Though we're certain Square Enix's interpretation of words like "final" and "last" differs greatly from ours (o hai Final Fantasy XIX!), we think we're all in the same boat when it comes to "first," as in, "The Last Remnant will launch on the Xbox 360 first." Speaking at a Japanese Xbox 360 press conference (liveblogged by IGN), Square Enix revealed that the Unreal-powered RPG would be arriving on Microsoft's system first this Winter, with the PlayStation 3 version following at a later date.

The Last Remnant is still set to enjoy one of those newfangled worldwide releases, with North America, Europe and Japan receiving the Xbox 360 version simultaneously -- or at least, close to simultaneously.

[Trailer via X3F]

Well, apparently there were some minor caveats to Square Enix's trumpeted "worldwide release" for Infinite Undiscovery on September 2. You see, by "worldwide," the publisher actually meant "Americawide," but since this could likely be interpreted as some sort of critique against the continent's expanding obesity problem, it was better to just pretend that September 2, September 5 and September 11 all sort of vaguely fall in the same calender square.

As announced at a recent press conference in Japan (via 1UP's liveblog), these are the slightly staggered ship dates for tri-Ace's Xbox 360 RPG:

• North America: Sept. 2
• Europe: Sept. 5
• Japan: Sept. 11

Though we like to tease, we're very impressed that Square Enix, known for excruciating localization delays between releases, is stepping up its global game.

At the same Japanese press conference which saw the unveiling of the Xbox 360's Last Hope, Namco Bandai announced a release date for its cel-shaded Xbox 360 RPG, Tales of Vesperia. According to IGN's liveblog of the event, the magnificently colorful, blue-sky adventure will hit Japan (in a premium console bundle) on August 7th, with versions you can understand arriving in the same month. A European release is currently planned for 2009.

Namco Bandai also noted that a demo is scheduled to become available on Xbox Live sometime in June -- judging by the publisher's previous RPG teaser, it shouldn't be confined to the Japanese marketplace for very long, if at all.

Are role-playing games the last hope for a struggling Xbox 360 in Japan? It's not really a question so much as a trite joke we'll be abusing over the next several months, as Square Enix and Microsoft have announced a new endeavor that's actually called, "The Last Hope." Oh, and those words are preceded by ones that may excite you: "Star Ocean." Now we know what all that "lineup" business was about.

According to IGN's liveblog of the announcement, made yesterday at a press conference in Japan, Star Ocean: The Last Hope has a "science fiction feel to it," with humanity heading into the universe after completely wrecking planet Earth, as usual. Important things like customization and battle systems were apparently not mentioned, but there's plenty of time for that yet. For now, Star Ocean: The Last Hope is slated "for Xbox 360," but common sense tells us if a PlayStation 3 version is in the works (and funnily enough, this game looks just like the PS3's "Star Ocean IV"), it probably wouldn't be trumpeted at a Microsoft conference.

[Trailer via X3F]

With most of civilization abandoning the workplace in order to converge on local shopping malls for those last-minute gift ideas, the gaming world seems to have all but shut down. However, in between trips to Kohl's and Barnes & Noble we did manage to grapple with NIS America's marketing dynamic duo, namely Jack Niida and Nao Zook. While they kept eying the exit behind us, we asked them a number of questions, including the publisher's opinion on the aging PlayStation 2, as well as some specifics on NIS America's latest PS2 RPG, Mana Khemia ~Alchemists of Al-Revis~, which they both go into after the jump.

NIS America threw us a curve ball last month when it announced its intentions to make a name for itself as a gentler, more casual publisher, a stark contrast to the studio's decidedly niche role-playing roots. Thankfully, like a distant relative returning home for the holidays, the company has not forgotten where it comes from, as NIS has announced plans to bring yet another Japanese-style RPG to the PS2 early next year with Mana Khemia ~Alchemists of Al-Revis~.

Set for release on March 18, NIS describes the game as a "spiritual sequel" to the Gust-developed Atelier Iris series of strategy RPGs -- something of an unknown quantity here in the US despite it having garnered a considerable following in Japan since the late-90s. NIS also calls Mana Khemia a "campus sim style RPG" in which players play as both teachers and students in order to complete "academic quests." Reading this, we can't help but be reminded of last June's GrimGrimoire, also published by NIS and one of the best titles this year that nobody played, though honestly we're just thrilled knowing that we'll still having something new to look forward to playing on the never-say-die console well into the first quarter of 2008.

Japanese-style role-playing games are hardly a rare commodity, offering players all the big hair and surfboard-sized swords they can handle. Japanese-style real time tactical RPGs on the other hand, not so much, though this is exactly how little known Montreal dev Studio Archcraft describes its long-in development Project Exile, which was this week picked up by publisher Graffiti Entertainment for release next year.

