It took Square Enix almost a decade to create, but finally, the gaming firm is setting up for the international release of its highly anticipated game, "Final Fantasy XV," which will be launched for the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One on Sept. 30. Before that fateful date, however, fans of the franchise have a couple of notable things to sink their teeth into.
With the gaming firm attempting to make the latest installment in the long-running franchise the best one yet, Square Enix has decided to go on an all-out promotional campaign, releasing a companion anime series as well as a full-length CGI movie that is set to introduce the world of "Final Fantasy XV" to old and new fans alike.
The companion anime series, titled "Brotherhood: Final Fantasy XV," serves as a prequel to the plot of the upcoming RPG. What is particularly interesting about the anime is the fact that it is completely free to watch. The anime is not just some run-of-the-mill series, either, with pretty good animation and admirable production values.
The CGI movie, called "Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV," is a much more elaborate affair. Apart from featuring epic battles and a number of interesting characters, the movie also casts several notable Hollywood actors, such as Sean Bean from "Lord of the Rings" and Aaron Paul from "Breaking Bad."
Indeed, from the efforts being put months before the game's launch, it does seem like Square Enix is pulling out all stops in order to ensure the success of its upcoming game. In a way, much of the company's motivation is partly due to the current state of the franchise.
There was a time when the "Final Fantasy" franchise signified games that pushed the limits of their respective consoles. There was also a time when the franchise became synonymous with titles that featured stories which endeared themselves to a generation of games. Recently, however, much of the "Final Fantasy" magic has faded somewhat, with its most recent titles not quite reaching the levels of say, "Final Fantasy VII."
This is why Square Enix's upcoming flagship title, "Final Fantasy XV," is such an important game. According to director Hajime Tabata, the new game is set to bring together the allure of the classic "Final Fantasy" titles and merge them with the latest in technology today.
"What we really wanted to do with XVis return to the roots of the series and to put everything we've got into creating what we think is the best ultimate Final Fantasy game we can. And return to that position of being a challenger to the title, and approach it from that perspective. We've got to win it," he said.
