E3 2004: Square-Enix Booth

Final Fantasy XII (PS2)
You've gotta hand it to Square Enix Ц they have guts. To make an attempt to completely redefine the Final Fantasy series is bordering on sacrilege to a great many, but Final Fantasy XII is just that. Scrapping the traditional turn-based battle system and random encounters that have been in 11 of the previous 12 Final Fantasy games is a risky proposition, but one that shows extreme promise and breathes new life into the franchise. The FFXI-esque battle system means combat is more hands-on and intense than ever before, and the fact that you can fight what you choose and not worry about random fights every 5 steps drastically changes the complexion of the game. A new addition is the change in the traditional Final Fantasy game over Ц if your main three party members are KO'd, you can still continue until your entire party (which stands at 6 different members at the moment) is wiped out. This very well could mean 2 things Ц the game will be easyЕor rather challenging. With the Japanese delay into this fall, Final Fantasy XII won't probably be here until next spring at the earliest, but there's a lot of great stuff in the game to look forward to if E3 is any indication. The real shake up of Final Fantasy is hereЕand knowing Square Enix, it will be a change for the better.

Final Fantasy XI: Chains of Promathia (PS2)
Final Fantasy XI has barely been available 2 months in America, but Square Enix is wasting little time in getting the first US expansion pack ready for this fall (Rise of the Zilart was the official first expansion in Japan, but we got it as part of the FFXI package), titled Chains of Promathia, named after the Vana'diel God, Promathia, who was chained up and away from the world. Like all expansions to MMORPG's, Chains of Promathia will include all new areas of Vana'diel, from an ancient civilization named Tavnazian Archipelago to an underground city of Goblins going by the name of Movalpolos, amongst other new locales in the rapidly growing world. Assuredly, there will be new NPC's, quests, missions, and items added to the mix of the already existing world, but early on, nothing about new job classes (I want Gunner and Gambler/Lady Luck jobs, please, pretty please), or even an increase in the level cap which right now stands at 75Еwhich probably will be the level you'll need to be at in order to see all this new stuff. Final Fantasy XI: Chains of Promathia is schedule for a fall release on the PS2 and PCЕand in a first, will release at the same time as Japan, so we can be on the same level as they are. Final Fantasy XI is set to be like the Mafia Ц you think you're outЕbut then you're right back in, with Chains of Promathia as the hook to grab that $13 monthly fee out of you.

Kingdom Hearts II (PS2)
In recent years, RPG-giant Square Enix has gone through unconventional measures. They brought the Final Fantasy series online. They returned to Nintendo. They changed their label when partnered with the failing Enix. But one of the most unexpected surprises happened two years ago, when they mixed and matched the Squaresoft universe with Disney's own. In teaming up with Disney, Square created Kingdom Hearts, an action-RPG that led the story's main character Sora on a quest through multiple Disney lands to find his missing friends. Bumping into Donald and Goofy along the way, who coincidentally were also looking for someone (Mickey, the missing ruler of the Disney kingdom), the three ultimately binded a strong friendship with one another to combat a new evil known only as the Heartless. All that can be said about Kingdom Hearts II at this time is that the story will take place a year after the events of the original. A new gray-colored race similar to the Heartless will appear, as will new and old characters (with the possible addition of a ninja Mickey being a playable character), and an improved gameplay system with slicker visuals to help bring the game together this time around. As of present, Kingdom Hearts II is headed to stores in the summer of next year.

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories (GBA)
Those of you who don't already own a PlayStation 2, but do have a Game Boy Advance/SP on hand, get ready for Square Enix this fall. Providing handheld owners with a unique entry out of one of the PlayStation 2's biggest RPG franchises, Square Enix is sharing the love with Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Different from the original Kingdom Hearts before it, Chain of Memories will be heavy on the platform elements as well as its inclusion of a new card battling mechanic. Here, Sora will scroll hopping across the screen until he comes across the series' familiar enemies known as the Heartless. Once engaged, Sora will try to eliminate the opposing forces using attacks and a stack of cards. If an enemy initiates its own offense with a higher number in its deck of cards at the same time, the enemy will receive the upper hand and counterattack. This new means of gameplay could prove to be interesting for Game Boy Advance owners when the game hits in September.

