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Square Enix teases 'Secret Title'

Teaser site with countdown clock ending Tuesday, December 11, may be related to RPG series Star Ocean.

Square Enix has launched a new teaser site with a countdown clock set to end Tuesday, December 11, at 10 p.m. EST. The URL contains the word "liftoff" as well as "Secret Title."

Additionally, the website shows the word "Star" in the outer-space-themed background (at right), suggesting the teaser may be related to the company's Star Ocean role-playing game series.

The most recent entry in the Star Ocean series was Star Ocean: The Last Hope, which was released for the Xbox 360 in 2009 and came to the PlayStation 3 a year later.

Eddie Makuch
By Eddie Makuch, News Editor

Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.

243 comments
JimmeyBurrows
JimmeyBurrows

No mention of Tri-Ace, so I'm gonna put my money on an original IP (being very optimistic here, but still.)

They've put out a load of shit lately, but the last game they didn't call Final Fantasy (that I bothered with) was The Last Remnant, and that was fun, so keeping the hope alive.

1947gamer
1947gamer

Why don't they just finish Thief4 and get it done?

SavoyPrime
SavoyPrime ranger

Star Ocean hasn't been good in a very long time in my opinion. So I find it hard to get excited about this. Square Enix...how the mighty have fallen.

Rennik_Repotsir
Rennik_Repotsir

SquareEnix = Presentation - Execution;

 

I don't think I'll ever buy a Squeix developed game again. Published, maybe; developed, no thanks...

voljin1987
voljin1987 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

 @Rennik_Repotsir  5 years ago, I would have disagreed with you.  Final fantasy 12 was the last good game they developed. Personally think everything released by them for this generation of consoles has been crap. 

TTDog
TTDog

If it is a Star Ocean title here's hoping its better than the last one... dreadful game.

jenovaschilld
jenovaschilld like.author.displayName 1 Like

I have no idea what Square enix is doing these days or where they plan to take their properties. 

I know early this decade the wasted a ton of money on IP's for CGI's. 

Me personally I easily thought i would have at least three FF to play (not 13-2, mmo 14) but full games. 

At least a couple dragon quests. 

and a dozen more in between this 7-8 year console life cycle. 

Square needs to be more prolific and focused. 

Master_Vexov
Master_Vexov

I can picture SQ letting down Star Ocean fans, i loved playing 2nd story.. never touched the others, so i don't know if they already failed. I would expect some large fail thoe(incase you missed that) something worse then FF13, with a barely decent story which then leads into some sort of Phantasy Star like MMO with microtransaction gaming!; OH since PSO2 is exactly that: a microtransaction game, then its going to be just like PSO2!... except SQ will do a FAR better job i would expect and wouldn't kick their customers in the reproductive organs with a far far away  N/A and poor countrys release(I joke your not poor.. your rich with family... IM KIDDING FKING RELAX). :P

Master_Vexov
Master_Vexov

Oh, and that picture makes me think of Phantasy Star. :)

eliebaz
eliebaz like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

*at square enix, alright guys it's time to start working on versus.... tomorrow

Llama345
Llama345 like.author.displayName 1 Like

A realm reborn. 

dimitry005
dimitry005 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

more reason to delay versus

xsonicchaos
xsonicchaos

If it is a Star Ocean game and they play this right, I might give turn based jrpgs a try. Obviously, I'll have to wait and see what the public sais.

blackwingzero
blackwingzero

Definatly sounds like a new Star Ocean if you ask me. I just hope that they're done with the prequels and make a proper new Star Ocean.

Soleride
Soleride like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

Square annoucing a new website for a new or exisiting project, and adpoting the Unreal Engine 4 off Epic Games for a long term licence hmmm seems like this project will be quite interesting, my guess is Star Ocean 5 but fully loaded

i_c_dead_people
i_c_dead_people like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 4 Like

They still need to finish the FFX HD remake!

Discomaster
Discomaster like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @i_c_dead_people The development of a new Star Ocean would have no impact on the development of FFX HD. Well, maybe, it's hard to say... tri-Ace did aid in the development of FFXII-2, but they are still independent of Square Enix and Star Ocean is  major series of theirs.

Kats_RK
Kats_RK

I hope it's something good.

wowwow27
wowwow27 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 8 Like

we need a jrpg sandbox, not a cgi render on rails.

MajinSquall
MajinSquall like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

 @wowwow27 if you want a sand box RPG go play Skyrim i think JRPG's are fine just as they are if they made them more like WRPG's then they wouldn't be JRPG's anymore

Nihilux
Nihilux like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 4 Like

 @wowwow27 That makes no sense. The very concept of the JRPG relies on a good narrative, which means a far more linear experience, but usually with side-quests, exploration, hidden items and optional scenes along the way, usually opening really up at some point near the end when most sidequests are available. Examples: FF, Chrono Trigger/Cross, Star Ocean, Shadow Hearts, etc.

Of course, sometimes they're too scripted and limited, like in FFXIII, but generally it's supposed to be a good balance of narrative/focus and freedom/exploration.I wish Square-Enix had used the ATB combat system from FFX-2, which was like the one awesome thing with the game, since it allowed for simultanously attacking and combos. If they had combined that with a limit of being able to stock up to maximum 3 actions, but by default more slowly than in FFXIII, then we'd have the perfect system for now. (At least I could've enjoyed FFXIII for its combat then)     

 

Other than that, there could be more customization in menu'ing, allowing for smarter organization of essential spells and categories, as well as dedicate spells to shortcuts. And speed adjustment.That would be the ultimate form of turn-based combat I could think of right now. It should be fast, but you should also be able to choose power instead of speed, like perhaps choosing a summon that eats up 3 actions.I think borrowing a few ideas from FFXIII, but while essentially using the brilliant system that FFX-2 had, would be the most ideal.

