-only,My Life as a Kingis very hard to go back to now.
NEXT:5 Things We Miss From Early Final Fantasy Games (& 5 We Don’t)
