Latest news with #SquareEnix
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Everything You Need to Know To Get into Magic the Gathering's Final Fantasy Set
Few game franchises can match the pedigree of Final Fantasy, but one that arguably comes close is the long-running trading card game Magic: the Gathering. Much like FF, Wizards of the Coast's TCG has been around for decades, bringing in new players regularly and exciting existing ones continualy. This June, the card game istrying its most ambitious plan yet: collaborating with Square Enix to release a set of cards starring characters, locations and creatures from Final Fantasy history. However, those new to MTG, or trading card games in general, may be overwhelmed by all the different products available. This guide will help you break down all of the offerings to choose what's right for you. These are probably the poster child for the collaboration as these are decks created specifically for Magic's popular commander format. 'Commander' is a spin on the rules of MTG where more than two players at a time have a 100-card deck with no duplicates that includes a leader card to offer special abilities when playing. Read More: How To Pick The Right Commander Deck For Magic: The Gathering's Final Fantasy Set For the Final Fantasy set, there will be four Commander decks available, each for a different game. There is the FFVI deck starring Terra, FFVII starring Cloud, FFX starring Tidus, and FFXIV starring Y'shtola. These decks are pretty expensive going for around $70, but you are getting a wide variety of cards and these builds are fairly competitive. This is a great pickup for those who want to be able to play one of Magic's most popular game-types, or if you love one of the titles being offered here. There are also Collector's Editions of these decks that have foils for every card inside at a much higher are your normal booster packs. They should be around $7 USD each, or you can pick up a box for a little over $200. Each pack will contain 14 cards but all will be Final Fantasy themed. This is a great option for those who love FF and just want to collect some Boosters are like your standard Play Boosters but have a chance of higher rarity cards. Collector's Boosters are for those who want to try to get the coolest looking cards. These are for those who want to try to get the most valuable cards from the set; however, Collector's Boosters will most likely not be reprinted and will be very tough to find, so if you don't already have some on order, you may be out of the name implies, this is basically a bundle of booster packs with some extras. You get nine play boosters, 32 lands, 16 which are full-art and 16 which are foil, a spindown (which is used to track health in a MTG match) and a deck box. This retails for $69.99 and is a good option if you are planning on picking up a handful of boosters and want some is basically an improved version of the standard bundle. It includes nine booster packs, a collector booster, 32 full-art lands (16 foil, 16 non-foil), a spindown, and a storage box. This should retail for around $ The Gathering holds special events called 'Pre-Releases,' which allow fans the opportunity to get their hands on new cards a week early. Unlike the other products on this list, the Pre-Release Pack is available for purchase at these events. Each box contains six booster packs, a special rare or mythic rare card, a deck box and spindown die (Editor's note: No, you can't use spindowns for D&D even though they have 20 sides). Once your packs are opened, you will build a limited, 40-card deck and play in a tournament with other players, with most game shops offering prizes for winners. This is a great way to get involved in the game and see what it's like to actually play Magic: The Gathering in a competitive there is a starter deck pack that contains two pre-built decks (Cloud vs Sephiroth). Retailing for $19.99, this is a good option for those who want to try out MTG in a more casual Fantasy and Magic: The Gathering fans have a lot to look forward to summer 2025 when this collaboration releases on June 12th. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
‘Gex Trilogy' Heads To Everything Except Nintendo Switch 2
Gex Trilogy Feel that '90s breeze blowing in? It sure smells like Book It! personal pan pizza to me, but it's also carrying Gex Trilogy, a remastered collection of all three Gex platformers from Limited Run Games. The revamped compilation features the original 2D Gex, plus both 3D sequels in Gex: Enter the Gecko and Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko. The new release is hitting all major consoles except Nintendo's imminent Switch 2, so for those wondering, that's legacy Switch, PS5, Xbox and PC. LRG is asking $39.99 for the digital collection, which I think it pretty fair, given that the Croc: Legend of the Gobbos remaster goes for $29.99, and it doesn't include Croc 2, but Gex Trilogy gives you all three major releases in one convenient package. However, I'd wager much more work went into re-releasing Croc, at least from what I can currently see. As per usual, Limited Run Games is selling physical editions of Gex Trilogy, like the Classic ($75), which arrives in a retro PS1-esque box with a steel book, poster and soundtrack sampler. The Tail Time edition ($200) is the big one here, featuring box art by none other than acclaimed Final Fantasy artist Yoshitaka Amano (I guess it pays that the Gex IP is owned by Square Enix), a full soundtrack, a steel book with art by Marcos Lopez, a poster with art by Alex TJ Campbell, an inflatable Gex doll, a debonair Gex statue, a pin and some trading cards. Gex Trilogy I truly have mixed feelings about anything 'collectible' these days, because I think the human race has more than enough stuff for a thousand generations—as well as a thousand landfills—but I am really looking forward to playing the Gex Trilogy and reliving some solid gaming memories. