Oscar, Peter, and Geraint sit down to chat about the big games they’re looking forward to in 2016, and only begin to scratch the surface. Let us know what you’re looking forward to!
We upload a tonne of videos, so subscribe to us on YouTube to get updates on them as soon as they go up!
Check out the Rice Chat playlist to see if we’ve chatted about something you missed!
The post Rice Chat: Anticipated Games 2016 appeared first on Rice Digital.
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, exclusive to the Gameboy Advance (the name might’ve made that obvious), is coming to the Wii U eShop this Thursday.
Set in Ivalice, not to be mistaken for the world with the same name found in Final Fantasy XII, Tactics Advance sees fresh faces Marche, brother Doned, Ritz and Mewt try to find their way home after a grimoire sends them to Ivalice. I’ve never played it so I look forward to it, but I still need to make actual progress in Final Fantasy Tactics on PSP!
Releasing this Thursday (28th) in Europe, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance will be available for £6.29.
The post Final Fantasy Tactics Advance hits Wii U this week appeared first on Rice Digital.
As we’ve mentioned many times Final Fantasy XV is being much looked forward to in Castle Rice, for a variety of reasons. It’s tough to believe it’s coming, but luckily Square Enix keep us abreast with their Active Time Report updates, the next of which will focus on Final Fantasy XV magic & stealth.
This Sunday, 31st January 2016, Square Enix will be putting out the next instalment of Active Time Report, where Hajime Tabata and global marketing manager, Akio Ofuji, update fans on the game and talk about key features. It’s pretty cool to see them do it in this way, and it feels kind of nice.
This time they will be focusing on how the magic and stealth mechanics will work in the game. They’ll be showing off some new video, and also expanding on the Niflheim Empire, who seem to be the game’s “bad guys”.
The Final Fantasy XV Active Time Report will also give some more information on the next Final Fantasy XV event of March 2016. Don’t forget to tune in!
The post Final Fantasy XV Magic & Stealth the Topic of Next Active Time Report appeared first on Rice Digital.
There’s been a lot of people pointing names and calling fingers at AAA games lately, not least of all Final Fantasy VII Remake for being episodic. Is it really fair? Is the series already ruined? We take an investigative look…
We upload a tonne of videos, so subscribe to us on YouTube to get updates on them as soon as they go up!
The post Top 10 Final Fantasy That Ruined the Series appeared first on Rice Digital.
Oscar, Peter, and Daniel talk about some of the series they’d like to see return in 2016, from mainstays, to remasters, and even cancelled games.
We upload a tonne of videos, so subscribe to us on YouTube to get updates on them as soon as they go up!
Check out the Rice Chat playlist to see if we’ve chatted about something you missed!
The post Rice Chat: Franchises We’d Like To See Return in 2016 appeared first on Rice Digital.
Square Enix surprised us with an all new trailer for the upcoming Final Fantasy XV. What was shown off is a stealth section not unlike what you would expect from a Metal Gear game. Not quite what everyone was expecting!
Though this trailer might have stirred discussion with fans and the public eye, we have high hopes for Final Fantasy XV and can’t wait to see what Square Enix has next in store coming up on March 30th with the event called “Uncovered: Final Fantasy XV”. On this event Square Enix will announce the release date as well as a lot more information on the game.
Until then enjoy the trailer below as well as newly released artwork.
The post Final Fantasy XV – Niflheim Base Battle Footage appeared first on Rice Digital.
To kick-start your weekend the Rice Digital Store is offering discounts on popular games such as Arslan: The Warriors of Legend, Sword Art Online: Lost Song, Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai and Tales of Xillia.
There’s massive savings to be had and you can find them all in the list below!
*Prices are subject to change without notice.
As always the Rice Digital Store offers FREE UK Delivery as well as Worldwide Shipping on all products.
The post Big Games, Small Prices Sale Kicks-off at Rice Digital appeared first on Rice Digital.
The ticket booth plaza from Final Fantasy IX’s Alexandria joins the arcade version of Dissidia Final Fantasy next month in an update.
This is particularly exciting news for me as not only is Final Fantasy IX my favourite title in the series, but the areas scenery is set to change as the battle continues. You might recognise the area from the jump rope mini-game that you play as Vivi and as one of the first areas in Final Fantasy IX.
