This video features a duel between Cloud and Sephiroth from Square Enix’s PSP title Dissidia: Final Fantasy.  The video reveals both character’s EX Bursts – Ultima Weapon does make an appearance along with… a super nova.  If you aren’t too sure about what is going on, this might help.  The video is awesome and in pretty high quality.  Dissidia is being released in Japan this month, so info on it has reached a critical mass.

A 21st character was recently revealed to be the Tarutaru Black Mage Shantotto from Square’s MMO Final Fantasy XI.   Shantotto is on the side of good, summoned by Cosmos.  This throws off the powers of good vs. evil (11 vs. 10 respectively), which as Final Fantasy has taught us, you can’t have.  This suggests there may be an additional character on the side of Chaos.

So far every Final Fantasy has a character that appears in Dissidia, except Final Fantasy XII.  This leads me to believe that the 22nd character may be from FF12.  This is of course all speculation, but worth thinking about.

I was personally hoping there would be quite a few more cameos from other FF titles.  It would be nice if there were 10 characters which fell into a non-classified category, neither good nor bad perhaps.  With the game’s release so close, and no news, it seems unlikely.

Still, Dissidia looks awesome, and Square Enix is doing a great job keeping fans intrigued.

Related Entries:
Dissidia Final Fantasy: EX Combat
Dissidia: Final Fantasy
Dissidia Final Fantasy: First High Quality Trailer
OMG Toys: Dissidia Vol. 1

Roy action, psp, square enix, videos 4 comments

I hope no one minds that I am posting about the same game twice in a row, but I have some exciting Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero? developments.  NIS released this image recently, which I stumbled across on Dengeki’s website.  The picture shows the Prinny hero being confronted by an unknown individual.  The caption reads, “This Sweet Hunter [REDACTED] will wipe the floor with ya!“  While the image may be mosaic-ed, I have a pretty good guess who it is: ASAGI!

It began to dawn on me: how pissed would Asagi be to find out that a NIS game was created with a lowly Prinny as its main character?  The answer, of course, is extremely.  Judging by the quote, it sounds like Asagi is taking it upon herself to beat the Prinny when it comes to hunting down Etna’s sweets – a worthy adversary indeed.

According to Dengeki, “by collecting certain items in the game, the player can unlock a new path which intersects with this mystery individual.“  What these items are is, of course, unknown.

If this doesn’t satisfy your desire for Prinny news, you may be interested to learn that as of November 28th, the Prinny hero from the upcoming PSP title is available as downloadable content for Makai Senki Disgaea 3 at the Japanese Playstation Store.

He comes complete with his trademark red scarf and patented hip attack.  He is also free – get on this NISA!  Total North American Disgaea 3 DLC = 0. Unacceptable!

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Roy disgaea, nis, ps3, psp 0 comments

Hero Prinny	Big Sis Prinny	Laharl Prinny
Price = 1,890 Yen ($19.00)	Price = 2,980 Yen ($30.00)	Price = 1,890 Yen ($19.00)

In celebration of the Japanese release of Nippon Ichi Software’s Prinny: Can I Really be the Hero?, some new merchandise has appeared on the Japanese NIS online store.  Included in the new merch are three different plush prinny forms, each with significance to the Disgaea/Prinny universe.  The Big Sis Prinny is 4.5 cm taller (17 cm total) than the other two, which I guess explains the difference in price in case you were wondering.

Along with the 3 prinnies, a PSP case, or “game pouch” will be available to order soon.  The pouch will sell for 1,785 Yen ($18.00).  It’s kinda hard to tell, but you just slide the PSP into the opening on the left side.

When it comes to NIS merchandise in Japan, us Westerners almost always receive it secondhand through NIS America.  It may be a pre-order bonus, it may come in a special edition package, or it may just appear on Rosenqueen Company.  No matter the channel, I am pretty sure we’ll be seeing these goods popping up around the February 17th release of Prinny.  I think the Hero Prinny would be an excellent addition to my desk at work.  His vacant gaze and crimson scarf will be my inspiration to not quit and become a filthy hobo.

