Review by: Meghan Watt

Pretend you're watching a movie at home. It has an inspiring story, beautiful visuals, and a cast of characters that you could watch for hours on end. But every time an action scene starts, you have to pick up your remote control and wave it around a bunch for the movie to continue. This is pretty much how the newest installment of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles feels.

As one of the best looking games on the Wii, The Crystal Bearers tells a deep, riveting tale that rivals even the best J-RPGs. But a handful of uninspiring minigames and bizarre semi-optional fights interrupt the game more than contributes to it. Even worse, the story and these little interruptions are about all this title has to offer.

The game centers on Layle, a teenage boy and one of the very few Crystal Bearers in existence. As a Bearer, he possesses telekinetic-like powers, a gift that, while very cool, makes him an outcast. Through a series of haphazard events, Layle is tasked with finding the Crystal Idols, powerful containers of energy that could either lead to the end of the world or unite the world's four tribes. Of course, about 17 (three, to be exact) people are after the Idols as well, making Layle's duty a little hard.

Better than the story may be the relationships Layle develops, almost all of the half-friend, half-enemy variety. Each has a very distinct, consistent personality that you'll come to love as much as you hate. Surprisingly, Layle's many acquaintances are also voiced exceptionally well, although it's getting a tad hard to hear Michael McConnohie pop up in every video game (most notably, the Agency in Crackdown and the Commander in Red Faction).