Final Fantasy Union

Final Fantasy XIII Announcement Teased For Nov 13th

A few days ago, Square Enix left a cryptic message on the official Final Fantasy XIII website, which said 'A Henchmen Inventor Tent Unto'. Fortunately, some Final Fantasy XIII fans have been able to decipher the message, and have come up with a plausible message 'Announcement Nov Thirteenth'. Now, this might be completely wrong, but it's the best anyone's come up with so far. Rumours are that it hints towards a Final Fantasy XIII release date for the West, which we really hope is true and I'm sure you all do too. Be sure to check back on the 13th of November to find out what the fuss is all about, if that is indeed what the message meant.

Final Fantasy XIV Beta Access Packed In With Final Fantasy XIII

Japanese fans of Final Fantasy XI will be pleased to know that they can get beta access to Square Enix's new upcoming MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV, by purchasing Final Fantasy XIII. The news was revealed in this week's edition of Shonen Jump Magazine, and it's just one of the things Square Enix are trying to do to increase sales of their upcoming RPG. Previously they announced a Final Fantasy XIII branded PlayStation 3 Slim, and there are sure to be more offers in the future. Whether or not this offer will be extended to Western gamers for the Western of Final Fantasy XIII remains to be seen, but we really hope it does.

Scans Of Alexander, Final Fantasy XIII's Chocobos Appear

A few days ago, we revealed that Hope Estheim's summon would in fact be Alexander. This has now been confirmed, as the scans from Shonen Jump Magazine have made their way onto the internet. The scans also show off Alexander, and reveal that his Gestalt mode will see him turn into an even bigger giant colossus. It actually has more in common with a fort. Chocobos will be return with their primary purpose, allowing fast travel in the larger environments. However, this time the Chocobos have a life bar. They will also be able to dig and travel through secret paths. Check out the full story to see the scan.

Dissidia: Final Fantasy Now Available Via PlayStation Store

Dissidia: Final Fantasy, one of this year's biggest releases on the PlayStation Portable, is now available on the PlayStation Store. Fans have been clamouring to download the game for a while now, and Square Enix have finally made the option available - something which is sure to see a short surge in sales of the title. This might even help to increase the Western sales enough to warrant Square Enix talking again about a sequel to the title. Previously they stated that they would only consider a sequel if the sales were strong enough in the West.

Final Fantasy XIII's Hope Estheim Gets His Own Summon

The latest edition of Jump Magazine reveals that Hope Estheim's associated summon will be Alexander. This means that almost all of the playable characters have had their summons revealed. No scans are available yet, but there is also said to be new information about how chocobos will work in Final Fantasy XIII. We'll keep you posted when more information is known about this particular topic. As in previously games, Alexander is likely to be Holy elemental.

Final Fantasy XIII Theme Song (Kimi Ga Iru Kara) Full MP3 Download

The official theme song to Final Fantasy XIII was officially unveiled a Square Enix's private party a few days before this year's Tokyo Game Show. It was sung by Sugawara Sayuri and is entitled Kimi Ga Iru Kara. It's also composed by famed Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu. Up until now, only a sneak preview of the song had been heard, but we can now offer a full mp3 download of the song, which was played on Japanese Radio. Download link inside the full story.

Final Fantasy XIV Featuring At Distant Worlds

Square Enix has just officially announced that music from Final Fantasy XIV will be played during at the Chicago, Illinois Distant Worlds: music from Final Fantasy concert on December 12th, 2009 via the concert's official Facebook page. Very little information about the game's music has been revealed except for the fact that Nobuo Uematsu would be composing the entire soundtrack, the first time since he left Square Enix after Final Fantasy X's release on the PlayStation 2. The post doesn't mention how many songs will be present, so it is possible more than one song could be played during the concert.

Dissidia 2 Hanging In The Balance

Dissidia: Final Fantasy has now been out for a few months in the West, but its sales figures are actually quite low in comparison to those from Japan, and even lower when compared to that of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII's. While this might not seem like a big deal on the surface, it may actually prohibit the release of any kind of sequel, as Square Enix stated that a sequel would be based on its Western sales. Check out why Dissidia 2 is hanging in the balance inside the full article.

Final Fantasy XIII Dispels Negativity

With it's release in Japan set for December 17th, and few events between now and then, Tokyo Game Show 2009 was really the last big event Square Enix had to showcase Final Fantasy XIII. With one of the longest development times in Final Fantasy's history, Square Enix promising to revolutionize the RPG genre with the game, and so many mounting doubts about the game, Final Fantasy XIII had a lot to prove at the event. Gaming Union got some hands-on time with the game at TGS 2009, and it's time to compare and contrast to see if player concerns were really met by Square Enix. For the last year in particular FFXIII has had gone through an equal amount of hype and doubt among gamers. Starting with the announcement of moving the title to the Xbox 360, concerns continued the mount as more in-game action was shown, and Square Enix's answers at the time not particularly cooling the situation. Gameplay and graphics have long been called into question, so when we got our hands on FFXIII at TGS 2009 we paid extra attention to see if the concerns are really substantiated or not. Article continues in full story.