The JRTTRPG was originally announced several years ago as Black Sigil, and in 2004 was planned for release on the then-hopping GBA, though the project was eventually moved to Nintendo's touchable DS handheld, which we assume is its current platform of choice, but really who can be certain? A press release announcing the game's continued existence simply states that it's expected to ship for "a major video game system" in the first quarter of 2008. Honestly Archcraft, why all the mystery? Still, the game's early screenshots give off a warm Alundra feel, which is cause enough to keep this one on the ol' radar.

[Via press release]

Can't wait until August 28th to play the Xbox 360-exclusive JPRG Blue Dragon? You could always import the Japanese release and stumble your way through three discs of inscrutable Japanese text or, if you can settle for a slightly smaller experience, just download the demo on Xbox Live Marketplace July 20th. The Japanese language Dengeki Online claims a 1.1GB demo will be released overseas (that's over here, folks) on July 20th, containing roughly 120 minutes of playtime. But you'd best make sure you download it in that 2-week window, since the demo will fly away on August 3rd. Now let's see, if we only play for about three and a quarter minutes a day, this demo should just last us until the retail release. Just ...

[Via X3F]

Odin Sphere evokes an odd sense of unwavering tradition. Everything about it appears to be old-fashioned, meticulously crafted and heavy. It's the dusty painting hanging in a cluttered museum compared to next-gen's LCD television mounted on a pretentiously bare wall. That's the impression you're left with after first encountering Atlus' "traditional" action RPG for the PlayStation 2. But you've been fooled. When you weren't looking, the flashy television and the painting traded places.

That isn't to say Odin Sphere completely reinvents the role-playing genre -- the game has its fair share of ancient artifacts, warring nations and apocalyptic scenarios -- but its delicately crafted and strikingly beautiful approach seems in sharp contrast to what has become our own modern tradition of manufactured glitz. The game shuns the third dimension, telling its tale with bold 2-D artwork and gorgeous sprites. Gone are science fiction trappings and effervescent dialogue, replaced with Shakespearean drama and criss-crossing character arcs.

Giving the characters their English voices is Atlus, a publisher which has made localizing unusual Japanese games its tradition. We spoke with Odin Sphere's project lead, Bill Alexander, about the crucial translation process.

As a sign of the West's growing importance in the global video game landscape (we are pretty important, if we don't say so ourselves), Square Enix's Last Remnant will not only be coming out on the Xbox 360 as well as the PS3 (as suspected), but will see a simultaneous release in both the US and Japan -- a Square Enix first. So, this "reach out to American gamers" not only features a new type of "dark hero" -- a first for a Square Enix RPG and something that US gamers will ostensibly appreciate -- but it will also use the US-developed Unreal Engine 3, launch simultaneously on a US-owned console, and actually come out day and date in ... the US! It's a beautiful thing. No, we mean it. The Last Remnant screenshots are beautiful.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

It's about bloody time news now, with Square Enix announcing the official release date for Final Fantasy XII in PAL territories. Arriving on February 23rd (that's 2007), role-playing fans in Europe are the last to receive a game rife with political intrigue, androgynous street urchins and bunny-eared vixens. We think that might actually be the description on the back of the box.

There's no mention of a fancy collector's edition, but rumor has it that the game itself is well worth the asking price. Particularly impatient gamers would do well to pick up Okami in the meantime -- it's finally out in Europe on February 9th.

New information leaping from the obscenely colorful pages of Famitsu reveals a brand new Tri-Ace RPG for the Xbox 360 -- the uncomfortably named Infinite Undiscovery. Widely known for in-your-face epics, Star Ocean and Valkyrie Profile, the Japanese developer has released little information regarding the fantasy title thus far, with GAF mentioning real-time battles and support for online play. While the game is unlikely to have any relation to last year's smash hit, Everlingering Nonemergence*, it is very much an important coup in Microsoft's continuing battle against apathy in Japan.

* This game has not been proven to exist in any shape or form.

[Scan courtesy of duckroll from GAF.]

For those dreaming of the gorgeous gun ballet glimpsed in Final Fantasy XIII, it may come as a rude awakening when we loudly exclaim, "Hang on, we haven't even gotten number 12 yet!"  Thankfully, Square Enix has answered our call by officially announcing the North American release date for their next inevitably epic RPG. Final Fantasy XII will be in stores this Halloween, 31 October 2006. If ever there was a good reason for Sephiroth and Rikku cosplayers to head out into public and purchase the game in full fantasy garb, this is it.

Not to be left behind on the platform as the Collector's Edition trend train heads off, the game will be arriving in two distinct versions. The vanilla package will retail for $49.99, whereas the Collector's Edition, laced with interviews, series featurettes, trailers, art galleries and ancient evils, will be available at Gamestop and EB Games exclusively for $59.99. Depending on how fond you are of the non-final franchise, that's either a trick or a treat.

[Image: Advent Children.net]