Classifying Dissidia Final Fantasy as a fighting game seems like an understatement after watching this video.  The game may be unclassifiable, which is a good thing.  I think the video game world could use a nice violent shake.

Square Enix seems to really enjoy the transition from standard turn-based battles into fast, real-time action.  I believe this love of action engines began with Kingdom Hearts and is now slowly seeping into Final Fantasy titles, like Dissidia, and soon Versus XIII. 

I was surprised to see the quality of the cut-scenes between battles – although I admit I have a hard time imagining what would trigger these cut-scenes, which involve several characters at a time.  According to some sources I have read about Dissidia, understanding the game’s full story requires the player to clear every character’s story.

Another thing that I saw for the first time was a square-panel board on which the player can move their character around.  This appears to be how progression is measured.  It seems like this may offer some non-linear aspects, but I can’t say that for sure.  I can’t really imagine another reason for a map like that…

Does anyone else think that the Onion Knight looks a lot like Sora?

*UPDATE* It just dawned on me that this game will be neeeding extensive voice-acting.  I would like to say that Square is one of the few companies who I trust to not hire a bunch of talentless hacks. 

Related Entries:
Dissidia: Final Fantasy
Exciting Square Enix News From DKΣ3713

Roy preview, psp, square enix, videos 2 comments

Hori is one of my favorite companies when it comes to making clever gaming accessories.  They created such oddities as a katana for Onimusha 3 that you can swing around like a wild man. 

Their newest accessory, the Chocobox, is to celebrate the release of Cid to Chocobo no Fushigina Dungeon, in which Cid and a Chocobo team up to solve crimes or something.  The Chocobox is a protective case which also comes with some chocobo-themed accessories.  The case itself is bright yellow and features the simplified Chocobo face in the lower right corner.  It snaps onto your Nintendo DS Lite, still allowing access to all ports.

One accessory is a telescoping touchpen which is decorated with Chocobo footprints.  According to the manufacturer, the telescoping feature makes it easier to use and easier to carry.  There is also a cleaner strap which can be attached in the DS’s wrist strap hole:

The only thing stopping me from purchasing this is the fact that a bit of the DS’s hinge shows through the case. I have a pink Nintendo DS, and pink might look a bit strange with the yellow… I think Black would probably look the best.  If you are interested in purchasing one yourself, they are available for pre-order at Play-Asia for $19.90.  The release date is set at October 30th. 

Related Entries:
Hori Dragon Quest Slime Controller

Roy accessory, nintendo ds, square enix 5 comments

The legacy of Final Fantasy VII refuses to fade away. With each addition to the story, the amount of merchandise also increases.  Luckily the quality seems to only improve.  This next line of Final Fantasy VII figures from the PSP game Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII are due out some time in January next year. 

	Cloud Strife height: 21 cm price: $39.90 The conflicted hero of the Final Fantasy VII franchise.  Here he appears in his true form during the goings-on before Final Fantasy VII.
	Aerith Gainsborough height: 19 cm price: $39.90 The young flower girl with a strong connection to the planet and lifestream.  It’s AERITH.
	Zach Fair height: 22 cm price: $39.90 Cloud’s war-buddy and the man whom he creates an identity from.  The figure features the earliest Buster Sword.  Put it on your Advent Children Cloud action figure to rip a hole in the action-figure-space-time-continuum!

It would be awesome to have all three of these figures, but at 40 bucks a pop… that’s a bit steep.  I think just about everyone has at least one Cloud Strife action figure, I personally have 3 and I admit that’s too many.

I really like Aerith’s outfit in Crisis Core, but this is Zack’s first appearance as an action figure, although he has appeared as a statue.  In my opinion he is possibly the most desirable of the 3.  Sorry Cloud, hope that doesn’t cripple you mentally and cause you to develop a disorder where you don’t know your true identity.

