Final Fantasy III
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The first three 'Final Fantasy' pixel remasters arrive on July 28th
The Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy II and Final Fantasy III remasters are coming out on July 28th for PC via Steam and on July 29th for Android and iOS.
Final Fantasy 3 rated for PC in Germany
Square Enix is bringing Final Fantasy 3 to PC, according to a German classification for the game. The USK, Germany's entertainment software regulation body, published a rating for the game earlier this month with the platform PC attached to it. The organization rated the game USK 6, approving it for children aged six and above. Square Enix previously ported other games in the series to PC, including both Final Fantasy 7 and Final Fantasy 8's appearances on Steam in July and December, respectively. Final Fantasy 3 originally launched on Famicom in 1990 and didn't arrive in North America until its 2006 3D remake on DS. Since then, Square Enix republished the game on WiiWare in 2009, iOS in March 2011, Android in June 2012, PSP in September 2012 and Windows Phone this past December. The North American classification board ESRB does not have a rating for the game's PC version. We've reached out to Square Enix to see whether the PC version of the game will come to North America. [Image: USK]
OUYA partners with Square Enix, names Final Fantasy III as launch title
We've been saying for a while now that a large deal of the success of Kickstarter blockbuster OUYA will hinge on the console's game selection. News just got a fair bit brighter on that front -- particularly for RPG fans. The company announced via its Kickstarter page (as per usual) that it has partnered with Square Enix. The first fruits of that burgeoning relationship will be Final Fantasy III, making the game a launch title for the console. The company is promising that the title will be "updated to exploit OUYA's high-definition resolution in glorious graphic detail" -- and, as is OUYA's M.O., players will be getting a free demo of the game. Oh, and for those keeping track, the product's Kickstarter page is currently at a mind-boggling $5,820,345 with eight days to go.
Virtual Console's classic JRPGs: What holds up?
This is a column by Jason Schreier dedicated to the analysis (and occasional mocking) of his favorite genre, the Japanese role-playing game. Whether it's because they're too antiquated or just too niche, he believes JRPGs don't get enough attention in the gaming industry today. It's time to change that. Last week, we dug into the PlayStation Network's library of old-school JRPGs, suffering through blocky graphics and annoying voice acting in a valiant effort to figure out what games are still worth playing in 2011. This week, we attack the Wii's Virtual Console. Granted, Nintendo hates American JRPG fans, as evidenced by the publisher's refusal to localize critically acclaimed games like Xenoblade, but its Wii Shop Channel has a surprisingly robust selection of classics, mostly thanks to the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. We had it good during the 16-bit era. Real good. Like last time, I'll be spending 30-60 minutes with each JRPG -- certainly not enough time to properly review a game, but enough to get a feel for whether it holds up today, and how it compares to my memories of it. (I've played each game to completion at various points over the past two decades. Some of them multiple times.) Let's roll.
VC/WiiWare Tuesday: Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy
Today is totally Final Fantasy day in Japan. Today, of course, Square Enix announced the upcoming release of Final Fantasy IV on the Virtual Console. That announcement coincided with the release of two downloadable Final Fantasies: Final Fantasy III on Famicom and Final Fantasy IV: The After Years on WiiWare. Rolling Thunder doesn't really follow the theme at all, but it is awesome -- if you haven't played it, it's kind of a spy-themed Shinobi thing. It's welcome on the Virtual Console even though it's not a Final Fantasy game.Virtual Console: Final Fantasy III (Famicom, 1 player, 500 Wii Points) Rolling Thunder (Arcade, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points) WiiWare: Final Fantasy IV: The After Years (1-4 players, 800 Wii Points)
Final Fantasy III coming to the Virtual Console this month (in Japan)
Square Enix continues its assault on the Virtual Console in Japan with the third installment in the Final Fantasy series. Game Watch is reporting FInal Fantasy III will be available on the Virtual Console for 500 Wii Points some time this month. We'd be super excited about this, if not for the DS remake that had already released, which gave those of us in the West our first taste of this game. Would you prefer to play the original instead?[Thanks, Justin!]
