Do we really need to re-visit the Final Fantasy VII universe? After that movie where everyone hopped around all over the place while three silver-haired bikers looked for their mum, we're not quite sure that we do. Now that Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is here, however, we'd have to say that this part of the Final Fantasy series needs a look back on - a very long, hard one. This is our review of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII.

Japan's Media Create group has recently posted their tallies for the region's software sales ending December 16. Aside from the usual collection of Nintendo Wii and DS games, one new arrival of note is Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. More details are up ahead in the full article

Well, it's confirmed. If any of you guys have a convenient ticket going to Japan, now would be a good time to book it so you can catch the Jump Festa 2008 event. That's where Square Enix will be previewing the closed door trailer of its upcoming Final Fantasy Fabula Nova Crystallis games, as well as its other highly anticipated titles for next year.

For more information, read more it in the full article!

Let's face it: Square Enix' current lineup of games is made up of entries to known franchises that promise good sales.  Sure, we're still waiting for Last Remnant and Infinite Undiscovery, but aside from those big names, the rest of Squeenix' promising games are either of Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest lineage.

In this list, we'll take a look at games that deserve their sequels Sit tight, and prepare to ride the nostalgia train! Find the list at the full article.

Square Enix has just put up a .PDF file over at its official online website outlining its performance for the first half of 2007 fiscal year. The details included in the file are from April 1 until September 31.

One striking point that we noticed was the great leap of PlayStation Portable and Nintendo Wii sales compared to the figures gathered for the same time period a year ago. Read more.

  

French developer Lejournal came up with a fun game featuring the Final Fantasy series' well-loved creature, the Chocobo. It is called Chocobo Run and this is actually the homebrew game's first public release. Aside from being fun, the game also tests one's skills in pressing buttons.

Basically, the objective of Chocobo Run is to have the flightless bird reach the other side of the course. You will be able to do this by performing button presses that correspond to the ones displayed on top of the screen. In the event that you press the wrong button, the Chocobo will move one step backwards.

Of course, you have to finish the course in the shortest time possible and with the least mistakes. Speaking of which, you are only entitled to commit three mistakes in every course. There's still no time limit when pressing buttons but Lejournal mentioned that it will be available in the next build alongside other additional features.

Download: Chocobo Run v0.1

   

Take note of the capital S in the title. (It's not a typo, this writer just felt the need to put emphasis on the plural of Star Ocean, you'll know what we mean in a bit.) Square Enix held a Pre-Conference Meeting at its HQ in Shinjuku and let's just say there was a deluge of new info about the upcoming titles.

Squeenix is definitely giving the Sony PlayStation Portable a lot of love. They're releasing three Star Ocean titles, two of which are for the PSP. Yup, you read that right. Star Ocean: First Departure is a full makeover'd version of the original Super Famicom video game (it was only released in Japan). Second up is Star Ocean: Second Evolution which is also a remake for the original PSOne Star Ocean: The Second Story. Star Ocean 4 is still under development by the original devs for the series, tri-Ace. There wasn't any info on what platforms it will be released on and an ETA.

Shinji Hashimoto announced a new Wii title under the working title Chocobo's Dungeon: Toki-Wasure no Meikyuu. It will be released in honor of the 10th anniversary of the Chocobo franchise. Reportedly, it will serve as a follow up of the DS Chocobo Tales and will feature familiar characters and locations. The difference would be that the title will focus on dungeon gameplay instead of a bunch of minigames. Producer Yuki Yokoyama concluded:

Finally, a word for those who enjoyed Chocobo Tales, we are including something special that should be very familiar to you to discover, and I hope you're looking forward to this title as much as I am.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers were discussed by Akitoshi Kawazu, executive producer of the series. He indicated that Ring of Fates will be coming to Nintendo's handheld and will be utilizing the DS' WiFi capabilities. Ring of Fates will be more focused on traditional action RPG gameplay with good special effects. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates will be released in August 23 in Japan - a bit later than what Square Enix had planned. A short in game footage for The Crystal Bearers for the Wii was shown featuring sky ships and other impressive elements.

