Square Enix manages to put on a great show at E3 every few years, and this was that year.
As it turns out, all SE has to do is show off Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest and other JRPGs for it to do well. And when Marvel’s Avengers is also revealed? Magnificent.
Here is the good and bad (there was nothing ugly about this show) of the Square Enix E3 showcase:
The Good
Final Fantasy VII Remake
I’m not the biggest fan of Final Fantasy VII, but I’d be lying I said this remake didn’t look amazing.
As detailed in a recent trailer, battles take place in real-time, allowing characters to move and attack freely. However, the developers saw fit to include the ATB guage, which rises over time, allowing access to more powerful attacks and spells when it fills.
By including both, players will be able to approach battles tactically — something that they’ll appreciate when fighting bosses. If the Guard Scorpion boss is indicative of the bosses in Final Fantasy VII Remake, players will have to take advantage of weaknesses, weak points and positioning to come out ahead.
Oh, and we finally got our first look at Tifa and Sephiroth in action, both of whom look positively brilliant.
Final Fantasy VII Remake comes out for the PlayStation 4 on March 3, 2020.
Dragon Quest Builders 2
At long last, Dragon Quest Builders 2!
In a game blending elements from Minecraft and the core Dragon Quest series, the player will embark on a multi-island journey where they’re tasked with taking down an evil cult who has captured the builders and banned building and cooking.
Naturally, players will have an assortment of new tools to reach this end, such as flying and underwater travel, co-op play, and fast-travel. It’s also got buildable cars and enhanced combat.
In short, it has more of everything a fan would want: more action, more building, and of course, more fun.
Dragon Quest Builders 2 arrives on the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch on July 12, 2019.
Romancing SaGa
Be honest: how many of you remember Romancing SaGa 3 and SaGa Scarlet Grace were expected to arrive in the West?
Hell, you wouldn’t even be blamed if you forgot it existed at all.
Fortunately, it seems that Square Enix didn’t forget either detail, reconfirming that SaGa 3 and Scarlet Grace are indeed a thing and will be coming to the West.
It’s slated to arrive for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC and Mobile, but word is still out on when it will actually arrive.
Final Fantasy 8 Remastered
Believe it or not, there were two things particularly surprising about this announcement.
First off, Square Enix didn’t forget that Final Fantasy 8 actually exists, and opted to bring it to modern platforms.
Second, it’s coming out in 2019 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.
Crazy world.
Marvel’s Avengers
After an eternity of waiting, the Avengers are ready to assemble before the world.
We still don’t know much about gameplay, but we do know the game is set to take place five years after A-Day, a day that was supposed to celebrate the opening of the Avenger’s West Coast Headquarters, but became one of tragedy after their ship was hijacked and destroyed, killing thousands of people in the nearby area. It was their greatest failure, and that moment turned Captain America, Iron Man, Black Widow, Thor and the Hulk into outlaws.
Despite that though, the five will need to reform their once-disbanded team in order to confront a new threat that his risen to power in their absence.
As you might have realized, this is an original story, but there will be iconic moments from the larger cinematic universe. A big part of this universe will be comprised of DLC, but developer Crystal Dynamics promised they’ll all be free.
Marvel’s Avengers is due out on May 15, 2020, for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. A beta will be available on PS4 for players who pre-order.
The Bad
Kingdom Hearts 3 Re:Mind
What was once one of the most-anticipated Kingdom Hearts titles, has become the series’ most divisive, and Square Enix is doing everything it can to piece everything back together.
The first attempt came in the form of Critical Mode, and the second is DLC titled, Re:Mind.
We don’t know much about it for the time being, but we clearly see that it will feature a playable Aqua, Roxas and Riku, as well as a new transformation, Oathkeeper, for Sora. And from what director Tetsuya Nomura has mentioned, more content such as an extra boss will be added too.
Honestly, it’s a laudable effort, but much of what made Kingdom Hearts 3 so disappointing for many were things already in the base game that a DLC can’t fix.
Can Kingdom Hearts 3 be fixed? We’ll have to wait until this Winter to find out.
Dying Light 2
Shown twice, burned twice.
One would assume that after being shown during Microsoft’s press event, a repeat appearance would warrant more information or gameplay, right?
Nope! All we saw this time around was footage from the most recent trailer, along with some stuff from the initial one.
There’s some cool stuff going on, like how the player has to constantly keep track of how far their infection has progressed, or how UV can be used to keep humans from turning. But surely it wouldn’t hurt to show actual gameplay during at least one of the presentations?
The Ugly
Nothing! It was a beautiful presentation. Judging from Square Enix’s trend though, next year’s showcase might be a nightmare.
Finale
That’s it for the good, bad and ugly of Square Enix’s E3 event. What were your favorite (and least favorite) parts of the event? Do you think Square Enix did a good job overall? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