No Final Fantasy Versus XIII Until E3 2010

In response to criticism involving in-development footage of Final Fantasy Versus XIII, director Tetsuya Nomura has recently revealed a bit more information regarding the footage shown at Tokyo Game Show 2009, as well as some insight as to the game play itself. "That wasn't development stuff, but a technical demo reel of sorts" he explains in the latest issue of Famitsu, "We hurriedly put together a video because we wanted people to be assured that Versus is also still under development." Nomura also provides some good news for Kingdom Hearts fans, confirming that combat "will fall close to that category, but we're aiming for a fusion of new features with the classic FF style. We see level design as the most important part of development here, but it'll be a while before we can show any of that." Nomura closed by announcing more information will be given at E3 next year, "if we're quick enough." Let's hope they work hard!

Final Fantasy Agito XIII 2010 Release Essentially Confirmed

Square Enix recently announced that they would start releasing more and more information about Final Fantasy Agito XIII once Final Fantasy XIII is released in December. This strongly suggests that it will be the next title released under the Fabula Nova Crystallis umbrella. It also suggests that Final Fantasy Agito XIII will be released in 2010, in Japan at least, as Square Enix seldom promote their products way ahead of time any more. Hype for Dissidia: Final Fantasy started around six months before its final release, and the same has happened with Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep. It would be logical to assume that the game won't come in the first half of the year, but it could easily arrive in Q3 or Q4 of 2010. Either way, Square Enix are sure to announce an official release window towards the start of next year.

Media Blitz For Final Fantasy Agito XIII Starting Next Year

Out of the three Fabula Nova Crystallis titles, Final Fantasy Agito XIII has probably garnered the least attention. Rightly so, as unlike the other two, it's only being released on the PlayStation Portable. However, it promises to promote a completely different experience, and many have described it as Final Fantasy mixed with Monster Hunter. The trailer shown at this year's Tokyo Game Show only reinforced this, and Square Enix have announced that they will start releasing much more information next year. This is definitely good news, as it's a title that should definitely be on people's radars - even if its bigger brothers are stealing all the limelight right now.

New FFXIII Character Tentatively Named Oerba Yun Fang

A new lady was shown during the TGS trailer for Final Fantasy XIII, and she had a heavy Australian accent. At the time, nobody knew her name, but magazine scans have now surfaced. There's no official word yet, but sprculation suggests that her name is Oerba Yun Fang, which some people may notice is similar to Oerba Dia Vanille. Nothing is known about their ties, but she is said to be a l'Cie.

Hikari no 4 Senshi Music Revealed

With the release of Hikari no 4 Senshi: Final Fantasy Gaiden not too long away in Japan, Square Enix have decided to release some excerpts of the original soundtrack that will accompany the game. So far, there have been eight tracks revealed, and although the samples are relatively short, it's still possible to hear some of the old classical tunes returning to form. The OST will feature a total of 41 tracks, and they have been composed/arranged by Naoshi Mizuta, of Final Fantasy XI fame. It's assumed that Square Enix will be revealing more of tracks closer to the game's release. We'll definitely keep you posted.

Crystal Bearers European Release Confirmed

Up until now, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers only had a release date in Japan and North America, and fans in Europe were starting to get worried that the game wouldn't be seen in their territory. However, a release has now been confirmed, along with a prospective release window. Following the merger between Square Enix and Eidos, it was unclear how publishing would work, but it's now been revealed that Eidos will be publishing the title in Europe. According to Eidos France the game will actually be arriving on the Nintendo Wii in February of 2010. This is great news for fans of the spin-off series, as they won't have to wait that long to play the game.

Crystal Bearers OST Release Date Announced

The release date for the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers original soundtrack has been announced in Japan, and curiously, it's actually some time after the game is released. Currently scheduled for release on the 9th of December, 2009, the OST sees its release around a month after the game, but before the North American version hits store shelves. Composed by Kumi Tanioka, Hidenori Iwasaki and Ryo Yamazaki, it promises to be quite different from the standard fare heard in previous Final Fantasy accompaniment.

Final Fantasy I Now On Wii Virtual Console

Square Enix and Nintendo have finally released Final Fantasy I outside of Japan on the Wii's Virtual Console. The game was released on Japan's Virtual Console earlier this year, the start of a move to release all of the pre-PlayStation Final Fantasy games on the console. The original game on the NES, as the name suggests, was supposed to be the "final" game released by the company, due to financial difficulties. After stellar sales in Japan and later North America, the series has grown into a immense franchise with a devout and large following. Final Fantasy I can be bought on the Wii Shop Channel's Virtual Console for 500 Nintendo Points. It can be played with the Wii Remote, Classic Controller, and the Nintendo GameCube controller.