There’s no word on if Dissidia Final Fantasy will make its way to consoles, but I’d like to hope that we’ll see it come West eventually.
The post Final Fantasy IX’s Alexandria joins Dissidia Final Fantasy appeared first on Rice Digital.
Square Enix have revealed their new JRPG, I Am Setsuna, at San Francisco’s Games Developer’s Conference. The new JRPG is being developed by new studio Tokyo RPG Factory, and was teased by Square Enix during their last E3 presentation, though in very vague terms.
I Am Setsuna will be the debut title for Tokyo RPG Factory, and is due for a western release in Summer of this year. It will release digitally on both PlayStation 4 and Steam. The core principles of both I Am Setsuna and developers Tokyo RPG Factory seem to be in reviving some of the elements of classic JRPGs, which some recent JRPGs (most notably the Final Fantasy series more and more) have begun to move away from.
Led by director Atsushi Hashimoto, Tokyo RPG Factory aims to capture the narrative depth, impactful storytelling and masterful character development inspired by the golden era of Japanese role-playing games and bring them to current hardware and technology. With a battle system inspired by the classic hit CHRONO TRIGGER, I AM SETSUNA brings back authentic RPG gameplay, beautiful art design and a sorrowful story to the new generation.
Square Enix have specifically named Chrono Trigger as an inspiration for the game’s battle system, but I Am Setsuna will be a completely original JRPG.
This could be a response to the unexpected success of Bravely Default and Bravely Second in the west, two JRPGs from Square Enix that, while both quite modern, are very much based within the more traditional JRPG systems of older titles.
If it keeps to its western summer release date then I Am Setsuna will be coming very soon. Tokyo RPG Factory has been around since summer 2014, so it’s fair to say they’ve been working on it most of the time. We can’t wait to see how it turns out.
The post Square Enix Reveal “I Am Setsuna” – New JRPG Inspired by Classics appeared first on Rice Digital.
Our latest taste of Final Fantasy XV has hit the PlayStation Network across the world in the form of the Platinum Demo, and boy is it good!
You might think it’s weird that I’m reviewing a demo but considering that it’s more than just a demo, I thought I’d write what I think of it and to let you know that you should play it! Having played the first demo that was included with Final Fantasy Type-0 HD, I was excited to see how this demo would fare as, with help of the patch, I could see the combat getting better during the course of the original demo. Platinum Demo is already off to a good start as Final Fantasy XV’s beautiful theme plays away as summon Carbuncle sits relaxing in the breeze, with the time of day changing as you leave it. Platinum Demo has exclusive content that won’t be found in the main game, and beating it nets you Carbuncle for use in Final Fantasy XV and although it’s a brief experience, it’s already drawing me in for a second playthrough.
Starting a new game (well, as far as a new game can be for a demo) hit me with a rush of giddiness as the outstanding visuals and English voice-over come into play, and Final Fantasy XV suddenly feels so much more real – it really is coming later this year! You play as a younger Noctis who’s out cold in the real world, and can only wake up and be with his loved ones again by finding the exit to this dream world. Carbuncle, who’s protecting and guiding him in this world due to a very sweet and heartwarming reason, stays by your side in battle and talks to you via your mobile phone in English and through the use of Final Fantasy-themed emojis. The demo has a Kingodm Hearts-like feel to it and I’m already loving the adorable Carbuncle, and that’s just the icing on the cake.
Armed with a toy sword and squeaky hammer, Noctis searches for an exit whilst battling low-level enemies whilst culminates in a battle with a higher level enemy which might be familiar to fans of the series. You start your adventure in a forest area and find yourself in a house where you’re now far smaller than everything else, a town which reminds me of a sunny seaside town and a large city square. A really cool feature is how standing on certain pads changes the time of day and what the weather is, although these will change eventually on their own if left alone. The scope of the game is shown off here too with wide open areas, a long draw distance and epically massive beings making an appearance – one summon peeks down at you near the start of the demo and Carbuncle insists he’s a gentle giant, meaning we’ll likely be summoning to aid us in the main game.
