Final Fantasy

Why Final Fantasy X-2 Holds Such a Special Place in My Heart

Late last month, Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster was released on the PS3 and Vita in Japan and I have been dying to play it—not the remastered FFX, but the remastered FFX-2. But, to understand why Final Fantasy X-2 holds such a place in my heart, you need to know why I play video games.…

Smash Bros. Creator Loves Lightning Returns‘ Battle System

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, the third and final(?) chapter of the Final Fantasy XIII saga, came out in Japan last November, and what do you know, it’s pretty good. At least Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai thinks so. I think at this point, saying Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is the best installment of…

The demo for Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is available for PS3 later today. It released on Xbox Live for Xbox 360 last week. Getting the demo also offers a weapon pack that unlocks when the full game releases Feb. 11.

A Final Fantasy X-2 Comparison: HD vs. SD

Last week we did a side-by-side comparison between Final Fantasy X on the PS2 and its upcoming HD remaster release on the PS3. Now it’s Final Fantasy X-2’s turn to see how it measures up. [*Note: the PS2 version I used in this video was the US release of Final Fantasy X-2.] Final Fantasy X/X-2…

Major Glitch Makes Final Fantasy VI Unbeatable On Android

The Android version of Final Fantasy VI isn’t just ugly—it’s got a massive, game-breaking glitch, too. Warning: This post contains spoilers. Yes, this is a 20-year-old game, but hey, we’re trying to be nice. The glitch occurs about halfway through the game, during the fight between Kefka and General Leo in Thamasa. Kefka is supposed…

The One Series Square Enix Really Needs To Revive

If you asked a bunch of RPG fans what franchises they’d like to see come back from the dead, you’d get a lot of answers, because there’s nothing RPG fans like more than making lists of games they enjoyed when they were younger. Granted, there are also a lot of dead RPGs. Gaming’s past is…

A Final Fantasy X Comparison: HD vs. SD

While the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster won’t be out in the West until March, it hit Japanese shelves last month. So join me as I dust off my old PS2 and compare just how much better Final Fantasy X looks on the PS3 with its new HD coat of paint. [*Note: The PS2 version…

Oh No, Square Enix, What Have You Done To Final Fantasy VI?

When we first saw screens of Final Fantasy VI on mobile, I was a little worried. The sprites looked faded, as if they’d been accidentally thrown in a washing machine, and like the FFV port before it, the game had an amateur, RPG Makerish feel. But who knew it would get this bad? Today Square…

Lightning Strikes the Xbox 360. The demo for Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is now available for the Xbox 360, giving North American gamers their first taste of dress-up-powered threequel action.

He Forged Sephiroth’s Blade, But Aeris Was Already Dead

Not that Aeris’s death stopped master sword-smithTony Swatton from smashing stuff with his newly-forged seven-foot-something long Masamune, which you can watch him make in this video by AWE me. What else would you do with a blade, after all? Of particular note: he compares it to Cloud’s Buster Sword, which he says is way too…

One of Japan’s Oldest (and Most Hardcore) Gamers Passed Away

On January 11, famed actress Keiko Awaji passed away in a Tokyo hospital from esophageal cancer, reports Nikkan Sports. She was 80 years old. And she loved JRPGs. Awaji has acted in over 160 feature films, including Akira Kurosawa’s 1949 classic Stray Dog. Later in life, she became well-known online as a hardcore gamer—so much…

“I would personally like to see a sequel like [Final Fantasy X-3.] If there’s enough demand, then we may possibly see new developments.” Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts writer Kazushige Nojima, discussing a potential sequel to Final Fantasy X and X-2 in the new HD Remaster’s Ultimania guidebook.

That Lightning Returns Aerith Costume Wasn’t Meant for Everyone

One of the highlights of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is all the costumes you can play around with. Aside from the costumes included in the game and the DLC costumes, Square Enix also has a limited Aerith from Final Fantasy VII costume and weapons. Well, it was supposed to be limited. The Aerith costume…

Happy 26th Birthday, Final Fantasy!

Congratulations, Final Fantasy—you made it! The big 2-6. You were born on December 18, 1987, and now you’re here. Good work. Last year I wrote about how you need to get your act together, Final Fantasy, and you seem to have listened. Final Fantasy XIV‘s remake was a resounding success, Lightning Returns is looking promising,…

Final Fantasy X And X-2 HD Won’t Be Sold Separately On Vita

If you were thinking you could just purchase Final Fantasy X-2 HD Remaster on Vita and forego the game that opens with a stunning musical number, think again. In a post on the PlayStation Blog today which also detailed the PlayStation 3 Collector’s Edition, Square Enix confirmed the Vita version of the remakes are separate…

Lightning Returns‘ Collector’s Edition Is So Fancy It Gets A Trailer

Not only is the collector’s edition trailer-fancy, the $90 box set is also exclusive to theSquare Enix store, so if you want a silver-embossed pocket watch, and art book and an Aerith costume, it’s your only hope.

Final Fantasy XI welcomes back players with special 11th anniversary promotions. No it doesn’t. Just give it up, Square Enix. You made a much better game, and now everyone wants to play that. No free activation of old accounts from now until December 23 and other special activities are going to change that.

The Costume Editor Is My Favorite Time-Waster in Lightning Returns

Sure Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII has great gameplay and fun musical quirks, but let’s be serious: We don’t care about that. We’re all here just because we want to dress up Lightning in awesome costumes. There are dozens of unlockable costumes in Lightning Returns to choose from—many of these being inspired by the outfits…

Squall Reacts To Final Fantasy VIII On Steam

Hey Squall, did you hear? Your game’s on Steam now. It’s kind of a big deal, dude. Because now tons of people can buy and play Final Fantasy VIII on their PCs? I mean, you must know what Steam is. Okay, sorry! I shouldn’t have assumed. Steam is this big network that lets people buy…

Final Fantasy XIV‘s Finest New Features Coming December 17

I really love the reborn Final Fantasy XIV, but it’s the sort of love that can’t be fully consummated until I can own my own in-game estate and fight a giant, crown-wearing Moogle. Thank goodness for December 17’s massive patch 2.1. It’s got everything. I suppose some players are looking forward to the advancement of…