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Square Enix bringing Chaos Rings 3 to mobile, Vita this year
A third entry in Media-Vision's mobile JRPG series Chaos Rings is due to launch for smartphones and the PS Vita in October in Japan, publisher Square Enix announced this week (via Gematsu). Chaos Rings premiered for iOS devices in 2010, finding a niche with genre fans when JRPG-styled adventure games were still scarce in the App Store. A prequel, Chaos Rings Omega, and a sequel followed in the years afterward, and the original game was released for PlayStation Mobile-enabled devices (including the PS Vita) in 2013. Chaos Rings 3 will be priced at 2,800 yen on mobile devices and 4,300 yen for PS Vita. A boxed, limited-edition Prequel Trilogy Special Edition is also coming to the PS Vita, confirming that the Vita version is a fully-fledged release for the platform and not a PlayStation Mobile port. Chaos Rings 3 will launch in Japan on October 16. A North American release has not been announced. [Image: Square Enix]
Chaos Rings, Tokyo Jungle coming to PlayStation Mobile in Japan
A PlayStation Vita-compatible version of Square Enix's Chaos Rings and a Tokyo Jungle spinoff are coming soon to the PlayStation Mobile service, Famitsu reports this week. Chaos Rings, originally released for iOS devices in 2010, is a character-driven, turn-based RPG created in collaboration with Wild ARMs series developer Media Vision. Siliconera reports that the PlayStation Mobile port will be released by the end of July for 800 yen. Square Enix has issued no word regarding a North American release. Sony's PS3 survival-roguelike Tokyo Jungle, on the other hand, may emerge as an entirely different type of game when it hits PlayStation Mobile. Siliconera notes that the PlayStation Mobile version takes place from a top-down perspective, and Sony's Shane Bettenhausen describes Famitsu's screenshots as resembling Final Fantasy Tactics "with gazelles and Pomeranians." The PlayStation Mobile adaptation of Tokyo Jungle will launch in Japan on July 10. A US release has not been announced.
Chaos Rings Omega announcement trailer is fairly chaotic
Were mere words not enough to sate your excited curiosity about Square Enix's recently announced prequel for its pricey iOS RPG, Chaos Rings Omega? The company's handheld branch has launched a trailer to go along with the title's unveiling, which you'll find posted after the jump.
Square Enix summoning Chaos Rings prequel & sequel for iOS
Despite its premium price, one of Square Enix's earliest attempts at an original title for iOS is getting not one, but two follow-ups. The latest issue of Famitsu reports (via Andriasang) that Chaos Rings, which debuted on the App Store for an unprecedented $13 last year, will see a prequel, Chaos Rings Omega, released next month in Japan, followed by Chaos Rings 2 at a later date. Available for iOS devices, the original game is a turn-based dungeon crawler with arena battles featuring four teams of two characters. Square Enix's teaser ad for the Chaos Rings sequel doesn't hint at what (if any) changes we can expect to that gameplay formula, but we're hoping that, on the technical side, both it and Chaos Rings Omega are universal apps with iPad 2 enhancements to help soften the inevitable sticker shock.
Square Enix working on two followups to Chaos Rings, Imaginary Range comic
Square Enix has announced three different iOS products in the pipeline for later on this year in both Japan and, eventually, the US. First up, original iOS title Chaos Rings is apparently getting not one but two different followup titles. The first will be called Chaos Rings Omega, and it will be a prequel (shouldn't it be called Alpha, then?), with the story set before the first game begins. Square Enix has also placed ads in a Japanese gaming magazine for a full-fledged "Chaos Rings II" sequel, though information on that is slim so far. But fans of the first game (which predated Infinity Blade as a full-featured, original AAA title for iOS) will have plenty to play through. Square Enix has also announced an interactive comic book called Imaginary Range, which offers game-related elements and mini-games in conjunction with a full comic book story. It sounds intriguing -- in part because it doesn't sound like your average comic or game -- and it will probably be an interesting experience built just for iOS. Imaginary Range will be out on the 5th of May in Japan, and presumably we'll see an English translation here in the US soon after that.
