Looking for a DS RPG, but Square-Enix's sky-high prices have you eying those Volume 9 DS Games carts from across the pond? Bat away those temptations to take to the seas and don an eye patch; consider these Amazon deals instead!
Up until tonight, Amazon is offering copies of Final Fantasy III for almost half the game's usual price, marking down the 3D remake to $16.99. If Dragon Quest spin-offs are more your thing, DQM: Joker and Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime are also featured with sub-$20 sales, and those markdowns should stay up while stocks last. Those games should keep you busy for weeks, and you didn't even have to spend £6,000!
[Via CAG]
Read - Final Fantasy III at Amazon- $16.99 ($29.99)
Read - Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker at Amazon - $17.96 ($29.99)
Read - Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime at Amazon - $14.99
Nostalgia is a big factor for veteran gamers. As we long wistfully for the days of yore, full of Opera Houses and Triple Techs, companies scheme to use this wonderful emotion for profit. Square-Enix is a particularly egregious offender, but damned if we're not willing to buy that game we loved just one more time.
Final Fantasy III is a bit of an exception, since the title was never truly released in regions outside of Japan before last year. But how willing are you, as gamers, to buy rehashes of the very same game? We got the entire Final Fantasy Advance series (I, II, IV, V, and VI) and now Square-Enix wants to release a graphically overhauled version of FFIV ... again? With the inclusion of Final Fantasy Chronicles on the Playstation, this will be the fourth release of the same freaking game.
Do you need extra features or updated graphics to re-buy a game, or do you refuse on principal? As we know is that as long as we keep buying them, Square-Enix will keep remaking them. Pah.
Well, if you weren't quite convinced that Final Fantasy III DS was worth getting excited over, then try this on for size: rumor has it that the same team has taken on an update of Final Fantasy IV -- one of three Final Fantasy titles heralded as a contender for the title of best game ever.
Whereas the original FFIII was passed over for a U.S. release and featured, prior to update, a nameless band of warriors, the next entry in the series originated many of the qualities that turned the franchise into a global powerhouse. The game debuted the Active Time Battle system and featured an epic storyline that's still held dear in the hearts of RPG gamers everywhere. It's been remade several times -- most recently (and we mean recently) for the GBA -- but a remake using the FFIII engine could give the game new life and improve the only thing that needs to be improved, which is the graphics.
If this is true (and it wouldn't surprise us), we'll most likely hear confirmation on it soon, since the Square Enix Party is this weekend in Japan. According to the rumor, the game is nearly finished as well, so if it's coming, we won't have long to wait.
CVG recently sat down with Final Fantasy III producer Hiromichi Tanaka for a chat about the game's release in Europe this week. Much of the interview is given over to discussing the game's unexpected levels of success in Japan and the U.S., and hopes for Europe, though Tanaka had a few interesting things to say about both remakes and the DS. He said that in order to achieve the impressive look and effect of FFIII, they were forced to focus the handheld's power on only one screen, which certainly explains a lot. Since they were getting the chance to give the game a complete visual update, they wanted it to be as beautiful as possible.
But the part of the interview that will stick out and serve as fodder for FF-themed debate is the mention of Final Fantasy VII. CVG mentioned that FFVII is the game many fans hope and pray for on the DS, and Tanaka offered this cryptic response: "The main thing is the timing." If nothing else, it's not a no, so we'll put this one down as a possibility.
This week is apparently the official week for movie tie-ins, because that's all we have coming out for our beloved DS here in the States. This week, Europe and Australia are the places to be, when it comes to games, and how often do you guys get to say that? Don't worry -- tomorrow, some delay will be announced for you guys, and it'll be back to business as usual.
We don't poke fun at you. We're commiserating. Luckily, this week there are games slated to hit PAL regions that are worth the wait, particularly in Australia.
All this week, the DS Fanboy staff is letting you in on a few of their favorite titles. Each day, a different member of the staff will present their personal top five DS games along with a snapshot of their gaming paraphernalia and habits, in an effort to provide our readers with a little more information on the tastes and personalities of our writers.
As the lead blogger of PSP Fanboy, one might be questioning why I'm here. It's true: I love my PSP and take it everywhere (except the shower). But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy Nintendo's handheld. I've grown up with Nintendo handhelds, owning every iteration of the Game Boy ever. My stash of Nintendo valuables would make any Nintendork jealous. Now that I'm older and spending less time arguing in message boards, I've learned that true gaming bliss comes from having access to all the games I can get. Hopefully, you feel the same way too.
