http://www.eyesonff.com/ The Largest Final Fantasy Resource Online Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:43:42 +0000 EON v1.0 en http://www.eyesonff.com/ Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:43:42 +0000 Azar It's already been four long months since the 3D remake of Final Fantasy IV for the Nintendo DS was released in Japan.  Good news for all you American gamers out there, though; you've only got another three months to wait. Final Fantasy IV, complete with voice-acting, brand new graphics, and new content will be released in North America on July 22nd, 2008.  Square Enix's official site is already up, but is pretty empty at the moment.  However, expect new content as the game's release approaches. If you're not hyped about the game, just read this excerpt from Square Enix's press release: "FINAL FANTASY IV for DS is a classic revived for the 21st century.  The visual upgrades are remarkable, and the plot has been enhanced with added detail and depth. We hope that fans of the original, as well as players new to the FINAL FANTASY franchise, will enjoy all that this title has to offer." All aboard the hype train.  Next stop   Final Fantasy IV, this summer! http://www.eyesonff.com/ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 01:53:28 +0000 Azar Yes, Crisis Core is finally out, and should be available by now at retailers natiowide, even in the most remote backcountry towns of America.  Final Fantasy VII lives on... http://www.eyesonff.com/ Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:43:06 +0000 Azar Though it was released in Japan way back in October of 2007, the announcement of an American release date for Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift has been a long time coming.  But it's finally here--Square Enix recently proclaimed a June 24th release date for Tactics A2. Mark your calendars! [Source: Square Enix] http://www.eyesonff.com/ Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:27:43 +0000 Azar That's right, folks, after years of waiting, the true, full-fledged prequel to Final Fantasy VII, Crisis Core, is about to be yours. With a US release date of March 25th (that's just a week away!), Crisis Core is practically here.  Reviews have begun trickling in, and the game's impressive-for-a-handheld presentation has been, well, impressive.  If you've been looking for a reason to become a PSP owner, you may have found one. So far reviews from a variety of sources have been positive.  IGN just released their review, giving the game a score of 8.5 out of 10.  The review cites a few frustrations with the gameplay, including repetitive sidqeuests and an imperfect camera, but with "gorgeous cinematics and a deep, often poetic story" how could we possibly resist  European gamers will have to wait a few more months, until June 27th, to get their hands on Crisis Core. http://www.eyesonff.com/ Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:17:09 +0000 Azar If you have somehow missed it, Square Enix's latest entry in the Crystal Chronicles series, Ring of Fates for the DS, is available at retailers nationwide in the United States. Reviews of the title have been generally positive, and the title currently holds a 78% rating on the critic aggregate site Metacritic.  Fans of stat-building and dungeon crawling, as well as local wireless multiplayer (the title does not support wi-fi play, unfortunately) are in for a deep, addictive experience. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates will be released in Europe on March 21st. http://www.eyesonff.com/ Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:58:36 +0000 Azar At this year's Game Developer's Conference, representatives from Square Enix were on hand to tease the gaming elite with a bit of technical information about the development of some of their new games. The company unveiled the "Crystal Tools" engine, which has cross-platform support for the Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony Playstation 3, and Windows PC.  Interestingly, the engine also supports some of the unique features of the Nintendo Wii, but not all of them; it's possible that the console will be fully brought into the fold in the future. The Crystal Tools engine is the natural development of the White Engine, which, you may recall, was the engine being used for Final Fantasy XIII and Versus XIII.  Square Enix's Taku Murata noted that, in the past, Square Enix has taken more of a one-platform approach, but a broader focus is now the direction the company is headed in. The Crystal Tools engine reached benchmark 1.0 in September 2007, and is still being revised and improved.  Currently, at least three games are being designed with the versatile new engine: FFXIII, FF Versus XIII, and an unnamed MMORPG. [Source: Joystiq] http://www.eyesonff.com/ Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:40:42 +0000 Kyono PSP owners (and anybody else who is a fan of the franchise, I suppose!) may be interested in heading on over to the offical FFVII: Crisis Core site and checking out the latest trailer for the game, which has appeared recently. It's a short but sweet video of a battle, but I'll let you find out who exactly is fighting for yourself. You won't be disappointed! Click here to check it out. http://www.eyesonff.com/ Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:25:14 +0000 Kyono Tomorrow, February 15th, European gamers will finally be able to get their hands on a localised version of the Nintendo DS Real Time Tactics RPG FFXII: Revenant Wings. Following on a year after the ending of the PS2 installment of the