Chaos Rings comes to iPad - all Square Enix games on sale
Released back in April, Chaos Rings for the iPhone became a runaway hit and a top seller soon after its debut on the App Store. Reviewers praised the title from Square Enix, and many of them felt that the US$12.99 iPhone title could easily have been a successful game on the Nintendo DS or Sony's PSP at more than twice the price. Square Enix promised that the game would be coming to the iPad, and it has delivered on that promise. Chaos Rings for iPad has just debuted and is now available for $15.99 on the US App Store. As far as we can tell from the screen shots, it's essentially the same game as the iPhone version, but the resolution is bumped up to the iPad's 1024 x 768, which allows for crisper details and a less cramped UI. To celebrate the launch of Chaos Rings for iPad, Square Enix has reduced the price of all of its App Store games for the next two weeks. Chaos Rings for iPhone, for example, has gone from $12.99 to $9.99. Final Fantasy I has gone from US$8.99 to $6.99, and Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes has been deeply discounted from US$9.99 to $4.99. Square Enix's games tend to be higher-priced than most others on the App Store (and deservedly so, given the quality of its titles), so if you've been holding off on checking out some of these titles because of pricing, now's the time to jump in.
Chaos Rings encircles iPad; Square Enix iPhone apps go on sale
Square Enix's pretty iPhone RPG gets prettier today, with the release of Chaos Rings for iPad. Sure, you could already play the original version on iPad (and still can) but the $15.99 iPad-native version has enhanced graphics for the bigger screen. Even if you don't want to take a pair of fighters through fight after fight in the Ark Battle Arena, this release might be good news for you: to celebrate, Square Enix has discounted all its other iPhone titles -- most notably Sliding Heroes, which has been marked down to free. See the full list here (iTunes link).
Chaos Rings hits top grossing, going to the iPad
Square Enix's new original iPhone title, Chaos Rings, is a qualified hit; it's currently sitting right on top of the United States' top grossing apps list and at number 18 on the top paid apps list. The reviews are terrific as well, which means that Square Enix has pulled off a hit iPhone game at the surprising price of US$12.99. The company hasn't missed the message, either. It's bringing Chaos Rings to the iPad soon, and is also hard at work on more original titles for Apple's handheld systems. We don't know how the iPad version, Chaos Rings HD, will be priced, or if it will be included for those who have already purchased the game on the iPhone (that'd be great, wouldn't it?). Clearly, though, there is still a market for well-done, top level games (even at high price points). We don't know if Square Enix actually made money on this one (the craft on display certainly didn't come cheap), but App Store customers are certainly buying. At the same time, other big-name developers aren't so sure. Crytek (makers of Crysis for the PC) CEO Cevat Yerli claims that App Store pricing has been nothing but a burden for game developers, and he says that, even outside of Apple's ecosystem, game prices in general are being driven down by the App Store. "It's pushing out games at such a low price that it distorts the perception of what a game should be priced at," he said in a recent interview. "IPad and iPhone are both doing a real disservice to game prices by allowing games at such low price points – it is an issue the industry has to address." That's an interesting take. There are certainly a number of factors involved in lower game prices lately (not the least of which is digital distribution, which has grown immensely in the past few years). However, a game like Chaos Rings seems to prove that it's still all about the gameplay. If game developers can make a great game that players want to play, they can more or less name their price.
Chaos Rings and Sonic 2 out, Square Enix games on sale
Square Enix has released their Chaos Rings game that we heard about a while ago. At US$13.99, it's one of the most expensive iPhone (not iPad -- yet) games you'll find, but the reviews are terrific so far. The game appears to be a classic Square Enix title, complete with great graphics, a deep storyline and a tight battle system. I haven't gotten a chance to try it yet, but it definitely looks intriguing, and if the game matches up to the hype, we could have a new bar set on Apple's handheld platform. To celebrate, Square Enix is putting all of their other games on sale, including dropping Final Fantasy 1 and 2 down to $7 each. If you've been waiting to pick up one of their other titles, now's your chance, and maybe you can add the money you save into the price of the new game. And finally, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is now out from Sega for the iPhone. Unfortunately, the game uses the same Sega emulator as all of their other games, so it's not exactly glitch-free or polished gameplay. Still, it's playable, and it's definitely the second Sonic game, recreated on the smaller screen. You can pick it up for $5.99.
