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Dragon Quest 4 confirmed for Western mobiles
Square Enix unveiled Dragon Quest 4 as part of its line-up for the upcoming Gamescom conference, confirming the mobile port for a Western release. The Enix RPG, which first came to North America as Dragon Warrior 4 back in 1992, will be the series' second entry to reach international mobiles after Dragon Quest 8 back in May. No surprises but the mobile port is based on the 2008 DS version rather than the NES original. As for the other upcoming games in Square Enix's line-up, Gamescom attendees can try out Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, Kindgom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix, and Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call. The publisher will also be showing Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn, Nosgoth and Dragon Quest 8 - again, no surprises, but no sign of Kingdom Hearts 3 or Final Fantasy 15 in the line-up. This year's Gamescom conference begins on August 13, and we'll be there in Germany to cover all the major goings-on, including all the latest Kölsch stats. [Image: Square Enix]
Square Enix introduces 'Ultimate Hits' line for DS in Japan
It's a formula gamers are all too familiar with. First step: Release a game (and hope it sells a bunch). Second step: As time goes on and the sales pile up, gain interest in your product again through a discounted re-release. Rinse and repeat. Enter: Dragon Quest IX, Final Fantasy IV, Dragon Quest IV and Dragon Quest V, a line-up of games to be branded under Square Enix's 'Ultimate Hits' (partial machine translation) line of DS games. Square Enix is gearing up to re-release these games this March, at a discounted ¥2,940 (around $32). That's cheap, considering most DS games release there for around $50. [Via Kotaku]
Dragon Quest IV chosen as Deal of the Day
Amazon is allowing us to bypass the infamous Square Enix Tax for one day, and pick up a fantastic RPG remake at the kind of prices normally reserved for wholesale merchants like Torneko Taloon. The game, of course, is Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen, and the price is a powerfully tempting $19.98. If you've wanted to try the beloved series, but feared the investment would be too much for an RPG that turned out to be too old-school, now is your chance. It might be worth $20 just to look at, and then kill, a bunch of adorable slimes!%Gallery-23400%[Comic via Square Enix Members]
DS releases for the week of September 15th
This week, a pile of games are overwhelming DS shelves, but the real star is Jackass: The Game. Oh yes, Europe. It's your turn. Don't even try and say that we never gave you anything, because after this week, it's patently untrue. Animal Paradise Bratz Ponyz 2 Di-Gata Defenders Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen Drawn to Life: SpongeBob SquarePants Edition Igor Line Rider 2 Unbound My Secret World by Imagine Red Bull BC One Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Unsolved Crimes
DS Daily: Re-Quest
Next week, Dragon Quest IV hits, bringing with it the possibility of the massive franchise finally taking off for real in the US in a way it hasn't since the original Dragon Warrior. Here, Final Fantasy is bigger, but in Japan, this is the real IV.Have you been following Chapters of the Chosen? Are you interested in playing along with the adventures of Torneko Taloon and the rest of the cast? If so, will this be the first Dragon Quest for you? How about the first Dragon Quest IV? Did you get it back on the NES? %Gallery-23461%
DS releases for the week of September 8th
There's just one thing to say about this week's lineup of DS releases: wow. Spore Creatures and a host of games to suit any taste here in the States, and internationally, you've got Dragon Quest IV and then Pokémon Platinum in Japan. This could be one of those legendary weeks that threatens to empty (and then devour) your wallet ... and to think, we've not even entered the holiday season yet. Hell's Kitchen Lock's Quest Mazes of Fate DS Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir The Price is Right Spore Creatures Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise
Promotional Consideration: Wagon Wheels' March
It seems as if it wasn't that long ago when rumors of Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen coming stateside first appeared, querying our next command. But here we are, less than two months away from the 3D remake's September 16 release, and Square Enix already has its marketing engine for the game running. The publisher has certainly done its part to push summer along by keeping the past couple of months busy with quality releases.This week's edition of Promotional Consideration pulls out a page from the latest issue of Nintendo Power to bring you Square Enix's new DQIV ad. Join us past the post break!See also: A Dragon Quest IV comic strip draws near! Command?%Gallery-23400%
A Dragon Quest IV comic strip draws near! Command?
