final-fantasy-x-x2-hd-remaster
Latest
Joystiq Weekly: Final Fantasy 15, The Crew review, readers' favorite PS1 games and more
Welcome to Joystiq Weekly, a "too long; didn't read" of each week's biggest stories, reviews and original content. Each category's top story is introduced with a reactionary gif, because moving pictures aren't just for The Daily Prophet. The Final Fantasy series has had a fun couple of weeks lately, but between the PC version of Final Fantasy 7 coming to the PS4 and Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster's incoming port, most of its news is focused on the past. Leave it to the spring release of Final Fantasy Type-0 HD, a take on an old PSP game, to bring things into the present – those that grab a copy from Type-0's first run will get an exclusive demo of Final Fantasy 15. So, Final Fantasy fans: Is it going to work? Are you going for Type-0 HD solely because of the demo, or do you kind of want to play the game anyway? Don't worry if it's the former – plenty of people only bought Crackdown to get into the Halo 3 beta before even realizing developer Realtime Worlds' superhero sandbox had its own merits. Demos and ports weren't the only thing that happened this week – The internet seemingly frustrated Tekken series producer Katsuhiro Harada enough to keep a character out of the North American release, we reviewed The Crew and Never Alone, and we highlighted our readers' favorite PS1 games. Those stories and more are all waiting for you after the break!
One Final Fantasy X PS4, please! When do you re-purchase a game?
A common lament circled around the Joystiq crew this week, echoing from staffer to staffer like a particularly winsome bird call: "Great! Now I'm going to buy Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster again!" Roughly one year after Square-Enix brought Yoshinori Kitase's freaky love-and-water-basketball story to PlayStation 3 and PS Vita, the package is making the jump to PlayStation 4. Sure it's got "system exclusive" features, but realistically this is the exact same package that came out in 2013. Excusing the thorough and comely graphical makeover, they're also pretty much the exact same games some of us already have for our perfectly functional PlayStation 2s. This impulse is all part of the plan, of course. Game makers want games on as many platforms as possible to maximize their potential audience, but they also know that their most devoted fans will repeatedly return to the well. Square-Enix happens to be notorious for re-releasing and remaking its games - Final Fantasy IV has been re-released nine times since first coming out not counting digital re-releases of that SNES original - but they're hardly alone in the practice. The question is: Why do we do it? Sometimes a remaster or re-release represents a significant upgrade or a move to portability, a la The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. Other times, though, it's just the same game on a different machine. Let's pick this one apart together. Take our poll and discuss in the comments. When do you re-purchase a game?[Images: Square-Enix]
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster officially confirmed for PS4
Update: Square Enix confirms stateside prices for its two JRPG PS4 ports: Final Fantasy VII gets a tag of $16, while X/X-2 HD Remaster is priced at $50. Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster blitzballs onto PlayStation 4 next spring, after Square Enix confirmed the news following this week's leak. The publisher said this morning it's porting the re-release, already out on PS3 and Vita, to Sony's latest console with "system-exclusive features." By the way, that note about system-exclusive features goes for Final Fantasy VII too. As for what those features are, we'll have to wait and see. We're also waiting for word from Square Enix America, but the company's European branch revealed regional prices for the two ports. The remaster of the two Xs comes in at £40/50 euros, and it's on its way to store shelves as well as PSN. Final Fantasy VII, meanwhile, is downloadable-only (not cloud-based but Cloud-based), and its Euro-price is £13/16 euros. [Image: Square Enix]
Square Enix lists Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster for PS4
"This is my story now," whispered the PlayStation 4. Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster is making the pilgrimage to PS4, at least if a now pulled Square Enix listing is anything to go by. As spotted by a NeoGAF user, the publisher's online store for France said the polished-up PS2 RPGs are coming to Sony's latest system in spring 2015. The listing is no longer on the site, but Google Cache verifies it wasn't just a dream. The listing even had box art, which you can view for yourself in hi-def glory below the break.