GreenReuben
GreenReuben like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

 @Nihilux  @wowwow27 Xenoblade nailed an open jrpg world and that's as open as a jrpg should get. I agree a sandbox jrpg is pretty much an oxymoron. That said FF13s linearity was unbearable (didn't actually own but I played a bit and watched enough to know) and hopefully the dying genre doesn't continue in that direction of visuals over exploration because I'd much rather have a shitty looking world than a gorgeous corridor..

Nihilux
Nihilux like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @GreenReuben  @wowwow27 The worst thing was that it was so apparent. I can play really linear games, like Half-Life and still don't feel the linearity.But with me walking a few steps, cutscene, fighting a few enemies in a tedious auto-battle, paradigm-shift battle, to meet another cutscene, continue along a straight line that's so openly linear with the odd choice of a tiny little sidetrack with an obvious chest/orb thingy, cutscene. Well, it strangled me, it made it hard for me to relate with the characters, it destroyed any surprise or wonder and it just bored me. When I finally reached the more open part of the game I was burned out and haven't played it since.For me, everything about the game was what I didn't want.It wasn't like FFXII where I didn't like the battle system, but loved everything else. In FFXIII I hated most of the actual game.Oh, and why hasn't anyone bought the Shadow Hearts license from UEC/Aruze? If Nintendo wants me to buy a Wii U, buying the license and making a new Shadow Hearts game would make me instantly buy it. Perhaps putting the former Sacnoth team which is now at Marvelous AQL for the job, alongside a Nintendo team.I would basically sell my soul for a new Shadow Hearts game. Could use the Wii U controller for the Judgement Ring. Agh, despair! I need my JRPG fix. There's just so many times I can replay games of old on the PS2, PS3 or Vita.Hopefully a new Star Ocean game is on the way.

Oh well, I still got Tales of the Abyss for the 3DS in the meanwhile, as well as thinking of dusting some, well dust, off my Wii and buy Xenoblade, The Last Story and Pandora's Tower to myself for christmas.

wowwow27
wowwow27 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 7 Like

square-enix has raped the rpg's i had come to love, reminds me of the episode of south park about the last indiana jones movie.

MAXAM999
MAXAM999 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

For God sake .. Where's Parasite Eve 3  !!?

 

At least bring something for the franchise .. Fans don't like The 3rd birthday .

Drilbit777
Drilbit777

 @MAXAM999 What's wrong with the 3rd birthday? I thought it was pretty good.

MAXAM999
MAXAM999

 @Drilbit777Oh god .. You think its good you mean by the graphics , the gameplay and the damn story , It was a mess if you are truly a fan of the series who played these games in its days , The user with Lightning avatar -.-" !

 

This generation is full of modern gamers who like anything Modern ... I Fxxxing hate that .

Drilbit777
Drilbit777 like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @MAXAM999 FYI, i have played the first 2  Parasite Eve  games on the PS1 and i enjoyed the hell of those games and i have been playing video games since i was 7 years old so no i am not a "Modern Gamer".  Sure the gameplay was different in the 3rd birthday but that wasn't a bad thing since they retained the RPG elements and the whole body swapping mechanic was interesting. Maybe the story was a little confusing but the whole game itself was pretty good. As for the lightning avatar, whats wrong with it, i like lightninhg

Naedeslus
Naedeslus like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

Final Fantasy VII prequel when Jenova first hit the planet. Just kidding.

 

I'm personally hoping it's either Final Fantasy XV because a space age FF game would be neat or a new IP. We all know it's not a new Xenogears for that's a legal issue or a new Chrono game because how dare they give fans what they want.

 

It could also be a new Star Ocean but with the infamous plot twist in the third game unless they do another prequel or a reboot that seems like there is no where to go with a Star Ocean 5.

 

 

MajinSquall
MajinSquall

 @Naedeslus unless they set it in...... sorry nearly spoiled it then for people who haven't played SO3

 

 

voljin1987
voljin1987 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

anything and everything except versus 13

bakasora
bakasora

If its SO5 and it comes out on PS3. I will forget what horrible job SquareEnix did with FF13. Or it could be another space shooter.

GreenReuben
GreenReuben

 @bakasora sorry it's going to be a Wii U exclusive. I didn't see it until someone pointed it out to me because it's incredibly hard to see but Wii U is written in stars on the teaser site.

tsunami2311
tsunami2311 like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @bakasora What makes you think they would do any better even if it was SO5?

 

IMO SquareEnix need to make a RPG like there last going out business Only then will they save them selves from them selves, sorta like Final Fantasy WAS Square final game to be made that actauly turned out to save them. and spawn main great FF games up to X

 

There RPG have all been downhill since FFX imo

rif0802
rif0802 like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @tsunami2311  @bakasora

I thought FFXII was a solid game.  It was a little anticlimactic and the main character was outdone by side characters but it was not a bad game.  Plenty of good dialogue and exploration imo. 

wolfofthepack
wolfofthepack

 @tsunami2311  @bakasorai agree ffx was the last good ff game but i loved starocean last hope thats the only ting they did right recently!

kevin8r
kevin8r

 @wolfofthepack  @tsunami2311  @bakasoraOpinions sure are different.. I hated x and loved 12. They really havent been the same company since Squaresoft. I just went back and bought FF4 complete on my psp.

Ayato_Kamina_1
Ayato_Kamina_1

SO2 still one of the best games I've ever played. The combat system, the little quirks like item creation and the skill system (of learning abilities through skill houses and then levelling them up with SP). Just loved it.

 

But to be honest  the cartoony, 2d graphics were what made it so loveable. Never really got into the last hope with its 3d graphics.

 

The sorcery globe!!

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