Square Enix

Here’s What Final Fantasy XIII Chocobos Look Like

Chocobo! Those bird-like creatures from Final Fantasy games. The latest issue of Japan’s Shonen Jump shows just how huge the creatures are in Final Fantasy XIII. So big. The magazine also has Hope’s summon, Alexander, and brings word that Final Fantasy XIII will come with Final Fantasy XIV beta codes when it goes on sale…

By Brian Ashcraft Published November 9, 2009

Unraveled Anagram Points to FFXIII Announcement Friday

A message posted to Square-Enix’s official Final Fantasy XIII site on Friday indicates, after not too much work, that some news is forthcoming on Friday. The news post dated Friday – no link, nothing further – said simply: “A puzzle for FINAL FANTASY XIII fans! Solve this anagram to find out what lies ahead: A…

By Owen Good Published November 7, 2009

Gyromancer Takes Over Your Life This Month

Attention PC gamers and Xbox 360 owners – your free time dies in a week and a half. Gyromancer, the unholy union of Square Enix RPG, Pokémon, and Bejeweled Twist, now has a release date. Mark November 18th on your calendar, and then set the rest of the week busy. That’s the date that Square…

By Mike Fahey Published November 6, 2009

International Edition of FFXIII Could Be Out Before April 2010

This December, the PS3 version of Final Fantasy XIII is going to be released in Japan — and if we are lucky, it might be out in The West before next April. At a recent financial briefing in which Square Enix announced that sales were up 33.2 percent and profits dropped 55.7 percent, Square Enix…

By Brian Ashcraft Published November 5, 2009

Final Fantasy XIII Soundtrack CD Dated For Japan

On January 27, Square Enix will be releasing the Final Fantasy XIII soundtrack in Japan — one limited edition, and the other not. The 5-disc limited edition is priced at ¥5,250 (US$58) includes a bonus “drama CD” called FINAL FANTASY XIII Episode Zero -Promise- Story01 -ENCOUNTER and written by FFXIII scenario writer Motomu Toriyama. The…

By Brian Ashcraft Published November 4, 2009

Square Enix Fire Some People

It’s already been announced that the severance payouts to Taito employees has drained money from parent company Square Enix. Those were the only cuts Square Enix has made post Eidos-buyout. “There’s an ongoing process of reshuffling people, but that’s not something we do just because of integration,” Square Enix president Yoichi Wada explained to website…

By Brian Ashcraft Published November 3, 2009

Final Fantasy XIII’s Bahamut & Brynhildr Get Goofy In Gestalt

Surely you’ve seen Final Fantasy XIII’s version of Odin, the summon that can be called to aid our heroine Lightning in battle. And surely you’ve seen Odin’s horsey “gestalt” variation, turning him into deadly four-legged transport. Get ready for more! Square Enix has updated the official Japanese Final Fantasy XIII web site, giving us a…

By Michael McWhertor Published October 30, 2009

Eidos Buyout, Taito Severance Drains ¥5 Billion from Square-Enix

Square Enix amended its consolidated results forecast today, lowering its income projections for the fiscal year, which is now half over. Severance payments to get rid of some Taito employees and the company’s takeover of Eidos were blamed. The revision takes some ¥4.9 billion off their net income – about $53 million US – in…

By Owen Good Published October 29, 2009

Is The U.S. Final Fantasy XIII Release Announcement Coming Soon?

