I’ve always been a big fan of full-motion video (FMV) and visual novel-type games. I love being able to influence a story based on the kind of choices I’m allowed to make in the game, and watching the story unfold based on those decisions. For some games these decisions lead to massive divergences in the plot, but in others it is just an illusion of choice. It doesn’t matter how much control I have over the narrative—what is most important to me is feeling like I am experiencing the story alongside the characters present in the game. The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story absolutely made me feel like I was right there in the story, solving a grand mystery spanning 100 years.  Originally published on Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, and Steam back in 2022 by Square Enix, The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story is now available on iOS and Android devices, allowing more people the chance to experience the twist and turns of its mystery plot presented through a well-shot, well-acted live-action FMV.  The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story has players follow the story of Haruka Kagami, a popular mystery novelist, as she’s invited to the Shijima family compound by

The fourth major patch to follow Final Fantasy XIV‘s Endwalker expansion update goes live Tuesday, May 23rd. Patch 6.4 features new content and features that we’ve summarized below — including where to unlock them. This includes the continuation of the main scenario in The Dark Throne chapter where you will journey to The Aetherfront and The Voidcast Dais for a trial against Golbez. It also includes the third and final chapter of the Pandaemonium raid series, and the return of Zurvan from the The Warring Triad series as the latest Unreal Trial. Several side stories are also available including the latest in Tataru's Grand Endeavor and updates to existing systems like Island Sanctuary, Ocean Fishing, and Duty Support are inbound. Below that, we've got details on some of the feature updates, job adjustments, and Patch 6.4 media collected. While you're here, we've got further details from the latest Letter from the Producer Live broadcast that goes over some of the newest additions including gameplay footage and what's to come in Patch 6.45. UNLOCK GUIDE Content:Quest Name:NPC:Requirements:Main Scenario QuestThe Dark ThroneCurrying Flavor👤 Varshahn🗺 Radz-at-Han🧭 X: 4.4 — Y: 9.8❗ Main Scenario Quest — Gods Revel, Lands Tremble (6.3)⚙ Lv. 90 Disciple of War or MagicExpert DungeonThe Aetherfont(6.4 Main Scenario Quest)(6.4

There is a slight blurriness to the Nintendo Switch debut version of last year's Live A Live remake. The image quality just isn't the greatest, but it's hardly a dealbreaker. At the time, my thought was that while the game's gorgeous utilization of Square Enix's HD-2D engine would flourish on stronger hardware, it was hardly enough of an issue to tell folks to wait on potential ports. Oops, right? Here we are, less than a year later, and you can now check out this bold and unexpected remake of a previously Japan-only JRPG on not just Switch, but PC and PlayStation consoles as well. What we have been given with these ports is the best-looking and smoothest-running version(s). I booted up Live A Live on my Switch on one of my two TVs, and my PS5 on the other, and the difference was bigger than I would have expected. I'm not talking in technical terms here - I'm no Digital Foundry! - but from a purely amateur perspective, I can safely say Live A Live on PlayStation 5 is crisp enough by comparison that you'll likely be impressed, too. But then I got to thinking, well, Live A Live may look

In the 77th Letter from the Producer Live broadcast, Final Fantasy XIV director/producer Naoki Yoshida and global community manager Toshio Murouchi shared the second round of information covering the upcoming Patch 6.4 content. First and foremost, we now know this patch will release on May 23 and bring with it the next installment of the high-end raid tier, new main scenario quests, and additional updates. We’ve summarized the major information below — check it out! Patch 6.4 Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6CILDMm9Xw Patch 6.4 "The Dark Throne" releases on Tuesday, May 23. In Patch 6.4, the main scenario quest will continue, as well as a new chapter of Tataru's Grand Endeavor, which will require that you complete the 6.1 chapter and the Sorrows of Werlyt trial series. What's to Come in Patch 6.4 'Somehow Further Hildibrand Adventures' will continue in Patch 6.45. Weapon and tool enhancement requests return in Patch 6.45 where you'll upgrade Manderville Weapons and Splendorous Tools. This patch's Unreal Trial will be against Zurvan in 'Containment Bay Z1T9'. This trial from the Warring Triad series replaces the current trial with Sophia.A new dungeon 'The Aetherfront' will be added for the main scenario quest, and a new trial versus Golbez in 'The Voidcast Dais' will be added. This trial will also have an

When I played through Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin on console last year, all I could keep thinking was that the script felt like someone found my seventh-grade fan fiction, tidied up the grammar, and embarrassed me personally by sending it out into the modern world.  The gameplay, while fun, struck me as overly repetitive. The dated visuals didn’t help matters. I’m not saying I disliked my time with the game, because all things considered, I was glad to have played it, but I would not go so far as to say I was thrilled. As the DLCs dropped, and discourse slowly but surely shifted from focusing on Jack’s cheesy lines to the game as a whole, I started to feel like maybe I had missed the forest for the trees. Perhaps there’s more to like about Stranger of Paradise than I had realized. It warranted a second chance. Naturally, I jumped at the chance to give it another test drive on Steam. This time, it clicked, but my newfound appreciation has nothing to do with the reason I presume you’re reading this, which is to ascertain the technical state of the port. Not helpful, I know, but hear me out -

