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Star Ocean 4 Differences For Japan And The West
Star Ocean: The Last Hope will be released on February 19th. The following week, a slightly different version will be released in North America. There will be two types of character portraits in the battle scenes — one for each region. One is getting anime faces, and the other is getting CG models. Likewise, the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 9, 2009 -
Square-Enix Brings Toys, Not Games, To NYCC
While the rest of the other video game publishers at the NYCC brought video games for fans to check out, Square-Enix brought lots and lots of toys. No playable demos. No trailers. Just toys. At least these were new toys. On display were action figures and statues from Final Fantasy VII, Crisis Core, Star Ocean,…
By Jim Reilly Published February 8, 2009 -
The Star Ocean… Escalator
When you think of ways to promote Star Ocean 4, escalators probably don’t jump to mind. For shame, because escalators are great. Even better than escalators? Wallpaper and LCD monitors looping Star Ocean 4. This escalator-LCD-screen-game advertising must be a first — we don’t recall seeing anything like this. This is fantastic. In case you…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 6, 2009 -
Dragon Quest IX Brings Internet Shopping
Upcoming DS title Dragon Quest IX has Wi-Fi. A new Weekly Jump scan shows it’ll be used for in-game internet shopping and extra quests. Your internet shopping guide is Roxanne, and she’ll show you merchandise that is updated daily. There are rare items, discount items and even special holiday items available to buy. Square Enix…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 6, 2009 -
Dragon Quest IX Delay Concerns Arise
Square Enix has announced it’ll delay its third-quarter earnings by a week to February 12th due to a delay in “accounting work.” Some fear its less an accounting delay and more a game delay. Square Enix was supposed to announce its Third Quarter results today, February 6th. The company’s revised calendar now shows the results…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 6, 2009 -
What Dragon Quest Female Character Does Akihabara Want To…Ahem?
A recent street survey polled Akihabara folks about which female Dragon Quest character they wanted to get very close with. It doesn’t get more scientific than this. Here are the results: 10. Queen of Isis (Dragon Quest 3) 9. Gerda, AKA “Red” in English (DQ8) 8. Female Warrior (Dragon Quest 3) 7. Flora (Dragon Quest…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 5, 2009 -
New Star Ocean 4 Screens, New Star Ocean 4 Character
Xbox 360 title Star Ocean 4 is only a few days away from release. Perfect timing for some new Star Ocean 4 and a new character — the bird lady! And she wears glasses. Sarah Jeland (literally, “Sara Jerando” in Japanese katakana — not sure about the English romanization) hails from the in-game planet of…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 4, 2009 -
Rocket Slimes Made Of Snow
A few days London was blanketed in snow. It was the worst snowfall in 18 years. So Kotaku reader Anneka did what any good Kotaku reader would do: She made Rocket Slimes. And four hours later, the illustrator-by-trade had a stack of Slimes. Look at them! They’re terrific. Snow Slimes [The Creative Brainwaves of Anneka…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 4, 2009 -
Taito Arcade Hikes Prices 20 Percent [Update]
Arcade games since the birth of Japanese arcades have been 1 play for ¥100 yen*. Starting this week, that has changed. Sure, players could enjoy older games for ¥50 and some new, deluxe titles charged ¥200 and up. But generally speaking, 1 play was and has been ¥100. Game center Taito Station in Shibuya is…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 3, 2009 -
Japanese People Swarm Star Ocean 4 Kiosks, Kiosks Show New Faceplate
This past Sunday from noon to 5pm, eight Xbox 360 demo kiosks playing Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope were rolled out at the Akihabara Yodobashi Camera. Before the event began, numbered tickets were passed out to those lining up, and only 100 posters were handed out. Players experienced a 15 minute demo session. According…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 2, 2009 -
The Chances Of A DISSIDIA Sequel…
Want a DISSIDIA sequel? Square Enix game designer Tetsuya Nomura says there are “no plans” currently. But, hey, plans can change. According to game site 1Up, Nomura states at the end of a 704-page DISSIDIA strategy guide: “There are no current plans for a sequel. To be honest, I wanted to do one up until…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 2, 2009 -
Reviews
Star Ocean: Second Evolution Review: Calm Seas Ahead
Square Enix continues its seemingly unrelenting stream of RPG remakes with the release of Star Ocean: Second Evolution for the PSP, an update to the classic PlayStation title Star Ocean: The Second Story. Second Evolution picks up the Star Ocean story 20 years after the first game, following the adventures of Claude C. Kenni, the…
By Mike Fahey Published January 29, 2009 -
Does This Pop Singer Look Like A Final Fantasy XIII Character?
Morning Musume singer Mari Yaguchi did an interview with Famitsu. She learned something very exciting — about herself, of course. In a recent blog update, Yaguchi writes that she discovered during the Famitsu interview that there have been comments that she totally looks like a character in Final Fantasy XIII. (We’re thinking more pigtailed Oerba…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 29, 2009 -
The Guns, Beauty and Cities Of Final Fantasy XIII
Here are a collection of still shots from the newly released Final Fantasy XIII trailer, giving you a closer look at some of the characters and enemies featured in the video. You’d easily miss some of the more gorgeous moments in the action-packed trailer, so we’re capturing still shots faster than you can say pause…
By Mike Fahey Published January 28, 2009 -
Sqaure Enix’s Magic Youthful Character Formula
Square Enix has a formula and has it down pat. That’s not to say all Square Enix RPGs are the same — they’re not. However, they do share similarities in character design. Here’s why. Yusuke Naora, who worked on The Last Remnant, explains, “The format of the RPG lends itself well to having a teenage…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 28, 2009 -
Square Enix Junk Mail Pisses Off Man, Man Files Lawsuit, Man Wins
An individual in Japan with no connection to Square Enix or Final Fantasy XI (he’s never played it supposedly!) was being heavily spammed with FFXI re-registration emails. This individual got annoyed and took legal action. It’s believed that his email address was being used by item dealers to create Japanese PlayOnline accounts to access FFXI.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 27, 2009 -
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time Travels To Wii, DS In March
Square Enix has put a firm date on Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time. The game, dual-shipping on the Wii and Nintendo DS for euphoric connectivity, will land at retail on March 24th. Both the Wii and DS versions of Echoes of Time will set you back a budget-priced and outrageous $39.99 USD, respectively.…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 26, 2009 -
Tecmo Koei Merger Creates Koei Tecmo Holdings
It’s official. Tecmo and Koei announced today that the two companies have merged, giving birth through stock transfer to a joint holding company called Koei Tecmo Holdings as of April 1. Last fall, Tecmo rejected Square Enix’s offer of a friendly takeover. Instead, Tecmo commenced merger talks with Koei, stating that both “companies have excellent…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 26, 2009