Gamertell

Title: Crystal Defenders
Price: $4.99
System(s): iPod (5G), iPod nano (3G, 4G) and iPod classic
Release Date: December 23 2008
Publisher (Developer): Square Enix (Square Enix)
ESRB Rating: N/A
Pros: Can save anytime, familiar Final Fantasy Tactics characters are used, multiple difficulty levels, easy to pick up and play.
Cons: It can be a bit awkward using the touch pad controller until you get used to it.
Overall Score: One thumb up, one sideways; 85/100; B; * * * 1/2 out of 5

Square Enix has taken another step further in proving that, yes, it is going to be supporting the iPod as a gaming platform. It first did so with the surprising release of the strategic role-playing game Song Summoner. So, it should come as no surprise that Crystal Defenders, it’s second outing for Apple’s MP3 player, also dances along the strategic RPG.

Instead of going with an elaborate game like Song Summoner, where story is a major factor, music is implemented in the game to make use of your music and you feel obligated to make a commitment to playing, Crystal Defenders is more lighthearted. There are no storylines to tie you down. When you feel like a brief challenge, you simply pick up the game and defend your crystals against some monsters. When you’re done, whether it’s 15 or 40 minutes later, you just save and go on your merry way.

You Defend Crystals, Duh

When it comes to story, well, there is none. The whole point in Crystal Defenders is very succinctly summed up in the title - you defend crystals. You don’t have to deal with a story. You don’t have any extensive character development. You can level up characters to extend their range and make them stronger but it’s done with earned money and not based on that character’s particular actions. In a way, this is a blessing for a game of this nature.

You can pick it up and play it for a week, forget about it for a month, and immediately resume playing without worrying about forgetting anything.

Fun in Small Intervals.

Crystal Defenders is handled fairly well and reminded me a bit of the DS game Ninjatown. You basically have to protect crystals (which lie beyond Point B), and this is done by assigning various characters with different skill sets along the pathway. You can also purchase summons to deal additional damage or give you an advantage, or crystals to boost character’s attributes. Success is determined by placing the correct characters.

One thing that I constantly struggled with was the controls. It isn’t that they’re bad, they’re just unusual. Instead of scrolling across a grid to place units on the map, you touch your finger to the click wheel and lift it up when the character is hovering over the spot you want to place it. Then, you press the center button to place the unit.

Also, I sometimes had trouble finding the “speed up” section of the click wheel. I’d hover and lightly touch, see nothing, move my finger slightly and watch as my troops momentarily sped up as I passed the magic spot. By the time I’d actually find the exact speed-up section, the wave of monsters would be over.

A Simple Pleasure

Crystal Defenders is a fun, short, little game that you’ll eventually learn to appreciate. That is, once you’ve adjusted to the somewhat unconventional use of the click wheel for controls. Despite it’s eccentricities, the fact that it’s representing a rare and under-represented genre of iPod games (strategy and tower defense) makes it easier to overlook the quirks.

I can’t see playing Crystal Defenders for substantial amounts of time (unlike Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes, which can be played for hours on end). It feels like the game was designed to be played in short spurts - tackle a challenge while waiting for a bus or killing time during a lunch break. This isn’t a bad thing, so long as you know going in what you’re getting.

Don’t expect Final Fantasy Tactics style gameplay just because the characters are the same.

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