Square Enix commits to exclusive Xbox 360 game

  • By Hirohiko Niizumi, GameSpot
  • Posted Apr 6, 2006 11:28 am PT

The Japanese role-playing giant is working on a new space shooter with the developer of the Silpheed series.

TOKYO--The biggest announcement during today's Xbox 360 conference in Tokyo was the unveiling of a new exclusive title by Square Enix. Although that was a big enough surprise for the attending press, what caught them even more off guard was that the game wouldn't be a role-playing game. The publisher of Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior is instead working on a shooter with Game Arts, developer of the Grandia RPG series.

Square Enix executive producer Yousuke Saito appeared onstage with Game Arts board director Satoshi Uesaka to confirm that the two companies are working together on a new shooting game. Under the working name of "Project Sylph," the shooter was hinted at as the next installment in Game Arts' Silpheed series, which has appeared on the PC, Sega CD, and PlayStation 2.

"Using the High Definition capabilities of the Xbox 360, we hope to realize stunning visuals in our shooting game that features as much details as possible," Saito said. "As one characteristic, this won't be just an ordinary shooter. As Square Enix, we will be adding a level of drama to our shooting game."

According to a trailer that followed Saito's comments, Project Sylph takes place in the 27th century where mankind has traveled outside of the solar system to explore a new frontier. While time has passed by, civilization has not forgotten war, and they continue to fight one another. The trailer showed that the game will be a sci-fi shooter, and it included glimpses of a couple of cutscenes. In one clip, ships blew each other apart with laser beams, while another scene showed a city being blasted away.

A shooting game by Square Enix may seem highly irregular, but this isn't the first time the company has worked in the genre. Back on the NES in 1986, one of the very first titles released by Square was a shooting game titled King's Knight. The company also released the 3D shooter Einhander for the PlayStation in 1997.

101 Comments

  • geckosprouch

    Posted Apr 19, 2006 4:55 am PT

    I used to play Silpheed AGES ago! I completely forgot about this game. Cool!

  • yomilk

    Posted Apr 15, 2006 7:00 am PT

    I'm wondering if squeen knows how to design a good, fun shooter yet, as it's out of most of their staff's experience(and not really a popular genre in Japan anyways), It'll be interesting to follow this.

  • Blazer88

    Posted Apr 12, 2006 3:03 pm PT

    Square already mad a shooter back on the PS1 called Einhander,..they also made Tobal no. 1 and Tobal 2.So yeah if your going to comment it helps to know what your actually talking about.
    And I'm familiar with any shooter that was designed for 8-10 year olds,..just an all around dumb statement really.

  • shabulia

    Posted Apr 10, 2006 9:37 am PT

    Hey, Einhander rocked. I think Square might be giving everyone something great here.

  • LucaBlight24

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 9:47 pm PT

    It looks like square is sharing the love with microsoft.this will surly help out the xbox360.

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 2:18 pm PT

    Lets not forget that the producer of Star Ocean is making an RPG for 360 too =D

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 1:51 pm PT

    Dont hate on the Square 360 love. They know a powerhouse when they see one.

  • Neogin

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 12:59 pm PT

    Took Square long enough, heh.

  • dukerav

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 10:10 am PT

    Err Silentmobius last time I checked a Square rpg is coming to the 360 called Final Fantasy XI Online. And I suspect that if a game such as that can come to a Microsoft system, then depending on how that does on that system there is a very strong possibility that we will all see current and or future Square Enix titles.

  • ReyWing

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 8:32 am PT

    yeah, watsup with all the readers in the forum thinking this is a FIRST PERSON SHOOTER. It's a regular SHOOTER, most likely, flying a ship through linear enviroments in THIRD PERSON probably. Go look up Einhander, please. There are only a few games on 360 like this and they are under XBLive Arcade and they don't even come close to atmosphere/level design of Einhander or Project Slipheed. I hope everyone reads this and not skips this just cus its a big post. Who knows what SE/GA will do with the game... it might not even be a "RAIL" shooter. Also, SE is experienced at this genre - Kingdom Hearts, Einhander, Kings Knight, countless minigames. And WHY XBOX? I can only speculate but I'm sure it has to do with cost production, graphics (they mentioned that above), its out right now, HD, and Gates is probably paying for exclusitivity. I'm sure the benefits outweight the negatives. If the title tanks, the two companies can blame each other and the media can blame either/or/both. There will be no lost of reputation for the 360 because 1) the 360 doesnt have much rep in Japan and 2) its already getting its share of RPGs. And there I'm done.