Square Enix back to school sale is counterproductive to studying
Like the inevitable return of Final Fantasy 10's Sin, the first day of school is descending upon students, threatening all known joy and their tireless quest to save the world take a break from the books. You're not even safe until your first class either, because Square Enix has a pop quiz for you: What better way to prepare for the textbooks you'll never read than stocking up on adventures and time-intensive RPGs? The publisher's online store is offering discounts for reasons to procrastinate on homework, with potential savings increasing depending on how many games are purchased. Buying one game is matched with a 20 percent discount, two games earns 30 percent, and three or more reward shoppers with 50 percent off. Not everything in the store is fair game – the related press release lists "pre-orders, new releases, merchandise and soundtracks" as exceptions – but it does include Drakengard 3, Final Fantasy X/X2 HD Remaster, Thief and Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. Older selections are applicable as well, including Just Cause 2 and Final Fantasy 12, but it all depends on you beating other shoppers to the punch before supplies run out. Square Enix's sale is a decent chance to save on games you might have missed, but remember: You can't limit break your way through a stumbling GPA. [Image: Square Enix]
Square Enix revises forecasts, sales exceed expectations
Here's something you don't see much in the doom and gloom of financial season: Square Enix is revising its forecasts up because it's posted better sales than expected across the fiscal year. The Japanese publisher said several games recorded positive sales, such as Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn, Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster, Thief and, yes, Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. What a difference a year and 6 million sales overall makes. The company also cited cost reduction initiatives and exchange gains on the ever-weaker yen as factors contributing to a greater net profit than projected. Square Enix expects now to record a profit for the year ending March 31, 2014 of 6.6 billion yen ($64.9 million). That's up a whopping 88.6 percent from the company's minimum estimates, and a significant 10 percent up from max figures. We should learn more about Square Enix's finances when the company releases its annual report, but the picture looks rosier than this time last year. After deciding to reform its AAA business in the wake of weak sales on console, the publisher continues to be pleased with the progress of Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn. Registrations surpassed the 2 million mark following last month's PS4 launch, and in today's statement Square Enix called out the MMORPG's software sales as "strong." [Image: Square Enix]
What Final Fantasy X did differently over X years ago
I've been replaying Final Fantasy X in its remastered form on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita, curious to see if it matches my memory of the original. These are some of the things it did differently back in 2001: "Listen to my story." The story of Final Fantasy X is told from the perspective of Tidus, a young sports star who looks like a bleary-eyed Meg Ryan cosplaying as Prince. On the eve of his big game of Blitzball, a sadistic, underwater spin on soccer, the hosting city of Zanarkand is pulverized by a mercurial blob. Tidus gets sucked into its amorphous mouth and wakes up 1,000 years into the future, as you do. None of this is especially weird for Final Fantasy, but making the protagonist and the narrator the same person is a unique choice for Final Fantasy X, which ironically casts expert swimmer Tidus as the fish out of water. His personal telling is tinged with bitterness over being flung so far from home, and it colors our view of how religion rules the new land of Spira. Tidus plays along when he's taught a religious gesture for greeting the devoted, for example, but awkwardly recognizes it as a Blitzball cheer from the old world. As an additional indignity, nobody believes Tidus anyway: The hero doesn't have amnesia for a change, but everyone thinks he does.