Square Enix releases Chaos Rings on iPhone, discounts other iPhone games
Square Enix's impressive-looking iPhone RPG, Chaos Rings, is now available from the App Store. If you'd like to try it, you'll have to pay the iPhone equivalent of the Square Enix Tax, as the publisher has priced the Media Vision-developed RPG at $12.99. Chaos Rings is the story of four couples (each in its own storyline) summoned to fight to the death in a tournament for some mysterious reason. The "couple" theme forms the strategic element of battles: you have to decide when to use combined attacks that also open both party members to damage. Paradoxically, the release of this expensive-for-iPhone game also brings savings. To promote the launch of Chaos Rings, Square Enix put its other iPhone games on sale. Among others, Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II are now $6.99 each, Crystal Defenders is now $5.99, and Sliding Heroes has temporarily reached the magic $.99 price point. Even the Final Fantasy XIII gallery is on sale, priced at Still Too Much.
Chaos Rings for iPhone looks like a real RPG
Well, this is a surprise. Square Enix's iPhone RPG Chaos Rings looks, in terms of design, like one of its PlayStation-era RPGs and, in terms of graphical quality, better than one of its PlayStation-era RPGs. Watch the trailer for the Media Vision-developed game after the break, and you'll see what we mean. Dynamic camera angles, detailed -- and stylish -- monsters and characters, and interesting prerendered environments are all on display. What's nice is that since RPGs don't really require precise controls, we can semi-safely get interested in this game without having our hopes dashed by the platform. It could still turn out to be terrible, but it isn't guaranteed to be. [Via Touch Arcade]
Chaos Rings trailer looks awesome
Just yesterday, we heard about this new Square Enix RPG due to come to the iPhone this year, and today, not only do we have official confirmation, but a first official trailer as well. And boy does it look great -- over in the console world, Final Fantasy's creators have been saying that they can't make them like they used to, because the newer HD technology just makes old-school artisanship tough to do. But a platform like the iPhone, with its built-in limits on graphical fidelity, might be just the place for the old-school vibe to live and thrive. 3D characters on 2D backgrounds? What appear to be turn-based battles against bosses and summons? A story featuring emo-haired heroes and J-pop ballads? Boy are we in. The Japanese version says "Available soon on the App Store," but we'll keep an eye on the other stores as well and let you know when this drops.
New Square Enix RPG coming to the iPhone this year
A job posting on a Japanese developer's site has hinted that Square Enix will be releasing a brand new RPG on the iPhone sometime later this year. Media.Vision has posted that they're seeking to fill a number of positions related to building an RPG on Apple's platform in conjunction with Square Enix. The Final Fantasy Ring fansite says that the game will be called Chaos Ring, and will by produced by the same team that made the popular Wild Arms console series. FFRing also says (via Japanese translation) that the game will be a 3D title, and it will feature a storyline concerning five pairs of warriors who fight to the death for the right to eternal youth. Each game stage will consist of a ring of battles with a boss in the center, and some choice in how the player takes on enemies -- more challenge for more risk. It sounds intriguing. Square Enix has been seeing some success with its older titles on the iPhone, and we know it's got a few original titles already in the pipeline for Apple's platforms. It'll be great to see what they can cook up for the App Store. [via TA]
New Square Enix iPhone JRPG 'Chaos Rings' in development
The latest issue of Japanese mag Famitsu reveals Square Enix's Chaos Rings, which is apparently a new Japanese RPG for the iPhone and iPod Touch. 1UP's translation indicates that Chaos Rings features art by Final Fantasy vet Yusuke Naora, and that the plot follows five teams of two, each of whom have their own storylines. Destiny and eternal life plot lines ensue. The battle system is apparently built around solo and pair moves by the characters, the latter dealing greater damage and unlocking more combo skills. We're currently following up with Square Enix in North America and will update if it has any further information.
