Hironobu Sakaguchi
Latest
Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger creator working on an iPhone project
Good news for the new year from Touch Arcade: Hironobu Sakaguchi is developing games for the iPhone. Just in case that name doesn't ring a bell for you, maybe the games he's helped create might: Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, Super Mario RPG, and Xenogears. Yes, those of you who know your console RPG history will know that those are some of the best role-playing games ever made, and if you don't know that, then walk away from whatever you're doing right now and go play all of them -- they're brilliant. Sakaguchi announced over on the blog for his latest company, Mistwalker, that his team was working on a brand new "blockbuster project" in 2010, and they're also working on releasing something for the iPhone. He doesn't share much at all about either, though he does say that we'll see the iPhone project on the App Store soon. We can't wait -- having a legendary developer like this working on the iPhone platform just shows that while 2009 was a great year for iPhone gaming, 2010 has plenty of potential as well.
Mistwalker's Sakaguchi to discuss new project next Spring
We've got a double dose of disappointment in Mistwalker news for you today, folks. Not only is Hironobu Sakaguchi's most recent blog post completely devoid of any Lego building advice, but it also appears that the game he's been working on -- a game said to be nearly done -- won't be announced until "around Spring next year." According to a translation by Siliconera, the Final Fantasy veteran apologized for his lack of communication on the title and the further delay in any real information. Unfortunately, it seems we still have a bit longer before that Lego Lost Odyssey announcement finally occurs. On second thought ... we can actually wait on that news. [Via Siliconera]
Sakaguchi: unannounced Mistwalker project in 'finishing stage'
In late April, Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi mentioned on his blog that he was working on a new project, while showing off the totally sweet Lego truck he made in his spare time. Now he's got an update on this mysterious game -- and an update on his Lego modeling.In the latest blog post, Sakaguchi said, "I am working hard on a new project. Now we are being rushed into the 'finishing' stage. No matter what, I will make it really good...." And judging by the tiny surfing Sakaguchi analog seen above, it appears that as the work picks up on this project, the Lego complexity drops. He's really busy.And we still don't know what he's busy on! The last Blue Dragon game came out on October 8, so this is something else entirely. We should find out soon ... since it's almost finished, we guess.[Via RPGSite]
New Kingdom Hearts character is Sakaguchi's doppelganger
Exhibit A: Image, left. The creator of the Final Fantasy franchise, Hironobu Sakaguchi. Observe the slightly arched brow. The dark, even surfer's tan. The exquisite mustache and soul patch combo. The look of general disinterest. Exhibit B: Image, right. The recently revealed character from Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep, Master Eraquis. Observe the similarly bowed eyebrows. The sun-kissed skin tone. The Guy Fawkes-esque facial hair. The expression of consternation. What do you think, dearest readers? Is it a cameo, or pure coincidence? We're leaning towards the former. We mean, just look at those eyebrows. Look at them! At the very least, they're identical eyebrow twins. [Via Andriasang]
Sakaguchi hints at new game over therapeutic LEGO session
Mistwalker head (and Final Fantasy creator) Hironobu Sakaguchi is hard at work on his next game. And by "hard at work" we mean "thinking idly about the game while building his LEGO truck."In a post on Mistwalker's blog, Sakaguchi revealed a few ideas about the upcoming, unannounced project. "Planning to basically put importance on having seamless control of the overall direction of the game, mixed with CG spectacle scenes," Sakaguchi said. "Controls will have a bit of a trick to it, while having a blend of RPG-type strategy and growth. Behaviors based on interaction with the situation around you...wait, I'm not supposed to say more than this... (^^;" He will be able to say more this year, he says.As for the LEGO truck, Sakaguchi says that LEGO building is something he does when he's "troubled with something," in this case the "graphic settings" for the new game. It's a pretty nice truck.[Via Eurogamer]
Sakaguchi would 'love to make a Wii game'
During an interview with IGN about Blue Dragon Plus, Sakaguchi spoke about a variety of subjects, including bringing his RPG to the Wii, as well as his thoughts on the system overall. "I think the Wii is a wonderful system," he said. "It's very unique, starting with its iconic controllers." When asked about making a game for Wii, he said that Mistwalker has "no plans at the moment," but he "would love to make a Wii game in the future." We hear you. "Dude, go for it," you say. "Please make it?" you ask. "Love that mustache!" you exclaim. He's a talented guy. We totally get it.But, what's stopping Mistwalker from undertaking a Wii project? His company has already worked with Nintendo in bringing multiple titles to the DS, so why not make the leap to Wii? Personally, we'd appreciate the injection of JRPG goodness that he'd bring to the Wii. Let's hope he gets around to it sooner rather than later.
Blue Dragon: Blurry Beasts of the Underworld
We first discovered Blue Dragon: Beasts of the Underworld last month, and now these rather blurry scans from Famitsu have appeared on the interblag. It's difficult to glean much new information from these dim images -- indeed, the original Shonen Jump scans were much clearer -- but Gamekyo whipped out its magnifying glass and located one crucial nugget of information: a Japanese release date of March.Obviously, whether we even get this Blue Dragon game in the west could depend on whether anybody buys Blue Dragon Plus, so prep your wallets for February 24!
