Benrir
Dragon King
This may seem a stupid question but how and why did Square Enix change their name from Squaresoft? Not that I'm complaining about the name, but I've been wondering...
From Squaresoft to Square-Enix
- Thread starter Benrir
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About after the release of FFX-2 in 2003, squaresoft and a company named Enix merge. So they became square enix. If I remember correctly, they did change some staff, etc.
For me, yes the games have not been as good since the merger. But the new games are still decent in my opinion.
Benrir
Dragon King
true, ff13 was the worst of all, a waste of time in my opinion. Still, maybe Square-Enix may pull up something new from the wish list and give a game worth playing. I won't diss them all though as i've not played 11 or 14, but 12 was good and delivered a lot of exploring.
FFXIII is one of the worst FF, yup. People also say that FFII and X-2 are bad. I do feel that FFXIII is a good game, but as I said countlessly before, it's just not a good FF game. Otherwise it's quite decent IMO.
If you haven't been following up on the news, FFXIII-2 is coming soon. I don't want to sound like I'm trying to sell this game, but I feel that it's really worth looking into. It promises for exploration, towns, story choices, minigames (one of them is chocobo racing), sidequests, etc. But don't get your hopes too high in case it turns out to be a disappointment yet again.
If you haven't been following up on the news, FFXIII-2 is coming soon. I don't want to sound like I'm trying to sell this game, but I feel that it's really worth looking into. It promises for exploration, towns, story choices, minigames (one of them is chocobo racing), sidequests, etc. But don't get your hopes too high in case it turns out to be a disappointment yet again.
Benrir
Dragon King
yeh i heard, my expectations are really high for this so if reviews don't praise it then I won't buy it, money was wasted on it's prequel but if there's chocobo racing and proper exploring this time as well as secrets, then I'll be giving this game a grab. Also, if that tall dark-haired due's playable, then i'm guessing there'll be loads of variety hopefully. Here's hoping.. 
Sorry to be a party pooper, but only serah and Noel are permanently playable by the looks of things. Well unless SE made a surprise announcement that there are more permanently playable characters, but that's highly unlikely. Well Lightning is playable but only in separate solo segments, so far.
Looking at the bright side, at least 150 monsters are recruitable as permanent party members. This include chocobos (in many different colors), cactuar, tonberry, behemoth, Cait sith, flan, etc. Omega weapon is even available as a DLC party member.
And that dark haired dude is Caius. He's the antagonist, thus he won't be playable most probably. But he is said to be the strongest FF villain ever, and he's immortal.
Even though I said we shouldn't get our hopes up, I'm probably one of the only ones in this forum who is extremely excited for this game.
Well if you want me to list the countless other news about XIII-2, just ask. I know, most, if not all the information available about this game (yeah that's how hyped up I am
)
Looking at the bright side, at least 150 monsters are recruitable as permanent party members. This include chocobos (in many different colors), cactuar, tonberry, behemoth, Cait sith, flan, etc. Omega weapon is even available as a DLC party member.
And that dark haired dude is Caius. He's the antagonist, thus he won't be playable most probably. But he is said to be the strongest FF villain ever, and he's immortal.
Even though I said we shouldn't get our hopes up, I'm probably one of the only ones in this forum who is extremely excited for this game.
Well if you want me to list the countless other news about XIII-2, just ask. I know, most, if not all the information available about this game (yeah that's how hyped up I am
)
Benrir
Dragon King
well now you've got me excited now I don't like Lightning anyway, she's a div. But still, being able to recruit monsters? Now it's starting to feel like a Disgaea feel, so i'm hoping this game will be all the hype then and lives up to it's expectations. I'd be happy to hear all the news, message me them or post them on here if you wish 
I don't like Lightning anyway, she's a div. But still, being able to recruit monsters? Now it's starting to feel like a Disgaea feel, so i'm hoping this game will be all the hype then and lives up to it's expectations. I'd be happy to hear all the news, message me them or post them on here if you wish I can't possibly remember to write everything, and even if I do, it will take ages to write everything lol. so I will just list the ones I remember right know sorry if you knew some of these already. Disclaimer: even if you are more hyped up after reading this, it's always good to have an open mind and be ready if the game does not turn out to be as good.
-there are DLC costumes. These costumes will be visible even in most cutscenes.
-party leader switching is now available (but you can't directly control monsters, so only within serah and noel, it seems)
-party leader death doesn't cause gameover anymore. You simply got switched to the other character. Just like FFXII
-saving and loading paradigm decks are now available
-a new paradigm addition allows you to control AI even more. This includes controlling whether the characters focus on one enemy or attack all enemies at once, etc.