Final Fantasy III settles at $19.99
It's not the lowest price we've seen the remade Final Fantasy III sell for, but Gamestop's latest price drop isn't bounded by a sale period. Now that Final Fantasy IV is on the way, it's just the right time to drop Final Fantasy III to $20 and use it as a marketing tool for the new game. That's our theory, anyway. That's not to say you necessarily have to feel like a pawn in some devious plan -- you can just buy a cheap game and enjoy hours and hours of dungeons and leveling. Cheap RPGs are great, because you get so much entertainment for the price.
DS releases for the week of April 30th
This week is apparently the official week for movie tie-ins, because that's all we have coming out for our beloved DS here in the States. This week, Europe and Australia are the places to be, when it comes to games, and how often do you guys get to say that? Don't worry -- tomorrow, some delay will be announced for you guys, and it'll be back to business as usual.We don't poke fun at you. We're commiserating. Luckily, this week there are games slated to hit PAL regions that are worth the wait, particularly in Australia. On the shelves this week in the U.S.: Shrek the Third Spider-Man 3 For the rest of the world, check after the jump.
DS Fanboy Favorites: Alisha's top five
All this week, the DS Fanboy staff is letting you in on a few of their favorite titles. Each day, a different member of the staff will present their personal top five DS games along with a snapshot of their gaming paraphernalia and habits, in an effort to provide our readers with a little more information on the tastes and personalities of our writers.If there's anything that can be said about my life -- and that includes my gaming life -- it's that it's messy. I'm messy. I have all this organizational garbage that's supposed to make it easier to store and find all my stuff, but see, I keep accumulating more stuff, and so I need more organizational items ... it's a vicious cycle, and it's part of why I love cartridges. I know where the box is for Clubhouse Games. It's about three feet away as I type this. I could get it, but why? Clubhouse Games goes in and out of my beloved handheld so often, I usually just leave it here on my desk along with the other games I'm interested in at the moment, and I don't have to worry about it getting all scratched up because it isn't delicate like some pansy disc. This makes me happy. I have to be more careful with CDs and DVDs ... but that doesn't mean there aren't a few stacks of discs around my workspace. Believe me, if it's at all stackable, I'm gonna stack it, and to hell with the consequences.Of course, the problem with the size of DS carts means that sometimes I lose my Clubhouse for a while, and that makes me unhappy to the extreme. Luckily, there are other games that can distract me ....
Upcoming releases for Europe
If you are the kind of person who might have a few euros in your pocket, then you might want to break out a calendar and that special red pen, because the latest list of upcoming DS releases is full of stars. Even better? The next two months are pretty packed. Makes up for a few of those lackluster weeks, eh? Hit the jump if you wish to grok the list in fullness, and remember, this is by no means complete. Do we need to mention also that it's subject to change? In fact, since it's a European list, we're pretty sure it will change, and probably often.
DS Daily: Old school redux
Unless you've been living in a hole in the Arctic, you probably heard a little something about the redone Final Fantasy III that was recently released. All in all, it's a beautiful reimagining -- and reimaging -- of a solid, but not universally beloved game.But what if someone did spruce up one of those older games that drive us crazy even now? As soon as word of the new Final Fantasy III hit the streets, fans immediately started speculating about other Final Fantasy titles, but what about games outside the FF oeuvre? What game would you like to see given a spit-shine and a fresh coat of paint? The characters of FFIII gained new life and personality (even names), and certainly there are a few other old school heroes who could benefit from similar treatment. What would you like to see?
DS releases for the week of January 15th
There are really only two words of import this week: Phoenix Wright. Unless you're in Japan, and then the big word is "Wario." For everyone in browser-free North America, we can also turn a glaring eye on Australia, where the official NDS browser is set to hit shelves this week. The globe is teeming the DS goodness this week, so let's get to the details, with the US up first:DS releases (US): Fossil League: Dino Tournament Championship Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Justice for All For the rest of the world, check after the jump!
