Today Square Enix announced the North American release date for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers. It will be available December 26.

The Crystal Bearers is the first major Final Fantasy title for Wii (the recent Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time is a straightforward port of the DS game). The action-adventure is a departure from both previous Final Fantasy and Crystal Bearer titles, featuring motion control-based gameplay and combat, as well as third-person shooter stages. The game also allows other players to "jump in" when needed.

The Japanese release date for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers has already been set for November 26. A European release date has yet to be announced.

FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: THE CRYSTAL BEARERS BRINGS ACTION

ADVENTURE TO Wii ON DECEMBER 26

First Major FINAL FANTASY Experience for Wii Available This

Holiday Season.

LOS ANGELES (September 14, 2009) - Square Enix, Inc., the

publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in North

America, announced today that FINAL FANTASY® CRYSTAL CHRONICLES®: THE

CRYSTAL BEARERS® for Wii™ will be available at North American

retailers on December 26, 2009.

This latest installment in the franchise offers a fresh take on the

beloved CRYSTAL CHRONICLES universe, launching the series into the

action-adventure genre and onto the Wii system. FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL

CHRONICLES: THE CRYSTAL BEARERS combines the storytelling depth,

immersive event scenes and graphical quality of the FINAL FANTASY

franchise with motion-driven gameplay and the ability to freely

explore the game world.

Enter a world where realistic gameplay and fantastical art direction

combine for a truly unique experience on Wii. Accessible for gamers of

all ages and levels of expertise, FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES:

THE CRYSTAL BEARERS invites players to embark on an unforgettable

adventure this holiday season.

STORY

A thousand years have passed since the events of the original FINAL

FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES. The destruction of the Yuke Crystal during

the Great War had at once brought the victorious Lilty Tribe

prosperity, the defeated Yuke Tribe apparent annihilation, and the

world a new age of science and reason. In this new era exists a rare

breed of powerful beings called “crystal bearers,” whose seemingly

magical abilities have led them to be feared and scorned by the

public. The young mercenary Layle is one such crystal bearer, who has

been hired to escort the new passenger airship Alexis, the pinnacle of

Lilty technology and a symbol of their current dominance. However,

when the Alexis is suddenly besieged by a horde of monsters, Layle

comes face-to-face with an adversary thought to have vanished from the

pages of history, on a quest that may threaten the future of the

world...

FEATURES

• Enjoy a new chapter of the series that takes place a thousand

  years after the events of the original FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL

  CHRONICLES, where technology has advanced to its peak and magic is

  considered taboo

• Encounter the first FINAL FANTASY game developed exclusively for

  Wii, complete with motion-driven gameplay and intuitive controls that

  are accessible for gamers of all levels. Enjoy a variety of actions

  and third-person shooter style gameplay

• Step into the hero’s shoes and experience the action first-hand!

  Control Layle’s crystal bearer powers to battle adversaries, navigate

  through obstacles and move objects at will in a highly interactive

  environment

• Traverse the terrain, swing from high places or take a swim in a

  world in which all areas are open for exploration

• With an extra Wii Remote™, friends and family can jump in to

  assist the player in times of need

FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: THE CRYSTAL BEARERS is rated T

(Teen). Please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)

website at www.esrb.org for more information about ratings. FINAL

FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: THE CRYSTAL BEARERS will be available for

Wii for $ 49.99. The official website can be found at

http://www.thecrystalbearers.com.