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Crystal Defenders is a tower defense game that started life on the iPhone and eventually made its way to WiiWare (as Crystal Defenders R1 and R2), Playstation Network (for both PS3 and PSP), and Xbox Live Arcade. The game uses assets and the soundtrack from Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift. While the game is Final Fantasy themed, the end result is a standard tower defense game with one or two unique attributes.

Three different mission packs (W1, W2, and W3), each with four levels comprise the game. The levels are all structured similarly, containing 30 waves of enemies and a concluding boss fight. Each of the mission packs steps up in challenge; W1 is intended for beginners, W2 for intermediate players, and W3 for advanced players. Unfortunately, W3 is so hard it’s unfair. At times it throws so many enemies at you it’s impossible to keep up.

Like any other tower defense game, you deploy units in order stop enemies from reaching the end of the level, which in Crystal Defenders, holds your crystals. Each unit (tower) must be placed in a stationary location, and they all cost a specific amount of gil (Final Fantasy currency). Towers can be upgraded, and deployment and upgrades both allow players to pause the action while they perform the necessary tasks.

All of the game’s units are from Final Fantasy Tactics A2 and each mission pack contains different classes of units. Though the units are replaced, their functions remain the same, making the difference simply cosmetic.

In each level you start with 20 crystals. Each enemy that infiltrates your camp steals one of those crystals. Loss of all crystals results in loss of the match. Crystal Defenders gives players an interesting tradeoff wherein powerful Espers (from the Final Fantasy series) can be summoned to aid you, but they will cost a set amount of crystals to summon.

The game’s presentation is mixed. The good news is that the amazing soundtrack from the DS game is retained and still sounds just as good. The graphics on the other hand have suffered from the transition. While the sprites look beautiful (though a bit stretched out), Square Enix did not fix the aspect ratio of the game. It’s still presented in 4:3 and is surrounded by a huge decorative boarder that winds up looking a little tacky on the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Overall, Crystal Defenders is a decent tower defense game that has very little to differentiate it from other games in the genre. Fans of Final Fantasy Tactics A2 will feel at home thanks to the presentation, as will fans of tower defense titles. However, if you aren't a fan of the genre or have simply grown sick of it, this game isn’t going to change your mind.