-max possible HP is now apparently 999999 instead of 20000+.
-Gil is now obtained from battles too.
-star rating now serves a more obvious purpose. Get 5 stars and item drop for next battle will increase.
-time travel is a core plot in this game. You literally choose your own future, leading to different areas, fate and outcome, an ultimately multiple endings.
-time travel thus allow you to witness the changes to areas and characters over time. This will most likely be very interesting.
-there are sometimes guest characters who take up the 4th slot. They are similar to XII guests such that they are apparently not controllable. Snow is a guest member at some point/s in this game.
-there is a floating amusement park like ffvii's gold saucer. It has minigames like chocobo racing and slot machines. This place is called Serendipity (Xanadu in the Japanese version).
-there are also puzzles like clock puzzles, tile puzzles, etc.
-about exploration, aside from choosing different time periods, they also claim that some areas are so branched that its easy to get lost. The demo also indicate this, as there are now multiple pathways and secret areas.
-the moogle companion that follows serah and Noel serve many functions. First, it transforms into serah's weapon. It is also a monster encounter indicator (more details below), can detect hidden treasures, can be thrown to reach faraway treasures.
-random encounters return. They are not really random. Monsters suddenly pop up, but you don't fight them immediately. Once they pop up, you can choose to scram and run away as fast as you can (like ffXII) or fight them. If you are fast, you get battle advantages like 'haste'. If you fail to escape on time, you get battle debuffs like 'slow'.
-as there is now random encounter, there will be rare encounters with rare monsters like cactuar.
-there are many optional sidequests and areas. Sidequests are not just cieth stones or monsters, but also sidequests from NPCs. They will ask for items, ask to hunt monsters, etc.
-towns return. Along with NPCs who sell stuff and NPCs who can actually talk to you.
-NPC AI is even better than XII. If it rains suddenly, some NPCs will run to find shelter.
-weather affects battle.
-you can sometimes choose what to say to NPCs, just like past FF games.
-there are moments where you are given choices. E.g. Press X to fight boss directly, press O to ask for more information, etc.
-recruited monsters have limit breaks called feral links. You execute these ultimate attacks by inserting button commands.
-QTEs are present in the game during cutscenes. Some QTEs have choices. E.g. Attack with melee or shoot.
-failing QTEs, fortunately, do not give heavy penalties. Success in QTEs do not give very good items either. QTEs are generally an extra bonus for more action/interaction.
-you can save anywhere in the game.
-a mode of transport is the historia crux. There are gates all over the world that can be unlocked by finding certain items.
-chocobos for travel are also found in most other areas due to more exploration in this game.
-giant monsters can be used as mode of transport too, in some cases.
-you can recruit most monsters by gaining their crystals. Crystals are sometimes dropped when defeating these monsters. Once recruited, you can nickname them like summons. Then you can equip them with accessories. They also gain more stats and abilities over time as you level them up.
-as said, the third party slot is for monsters. Up to 3 monsters can be inserted in this slot. They change to the respective monster when you change paradigm. For example, when you have a commando behemoth, then change paradigm to a medic Cait sith, the behemoth will transform into Cait sith.
-the crystarium is not capped. You have full access to the whole crystarium for all roles since the beginning. So power level is possible.
-but that doesn't mean the game will be easy. There is now such thing as blood damage. Blood damage permanently diminish your max HP in a battle.
SPOILER related information:
That's all I can remember for now. Wow what a long post lol. I do this because I like sharing knowledge and facts with people.
-
sorry if you knew some of these already. Disclaimer: even if you are more hyped up after reading this, it's always good to have an open mind and be ready if the game does not turn out to be as good.-there are DLC costumes. These costumes will be visible even in most cutscenes.
-party leader switching is now available (but you can't directly control monsters, so only within serah and noel, it seems)
-party leader death doesn't cause gameover anymore. You simply got switched to the other character. Just like FFXII
-saving and loading paradigm decks are now available
-a new paradigm addition allows you to control AI even more. This includes controlling whether the characters focus on one enemy or attack all enemies at once, etc.
-max possible HP is now apparently 999999 instead of 20000+.
-Gil is now obtained from battles too.
-star rating now serves a more obvious purpose. Get 5 stars and item drop for next battle will increase.
-time travel is a core plot in this game. You literally choose your own future, leading to different areas, fate and outcome, an ultimately multiple endings.
