Final Fantasy

Decades Later, Final Fantasy VIII Is Getting A Physical Release On PS4

Last year’s surprise remaster of Final Fantasy VIII is getting a physical version on PS4 in Europe and a few other countries, because it’s 2020 and there are no rules. Square Enix announced the unusual collector’s item on Twitter earlier today with a price tag of €19.99. In addition to Europe, it’ll also be available…

Here Are Some Great Video Game Victory Fanfares For No Reason At All

With the world in crisis, just straight-up, feel-good moments are few and far between. So some of us here at Kotaku, for no other reason at all, much less one dominating the current news cycle, have grabbed a bunch of our favorite fanfares from a bunch of our favorite video games to help you close…

Fans Think They Hear The Final Fantasy “Prelude” In Genshin Impact

While, yes, Genshin Impact is more than a Breath of the Wild clone, the free-to-play RPG’s background music is reminiscent of another iconic game’s theme song, say some fans. As reported on Japanese site Hachima, it’s been pointed out that the music during the menu screen below seems to apparently resemble the Final Fantasy “Prelude.”…

Final Fantasy XIV’s Crafting System Turned Me Into A Capitalist Swine

A few expansions into playing Final Fantasy XIV, I decided to try leveling one of the game’s many crafting classes. For one, I’d heard a fair amount of FFXIV’s strongest weapons and most stylish gear were locked behind them. On top of that, I’d found the adventuring life to be expensive. Sure, running dungeons and…

How Square Enix Is Managing Hype Expectations For Final Fantasy XVI

Wonder how things are coming along with Final Fantasy XVI? You’re not alone. Nier creator Yoko Taro does, too, and today during a Square Enix live stream for the virtual Tokyo Game Show, he brought up the upcoming game. Square Enix producer Naoki Yoshida was supposed to be talking up and playing Final Fantasy XIV,…

Final Fantasy XVI’s Trailer Looks Like A Mix Of IX And XII (And That’s Great!)

  One of the biggest surprises of the Sony PS5 event on Wednesday was the reveal of a new main-line Final Fantasy game, the 16th in the series (more like the 36th if you count all the sequels and spinoffs and Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus). Fans of the series are excited, and some…

Final Fantasy XVI Coming To PS5 And PC

Square Enix provided a first look at Final Fantasy XVI during today’s PlayStation showcase. It’s coming to PlayStation 5 and PC. Few confirmed details were provided, but there was a lot of serious-sounding dialogue about crystals and a plethora of giant monsters. The story appears to take place over several decades, following the main character…

Square Enix Wants To Release Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 2 As Soon As It Can

In April, Square Enix released Final Fantasy VII Remake. While speaking with Weekly Famitsu, the game’s developers revealed that part 2 is currently in production, picking up where the first remake left off. “While we are earnestly working on it [part 2],” co-director Naoki Hamaguchi told Famitsu, “we may make you wait, but please look…

Happy 20th Anniversary To My Favorite Final Fantasy

In 2000, after a pair of PlayStation games that were more science fiction than swords and sorcery, I wanted a Final Fantasy that skewed heavily towards classic fantasy fare. Final Fantasy IX, released on July 7, 2000, in Japan, was exactly the game I was looking for. Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi said Final Fantasy…

Final Fantasy XIV‘s ‘Reflections In Crystal’ Update Arrives On August 11

Originally due in June before being pushed back multiple times due to covid-19 related concerns, Final Fantasy XIV’s next big update, “Reflections in Crystal,” is finally on track for an August 11 release. According to the latest letter from the producer published on theFinal Fantasy XIV Lodestone website, the developers were originally aiming at a…

9 Questions I Have About That Weird Box Breaking Game In Final Fantasy 7 Remake

I recently finished Final Fantasy 7 Remake and yet something still lingers in my mind. It’s not the ending or the weird meta-references that went over my head. No, I’m still thinking about that weird mini-game where Cloud breaks a bunch of boxes set up by small children. This doesn’t seem to be a thing…

YouTuber Drinks Really Old Final Fantasy Potion Drink

Back in 2005, Square Enix launched a Final Fantasy Potion energy drink in Japan to promote Final Fantasy XII. The beverage was made by Suntory, and I remember having it and thinking it tasted like a Japanese energy drink. But that was then and not 2020. What exactly did it taste like? If you’ve had…

Final Fantasy III Designer Had His Own Head Canon About White Mage’s Iconic Red Sleeves

Square Enix recently published a super-insightful discussion with Final Fantasy III designer Hiromichi Tanaka, and recently did the same with Koichi Ishii, the man behind the game’s expanded job system. While he isn’t quite as indifferent to the Moogle species as his former co-worker, Ishii did share his differing interpretation of the white mage’s classic…

My Search To Find The True Meaning Behind Final Fantasy VII’s Loveless Poster

Video game fans are often defined by their obsessions. I used to think this was not true of me, until I found myself in a career where I frequently, without being forced to, wrote about them. We all tell on ourselves eventually, I suppose. So let me get ahead of things, and tell you about…

It’s Time For A Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Remaster

Yesterday, I finished Final Fantasy VII Remake. Today, I find myself wanting more, but only a little more. Maybe another 15-20 hours in and around Midgar, seeing the surrounding slums and deserts through the eyes of somebody who’s more relevant to the series’ larger machinations than ever? Something along those lines? I don’t know, just…

I Don’t Want To Finish Final Fantasy VII Remake

When this time of imposed social isolation began, I had a theory: In the absence of real human connection, some people would find themselves growing more attached than usual to video game characters. Well, dear reader, It Happened To Me. For the past handful of weeks, I—like a great many members of the zeitgeist-chasing gamer…

Yoshitaka Amano – His universe, On Paper is a short documentary from Archipel that interviews the Final Fantasy legend on his work on the series, his history in the business and his recent fine art pieces. If they don’t activate automatically, there are English subtitles in YouTube’s settings.

In a lovely video Final Fantasy artist Yoshitaka Amano dishes on his distinctive art. Confessing a love for Western fantasy, he traces his creative evolution from anime to fine art and explains why inspiration is never in short supply. A truly serene watch, just long enough to enjoy with a cup of tea.

Final Fantasy III Designer Wasn’t Particularly Into Moogles, Actually

In honor of Final Fantasy III’s 30th anniversary, Square Enix recently published an extensive interview with Hiromichi Tanaka, who worked as a designer on the 1990 Famicom game. While lighthearted, they do touch on some interesting subjects, including the debut of Moogles, how they created a cool attack effect for the Odin summon, and the…

Knife Child Terrorizes Local Sector

It’s important to analyze games with rigorous consideration. Games are art and we need to hold them accountable for everything they contain. So please understand how serious I am when I say that Tonberries are the funniest fucking thing on the planet. The Tonberry (Tonicus Berricus) is one of the most iconic enemies in the…