In the 76th Letter from the Producer Live broadcast, Final Fantasy XIV director/producer Naoki Yoshida and global community manager Toshio Murouchi shared the first but lengthy round of information on the upcoming Patch 6.4, along with other information including what's to come in Patch 6.38, which will be releasing Tuesday, April 4. We’ve summarized the major information below — check it out! What's to Come in Patch 6.38 Releases Tuesday, April 4. Pandaemonium: Abyssos (Savage) weekly restriction removed. PvP action adjustments. Crystalline Conflict season 6 will begin. NA data center hardware replacement will commence. Patch 6.4 "The Dark Throne" Releases late May 2023. Includes new main scenario quests. Patch 6.4 will continue the main scenario quest. Pictured are Krile, Erenville, and Zero. The next chapter of Tataru's Grand Endeavor will commence. Pictured are Gaius and Allie following 'The Sorrows of Werlyt' scenario. 'Somehow Further Hildibrand Adventures' will continue. The inspector(?) takes on a grape-like visage. The Hildibrand story will continue in 6.45, as will the next phase of the Manderville Weapon enhancement quests. Godbert and Gerolt are pictured in Radz-at-Han. Splendorous Tool enhancement quests will follow Grenoldt and Mowen in the Crystarium's Crystalline Mean. A new dungeon will be added in Patch 6.4: 'The Aetherfont'. Yoshida comments that polar bears make him think of MMORPGs, maybe due to Ultima

In the most recent string of Square Enix’s already-packed release lineup, PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo is an exciting project to release in the current era. Visual novels are far from the once-popular medium they were years ago but as a huge fan of visual novels in general and given Square Enix’s history with the medium I was intrigued nonetheless. Excitingly enough, I was given early access to Paranormasight and after finishing the main story as well as its side content, I’m glad to say not only is it among the best of Square Enix’s recent releases but also a fresh and satisfying visual novel experience that both fans and newcomers to the genre can enjoy. Paranormasight is helmed by veteran director-writer Takanari Ishiyama, whose work on smaller projects such as Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings overshadows his long history of developing and writing a multitude of visual novels for the mobile medium. Needless to say, even if that has a negative connotation for you given the reputation of mobile entertainment in the modern era, fear not. What’s presented here is an incredibly tightly written visual novel paced excellently even with all its supernatural mystery trappings.  The story follows an ensemble

The original Theatrhythm Final Fantasy is a game that’s always been near and dear to my heart. Upon release I was captivated by the charming character design and the breadth of songs available that spanned the length of the Final Fantasy series available at the time. Then came Curtain Call and I got to experience the whimsical formula all over again, albeit with even more tracks to choose from including Final Fantasy XIV, which was just finding its feet at the time. Then came Theatrhythm Dragon Quest and even an arcade version of the Final Fantasy one. It seemed like Square Enix was keen on carving out their own little niche in this genre - even if those titles never left Japan. The latter came out in 2016 and after that? Well, there really was nothing. The Kingdom Hearts-themed Melody of Memory doesn’t really count as it’s a different format for the most part. The question then remained – was there till a place for the Theatrhythm series? Nearly a decade after the release of Curtain Call, the last proper “Theatrhythm Final Fantasy” title, we finally have our answer. Square Enix returned to the stage with an announcement last year heralding the

An interstitial patch to follow Final Fantasy XIV‘s ‘Gods Revel, Lands Tremble update goes live Tuesday, March 7th. Patch 6.35 features new content and features that we’ve summarized below — including where to unlock them. While you're here, we've got details on the return of Little Ladies' Day seasonal event ending on March 15th or page through the notes from the latest Letter from the Producer Live broadcast. Content Content:NPC:Requirements:Deep DungeonEureka Orthos👤 Koh Rabntah🗺 Mor Dhona🧭 X: 21.8 — Y: 8.1❗ Quest: "Endwalker" (6.0 MSQ)❗ Palace of the Dead (clear Floor 50)⚙ Lv. 81 Combat JobSide Story QuestSomehow Further Hildibrand Adventures👤 Delion🗺 Radz-at-Han🧭 X: 11.9 — Y: 11.1❗ Quest: "The Imperfect Gentleman" (6.3 SSQ)⚙ Lv. 90 Combat JobManderville WeaponsNew Upgrade Phase👤 Gerolt🗺 Radz-at-Han🧭 X: 12.0 — Y: 7.1❗ Quest: "Make it a Manderville" (6.3 SSQ)❗ Quest: "Generational Bonding" (6.35 SSQ)⚙ Lv. 90 Combat JobSplendorous ToolsInitial Upgrade Phase👤 Chora-Zoi🗺 Crystarium🧭 X: 7.8 — Y: 11.4❗ Quest: "Endwalker" (6.0 MSQ)❗ Quest: "The Crystalline Mean" (5.0 SSQ)❗ Unlock the Boutique of Splendours(Speak to Mowen in Eulmore X:11.4 — Y:10.7)⚙ Lv. 90 Crafting/Gathering JobTribal QuestsThe Lopporits👤 Dreamingway🗺 Old Sharlayan🧭 X: 11.7 — Y: 10.9❗ Quest: "Endwalker" (6.0 MSQ)❗ Quest: "Dream a Little Dream" (6.0 SQ)*Side quest begins with "Name That Way"⚙

The ideal crossover draws fans from opposite ends of a two-game aisle toward a single experience that honors each individual title whilst serving as a free sample for the one folks aren't familiar with. I've got a friend, she knows who she is, who is obsessed with PowerWash Simulator. Lives and breathes it. Not so much Final Fantasy. Meanwhile, I'm the opposite. Naturally, this makes the free Midgar Special Pack DLC perfect for us both; my friend gets her first taste of FF7 Remake, and I get to clean a bar. When I put it that way, I can't help but feel like my friend has the better part of this deal. Honestly, though? I get it. There's a certain zen-like experience to be found in PowerWash Simulator. I can't speak to the core game, as I'm only giving this all a shake via the DLC, but I can see through this Midgar-centric perspective why millions of people enjoy cleaning up filthy environments at their leisure with a washing apparatus that can blast watery payloads into grime-caked surfaces with ample might. The gameplay loop is rhythmic. It's nice to see a pretty thing slowly emerge from its cocoon of filth. It's nifty