Final Fantasy Joins Dragon Quest on PS2
Final Fantasy XII may be long in the coming, but you'll be able to savour it soon.
The biggest game of the last few years in Japan is PlayStation 2 RPG Dragon Quest VIII, Square Enix's latest instalment in the genre defining series. The company has announced that when the game ships in North America later this year, it will come with a playable demo for Final Fantasy XII, the hotly anticipated next game in the company's other popular series.
Dragon Quest VIII has been a long time coming to the West, but the company has used that time to give the game several updates over the Japanese version, including adding voice acting, a new interface and a richer, orchestral soundtrack.
It's not clear yet whether this latest Dragon Quest game will be coming to Europe. Despite more than 40 million sales outside the region, the series has never shown itself here.
RPGs have traditionally not been given a chance in Europe, though that has changed in the last five years, especially on the PlayStation 2, and there's a good chance that Square Enix could bring the game here after the North American release at the end of November.
Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games