The Last Remnant in print |
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The first image illustrations and in-game screenshots of Square Enix's international RPG have been surfacing in Japanese gaming magazine Dengeki. The Last Remnant marks an experiment for the game developer, both in planning a simultaneous release for Japan and North America, and a cross-platform destination for Playstation 3 and XBox 360. Recently it has been revealed that the game's artwork will be overseen by Kimihiko Miyamae and Yusuke Naora, while the soundtrack will be composed by Tsuyoshi Sekito. |
Since The Last Remnant was announced just prior to the Square Enix Party, a few more details regarding the development of the RPG have appeared in Japanese magazine Dengeki. With the success of Kingdom Hearts II and Final Fantasy XII on both sides of the Pacific, Square Enix hopes The Last Remnant may serve as a another cornerstone for their international reputation as a developer of high-end videogames. As reported by For the Reunion in early May, the emphasis for the series, according to director Hiroshi Takai, is on localization and satisfying the demands of Western players.
At this time, only a few story details have been revealed. Rush Sykes, the protagonist, lives a peaceful life with his sister Irina on the island of Eulam, until members of a shadow organization in search of thousand year-old relics called "Remnants" invade their home. Rush is forced into battle, allied with a blood-soaked warrior known simply as "The Conqueror." According to Game Informer, the title will feature epic turn-based battles, initiated by encountering visible enemies on the battlefield during wars with the army of brutal invaders. Action elements will be integrated within battles, when performing special moves or dodging attacks. Rush and his party members, called his Union, will encounter up to seventy enemies at a time, which will be strategically placed throughout the sprawling battlefield. This may serve to add an extra element of strategy to the game than what is found in RPG's featuring random encounters or respawning enemies. The player's actions will determine the morale of his party, directly affecting the likelihood of victory.
The visuals for The Last Remnant are being designed by chief artist Kimihiko Miyamae and overseen by artistic producer Yusuke Naora. The two last collaborated on Unlimited SaGa, another project of producer Akitoshi Kawazu's. The game's artistic designs are attempting to strike a balance between the dreamlike imagery of the Final Fantasy series, and the gritty realism of Western war sims centering on archaic warfare. The game world will feature four distinct races composed of humans (Mitra), Yama (walking lizards), Qsiti (small amphibians), and Sovanni (giant four-armed cats). The title promises to have an emphasis on cinematic visuals and stroytelling, and to that end Square Enix has employed Kouzi Kobayashi, who developed graphics used in the Animatrix, to design the game's dramatic sequences.
The central musical theme for The Last Remnant can now be sampled by visiting the game's official website. The theme's composer is Tsuyoshi Sekito, guitarist for the Final Fantasy rock band, The Black Mages. The musician's debut for Square was Brave Fencer Musashi, which he followed up with the Final Fantasy remixes now headed to the PSP Anniversary Edition. As for what to expect from The Last Remnant, Sekito's tracks from Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children might offer some idea. The newly released track gives the impression that martial themes and an epic orchestrated score will incorporate the kind of memorable melodies that Square's composers are known for.
The challenge for the game designers, according to the Dengeki article, has been to develop a memorable game franchise that is different enough from Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, yet including its own appeal. The development team mentions that using the Unreal Engine has sped up the process and allowed the artists to quickly digitize their hand-drawn designs. The title is due out in Spring of 2008 in Japan and North America on the Playstation 3 and XBox 360.
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