game, players will once again get to take control of Vaan, Penelo and a host of other returning characters, as well as a few new faces in their continued adventures across the skies of Ivalice. http://www.eyesonff.com/ Wed, 13 Feb 2008 19:29:43 +0000 Kyono Square-Enix has recently unveiled a new website for their hugely popular MMORPG Final Fantasy XI. The site opened on the 12th of February, 2008 and features a variety of information and media materials about the game. Aside from the usual story synopsis and character descriptions, and general overview of some features of the game, the website has a beginners section which has some very detailed tutorial movies for new players and interested buyers to watch to give a good feel for the game and what you're in for. To check out the website, click here. In other FFXI related news, Scholars and Dancers are set to be graced with new quests in the next FFXI update. Dancers will be able to delve into the past and history of Troupe Brilioth and it's leader, Laila, among other things. Scholars will be getting stuck into the secrets contained within Schultz II's Grimoire and see the rise and fall of the Schultz School of Martial Theory. Both sets of quests offer new mysteries and revelations for players to experience and enjoy. [Source: PlayOnline] http://www.eyesonff.com/ Sun, 03 Feb 2008 16:35:15 +0000 Azar Has it been awhile since you played the game that started it all, Final Fantasy I   Or maybe you've never even played it at all, having been introduced to the series in the Playstation era   Well, listen up, folks, because now is the time to give Final Fantasy I a go. For the month of February, we're kicking off our very first Eyes on Plays event, and where else to start but with the original   Our forum community is playing through the game, competing for challenges and recognition, and taking part in related themed tasks such as Final Fantasy I-based art and graphic design and roleplaying. If you're not a member of the community, join up and come play Final Fantasy I with us.  The event will be going on all month long, so it's never too late to join in the fun. http://www.eyesonff.com/ Tue, 29 Jan 2008 19:58:18 +0000 Azar If Tetsuya Nomura's word is anything to go by, 2008 is going to be big.  How big, you ask  Well, according to the director/producer/character designer, 2008 will be the year of more news, more media, and more demos.  Hey, one IS more than zero, which is what we've gotten for Final Fantasy XIII so far.  That's right: Nomura and his team are hoping to show off Final Fantasy XIII's new combat system in a demo later this year. Exciting. [Source: PS3Fanboy] http://www.eyesonff.com/ Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:31:17 +0000 Azar Chances are you already know that Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings for the Nintendo DS has been out for some time now.  But if you've been on the fence about picking it up, why not take a gander at the brand new official site   It's even in English! As official Square Enix sites go, it's standard fare--you'll find your character and plot descriptions, videos, and other media.  Still, they continue to improve their sites with better designs and more content, and Revenant Wings' is one of the best yet.  Make sure to check out the Downloads section for a host of wallpapers and a "Fan site kit" full of digital goodies. [Source: FFXII:RW Official Site] http://www.eyesonff.com/ Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:43:12 +0000 Azar It's been over three years since the release of The Skies Above, the Final Fantasy rock album by Nobuo Uematsu's band The Black Mages.  Looks like 2008 is a lucky year for Uematsu fans, however, as a new website has been launched for The Black Mages III: Darkness and Starlight.While the site does not contain a track list, the news it contains is even better: the new album will be released on March 19th.  The site also features a teaser in the form of a rockin' version of "Bombing Mission" from Final Fantasy VII, which promises to be one of many great remixes of popular Final Fantasy tracks on the album. http://www.eyesonff.com/ Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:29:22 +0000 Azar FFXIII Intro Page | FFXIII Content Page | FFXIII Content Page Versus XIII Intro Page | Versus XIII Content Page | Versus XIII Content PageIt's been awhile since we've seen any new tantalizing shots of Final Fantasy XIII and its (cousin   brother ) counterpart, Final Fantasy Versus XIII.  The good news is we've got four brand new, super high resolution scans from this month's V Jump magazine.The bad news is that there's not exactly a huge amount of new information to go along with these scans.  But the games are looking great--make sure to check out the summons in the third scan above.  Shiva, Ifrit, Siren, and Carbuncle are all definitely making a comeback.The final two scans, labeled "Versus XIII Content Pages" above, offer a rare glimpse at characters other than the brooding protagonist we've become familiar with since the game's debut.[Sources: NeoGAF, EoFF] http://www.eyesonff.com/ Fri, 18 Jan 2008 19:12:53 +0000 Azar Did you know that Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII for the PSP is only two months away   Did you know that it is packed with more Zack Fair than you can shake a stick at   Did you know that the official website is releasing episodes of CG video clips from the game to heighten our anticipation   Well, they are. Check out the Crisis Core official website for an early preview of some of the game's more jaw-dropping cinematics by clicking "View Episodes" on the site's main page.  