  • ReyWing

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 8:03 am PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • ReyWing

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 8:02 am PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • Seraphim_24

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 7:47 am PT

    Well I'm dissapointed that it's yet another shooter. Love my 360 but I think it is over encombered with shooters. It would be nice to see more of a variety. Maybe an enhanced port of KH2, or Final Fantasy XII? That'd be nice...

  • Joelias

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 7:09 am PT

    PS3 FanBoys Dont Hat Square Enix On all PSP PS2 PS3 PC XBox360 GCN Rev GBA DS Guys Square-Enix Is Big in Japan it Like EA im Happy For Square-Enix & i will Love too see More Square-Enix Games On XBox360

  • mickel_darmawan

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 6:31 am PT

    lame move ... your game will be just like a crap if you release on that 'meal box' you should release this at PS3 instead.

  • Radjer

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 5:15 am PT

    *sigh*
    I wish it was April 1st today...

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 4:54 am PT

    ohhh boy. get ready for 12 sequals

  • SnuffDaddyNZ

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 3:16 am PT

    Gummi Ship.

  • ewjim

    Posted Apr 7, 2006 1:38 am PT

    IT MUST BE ON PS3!!! Damn **** xbox3.6.0. ...

  • MrPuzzlez

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 11:02 pm PT

    I really wish that Squeenix made a sequel to Einhander... I loved that game!!

  • Joelias

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 8:20 pm PT

    It Good too see Square-Enix On The XBox 360 More Games For us I Play FFXI & im go Buy it For 360 & The Next Square-Enix Game For 360 i will buy it O yea too yall you PS3 Fanboys dont be Hat On us XBox360 Gamers lol

  • vaejas

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 8:09 pm PT

    Mmmmm... Zweihander. Sounds like it should be a Rev title come to think of it. ^__^

  • jimbo102671

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 7:59 pm PT

    SE needs to do some RPGs (not counting FF XI) if the 360 is to be tempting to any RPG fan, let alone have a chance for success in Japan.

  • ImperialPanda

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 7:37 pm PT

    At first I was like "****, now I might have to buy two systems." Then I saw Square wasn't making an RPG, so it doesn't matter.

  • Maquis_UK

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 6:59 pm PT

    wow one whole game? not just like a halkf one? too cool. oh wait ONE game? wow thaaaaaanks

  • Exige24_basic

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 6:16 pm PT

    "I just wish someone would hand Square Enix the rights to Panzer Dragoon Saga so we could see a sequel "
    Please don't say that. As a owners of every Panzer Dragoon game there is, I seriously hate the thought of that wonderous universe being invaded by a slew of metrosexual whiners. **shudders** Please Sega, never do that.

  • NeoJedi

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 5:29 pm PT

    Squeenix making a shooter? Wow... that's just as if Maxis would make a Playboy: The Mansion game.

  • jcloverboy

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 5:26 pm PT

    Gotta say I would have preferred an RPG.

  • 4BiDDeN1

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 5:07 pm PT

    They should come out with another Bouncer game that game was off the hook!!!

  • SENoLimit

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 5:00 pm PT

    Yea... I think Einhander is probally the best Shooting game out there... But I hope it comes out for the PS3 too...

  • DreTire

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 4:52 pm PT

    If it's awesome like Einhander, I'll look forward to this shooter. Too bad I'd have to pay 400 bucks for a 360 to do so, and I don't think it's worth it.

