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Kotaku East
Don’t Be Surprised by a Kingdom Hearts 2 HD Remake
At this year’s Tokyo Game Show, Square Enix announced a high definition remake of the first Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories, and Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. It’s called Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX. In the upcoming leaked issue of Famitsu, Kingdom Hearts designer Tetsuya Nomura was apparently asked whether or not there…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 3, 2012 -
Make Other Players Kill Any Character in Hitman: Absolution With the Game’s Contracts Mode
This sizable chunk of gameplay footage highlights Hitman: Absolution’s user-generated content feature. In the new Contracts Mode, players can craft and distribute specific missions for each other within the single-player levels. The walkthrough shows off a Contract mission and how to create one. With the ability to have nearly any character in the game, Contracts…
By Evan Narcisse Published September 28, 2012 -
Kotaku East
This Aged Right-Wing Japanese Composer Is Betting On The Internet Generation
With tensions rising between Japan and China over ownership of a group of islands (called “Senkaku” in Japan and “Diaoyu” in China), and between Japan and Korea over ownership of a different group of islands (called “Takeshima” in Japan and “Dokdo” in Korea), 81-year-old video game composer, Kouichi Sugiyama (of Dragon Quest fame) recently voiced…
By Toshi Nakamura Published September 27, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Hey, You’ve Got Nausicaä in My Final Fantasy IX
Since the Final Fantasy games have been so incredibly influential, it’s interesting to see where FF‘s designers have looked for their own inspiration. It’s no secret that Final Fantasy has apparently been influenced by Studio Ghibli. The Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind manga, for example, most likely inspired Final Fantasy‘s Chocobo—those big yellow…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 26, 2012 -
Kotaku EastThe Latest Bravely Default Trailer Flies Out
Upcoming 3DS role-playing game Bravely Default: Flying Fairy has a goofy title. The game, however, looks just fine. As previously posted, Bravely Default will feature a job system similar to Final Fantasy V. So if you like FFV, you’ll probably like this! Bravely Default will be out this October in Japan. 「ブレイブリーデフォルト」~覚醒篇~ [SquareEnix@YouTube] Kotaku East…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 25, 2012 -
The Japanese Version of Demons’ Score is a Much Better Deal
Last week iNiS’ rhythm-shooter Demons’ Score hit the North American app store, disappointing many fans by padding the $6.99 game with nearly $40 of additional content. Meanwhile, in Japan, the entire game costs just $20. NeoGAF poster StarCreator popped into the Japanese app store this weekend, where they discovered that the native version of Square…
By Mike Fahey Published September 24, 2012 -
New Trailer For The New Kingdom Hearts Game…Collection…Thing
Square Enix was really weird about Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix at the Tokyo Game Show. Kept saying it was a “video work”. We’re sure there’s going to be game in there somewhere, probably a lot going by the footage here, but just how much, we won’t know until Square stops being so weird. Anyway,…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 24, 2012 -
Expect The Wii U Version of Dragon Quest X Next Spring… Maybe… Hopefully
At Tokyo Game Show 2012, Square Enix held an event with special guests, Yuuji Horii, the creator of the Dragon Quest series, and producer Yousuke Saitou to showcase the Wii U version of Dragon Quest X During the stage event, Horii was asked what the release date for the Wii U version of the game…
By Toshi Nakamura Published September 22, 2012 -
From Mass Effect to Metal Gear, This is a Symphony in Plastic
Square Enix doesn’t just make video games. It also makes figures. And it doesn’t only make Final Fantasy figures, it makes figures from numerous other games. Square Enix’s Play Arts Kai line features a whole slew of characters from games like Street Fighter, Tekken, Medal of Honor, Metal Gear, Halo, and Dead Space as well…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 22, 2012 -
Different Takes on Final Fantasy
At this year’s Tokyo Game Show, Square Enix is showcasing how various illustrators and manga artists envision Final Fantasy. The result is a different spin on the Final Fantasy games and characters you know and love. Many of the illustrators (such as Higasa Akai, Aguri Igarashi, and Shiro Amano) have either done art for Square…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 22, 2012 -
Five Things I Like (And Five Things I Don’t Like) About The Latest Final Fantasy Game
I spent $31.42 on an iPad game two weeks ago. $31.42. On an iPad game. That’s the price you have to pay for Square Enix’s latest foray into old-school role-playing, Final Fantasy Dimensions. This new Final Fantasy is a traditional, turn-based RPG for both iPhone and iPad. You can download the app and play the…
By Jason Schreier Published September 20, 2012 -
Kingdom Hearts Is Getting Remixed in HD for the PS3 [Update]
Square Enix is bringing the first Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories, and Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days to the PS3 in HD as part of a new KH compilation called Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX The version of Kingdom Hearts is the Japanese language “Final Mix” version, and the game, along with Chain…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 19, 2012 -
The Most Diabolical Aspect of Square’s Demons’ Score is the Hellish Hidden Cost
Released today for the iPhone and iPad, Demons’ Score is a rhythm action game from iNiS, the creators of DS classic Elite Beat agents, so the decision to spend $6.99 for a chance to play it was a no-brainer. I’m just not sure I want to fork over the additional $37 I’d need to purchase…
By Mike Fahey Published September 19, 2012 -
Kotaku EastA Peek Inside Where They Make Final Fantasy
Japanese game studios, Square Enix included, generally don’t like cameras poking around where they make games. There are obvious reasons for that, such as designs or game info leaking out. Another reason is that, you know, people are trying to work! Still, Square Enix allowed its own cameras into a Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 14, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Square Enix’s Online Shop Seems To Have Been Hacked
Tokyo-based game company Square Enix announced that it believes the third-party server, which hosts its online shop, was breached. While the landing page can be accessed, the Square Enix Online Shop is currently offline and clicking on the Japan catalog brings up a notice about the hack. Square Enix is currently assessing the extent of…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 14, 2012 -
Square Enix’s Latest Mobile Game Has Rhythm Combat And A Talking Teddy Bear
Here’s some gameplay footage from Demons’ Score, a rhythm-action-combat-music game for mobile platforms published by Square Enix and developed by iNiS, the Japanese studio that made Elite Beat Agents Maybe that’s why it’s so groovy. Demons’ Score is out “very soon” for iOS and “this fall” for Android, Square Enix says.
By Jason Schreier Published September 12, 2012 -
Watch A Blank Canvas Turn Into Final Fantasy XIII‘s Lightning
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at Square Enix art director Isamu Kamikokuryo creating an oil painting for the upcoming game Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, complete with elevator music and Final Fantasy fanfare. Cool, don’t you think? Dude is really talented. (via Andriasang)
By Jason Schreier Published September 10, 2012 -
Even Square Enix Admits The PlayStation Era Was The ‘Golden Age’
Seen at Square Enix’s Final Fantasy party at PAX last week: these posters, complete with game names, dates, and monikers describing each era of the iconic RPG series. As you can see, even Square Enix has some strong notions about when they got things right. (Although Final Fantasy VI should clearly be part of the…
By Jason Schreier Published September 7, 2012 -
Kotaku EastFans Make a Peaceful Online Protest for Final Fantasy Versus XIII
While Square Enix recently confirmed that it is still making Final Fantasy Versus XIII and that it’ll be out when it’s good and ready, some fans are having a hard time waiting. It’s only been six years. What’s the rush? Recently, a group of fans on the GameFAQs boards banded together to form Project Crystallis…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 7, 2012