Nintendo has announced that Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King will be available in Europe on May 20, 2008 for 1,500 Wii Points (GBP 7 / EUR 10) from the WiiWare service. The title has been released in North America yesterday and received impressive reviews. According to various forum posts the game is around 10-15~ hours long, and is extremely addictive.

Source: Forever-Fantasy.

Nintendo’s WiiWare service has launched today across North America, and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King has been released. The game is available for download from the service for 1,500 Wii Points. Here’s a snippet from Nintendo’s press release: “My Life as a King takes a legendary franchise and launches it into the realm of simulation gaming. Players are challenged to rebuild a kingdom, leading its young king on a path of discovery through an adventure bristling with mystery and intrigue.”

Source: Forever-Fantasy

Square Enix has announced that it will be releasing Final Fantasy XI 2008 Edition across Europe on May 23, 2008 for the Xbox 360 and PC. The new edition includes the original game and all available expansions: Rise of the Zilart, Chains of Promathia, Treasures of Aht Urghan and the latest expansion pack Wings of the Goddess.

John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. comments:

“The world of FINAL FANTASY XI continues to grow with both new content and new players. FINAL FANTASY XI 2008 Edition allows interested players to join the adventure with the bonus of all the expansion pack content. I hope many more players enjoy and experience the exciting world of Vana’diel and all that FINAL FANTASY XI has to offer.”

Source: Forever Fantasy.

Square Enix has released the latest Final Fantasy IV: The After episode for i-mode mobile phones, which is focused on Porom. It is now available for 315 Yen.

Source: Forever Fantasy.

Square Enix has launched the official North American website of Final Fantasy IV. It’s empty for now, but at least you can kick back and enjoy the wonderful Theme of Love that’s playing in the background.

» Go to: Official FFIV NA website

Source: Forever Fantasy.

Square Enix has officially announced that Final Fantasy IV will be released in Europe during the Summer. Here’s a snippet from the press release: “Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces that FINAL FANTASY® IV will be released across PAL territories in Summer 2008 exclusively on the Nintendo DS™ system.”

Source: Forever-Fantasy.

Today’s Famitsu issue revealed another batch of new Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King additions:
- [100 Points] Castle Update
- [200 Points] Library: Allows your people to memorize race-specific abilities. Coming in June.
- [300 Points] 11 Dungeons Pack: Adds 11 new dungeons. Coming this month.
- [300 Points] Tower of Eternity: New dungeon - Once one of your adventurers beats the powerful creature that’s inside you gain an “unvaluable treasure”. Coming in June.

Source: Forever-Fantasy

Square Enix has confirmed the recent rumors and announced they are bringing Final Fantasy IV’s Nintendo DS remake to North America on July 22, 2008. The story, for those unfamiliar with the game: “Four elemental Crystals, each possessing awesome power, lie scattered throughout the realm. However, men are quick to covet things which offer strength, and easily corrupted by the might which they possess…

Seduced by the promised power of the Crystals, the kingdom of Baron begins employing unprovoked force to seize them from peaceful nations. The dark knight Cecil – Lord Captain of Baron’s elite force, the Red Wings – is ordered by his king to obtain the Crystals, but soon begins to question the monarch’s motives. Stricken with grief at his own actions, yet burdened by his loyalty to his country and his personal sense of honor, Cecil at last decides to turn from the path of darkness and destruction.

Enraged, the king accuses him of disloyalty, strips Cecil of his command, and sends him off to slay a mysterious beast that lurks in the nearby Valley of Mist. Cecil embarks on a fateful journey that will bring trials, betrayals, friendship, loss and self-discovery. Can Cecil open his eyes and become the man of honor that he must be?”

Source: Forever-Fantasy.

The full Final Fantasy IV interview that was published in Nintendo Power’s May issue has surfaced online. It features many new details regarding the Nintendo DS remake, and Takashi Tokita, director of the original Final Fantasy IV, reveals that he is working on a new project: “I’m currently working on an unannounced title that’s being developed on a scale no different than that of the original FF4, and I hope North American gamers will give it a try.”

- This is by far the most difficult version of Final Fantasy IV.
- Useless abilities from the original version (Cry, Pray, etc) have been changed significantly to make them more useful.
- The team has addressed every criticism of the Final Fantasy III remake: More detailed character, loading times, wider set of abilities, etc.
- Bosses were all rebalanced, so people who played the older versions won’t be able to use “tricks” to beat them easily.
- New auto-battle system: You assign a single action for each character and they repeatedly carry out that move.
- Lunar Ruins from FFIV Advance is not included, however a New Game+ mode with additional augments and new optional bosses has been added.
- Summons are called Eidolons, as a tribute to Final Fantasy IX fans.
- Confirmed: Only 25% of the original story was used due to space limitations.
- Asano thinks creating old-school RPG’s with present-day technology is going well, and Square Enix shouldn’t limit themselves to just remakes.

Source: Final Fantasy

Square Enix has released another Final Fantasy IV: The After episode for mobile phones, this time focusing on Yang Fang Leiden. If you are interested then be prepared to spend 315 Yen.

Source: Final Fantasy