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RETAILBIZ: FINAL FANTASY/DISGAEA WWW.MCVUK.COM
MCV 20/03/09 49
The Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles franchise returns to Nintendo Wii and DS this month with Echoes of Time…
The definitive edition of the very first game in Square Enix’s acclaimed tactical RPG series is scheduled to arrive on DS next month…
by Christopher Dring
by Christopher Dring
SQUARE ENIX’S acclaimed Final Fantasy series has spawned multiple films, toys, books and spin-off titles, plus the Nintendo-exclusive franchise, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. The very first Crystal Chronicles arrived on GameCube in 2004, and Square Enix has since brought the series to DS with Ring of Fates and WiiWare with My Life as a King. Each title has been designed as a more accessible Final Fantasy game, with the aim of capturing Nintendo’s typically younger audience. And the latest title in the series is no different. “Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time has been designed as a casually playable action adventure role playing game,” says assistant product manager Craig Parker-Wood. “The title is a more accessible take on the Final Fantasy universe, that allows players to experience exhilarating real-time battles with intuitive controls.” The game is to be released on both DS and Wii, and incredibly allows
RELEASED: MARCH 27 FORMATS: WII & DS PUBLISHER: SQUARE ENIX DEVELOPER: SQUARE ENIX PRICE: WII: £34.99 DS: £29.99 DISTRIBUTOR: CENTRESOFT, GEM, CREATIVE DISTRIBUTION, TRILOGY CONTACT: 020 7324 5200
gamers to play co-operatively no matter what platform they are on. It is also ideal for adventure gamers, Crystal Chronicles fans, as well as lovers of anime and manga. MARKETING QUEST
Echoes of Time is also being supported by a full marketing campaign, which will feature competitions, and a print campaign in the likes of Official Nintendo and Imagine FX. Square Enix is also set to takeover Yahoo! Games and banners on Gamespot and MSN have also been booked. This marketing push, coupled with the Final Fantasy name, is sure to boost sales of the growing franchise. Retailers can expect this series to go from strength to strength.
BEGINNING life on Sony’s PS2 in 2004, Disgaea has become one of the most critically acclaimed modern RPGs. The series has largely appeared on Sony platforms, with editions on PSP, PS2, and in February Square Enix released Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice for PlayStation 3. Now the series is returning to its roots, with a remake of the original game.
RELEASED: APRIL 3 FORMATS: DS PUBLISHER: SQUARE ENIX DEVELOPER: NIPPON ICHI SOFTWARE PRICE: £29.99 DISTRIBUTOR: CENTRESOFT, GEM, CREATIVE DISTRIBUTION, TRILOGY CONTACT: 020 7324 5200
all the higher thanks to the recent PS3 success and we’re confident that this will be the latest success story for the popular series.”
PASTURES NEW
“Disgaea DS is the definitive version of the first chapter in the critically acclaimed and wickedly wacky Disgaea strategy RPG series,” explains assistant product manager Craig Parker-Wood. “The game’s funky visual style is perfect for anime fans. And retailers can expect a benchmark brand in strategy gaming, that is the perfect title for Nintendo’s handheld. “The DS has a proven pedigree of success with titles that stimulate the brain and Disgaea’s charm and characters set it apart from the more traditional fare on the platform. Brand awareness is
STARTING OVER
With the DS edition, Square Enix has made several key improvements, including updates to the game’s control and battle system. And the publisher has also included a new multiplayer mode and a brand-new single player challenge complete with its own unique ending unavailable in the original version. Being a remake of the original game, Disgaea DS is sure to appeal to adventure, RPG and Square fans who have yet to experience Disgaea. And there are enough new modes to entice existing fans of the series, too.