#Square Enix Europe

[virtualfotodivision]

Crimson Fire | 06.24.2023 | Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Captured on Xbox Series X.

[dmdarius]

Let's Play Constantine |09| The Final Seals

These are not the most difficult puzzles in the world, but the second one can end up being a doozy if you just mash buttons mindlessly. Still, with the final seals in hand, we can grab the Lexicon and head back to Beeman for tea and a spot of reading.

#constantine #ps2 #retro #DC

[gaymer-hag-stan]

Curse of the Tomb Raider

I'm sure this has been discussed already but it seems like every third game in the series is somehow "cursed" to underperform compared to its predecessors.

Tomb Raider III, even though the series' infamous 90s fatigue and oversaturation hadn't taken its toll yet, is still not talked about as fondly as the first or the second entries.

While the entirety of the 99-03 trilogy is arguably the series' darkest years, Angel of Darkness is by far the series lowest point and is often blamed for the series and Lara herself losing much of their brand power, almost killing the series completely and, according to Paramount, the reason the second Angelina Jolie movie underperformed (the last one is unfair in my opinion but it gets thrown around a lot). Unlike TRIII, which is still overall looked upon and rememberes fondly, for the most part at least, Angel of Darkness (although it has a cult following) isn't. Furthermore, while TRIII didn't do all that much to change up the series formula, other than pumping up the difficulty for no substantial reason other than to be more difficult for the sake of it, Angel of Darkness on the other hand tried to change things up by incorporating stealth and RPG elements in the gameplay and presenting a darker and more serious story but ultimately failing to make them a substantial addition or move the formula and the series in the generation and century. Ironically, ten years later, TR13 would start incorporating stealth and RPG elements with a darker and more grounded story back into the formula again, succeeding where Angel of Darkness failed.

Underworld was supposed to bridge the gap between Legend's more bombastic and action heavy, Hollywood-inspired action heavy gameplay, and the more exploration and puzzle-heavy, atmospheric gameplay of the classics (or Crystal's take on it at least) but it isn't as smooth as Legend or Anniversary. Not unlike Angel of Darkness, it was supposed to be the next big step forward to the next generation and was also burdened by a last-minute game being developed alongside it, Chronicles and Anniversary respectively. Maybe if Chronicles and Anniversary hadn't taken up funds, development time and personnel the other two ambitious titles would have eventually fared better? Or maybe they were doomed from the start. In any case, Underworld, which was itself part of a soft reboot of the preexisting 90s universe, and its lackluster performance, ended up leading to the creation of a completely new, hard reboot, completely unattached to previously established canon this time.

In a similar vein to what Underworld tried, Shadow was supposed to try and bridge the gap between the brand new, even heavier action-focused and combat oriented gameplay, with the puzzles and exploration of the past. While hardcore audiences overall seem to be more pleased with what Shadow offers in comparison to Rise or the TR13 Reboot, the general consensus seems to be that Shadow is a weaker entry than either of the previous two Survivor games, and seems to have ultimately led to, or at least contributed to, the series and studio being abandoned by Square Enix and Tomb Raider entering its largest hiatus yet, with news and information about the upcoming entry that will allegedly try harder than ever to patch the many rifts in the fandom by presenting an experience that will ultimately try to be both modern and innovative, while also taking into account what made the series and the character blow up the way they did all the way back in 1996.

[gamemories]

[they-have-the-same-va]

In Japanese, Midadol "Mid" Telamon from Final Fantasy XVI shares a voice actress with Nicole Watterson from The Amazing World of Gumball.

Voiced by Mai Yamane

[maryse127]

Square Enix newsletter: Play Final Fantasy XVI on PC!

Me: my laptop can barely run XIII. If only you had made one of your PC giveaways available in my country...

[afternunh]

#Alouette ur an angel#J'alia would be so lucky to have you cross universes to heal her#friend wol

RATTLING THE BARS. WHAT SHE WOULDN'T GIVE TO BE ABLE TO HEAL EVEN MORE PEOPLE RRHJRJHGR

[kh13]

Kingdom Hearts Shadow Face Mug available for pre-order from Square Enix North America and Europe stores; releasing October and December 2024!

[satoshi-mochida]

Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster Collection - wide retail release for PS4, Switch launches October 8 in the west - Gematsu

Square Enix will release Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster Collection—which includes the Pixel Remaster versions of Final Fantasy I, Final Fantasy II, Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy V, and Final Fantasy VI—as a wide retail release for PlayStation 4 and Switch on October 8 in North America and Europe, the company announced. It will be available via Square Enix Store and retailers for $74.99.

Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster Collection was previously a limited-only release in the west, selling out almost immediately following its announcement.

Here is an overview of the collection, via Square Enix:

What is the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Series?