Perhaps taking a cue from their RPG-localizing rivals, Atlus, whose Izuna sprite comics are a game-promoting delight, Square Enix has made the first of a series of Dragon Quest IV comic strips available on the Square Enix Members website. It follows the dapper Ragnar McRyan as he embarks on the quest to purchase some clothing!Even if it is a cute online comic whose access is restricted to people who sign up for Square Enix Members, we're glad to see Square Enix doing something to promote this game. Dragon Quest, for whatever reason, still needs a bit of a push in the U.S.
E308: Take your turn and view this Dragon Quest IV trailer
So, like, is new screens and a release date for Square Enix's Dragon Quest IV totally not worth your time? Well, we've got something better than screens. We've got a bunch of screens, that form together like Voltron to become a game trailer. It's like magic. Like casting Thundaga on a robotic enemy.Now that we've got you in a good mood, check out the new screens below. Everything, even a screenshot from a game, deserves a second chance.%Gallery-23400%
E308: Dragon Quest IV screens, release date scare
Those looking forward to both Final Fantasy IV and Dragon Quest IV might have had a little scare earlier due to what seems to be a typo on the official release lists. DQIV, originally dated for September in the U.S., was on that list with a date of July 22 -- the same day as Final Fantasy IV. That's way too much IV for one week, but luckily, it appears to have been a typo. The official E3 press release for Dragon Quest IV still reads September 16, 2008. Whew. We're saved from hundreds of hours of battling in one week! %Gallery-23400%
E308: Square Enix's E3 lineup in (a few) pictures
Following the announcement of the titles on display at this year's E3, Square Enix released one screenshot of each of the new games. Above, you'll see the single, very blown-up image of Chrono Trigger DS. After the break, new screen of Final Fantasy IV, Exit DS, The Legend of Kage 2, and Dragon Quest IV. The Final Fantasy IV and Dragon Quest IV screens definitely feature the English versions of the game, but with the other three, it's kind of hard to tell for various reasons! The Chrono Trigger image has no text, so it sort of doesn't matter if the screen has been localized or not. Exit has English text, but it's the same English text found in the Japanese game. And Kage has both Japanese and English elements in its interface. If we hadn't just been told these games were coming out over here, we wouldn't be sure if these games were coming out over here.
Square Enix E3 lineup loaded with sequels, remakes
With 2008's edition of E3 just days away, the role-playing steam engine that is Square Enix has revealed what titles that it will spring on press types as they shuffle past. Of the eleven titles on display, the company's lineup this year is noticeably remake and sequel heavy, with over half of the games representing a return to the well for another drink. Boasting "simultaneous global releases for several platforms," the company has also re-confirmed dates for much of its lineup as well, with the following games also noted as being playable during the show: Chrono Trigger (DS; Holiday 2008) Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen (DS; September 16) Final Fantasy IV (DS; July 22) Infinite Undiscovery (Xbox 360; September 2) Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes (iPod; Now Available) In addition, the remainder listed below will be shown in non-playable form: The Last Remnant (Xbox 360, PS3; Winter for Xbox 360, TBA for PS3) Star Ocean: First Departure (PSP; October 21) Star Ocean: Second Evolution (PSP; January 6) Star Ocean: The Last Hope (Xbox 360; 2009) Exit DS (DS; October 7) The Legend of Kage 2 (DS; October 7) And coming soon to a grocery store near you, Star Ocean: Whole Wheat Clusters.
September chosen for Australian Dragon Quest IV release
While Square Enix announced their intention to release Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen in "PAL territories" this September, they aren't the ones handling the Australian release. Ubisoft is the company's distributor in Australia and New Zealand, and thus the duties for Dragon Quest IV fall to them. Reassuringly, Ubisoft has made their intention to release the game for real official in a new press release.Maintaining the numberless "Dragon Quest: Chapters of the Chosen" title that should keep PAL gamers from finding out there have been other Dragon Quest games, the Australian release of the game is also planned for September. A specific date has yet to be revealed. Also ominously absent from this press release is any mention at all of Dragon Quests V and VI.%Gallery-23400%
Another exhaustive list of Japan's best-sellers of 2007
Remember that haaauuuuge list of Japan's 500 highest-selling games of 2007? Well, sorry, but you'll have to forget them all. Yep, every last one of 'em. That's because we now have a new list which is also claiming to feature the 500 best-selling games of 2007 in Japan. This one has been compiled by Enterbrain (the original was from rival data-gatherers Media Create), and it's ever so slightly different. The good news is that, despite the origins of each list being different, the overriding message is still the same, and that message is: DS rules all yaaay. Both lists agree that Wii Sports was top dog, but the top DS games have been jumbled about. Now, for example, it is the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers games that are top of the DS pile, while Mario Party DS drops to second. The changes are subtle, but definitely exist. Hit the break to see the top ten DS games!