The teaser trailer of old is now accompanied by Episode 1, titled Zack and Angeal.  It's only about 45 seconds long, but it'll get you pumped.  Promise. Alternately, you can check out the video on Gametrailers or Youtube. A new episode has been promised for February, so make sure to check back soon for new info on Crisis Core. http://www.eyesonff.com/ Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:53:37 +0000 Azar Just like the Final Fantasy XIII and Versus XIII trailers I posted a few days ago, this is a new trailer for Advent Children Complete from the recently released (in Japan) CLOUD DVD. You can stream the new trailer right here at Gametrailers, or download it directly from us! The new trailer for Advent Children Complete doesn't show us much we haven't seen already, but it's at least a reassurance that Advent Children's extended, high-res "complete" Blu-ray edition is still coming, and should be available sometime in 2008. http://www.eyesonff.com/ Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:17:51 +0000 Azar It's release date time, and I'll cut right to the news--and it's some good stuff, this time!  Square Enix has just announced the North American release dates for its games coming stateside in the early portion of next year.  2008 is looking mighty fine. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII for the PSP is going to be released on March 25th, 2008.  Check out the official site for a short teaser trailer, and the promise of new content coming in January. Next up is FF Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates for the Nintendo DS, which will see a slightly earlier March 11th release date.  Does it have an official site, you ask   Why yes, it does.  But wait, there's more! Also coming out in early 2008 are DRAGON QUEST SWORDS: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors (February 28th) and The World Ends With You (Spring 2008), which was previously known as It's a Wonderful World.  So, while Dragon Quest will get an early release, we still don't know exactly when the latter will come out. Unfortunately, some expected titles are missing from the list--we still have no idea when Final Fantasy Tactics A2 or Final Fantasy IV DS will come out, among other high-profile Square Enix titles.  Can we hope for an early summer release   Why yes.  Yes we can. [Source: Gaming-Age] http://www.eyesonff.com/ Sat, 15 Dec 2007 18:14:07 +0000 Azar So maybe the press and industry insiders lucky enough to see special footage of the Fabula Nova Crystalis Final Fantasy games behind closed doors have a true sense of their scope and grandeur, but as for the rest of us, it's been slim pickings.  Thanksfully, a DVD recently released in Japan titled "CLOUD" (Figures, huh ) featured two extended trailers with footage few of us have seen before.  They may well be outdated now and not feature some scenes from the 2007 Tokyo Game Show trailers, but at least it's something. The combat in the Final Fantasy XIII trailer appears to be incredibly slick, and the cutscenes are, of course, as technically impressive and gorgeous as always. As for Final Fantasy Versus XIII, the trailer gives no impression of how the game will actually play.  But that's not so important, really, since we get a new look at a frenetic battle scene that comes off being considerably darker than FFXIII.  My favorite moment--our mysterious hero breaks an assailant's neck with his legs.  Now that's classy. [Source: Gametrailers] http://www.eyesonff.com/ Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:34:03 +0000 Azar So Tetsuya Nomura says--in a recent interview with Japan's Dengeki magazine, the Square Enix developer says that Final Fantasy XIII may be the first game to make full use of the Playstation 3's abilities. In addition, Nomura stated that the whopping 50 gigabytes of storage available on Blu-Ray, when combined with the technical horsepower of the console, will allow for the technical advancement from the last entry in the series, FFXII, to be as great as the jump from Final Fantasy VI on the SNES to Final Fantasy VII on the Playstation. Is Nomura full of hot air, or will Final Fantasy XIII really be cinematic enough to rival the degree of change between 2D and 3D graphics from a decade ago   Only time will tell--and judging by how slowly the XIII games seem to be progressing, it could be more time than some of us want to wait. On the Versus XIII front, Nomura added that airships will be playing a slightly more active role in his upcoming game, allowing players to fly the ships around the world map and use them to launch assaults on...things.  Details may be scarce, but blowing stuff up with an airship has to be fun, right  And, finally, to dispel rumors that Final Fantasy XIII would be coming to the Xbox 360, when asked if the title was a Playstation 3 exclusive, Nomura replied with "Of course."  The rumor will doubtlessly be resurrected once again before the game's eventual release. [Source: FF-XIII.net] http://www.eyesonff.com/ Fri, 09 Nov 2007 21:29:35 +0000 Azar Final Fantasy IV's remake for the Nintendo DS continues to impress, with delicious graphics and voice-acted cutscenes that bring the game to life in a totally new way. Final Fantasy IV's Official Japanese Site has recently been updated to include new video clips of Cecil, Kain, and Rosa in action.  To top it off, there area  few new gorgeous wallpapers in the Downloads section. Check it out. http://www.eyesonff.com/ Thu, 08 Nov 2007 12:06:38 +0000 Azar What does the lack of recent news updates at EoFF mean   Well, it could mean a lot of things.  