Square Enix Double Feature: FFXV and DQ

Square Enix has been busy recently. Between the monstrous Final Fantasy XV hype and the localization of favorite Dragon Quest games, fans are going to have to be very very hungry to pack away all this excitement. Square Enix knows this, which is why the company showed off a rich Final Fantasy XV gameplay demo at London’s EGX last week.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS0MX41S9LY[/embedyt]

Nearly 40 minutes of gameplay are shown in the video where the characters and their traits are introduced in more detail. The game world looks absolutely stunning, and the player will also be able to switch control between the four party members during the real-time combat. If Noctis or one of his friends becomes too weak, the other party members will be able to rush in to save them. Leveling up is handled with a point system which players can spend on skills. Furthermore, certain enemies, especially larger ones, will have breakable appendages that will weaken them if damaged or destroyed. Towards the end of the demonstration, the crew even gets behind the wheel of a car.

On the Dragon Quest front, the western localization of the seventh game released a short time ago and is exceeding expectations across the board. Its successor, DQVIII, will join it on the 3DS system in December just in time to miss the holidays. Square Enix is keeping mum on the in-development DQXI, but the success of the seventh game has re-opened the question about a localized version of Dragon Quest X. Square Enix addressed the possibility (sort of) during their panel at PAX West, wherein they reiterated their usual “if enough fans demand it” stance.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxU6eLjhR90[/embedyt]

The difference between the series is, while Final Fantasy is critically acclaimed worldwide, Dragon Quest’s audience is much more niche. While fans have proven without a doubt that there is a place for the games in the west, Square Enix seems to think the waters still need a bit more testing. The good news is, as DQVII proves, there is a chance.

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