Versus XIII Gameplay: Why Did Square Enix Even Bother?

Final Fantasy Versus XIII has be in Final Fantasy XIII's shadow for quite some time now, as Square Enix have expectedly diverted all their attention towards their biggest asset. People had been hoping to see something new at TGS, but following Square Enix's announcement that Final Fantasy Versus XIII wasn't going to be shown there wasn't any real surprise. However, there was surprise when reports surfaced that it was actually being shown, and of course Final Fantasy Union had to investigate. It turned out that gameplay footage was being shown in what was essentially their very toned down "Closed Mega Theatre". Read the full article to find out what exactly was shown, and why Square Enix were wrong to display the footage at this year's Tokyo Game Show.

FXN Podcast: Episode 28 TGS 2009

Kyle and Darryl do the FXN Podcast from Japan on the last day of Tokyo Game Show 2009! The duo got their mitts on Final Fantasy XIII, and eyes glued to Versus XIII and Agito. Listen in for impressions of Final Fantasy XIII, discussion of Dissidia, and why the heck Square Enix showed Versus XIII at TGS09. Listen / Subscribe to the FXN Podcast on iTunes Direct Link: FXN Final Fantasy Podcast Episode 28 TGS 2009 RSS Feed Show Breakdown 00:00 - Intro 03:31 - Final Fantasy XIII Impressions 19:52 - Final Fantasy Trailer Series Impressions 29:30 - Dissidia Discussion 54:51 - Outro 56:45 - Fin

Crystal Bearers Mini-OST Needs Fan Input

With Final Fantasy Chrystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers not long from release, Square Enix are trying to decide what music should feature on the Mini-OST that will accompany the game. To aid them, it appears as though they want users to select six-tracks from the ten that are available and they've set up a page with short samples of these tracks to help people decide. In theory, it should make the Mini-OST a much more interesting proposition, as the tracks will have been user selected, but we'll see how true that is when the game is released on the 12th of November, 2009 in Japan. The game is also scheduled to be released on the 26th of December, 2009 in North America.

Final Fantasy VIII PSN Coming to Europe Soon

Square Enix recently released Final Fantasy VIII on the Japanese PlayStation Store to mark the start of TGS 2009, making European and North American fans wondering when the game would hit their shores. Final Fantasy VIII was a radical departure from Final Fantasy VIII, using more life-life character models and foregoing the usual magic and stat-building process w/ a new Junctioning feature which used magic to augment your stats. According to a comment by Mike Kebby (PlayStation Store Team, SCEE) in the latest PlayStation Store update, Europeans can expect to be able to purchase the game in the next few weeks. No word on a date for North America, but it is likely Sony and Square Enix will be releasing the game close to one another for both regions.

Final Fantasy Sales Expected To Decline Further

Final Fantasy has been Square Enix's signature property for some time now, and perhaps at the present time, they need it to be successful more than ever. Final Fantasy XIII itself has been hugely anticipated ever since it was announced all those years ago, and Yoichi Wada has now voiced his expectations for the title. Surprisingly though, they are rather lower than most people would have probably expected as he only expects the title to shift around 6 million units worldwide. While this may seem like a large figure in itself, it's actually quite the opposite when compared to previous Final Fantasy titles. It's even more surprising given the decision to release the game on the Xbox 360 as well, a move which was done to increase sales. Has the appeal of Final Fantasy really fallen this far? Continue reading the article to see why these predictions are worrying.

FXN Podcast: Episode 27

Kyle, Jamie, David and Darryl hit up discussion of Final Fantasy XIII's announced release date for Japan, when it might come out in North America, and added content for North America and Europe. The crew also cover questions from listeners about the PS3 Slim, mainline Final Fantasy on the DS, the rumoured GRIN Final Fantasy game, and more! Listen / Subscribe to the FXN Podcast on iTunes Direct Link: FXN Final Fantasy Podcast Episode 27 RSS Feed Podcast music "Overture" is by AeroZ from the OverClocked ReMix album Echoes of Betrayal, Light of Redemption.

FFCC: Crystal Bearers Release Date Revealed

We've got more news coming in from the FF Crystal Bearers front, and this time, it's the exciting kind--Square-Enix has announced the game's release date! The game is set to be released in North America on December 26 of this year. A bit odd, considering it's the day after Christmas, but only a few more months to wait!

FXN Podcast: Episode 26

Kyle, Lauren, David and Darryl are in with the latest news of Final Fantasy XIII, really, it's all XIII this episode! Word from GamesCom, XIII on Xbox 360 discs, voice actors, and a North American FFXIII demo are all in this episodes line up. Listen / Subscribe to the FXN Podcast on iTunes Direct Link: FXN Final Fantasy Podcast Episode 26 RSS Feed Podcast music "Golbez 'n Goblins" is by bLiNd from the OverClocked ReMix album Echoes of Betrayal, Light of Redemption.