Blue Dragon downloadable content promises "impossible" odds Content seeking to challenge fans of Mistwalker's premier RPG, Blue Dragon, is now available for download on Xbox Live. Those dissatisfied with the game's pre-packaged difficulty can acquire the "Ultra Hard Mod" free of charge. Upgrades include Hard mode, which grants the player access to a difficulty setting twice as challenging as Normal, and Impossible: an arrangement intended for characters level 50 and above. In addition, players can now begin a new file using data from near the end of the game, courtesy of the Game Plus feature.
Additional goodness in Star Ocean: First Departure The PSP title Star Ocean: First Departure --a remake of the classic Enix title Star Ocean-- will feature an all new playable character. While not much is known about the character named simply Enis, it has been released that she is from a group known as the Feather Folk and looks strikingly like an angel. In addition to the character, Square Enix and Sony have confirmed that the title will also be released as a bundle with the PSP system.
Sakaguchi sheds light on Shigematsu's role in Lost Odyssey While demonstrating Lost Odyssey at a recent press conference, producer Hironobu Sakaguchi revealed he had been working closely alongside the game's scenario writer, award-winning Japanese author Kiyoshi Shigematsu, to produce a set of 34 non-interactive short story sequences, collectively known as the "1000 Year Dream," expressly for the title. The in-game segments, during which Kaim recalls events from the forgotten annals of his thousand-year journey, will be presented in the form of text upon backdrops, with music and sound effects providing dramatic effect. Link
New trademark instigates reckless guessing On September 27, Square Enix registered the trademark "Lord of Vermillion" with the Japanese patent office. New IP? Another spin-off? Your guess is as good as mine, but I have a feeling that my hopes for a red color simulator are about to be dashed. Nor can I hope to take on the role of my hero, Lt. Surge. Raichu, I choose you!
Small people can be title characters too A couple days ago at the Nintendo Fall Conference, it was revealed that Square Enix would develop a Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles spin-off exclusive for the Wii. The catch is that this game, titled Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Small King and the Promised Country, will be a Wii-Ware title making it downloadable only. It also appears to have much more of a strategy element to it, ala Sim City. Players will have to build and govern their own land. FFCC: The Small King and the Promised Country is due out in March 2008 for Japan and there has yet to been an American release announced.