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD launch trailer re-reveals the world of Spira
Welcome to Spira, where dreams come alive! Literally! Also, we have killer fashion sense. Again, not being metaphorical here, our dresses give you the power to kill. Whether you're preparing for a return trip to Spira or visiting for the first time, on March 18, we welcome you. [Image: Square Enix]
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remasters trailer focuses on new features
The latest trailer for the PS3 and Vita remasters of Final Fantasy X and X-2 showcases the HD games' new features, including the additional audio episode and expert sphere grid, and the Iutycur dungeon from the International version of X-2. Sadly, Square Enix didn't add a scene of Wakka telling wakka wakka jokes for 10 minutes straight, like we requested. We recently caught up with Yoshinori Kitase, the Square Enix veteran who produced the two remasters, and he told us how much of a challenge it was working on them. "Some people might argue it's a simple high definition version of the game released ten years ago, but it had to be more than that," Kitase said, "because those who played the original version ten years ago, in the space of ten years all those memories become sweeter. They probably remember those games actually better than it was really." Some two and a half years after they were announced, Square Enix is finally ready to put the remasters on Western retail shelves next month. You can relive Tidus and Yuna's stories on PS3 and Vita starting March 18 in North America, and March 21 in Europe. [Image: Square Enix]
Square Enix producer Kitase on Lightning Returns reviews, HD remasters, and that FF7 tech demo
Lightning Returns brought an end to what's been - relative to the series' high standards and typically universal acclaim - a divisive trilogy of games. While we enjoyed the final fantasy in Lightning's saga, other reviewers were happy enough to say so long to the rosy-haired heroine. When I spoke with series producer Yoshinori Kitase days after the game launched, I asked if he'd had a chance to read the reviews, and what he thought of them. "Yes I have scanned through more or less all the reviews, as well as user feedback available on the Internet," Kitase said, through a translator "I wasn't really shocked. There are negative reviews and positive reviews, it's a real mixture. When I started making this game I took on very new challenges, so in a way I had anticipated that there would be mixed opinions, so this is more or less what we had anticipated." Kitase, a Square Enix veteran of some 24 years, also argued the game might leave some with a negative impression at first, but as you play it the whole way through, your mind might change. For a second I wondered if we'd gone back in time to 2010, and Kitase was talking about the ever-so-slow introduction that put some players off Final Fantasy 13. "In a normal process where we make numbered Final Fantasy games, it takes at least two or three years, [and it's] quite a long turnaround," Kitase pointed out, referring to the much shorter cycle that saw three FF13 games released in just under four years. "In the space of three years, lots of things can [change] quite dramatically," he added. "The market situation, user trends, users' preferences, everything can change. So we've always taken feedback both from media and users on board, and when we want to reflect those views on the next project, in the space of three years, the situation might be completely different. The changes we've affected or implemented as a result of this feedback may not mean very much in three years' time, because of the long cycle."
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster comes with physical bonuses too
This video for Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster explores the additional goodies that Collector's and Limited Edition buyers can expect when the remakes arrive on March 18, including the bonus artbook and visual soundtrack found in the Collector's Edition of the game.
.jpeg.cf.jpg)
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD development outsourced to contractor Virtuos
After delaying its pilgrimage to North American PS3s and Vitas, the cast of Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster will set out to stop Sin again on March 18. The visually-upgraded, content-rich telling of Yuna's story has kept fans waiting for a while, and it looks like outsourcing contractor Virtuos is to thank for wrapping up the project. Virtuos, a multi-location effort with its main production center in Shanghai, credited itself as being responsible for the remaster of Square Enix's double feature. The studio describes itself as a resource for console, online and mobile games, with the PSP version of Ghost Recon: Predator and Crash: Mind over Mutant among its past efforts. Of course, expectations for FFX/X-2 HD are likely higher than expectations of previous Virtuos console games. Hopefully its collaboration with Square Enix results in a satisfying return to one of the PS2's most iconic RPGs and its encore.
Report: Final Fantasy writer wants to see a Final Fantasy X-3
Kazushige Nojima, a scenario writer for the Final Fantasy series, would love to see a Final Fantasy X-3 – and he says it may happen, if fans want it enough. Nojima is quoted in a book that launched with Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster in Japan this week, translated by Siliconera. "If there's enough demand, then we may possibly see new developments," he says. "I would personally like to see a sequel like X-3." Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster will hit North American PS3s and Vitas on March 18 for $40, and European systems on March 21.
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster gets same-day release on Vita
Well, this is a bit of a surprise: The Vita gets Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster on the same day as the PS3. The $40 Vita version looked set for an extended delay after being left out of last month's release date announcement, but Square Enix revealed today that the PS2 remakes hit both systems on March 18, 2014 in North America, and March 21 in Europe. If you're the kind of Spira-nut who's getting both versions, the good news for you is the game supports cross-saving, meaning you can pick up your Vita progress when switching to PS3, and vice versa. A word of warning on the physical version: the Vita cartridge includes Final Fantasy X, and a voucher to download Final Fantasy X-2 from the PlayStation Store - the PS3 disc will have both games on it. The two remasters are also coming to the PlayStation Store in a combo pack. Square Enix also announced a PS3 Collector's Edition today, featuring a 40-page hardcover art book, a FFX HD Remaster soundtrack, and five art lithographs. The CE's going at the price of $80, and it's available only at Square Enix's online store.
