Final Fantasy Union

FXN Podcast: Episode 22

With the largest podcast crew yet, Lauren, Jamie, David, Darryl and Kyle, the crew tackle news of Japanese Final Fantasy XIII dubbing, new FFXIII details from Japanese magazine Famitsu, as well of news of FFXIII's summons. Lauren also tells of her trip to see Distant Worlds: Music From Final Fantasy. Listen / Subscribe to the FXN Podcast on iTunes Direct Link: FXN Final Fantasy Podcast Episode 22 RSS Feed Podcast music "Inspector Strago" is by AeroZ of OCRemix.

Dissidia Limited Edition PAL Box Art Revealed

Following on from the announcement of Dissidia: Final Fantasy's release in PAL regions, Square Enix have also unveiled the box art which will feature on the Limited Edition version of the game, scheduled to come out on the same day. For more information on the Limited Edition, please view the full story.

Dissidia Releasing In September Across PAL Territories

Up until now, gamers in PAL territories had been left in the dark about when Dissidia: Final Fantasy would be released. While many online retailers had produced estimates based off of the North American release date, nothing official had ever been announced by Square Enix until now. They are pleased to announce that Dissidia: Final Fantasy will be released on the 4th of September, 2009, which is only a week after the North American release. This quashes any fears gamers had about having to wait months for a localised version, and really sets a precedence for Square Enix moving forward.

Four Warriors of Light: Final Fantasy Gaiden Announced

Ever since the mysterious countdown appeared on Square Enix's website, gamers have been trying to figure out what game would be revealed. Thanks to a leaked scan from the new Weekly Shonen Jump, the mystery game has finally been revealed. The game is entitled Four Warriors of Light: Final Fantasy Gaiden, which matches a trademark for Four Warriors of Light which Square Enix had previously trademarked. It will be a traditional role-playing game, telling the story of a young boy who sets out to rescue a princess. New to the franchise (at least at this level), all of the equipment in the game will change how your character looks. Now players will have to choose between what provides the best defense and what looks best on their characters, making every player's game unique due to the various amount of equipment that will be available. The game is in 3D, and seems to have a watercolor-like art direction look to it. Four Warriors of Light: Final Fantasy Gaiden will be coming to the Nintendo DS this Fall in Japan. No North American release date has currently been announced.

FXN Podcast: Episode 21

Kyle, Jamie and David kick it into the community's thoughts on Final Fantasy XIII at E3 2009. The crew also tackle listener questions, with discussions including the new MGS games, what's up with Versus XIII, Final Fantasy XIV, and much more. Unfortunately Lauren is away partying for her birthday (very understandably, haha) and Darryl had to crash early. Listen / Subscribe to the FXN Podcast on iTunes Direct Link: FXN Final Fantasy Podcast Episode 21 RSS Feed Podcast music "Alien Exploration" is by Trenthian of OCRemix.

Crisis Core Leads Ultimate Hits Inductees

Square Enix have announced that they will be added six new titles to their 'Ultimate Hits' collection, which will now have 51 different titles featured. They have been releasing their Ultimate Hits collection for a couple of years now, and this year they've decided to add six new titles to the range, most of which are from the PSP. View the full story to see the games which have been inducted.

Square Enix @ E3: The Aftermath

People probably expected a few surprises, but it'd be difficult to find anyone who accurately predicted what actually happened with regards to Square Enix at this year's E3. There were rumblings about Codename Rapture being shown for the first time prior to the event, but nobody expected Square Enix (or Sony in this case) to officially unveil it as Final Fantasy XIV. Furthermore, it was even more surprising that it will be released as soon as next year, the first time in the franchise's history that two numerical Final Fantasy titles will be released in the same calendar year. Final Fantasy XIV Final Fantasy XIV, while not the direct sequel to Final Fantasy XI is effectively its spiritual successor. It will feature the same races (although Taru have not be confirmed yet), allowing players to feel relatively at home with their new surroundings. Square Enix have also stated that they will continue to support Final Fantasy XI with new content for at least another year, so this is definitely good news for those still playing the game. Read more in the full story.

FXN Podcast: Episode 20, E3 2009

Kyle Jamie and Darryl, joined by Gaming Union's Alex, stay up late on the last day of E3 to talk about everything Final Fantasy from E3 2009. Final Fantasy XIII demo news and trailer along with the surprise Final Fantasy XIV announcement precede talk of the Square Enix E3 interviews Kyle and Darryl managed to get in on. Listen / Subscribe to the FXN Podcast on iTunes Direct Link: FXN Final Fantasy Podcast Episode 20 RSS Feed

Uematsu To Score Final Fantasy XIV

Sources inside Square Enix have confirmed that Nobuo Uematsu will be composing the entire score for Final Fantasy XIV. This is the first time he will have scored a full game since Final Fantasy IX, as both Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy XI were shared projects. Apparently he was offered the job, and jumped at the chance. Many believe that his work in Final Fantasy XI is actually some of the best composition, so an entire MMO soundtrack composed by Uematsu is definitely looking to be a rather nice treat for those interested in the game. Check back in the future for more Final Fantasy XIV related news.