The combat feels far smoother and intuitive than before. You mash circle to use your standard attack with whichever weapon you have or whatever magic you’ve equipped, square to dodge via rolling or hold it down to defend, cross to jump, L3 to sprint and R3 to lock-on. You can unlock warp strike at some point too, along with hidden weapons and magic. It all flows together very nicely and is reminiscent of Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core, although Type-0 fans will find loads to enjoy here too. It’s engaging, allows a lot of variety in combat and is a bunch of fun. There’s plenty to do and see in the demo, so don’t be in too much of a rush to finish it as there’s no saving data, and you’ll have to start all over again – which, to be fair, isn’t a bad thing at all.
Final Fantasy XV is, and will be, one of the best looking games on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One without doubt. It manages to play smoothly despite how busy and large the game is, and the character design and environments are top notch. Playing with the time of day and weather allows you to see the game in multiple lights, and it’s hugely impressive what Square Enix have imagined here – it really does feel like a living, breathing world, and I so badly want to see more of it. The effects made from your attacks shine and sparkle before fading away, and it’s easy to get lost in how pretty everything is.
There isn’t much spoken dialogue but I’m happy with what is there, but it’s the music that really steals the show in the audio department right now. The soft piano and violin laden orchestral tunes, upbeat action themes and general atmosphere is nothing short of brilliant and once they inevitably release the OST to purchase, you can bet that I’ll be planning to get one. Nobuo Uematsu may not be at the help but this is undeniably a Final Fantasy OST through and through. I happily left the demo on in the background so I could listen to the main menu music – in fact, I’m listening to it as I’m writing this!
I genuinely feel that Final Fantasy XV can live up to the decade worth of waiting, and I’m wholly pleased with this demo. I’ll be playing it again and again, seeing what other beautiful screenshots I can take and what other wonders it holds within its world. Final Fantasy XV is one of my most anticipated games of the year and Platinum Demo only goes to prove why that is, and you should definitely make sure that you give it a go too so you don’t miss out on how fantastic it is.
The post Final Fantasy XV: Platinum Demo Review appeared first on Rice Digital.
Square Enix has announced that a remaster of Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age will be coming to PS4, which is the first time the Japan-only features will be headed West.
Boasting better visuals, English and Japanese voice-overs, original and re-recorded music (similar to Final Fantasy X), an auto-save system and improved load times, there’s plenty of updates for the games arrival on PS4. There are new gameplay systems that weren’t originally included in the Western version of Final Fantasy XII too (again, similar with how the Kingdom Hearts games were remastered for PS3), so there’s brand new content for those who’ve already played it. It’s due out worldwide in 2017.
I’ve been waiting for this remaster for a long time so you can count on me being excited! I’m hoping the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy heads to PS4 eventually too.
The post Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age headed to PS4 appeared first on Rice Digital.
In Brooderhood: Final Fantasy XV anime series we take a look at Noctis and his friends from both the past and the present. There are actually some pretty touching moments in this third episode titled “Sword and Shield”.
Episode three is all about Gladiolus, Noctis’s childhood friend and guardian. In case you were wondering, Brooderhood: Final Fantasy XV, is a five episode mini anime series that Square Enix and A1 Pictures studios have put together before the release of the game and the movie. They work as a great way to get to know a bit about the characters mixed in with some drama, but also a healthy dose of humor. Three episodes have been released online and in case you missed them you can check them out below.
Brotherhood Final Fantasy XV – Episode 1: “Before The Storm”:
Brotherhood Final Fantasy XV – Episode 2: “Dogged Runner”:
The post Brooderhood: Final Fantasy XV Episode 3 Is Here appeared first on Rice Digital.
Square Enix recently revealed that there will be Collector’s and Limited Editions of the upcoming cross-over JRPG World of Final Fantasy.
The Collector’s Edition stays in theme with the adorable, fairytale look of the game with a pop-up book that houses the content and it looks delightful. Also included is an 80-page hardback artbook, a 20-track soundtrack selection CD, three mini-figures including Lightning, Cloud and Squall, digital content consisting of Japanese voice-over DLC, a White Chocobo, a Glow Moogle and Red Bonnetberry mirages and a Sephiroth summon. A physical copy of the game is included too, of course.
The Limited Edition will include the artbook and DLC, whilst the Day One edition will include the DLC. The Collector’s Edition is exclusive to the Square Enix store whilst the other versions can be purchased elsewhere, and all will be available across Europe and North America.