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD trailers bring Eidolons to a wedding
Square Enix has sent forth another five trailers for FInal Fantasy X/X-2 HD, its update of the PS2 JRPGs. That's on top of the five that were issued last week – though we're still the only ones who have one with Rifftrax.
Square Enix offers up five Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD trailers
Square Enix unleashed five trailers for its Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster remakes today. The trailers hone in on two of the games' chraracters, Wakka and Rikku, and also show battles and blitzball matches, both prettier than their respective PS2 games. The final video of the bunch highlights the first game's iconic moment between Yuna and Tidus at the Holy Springs. The PS3 version of the remastered compilation was delayed to March 18, 2014 in North America and March 21 in Europe with details of the Vita version's new release date yet to come. Square Enix is on track to launch both on December 26 in Japan.
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster pushed back to March 2014
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster won't reach North America and Europe until March 2014, and that date is for the PS3 version only. As it stands, the PS3 HD compilation of the two RPGs hits North America on March 18, 2014, and then Europe three days later on March 21. We've reached out to Square Enix about the Vita version, which like the PS3 version was originally due in the west later this year. Square Enix's website for the game still lists it for Vita, but today's announcements specify the PS3 version only. Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster is due on both PS3 and Vita in Japan next month, on December 26. Update: We've received a press release from Square Enix Europe, and it notes: "Full details of the PlayStation Vita version and release timing will be revealed at a future date."
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD includes Creature Create, extra dresspheres
Once it actually comes out, Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 HD will offer the most complete version of X-2 ever released in the US. Following earlier reports of extra content, Square Enix Producer Yoshinori Kitase told Siliconera that the remastered bundle will include X-2's content from its PS2 re-release, Final Fantasy X-2 International + Last Mission. "In addition to the Last Mission from X-2, additional dresspheres and the Creature Creator will be included in the game," Kitase said. Similar to Final Fantasy XIII-2's Paradigm Pack that lets players enlist monsters as teammates, Creature Create allows players to capture monsters and swap them into their party in place of Yuna, Rikku or Paine. This was also possible for human characters, including FFX cast members Lulu and Kimahri or NPCs like Seymour Guado. The additional costumes Kitase referred to are likely the Psychic and Festival-Goer dresspheres, both of which can be seen here.
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remasters coming to Japan in December
Square Enix has finally pinned a release date on Final Fantasy X and X-2 HD Remaster - in Japan, that is. The Vita and PS3 games just sneak in before the end of the year, hitting retail shelves across the country on December 26. We'd like to think this means a western date is forthcoming. It's been a two-year wait to return to Spira, and the remakes are pinned to arrive on western shelves later this year. Surely it can't be much longer before we can laugh with Tidus again? There's one other bit of news from Japan's announcement, and it's good news. Over there, Square Enix is releasing a twin-pack of the two separately packaged Vita cartridges of X and X-2, and it's priced the same as the single-disc PS3 version. Again, hopefully we'll see that same sense reflected when the remasters head west.
Lightning Returns, Final Fantasy X/X-2 showcased in new TGS trailers
Square Enix shows off its upcoming action-RPG Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII and the remake bundle Final Fantasy X/X-2 Remaster in a pair of new trailers launched today at Tokyo Game Show. Lightning Returns is the concluding chapter in the Final Fantasy XIII saga, tracking protagonist Lightning as she quests to save the world after a 500-year slumber. Lightning Returns is due for release in February next year. Final Fantasy X/X-2 Remaster will be out "this winter" for the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita, offering a new audio chapter expanding on the events of Final Fantasy X-2. The new trailer can be seen after the break below.