Final Fantasy XIV Simultaneous Worldwide Release Planned

Just in from the Square Enix press conference at E3 2009, when asked about release dates, Square Enix confirmed that the game would launch at the same time in every territory, on every platform and in four different languages. Many people were concerned, because Final Fantasy XI was initially released first in Japan, and then it took some time before the game was available in North America; Europe had to wait even longer. This is however, good news, as gamers around the world will be able to enjoy the game at the same time when the game is released in 2010.

Final Fantasy XIV Announced For PS3/PC

Today at Sony's E3 media briefing, the world was actually stunned. Initially, people though Jack Tretton had just said the wrong game; that he was just referring to Final Fantasy Versus XIII. However, when he said that Final Fantasy XIV would be coming out in 2010 for PlayStation 3, he definitely wasn't kidding. Scheduled to come out after Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy XIV is the sequel to Final Fantasy XI. This means it will be another MMORPG, and from the trailer, it looks to feature some of the same races seen in the previous installment, with Hume's and Galka's very prominent. Definitely some huge news and we'll have some more stuff tomorrow hopefully as Final Fantasy Union is attending the official media briefing for Final Fantasy XIV.

Final Fantasy XIII Shown on Xbox 360 at Microsoft Press Conference

At the Microsoft Xbox 360 Media Briefing, Final Fantasy XIII Producer, Kitase, and Director, Toriyama, demoed for the first time Final Fantasy XIII running on an Xbox 360. After Kitase recited Final Fantasy's "historic" success, Toriyama took the controls of the live demonstration, starting with Sazh and Lightning fighting the first boss of the recent Final Fantasy XIII demo on PlayStation 3. The demo ran in full english, complete with voice acting, and from the vantage point the editors of Gaming Union had in the theater, the graphics and game play looked identical to those of Final Fantasy XIII demo on PlayStation 3. However, animation at the beginning was sketchy, and lips were not synced to voices. Also revealed for the first time in-game, was Lightning summoning Odin. It appeared to be something like Final Fantasy VII's materia that Lightning used to summon Odin, and once summoned, Odin replaced Sazh and fought alongside Lightning, just like Final Fantasy X summoning. Wrapping up the demo, Kitase proudly announced that the Xbox 360 version of Final Fantasy XIII is on course for a Spring 2010 release.

Final Fantasy Appears On Japanese Virtual Console

The original Final Fantasy has now seen yet another release in Japan, as it's now available for purchase on the Wii for the Virtual Console. The game looks as you'd expect and plays like it too. So if you're in Japan and have never played the original Final Fantasy, it could be worth checking out. Either way, it'll cost you 500 Wii Points. This could mean that Final Fantasy II will be released on the Virtual Console relatively soon, as they are usually released side-by-side.

Square Enix At E3 2009

E3 2008 was massive for Square Enix. They didn't announce any new games, or wow anyone with new trailers for their highly anticipated games. However, they did drop the bomb that Final Fantasy XIII would no longer be exclusive to the PlayStation 3, as it would also be appearing on the Xbox 360. Since then, support for Square Enix has dropped considerably, and not just amongst loyal Sony supporters. Consistent rumours about Final Fantasy XIII delays and the game's production values, as well as other reports about the company have tarnished Square Enix's reputation in the West. What better place to try and rekindle the love affair than at the biggest trade shown in the world, E3.

FXN Podcast: Episode 19

Jamie, David, Darryl and Kyle are in for a mass Dissidia discussion after Darryl interviewed Dissidia's producer and director. The crew also face off over listener questions in the return of Questions Segment, including FFXIII Demo impressions, what FF remakes are on the horizon, and much more. This episode is this month's Discussion Episode. FXN Dontations As mentioned during the show, we've opened an FXN Dontation Drive! If you'd like to support the FXN Podcast paying for our pricy audio equipment, you can help via paypal with with a paypal account, or credit card. Contributions of any amount are much appreciated. Donate to FXN Podcast via PayPal Listen / Subscribe to the FXN Podcast on iTunes Direct Link: FXN Final Fantasy Podcast Episode 19 RSS Feed Podcast music "City Corner Lullaby" is by Jennerstein of OCRemix.

Crystal Defenders R2 Launches On WiiWare

Crystal Defenders R2 launches today in Europe, after a relatively successful launch in North America a few days previously. The game is now available worldwide for download via Nintendo's WiiWare service, on the Nintendo Wii. Featuring a list of jobs and locations from Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, Crystal Defenders R2 requires a lot more strategy, as players need to defend their crystals from the oncoming horde of enemies. The game is set to feature a worldwide ranking system, so you can see how you're performing against your friends, as well as a host of other features which Square Enix claimed will only increase the excitement and replayability.

