New Square Enix games revealed for DS and PS2

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Sep 13th 2006 at 7:55PM }

And quite unbelievably, one of them happens to be a Final Fantasy game. Confirmed by IGN and triumphantly splashed across the pages of ~~Famitsu~~ Shonen Jump, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings will bring the world of Ivalice to the DS. In case you've spent the last year traipsing about a disturbing parallel universe devoid of oxymoronic names, you'd note that the PS2 version is due for a release this Halloween. Judging by the more youthful appearance of the protagonists -- that's Vaan and sandwich soundalike, Penelo -- it would appear that Revenant Wings is a prequel of sorts. It makes sense, since they all die at the end of the PS2 adventure anyway.

No word yet on what the gameplay entails, but given the Ivalice setting, a direct continuation of Final Fantasy Tactics Advanced wouldn't be out of place at all. If it's a more original experience you're after, the second DS game to be announced by Square Enix may do some naughty and unmentionable things to your fancy. It's a Wonderful World looks to be the end result of Kingdom Hearts and Jet Set Radio colliding violently on the freeway. Incidentally, that's exactly what happens at the end of Kingdom Hearts II.

That brings us to the final game shown on the scanned page, Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix. The PS2 screenshot reveals a new card-based battle system, possibly indicating some connection to Chain of Memories on the GBA. Square Enix will no doubt clarify once the Tokyo Game Show begins later this month, but until then, feel free to scrutinize every last bit of the full scan.

[Note: This post contains fake spoilers! Thanks, Phantom42!]

Tags: Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy XII, FinalFantasy, FinalFantasyVii, FinalFantasyXii, Kingdom Hearts, KingdomHearts, Square Enix, SquareEnix, Tetsuya Nomura, TetsuyaNomura

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Donutta @ Sep 13th 2006 8:01PM

Fucking spoilers! You fucking suck, hard. I could take the "stay up past your bed time for some bollocks about chips", but ruining a game that isn't even out for PAL folk yet is just . . . well fuck you.

Honestly, Joystiq, you've gone down the tubes in a bad way. Don't you guys think anymore?

jopojelly @ Sep 13th 2006 8:05PM

what about the other stuff I sent you? Heroes of Mana? The new Square Enix IP for DS??

And I hope those are fake spoilers...

BennoWii @ Sep 13th 2006 8:05PM

Something you missed, number one?

[Note: This post contains fake spoilers! Thanks, Phantom42!]

Donutta @ Sep 13th 2006 8:08PM

The bolded note seems odly present now. It's still a jackass thing to do.

barry @ Sep 13th 2006 8:10PM

donutta,

try http://www.kotaku.com/
more news, and they usually post it before joystiq. also, so far they haven't exaggered any inconveniently timed press releases or spoiled any of the games that i've been waiting to play.

Erik Novak @ Sep 13th 2006 8:12PM

Wow, the picture on the right looks like Vahn's going down on her.

Justin Brogan @ Sep 13th 2006 8:13PM

That article seems to be more from Shonen Jump than Famitsu. The guy with the Pirate hat/mask thing is oddly similar to the mascot that Shonen Jump uses.

wolfchanger89 @ Sep 13th 2006 8:14PM

barry and donutta cant read bold print so just ignore there posts from now on everybody.

I am glad to here about the KH2 FM I really hope it comes out in the states but I doubt it will.

Seer S @ Sep 13th 2006 8:14PM

I have to agree with #6 (Erik Novak) on that one. Good call squenix

Boxclocke @ Sep 13th 2006 8:15PM

I was so ready to be pissed off about the fake spoilers.

On a note more related to the actual content of the article, I think it's very cool that Sqare-Enix does spinoffs of their FF sub-franchises across different platforms. Tactics on the PS, Tactics Advance on the GBA. Kingdom Hearts I & II on the PS2, Chain of Memories on the GBA. FF7 on PS, Cerberus on PS2, that one game on the cell phone, and, oh yeah, a DVD movie.

It's great that they know that different stories and different gameplay styles are best suited for different platforms.

Seer S @ Sep 13th 2006 8:16PM

On another note, I thought that fake spoilers were in great taste.

Barry: get over yourself. Maybe I shouldn't expect a kid to know this, but you're responsible for your own bed time.

Aozora @ Sep 13th 2006 8:16PM

This isn't Weekly Famitsu, it's Famitsu PS2 maybe? The layout and game info boxes are different from Weekly Famitsu. There are maybe 4 or 5 famitsu magazines out there. Perhaps instead of just throwing up a scan and talking about it, you could hire someone (ooo..mememe!) to translate the article as well?