-time travel thus allow you to witness the changes to areas and characters over time. This will most likely be very interesting.
-there are sometimes guest characters who take up the 4th slot. They are similar to XII guests such that they are apparently not controllable. Snow is a guest member at some point/s in this game.
-there is a floating amusement park like ffvii's gold saucer. It has minigames like chocobo racing and slot machines. This place is called Serendipity (Xanadu in the Japanese version).
-there are also puzzles like clock puzzles, tile puzzles, etc.
-about exploration, aside from choosing different time periods, they also claim that some areas are so branched that its easy to get lost. The demo also indicate this, as there are now multiple pathways and secret areas.
-the moogle companion that follows serah and Noel serve many functions. First, it transforms into serah's weapon. It is also a monster encounter indicator (more details below), can detect hidden treasures, can be thrown to reach faraway treasures.
-random encounters return. They are not really random. Monsters suddenly pop up, but you don't fight them immediately. Once they pop up, you can choose to scram and run away as fast as you can (like ffXII) or fight them. If you are fast, you get battle advantages like 'haste'. If you fail to escape on time, you get battle debuffs like 'slow'.
-as there is now random encounter, there will be rare encounters with rare monsters like cactuar.
-there are many optional sidequests and areas. Sidequests are not just cieth stones or monsters, but also sidequests from NPCs. They will ask for items, ask to hunt monsters, etc.
-towns return. Along with NPCs who sell stuff and NPCs who can actually talk to you.
-NPC AI is even better than XII. If it rains suddenly, some NPCs will run to find shelter.
-weather affects battle.
-you can sometimes choose what to say to NPCs, just like past FF games.
-there are moments where you are given choices. E.g. Press X to fight boss directly, press O to ask for more information, etc.
-recruited monsters have limit breaks called feral links. You execute these ultimate attacks by inserting button commands.
-QTEs are present in the game during cutscenes. Some QTEs have choices. E.g. Attack with melee or shoot.
-failing QTEs, fortunately, do not give heavy penalties. Success in QTEs do not give very good items either. QTEs are generally an extra bonus for more action/interaction.
-you can save anywhere in the game.
-a mode of transport is the historia crux. There are gates all over the world that can be unlocked by finding certain items.
-chocobos for travel are also found in most other areas due to more exploration in this game.
-giant monsters can be used as mode of transport too, in some cases.
-you can recruit most monsters by gaining their crystals. Crystals are sometimes dropped when defeating these monsters. Once recruited, you can nickname them like summons. Then you can equip them with accessories. They also gain more stats and abilities over time as you level them up.
-as said, the third party slot is for monsters. Up to 3 monsters can be inserted in this slot. They change to the respective monster when you change paradigm. For example, when you have a commando behemoth, then change paradigm to a medic Cait sith, the behemoth will transform into Cait sith.
-the crystarium is not capped. You have full access to the whole crystarium for all roles since the beginning. So power level is possible.
-but that doesn't mean the game will be easy. There is now such thing as blood damage. Blood damage permanently diminish your max HP in a battle.
SPOILER related information:
-Lightning is written off history. Everyone except Serah believed that she died protecting cocoon by crystallizing herself along with vanille and fang
-this is because the goddess etro summoned lightning to Valhalla, the land of the dead, to protect her/do some unknown mission.
-Noel is from the future, where he is the only person alive and the world is ending then. He tells serah he knows where lightning is. He then time travels with serah using gates, to different times and places.
-after ending of XIII, snow, serah and members of Nora along with some citizens, settle in a new town they build in pulse called new bodhum.
-snow and serah have yet to marry. Snow left serah to find lightning.
-hope will become the leader of an organization called Academy, which serves to find alternative energy source since falcie are dead.
-Sazh is working to improve lives on pulse.
-it's impossible to travel to the time before XIII-2 because the paradoxes only start when XIII ends.
-the dark haired man, caius is lightning's rival in her mission for etro.
-caius is immortal and he tries to stop serah and Noel, as he believe they are contradicting the timeline
-a girl named Yeul is traveling with caius.
-yeul is apparently from pulse and she is a seer.
-this is because the goddess etro summoned lightning to Valhalla, the land of the dead, to protect her/do some unknown mission.
-Noel is from the future, where he is the only person alive and the world is ending then. He tells serah he knows where lightning is. He then time travels with serah using gates, to different times and places.
-after ending of XIII, snow, serah and members of Nora along with some citizens, settle in a new town they build in pulse called new bodhum.
