The steady drip of Final Fantasy Explorers information continues, with the latest screenshots revealing the following details:
- A Monster Research Lab is used to create friendly monsters that can join your party. The lab is located in Libertas, and uses Soul Stones taken from defeated monsters. The same stones can be paired with additional materials to increase the companion critter’s level.
- More jobs have been confirmed: Dark Knight attacks with a slow, but powerful sickle; Geomancer’s Rune Strike ability increases magical potency with each attack landed, though it requires charging up before use; Beastmaster controls monsters and can absorb an enemy’s power when attacked; and Dragoon (naturally) attacks from the sky with a series of jump attacks.
- More series characters have been revealed, including Terra from VI, Lightning from XIII, and Squall from VIII.
Explorers hits the 3DS in Japan this winter on December 18.
Source: Gematsu
Square Enix announced that Final Fantasy Explorers will have a downloadable demo, available through the 3DS eShop prior to the game’s December 18 launch date; the exact date for the demo was not specified. Furthermore, the company stated that first-print copies of Final Fantasy Explorers will include a product code for the original Final Fantasy, also downloadable through the eShop.
Source: Gematsu
Marvelous has revealed more information about PoPoLoCrois Farm Story, a 3DS title that mixes the traditional RPG systems of PoPoLoCrois with Harvest Moon-style farming gameplay. The story centers around Popolocrois Kingdom and series protagonist Pietro, whose birthday party is interrupted by word of an evil beast that threatens the world.
Other characters from the PoPoLoCrois series will make an appearance, including Narcia, White Knight, and the GamiGami Devil. Players will be tasked with farming crops and raising animals along the way, though information about the farming system has not yet been released. A launch window has not been set at this time.
Source: Gematsu
Amidst the Tokyo Game Show, Konami and tri-Ace revealed a smartphone RPG in development, titled Chronos Rings. The game is set for a fall release this year; check out the teaser trailer hereabouts.
Studio Kobojo announced at Tokyo Game Show that a PS Vita/iOS RPG Zodiac is in development. The title boasts the creative talents of Kazushige Nojima, scenario writer for Final Fantasy games VII, VIII, X, and XV, and the well-known composer Hitoshi Sakimoto.
Set in an ancient world whose gods have seemingly vanished, Zodiac is a 2D persistent online RPG with turn-based combat. Players can switch between classes at will even in combat, with the classes designed around the twelve Zodiac signs.
The game is planned for a 2015 release, though Kobojo stated they have not yet decided whether it will be free-to-play or a normally priced title.
Source: Gematsu
Developer FuRyu has announced a 3DS RPG in development, titled The Legend of Legacy. Players will form a party out of seven characters and explore the legendary island of Avalon, though few story details are known at this time.
Legend of Legacy is planned for a January 22 launch in Japan, priced at 5908 yen. A teaser site for the game is available here.
Source: Gematsu
With the Tokyo Game Show coming to a close, Final Fantasy XV got its headline moment with a live gameplay demo. The demo showed several of the game’s core mechanics, including the more action-oriented combat system. Players must actively string attacks together and manually guard against counterattacks, though Noctis’ friends will automatically form team attacks so long as he’s nearby. Outside of battle, players will traverse fields on foot and in vehicles; cars can be set to drive automatically to your destination.
Other noteworthy features included a dynamic weather system – rain affecting the appearance of characters and the world, which then dries when the sun comes out – and a day-night cycle with appropriate lighting adjustments. Party members will also converse with each other while in transit.
Apart from the demo, Square Enix also announced that Tetsuya Nomura was stepping down as director for the title, in order to focus on developing Kingdom Hearts III. Type-0 director Hajime Tabata will be directing Final Fantasy XV going forward.
Source: Gematsu
At its Tokyo Game Show stage event today, Atlus announced that Devil Survivor 2: Break Record will launch on January 29, 2015 for the 3DS. This came at the end of a new trailer for the title, which you can see for yourselve over on YouTube.
Bandai Namco has announced that Tales of Zestiria will launch in Summer 2015 for the PS3 in North America and Europe. This puts it roughly six months out from the Japanese release of January 22, making it one of the fastest localizations for the series in recent years.
Also revealed at the Tokyo Game Show is that the game will feature downloadable costumes from the Evangelion series, including those for Shinji (Sorey), Rei (Edna), Asuka (Rose), and Misato (Lailah).
Source: Gematsu
Since we’re on the subject, Square is also opening a new internal studio to focus specifically on console RPG development. The studio has no name at this time, though a website has been launched (available here) and the company is already seeking several positions for it, including Battle Director, Lead Planner, Lead Programmer, and various design leads.
Source: Gematsu
More details about Bravely Second‘s cast have been released, specifically those of the Three Musketeers, the group sworn to protect the Crystal Orthodoxy. Main character Yuu is the group’s leader, also known as the “Falcon of the Gale.” Jean, a veteran soldier and expert swordfighter, is Musketeer #2, called the “Wolf of Blazing Fire.” Third and last is Nikolai, the “Rugged Python”, who serves as the group’s priest.
Bravely Second is planned for a winter launch this year in Japan.
Source: Gematsu
Square Enix has revealed Dragon Quest: Heroes, an action-RPG entry in the long-running series. Heroes centers around the kingdom of Elsarse, which saw peace between humans and monsters until recently. The kingdom is now under siege, and it falls to Akuto and Meer, the army’s commanding officers, to save the day. A collaboration with Koei Tecmo and Omega Force, Dragon Quest: Heroes is planned for a PS3 and PS4 release in Japan sometime next year.
Series creator Yuji Horii also confirmed that the next numbered entry, Dragon Quest XI, is in development. No further details were given at this time.
Source: Gematsu
Compile Heart announced that Omega Quintet has been delayed from its September 18 release date in Japan. The company stated the game would instead launch on October 2. No details were given regarding the reasons for the delay.
Source: Gematsu
In a recent interview, Monolith Soft president Tetsuya Takahashi revealed that Xenoblade Chronicles X will feature a substantially larger game world. The game’s vehicles, called Dolls, “are five times larger than a person. So to get the same feel as Xenoblade Chronicles, the map would need to be five times bigger.” Takahashi added that X‘s game world is even larger than that.
Source: Gematsu
BioWare has let loose a few more tidbits regarding Dragon Age: Inquisition‘s multiplayer mode. The game will feature 4-player co-op, consisting of three campaigns that each randomly generate a large level out of smaller, pre-designed sections. Specifics are few at this time, though BioWare indicated they are aiming for multiplayer matches roughly 20-30 minutes in length.
Source: Gematsu
Amidst the gameplay demonstration at PAX Prime this weekend, Square Enix revealed that Final Fantasy Type-0 HD is roughly 80% complete. However, no concrete release period was given at this time.
Source: IGN
As long as we’re talking Square Enix, the company also revealed more information about Final Fantasy Explorers. Of particular note:
Continue reading ‘Final Fantasy Explorers Details: Multiplayer, Special Edition, and Past Characters’ »
Square Enix announced that Bravely Second has been set for a Winter release in Japan.
Source: Gematsu
Nintendo announced they will be bringing Xenoblade Chronicles to the recently announced New 3DS model. Specifically, the title will only run on the New 3DS, as it makes use of the upgraded CPU over previous models. Chronicles will re-launch in Japan sometime next year.
Source: Gematsu
Fantasy Life will hit the 3DS in Europe on September 26, ahead of the October 24 release for North America, Nintendo recently announced. Additionally, the title will feature a downloadable add-on called “Origin Island” at launch day, which adds additional story content, new ranks in Life Classes, more equipment, and new varieties of adoptable pets.
Source: Gematsu