Metareview - Final Fantasy III (DS)
At long last, the true Final Fantasy III finally localized for our precious consumption. But don't be fooled by the cutesy characters, they don't make 'em like this no more: Game Informer (80/100) - "[This is an old-school adventure, with all of the pitfalls and payoffs that entails ... Providing you're the type of person who doesn't have any trouble going back and playing 8-bit games, Final Final III [sic] is an excellent handheld homage to a bygone era." IGN (78/100) - "For any unassuming casual gamer out there, be warned, as Final Fantasy III hits hard and plays like the demanding days of old. We're talking tons of random battles (every five or so steps in some cases), inns that don't revive dead characters, and instant death battles that don't hesitate to kill unsuspecting explorers that feel the need to wander too far from the 'strongly recommended' path the game delivers ... Either you need this game or you don't. Plain and simple." Games Radar (70/100) - "[Tons] of uphill struggles and unaccommodating features [make] the experience borderline miserable at times. But for some of us, the Fantasy followers and old-style gamers, it's nice to sneak in such a guilty pleasure in between all the over-produced RPGs that hold your hand every step of the way." Current overall average: 77/100 (8 reviews)
DS releases for the week of November 13th
Big week for handheld gaming! As we creep closer to the end of the year, release dates are just more and more packed with must-have titles. If this keeps up, we may have to consider undertaking a life of crime in order to afford everything we want. What are you picking up this week, and how much ramen are you gonna munch to compensate?DS releases: Asphalt: Urban GT 2 Bionicle Heroes Bomberman Land: Touch! Brain Boost: Beta Wave Brain Boost: Gamma Wave Charlotte's Web Digimon World DS Eragon Final Fantasy III Gunpey Happy Feet Monster Bomber Rayman Raving Rabbids Spider-Man: Battle for New York Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 2 Tomb Raider: Legend Totally Spies! 2: Undercover Yoshi's Island 2 GBA releases: Bionicle Heroes Charlotte's Web Eragon F-24: Stealth Fighter Happy Feet March of the Penguins Polarium Advanced Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis Spider-Man: Battle for New York Super Robot Taisen 2 Tomb Raider: Legend Tonka on the Job Totally Spies! 2: Undercover Yggdra Union And don't forget (like you were going to!) -- next week is the first of the global launch dates for the Wii! Then we'll really be awash in Nintendo goodness. As for this week's games, as ever, supplies are subject to manufacturer delivery.[Big ups to whoever the games in the picture belong to!]
The forgotten DS at the Nintendo Fusion Tour
In all the buzz about the Wii, no one's said much about the DS at this year's Nintendo Fusion Tour, which is a shame, since some really great games are playable on the tour, like Elite Beat Agents and Final Fantasy III. Where's the love? We can't let the Wii overshadow everything, Nintendo fans! Last week at the Fusion Tour in Arkansas, we spent some time observing the DS and get got in some hands-on action with Final Fantasy III. Unfortunately, despite the excitement of the Wii, there was always someone playing Elite Beat Agents, and since there were no monitors on the DS stations, there was no moderation of time. As exciting as it was to note that people were all sorts of about the game, there are still disappointed fingers here that were thwarted in the epic quest to rock some beats while helping people out.