Lastly, the Square Enix announced Final Fantasy XII: International Zodiac Job System (definitely a mouthful) which is scheduled for a August 9 release. Hiroyuki Ito, producer and director for the title indicated that a secret DVD will be included. The North American version of the game will be English dubbed and will feature a 16:9 widescreen mode. According to Ito, "the Zodiac Job System now enables players to create characters that adhere more closely to classic Final Fantasy job systems, like White Mage, Red Mage and Black Mage."

Looks like we've got a lot to expect from Square Enix this year. Expect more goodies as when the party really begins. Stay tuned.

For those who haven't booked a flight to Australia yet, then the people from Eminence Orchestra would like to remind you that you still have some time left to go ahead and do so. After all, one of the most popular video game orchestral performances is headed for Sydney and Melbourne in merely a week. That's right, in case you forgot, Eminence Symphony Orchestra's A Night in Fantasia 2007 - Symphonic Games Edition, will be making waves in the Land of the Koalas, via their proven musical talent as well as their skill in performing the music from video games that we know and love.

Set to make an appearance in Sydney on April 20 and 21, then in Melbourne on April 27, the 60-piece orchesrtra will be accompanied by a 30-piece choir and will be conducted by Philip Chu. Meanwhile, tunes that fans can look forward to will include classic video game themes from titles such as Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy XII, FF Tactics and the rest of the FF series, Chrono Trigger, Xenogears, Shadow of the Colossus, Tales of Legendia, Metal Gear Solid, WoW: The Burning Crusade, Super Mario Brothers and Legend of Zelda, to name just a few.

Those who want a seat for the show can either order their tickets online via TicketMaster, or those who will be seeing the Sydney performance can simply drop by the local Kinokuniya store.

Now, there's just one song request that I'd like to make... please, please, please play Radical Dreamers from Chrono Cross. Either that, or I'll be happy with whatever Chocobo theme that they put in there. So with the days ticking away until the performance begins, what song would you want to hear the Eminence folks play?

 

There's a new set of video games ready for purchase in American stores today, and while there are many games, only one of them really has our complete attention right now.

Let us give you a hint: It's got chocobos!

That's right! While everyone's probably going to be gushing over the release of Guitar Hero II for the Xbox 360, or maybe hunting golems on the PS3 iteration of Enchanted Arms, we're gushing over the complete and total awesomeness of Chocobo Power in Square Enix's Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales, and we aren't going to give him up that easily!

In any case, here's the list for this week's latest video game releases:

April 3:

• Bionicle Heroes (Wii)
• Cake Mania (DS)
• Dawnspire: Prelude (PC)
• Enchanted Arms (PS3)
• Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales (DS)
• Guitar Hero II (X360)
• Prince of Persia Rival Swords (Wii, PSP)
• Pimp My Ride (PSP)
• Rapala Trophies (X360)
• The Sims 2: Celebration Stuff (PC)

April 4:

• Frontline: Fields of Thunder (PC)

April 6:

• Phylon (PC)

 

Clicking on the cute chocobo icon on the latest update on the official site of Square Enix's Final Fantasy Tactics: Lion Wars should lead to a fun flash based mini-game. Now although the game might not be that deep - it's just a FF Tactics themed memory game – the artwork packages that are awarded to folks with exceptional information recall make playing the game worth it.

The images below are part of the package we've won so far. We're not entirely sure how many packages are available, but here they are anyway – just so you folks get an idea of what's up for grabs in the game. Behold, the Onion Knight and the Dark Knight:

  

You can download the whole package we've won via our link below. If you want to play the game and try to win some art yourself, feel free to click on our "read" link, it should lead to the Official Site. Remember, just click on the cute chocobo.

Download [Final Fantasy Tactics: Lion War Artwork Package]