Related Entries:
NIS America Announces Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?
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Prinny: Is it OK if I am the Main Character Dood?! for PSP

Roy disgaea, merchandise, nis, psp 1 comment

This is a video highlighting the finer points of EX combat in Dissidia Final Fantasy.  When it comes to tough battles, understanding this system will be integral to success. 

So the video begins by explaining that the gauge next to the HP bar is your EX gauge, and circles it in red.  Obviously it starts at zero.  Squall starts to beat on Ultimicia a bit and some blueish-white orbs come out of her.  This substance is EX Force, and as you gather it from your enemy, the EX gauge rises.  You following so far?

Clobbering the enemy is not the only way to fill your EX gauge, you can also try to acquire these little bell-shaped-gems called EX Cores (pictured above).

When your EX gauge reaches max it glows purple, you can then activate EX Mode by pressing R+□.  In EX mode, your character’s critical hit rate rises and they begin to regen.  If while wailing on your enemy in EX Mode you manage to land a powerful attack, you will be prompted to activate EX Burst.  A square will appear in the middle of the screen (pictured below).

Each character in Dissidia has a unique EX Burst. In the case of characters on the side of Cosmos, EX Bursts are based on Limit Breaks from each character’s respective game.  Executing an EX Burst does require some level of skill.  As you may have noticed with Squall, the player must pull the trigger on his gunblade with each strike, similar to his Lionheart Limit Break from Final Fantasy VIII.

Perfectly executing the EX Burst deals incredible damage.  So far I haven’t seen what happens if you make an error while performing an EX Burst, but I am guessing the damage dealt simply decreases.  Understanding the ins and outs of EX Combat will be a great advantage while playing Dissidia.

The way I see it, this system can be played offensively or defensively.  By scrambling to find EX Cores early in battle, you can make it more difficult for an enemy to enter EX Mode.  Also, since EX Mode is temporary, you could just run away from a character who has activated it until it runs down.

Was it just me or did the battleground for this video look a bit like Hollow Bastion from Kingdom Hearts?  This kind of makes me wonder WHERE the game takes place, the story is still a bit lost on me. 

Did anyone notice when Squall was grinding on that spiral non-staircase (0:48-0:50)?  Final Fantasy XTREME. 

Related Entries:
Dissidia: Final Fantasy
Dissidia Final Fantasy: First High Quality Trailer
OMG Toys: Dissidia Vol. 1

Roy action, preview, psp, square enix, videos 2 comments

NIS America announced yesterday that Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero? will be released in America on February 17, 2009.  A teaser website has opened here, which states that the official website will launch December 17th.  I hope it will be like the Japanese site for the game, which allows you to click on Prinnies (at the bottom) and blow them up.  It’s a lot more fun than it sounds, trust me.

Here are some of the game’s key features according to the official press release:

• Multiple Difficulties: Standard mode allows you to take damage up to 3 times before losing a life, giving mere mortals a chance to beat the game. We also have Hell mode, where one hit means instant death! Good luck!

• 1000 Units: Players will get 1000 lives to beat the toughest action sidescroller!

• Lift & Throw: Prinnies are able to lift and throw objects on the battlefield.

• Vehicles: Steal and control powerful vehicles like tanks and UFOs.

• Hip Pound: Jump and pound enemies to stun them. Then you can inflict multiple combo attacks for extra damage.

• 3D World with 2D Characters: In Prinny, character art is created using fluid 2D sprites, giving it a classic look with a comical tone. Battlefields and backgrounds, however, are created with 3D models. This allows for a smooth and unique combat action where certain attacks are rendered in a 3‐dimensional view.

I am pretty surprised that Prinny’s NA release is being announced BEFORE it’s actual release in Japan (November 20th).  Ten points to NIS America on a speedy localization!  I can’t wait to see if there is a pre-order bonus or a special edition…  I am still kicking myself for not getting that damn prinny touchpen…

Related Entries:
Prinny: Is it OK if I am the Main Character Dood?! for PSP
Prinny: Is it OK if I am the Main Character Dood!? Update

Roy nis, psp 0 comments