Sanctuary Releases In Japan

Sanctuary, the long awaited second album from The Star Onions, was released today in Japan. Unlike the original album, which featured 10, Sanctuary features 11 tracks that have been arranged from the various Final Fantasy XI soundtracks that have been produced throughout the game's duration. This time, Takahito Eguchi has been drafted in to help with some of the arrangements, and fans might remember him as the composer of the Final Fantasy X-2 and The Bouncer. The full track list can be found inside the full news story.

Square Enix: Final Fantasy XIII Could Be Delayed Further

In a meeting with Japanese press to discuss their financial forecast, Square Enix Holdings were quizzed about both Dragon Quest IX and Final Fantasy XIII. Both are obviously huge titles from an investors standpoint, and the answers given weren't exactly endearing. When asked specifically about whether Final Fantasy XIII will be released within this fiscal year, the following reply was given: "God knows. ... Is the truth (laughs). I'll try!" So, although the Final Fantasy XIII demo issued Winter 2009 as the prospective Japanese release date, it looks like it might not even appear until after April 2010. Definitely not good news for Western gamers.

Final Fantasy IV: The After Years First Gameplay

After what some people might consider a long wait, new gameplay footage for Square Enix's upcoming WiiWare game, Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, has been released.

FXN Podcast: Episode 18

David, Lauren and Kyle are back with discussion of what's going on with Fabula Nova Crystallis, 360 vs. PS3 versions of FFXIII, and lots of discussion about Advent Children Complete, as Kyle and Lauren have now watched the film. The FXN Podcast will also be getting back to it's normal schedule soon, technical problems delayed this episode a couple days. Listen / Subscribe to the FXN Podcast on iTunes Direct Link: FXN Final Fantasy Podcast Episode 18 RSS Feed Podcast music "Adrenalyne Kyck" is by Big Giant Circles, Liontamer, zircon of OCRemix.

Dissidia: Final Fantasy North American Release Confirmed

It was announced earlier on the PlayStation Blog that Sony would be releasing a new PSP Bundle for the release of Dissidia: Final Fantasy. The bundle will be released on the 25th of August, but no release date for the actual game was confirmed at the time. Many thought that it could come after its release, like with God of War: Chains of Olympus. However, after contacting Square Enix we can officially confirm that Dissidia: Final Fantasy will launch on exactly the same day. To repeat: Dissidia: Final Fantasy will launch on the 25th of August, 2009 in North America Dissidia: Final Fantasy sold almost 1m copies in Japan, and it's set to be a huge success when it's released in North America.

Dissidia: Final Fantasy Limited Edition PSP Bundle Announced

Sony have just announced on their PlayStation Blog, that Dissidia: Final Fantasy will be seeing a PSP bundle when it's released in North America in the summer. The Bundle is currently scheduled to go on sale on the 25th of August, 2009 and will only be available at GameStop. The bundle will include the PSP-3000 in Mystic Silver, Dissidia: Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children on UMD and a 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo. It'll have a retail price of $199.99. This obviously means that Dissidia will be coming out before the 25th of August in North America.

Get Your Final Fantasy XIII Lighter & Pendant

Square Enix have just announced some new products relating to Final Fantasy XIII, in the form of a pendant and lighter. It appears that Snow's arm marking actually bears some kind of significance, since that's what the pendant and lighter has been made to signify.

Final Fantasy Tactics Available On PSN In Japan

Following the release of Final Fantasy VII on the PlayStation Network in Japan, Square Enix has decided to follow that up with Final Fantasy Tactics. Tactics is considered a classic amongst many Final Fantasy fans, and there have been a few spin-offs from the original PlayStation One version, which are a testament to its success. The game is now available on the Japanese PlayStation store, and can be played on the PlayStation 3, or PlayStation Portable. It's available for ¥1,000 (approx $10).

Crystal Defenders: Vanguard Storm Released

Today, Square Enix launched a new game in their Crystal Defenders franchise called The Crystal Defenders Vanguard Storm. While The Crystal Defenders borrowed from Final Fantasy Tactics, Vanguard Storm features jobs seen in Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Griomoire of the Rift. It's available for the iPhone and iPod Touch exclusively, unlike The Crystal Defenders, which was also seen on the Xbox Live Arcade, WiiWare and soon PlayStation Network. Vanguard Storm looks to expand upon the stereotypical Tower Defence model, but offering an increasing level of depth. Players must scramble for strategic positions in order to prevent advancing enemies. The game is out now, and there is a free version available called Crystal Defenders Vanguard Storm Lite. For those who wish to forego the demo, it costs £2.99 in the App Store.