Calling all English speakers! Commercial ad agency Liz Paulson Casting is looking for a script reader to present developer commentary and “an exclusive never before seen look at Final Fantasy XIII“. In the ad, the game’s U.S. release date is revealed. Below is the from the casting call. Game site Siliconera brings up a good…

By Brian Ashcraft Published October 28, 2009

Final Fantasy XIII: “Shut Up And Come Quiet”

Square Enix has released two hands full of new Final Fantasy XIII screens, two of which come with English language subtitles. The other screen has this profound question: “Tell me. Do you really think your life is worth more than the lives of millions of Cocoon citizens?” Eight New Final Fantasy XIII English Screenshots [Final…

By Brian Ashcraft Published October 26, 2009

Final Fantasy XIII Drink Dated

For those who enjoy drinking questionable Final Fantasy beverages (and who doesn’t), listen up. The latest tie-up between Square Enix and Japanese beverage maker Suntory will be out this December. As announced at the Final Fantasy XIII event in Tokyo, a Final Fantasy XIII “Elixir” will be released onto the masses in Japan for human…

By Brian Ashcraft Published October 22, 2009

Final Fantasy XIII Is Install-Free

It’s become increasingly common for games to feature a mandatory install — you have no choice! Final Fantasy XIII is not one of those games. The game, which will be released this December in Japan on the PS3, will not feature a mandatory install. That being said, the only time players will see load times…

By Brian Ashcraft Published October 22, 2009

Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep Wakes Up To Japanese Release Date

PSP role-playing-game Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep has been dated for Japan. The game will be released on January 9 and priced at ¥6,090 (US$67). Birth By Sleep is an action RPG set ten years before the first Kingdom Hearts game. Be sure to check out our impressions on the game.

By Brian Ashcraft Published October 21, 2009

Is This Square Enix’s Last PS2 Game?

Final Fantasy XI: Vana’diel Collection 2 is getting released in Japan on three platforms (Xbox 360, PC and PS2), but it will only be out on the Xbox 360 and PC in North America. According to game site Siliconera, this is Square Enix‘s last PS2 title. As the PS3 picks up more steam, the PS2…

By Brian Ashcraft Published October 16, 2009

Who Does This New Kingdom Hearts Character Look Like?

We know we’ve seen that stache before! But where? Upcoming PSP game Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep features a new character with the name “Master Eraqsu”. Eraqsu backwards in Japanese is close to “Square”. But there might be going on than a simple word play. Oh yes, much more. Some on the Japanese internet believe…

By Brian Ashcraft Published October 15, 2009

Looks Like A New Game Mode For Birth By Sleep

I was jealous when I heard Stephen Totilo played Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep at the Tokyo Game Show. But even if he saw it first, it looks like he didn’t see everything. Apparently there’s a board game-type of mode in Birth By Sleep that breaks up the hack ‘n’ slash monotony many non-KH fans…

By AJ Glasser Published October 15, 2009

Do You Know This Lady’s Name?

She appeared in the Tokyo Game Show Final Fantasy XIII trailer, and we didn’t know her name until now. Her name is Oerba Yun Fang — she’s a mysterious L’Cie lady with a nifty tattoo. And her summon? Her summon is “The Dragon King”, Bahamut. Shonen Jump: New details on new, blue l’Cie lady [Final…

By Brian Ashcraft Published October 15, 2009

Bon Jovi To Help Shill Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles In Japan

Upcoming Wii release Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers will get a taste of Jersey for its Japanese release. Rock band Bon Jovi will be lending its flavor of rock to the game’s overseas TV advertising. Bon Jovi, a band four years older than the Final Fantasy series itself, will be co-promoting Crystal Bearers…

By Michael McWhertor Published October 13, 2009

Square Enix On Why Manga Doesn’t Sell As Big Overseas

Final Fantasy maker Square Enix doesn’t only make Final Fantasy. The Japanese company also has an anime and manga division, responsible for titles like Saki and Full Metal Alchemist. When division head Kouji Taguchi was asked why manga sales in the US were still considerably smaller than in Japan, he replied: The best sellers in…

By Brian Ashcraft Published October 12, 2009

Reviews

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days Review: Crisis Hearts

Our time with the Nobody Roxas in Kingdom Hearts II was far too short. Square Enix rectifies this oversight with Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days for the Nintendo DS. 358/2 Days tells the tale of Sora’s Nobody Roxas from the time he first came into being up until he finds himself among friends at the beginning…

By Mike Fahey Published October 9, 2009