Front Mission 4 (PS2)
Square Enix, who was once known for being renowned for its RPG-only work (well, I'm talking about Squaresoft here, not Enix, who icidentally was also best known for their RPGs), is still called that today. But in the late portion of the 90's, they had stepped away from RPGs for a bit, and into something more...tactical. Final Fantasy Tactics was met with much acclaim when the turn-based strategy-RPG game came to the PlayStation in 1998. Two years afterward, as the PlayStation's life was slowing toward its inevitable PlayStation 2 upgrade, Square shot gamers with the strategy needle one last time with Front Mission 3, the third in a mech-based series that had only previously been available in the Japanese market. While Front Mission 3 hasn't been as big a hit as Square's previous strategy connection, the series has nevertheless found a fan base. Four years of waiting, those same gamers will be happy to learn that Square's following up in its fourth mecha entry, Front Mission 4. In this latest sequel, a new story will unfold across the world, as a female Wanzer pilot named Elsa will eventually meet with the leader of a small branch in the U.S.C. army. Wanzers are bipedal tanks, which are part tank and part mech, that will serve as the "horse" in battle. New to the series, players will now be able to heal selective Wanzer body parts you can also upgrade, in addition to calling forth air strikes. Four years in counting, Front Mission 4 will soon be available to those in waiting in the next couple of weeks.

Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel (PS2)
One of Square Enix's newest and most intriguing properties have been based on Japan's popular anime series of the same name, Fullmetal Alchemist. The story here goes that two brothers, one older and one younger, both share the power of alchemy -- or a scientific form of magic. When the brothers attempt to resurrect their deceased mother using this magic, things go awry, and the younger of the two brothers, Alphonse, loses his body. His spirit finds itself inhabiting a robotic creature. The other and older brother, Edward, loses one of his arms and one of his legs. Installing robotic implants as temporary replacements for both limbs, the two brothers set out on a quest for the legendary Philosopher's Stone that will be able to restore their bodies to normal. Though both brothers will find a combative purpose in this action-oriented RPG experience, Fullmetal Alchemist will enable players to take control over Edward only. With a sword in hand and alchemy powers within, Edward will be able to handle the primary portions of matching might and magic against foes. Activating Edward's magic abilities, he'll find use in transmuting ordinary objects in a level into such useful offensive and defensive items as a brick wall or a gun turret against enemies who will share similar abilities. When not taking names and numbers, Edward can call on Alphonse at any time to show off his brute strength in his new mechanical suit. Square Enix's plans are to localize this unique RPG title sometime next spring.

Musashi Samurai Legend (PS2)
For those who don't remember the action packed adventure titled Brave Fencer Musashi that debuted on the PlayStation nearly six years ago, well, here's a refresher. The game revolved around Musashi, a kid hero whose quest for five legendary scrolls had him running, jumping, and slicing and dicing his enemies up in stylish action. Musashi Samurai Legend will be Square Enix's first return to the series. Here in this follow-up, Musashi is to jump and attack enemies like before (in addition to solving puzzles), where his sword capabilities will be divided up into slow and quick attacks. Musashi will be able to accumulate multiple power points, which in turn provide him with such powerful maneuvers as a cyclone attack that can whip all surrounding enemies in an instant. Since the collection of points will be slow, quick attacks that involve being able to focus on enemies' bodies and make mince meat out of them (literally) will help to progress the action faster. Another interesting example of gameplay will follow through with Musashi's ability to pick up enemies, where he can throw these individual characters at incoming forces. Musashi Samurai Legend is also to include a new type of cel-shading layout, in what Square Enix calls "manga-shading." Emphasizing on its stylistic anime construct adventure rather than on a cartoon frame, shadows here will be drawn out by artists instead of a computer doing all the work for them. Though no official release date has been set, Musashi Samurai Legend is tentatively on its way for sometime later in the year, or likely further down the line.

Star Ocean: Till the End of Time (PS2)
Star Ocean: Till the End of Time has had a bevy of delays already. When fans first thought this Japanese-only-SNES-series that had then seen its only Americanized release in a PlayStation sequel was coming in its third entry in early 2002, the game was then delayed until the later portion of that year, and then delayed into the early part of the year after that. Japan got the official game instead, because all of last year, America never saw this long-awaited release. Finally it's the year that the game has been promised to be coming (with Japan's bonus features included), and fans who still have their dinner plates out and ready to dig in will soon not have to wait too much longer. Hopefully anyhow... This third entry in the Star Ocean saga starts with new characters Fate Linegod and his childhood friend (and possibly love interest) Sophia Esteed as they're vacationing with Fate's parents at a space resort. But then aliens attack, and his parents go missing. Obviously, it's become Fate's fate to rescue them, and Sophia's coming along for the ride. Like in Star Ocean 2: The Second Story, battles will take place inside a Grandia II-esque field where characters can run around and attack enemies as they'll move and attack back. Game players can apply statuses' to each individual character, and switch between three of available characters that can enter battle at a time (the computers handle the others). With many skills each character can learn in what will be a futuristic cel-shaded game, Star Ocean: Till the End of Time will release at the end of time this August.