Square Enix Games Announced

The game announcements are just rolling in now, beginning with six games from Square Enix including 'Code Age Commanders', 'Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King', 'The World of Mana', 'Kingdom Hearts II' and more. Here's a short rundown on each of these games, and a little bit about them:

Code Age Commanders
Genre: Battle Action RPG
Release Date: TBD

The world is closed off, and therefore called an "intraglobular world." One day, man learns that Central Code, the foundation of all creation, triggers a phenomenon every ten thousand years called "rebirth." This is when the earth is destroyed and then reincarnated. The human race builds a massive "Arc" to sleep in, in order to escape this disaster, with the hopes of a brand new world that would welcome them when they awake.

Alas, the order of the world frowned upon this.

Such is the will of the people, that they respond to surviving the end of the world by creating war. As the world gradually dies, people spread the seeds of death. This is a story of those who live in this world.

With customizable weapons and hardcore, real time battle systems that take place on a 3D field, Code Age Commanders sets the scene for action that's never been seen before. The game's character creation system allows players to customize their character's abilities, affecting their character's growth patterns by the decisions they make.

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Genre: RPG
Release Date: TBD

Dragon Quest VIII is the latest installment in the popular Dragon Quest series (previously known as Dragon Warrior in North America) and the first to be released for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. The colorful characters, exotic environments and daunting dungeons of the Dragon Quest series have made the transition to glorious 3D! Players will find themselves in a universe like no other, as they explore the plains, peaks and valleys of a seemingly limitless world.

Yuji Horii, the creator of Dragon Quest, delivers an immersive narrative set in an original world, taking the helm once again as game designer and scenario writer. Akira Toriyama, the world-famous comic book artist behind the legendary Dragon Ball franchise returns to provide original character designs. LEVEL-5 Inc., the development house behind titles such as "Dark Cloud 2," creates an amazing cel-shaded graphics engine, allowing you to experience a world straight out of Japanese animation. Koichi Sugiyama, renowned composer and conductor, has written a captivating musical score which perfectly complements Mr. Horii's narrative and Mr. Toriyama's visuals. With this unrivalled creative talent and a host of new and improved gameplay features, Dragon Quest VIII has already sold in excess of 3 million units in its first three months at retail in Japan and is poised to become a global success.

The World of Mana
Genre: RPG
Release Date: TBD

Step into the world of Mana...

From ages past to ages yet to come, the tale of the Mana Tree and the Sword of Mana grows with each telling. The journey unfolds across numerous platforms and genres, but all share the same vibrant, living world filled with colorful characters.

The development team is constantly looking for new ways to make the world of Mana one that you can enter and enjoy to your imagination's content. Though we are only just beginning, there are several titles under production, while others are beginning to take life in the form of sketches and concept art. Our entire staff continues to work hard to bring you the next chapters in the Mana saga, and we hope you look forward to the day you can next step into the world of Mana.

Romancing SaGa
Genre: RPG
Release Date: Fall 2005

Romancing SaGa, the latest in the legendary SaGa series, introduces a host of all-new game play elements and the most expansive story yet.

A thousand years ago Saruin was imprisoned. Now the barriers are weakening, and his foreboding shadow threatens to swallow the world of Mardias once again. Who will rid the world of Saruin's scourge? The player must decide.

Occupying a prominent place in the story, the mysterious minstrel sometimes guides the party to adventure, and at other times shields them from shadow. And occasionally he forces upon them grave choices.

Minstrel Song brings back the free-roaming scenario system, allowing for the ultimate in open-ended adventuring. Choosing between eight playable characters, a variety of plots develop, with each action the player takes affecting the world of Mardias.

The character and background design is rendered with vivid 3D graphics, making the magnificent realm of Mardias a truly enjoyable place to explore. Events and side quests come alive as still images morph dramatically into cut scenes and mini-movies with the use of "sketch motion." This combination of technology and creative vision comes together to produce a world of wonder, filled with charming characters and inviting vistas.

Kingdom Hearts II
Genre: RPG
Release Date: This Winter

Kingdom Hearts II follows Sora, Donald, and Goofy on their continuing quest. Sora is looking for his lost friend Riku, while Donald and Goofy are searching for their missing king.

It has been a year since the events of Kingdom Hearts Chain Of Memories. The story begins in Twilight Town, a quiet burg nestled between night and day. Sora and friends are joined by a vibrant new cast of characters, including the king himself! Together, they will encounter countless dangers in worlds both familiar and brand-new.

Radiata Stories
Genre: RPG
Release Date: Fall 2005

Radiata Stories is the latest fantasy RPG by tri-Ace, developers of Valkyrie Profile and the Star Ocean series. An emotional story about the conflict between humans and fairy creatures is complemented by a new gameplay system that draws the player deep into the game.

The kingdom of Radiata lies in a world where humans and fairy creatures coexist. It is here that the protagonists, Jack and Ridley, meet for the first time. While Jack seeks to become a knight, Ridley must accept her fate in becoming one. Destinies are realized when a war erupts between the humans and the fairy creatures and threatens to end the world of Radiata.

The popular traditional real-time battle system known for its straightforward controls and extravagant presentation has a new element. By forming a "link" attack, the player can execute combos and other moves with all party members joining as one. There are over 150 characters that Jack can recruit throughout his adventure. It is up to the player whether they journey alone or seek out others to journey with. Every playable character is beneficial in some way. In Radiata, NPCs carry out their daily lives. Players encounter different NPCs depending on their location or the time of day.

Whew! That's all for now. Be sure to check back regularly for the latest updates and announcements from E3.

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