Looking Back on a ClassicĬomposer Kumi Tanioka said she tried to infuse into the score the 'lighter narrative' of Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles that distinguishes it from the franchise's mainline titles. Inverse spoke with Tanioka, Iwasaki, and Burke shortly after the release of Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles - Remastered Edition to discuss the music, narration, and how these things helped define the original's unique tone.
Donna Burke, who is best known for her work in the Metal Gear Solidseries and as the narrator in the original Crystal Chronicles, also returned, re-recording the lines in a distinct Irish accent, which some fans have said helps to make the game feel like an 'old fairy tale' when compared to the epic tales in most games. Original composers - Kumi Tanioka and Hidenori Iwasaki - returned to re-record music for the remaster and create two new tracks remaster. Its soundtrack stuck out as more atmospheric and folky than the sweeping orchestral scores the main Final Fantasy series is known for. Unlike most Final Fantasy games, Crystal Chronicles puts an emphasis on multiplayer and was originally released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2003 at a time when most of Square-Enix’s RPGs went to PlayStation 2. Square Enix gave the underrated Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles a second shot at success in August with a current-gen remaster.