Sorry, everyone doesn't die at the end of FF7, it's called a joke. Can you think of any FF game that would end where everyone would die?

Donutta @ Sep 13th 2006 8:17PM

And before anyone gets on at me about jokes, the "spoiler" was entirely plausible, if only because I've FFX.

Donutta @ Sep 13th 2006 8:18PM

"8. barry and donutta cant read bold print so just ignore there posts from now on everybody."

"4. The bolded note seems odly present now. It's still a jackass thing to do."

Seems like you got a head start on that ignoring thing.

bv @ Sep 13th 2006 8:19PM

Gotta love Donutta's reaction, it was exactly what i was hoping to read when i opened up the comments link.

Jaded @ Sep 13th 2006 8:20PM

I read this article and then I was like "I wonder if anyone is going to be spazzed at the fake spoilers" and some people were. It was funny.

OR MAYBE THE SPOILERS ARE REAL!

Intellectualdiot @ Sep 13th 2006 8:22PM

Haha, I have to admit - I uttered a rather loud "What the FUCK!" when I read that false spoiler. You shouldn't toy with my emotions like that Joystiq, I have a mild arrhythmia.

As for these titles, there are a few things that come to mind:

1) I simply despise how franchises are given a younger facade when given to Nintendo consoles. I won't pretend to believe that the most influential demographic in Nintendo's entourage consists of people DYING to see tweeners in their video games, but I will say that I'm pretty annoyed with it. I'll also admit that it seems to be less of a problem currently than it has been in the past, and certainly that has to do with the fact that Nintendo is once again becoming more than a niche competitor in the console war.

2) I wonder if this Final Fantasy XII will be the (correct) strategy title that EGM's rumor central discussed in the September issue. I don't necessarily find myself believing in this rumor per se, but I'm trying to get an idea of what time of gameplay to expect. For the record, I would GREATLY prefer an RPG on the DS - I've been clamoring for a new Square-Enix DS RPG for quite some time now.

3) I have nothing to say about that other game at the moment since I'm not too pleased with the art style... ok, I'll suggest that I'm excited about anything that can be labeled an "Action RPG".

I guess I'll have to save my real impressions for TGS.

Aozora @ Sep 13th 2006 8:26PM

Oopsy I meant to say FF12 not FF7. Freudian Slip?

JohnWho @ Sep 13th 2006 8:26PM

SquareEnix is a smelly (sky?)pirate hooker.

Dave @ Sep 13th 2006 8:28PM

I almost cried when you fake-spoiled the end of FFXII. Seriously, I need to avoid the internet until that game comes out, damn importing people are gonna try to spoil it for me anyway.

reed @ Sep 13th 2006 8:30PM

square enix why won't you bring FF7 to the ds instead of all the spinoffs all over the place....

Miniboss @ Sep 13th 2006 8:30PM

"And before anyone gets on at me about jokes, the "spoiler" was entirely plausible, if only because I've FFX."

I hate you! I'm right at the final boss in that game right now! I hate you I hate you I hate you!!!!

(actually, I'm not really playing it)

Ludwig Kietzmann @ Sep 13th 2006 8:32PM

The post now attributes the correct mag. Thanks for pointing that out, guys.

Bill @ Sep 13th 2006 8:34PM

I cant even keep track of all these FF games anymore.

Seriously, I have no idea what is what with that series anymore. Which one is the actual new single player game? And what's it coming out on? Shouldn't it be for PS3? They're up to fucking #12? That's absurd.

FF=irrelevant.

Bill @ Sep 13th 2006 8:37PM

#5

I think I'll go get a Kotaku account and start posting how great Joystiq is and that they should all come over here all the time. That sounds like fun.

AKA atop spamming/advertising.

spoo @ Sep 13th 2006 8:37PM

I almost got really pissed about the fake spoiler..

/Shake fist in the air.

rudimentalist @ Sep 13th 2006 8:37PM

Yeah ok. Bring on the Wii news now.

Dave @ Sep 13th 2006 8:38PM

Nice job with the spoilers there, fellas.

Seriously: What the hell were you thinking? >:(

christopher7xii @ Sep 13th 2006 8:42PM

man, HILARIOUS joke with the spoilers. I thought it was so blatantly obvious that was a scam "they all die"... Some people are just really dumb and/or gullable I suppose.

Suppose as long as you don't tell them about the Cloud cameo in FF12 though they'll still be suprised.

Tyler @ Sep 13th 2006 8:49PM

wow, that's a new idea to make your blog more popular: piss people off on a fake spoiler. Novel.

