October, 31, 2006 – Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix™ interactive entertainment products in North America, announced today that FINAL FANTASY® XII, the latest entry in the timeless franchise that has sold more than 68 million units worldwide, is available in retail outlets across the nation. Developed exclusively for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, FINAL FANTASY XII has already sold more than 2.4 million units in Japan since its release on March 16, 2006, and has won numerous Game of the Month awards from the industry's top publications in America, making it one of the highest-reviewed games of the year. In honor of this phenomenon, there was a celebration in Times Square on October 11, 2006 to commemorate the upcoming release of FINAL FANTASY XII.

"FINAL FANTASY XII is the most accessible RPG yet, allowing casual and hardcore gamers to truly customize the complexity of the game to their playing style," said Daishiro Okada, President and COO, Square Enix, Inc. "We're also very pleased to be able to provide several exclusives for the North American release including true 16:9 functionality, additional voiced CG sequences and a truly special Collector's Edition. The Collector's Edition comes with completely unique packaging, in-depth interviews with the development staff, special trailers, a history of the FINAL FANTASY series and several other features. We are extremely proud of both versions of FINAL FANTASY XII and hope gamers will enjoy our efforts."

With more than 2 million copies in the first shipment in Japan, the twelfth installment in the most celebrated RPG franchise looks to continue its runaway success on the other side of the Pacific. For the first time in its history, FINAL FANTASY delivers an entirely new breed of RPG that seamlessly integrates exploration and combat. Overflowing with gorgeous, sweeping landscapes and breathtaking adventure, FINAL FANTASY XII is a gaming experience that captivates gamers with its immersive environment, riveting pace and gripping storytelling, made possible only by the creators of the FINAL FANTASY franchise.

FINAL FANTASY XII brings innovative, never-before-seen additions to the franchise. The all-new "Gambit" system allows players to fully customize the A.I. of each party member and dictate the flow of their actions. With this powerful system, players can "program" party members to act effectively and intelligently in any situation. Additionally, the new "License Board" feature creates fully customizable characters that evolve and grow to the player's specifications. Players are now able to dictate their development, raising multi-dimensional characters derived from the gamer's play style. These features, coupled with an intriguing storyline full of twists, turns and political intrigue, combine to form this year's most exciting and refined RPG experience that will touch the hearts of gamers everywhere.

Story

Two years after the fall of Dalmasca, the once proud kingdom struggles under the rule of its oppressors. Subjugated by the mighty Archadian Empire and bereft of its royal family, the kingdom clings tenuously to life. Dalmasca's future has been enslaved. To Vaan, a young man living on the streets of Rabanastre, the Empire is a hated foe that took the life of his brother. When Vaan meets Princess Ashe, the sole surviving heir to the Dalmascan throne, the two embark on an incredible journey through Ivalice, tracing the mysteries behind the Archadian Empire's invasion. As they travel, they encounter others opposed to the Empire. Together, the choices they make will determine the very fate of the world.

Features

• Newly implemented 16:9 feature enhances graphics on widescreen televisions
• Brand-new, fully voiced cutscenes added for the North American release
• Gorgeous CG cinematics and cutscenes in Dolby® Pro Logic II combined with real-time graphics rivaling those of next-gen titles
• Shocking plot twists take players on an unforgettable journey of betrayal, political intrigue and a kingdom's struggle for survival
• Active Dimension Battle (ADB) system enables players to move seamlessly between exploration and combat
• Highly customizable Gambit system allows complete control over character A.I. during battles
• License board gives the player the ability to customize each character's skills and abilities

However, this is only true for NTSC areas... PAL won't have the oppotunity to enjoy this title until "early" next year... although last I heard that was March... Not what I would paticulaly consider early. Either way it's about a year after the japanese Release. At least it has been confirmed to come to Europe, we may even get extra features although probably not.

Well that's often the case with PAL releases, Flame. And perhaps always when it comes to rpg's with the exception of Zelda.

I wonder what these new scenes are though that are missing from the Japanese version? But I don't care about the widescreen feature. I always play games with the normal aspect ratio.

I got my pre-ordered collector's edition yesterday. But I'm kinda reluctant to start it just yet. I also just got Oblivion for the XB360 a couple weeks ago... and I've been playing that non-stop. And I'm afraid of playing 2 massive RPG's like FF12 and that game at the same time. I think that'd kinda fry my brain, so I may wait until I've finished with Oblivion to start FF12. That or I'll take a break from Oblivion to play this... Decisions... Decisions..