Final Fantasy series executive producer Shinji Hashimoto posted an update to the Official US PlayStation Blog today to announce that select Final Fantasy titles on the PlayStation Network will be 50% off when the store updates tomorrow.
Similar sales have taken place in Europe to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the series. So for those of you who have yet to round out your PSone classics collection or need to get Dissidia, now’s your chance to save some green in the process! The following titles on discount are:
PlayStation Portable:
Dissidia 012[duodecim]: Final Fantasy
Dissidia 012 Prologus: FINAL FANTASY
Dissidia: Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy IV: Complete Collection
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
PSone Classics:
Final Fantasy I
Final Fantasy II
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy VI
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy IX
Square Enix had yet another surprirse for Final Fantasy fans as part of the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Event festivities: novelizations for the first three games. Kenji Terada originally crafted the scenarios for these games, with a Final Fantasy II novel after release entitled “Muma no Meikyū/Nightmare’s Labyrinth”. This, of course, was years ago now.
Entitled Final Fantasy: Memory of Heroes, the novel will be available sometime this fall in Japan.
At the closing of this year’s VanaFest, on the 10th anniversary of Final Fantasy XI, Hiromichi Tanaka announced to fans across the globe that he will be leaving Square Enix due to health concerns. Tanaka has been with Square, before it became Squaresoft and then Square Enix, as a founding member alongside Hironobu Sakaguchi.
Working on the first four numbered Final Fantasy games, Tanaka-san eventually became the lead of Production Department 3 and Square Enix’s first MMORPG: Final Fantasy XI. Heading the project for many years, he then shifted his focus to Project Rapture, which became Final Fantasy XIV. After release, he passed the torch to Naoki “Yoshi-P” Yoshida to return to work on Final Fantasy XI. Akihiko Matsui will continue in Tanaka’s place as producer.
A legendary figure in the Final Fantasy series, we here at Final Fantasy Network wish him a swift recovery and endless thanks for the many years he has invested in our favorite franchise. All the best!
Greetings, Final Fantasy fans! I’m Taylor, the newest writer here on Final Fantasy Network. What I’ll be doing here is posting a weekly column every Monday, detailing happenings in the music remixing community as it pertains to this fine series. In fact, I was the one who linked that fine Final Fantasy VI track featured here a few days back!
I’ve loved video game music for most of my life, and it was Nobuo Uematsu’s wondrous compositions from Final Fantasy IV and VII that first stuck in my head. I’ve befriended many remixers with the same love for the music as I have, and am a part of a few communities related to this interest. As a matter of fact, I’m actually directing an album myself, dedicated to the many Cids of Final Fantasy. More on that in another column though. I had a plan to feature a trailer for an upcoming album for my first installment, but as it turns out that album was released today. How’s that for perfect timing?
Final Fantasy: Random Encounter is a joint effort of sorts between OverClocked ReMix and The Shizz, featuring musicians from both sites. Featuring 21 tracks by 20 artists, encompassing the entire original soundtrack including a couple of songs from the remakes, the album is a rather metallic journey throughout the original game’s world and music.
Project director Brandon Strader, also a musician on the album, had this to say:
“This album is the result of three things: 1) an immense love for Nobuo Uematsu and his work, 2) an immense love for metal, and 3) the kind of comraderie [sic] that only the most grim and frostbitten of metalheads will ever know. Words can’t express the level of gratitude I have for everyone who helped this album become what it is today, and who continue to support the successive albums for Final Fantasy II and III.
A huge thanks is owed to every musician who performed for this album in any way, Edward Dennis who created mind-blowingly good artwork for the album, Donald and The Shizz for hosting our project discussion during the development phases, and last but not least OverClocked ReMix and its staff for their hard work and for helping us release the album on OC ReMix.”
The album was hand delivered to original composer Nobuo Uematsu back in January during MAGFest X, and now it is finally available for the rest of the world to listen to. Rock out, and prepare yourself for the Final Fantasy II album, by the same group of people, coming soon to an internet near you. Until next time, game on!
Final Fantasy: Random Encounter is available free of charge; you can download it via OCReMix’s site here. If you’d like to reach me regarding this segment, tweet me: @MirbyStudios
One of Square Enix’s newest entries into the SQ line of arrangement albums is Beer SQ, a beer-themed trip to the pub with remixes of classic Square tunes. The artists and genres representing range from oh-so-moshable gypsy punk, to swing quartets, to sitaar solos.
You can listen to four one-minute long samples of the album in the video below.
If you’re unfamiliar with the SQ collection, Square Enix Music features many differing talents from around the globe and their take on Square Enix music. Beer SQ will release on July 4th, 2012 — retailing in Japan for 1890 JPY. More at the official album website here.