I'm lazy, no news has been appealing, or big changes are on the horizon.  Turns out those are all pretty true, but the last one is the most important! As of a few days ago, our massive Kingdom Hearts II section, which has been in the works for a long, long time (since the game came out!) has finally been made live.  It's frighteningly huge--check it out. And be sure to check back soon, because that's just the tip of the iceberg. http://www.eyesonff.com/ Fri, 21 Sep 2007 21:07:37 +0000 Azar To promote their showing at TGS this year, Square Enix's official Japanese website hosted a collection of special-edition wallpapers, and yours truly has collected them for easy access.  Check them out below. TGS 2007 Crisis Core Small TGS 2007 Crisis Core Large TGS 2007 Final Fantasy IV Small TGS 2007 Final Fantasy IV Large TGS 2007 Ring of Fates Small TGS 2007 Ring of Fates Large TGS 2007 Tactics A2 Small TGS 2007 Tactics A2 Large TGS 2007 FF Anniversary Small TGS 2007 FF Anniversary Large TGS 2007 Chocobo Small TGS 2007 Chocobo Large TGS 2007 Dragon Quest IV Small TGS 2007 Dragon Quest IV Large TGS 2007 Yosumin Small TGS 2007 Yosumin Large http://www.eyesonff.com/ Thu, 20 Sep 2007 22:33:54 +0000 Azar Alas, Eyes on Final Fantasy didn't have the opportunity to travel halfway around the world for Japan's premiere gaming show, which means we haven't had any first-hand experience with any of the exciting new titles Square Enix is showing off behind closed doors. Our misfortunes aside, though, there's still plenty of news to report on, especially two brand new trailers for Final Fantasy XIII and Versus XIII, Square's Playstation 3 double-whammy.  While we haven't seen either of the new trailers due to the exclusive nature of Square Enix's presence at TGS, gaming blog Joystiq has.  Check out their impressions of both Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII. Nothing new about either game is especially shocking: they're both still gorgeous, though the trailers were comprised mostly of CG footage and may not be 100% indicative of how the final product will look. Final Fantasy XIII's trailer showed off two new characters, a mysterious gunman with magical abilities and a female character who will play some part (large or small, totally unknown at this point) in the game.  There were also brand new, breathtaking vistas of an agrarian settings, which is markedly different than the sleek, futuristic setting we've mostly seen so far. Versus XIII apparently wowed the audiences and was an instant favorite, with a more dramatic and darker presentation than FFXIII.  The trailer proclaimed "this is a fantasy based in reality," and the style of the trailed seemed to indicate this by blending the action we've come to expect with a powerful presentation and a relationship between the male protagonist and a female dressed in a school uniform, who may turn out to be the game's antagonist. With the game releases still at least a year away, everything Square Enix throws at us at this point is just teasing us, leaving us wanting more.  We'll be on the lookout for any new information or media regarding these two high profile titles and have them for you as soon as they become available. [Source: Joystiq] http://www.eyesonff.com/ Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:58:30 +0000 Azar The least exciting of Square Enix's new Kingdom Hearts titles is the mobile game, Kingdom Hearts: Coded. The content looks interesting enough--a digitized version of the original Kingdom Hearts adventure in which Sora can take control of how he interacts with his surroundings, thereby allowing him to do unusual things like pass through objects or manipulate his environment. The chances of gamers outside of Japan actually getting to play Kingdom Hearts: Coded are none too good, given the number of mobile games that have made their way stateside.  If only the average US phone could compete with Japan's superior technology  Still, Dirge of Cerberus: Lost Episode found its way across the Pacific, so maybe Coded will, too. Stay tuned for more information on everything Kingdom Hearts--we'll have screens of Coded as soon as they become available. [Source: Joystiq] http://www.eyesonff.com/ Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:36:24 +0000 Azar As we briefly reported yesterday, Square Enix has unveiled three brand new Kingdom Hearts titles at the Tokyo Game Show.  And while nothing new has been made public on the video/screenshot front, there's a bit more to say in regards to these new Kingdom Hearts games. Those of you who completed Kingdom Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+ may have been treated to the special video that hinted at Birth By Sleep's existence months ago.  If you didn't, no worries--check it out right here.  It was speculated that the trailer pertained to what would eventually turn into Kingdom Hearts III, but we now know that it is the first of Square Enix's offshoots, the PSP exclusive Birth By Sleep. Birth By Sleep is apparently a prequel to the original Kingdom Hearts titles that starred Sora, Donald, and Goofy; and, judging by its trailer, times were not so good.  The more mature characters, ominous battle and stark setting all contribute to a much darker Kingdom Hearts than we've seen before.  With little to go on but the teasers, Birth By Sleep appears to be an intense, action-based game that will follow closely in the footsteps of its predecessors with a darker twist; and, being a prequel, it will likely build upon the Kingdom Hearts mythos in new and exciting ways. [Source: Joystiq]