Grab a hanky, 'Cry On' canceled
The Xbox 360 has no shortage of role-playing games these days but the Western console has just lost a promised Japanese release. On Christmas Day, AQ Interactive revealed Cry On, the action role-playing game from character designer Kimihiko Fujisaka, has been canceled due to, "the current market environment and forecasts for the future."A joint venture between Cavia and Hironobu Sakaguchi's Mistwalker, Cry On would have been the third title from the famed Japanese creator; Mistwalker previously worked on Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey. A representative for AQ Interactive told 1UP that the studio "deeply apologize[s] for troubling those who were awaiting its release." No screen shots of the game had ever been released since the game had first been announced in 2005. Down and out for now, but something tells us Sakaguchi isn't hanging up the gloves anytime soon.
AQ Interactive cans Xbox 360 RPG 'Cry On'
Fans of Blue Dragon's Mistwalker / Artoon dream team may have to hold back some bitter tears following the news that AQ Interactive will hold back the release of Cry On. According to 1UP, the action RPG, meant to be the third of Hironobu Sakaguchi's Xbox efforts, has been canceled due to "the current market environment and forecasts for the future." The company added, "We deeply apologize for troubling those who were awaiting its release."Whether you consider it a cryin' shame or prefer fans to cry in shame, you can expect Sakaguchi and Friends to unveil more titles in the future. Old habits die hard.
Mistwalker and Namco team up for new Blue Dragon game
According to the latest issue of Shonen Jump magazine in Japan, the DS is set to receive a second Blue Dragon game, which can best be translated as Blue Dragon: Beasts of the Underworld. Unlike Blue Dragon Plus, this new collaboration between Namco and Mistwalker will be a real-time RPG with full 3D graphics, as opposed to the strategic affair Plus is. Instead of focusing on the main characters from the Blue Dragon franchise, you'll instead control a nameless protagonist. Blue Dragon: Beasts of the Underworld is currently slated for release sometime next year.Source - Siliconera translationSource - Scan from Shonen Jump
Majesco bringing Away Shuffle Dungeon stateside
When Majesco announced last month that it would dedicate the bulk of its 2008 lineup to the Nintendo DS, we took this to mean that the company would do its part keeping store shelves stocked with casual games and cooking sims aplenty. We were unprepared, however, for the Cooking Mama evangelist to take up publishing duties for Away Shuffle Dungeon, the oddly named DS "roguelike" RPG from Mistwalker and AQ Interactive.Offering a mix of both 2D and 3D gameplay, Away Shuffle Dungeon promises to cast players in the role of a lone hero branded with the unfortunate name, Sword, as he races to collect treasure and rescue prisoners caught in dungeons before they "reconfigure," hurting anyone left inside. The game also boasts some impressive credits, which include such luminaries as Final Fantasy sire Hironobu Sakaguchi and esteemed composer Nobuo Uematsu, as well as character designs by Sonic creator, Naoto Oshima. Even so, we're still having a hard time getting over that title, and even now have simply begun referring to Away Shuffle Dungeon by a label more fitting its newly-named publisher. Readers, we give you Dungeon Mama.
Blue Dragon, Away: Shuffle Dungeon confirmed for U.S.
As if our recent poll regarding Blue Dragon Plus and Away: Shuffle Dungeon hadn't already put you on the spot enough, now you'll have to choose one for really reals. AQ Interactive's latest financial report confirms that both will hit North America in this fiscal year, and also mentioned a localized version of the Korg DS-10 (which we already knew about).Incidentally, there's a further four third-party portable games being brought over by Xseed, and Siliconera reckons that those could include Flower, Sun and Rain, Lux Pain, and Dungeon Maker DS. As European versions of the first two have both been rumored, we'd tend to agree!
DS Fanboy poll: Away vs. Blue Dragon Plus
A struggle has begun in the Nintendo Fanboy offices. We have divided the dungeon we reside in, one half of the staff staking claim to their side, while the remainder of us blog from within the sanctuary of our side. The argument that has split us so? What looks more interesting: Away: Shuffle Dungeon or Blue Dragon Plus?The conflict has grown so large that it has spilled out onto the site proper, where we hope you, fine reader, can help us resolve it. We've put up a poll (placed past the break to keep the front page tidy and so those who hate polls and having their voices heard won't be bothered with it), so cast your vote and be heard. Help us stop before we sacrifice Chris to our god, Sakaguchi-san.
