For the first time ever, Square will be showing off new Nintendo games at E3. Believe it!Square Enix U.S.A., Inc. To Unveil Epic New Role Playing Games at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, May 14 - 16
LOS ANGELES, April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Square Enix U.S.A., Inc. ("Square Enix U.S.A."), publisher of Square Enix(TM) products in North America, today announced its Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) lineup of new video game releases for multiple gaming platforms. All of the games will be on display at the Square Enix U.S.A. booth (#624) in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Making its first E3 appearance since the recent merger between Square and Enix, Square Enix U.S.A. is poised to take role-playing games (RPGs) to the next level with a variety of innovative titles. The new company will continue its efforts to elevate the popularity of RPGs worldwide. The highly anticipated FINAL FANTASY®XI, the company's first venture into online gaming, will make its North American debut for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and the PC. The company will bring several high caliber role-playing games to the North American market -- UNLIMITED Saga(TM), FINAL FANTASY®X-2, STAR OCEAN(TM) Till the End of Time and Drakengard(TM) -- all for the PlayStation 2. In addition, Square Enix U.S.A. will showcase FINAL FANTASY® CRYSTAL CHRONICLES(TM) for the Nintendo GameCube(TM), and FINAL FANTASY TACTICS(TM) ADVANCE and SWORD of MANA(TM) for the Game Boy® Advance.
Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance Titles:
FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES
Exclusively developed for the Nintendo GameCube, FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES is the first title in the popular franchise for the platform. Elements of the traditional single-player RPG have been adapted for the Nintendo GameCube, allowing for up to four-player simultaneous play. In an innovative new interface, the Game Boy Advance acts as each player's controller, displaying his or her personal information and hiding it from other players. Players advance through the adventure by communicating directly with each other, cooperating and making deals. Since there are obstacles that only certain party members can clear, cooperative play becomes crucial. FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES will be released in 2003. This game is not yet rated. Nintendo of America Inc. will publish this game.
FINAL FANTASY TACTICS ADVANCE
FINAL FANTASY TACTICS ADVANCE is the first FINAL FANTASY title for the Game Boy Advance in North America. Gamers can look forward to an open-ended job class creation system, the intense strategic battle and an exhilarating storyline which made the original PlayStation® game, FINAL FANTASY TACTICS, one of the most critically acclaimed titles ever.
Players are thrust into the world of Ivalice, where they meet protagonist Marche and his friend, Mewt, who is struggling with family tragedies. After a snowball fight with school bullies, Mewt finds the book -- Final Fantasy -- and shares it with his friends. Looking to escape their dismal lives, they read it. However, something goes wrong and Ivalice is transformed into the world within the book. Thus Marche and friends begin their journey through the world of FINAL FANTASY.
Players can also unite with other players and form a party using the Game Boy Advance Game Link® cable. FINAL FANTASY TACTICS ADVANCE will be released in 2003. This game is rated "E" (Everyone). Nintendo of America Inc. will publish this game.
SWORD of MANA
SWORD of MANA is the latest installment in the celebrated Mana series, which includes FINAL FANTASY ADVENTURE (Game Boy), SECRET of MANA (Super Nintendo Entertainment System) and LEGEND of MANA for the PlayStation game console. SWORD of MANA is the first game in the series to appear on the Game Boy Advance.
Based on the storyline of FINAL FANTASY ADVENTURE, SWORD of MANA allows players to choose the role of hero or heroine. The player's choice changes his or her understanding of the story and relation to characters based on who is selected at the start of the game. With multiple possible experiences, replay value is high.
In addition to the visual upgrade and moving story, strategic elements have been added to the adventure, including a diverse selection of weapons. Players can select the best weapon for particular enemies, or choose from new attacks and magic spells. The popular "Ring Command System" returns, allowing players to easily choose items, weapons or abilities in battles. SWORD of MANA will be released in 2003. This game is not yet rated. Nintendo of America Inc. will publish this game.
If you'd like to read through the entire release, which goes into detail of Square's PS2 games, click here.