So please, take my "top five" list as an olive branch to end the bickering between the two Fanboy sites.
All this week, the DS Fanboy staff is letting you in on a few of their favorite titles. Each day, a different member of the staff will present their personal top five DS games along with a snapshot of their gaming paraphernalia and habits, in an effort to provide our readers with a little more information on the tastes and personalities of our writers.
If there's anything that can be said about my life -- and that includes my gaming life -- it's that it's messy. I'm messy. I have all this organizational garbage that's supposed to make it easier to store and find all my stuff, but see, I keep accumulating more stuff, and so I need more organizational items ... it's a vicious cycle, and it's part of why I love cartridges. I know where the box is for Clubhouse Games. It's about three feet away as I type this. I could get it, but why? Clubhouse Games goes in and out of my beloved handheld so often, I usually just leave it here on my desk along with the other games I'm interested in at the moment, and I don't have to worry about it getting all scratched up because it isn't delicate like some pansy disc. This makes me happy. I have to be more careful with CDs and DVDs ... but that doesn't mean there aren't a few stacks of discs around my workspace. Believe me, if it's at all stackable, I'm gonna stack it, and to hell with the consequences.
Of course, the problem with the size of DS carts means that sometimes I lose my Clubhouse for a while, and that makes me unhappy to the extreme. Luckily, there are other games that can distract me ....
For all of you that got a real kick out of the game, these figurines here might be right up your alley. With a total of seven available (with three of them pictured, natch), we imagine many a cubicle area or home desk could be spruced up (or even defended from ne'er-do-wells) by these awesome figurines. Play-Asia supposedly sells them, but they're currently sold out with no signs of replenished stock coming.
Where can you find Hannah Montana hanging out with FFIII? No, not on a shelf at your local GameStop -- in Next Generation's list of the top 100 best-selling games in North America in 2006. But you get more than just a regular ol' list; they also broke the games down by average critical rating, and it's pretty interesting to compare sales with review ratings. More signs that the review system could use an overhaul? Or just an indication that critics and gamers often look for different things?
Some interesting things we noticed while perusing the list:
Bratz outsold a lot of very good DS games, including Tetris. We can only guess that Games 4 Girls campaign worked. Also, we're now certain that Bratz dolls should be banned, due to the fact that they're obviously both evil and insidious.
People really dig Cars.
DS games started to get fewer and further apart as the list wound down. We suspect that's simply because there are too many great DS games for people to buy. Our wallets hurt. Really. But we're not complaining.
Nintendogs barely made it into the top 50. We're surprised.
The highest ranked DS exclusive: New Super Mario Bros., which came in at number 5.
Unless you've been living in a hole in the Arctic, you probably heard a little something about the redone Final Fantasy III that was recently released. All in all, it's a beautiful reimagining -- and reimaging -- of a solid, but not universally beloved game.
But what if someone did spruce up one of those older games that drive us crazy even now? As soon as word of the new Final Fantasy III hit the streets, fans immediately started speculating about other Final Fantasy titles, but what about games outside the FF oeuvre? What game would you like to see given a spit-shine and a fresh coat of paint? The characters of FFIII gained new life and personality (even names), and certainly there are a few other old school heroes who could benefit from similar treatment. What would you like to see?
While we, in the states, have been enjoying the game for quite some time (several years less than Japanese gamers, though), European gamers have been waiting on their turn to take part in a fantasy most final, and now we finally have a window of time in which the game will release to the region. While we wish we could have received a more concrete release date, one involving a day and month, we're glad to have at least some idea of when to expect the game.
Been buried in Wii news all week? Never fear, because we're here with the best and brightest from last week at DS Fanboy. Your Week in Nintendo recaps the week's most notable stories, based on relevance and reader support. For the week of November 13th through November 19th, don't miss:
5) The DS on British airwaves
We love us some ads, and this awesome new UK television spot is one of the best we've seen lately. From a good selection of games to a realistic portrayal of a gamer on the go, Nintendo proves that DS lovers are alike no matter where or how they play.
4) New footage from the forthcoming Naruto game
So good, one commenter thought it was a Wii game. This is one video you won't want to miss, whether you're a fan of the anime or not. If the game lives up to the graphics, you'll be a fan soon anyway ....
