Bravely Default will be coming to the Nintendo 3DS in 2014 according to the latest Nintendo Direct. Nintendo will be working with Square Enix to publish the game, similar to their relationship with the Dragon Quest series localizations. Bravely Default: Flying Fairy features a classic Final Fantasy job system, with four endearing protagonists and an unforgettable soundtrack. European fans will get the game some time in 2013.
You can watch today’s announcement in Nintendo Direct by clicking here.
For Square Enix Members in Japan, Square Enix has cooked up a new browser game features and amalgam of franchise crossovers — including Final Fantasy. In the above trailer you can see characters, outfits, and monsters from Bravely Default: Flying Fairy, Final Fantasy XII, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers, and Final Fantasy Type-0 to name a few.
This isn’t limited to Final Fantasy, as Deus Ex: Human Revolution‘s Adam Jensen (who probably didn’t ask for this) makes a stealthy cameo — as well as the King of Hell from Army Corps of Hell. The browser game pits players against various monsters to level up their abilities and includes many of the social game gimmicks seen in titles like Bravely Default: Praying Brage and the upcoming Kingdom Hearts χ[chi].
Square Enix Legend World is currently announced for Japan and a Members account is required to play.
Promotional video for the Linked Horizon Live Concert DVD/Blu-ray, featuring the music of Bravely Default: Flying Fairy.
The game’s soundtrack is composed by Revo and performed by Sound Horizon. More on that here.
Since its release last October in Japan, things have been mum on a Bravely Default: Flying Fairy localization announcement. The Nintendo 3DS title is a game of Final Fantasy caliber, fit with the series’ classic job system and turn-based combat. You can view a lengthy video detailing the game’s systems by clicking here. Today, the game’s official Twitter operator tweeted to followers that with translation help, they are able to receive messages from fans overseas.
For those of you interested in localization (which should be many of you), now’s your chance to tell Square Enix Japan that you’ll gladly “look forward to it!” Let them know via Twitter, using the hashtag #BDFF (Bravely Default Flying Fairy).
Fans have set up a social media campaign to spread information about the game to other Final Fantasy fans (and fans of RPGs worldwide) to bring this game overseas. You can find out more about Operation Brave by viewing their petition here, as well as links to their various social media arms.
久しぶりにTwitterにアクセスしました。外国の方の声、ちゃんと届いてますよ！I accessed Twitter after a long absence. A voice of the foreign one arrives properly!※翻訳ソフトを使用してます
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy released last October for the 3DS in Japan. A veritable dream team of developers that honed their skills on Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Mana, and SaGa titles joined with Silicon Studio to create a game that harkens back to Final Fantasy’s days of pre-rendered backgrounds vastly customizable job systems. After the game’s launch, a sequel browser game entitled Bravely Default: Praying Brage brought a social element to the budding franchise.
It appears that Bravely Default producer Tomoya Asano isn’t stopping there, as per a new interview with 4gamer. Sometime this year through next year, he would like to prepare something for fans to look forward to, aside from content updates to Praying Brage. (The interview consisted mostly of Praying Brage questions.) This is also why the game’s official twitter has been a bit silent with regard to information about the series. Asano divulges that Flying Fairy has shipped 300,000 units in Japan, with actual sales reaching that amount by the end of this month.
He has also been gathering feedback about the game from Japanese Square Enix Members through a survey about its various elements. One question posed to fans was about the implementation of an auto-saving feature. Many strongly replied “No!” as you would be unable to restart the game to correct mistakes like missing items or being ill-prepared. Asano determined that an automatic save and a manual save to file was the best way to proceed.
Of course, that brings us to the topic of Bravely Default: Flying Fairy’s localization. Currently, there are no plans, but fans have taken it upon themselves to spread the word about the game and gather signatures as a mark of overseas support. You can learn more about Operation Brave, by clicking here.
Happy New Year from Final Fantasy Network! I hope you’re not too hungover this fine Tuesday morning, because we’re recappin’! 2012 was a pretty exciting year of Final Fantasy announcements, news, and releases, and so we’ve compiled some of the biggest news-makers that made our eyes widen, our heads shake, or bodies seize uncontrollably with one emotion and then another. …Ok, that last one was just me.
Just to be frank, I was going to write you all a nice long poem, but I couldn’t find a decent word to rhyme with Theatrhythm amidst my “New Years reverie”. You’re going to have to settle with a few sub-par limericks interspersed in the article. If you think you can do better (you can’t), leave a merry Final Fantasy limerick of your own in the comments section.
