[PS3/Vita] New Comparison Trailer From Gamescom of Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster

Long title is long.

Prepare yourselves - this will be 99% fangirling and 1% actual intellectual observations, as previously mentioned on my Twitter.

So, I am awful and haven't really followed Gamescom due to a combination of things. I have been hanging out in my hometown so have been seeing lots of family. Tales of Graces f is a fantastic game that sucks your soul into it and you forget about real life. With the Origin Humble Bundle, I managed to install The Sims 3 in Japanese, another game that is soul sucking, but even more so now I can spends hours playing it in Japanese.

So there are my excuses.

However, I have been keeping an eye on any announcements or anything related to Japanese games. And, you should know by now, I am a huge Final Fantasy fan and I am even more of a Final Fantasy X fan so it's not even funny how excited I am for this remake remaster.

With Gamescom, came a new comparison trailer which I dutifully squealed at...

This video shows you the SD version, then the HD version.

The changes are quite obvious, but I will still run through them. Obviously, the menus, bars, names, everything that we see on the battle screen has been changed. It's cleaner and more modern. I'm not feeling the fonts, however. It just doesn't suit it. It almost looks like a fanmade game and they've picked a really lousy font for it. But other than that it's looking really good. I will just have to accept the new font.

The models are smoother, more defined and less blocky. Textures are more vibrant and just look a lot better.

What stuck out to me most is... DAT MUSIC. Have a good listen to it. It's been remastered and it is perfect. I mean, the original soundtrack was amazing, but this remastered version sounds even better. It really adds a whole new dynamic to it. I'm listening to it now as I write I have the biggest, dorkiest smile on my face. Well done Square Enix. Well done. I cannot wait to hear the other tracks. If I'm getting excited at the battle theme... The seven help me when I hear the rest.

So, it's still looking great. This year has seen a small trickle of information on this remaster, and with every drop of new news (can you even say that? I think I've just broke the English language) the game looks even better.

I am really looking forward to this, and will most definitely be purchasing it. Yes, it's the same game, same story, same characters... but none of that needs to change. It's an awesome game with a brand new look and I'm so excited for it I am just randomly tapping away at my keyboard I mean who needs commas when you are this excited for a game!?!

I don't.

I am trying to stay objective and not biased on this game but I am sorry guys, I think this looks amazing and I cannot wait for it - I may not like that damn font - but this is going to R U L E.

No release date yet, but I reckon it will be dropped before the year is out.

If you are excited for the game like me, you can preorder it at Playasia!

[PS3/Vita] Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD English 30 Minute Audio Sample

Breathes in...

SOME MORE INFORMATION ON FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD: 30 MINUTE AUDIO CLIP AND NEW SCREENS *squee*

Breathes out...

I'm bad at headlines, ok?

A little background:
Square Enix announced a HD remaster (Note: not remake - there is an important difference. I think.) of the most amazing game to ever grace the PS2 Final Fantasy X and the not so great Final Fantasy X-2. 

It's not a remake because it's not being completely remade. They are essentially just remastering it. Updating the textures, audio and cleaning off a few cobwebs (it has been 12 years since it was released. Bet that makes you feel old!).

Square Enix recently released a sample of a 30 min audio "episode", to give you an idea of how it's all going to sound.

As you can hear - doesn't it sound different? It's totally brand new. And we finally hear how they pronounce Tidus (it took 12 years!).

It has also been confirmed that the Western release of this will feature all the extra content the Japanese games got... so essentially it's the international version. If that makes sense. Dark Aeons, Penance and I think the "Last Mission" from FFX-2 is included on there as well. 

There has also been a ton of new screens released showcasing what it looks like... and it's looking great. 

Menus have been updated and there's trophies!

There hasn't been an release date announced yet, but I think it's safe to assume it will be dropping later this year. It will be available on PS3 and PS Vita.

Sources: EMGNow (more pictures!), Playstation Blog

[PS Vita/News] Hatsune Miku rhythm game coming to the West!

I am currently working on a review for a PS vita game so until then I thought I would write about the latest in Japanese gaming...

Hatsune Miku Project Diva F is coming to the West!

credit to evoxiii at DeviantArt

OK, I have this game. It's a fun game. I am not much of a vocaloid fan but it's fun to play. I saw the news here and thought I would write about it. 

Considering this blog is centered around Japanese games not being localised and brought to the west, I thought this would be a good place to start. 

YAY! Finally! A Japanese vita game is being localised and released here! According to that article, you lucky Americans are getting both a Playstation 3 release as well as it being released on the Playstation store, whereas Europeans just get it on the PS store. Either way, it is fantastic news. 

It seems from this trailer video SEGA America posted, they've went with roomaji. This makes the Japanese nerd in me very happy. I was thinking that they would just translate it into English, but it seems they have went with the lazy better option and translitered it into roomaji. Nice one SEGA. 

I was about to go into how and why this might have happened, when reading the article, something caught my eye, "'Your voices helped make this happen', said Aaron Webber,". Again, as I say, I don't follow anything about this game, so I am judging from that a lot of people expressed to SEGA that they wanted it to be released in the West.

Interesting.

Any way, great news on the Japanese game front, hope all you vocaloid fans out there are pleased! 

As I already have the Japanese version, I don't see myself getting this. If I do, it will be purely out of interest to see what they have done with it. Rhythm games are huge in Japan, but not so much over here. I think I will watch this closely, and see how it develops...

How many of you already own the original? If you already own the original, do you plan on buying this version as well? Let me know in the comments!

- Jade

Hatsune Miku -Project Diva F- is available on Playasia - get your own copy now!