The first six Final Fantasy games have been updated with beautiful new 2D pixel graphics designed to look great on high-definition displays, rearranged soundtracks overseen by original composer Nobuo Uematsu and improved gameplay features, including modernized user interface, auto-battle options and more. The games are available on PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC via Steam now digitally, either separately or as a collection comprising Final Fantasy I to VI. As mentioned, a new physical edition has also been announced: the Final Fantasy I-VI Collection Anniversary Edition! It’s coming to PlayStation 4 and Switch October 8, 2024, and includes a sticker sheet featuring some familiar Final Fantasy figures!

What features are included in the games?

The pixel remaster versions of these classic games have some awesome features that make them even more enjoyable to play than before. These include the option to:

Change Soundtracks – The Pixel Remaster series features utterly superb new orchestral arrangements of Final Fantasy I to VI‘s soundtracks. However, we know some of you may want to recreate the original experience of playing these games, so you’ll be able to switch between the original and rearranged soundtracks.

Change Fonts – The console release of Final Fantasy I to VI gives you the option to switch between two different fonts: the default font and a new pixel-based font that recreates the feel of the original games.

Turn Off Random Encounters – Sometimes you just want to explore in peace, so a feature in the Pixel Remaster games lets you turn off random encounters completely. This means you can roam the world without being harassed by monsters. That also means you won’t get stronger, so be careful how you use it…

Adjust Experience – Speaking of getting stronger, want to speed things up a little? Boost features let you adjust the experience gained by up to four times. Perfect if you want an easier run through the games.

Auto-Battle – With a press of a button, you can make characters automatically perform their last action. It makes battles fly by!

View Extras – Get a closer look at the many monsters you’ll face in the bestiary, marvel at the beautiful illustrations in a gallery, and enjoy the incredible soundtracks in a music player.

All these features are, of course, optional, but they mean that players of all types—from those who played the originals to those who have never played a classic Final Fantasy game before—can have a great time with these six awesome adventures.

What games are part of Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series?

For those who haven’t experienced these incredible games on PC and mobile, the FINAL FANTASY Pixel Remaster series comprises Final Fantasy I through Final Fantasy VI, giving fans a chance to relive some of the most beloved RPGs of all time in a way that perfectly captures the spirit of those original games. But if anything, we’re even more excited for new fans who’ll get to experience them for the very first time. These games are true masterpieces, and the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series offers the best way to play them yet!

Let’s take a closer look at the games in the series.

Final Fantasy – This is the ironically named game that started it all. You take control of the Warriors of Light, off on a journey to defeat four fiends and restore peace to the world. So many of the elements of the series that we’ve come to know and love make their debut right here in this very first entry: a massive world full of mystery, some iconic monster designs and that incredible music.

Final Fantasy II – The second game in the series introduces a new world, new characters and something that would become a trademark of the series: innovation. The story focuses on the conflict between the hostile Empire of Palamecia and the rebel resistance. A small group of heroes is all that stands between the world and ruin. Final Fantasy II demonstrates the developers’ willingness to push their boundaries and try new things. For example, rather than sticking to the predictable, the game features a proficiency system in which characters skill with weapons and abilities increase the more they used them. Fun fact: this is the Final Fantasy game that introduced the world to chocobos! Now that’s a legacy.

Final Fantasy III – When darkness falls and the land is robbed of light, four young heroes are chosen by the crystals to head off an exciting journey across a vast and hostile land. This critically-acclaimed entry in the series innovated with a flexible job system, which lets characters change their roles in combat at any time. Many of the most famous elements of Final Fantasy started here too—for example, it was the first to introduce summons, including series mainstays Bahamut and Shiva!

Final Fantasy IV – Final Fantasy IV delivers one of the richest and most powerful stories in the series. It’s filled with characters and scenarios that fans continue to love to this day. It focuses on the dark knight Cecil, who finds himself stripped of his position and rank when he questions his king’s increasingly troubling orders. When he’s sent on a simple delivery mission with his friend Kain, the shocking events that follow send him and a group of allies on an incredible journey of betrayal, love and redemption. This is the first game to feature the Active Time Battle (ATB) system, which combines turn-based and real-time elements to create fast-paced and strategic combat.

Final Fantasy V – The world of Final Fantasy V is on the verge of destruction because the elemental crystals that bring life and prosperity to the lands have lost their power. The only hope lies in four heroes: Bartz, Princess Lenna of Castle Tycoon, pirate Faris and the mysterious Galuf. Driven together by fate, they set off on a quest that to save the planet itself. As well as refining the ATB system, Final Fantasy V expands your strategic options massively through a greatly expanded job system, which let you customize your characters with 22 different jobs.

