Dissidia Final Fantasy NT has to be Square Enix’s most ambitious attempt on this branch of the franchise yet. Developed by Team Ninja, who is responsible for the Dead or Alive series, it shows some merit in the form of three-versus-three combat that requires for coordinated team play to secure victory. Initially released for Japanese arcades in 2015, it seemed like a promising successor to both the original Dissidia title and the follow-up, Dissidia 012. While the console version of this arcade fighter fulfills some expectations in some areas, it leaves much to be desired in others. Last month I had the opportunity to try out the open beta for Dissidia Final Fantasy NT on the PlayStation 4. While I had a great time trying out the roster of characters that were released in batches over the three day period, I found my experience hindered by poor connectivity that remained persistent between matches. Unfortunately, regarding the Online experience little has changed. I quickly booted up Dissidia NT upon release and queued for Solo Ranked - one of the two modes available for online play in NT. While my first match went without incident, the several that followed were riddled with lag.

Back in August I had the opportunity to play Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, Square Enix’s ambitious 3 vs 3 fighter. While the roster was small, I was fairly impressed with the team-based gameplay and focus on cooperation between allies in order to secure victory. Despite the cluttered UI, which has since been changed due to player feedback, I found the game mostly enjoyable - if not somewhat of a variation to the previous Dissidia titles. Local multiplayer worked quite well and inputs were incredibly responsive as a result, allowing for an enjoyable experience overall for both those familiar and unfamiliar with the series. The most recent open beta expands upon the roster and mechanics, allowing for players to get into the thick of it and explore different features available to Dissidia NT shortly before its scheduled launch. A handful of new characters allowed for a better look at the diversity of the lineup, giving the players the chance to test out the different character styles available to NT. Recently, however, my experience with the open beta have caused my impressions to shift. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIOFT977kaE Once I loaded up the beta on my PS4 I immediately took to playing Jecht, one of the primary antagonists

Star Ocean The Last Hope International recently received a re-release that included a visual upgrade in the form of Star Ocean The Last Hope 4K and Full HD Remaster. This title includes all of the features bundled into the PlayStation 3 release of Star Ocean The Last Hope International and is a good introduction to the series for newcomers looking to explore earlier installments of the franchise. While elements of the story haven’t aged remarkably well, Star Ocean The Last Hope 4K and Full HD Remaster offers itself to be a good entry point to the series and to scratch the itch of those looking for a lengthy JRPG to fill their time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATXMtBsr2TM I sunk a good amount of time into Star Ocean The Last Hope 4K and Full HD Remaster. While the base game is wholly the same when compared to Star Ocean The Last Hope International, I found the upgrade to the game’s visuals to be the most stand-out part of this re-release. This port to both PlayStation 4 and PC provide a handful of new visual features that can be accessed through the menu. I quickly turned these new settings on and found that the environments were crisper, cleaner, and

Final Fantasy Dimensions II, previously known as Final Fantasy Legends: Toki no Suisho in Japan, is now available in western regions. This formerly Free-to-Play title can now be found as a Premium RPG in the app store for $14.99. As it stands, reviews on the Google Play Store are mixed. You can find more information from the official Square Enix press release below. "Players join heroes Morrow and Aemo as they embark on a journey across multiple worlds in the past, present, and future. Classic turn-based battles will lead players through a nostalgic RPG experience filled with a wide cast of characters who will help shape a deep and engaging story spanning multiple worlds. Developed by veteran SQUARE ENIX® game director, Takashi Tokita (FINAL FANTASY IV, CHRONO TRIGGER®), FINAL FANTASY DIMENSIONS II puts a fresh twist on character advancement with the Signet Stone system. These powerful items can summon many well-known Eidolons featured throughout the history of the FINAL FANTASY series, as well as teach characters new abilities. Players can obtain and evolve over 300 Signet Stones, customizing each hero with powerful magic and skills to help best monstrous foes in battles. Additionally, a unique “Archive” Mode will unlock after finishing the main game, giving players access to game design illustrations

Square Enix has announced through their official website a new initiative to open up a new Square Enix Cafe location in Shanghai. Due to the popularity of the cafes in both Osaka and Tokyo they have decided to open up a new location. This will be their first cafe outside of Japan, making it a flagship shop while working to improve and expand this initiative. This new location is scheduled to open this winter and will provide a unique "changing" theme along with the sale of official Square Enix goods. The first theme of the cafe upon it's opening will be Final Fantasy XIV, Square Enix's popular MMORPG. Themed drinks, food, and goods will accompany the launch of this new location.