01“Main Theme of Final Fantasy” FINAL FANTASY SERIES (Räfven) 02“Gold Saucer” FINAL FANTASY VII (Elequesta Of Tabla) 03“Guardia Millennial Fair” CHRONO TRIGGER (ブルームーンカルテット Blue Moon Quartet) 04“Roman & Vorspiel” SAGA FRONTIER 2 (Drakskip) 05“Can You Fly Sister?” SEIKEN DENSETSU 3 (MOHIKAN FAMILY’S) 06“Wanderer” LIVE-A-LIVE (RF) 07“Spinach Rag ~ Character Medley” FINAL FANTASY VI (Rio Okano) 08“Prelude” FINAL FANTASY SERIES (AlayaVijana)
For Final Fantasy’s 25th anniversary, series composer Nobuo Uematsu has produced a new album (soon to be albums) featuring piano arrangements of Final Fantasy songs performed by pianist Hiroyuki Nakayama. Piano Opera: Final Fantasy I/II/III will be available on February 29th for ¥2800. You can hear a preview in the video below!
01: Prelude ~ Opening (FFI) 02: Main Theme (FFI) 03: Town Medley (FFI/II/III) 04: Mount Gulg (FFI) 05: Matoya’s Cave (FFI) 06: Main Theme (FFII) 07: The Rebel Army (FFII) 08: Tower of the Magi (FFII) 09: Battle Medley (FFI/II/III) 10: The Boundless Ocean (FFIII) 11: Crystal Cave (FFIII) 12: Eternal Wind (FFIII) 13: This is the Last Battle (FFIII)
Earlier this week, Square Enix released Final Fantasy Origins on the PlayStation Network. The compilation of the first two Final Fantasy games are but one of the many ports and remakes of the original NES games, and the first to introduce opening FMV cinematics to both titles. Before you take a dive into the past, check out what makes this version unique.
Released back in 2003 for the PlayStation, Final Fantasy Origins is just about a decade old now. The game itself shares many similarities with the Wonder Swan Color remakes that are exclusive to Japan, but came packaged with a bevy of new presentation upgrades such as a remastered soundtrack and FMV sequences. Nobuo Uematsu and Tsuyoshi Sekito, alum of the now-defunct The Black Mages, composed and arranged music for the titles.
Pre-rendered cinematics serve as the prologue for each game, bringing to life new character designs for the Warrior of Light and the cast of Final Fantasy II. The new in-game sprites reflected designs originally produced by Yoshitaka Amano many years ago. While minimal, the FMV cutscenes do have voice acting, the only PlayStation Final Fantasy to do so.
Final Fantasy Origins keeps the spell tier system of the original Final Fantasy I intact, instead of a MP system that was introduced in its sequel.
Subsequent ports and remakes on the PSP, GBA, and for smartphones, feature additional content such as new dungeons and extra scenarios. For those without the convenience of a handheld gaming platform, Final Fantasy Origins is your best bet to experience a bit of series nostalgia, remixed for the PlayStation era.
Final Fantasy Origins is available for download today on the PlayStation Network for $9.99.
A demo of Final Fantasy XIII-2 will be available on the North American version of the PlayStation Network next week (likely Tuesday) along with a new PSone Classic: Final Fantasy Origins. Final Fantasy Origins includes the PlayStation versions of Final Fantasy I and II for $9.99. This information coming from the latest episode of the PlayStation Blogcast.
Update: The demo will be also be available on Xbox Live next week.
At long last, a piano arrangement album is on its way, featuring the songs of the first three Final Fantasy games composed by Nobuo Uematsu. The official website opened today, in which a sample of the Final Fantasy “Prelude” is playing. The album will be available in Japan on February 29th, 2012 for ¥2800/$36. Sample more below:
01: Prelude ~ Opening (Final Fantasy)
02: Main Theme (Final Fantasy)
03: Street Medley (Final Fantasy I/II/III)
04: Gurgu Volcano (Final Fantasy)
05: Matoya’s Cave (Final Fantasy)
06: Main Theme (Final Fantasy II)
07: Rebel Army Theme (Final Fantasy II)
08: Magician’s Tower (Final Fantasy II)
09: Battle Medley (Final Fantasy I/II/III)
10: Endless Ocean (Final Fantasy III)
11: The Cave Where the Crystal is (Final Fantasy III)
12: Eternal Wind (Final Fantasy III)
13: Final Battle (Final Fantasy III)
Sony Computer Entertainment Japan updated their official site tonight with new releases for PSN next week. Included is Final Fantasy I and Final Fantasy II Anniversary edition, available download for ¥2,100 on February 22nd. As we reported earlier, Square-Enix Europe has also announced these games for the PlayStation Network as well, which will be coming out February 16th (FFI) and March 2nd (FFII). The PSP versions of the game include: remastered graphics and music, the PlayStation version FMV cinematics, and the additional scenarios and dungeons included in the GameBoy Advance versions.
