Final Fantasy III will be an OUYA launch title.

Categories: News

Wednesday, August 1st, 2012 by Fade to Slack

Square Enix has announced, in absolutely shocking news, that they are porting Final Fantasy III to the OUYA. I mean, ports? When was the last time you heard about Square Enix porting a game? Next thing you know, you’ll hear people tossing around the word “remake” or “living off their legacy.”

Snarkiness aside, it’s nice to see a big name developer get behind this Kickstarter project with a launch title. This is basically the same game I reviewed last year that currently rules the Android roost. The virtual controls were about the only thing I had against Final Fantasy III. This port won’t have that problem, as their press release touts “renewed controller support” as the game “will be fully optimized for release on the OUYA console.”

If this takes off, Square Enix has a rather extensive library that would benefit greatly from controller support. Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy Tactics, for instance, are damn near unplayable with touch controls. There are already Android ports of Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II that could easily make that transition, as well as the upcoming Final Fantasy Dimensions.

Here’s the press release so you don’t think I’m just making this stuff up.

SQUARE ENIX ANNOUNCES FIRST LAUNCH TITLE FOR OUYA FROM FINAL FANTASY SERIES

FINAL FANTASY III to join OUYA’s launch lineup in 2013

LONDON (July 31, 2012) – Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announced that FINAL FANTASY® III will debut with the new OUYA game console at its launch, which is currently expected for March 2013. Square Enix is also considering other titles for OUYA.

The OUYA game console is Android-based hardware intended to be played on televisions with game controllers. The OUYA version of FINAL FANTASY III will have, for the first time, a free-to-try demo version of the game, as well as renewed controller support.

First released in 1990, FINAL FANTASY III was the first title in the FINAL FANTASY series to become one million-seller, establishing once and for all that Square Enix’s classic RPG saga was here to stay. The full 3D remake released 2006 duplicated the original’s success, selling over a million copies worldwide, this version will be fully optimized for release on the OUYA console.

FINAL FANTASY III was a hallmark of innovation for the entire series, from the job system that lets characters change classes at any time to the ability to summon powerful creatures such as Shiva and Bahamut. When darkness falls and the land is robbed of light, four youths are chosen by the crystals to set forth on a journey to save the world.

Interested fans can learn more about the game at its homepage : http://dlgames.square-enix.com/ff/ff3/en/index.html.

About the Author

Fade to Slack is a founding member of Delta Attack, an American expatriate in South Korea, and a true believer in the legitimacy of mobile gaming. Keep up with him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Fade2Slack so he can justify having a Twitter account.

Fade to Slack has written 308 posts on Delta Attack.

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ikecube

This title is currently available on the Android Play store.
- Fade to Slack
  
  Noted. As I said, it’s been a chart-topper.
  
  I think a lot of the Square Enix mobile library will be great on OUYA, but I’m just curious to how many games will make the transition from the Play Store to OUYA. One button games will have no trouble, but games like Cut the Rope and HOMERUN BATTLE 3D probably won’t be able to, unless there’s some sort of gyroscope/accelerometer inside that controller than I’ve glossed over.
  
  I’m watching OUYA very closely, as I think it could be an indie haven, but also because I’m curious to see what established developers do within that space. Microsoft dropped the ball with the Indie Channel, which I thought would be awesome. If OUYA has good quality control, then the sky’s the limit.