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder I've actually never played the oringial Gex, so that will be cool, but I did live inside the worlds of Gex: Enter the Gecko and Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko on the PlayStation for quite some time. They were commendable if somewhat average 3D platformers on a console that, in a lot of ways, couldn't compare to the N64 in such an arena. And I bought a copy of Jersey Devil, man. We were starving. Speaking of, I'm not sure what kind of ports these are specifically, as in PlayStation or N64, because both consoles had their own versions of the later two games. From early footage, it looks like LRG is porting from the PS1 versions, if I had to guess. A recent trailer touts new features, such as widescreen support and analog controls, and while those are great, the announcement of analog controls feels a bit… strange? The 3D Gex titles always had such options, even on the PS1. Maybe they've been improved? Hopefully. Otherwise, it seems we're basically getting the old Gex games wrapped in LRG's Carbon Engine, kind of like their release of Tomba! Nothing too incredibly special, unfortunately, and I haven't seen any Crocumentary-style museum extras announced just yet. Maybe they're in there, though. Additionally, it also looks like it's exclusively the Dana Gould voice-acting in the remasters, which is what I grew up with, but I've read how some UK fans aren't too happy about this, because the actors were different overseas. A toggle would have been nice, though I'm sure it's a rights issue. Granted, even with all it's sure to be outdated pop culture references, I'm still excited to dive back into the Gex universe, mostly because the barebones games remain pretty special to me, even if they were never top-tier experiences. I only wish these titles had gotten a more overhauled and loving treatment, because I think they would have truly shined with a noticeable graphical update. It appears perhaps more effort went into the physical collector's editions than the actual remasters, but I'll reserve official judgement for June 16.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake' Will Be Released This October
The upcoming Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake has finally been given a release date for this October, and it will also include a Switch 2 version. Following the amazing Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake from the end of last year, the other two parts of the Erdrick Trilogy are being combined into one game. There is a logic to this, because not only was Dragon Quest III the narrative starting point of the trilogy, it was also a much bigger game than the preceding two. That's why the first two games are being bundled like this, because otherwise, they would be very short in terms of overall playtime compared to the third game. For instance, in the first Dragon Quest, you only have one playable character (shown above), and the overall progression is a lot more straightforward. There's also an Easter Egg at the end of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake about Hargon, and I have a feeling that's also going to be fleshed out more than it was in the original games. Either way, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake has certainly piqued my curiosity about how the two games will be handled as one package. The other neat bit of news is that Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is also coming to Switch 2. Considering the origins of the Dragon Quest series on Nintendo hardware, this Switch 2 support makes a lot of sense, and I'm curious to see how it will play on the new console. Don't forget to also check out my interviews with Kazuhiko Torishima and Yuji Horii on the origins of the Dragon Quest series. Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake will be released on October 30 for Switch 2, Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.
The Verge
4 days ago
- Business
- The Verge
Remakes of the first two Dragon Quest games launch in October
More upgraded blue slimes are on the way: Square Enix just announced that remakes of Dragon Quest 1 and its sequel are launching on October 3oth. The two games will be bundled together under the name Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake and will be available on the PS5, Xbox, PC, and both the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. This is good news if you're a fan of the series, given that the remake of DQIII turned out excellent, marrying the classic RPG gameplay with incredible visuals and sound, along with some welcome quality-of-life tweaks. For the new remakes, Square Enix says that 'in addition to beautiful HD-2D graphics, a refined battle system, numerous quality-of-life updates, and major story additions, both remakes will feature a variety of new content.' As for what that new content is, details 'will be revealed at a later date.' And if you're wondering why this remake series kicked off with the third entry in the franchise, it's because that's how the storylines play out chronologically. DQIII is set years before its predecessors, and in DQI and II players take control of the descendants of the hero from the third game. It's a little complicated, but in October newcomers will finally be able to complete the story. To that end, Square Enix will also be launching a digital-only collection with all three games, called Dragon Quest HD-2D Erdrick Trilogy Collection. It'll be available for $99.99.