  • UltimatumCHIEF

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 4:22 pm PT

    Yes Square Enix join the True next-gen console like Xbox360, Ha ha ha

  • dru26

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 3:44 pm PT

    I think this is the second step, in an eventual, simultaneous S-E RPG console release. MS may be alot of things but stupid certainly isn't one of them. I just hope they keep Kingdom Hearts away from the 360.

  • gan283

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 3:07 pm PT

    they'll end up putting it on the ps3 eventually

  • DevKaz

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 2:54 pm PT

    they should made this game for PS3, or it will be just become another rubbish ...

  • Orasion_Seiz

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 2:45 pm PT

    sounds like Einhander II... nice

  • DevJin

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 2:42 pm PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • mickel_darmawan

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 2:32 pm PT

    this game will be dusty, they should make it for PS3 instead, square-enix is already old in ages, becomming lame ... and not wise.

  • OmGitsEDV

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 2:27 pm PT

    CANT! I MISS OL SCHOOL SHOOTERS!

  • blackIceJoe

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 2:25 pm PT

    Well it is good to see over in Japn they think the 360 can do well.

    THis and may other games will help sell the 360 in japan and if it sells a lot more this time in japan when the next Xbox comes out it will have a lot more support.

  • Kravyn81

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 2:07 pm PT

    "A shooting game by Square Enix may seem highly irregular, but this isn't the first time the company has worked in the genre."

    ROFLMFAO! Smooth move! So the exclusive game by one of the only publishers that appeal to the Japanese at all is making a SHOOTER game.

    Because we all know how popular SHOOTING games are in Japan. This will just serve to alienate and push the Japanese further away from embracing the 360.

    God almighty. It sounds like MS has a bunch of re tarded monkeys making the decisions for the 360.

  • Ministry4390

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 2:04 pm PT

    Cool.

    Anyone read Cliff's new Freeplay? I think just about everyone that commented on this article (or pretty much any article) should read it. Heres the link:

    http://www.gamespot.com/features/freeplay/index.html?story=6146875

  • jonfigs

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 1:52 pm PT

    Not interested in this type of Square game. Try again!

  • silentmobius

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 1:39 pm PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • FeelGoodGamer

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 1:34 pm PT

    Shooters are games like Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga, not FPS's. Get it right people!

  • silentmobius

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 1:34 pm PT

    Reply to "Neoyamaneko" Final Fantasy XI says hi.

    FInal Fantasy XI = port of a PS2/PC mmorpg that has little if anything to do with the Final Fantasy Series.

    BTW Final Fantasy VII, VIII, IX and X say "hi" back to you. Oh, FFXII said don't despair she's on her way...to the PS2 that is.

  • silentmobius

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 1:33 pm PT

    Reply to "Neoyamaneko" Final Fantasy XI says hi.

    FInal Fantasy XI = port of a PS2/PC mmorpg that has little if anything to do with the Final Fantasy Series.

    BTW Final Fantasy VII, VIII, IX and X say "hi" back to you. Oh, FFXII said don't despair she's on her way...to the PS2 that is.

  • Fusekazuki

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 1:33 pm PT

    Very nice to see Square-Enix return to a rail shooter. Einhander was pretty cool and it will be nice to see this and hopefully more rail shooters on next-gen systems.

  • silentmobius

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 1:32 pm PT

    Reply to "Neoyamaneko" Final Fantasy XI says hi.

    FInal Fantasy XI = port of a PS2/PC mmorpg that has little if anything to do with the Final Fantasy Series.

    BTW Final Fantasy VII, VIII, IX and X say "hi" back to you. Oh, FFXII said don't despair she's on her way...to the PS2 that is.

  • gmoney20xx

    Posted Apr 6, 2006 1:24 pm PT

    To all the PS3 fanboys.... S/E is going to show all of you how amazingly powerful the 360 is. Do we really need S/E? I don't think so! Don't forget that it was Hironobu Sakaguchi who built Square with his bare hands. So the fact that he is creating exclusive RPGs for the 360 which will be published by Microsoft, will create a huge impact in Japan, which will sale lots of 360s in that country.

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