Final Fantasy VI – Final Fantasy VI is a game that’s beloved by fans and critics alike. That’s partly thanks to its incredible setting and story. It’s set in a land where magic has disappeared, and humanity has instead turned to iron, gunpowder, steam and other technology. Actually, it would be more accurate to say that magic is mostly gone – a young woman enslaved by the evil Empire still has the power. When she encounters a powerful ancient being called an Esper, she sets off a chain of events that will have epic and terrible consequences.

[doggirldick]

hey gamers. for a lot of people, i'm the dragon quest mutual.

this november 14th, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake releases on pc, ps5, xbox series x|s and switch.

dragon quest is considered to be the first jrpg and having defined the genre. the first one is not that great though as i'm sure you can imagine for a first game of its kind from 1986. in 1987, dragon quest ii was released and greatly improved on the first game and even later that year, the first final fantasy released, really helping to pull everything together.

then, in 1988, dragon quest iii released for the famicom and this is was a real defining moment for every jrpg since. i'm not a game historian but i understand it was largely influential to rpgs as a whole.

while most dragon quest games are unrelated to the previous games plotwise and none of the previous dq games need to be played, the first 3 are all related and involve a legendary hero known as Erdrick (Roto in japan) and are thus known as the erdrick/roto trilogy. however, for reasons i won't explain in case anyone doesn't know and doesn't want to be spoiled, dragon quest iii can be played first of this trilogy/

now, the dragon quest series has not had a great history with localisation before the publishers, enix, merged with square to form square enix as we know them today. prior to this, the dragon quest series was known as dragon warrior in the west due to unavailability of the name dragon quest in the US. these localisations also lacked the goofy charm and only one spin-off made it to europe.

the release history of this trilogy is notable, i'll provide screenshots from my spreadsheet detailing releases across 3 major regions:

now see, the snes versions were considered the best versions but as you can see, they were never localised. and even if they had been, that was during the dragon warrior era. the first time modern localisations released in the west and just any version in europe was with the versions for android and ios in 2014. most people don't wanna play a game originally designed for home consoles on their phone though. in which case they had to wait till 2019 for the switch versions (which had yet to be anounced when i played them myself).

it should be noted that, i think most western dq fans are unaware but, the 2019 switch versions are ports of the 2017 versions released simultaneously for ps4 and 3ds which are all similar to the android and ios versions. these are all... just... alright versions. very lame compared to others but okay and decent (they're at least reasonably priced for what they are).

the point is, it SUCKS that its taken so long for these iconic pieces of rpg history to get quality versions and localised with modern localised versions. dq3 hd-2d remake was even originally revealed in 2021 and we've had to wait 3 years to get an update on them.

BUT these are INSANELY GOOD versions holy FUCK i have been following this closely for a while.

if you want to play an iconic piece of rpg history, if you played dq11 as the newest and most welcoming to newcomers and wanted to play the trilogy it calls back to most (if you played to the true ending, you know), if you want to start on this series in release order... well dragon quest i & ii hd-2d remake releases next year i guess you can always come back to this, if you played some of the inferior versions and want to see this game done justice, if you just want to play a pretty game, THE TIME IS NEARLY UPON US.

let me set the scene: EHEM.

the world is threatened by the archfiend, Baramos. your father, Ortega, a revered hero, left on a quest to slay the archfiend and never returned. it's your 16th birthday. you're now old enough to pick up your father's quest. set out, explore the world, find out what happened to Ortega, and SLAY BARAMOS. そして伝説へ… (soshite densetsu e...) AND THUS INTO LEGEND...

note: dragon quest iii differs from most dragon quest games in that you make your own custom party members. previously these characters have an appearance for their current vocation and then had 2 possible looks, as with the hero, for their gender. although most dragon quest games don't feature gender options, those that do like dragon quest iii, have switched of an ungendered type A and type B in new releases (since 2021 i believe). the custom party members from dragon quest iii also have received a type C and type D for more customisation. plus there's a new vocation now! the monster wrangler was not in previous versions of dq3. see the overview trailer:

some people aren't happy with dragon quest's "censorship," ungendering the appearance options and removing the exaggerated lips from the trolls that resembled racist caricatures. this is not the first dragon quest game to receive either of these changes but every official post about this one is getting some stupid comments from these people.

[iyashikeivixen]

VIK 10.08.3343 IE NH // TUE 12.05.2023 CE GD

It appears I was wrong on *several* levels regarding the nature of my innerworld, as well as my kintype.[1]

After much reflection, our innerworld’s genres appear to be (1) mythic historical iyashikei (albeit with Brothers Grimmesque folkloric / psychological horror elements), and (2) Arcadian Filianic media.