For those less inclined to poetic expression, let’s hear your thoughts on this year’s events and the year that’s to come. What are you most excited to see this year? What were some of your biggest disappointments of 2012? Feel free to check out the video playlist below featuring some of the video highlights of the year, too.
FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 RELEASES
On January 31st, Final Fantasy XIII-2 released in North America for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. A sequel to the original Final Fantasy XIII, XIII-2 featured Lightning’s younger sister Serah Farron and time-travelling behemoth hunter Noel Kreiss. The game itself was built on feedback and concerns from players not entirely smitten with the first outing, resulting in a game that had less corridor-esque level design and encouraged more exploration.
Despite this, Final Fantasy XIII-2 wasn’t without controversy, as when players finally reached the end credits, they were greeted with a “To Be Continued…” message. At first, fans speculated that post-release scenario DLC would be the ending to this tale, but over the year as more DLC released, a full-on threequel became plausible. Lo and behold, at the end of a long summer, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII was announced as the finale in the Lighting Saga trilogy.
A duo named Serah and Noel,
throughout time and space on a stroll,
met a bad guy named Caius
and a Yeul very pious.
They messed up the world as a toll.
THEATRHYTHM: FINAL FANTASY RELEASES
On July 3rd, Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy landed on 3DS handhelds in North America, toting with it the vast repertoire of Final Fantasy music preserved as it originally appeared. The rhythm-based RPG let you select four heroes from the Final Fantasy franchse, designed by Monster Octopus, and level them up by completing various stages that put players back in classic Final Fantasy locales and cutscenes. Later this year, a mobile version of Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy released on iOS, with additional paid content.
10 YEARS OF FINAL FANTASY XI & SEEKERS OF ADOULIN ANNOUNCED
At the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Event in August, the 5th expansion for Final Fantasy XI was announced: Seekers of Adoulin. Launching in 2013, the expansion will send adventurers to the continent of Ulbuka where the great city of Adoulin awaits. In addition to brand new Player-vs-Environment content, two new jobs will join the roster — Geomancer and Rune Fencer. The expansion will be available for PC and Xbox 360 users, but if you are a PS2 subscriber, note that support will be limited to Japan. Final Fantasy XI director Akihiko Matsui unveiled some ambitious new projects for the MMO, including revisions to major gameplay systems based on player feedback as well as a hefty update to the game’s user interface.
Tetsuya Nomura’s rendition of Prishe, Shantotto, Kam’lanaut, and Eald’narche from Final Fantasy XI. (@bKvEBVAvUq)
15 YEARS OF FINAL FANTASY VII & PC VERSION RE-RELEASE
Previously published under Eidos back in the 90s, Final Fantasy VII is no stranger to the PC — well, if you’re not old and decrepit like most of us that remember it’s release. We first got a hint of the project back when Steam registry files uncovered a port of Final Fantasy VII and VIII’s original PC version, but things remained silent for upwards of a year. Square Enix updated the PC version with achievement support as well as cloud saving this year for release on it’s official e-Store.
Ten years have gone by for Eleven,
fifteen if you count our dear Seven.
Keep HD remakes at bay,
remember them this way.
Surely this is true F.F. heaven.
FINAL FANTASY XIV: THE END OF AN ERA & A REALM REBORN
It’s been a long, tough road for Final Fantasy XIV, and with Version 1.0 coming to an indefinite close, Square Enix decided to treat its remaining subscribers to an end-of-the-world party. While the final in-game event was mired with lag and disconnected players, it ultimately paid a fitting farewell to a game that had stumbled out of the gate and fell flat on its face. When all was said and done, Square Enix released the End of an Era trailer the night servers shut down, portraying the aftermath of the clash between the Eorzean Alliance and the forces of Garlemald as expertly as Square Enix Visual Works could muster.
Over the next several months, we learned more about Final Fantasy XIV’s encroaching rebirth under director Naoki “Yoshi-P” Yoshida. With each system that brought Version 1.0 its failures being scrapped and built from the ground up, a new vision of the game has begun to emerge. Recently the alpha testing phase concluded, with beta scheduled to commence mid-February. According to the new road map, Final Fantasy XIV should release closer to summer — behind schedule, but director Yoshida assures fans that this time they want to take the time to deliver. They insist that this time they will provide an experience worthy of the franchise caliber.