There’s also a new English trailer welcoming us to the world of Grymoire showing off new and familiar characters and enemies, and beautiful locales that harnesses the spirit of Final Fantasy.
World of Final Fantasy releases on PS4 and Vita on 28th October in Europe, and 3 days earlier in America. This is another title that’s being released worldwide in the same week with Japan getting it on the 27th October.
The post World of Final Fantasy Collector’s Edition Revealed appeared first on Rice Digital.
Since the reveal of episode 3 of the Brotherhood: Final Fantasy, we got to meet Gladiolus’ sister Iris Amicitia, and more recently, Luna’s brother, Ravus Nox Fleuret. Now we get to see them more closely as Square Enix has released some new and exciting screenshots.
Of course, Iris now looks like a teenager as opposed to her younger self in the third episode of the anime. From the looks of it, it is quite possible that she will be joining Noctis and his party in one way or another; in one scene she is seen driving alongside our party. And of course, she wouldn’t have been included in the anime if she wasn’t integral to the story. On the opposing side we have Ravus, who looks quite intimidating and should pose a threat to Noctis as he is the officer of the army of the Nifelheim Empire.
Other than that, we could gather that players will be able to alter quests by choosing different dialog options, as seen in conversation with Noctis and Cid. There will be a special type of a quest called “mobhunts” that are basically bounties that give an opportunity to exterminate some really dangerous monsters.
The game will feature plenty of shops and diverse items depending on their location. Of course that also goes for weapon variety. We can’t be more excited when the game hits the store shelves September 30th. Until then enjoy the screenshots below provided by Famitsu Weekly.
The post Brand New Final Fantasy XV Screenshots – Characters, Shops and Quests appeared first on Rice Digital.
Square Enix has released a trailer for their bonus pre-order game, A King’s Tale: Final Fantasy XV. Unfortunately, as of now it will only come as a Gamestop pre-order exclusive in North America, and EBGames in Canada. But if it proves to be interesting enough we can only assume it will be available down the line as a standalone title.
It seems Square Enix is hard pressed to kick up as much dust as possible before the Final Fantasy XV release. After the anime Brotherhood: Final Fantasy XV, a feature movie Kingsglaive and mini-game app, we now have yet another smaller retro style title set in the past, taking place 30 years before the events of the main game. Like the full game, A King’s Tale will be available on both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
This is the press release from the official website.
Taking place in a fictitious 30 years before FINAL FANTASY XV, this game features retro-style inspired graphics centered around a fast-paced combat system with influences from modern gaming. The in-depth combat system blends intense attacks, devastating magic, mighty summons and unique companion attacks into a singular gaming experience through three diverse locations in the world of FINAL FANTASY XV.
Story
Restless before bed young Noctis asks his father, King Regis, to tell a fairy tale full of fantasy and adventure instead of just another generic bedtime story. Regis begins with a peaceful day being disrupted when monsters raid the royal capital, Insomnia. Young Regis, joined by Weskham, starts his adventure from the royal capital. Eventually they are joined by friends Cid and Clarus, where they travel to the plains of Duscae only to discover a mysterious cave where their enemy resides. Throughout the tall tale, King Regis and Noctis interject their own commentary, adding depth and perspective to the story itself.
Key Features
• Deep Combat System – Combos, counters, and Regis’ signature “Warp Strike” combine for lightning fast real-time combat that rewards fast reflexes and smart tactics.
• Magic – Ignite the battlefield, freeze your enemies, or electrify your foes with Fire, Ice, and Lightning magic.
• Companions – Three distinct companions offer unique and new ways to attack as well as tailored super moves that deal massive damage.
• Summons – Call upon epic Astral entities to decimate your foes in jaw-dropping ways.
Official A King’s Tale: Final Fantasy XV website
The post A King’s Tale: Final Fantasy XV appeared first on Rice Digital.
Square Enix has revealed their plans to release a season pass for highly anticipated JRPG Final Fantasy XV which releases on PS4 and Xbox One in September.
The Final Fantasy XV season pass itself will include playable episodes for Prompto, Ignis and Gladiolus, an expansion pack, a holiday pack and a booster pack. You can safely assume that it’ll head West too although it’s so far only been confirmed for Japan, and you can view it on the Japanese PlayStation Store.