Jonn @ Sep 13th 2006 8:52PM

And I, for one, am shocked.

kyou @ Sep 13th 2006 9:39PM

Wow... You know. As I read the article and saw the spoiler I thought to myself: "Haha, nice fake spoilers. I wonder if someone would belive such obvious crap". And well... to my surprise people are even whining about it.

What the hell is wrong with the joystiq community? Can't you take a little joke from time to time without saying, "Joystiq, you've gone down the tubes in a bad way. Don't you guys think anymore?" or "Joystiq, you've lost all little credibility you had". THINK people! THINK! Before you start whining at least...

32_footsteps @ Sep 13th 2006 9:40PM

Joystiq posts fake spoilers, people get pissed. But nobody gets pissed that they show a magazine scan of the Uber-Secret-Hard-Do-All-The-Minigames ending of Kingdom Hearts 2, or at least a scene of the extended version that'll be in Final Mix.

I'll just file this under "Even further proof that people are idiots."

About the only thing I could be upset about is that Final Mix all but confirms that there will be a Kingdom Hearts 3. In theory, not so bad. But they're going to build off of the hidden ending of KH2, and that pissed me off to no end.

justchris @ Sep 13th 2006 9:41PM

@Aozora,
Actually, there is exactly one FF game where everyone dies at the end. Seriously, everyone except one minor character, who was like an assistant to an NPC, dies. I'll not say which game it is, since people seem to be upset by spoilers, but if you've played it and beaten it, you know which game it is. It is not one of the main, numbered series, but one of the side series.

It's also one of my favorite FF games, and the ending totally rocks precisely *because* everyone dies.

Eric Bostrom @ Sep 13th 2006 9:46PM

I would *absolutely* put preorder a fft/a/ds title. I'm still playing ffta regularly since I got it @ launch, it's one of my all time favourite games.

This snippet + the disgaea on psp rumor/.jp release have me all kinds of excited.

george @ Sep 13th 2006 9:50PM

how can you guys give a spoiler with out a spoiler alert! it hasnt even gotten to the states yet. you guys suck!

sam @ Sep 13th 2006 10:00PM

man, my heart sank when i read thos fake spoilers...i hate you joystiq, but i cant get enough of you

Zo� K. @ Sep 13th 2006 10:19PM

Fucking awesome, Ludwig. I'll admit, you had me for a moment. But it was too cruel, too blatant. I wondered for a split second if this mass death at the end of the game was common knowledge that I had somehow missed hearing about over the past few months.

Then I went back up and checked the name of the poster... and I knew. :D

B @ Sep 13th 2006 10:40PM

Now THAT was funny. Can't wait for more info on these Square-Enix games though,just a few more days....

Fozzybear @ Sep 13th 2006 11:17PM

OMIGOD! The fake spoilers!

I was ready to post one of the most epic angry comments ever of all time - my finger was on the proverbial trigger...Jesus...

cringer8 @ Sep 14th 2006 12:58AM

I wonder how Nintendo patched things up with Square Enix? Maybe selling over five million DS Lites in Japan in less six months had something to do with it...

raistlinsghost @ Sep 14th 2006 1:09AM

"wow, that's a new idea to make your blog more popular: piss people off on a fake spoiler. Novel."

Good call Tyler.

I guess if you can't write a quality article about your subject matter, you instead come up with some lame fake spoiler to stir the pot for you in the hopes that no one will notice.

I don't know about the rest of the readers here, but I have noticed a major decline in the quality of the posts on this site over the past few months. And this isn't whining, just a long time reader saying bye bye. As of 15 seconds ago, consider me unsubscribed Joystiq. So long, good luck.

shoterfan @ Sep 14th 2006 7:06AM

thanx for the FREAKING SPOILER! Wish you would have warned us. I was so looking forward to playing it without reading too much about the game . But noooooooooooooooo you guys had to say that they DIE AT THE END. so freaking gay guys., shheeeeshhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

Met @ Sep 14th 2006 8:56AM

If FF XII was spoiled, I hope you can die of a lots of pain and suffering.. bastard!

Ludwig Kietzmann @ Sep 14th 2006 9:48AM

If you think obvious sarcasm and humor is directly at odds with "quality," perhaps this isn't the blog for you. We actually prefer having readers that actually, you know, read our posts. There's nothing to be upset about.

Lucca @ Sep 14th 2006 1:55PM

I almost had a HEART ATTACK! Toying with your readers` emotions. I am disappointed. VERY.

shoterfan @ Sep 14th 2006 2:02PM

well i could' nt tell if it was a joke or not. you can't tell from the post. maybe i read it wrong. i apoligize for my " fan rage". being a reader for ahwile. i should' ve guessed that it was a joke. thanx for the update footer. i think the guy under me took it even more personl. lol