Kazuya Takahashi illustrates the Wandering Minstrel (Yoshi-P) with his Final Fantasy XIV baby-monster friends.
Eorzea returns in Version Two,
where I’ll get back my slimy goobbue.
I miss my idlin’
In splendid Hydaelyn
But my desk chair will just have to do.
LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII ANNOUNCED
After Final Fantasy XIII-2′s cliffhanger ending and “To Be Continued…” message, many fans saw the writing on the wall — a third Final Fantasy XIII game was incoming. Officially announced as part of the Lightning Saga New Developments panel at the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Event, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII will serve as the epilogue to the XIII trilogy with heroine Lightning at its forefront.
A markedly different approach than XIII-2, players will control only Lightning as she traverses the world of Novus Partus, a broken realm distorted by the flood of Chaos five hundred years prior. However, time is working against Lightning, as she has thirteen days before the end of the world to complete Bhunivelze’s mission: to guide the souls of humanity to a new world. Lightning’s journey will be a highly malleable one; with each play-through potentially yielding experience based on Lightning’s actions. Lightning herself is highly customizable through her equipment and abilities, and combat has been changed significantly — where timing abilities to break apart enemy weak spots will be your advantage.
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is expected to release for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in the latter half of 2013.
A woman returned named Lightning,
whose outfit was rather frightening.
Not a belt or a zipper,
now towels are hipper,
surely this game will be enlightening.
THE YEAR OF FINAL FANTASY MOBILE
This year saw a multitude of releases for iPhone and Android-powered smartphones, including Final Fantasy Dimensions (Final Fantasy Legends: Warriors of Light and Darkness). The game itself is a throwback to the SNES-era Final Fantasy games, but told in an episodic fashion, and a cast of two bands of warriors. Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade (Final Fantasy Brigade) also made the localization cut, a gachapon-style Final Fantasy game aimed at those who play games on their smartphone sparingly. Titles like these weren’t expected to make the jump, what with titles like Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII never making the cut, but many fans were surprised when these titles were announced for localization.
Final Fantasy IV recently made the jump to iOS, with more on the way. Accompanying the official iOS trailer for the game, Square Enix revealed Final Fantasy V (and more, presumably Final Fantasy VI) will make their way to smartphones in some form.
TO BE DETERMINED…
Of course, there are three titles that have yet to reach North American shores (one of which is still six years in limbo and still going). Final Fantasy Type-0 for PlayStation Portable has yet to release overseas, despite involved personnel citing the game’s localization as near complete. The reasoning behind Type-0′s stalled fate may be due to weakness in the portable handheld market (minus smartphones and tablets) with regard to PSP and its successor the PlayStation Vita. This may also be the reason behind Bravely Default: Flying Fairy’s lack of a localization after shallow sales of Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light on the DS and with 3DS on shaky ground outside Japan.
A small shoutout must be paid to Final Fantasy X HD, announced over a year ago at Tokyo Game Show 2011. In the time that has elapsed, not a single screenshot nor trailer has made it online, spurring many to believe the game had entered development hell or had been dealt a quiet death. Speculation over problems with the game’s pre-rendered backgrounds being an uphill battle to convert to HD often dominate the discussion amongst anxious fans, though no official announcement nor update regarding the PS3 and Vita-bound title has enlightened us with its development status.
Alas, we’re still without Type-0.
We’re in need of some sort of hero.
Those kids clad in red,
we hope they aren’t dead,
but waiting for our hard-earned DeNiro.
Luminous is something you’ll probably be seeing a lot of with regard to Square Enix games in the future, starting with Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn and next in Final Fantasy Versus XIII. When the engine itself was unveiled at this year’s E3 in the form of the Agni’s Philosophy tech demo, a lot of rumors swirled that this was the emerging face of a next-generation Final Fantasy XV. Square Enix themselves asked for fan feedback on the main character and world displayed in this tech demo, leading some to believe they were weighing their options — that Agni’s Philosophy could in fact become the next mainline Final Fantasy installment.
One other title we heard bits and pieces about this year was the never-ending saga of Final Fantasy Versus XIII. The current buzz has Versus delayed so that Square Enix can focus the bulk of its developer manpower on finishing Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn — which is quite possible. Aside from all this, many cryptic hints were dropped by Square Enix staff, including Final Fantasy series executive producer Shinji Hashimoto and director Tetsuya Nomura himself. While the amalgamation of teasing and vague hints have yet to produce any scrapings of Versus’s ongoing development (other than CEO Yoichi Wada’s confirmation that the project is not dead) 2013 may be the year where we see Versus again.