Similar works include “Spice and Wolf” by Isuna Hasekura, “Violet Evergarden” by Kana Akatsuki, “Little Goody Two Shoes” by AstralShift & Square Enix — *MAJOR* vibes with LGTS, by the way — and *especially* “Aristasia” by The Aristasia Community.

I (Yashi) appear to be a vixen spirit (one of the local minor geniae, to use a Filianic term) very similar to Holo from “Spice and Wolf”. We (the Orchards) are ALL spirits, as far as we know (there’s five of us). [2]

Rhiannë (aka Kyria, our godshard of Dea Filia) is a horsegirl (like those in “Uma Musume Pretty Derby” by Cygames) as opposed to a centaur, because… that’s just easier to visualize, I guess. Yasumi (if that’s still her name) is a local minor folk janya of healing. Sophie’s an attendant of Sai Candrë, which is a mythological pun — she’s an insomniac rabbitgirl, and in Japanese folklore, the moon (Sai Candrë’s sphere)’s associated with rabbits. This would also explain why Sophie looks so tired all the time: because her job requires her to work at night, yet she (Sophie) still interacts with the rest of the Orchards during daylight hours! Blueberry might be of the shiani (Filianic fae), but I’m still not quite sure. I’ll have to make it a point to ask her sooner or later.

Roughly 99% of other maids only see us Orchards as everyday Axials (ie “typical” intemorphs, of which, in this particular innerworld, there’s a bare minimum of *seven* feminine types — each based upon one or more of the myriad janyatic principles). [3] That said, this kinda-sorta works similar to Amaterasu’s divine markings in “Ōkami” by Clover Studio & Capcom — we (the Orchards) can see one another’s true forms, but most maids who aren’t spirit-beings or spiritually attuned can’t see our animal ears, tails, wings, etc.

The main area of the innerworld is Saresgrove. In older English, “sare” means “withered, rotten, dry, melancholy, etc”. Thus, “Saresgrove” more or less means “a sort of gloomy, withered wooded area”.

There are monsters of the week in the form of keres (Filianic demons) such as Anxietas, Dysphoria, etc. There’s a nearby wooded area called the Deepwoods (which is safe(ish?) for exploration), and then there’s the *Deeperwoods* (which is where all the eldritch horrors and monsters of the week lurk in the dark).

Overall, the historical era appears to be some kind of anachronism stew between c. 1400 and 1910 CE GD.

No magic in Saresgrove — Saresgrove’s very similar to the not!Europe of “Spice and Wolf” in this regard. That said, doors exist between media-worlds in the form of a phenomenon known as Sai Brighë’s Door.

〜　〜　〜　〜　〜　〜　〜　〜　〜　〜　〜　〜　〜

[1] …Now that I think of it, I might’ve been right on both kintypes all along — I’m a vixen genia, yes, but I’m *also* from an all-girl world (and, thus, an alien).

[2] That is to say, there’s five of us *for now* (as of SUC 10.25.3343 IE NH // FRI 12.22.2023 CE GD).

[3] We’d like to clarify that, while Saresgrove seems to be some form of protectorate / territory / etc. of the Queendom of Arcadia in Internalia, schizomorphs (i.e. beings from not-all-female worlds) are more than welcome. For instance, Kyria Rhiannë seems to have greenlighted Flocke [LGTS] for entry to Saresgrove, if / when we find out what happens in Kieferberg. Additionally, there’s at least *one* anthropomorph.

[virtualfotodivision]

06.24.2023 | Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Captured on Xbox Series X.

[dmdarius]

Let's Play Constantine |01| Going To Hell

The 2000's have some of my favorite movies related to comic books, even though I rarely touch on them even at the time. 2005's Constantine was one of my faves, and how could I not like it?! It's got a cynical exorcist, demons, Keanu Reeves and Pre-Transformers Shia LaBeouf! So how do you think the movie tie in plays?

#constantine #ps2 #retro #DC

[oveliagirlhaditright]

This is a pretty cute mug...

[chuuku]

Finally taking a break from FFXVI! I know the director Yoshi-p lost respect points during a interview in the past concerning people of color not really being included in the game. It got backlash I know.

But the alternative? Ooh boy I don't want to see a black bearer at all. This shit would have brought generational trauma back and it would have square enix's name all over it.

I saw the phrase "bearer-lover" and was like in my head, "thank God all them bearers are white."

I give you props yoshi-p, keep black people and poc as characters the hell away from this narrative. As a black person just this once I'll be like yeah I don't think we were in medieval times super slave Europe magic land.

[they-have-the-same-va]

Gumball Watterson from The Amazing World of Gumball shares a voice actor with Hazuki Mikagi from NEO: The World Ends With You.

Voiced by Nicolas Cantu