Dragon Quest V site takes turn to update
Eager fans anticipating the release of Dragon Quest V, get your eyeballs wrapped around some of the new content on offer at the game's official Japanese website. Within, you'll find some descriptions for the characters that will be populating the game world, as well as various other goodies. On top of that, you can also enjoy the Dragon Quest IV and Dragon Quest VI sites. So, go click crazy over there and check out the content. %Gallery-12146% [Via Go Nintendo]
Promotional Consideration: Dragon Quest IV commercials were weird
With the Dragon Quest IV DS remake announced for the US and Europe this week, we thought it'd be good a time to dig up Enix's commercials for the original Famicom game's release in Japan. They're completely different from the retro ads used last November when the DS remake shipped.As with Squaresoft's chocobo commercials for Final Fantasy IV on the Super Famicom (launching a little over a year after Dragon Quest IV), these ads were just plain odd! They show hardly any in-game video, relying on logos and recognizable theme music instead. Gather your party and meet us in the fifth chapter, past the post break, for the commercials.
The history of Dragon Quest IV boxart
Square Enix released an image of the box for the North American release of the Dragon Quest IV remake, and it looks pretty nice! It suffers from Akira Toriyama "every character looks exactly the same" syndrome, but there's not really much that can be done about that! It's the same art as the Japanese version, with a more traditional layout, highlighting the hero.Dragon Quest IV has been sold a bunch of times over the years, on three different systems, so it's naturally had a few different box designs. We thought it might be interesting to show you the boxarts for each iteration of the game. Well, not all of them -- we've omitted stuff like the budget rereleases of the PlayStation version, because they're exactly the same art with a different border.Out of all the variations, we like the art on the Famicom release the best. It seems the most dynamic and exciting. We think we like the NES version's art the least, because there isn't any.%Gallery-23461%
Dragon Quest trilogy also headed to PAL territories
Is today the DS day of awesome for Europe, or what? The latest trio of games announced for the continent are none other than the Dragon Quests. We only reported this morning that Dragon Quest IV, V, and VI were North American bound, so hearing about a European (and other PALs) confirmation so soon afterward was a pleasant surprise. Not only that, but DQIV will be releasing in PAL nations this September, too -- maybe Square Enix really meant it when they said they were aiming for simultaneous worldwide releases. (Yes, we know it came out in Japan ages ago.) Together, these three games combine to form the Zenithia Trilogy. There's no word on when to expect Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride or Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie, but that's okay. We're just glad to know they're coming. Also, check out our brand-spanking-new Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen gallery below if all this Squeenix news has you gushing. %Gallery-23400% %Gallery-12146%
Square Enix reveals Dragon Quest IV US release date, confirms V and VI releases
The first official news is out regarding a North American release for Dragon Quest IV, in the form of the official website. The site doesn't have much information up about the game -- except its release date, September 16. English screens and stuff can come later! The real news is on the new Dragon Quest series site, which shows pretty unambiguously that the Dragon Quest V and VI remakes are on the way as well, with matching alliterative subtitles (Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride, Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie). This will be the first U.S. release for these two games (IV was released on the NES) and their availability will mean that, for the first time since IV, every main Dragon Quest game has had a U.S. release. %Gallery-12146% [Via NeoGAF]
Another way to get Dragon Quest into your DS [update 2]
[Update 2: Pretty sure you get two.] There just aren't enough Slime products for us. The hundred bajillion or so that currently exist fail to completely cover every aspect of our lives. Square Enix is working to make sure that we never have to not look at a Slime again, starting with the outside of our DS Lite. For just $7, you can get one of two adorable Slime styli that fit into the Lite just like the normal ones, with one important difference: a pleasantly vacant little Slime peeking out from the stylus slot. Preorders are set to ship in July, just in time (we think) for the Dragon Quest IV remake.
