tactics-ogre
Latest
Take on this Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together trailer
The latest trailer for Square Enix's PSP remake of the 1995 Super Famicom strategy RPG, Tactics Ogre, is wonderfully animated -- but we can't help but reminded of the video for A-ha's "Take on me" while watching it. We tried making up new game-related lyrics to the song, but failed ... miserably.
Tactics Ogre: Let us cling to a February 15 release date
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together, the PSP remake of Quest's definitive SRPG (originally released on the Super Famicom), has been strategically dated for release on February 15, 2011. The move was made official today on the PlayStation Blog, where fans are encouraged to drop questions for the development team (to be answered in future blog posts starting in January). In an appropriately cute tie-in, Square Enix will release a tarot card deck illustrated by Akihiko Yoshida, best known for his Final Fantasy art. There are allegedly details on the official Tactics Ogre site on how to score the deck, but it would appear Square Enix has yet to update the site with those details. Update: Square Enix has sent out a release noting the tarot cards will be a pre-order bonus through GameStop, EB Games Canada, Amazon.com or Amazon.ca. %Gallery-97974%
Square Enix confirms Tactics Ogre remake for North America
We didn't have to wait long at all to hear about a North American release for the PSP Tactics Ogre remake. Square Enix has already announced a localized version, under the game's original title Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together. Square Enix's announcement offers additional detail as to exactly what's new in the revamped version. 3D maps have been added, along with updated graphics and 15 new tracks from composers Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata. In terms of gameplay, there's a new "Battle Skill" ability that players can use alongside the game's existing magic and special abilities. There's still some waiting involved with this game, as Square did not offer a timeframe for its debut.%Gallery-97974%%Gallery-97973%
Tactics Ogre being remade for PSP by original staff
Square Enix is remaking the original Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together, for PSP, under the (non-Queen lyric!) title Tactics Ogre: Wheel of Fortune. According to Siliconera's summary of the Famitsu article announcing it, it's more than a simple port, with many of the original Quest staff returning to work on it -- including director Yasumi Matsuno, who basically disappeared after leaving Final Fantasy XII's development, only to show up as a writer for MadWorld in 2009. Akihiko Yoshida, most recently behind the character designs forFinal Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light, is doing new design work for Tactics Ogre, and composers Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata are once again providing the soundtrack. The game is being expanded and redesigned, with new characters, storyline elements, and upgrades to the battle system. The ten-on-ten battles can now support up to 12 party members against 18 enemies. Siliconera notes that the English title "Wheel of Fortune" was trademarked in Japan, suggesting plans for an international release.
VC Tuesday: Bubble Bobble Wii rises to the top
There's a lovely selection of retro gaming available on the Japanese Virtual Console today, including Ogre Battle and one of Falcom's myriad Dragon Slayer games, but the real retro hotness is found on WiiWare. Lucky Japanese Wii owners will get to play Bubble Bobble Wii, and we certainly hope it isn't terrible. The last Bubble Bobble on Nintendo hardware wasn't so great, but that was back when Taito was licensing its properties out to whomever. We also hope Okiraku Slot Car Racing isn't terrible, if only because a game about slot car racing sounds kind of hilarious. After Family Glide Hockey, we're not holding out too much hope. Tactics Ogre (Super Famicom, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points) Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes (Mega Drive, 1 player, 700 Wii Points) Winning Shot (PC Engine, 1-4 players, 600 Wii Points) WiiWare: Okiraku Slot Car Racing (1-2 players, 500 Wii Points) Let's Play with Kappa: Kappa and the Three Kittens (1 player, 600 Wii Points) Board Warriors (1-4 players, 1,000 Wii Points) Bubble Bobble Wii (1-4 players, 800 Wii Points)
February's VC releases in Japan: Tactics Ogre and more
Nintendo has released the list of Virtual Console games planned for release in Japan next month, including eleven games overall. The biggest news is probably Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together, which was released in North America on the PlayStation, but will be released on the VC in its original Super Famicom form. If the PlayStation release were to come out on VC, that would definitely be news. In any case, don't look for it outside Japan any time soon: as Siliconera points out, Atlus's English translation was only used for the PlayStation version, and Square Enix isn't going to license that work and recode the game to put it in. It's rather miraculous that they've deigned to dump one of their ROMs on the service as it is.Other items of interest include the Alex Kidd sequel The Lost Stars, which contains one of the most ridiculous digitized screams in history, and the return of the SuperGrafx Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts! Will it actually come out this time? And we must mention Wallaby!! which is a game about rabbits betting on kangaroo races.