-snow and serah have yet to marry. Snow left serah to find lightning.
-hope will become the leader of an organization called Academy, which serves to find alternative energy source since falcie are dead.
-Sazh is working to improve lives on pulse.
-it's impossible to travel to the time before XIII-2 because the paradoxes only start when XIII ends.
-the dark haired man, caius is lightning's rival in her mission for etro.
-caius is immortal and he tries to stop serah and Noel, as he believe they are contradicting the timeline
-a girl named Yeul is traveling with caius.
-yeul is apparently from pulse and she is a seer.
That's all I can remember for now. Wow what a long post lol. I do this because I like sharing knowledge and facts with people.
-
Well Officially Square is the one that got Enix I believe, With Square's president being the president of the formed Square-Enix. It happened in 2003. The reason for the merge? probably so Square and Enix will have the two top selling RPG franchises, Final Fantasy, and Dragon Quest.
Benrir
Dragon King
dang, I'm hyped for sure, now I know what I want for christmas 
thanks for sharing this info friend, I'd love to help back someway. Is there any other games you're excited for then? I might have info on them.
thanks for sharing this info friend, I'd love to help back someway. Is there any other games you're excited for then? I might have info on them.dang, I'm hyped for sure, now I know what I want for christmas
I am not really a gamer. More like a final fantasy fan
The only games I really take seriously are hence FF games, pretty much.
Theres really no need for you to help back. I have already found joy compiling those info. Thanks though.
In fact I wanted to repost the info above in an FFXIII-2 thread, which I was planning to set up if I have the time.
Benrir
Dragon King
Well I'm sure the time shouldn't be too long, I can help set one up if you want.
Oh and I meant an FFXIII-2 fanclub thread, which is in the Bevelle section of this forum. I don't think I have the time because being the thread starter means you are kind of the one responsible for the club who needs to keep track on members and updates. I may have some time these few days, but in the coming weeks, I am facing some really important exams, so I rather not distract myself too much.
It's alright. You dont have to do it for me. I will make one sooner or later.
It's alright. You dont have to do it for me. I will make one sooner or later.
Benrir
Dragon King
oh right, well let me know if you'd like help managing that. It'd become much more popular when the real game comes out. What age are you then to be doing exams?
WhiteKnight
ShinRa Guard
I know this is not the best source, but according to Wikipedia Square and Enix have separate development divisions within SquareEnix. That makes sense so both companies can keep the spirit and aura of their games integrity intact, but I do find it interesting that the Final Fantasy series has seen a fall in quality according to the fans (I haven't played any Final Fantasy completely post FF VII so I don't know how FF XII-FF XIV are) and the reviewers
However it is important to note that Enix's big series Dragon Quest have seen two main series games that got very favorable reviews; DQ VIII: Journey of the Cursed King and DQ IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies. Both released after the merging of the two companies.
However it is important to note that Enix's big series Dragon Quest have seen two main series games that got very favorable reviews; DQ VIII: Journey of the Cursed King and DQ IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies. Both released after the merging of the two companies.
Benrir
Dragon King
that's interesting, though I guess they've had a lot of work with Dragon Quest which might have destroyed the quality of FF13. Warning of advice, don't buy the game unless you're rich. Storyline is beautiful, but gameplay kinda sucks.
Actually, Square Enix outsources the development work of the Dragon Quest series to external development teams, with 8 and 9 produced by Level-5. It's only the tenth title (and woefully an online one for the Wii and Wii U) that they're doing it themselves, and considering their previous record with an MMO, I wouldn't hold my breath on it being terrific.
The company itself is now kind of an umbrella term as it's more or less annexed smaller companies like Taito and Eidos for example and the games they produce come out with the Square Enix name slapped on them - publishing games on their behalf.
As another reminder, try and avoid general chit-chat posts when you can. =)
The company itself is now kind of an umbrella term as it's more or less annexed smaller companies like Taito and Eidos for example and the games they produce come out with the Square Enix name slapped on them - publishing games on their behalf.
As another reminder, try and avoid general chit-chat posts when you can. =)
Mark57Raider
ShinRa Guard
Staying on topic I do believe Square merged into Square-Enix when Square was working on Unlimited Saga for the playstation 2. That is the first game I bought from them as a merged company.
WhiteKnight
ShinRa Guard
Also something interesting is that SquareSoft released Chrono Cross and Final Fantasy IX under that name however the Greatest Hits have the SquareEnix logo.