Following the recent Square-Enix press conference, Cube-Europe can reveal some interesting details about the gameplay in the Final Fantasy series' debut on GameCube, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles.

The exact details about the title's GCN/GBA connection remain a mystery, but Akitoshi Kawazu explained that the connection was a vital feature of the multiplayer, stating that the Game Boy Advance would be needed to receive character information, enemy statistics, map data, and other undisclosed attributes. Kawazu explained however, that the title's focus was not just multiplayer, but that the game's main quest can be just as enjoyable for a single player, and that gameplay and other details would be changed accordingly.

We also gained knowledge about the combat system, it seems the emphasis is more on action this time round, something which will delight Square's fans from the 16-bit era, as Chrono Trigger and Streets of Mana had the same feature. Another titbit, which will please Chrono Trigger fans, is that combination magic attacks have replaced the more traditional spell summons, which has featured heavily in previous incarnations of the fantasy series. This feature lends itself to the multiplayer aspect of the title, and would create a greater sense of community between players who choose to team up.

Kawazu also stated that fans should not fear, the title will take 30 hours to complete for a rookie to the game. It also seems that locations will be reminiscent of previous titles in the series, as environments include deserts, villages, and forests.

We also learned, to the amazement of industry insiders, that Shigeru Miyamoto had been keeping up with the production of the title, giving suggestions along the way, but Final Fantasy head, Hinorobo Sakaguchi, had not even seen the title yet. It is unsure whether this may have been down to a mistranslation; an intended situation or it just may be that Mr. Sakaguchi has had a busy schedule. Whatever the reason, it is pure speculation at this point. What we can tell you is that this title is evolving into a cracker of a game, and with E3 opening in a few days, we will keep you up to date with news regarding this title.