Final Fantasy Versus XIII is still hidden in the sleep, after overdosing on a bottle of Ambien.
There once was a game called Versus
that now causes fans to spit curses.
How long must we will wait,
for the new release date?
‘Fore the dev team are laid in their hearses?
On November 27th in Japan, Dengeki Online will be holding a special live stream on the subject of Bravely Default. Producer Tomoya Asano will be in attendance as well as Mai Aizawa, whom voices the character of Idea Lee.
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy for the 3DS released in October (for Japan), and a browser game called Bravely Default: Praying Brage. While we expect some of the coverage to be about Praying Brage, a survey was sent out to Japanese readers prior to the upcoming broadcast. The survey asked them what new they would like to see in a sequel to Flying Fairy, new jobs and themes for example. In the past Square Enix, specifically Tomoya Asano, hasn’t shied away from hinting sequel plans or franchise potential.
The live stream will commence at 9PM JST on NicoNicoDouga, a Japanese video sharing website similar to YouTube. It requires an account to view, and you can register here. When the stream is scheduled, we will provide a link to watch, as well as keep yout updated on the details that emerge!
It’s been over a year since Final Fantasy Type-0 released in Japan, and fans abroad have yet to hear any thing definitive about a localization or not. The game’s director, Hajime Tabata, was recently interviewed by Gamespot’s Jonathan Toyad about his body of work including Type-0. In regards to the current situation about the game’s localization:
Jonathan Toyad, Gamespot: Will FF Type-0 be localized for North America and Europe? If so, when? Hajime Tabata: Due to market reasons, we are taking a clean slate in terms of our plans. We feel strongly about bringing this title to the fans in North America and Europe, so if an opportunity arises that can become a conclusive factor, we are prepared to go into consideration right away.
Tabata’s comment echoes what even some fans have acknowledged as an increasingly sluggish market for handheld games outside of mobile devices from Apple, for example. Note that Tabata implies that Square Enix seems to be re-evalutating the localization prospects all of its recent, current, and upcoming titles — so decisions may be forthcoming for titles such as Bravely Default: Flying Fairy too.
To read the entirety of Gamespot’s interview with Hajime Tabata, click here.
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy for the Nintendo 3DS will get a digital release in Japan. Available November 1st for ¥5400 ($67USD), players will be able to download the game from the Nintendo 3DS eShop. The physical in-store brick-and-mortar release occurred on October 11th, yet no plans for overseas release have been explicitly announced. Bravely Default producer Tomoya Asano has expressed some reservations about a localization, citing he was concerned about if the scenario would translate well for audiences abroad.
In the newest issue of Famitsu, Square Enix details a new PC browser game entitled Bravely Default: Praying Brage, an offshoot of the 3DS game that launched this month in Japan. You play as Idea Lee Noblesse Oblige, whose name seems to combine the two female protagonists from the 3DS game: Idea Lee and Agnes Noblesse Oblige. She is the crystal maiden of wind competing with the other crystal maidens of fire, water, and earth. The PC game will be connected in some form to the 3DS title, and will have similar gameplay.
The title is free-to-play and will enter its beta phase on November 1st in Japan.
Update: Famitsu.com has updated with images and information regarding the game. Taking place two hundred years after the conclusion of Flying Fairy, the world is again on the verge of collapse. A mysterious event causes an ocean in the south of Luxendarc to completely evaporate. Idea Lee Noblesse Oblige is the Crystal Maiden of Wind, though no direct association was given to the characters in Flying Fairy that share her name.
From four floating islands, she and the other Crystal Maidens of Fire, Water, and Earth vie for control of the crystals and domination of Luxendarc. You will make use of over twenty jobs to battle monsters and other players competitively and cooperatively. Taking part in scenarios and quests will further advance your Crystal Maiden’s progress to domination.
The newest four additions to the Bravely Default: Flying Fairy job lineup are Holy Knight, Dark Knight, Devout, and Magus. Each of our four protagonists will be able to use these jobs by defeating their corresponding Jobmasters — and you can read up more on those folks in this post.
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy will release on October 11th in Japan. For more coverage, hit up the “Bravely Default” filter to the right!