FFIII figures cute enough to melt any heart
It's a new week, and of course, that means a new challenge for our armchair translators. We're gonna need to know when these go on sale, where they are, and how much milk money we need to shake down to score a few. These Final Fantasy III figures turned up on 4cr's news feed and they were just too cute to resist. And if you're paying attention, you might get to see some Nintendo panties in action. Ah, forum posters and their wacky avatars. [Via 4cr]
Japanese hardware sales chart - Aug. 21-27: Yeah, it got darker
Well if this week was going bad for the PSP, in terms of sales figures, it just got much worse as the new hardware sales numbers rolled in.- DS Lite: 163,274 88,779 (119.17%)- PSP: 29,945 11,590 (27.90%)- PS2: 21,829 5,004 (18.65%)- GBA SP: 2,719 1,104 (28.88%)- Game Boy Micro: 1,819 447 (19.73%)- Xbox 360: 1,197 296 (19.83%)- Gamecube: 837 85 (9.22%)- DS Phat: 410 302 (42.42%)- GBA: 14 6 (30.00%)- Xbox: 12 5 (71.43%)While the DS Lite took a near 120-percent jump, the PSP saw a 28-percent decline. The surge in DS Lite sales can be mostly attributed to the release of Final Fantasy III, which also took the top spot in the software sales chart. Square's newest addition to the Final Fantasy franchise sold more than 500,000 copies in its first week of release.And do you want to hear even sadder news? Gundam G Generation Portable recently became the best one-week selling PSP game ever in Japan by pushing out 150,000 copies. Do you see where I'm going here? Final Fantasy III outsold the PSP's best-selling game by more than 350,000 copies. Yeesh.[Source: Media Create]
Japanese software sales chart - Aug. 21-27: Our darkest hour
We all knew something had to give with the pending release of Final Fantasy III. One of the games in the top 10 had to go, and unfortunately, that game just so happened to be Gundam, which was the only PSP game in the top 10.1. Final Fantasy III (DS) - 503,051 / *NEW2. New Super Mario Bros. (DS) - 65,556 / 2,901,2643. Rune Factory (DS) - 42,210 / *NEW4. Brain Age 2 (DS) - 41,784 / 3,073,1955. Cooking Navi (DS) - 37,326 / 384,0456. Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 2 (DS) - 30,504 / 430,9347. Mario Hoops 3 on 3 (DS) - 30, 355 / 233,7628. Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS) - 30,023 / 3,149,1309. Brain Training for Adults (DS) - 22,866 / 2,736,15010. English Training (DS) - 17,465 / 1,401,669Yeah fellas, you read that right; every single damn game is for the Nintendo DS. Where does the PSP go from here, I don't know. But I'll stress it again, Sony absolutely has to get some software out that will compete with what Nintendo is putting out an an alarmingly regular rate. (Via GAF)
Japanese software sales, August 21 - August 27: OMG edition
Commentary will follow after you regain control of your jaw. Software - This Week | Total Sales 1.) Final Fantasy III (NDS, Square Enix) - 503,051 | NEW 2.) New Super Mario Bros. (NDS, Nintendo) - 65,556 | 2,901,264 3.) Rune Factory (NDS, Marvelous Interactive) - 42,210 | NEW 4.) Brain Training 2 (NDS, Nintendo) - 41,784 | 3,073,195 5.) Cooking Navi (NDS, Nintendo) - 37,326 | 384,045 6.) Tamagotchi 2 (NDS, Bandai Namco) - 30,504 | 430,934 7.) Mario Basketball 3-on-3 (NDS, Square Enix) - 30,355 | 233,762 8.) Animal Crossing Wild World (NDS, Nintendo) - 30,023 | 3,149,130 9.) Brain Training (NDS, Nintendo) - 22,866 | 2,736,150 10.) English Training (NDS, Nintendo) - 17,465 | 1,401,669 That's right. Every single game in the top ten is on the Nintendo DS. I mean, we knew this thing rocked faces in Japan, but this is ridiculous. Leading the pack is the sold-more-units-than-pancakes-at-IHOP Final Fantasy III, selling over half a million in a few days. Rune Factory, another newcomer, is doing well at spot number 3, and the rest are familiar faces. We truly believe that if the political party of Nintendo were to run for office in Japan, they would win in a landslide victory. [Thanks, DownloadingData!]
Final Fantasy III figurines
Alright fanboys and fangirls, Final Fantasy III is out in Japan and America has a release date. You have seen the millions of videos, screens, previews, news articles, pictures from E3, web site, wallpapers, special Crystal DS Lite and more. We bet you didn't think that there could possibly be something else Final Fantasy III, did you? Well, there is! It's time to squeeze the last drops of milk from the Final Fantasy cash cow and put out some FF III figurines. We aren't sure if these tiny guys are for sale or if they are going to be for sale but they sure are, brace yourself, cute! These, in our opinion, aren't as cool as most FF figurines, (Bahamut pwns) but they carry a different kind of air to them. Suddenly, we are reminded of Final Fantasy Tactics...