Digital Trends
4 days ago
- Business
- Digital Trends
Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake is another RPG tightwire act
It was almost exactly one year ago when I first played Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake. At the time, I wasn't quite sure how players were going to react. I knew that RPG historians would be happy to see it, but the remake straddled a line between modern and retro. Would new players be thrown off by playing a game that looked new but still felt mechanically old school? The answer was no, as it turned out. The remake was a success for Square Enix, garnering high critical praise and impressive sales. That was the easy part in retrospect. Now it's time for the remake project's second death-defying trick. Recommended Videos On October 30, Square Enix will dip back even further in time with Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake (which has now added Nintendo Switch 2 to its list of launch platforms). The project looks to modernize the long-running series' first two installments, a pair of RPGs that are ancient relics compared to Dragon Quest 3. During a hands-on demo with both parts of the remake, I was once again left to wonder how much new audiences would show up for two games that are much lighter on story than their sequel. Only this time, I'm more confident that fans will be down for that careful tightwire act. Remaking the classics, again My demo was split into two parts, showing me a glimpse of each game in the remake package. As you can probably guess by the fact that the two are being bundled together, there's not too much of a difference between them — at least not in the slices I played. Both games follow the Dragon Quest 3 remake's lead by translating old overworlds into detailed HD-2D pixel art. Modernizations like sprinting and combat speed increases are shared across both making everything go by a little quicker. There should be no surprises here as far as the brass tacks of it all go. The main difference is more in the original games being remade here. The original Dragon Quest 3 was the installment that really figured out the series' formula, turning two relatively short games that were light on story into a full-blown 30+ hour RPG. I can feel the step backwards when I try out Dragon Quest 1. When I'm dropped in, I'm simply left to wander to a mini-dungeon and fight some monsters with little set-up. It's minimalistic, as I'm largely walking around a maze-like set of corridors and grabbing treasure chests along the way. My time with Dragon Quest 2 is somewhat identical, as I start in another town and walk out into another overworld that looks about the same. I walk to a marked spot on the map, talk to some guys, and then make my way to another spot. The only difference is that I have more party members to start, who unleash hell on wandering bats and slimes with their spells. To be frank, there's not too much to say about any of it that I didn't say about Dragon Quest 3's remake one year ago. Both of these play like more minimalistic versions of that game. That's not to say that Square Enix hasn't expanded Dragon Quest 1 and 2 for this project, though. Both slices I played featured cutscenes and new dialogue, showing that these aren't just 1:1 recreations of their counterparts. It's very clear that these are meant to continue the story introduced in the Dragon Quest 3 remake and expand it. Whereas 3 was a faithful remake, these feel more like reimaginings meant to rewrite the series' origins. I'm not quite sure just how far that will go, but it doesn't seem like Dragon Quest 1 is an RPG that you will speed through in five hours anymore. I can still understand why Square Enix began its remake project with 3 instead of this duo. It's not just because that's where the story really begins chronologically; it's because the latter would have been a tough onramp for new fans jumping in for the first time. They would have been treated to what seem to be fairly light and compact games overall. Maybe it makes more sense to start with something that feels closer to what today's best RPGs are like to lock people's interest in place. From there, it's easier to sell them on two games whose age shows through a bit more. You'll want to approach these remakes with the interest of a historian to get the most out of them. Granted, I barely scratched the surface of either game. I get the sense that they've been even more heavily reworked than Square Enix is letting on. Maybe some detailed dungeons and new story twists await. I'm not really sure what to expect and that makes this package a little more exciting to me than the more straightforward 3. Let's see what a completely new spin on two classics really looks like. I dare Square Enix to surprise me. Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake launches on October 30 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