New details for Blue Dragon DS, due out this summer
Last month, publisher AQ Interactive confirmed that Blue Dragon Plus for the Nintendo DS had been delayed, but that it would be coming this summer. Translations from the publisher's official BDP site (via NeoGAF) indicate the game is set to be a "simulation RPG." The description and subsequent new screenshots remind us of Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings (not a bad comparison, mind you).The site also seems to indicate that BDP takes place just after the events of the first Blue Dragon. So with a bold-faced spoiler alert we caution you against clicking on the main website as, once it loads, it gives away a big part of the Xbox 360 version's storyline. Same warning goes for the gallery below. Gallery: Blue Dragon Plus [Via DS Fanboy]
Blue Dragon DS delayed indefinitely
French gaming site Jeux-France is reporting that the Nintendo DS adaptation of Mistwalker's Blue Dragon has been delayed without a future release window. The title was planned for a March release, although given its original September revelation, we thought the date was a bit suspect.Despite the indefinite loss of a portable Blue Dragon, fans of Hironobu Sakaguchi's work can look forward to other DS releases from the studio, including ASH: Archaic Sealed Heat (already out in Japan) and Away: Shuffle Dungeon. [Via DS Fanboy]
Don't run away from these fresh scans
We've seen plenty of scans and screens for the upcoming Away: Shuffle Dungeon. Being developed by Mistwalker, Hironobu Sakaguchi's new development studio and Artoon's Naoto Oshima, it's a unique title in that the environments will be ever-shifting and ever-changing, allowing for quite the replay value, we assume. These latest scans come courtesy of Famitsu, so be sure to head past the break and give them a look over.
Away shuffles the rendering styles
We hate to disappoint you, but if you were desperately holding on to some insane hope that the blocky, sub-Final Fantasy VII look of Away's characters was somehow an artifact of a poor scan, these new direct-feed screens will disabuse you of that notion. The flat faces and blank, circular eyes continue to look really damn creepy, in character art and in gameplay. Luckily, the game is Away: Shuffle Dungeon, and not Away: Hanging Out With 1996-Era Character Art. Meaning that the majority of your game time should be spent focusing on dungeon crawling, and not face-to-face chatting with the polygon-economical cast. In fact, the actual dungeon part is 2D, character art and all. And it looks really nice. For some reason, Mistwalker and AQ Interactive have decided that the only time the characters should look embarrassingly ridiculous is when you're talking to them. Why didn't they just stick with 2D for the whole game?
Let these scans take you Away
Move over, Exit -- there's a new rescue game in town. Away, the latest from Mistwalker, and a joint effort from Hironobu Sakaguchi and Artoon's Naoto Oshima, is set to challenge players with rescuing villagers from peril in a shifting environment. Traveling on the bottom screen? Look out, the top screen may change -- and vice versa -- and players find themselves stuck waiting until the shifting has stopped before they can move on. It certainly sounds like an interesting concept, especially when rescued villagers return home to build up their town. It sounds like the more you save, the bigger the game can get.While Away: Shuffle Dungeon certainly sounds like it could be a blast, we can't help but raise an eyebrow at the look. Oh, the environments and monster designs are fine, and maybe even great, but the characters ... they look somewhat reminiscent of MySims characters, if the MySims characters in question were very stoned and possibly annoyed. Or blank-faced and cheerful. That girl just gives us the willies. If she's in danger, we might just leave her behind. Hit the jump to see the full scans for yourself.
Gamers won't wait long for Blue Dragon DS
Blue Dragon DS, the spin-off (or possible continuation) of the Xbox 360 RPG, was just announced and now Mistwalker promises it will be on shelves by next March. Those guys work fast! But just to sweeten the pot, they've also promised another title to release even sooner -- AWAY Tsuresarareta Hitobito, aka Away: The Kidnapped People -- which is slated for January 31 in Japan. There are some big names working on Away, most notably Mistwalker's Hironobu Sakaguchi and renowned composer Nobuo Uematsu. Both titles look to have some serious potential, and if ASH is any indication, we can start expected a flood of scans right about ... now, and video precisely three days before the games are released.It's okay, Mistwalker. We like you anyway.
Lost Odyssey will require patience, reading glasses
The Xbox 360 exclusive Lost Odyssey may be a beacon of hope for the console's anemic Japanese user base, but that success will come at a price -- your eyes. According to Lost Odyssey architect Hironobu Sakaguchi, the upcoming plot-heavy RPG will feature several "1000 Year Dream" sequences, 34 to be precise, each designed to flesh out the narrative penned by Japanese author Kiyoshi Shigematsu; and each told not through cut scenes, but rather with pop-up text, taking upwards of 5 to 10 minutes to read. Sakaguchi admits that he once entertained the idea of using voice overs for the sequences, but opted instead to make the player experience Shigematsu's work in its 'purest form', namely written word. You mean, we have to read?! The idea of spending 4 or more hours scrolling through text on the screen is not our idea of fun, and we immediately feel sympathy for those players without bionic vision, or just those playing on smaller than average sets. We'd like to think that there's a method to Sakaguchi's madness, though his admission that Lost Odyssey will clock in at 40 hours, with 20 of these devoted to non-interactive story sequences, seems to stretch the boundaries of what can be considered a game, rather than just an interactive storybook. Nevertheless, Japanese Xbox 360 owners can pick up Lost Odyssey on December 6, while those in North America and Europe will have to wait until February to go blind.