Related Entries:
The World of Final Fantasy VII as a Reflection of Modern Japan
Square Enix Store Gets Second Volume of Final Fantasy VII Play Arts Figures

Roy figure, merchandise, square enix 3 comments

Fluency in Japanese certainly is not necessary to appreciate the goings-on at this year’s Tokyo Game Show.  Thanks to the internet, neither is actually being in Japan at any point in your life.  Dengeki’s website has several videos highlighting different video game publishers and their booths at TGS.

The videos are for the most part devoid of language, simply focusing on the scenery and the games themselves.  Here are some links to the videos, enjoy!

Opening Video
Square Enix	Sega	SCEA
Marvelous	Level 5	Konami
Koei	Capcom	Bandai Namco

Did you notice a lot of women dressed in elaborate outfits?  They are called Companion, or Companion-san, and each booth has their own.  In some cases, a particular game may even have exclusive companion-san often clad in cosplay.

Companion-san walk around their relative booth providing hand-outs and answering questions about games.  They are quite knowledgeable, and (most of the time) their outfits are pretty awesome.  Famitsu made a compilation of all the different outfits, which you can check out here (part 1) and here (part 2).  Also, Dengeki has one other video featuring the elaborate outfits as well.  You can check that out here.

And now, Kotowari’s awards for best, and worst Companion outfit at TGS 2008!

BEST	WORST
Capcom’s Monster Hunter 3 (TRI)	Square Enix

Good show Capcom, you even have me a little excited for the next Monster Hunter.  I would also like to give honorable mention to Microsoft as much as it pains me.  They had not one, but two really cool outfits.

Really Square Enix? All that talent and that’s the best you could do?  Was Tetsuya Nomura taking a nap or something?  Next year get him to design some belts and zippers!

Related Entries:
ALL OF THEM

Roy capcom, konami, marvelous, namco, sega, sony, square enix 1 comment

I’ll admit I have a hard time following Square Enix’s newest game conglomerations–mainly the Final Fantasy XIII series and the string of new Kingdom Hearts titles.  Every once and a while, when I have some time, I try and get the facts straight.

I was especially bored at work today, and stumbled across a few new screens of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days which is scheduled to be released this winter in Japan for the Nintendo DS.  Here are the screens as well as my findings.

As many people may already know, the events of 358/2 focus on Roxas’ life in the mysterious Organization 13.  The game will span the time between Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts II in which Sora was “asleep.”  This means the game will explain what led Roxas to leave the organization and do his own thing.

Xion	One important new element of the story is a 14th member of Organization 13–named thus because they have only 13 members. The 14th member is named Xion (Shion).  Little is known about Xion other than the fact that she wields a keyblade–an ability granted to few.

Also, in a recent preview movie of the game, Namine says to Xion, “I wanted to see you.”  This would suggest that the two know each other well, possibly also suggesting a connection to Kairi.  Can she wield a Keyblade because Kairi can?

Many elements of the game’s story remain shrouded, but some of the game’s features have been announced:

• The game will feature both a Single Play story mode, and a multiplayer mission mode dubbed March Play .  During the story mode the player will be limited to controlling Roxas.  In multiplayer mode, up to 4 players can choose from 6 different members of Organization 13:

Roxas, Axel, Saïx, Xigbar, Xaldin and Larxene

• There will be limited use of the touchscreen due to the fact that the game’s creators wanted the game to have the same feeling as the previous titles.  Mashing attack and jump while tapping the touch screen could get a bit awkward.

As I mentioned before, the story is still being closely guarded.  Not that it would probably make a whole lot of sense to me anyway…

I am glad that a North American release of 358/2 and Birth By Sleep is planned, but due to laughable cell phone technology, we can be pretty sure we won’t be seeing Coded stateside.  Hopefully we aren’t missing much.

I am pretty interested in the prospect of multiplayer Kingdom Hearts.  At times the A.I. of allies in the Kingdom Hearts series is less than desirable.  Good job using up all your MP and running in circles, Donald.

Still no word on when we can expect 385/2 in America, but it will definitely be next year.

Related Entries:
Exciting Square Enix News From DKΣ3713

Roy nintendo ds, preview, square enix 2 comments