Square Enix announces Monster Hunter-style RPG

Update: The English website went live: http://lordofarcana.com/ 

Monster hunting games are quickly becoming one of Japan’s most beloved gaming genres thanks to Capcom’s Monster Hunter franchise. Square Enix is also going to jump on this bandwagon by putting Takamasa Shiba (Drakengard, Valkyrie Profile) in charge to create Lord of Arcana, a PSP game similar to Monster Hunter, which got its first reveal in Famitsu.

The game takes place in a fantasy world called ‘”Horodean’” which is protected by the power of Arcana (hence the title). You play the role of a Slayer who accepts monster hunting quests from various guilds. Using a variety of weapons you’ll take the evil creatures out and similar to Monster Hunter you can upgrade your weapons and other equipment afterwards.

Lords of Arcana, which bears no resemblance to Square Enix arcade game Lord of Vermillion, will allow up to 4 players to hunt some creatures and have some fun over LAN.  The game will be released somewhere in 2010, with a free demo scheduled in August on PSN . 

Below you can view the first scans and be sure to check back when higher quality ones are available. Thanks to terrAven for the heads-up! (Sources: 1up and jeuxactu)

 

New Trailers for Kingdom Hearts and The 3rd Birthday (Updated)

Kingdom Hearts Insider, has posted the first Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded Trailer (Cam) be sure to check it out.

This is the same Kingdom Hearts BbS trailer, that was shown during the 2009 Tokyo Game Show but this one has English voice acting and new gameplay action.

The first 3rd Birthday trailer, showing the actual gameplay and the Overdive system, it look cool and it appears that you can teleport to different location to protect yourself and have a better shot at your enemy.

You can also check out 1Ups preview of the game here

Dungeon Siege III Announced

Square Enix today announced, that Dungeon Siege III will be developed by Obsidian Entertainment who developed some amazing games like Neverwinter Nights II and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, to name a few and the game will be headed for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, this is also the first Dungeon Siege game being developed for consoles.

Dungeon Siege III, will have online multiplayer the game can be played cooperatively with four players , customizable characters and a story where the environment changes depending on the choices that you make.

The game will be developed under the supervision of Gas Powered Games, who developed the previous two games of the series and will be published by Square Enix, a release date has not been given but we can expect that at E3 along with a formal announcement and more information on the gameplay.

Sources: Siliconera and VG247

Read it and weep: Gameinformer interviews Tetsuya Normura

Statements made by Kingdom Hearts/Final Fantasy Versus XIII director Tetsuya Nomura in the latest issue of Gameinformer magaszine have certainly been making the waves this morning.

Its always a little hard to accept second hand info from a magazine not yet widely available as fact. Luckily we have scans!

The scans are high quality and very readable and they certainly confirm the reports. Its disheartening too see SE continue the trend of making non-committal statements about (quite ironically) titles that should be no-brainer money makers in a weakening global economy.

Hopefully E3 will provide some answers. You can count on us for all the biggest news!

Source

Pre-E3: Square Enix unveils Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Square Enix has released a trailer for the much anticipated Deus Ex: Human Revolution. The title is a first-person action-RPG set in the year 2027. Its world is said to mix elements of the renaissance with cyberpunk.

For those unaware, Deus Ex is a franchise that came under SE’s umbrella after their purchase and reformation of Eidos into Square Enix Europe. The original title was a critical darling upon its release in 2000. It had a lackluster sequel that followed in 2003. Human Revolution is a prequel to the first.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is set for release in early 2011. It will be on display at E3 2010 where it will be one of SE’s top priorities.

Source

Pre-E3: What is Nerkas?

AGB has posted a video taken from the inside of the Los Angeles Staples Center where Square Enix is apparently openly screening a trailer for something called Nerkas. The video seems to be set around civilians participating in urban combat with each other. It also seems to involve mind control. Siliconera reports that SE has trademarked both Mindhack and Mindjack previously and in various territories. Of special note is the fact that Mindjack is to be used for online video games.

Seeing as the video makes no mention of a specific console (or any console for that matter) our guess is that this Nerkas is SE’s next stab at the MMO genre.

Only two things are certain: this video is real and we’ll find out what it all means at E3.

Source

Square Enix prepping Eau de Toilette Cloud/Sephiroth

Square Enix is following up their Eau de Toilette Lightning perfume from last year with editions tailored for those who wish to carry the sent of Final Fantasy VII‘s protagonist Cloud Strife and antagonist Sephiroth.

While the original release of the Lightning edition baffled some, Destructoid points out that things only get worse in the product description.

Cloud’s unisex fragrance is made of mandarin, lemon, bergamot, melon, peach, and apricot which is backed by Lily of the Valley, jasmine, rose, freesia, carnation, and cyclamen. The base of the scent is cedarwood, sandalwood, amber, musk, oak moss, and vanilla.

So what do you think? It goes without saying this is certainly some of SE’s crappier merchandise. Both fragrances will be available in August 2010 for $85.90USD.

Source

Lightnings a brunette in this FFXIII cosplay

Final Fantasy XIII was recently released in China. Square Enix held a re-launch party for the games release in Hong Kong to commemorate the games launch. Cosplayers hosted the gathering and series producer Yoshinori Kitase was also in attendance. A step up from signing copies of the game, Kitase autographed fans PS3‘s instead. (Take that Kojima-san!)

Final Fantasy XIII was released in China (exclusively on the PS3) on May 27 for 1,590 TWD (Taiwan dollars) ($50/€38) For further details on the release you can read our earlier report. You can see more photos from the event at our source link.

Source: Cosplay Photos From Hong Kong’s FFXIII Launch Party (Siliconera)

Serah Farron makes her Play Arts debut

Final Fantasy XIII has been in the hands of eager fans for about two months now. While the title has proven popular, the figures based on the games main cast (released under Square Enix Play Arts Kai line) have also been successful.

While both initial sets have already been released, you may remember back to Toy Fair 2010 where SE revealed its prototype figure of Serah Farron.

While the figure was then uncolored and lacking joints, its final mold has been completed and its now ready for pre-order!

You can pre-order Serah over at Hobby Search for 4,200 Yen (about $45 USD). She is expected to be released in October of this year.

Source: Square Enix finally shows Final Fantasy XIII’s Serah Farron in color (Tomopop)

Hajime Tabata Gives Agito a Progress Report

Its been quite a while since we had the official word on Final Fantasy Agito XIII, hasn’t it?

Contiunuing there series of developer interviews on the Square Enix Members Japanese Twitter account, SE has interviewed director Hajime Tabata on the games status.

From andriasang:

“Development is progressing well. The reaction was extremely positive when we showed the development version to the producers, management and marketing team in March. The whole staff is excited. We won’t be able to show it for a bit, but it’s looking like it will become an awesome game.”

It seems developement on Agito is going well. With E3 only two months away, it wouldn’t be surprising if SE chose the setting of the games initail reveal to give it a proper, full unveiling.

Stick with The 13th Crystal for all the news as it hits.

Source: FF Agito XIII and 3rd Bday Director Provides Status Updates (andriasang)