Final Fantasy XV releases worldwide on 30th September exclusively on PS4 and Xbox One. If you’ve yet to try it, you can play the Platinum Demo on the store now and watch the Brotherhood anime which takes place before the game.
The post Final Fantasy XV Season Pass Revealed appeared first on Rice Digital.
Initially showcased at E3 2006 as Versus XIII, Final Fantasy XV has been in the works for a very very long time. A Korean fan named Yang Bing has been working on a project of his own, that is very much inspired by Final Fantasy XV.
After seeing Final Fantasy XV for the first time two years ago, Yang Bing decided he couldn’t wait for the release and so he started to work on a game of his own, called Lost Soul Aside. Recently he has posted a trailer, showcasing stunning visuals, especially considering he made everything by himself from scratch in Unreal Engine 4.
We were especially impressed by the effects from special attacks and animations, which even some triple A studios could take a tip or two. Since showcasing his game, Yang got offers from publishers left and right, promising to help him bring his vision forward. After disappearing from social media for two days, Yang revealed that he will continue working on his project with a help from some, yet undisclosed company.
After the consideration, I decide to contact with the companies and try to finish LSA. pic.twitter.com/U0nKBdYI4L
— 杨冰 (@yagnbing) August 6, 2016
We can only wish him luck and hope to see Lost Soul Aside released. If this is what one man managed to do in his free time, what can we expect with a whole team of skilled developers.
The post Impatient Fan Creates His Own Final Fantasy XV appeared first on Rice Digital.
You may have heard from pretty much every other news source, but there’s been another Final Fantasy XV delay until 29th November 2016 – nearly 2 months after its original release date. I have a duty to report the news so even if I’m pretty late, I’m reporting it!
As a massive fan, I’m both disappointed and glad that they’re aiming to release the game entirely on disc first without a day one patch.
You can watch an important message from Director Hajime Tabata below, but Square Enix want to release the game in a fully working and complete state at launch which is something I can get behind, even if it has been pushed to a far busier month.
Final Fantasy XV is releasing on PS4 and Xbox One on 29th November and you can bet we’ll be covering it more as its release finally nears! That Uncovered event to announce the release date seems almost like a cruel joke now, but hopefully Kingsglaive still releases in September!
The post Final Fantasy XV delayed, almost as late as this article appeared first on Rice Digital.
In the light of recent news regarding Final Fantasy XV’s delay and with Gamescom this week, Square Enix has been pumping up a steady stream of new content. Are they trying to cheer us up after the bad news? Regardless, let’s dig into the newly released videos.
First off, there is a lengthy gameplay-packed video that showcases chocobo races, side-quests, a synthesis system, terrifying foes, fishing and much more. Not to forget there are more glimpses of the story. Even though the video was posted on Square Enix’s Japanese YouTube channel, it is fully in English.
Brotherhood Episode 4
The newest episode of Brotherhood focuses on Ignis, taking place when Noctis was in high school. Ignis pretty much acted as his mommy trying to teach the spoiled, lazy Noctis some much manners. Because there was so much pressure on Noctis to be a great king one day, he started despising pretty much everything and everyone around him. Don’t worry, he does get around at the end.
Brotherhood is unique in a way that makes characters feel quite real. They have their vulnerabilities and grow through the years. We hope that this will also translate into the game’s storyline and make it more organic and believable.
You can watch the full episode with subs below.
The post Final Fantasy XV – An Hour of New Gameplay Footage and Brotherhood Episode 4 appeared first on Rice Digital.
Rikku is the latest Final Fantasy character to join the ever-growing roster of World of Final Fantasy which, staying true to its name, is bringing together characters from throughout the long-running series. She will be kitted up in her Final Fantasy X-2 outfit – the yellow bikini.
Revealed by Famitsu and a very tiny image, Rikku seems to be as you remember her – a cheerful spirit on the look out for new treasure! Information is scarce right now, but we look forward to learning more about Rikku and other characters as they’re revealed.
World of Final Fantasy releases on PS4 and Vita on the 25th October in North America, 26th in Japan and 28th in Europe – not too long to wait now!
The post Rikku Joins the Growing Roster of World of Final Fantasy appeared first on Rice Digital.