3) The Final Fantasy III reviews roll in
The reviews for the redone FFIII are in, and the scores are somewhat surprising. Looks like some people think old school RPGs should remain a thing of the past. But let's try to remember that high seventies doesn't mean we should all go the seppuku route. Not everything should get a perfect score, after all ....
2) Games 4 Girls?
GameStop's new Games 4 Girls display is causing a stir across the 'net. Should we be encouraging anyone to play some of these? Cooking Mama, sure, but That's So Raven? No wonder there's a dearth of female gamers.
1) DS Fanboy announces the first Game Night
And this week's biggest news is right here! Join us on Tuesday for chatting and a few rounds of Mario Kart. Stay tuned for further details about the upcoming hour of power.
Big week for handheld gaming! As we creep closer to the end of the year, release dates are just more and more packed with must-have titles. If this keeps up, we may have to consider undertaking a life of crime in order to afford everything we want. What are you picking up this week, and how much ramen are you gonna munch to compensate?
DS releases:
Asphalt: Urban GT 2
Bionicle Heroes
Bomberman Land: Touch!
Brain Boost: Beta Wave
Brain Boost: Gamma Wave
Charlotte's Web
Digimon World DS
Eragon
Final Fantasy III
Gunpey
Happy Feet
Monster Bomber
Rayman Raving Rabbids
Spider-Man: Battle for New York
Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 2
Tomb Raider: Legend
Totally Spies! 2: Undercover
Yoshi's Island 2
GBA releases:
Bionicle Heroes
Charlotte's Web
Eragon
F-24: Stealth Fighter
Happy Feet
March of the Penguins
Polarium Advanced
Sonic the Hedgehog Genesis
Spider-Man: Battle for New York
Super Robot Taisen 2
Tomb Raider: Legend
Tonka on the Job
Totally Spies! 2: Undercover
Yggdra Union
And don't forget (like you were going to!) -- next week is the first of the global launch dates for the Wii! Then we'll really be awash in Nintendo goodness. As for this week's games, as ever, supplies are subject to manufacturer delivery.
[Big ups to whoever the games in the picture belong to!]
With less than a week until Final Fantasy III releases to US gamers, our excitement cannot get any higher. We're serious, we already broke one of our excite-o-meters just trying to measure our excitement. As such, the embedded video of some serious scrapping on the high seas manages to increase our interest in the game that much more. We suggest you check it out, after the break.
It's a new week, and of course, that means a new challenge for our armchair translators. We're gonna need to know when these go on sale, where they are, and how much milk money we need to shake down to score a few. These Final Fantasy III figures turned up on 4cr's news feed and they were just too cute to resist.
And if you're paying attention, you might get to see some Nintendo panties in action. Ah, forum posters and their wacky avatars.
Nostalgia is a big factor for veteran gamers. As we long wistfully for the days of yore, full of Opera Houses and Triple Techs, companies scheme to use this wonderful emotion for profit. Square-Enix is a particularly egregious offender, but damned if we're not willing to buy that game we loved just one more time.
CVG recently sat down with Final Fantasy III producer Hiromichi Tanaka for a chat about the game's release in Europe this week. Much of the interview is given over to discussing the game's unexpected levels of success in Japan and the U.S., and hopes for Europe, though Tanaka had a few interesting things to say about both remakes and the DS. He said that in order to achieve the impressive look and effect of FFIII, they were forced to focus the handheld's power on only one screen, which certainly explains a lot. Since they were getting the chance to give the game a complete visual update, they wanted it to be as 
This week is apparently the official week for movie tie-ins, because that's all we have coming out for our beloved DS here in the States. This week, Europe and Australia are the places to be, when it comes to games, and how often do you guys get to say that? Don't worry -- tomorrow, some delay will be announced for you guys, and it'll be back to business as usual.
Where can you find Hannah Montana hanging out with FFIII? No, not on a shelf at your local GameStop -- in Next Generation's list of the top 100 best-selling games in North America in 2006. But you get more than just a regular ol' list; they also broke the games down by average critical rating, and it's pretty interesting to compare sales with review ratings. More signs that the review system could use an overhaul? Or just an indication that critics and gamers often look for different things?
Unless you've been living in a hole in the Arctic, you probably heard a little something about the redone 
Big week for handheld gaming! As we creep closer to the end of the year, release dates are just more and more packed with must-have titles. If this keeps up, we may have to consider undertaking a life of crime in order to afford everything we want. What are you picking up this week, and how much ramen are you gonna munch to compensate?
