March2021
News Mistwalker Boss Not Interested In Reviving Studio's Older Games
Would rather "build something new"
Earlier this week, we heard how the mobile exclusive Fantasian could potentially be the last project for Final Fantasy creator and Mistwalker Boss, Hironobu Sakaguchi, before he steps back or at least takes a break. In the same interview with VGC, Sakaguchi was asked if his company would be up for remasters or...
News Final Fantasy Creator Hironobu Sakaguchi Says Latest Project Could Be His Last
"I think it is certainly possible"
A few weeks ago, we heard how Japanese video game composer, Nobuo Uematsu - who has worked on most Final Fantasy games in some capacity and other RPG hits like Chrono Trigger - might be calling it a day due to health issues. Now, in a bit of an update, Final Fantasy creator and veteran designer, Hironobu
December2017
News Final Fantasy Creator Hironobu Sakaguchi Is Interested In Working On Switch
"I do want to develop games on console again at some point"
Hironobu Sakaguchi is something of a legend in Japanese video game circles. He created Final Fantasy - arguably one of the most popular franchises to emerge from the Land of the Rising Sun - and has also been involved with classics such as Super Mario RPG, Xenogears, Blue Dragon and The...
November2012
News Bumper Sales Make The Last Story XSEED's Most Successful Title Ever
New print run should continue the positive performance
Publisher XSEED - a specialist in localising Japanese titles for western consumption - has announced that RPG The Last Story is its most popular title yet, although it stopped short of divulging precise figures. The game - which is developed by Hironobu "Final Fantasy" Sakaguchi's studio...
June2012
News Sakaguchi - 'Certain Ideas' Missed in The Last Story Due to SD Resolution
Arrives in North America on 10th July
The Last Story has been available in Europe for a while now, and received warm critical praise. It was the first game directed by Hironobu Sakaguchi — the creator of the Final Fantasy series — in quite some time, and it was a title with impressive scope and attractive visuals that made the most of Wii. The...
February2012
News New Trailer for The Last Story Teams Up for Battle
Magic and swords galore
There's now little over a week until The Last Story is released in Europe, and Nintendo has released a new trailer to show off some of the game mechanics. After an introduction to Lazulis City, an important location in the game, the action quickly moves to battle mechanics: a variety of enemies and attack strategies are...
July2011
News Sakaguchi: Last Story Gameplay Took Precedence Over Plot
Only his third game to do so after Final Fantasy I and VII
The Last Story is coming to Wii via Hironobu Sakaguchi, creator of Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy VII, but the titles share another unique similarity as well – Sakaguchi created the gameplay elements first, then the story, for all three. There are... places in games such as the moment...
Talking Point The Growing Storm of Operation Rainfall
Is gaming's biggest consumer advocacy movement a noble cause, or does NoA know best?
What you see to the right of this text is a poster for Operation Rainfall. It features screen shots and information on Xenoblade Chronicles, The Last Story and Pandora's Tower, all of which Nintendo has published in Japan to positive reviews and sales, and none of...
June2011
News Pachter to Operation Rainfall: "I Agree"
Infamous analyst shows his support
The ongoing grassroots project Operation Rainfall, designed to convince Nintendo to publish Last Story, Xenoblade Chronicles and Pandora's Tower in North America, has analyst Michael Pachter chiming in via Twitter to voice his opinion. Earlier today, he tweeted: a grass roots movement to convince Nintendo to...
News Operation Rainfall Responds to Nintendo's "Never Say Never"
No happy dance at OpRa HQ
Yesterday Nintendo announced it has no plans to bring three sought-after Wii games to North America — Last Story, Xenoblade Chronicles and Pandora's Tower. One of the groups responsible for raising awareness of these games, Operation Rainfall, has responded to the disappointing news. While Nintendo's choice not to l
News NOA: "Never Say Never," But No Plans to Bring Sought-After Wii Games to NA
Xenoblade Chronicles, Last Story and Pandora's Tower still not coming
Nintendo has just responded to the public outcry for the epic RPGs Xenoblade Chronicles and Last Story and the action RPG Pandora's Tower to see localisation in North America via their Facebook page. The company stated: Thank you for your enthusiasm. We promised an update, so...
January2011
News Sakaguchi: To Succeed Internationally, JRPGs Need to Change
Will Last Story lead the way by example?
There have been many Japanese games that never made it out of their own country but far from publishers being lazy or concerned that localisations won't be profitable enough for the hassle, perhaps the reason genres like Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) sometimes struggle to find success in the Western...
News Fan-Made Petition to Bring Last Story Westward Gains Steam
6,800 signatures and growing
The other day we brought you news that Nintendo has no plans to bring Last Story Westward, and naturally it gave rise to plenty of ire amongst Wii gamers. Keen to do something about it, one fan created a petition to bring the game to North America and Europe, and it's already gained close to 7,000 signatures. If you want...
October2010
News Unconventional Camera Work will Capture the Action in Last Story
Making sure the game remains exciting
Following the revelation that Mistwalker's latest game – Last Story for the Wii – will be hitting Japanese shops in January 2011, the second half of the Iwata Asks column dedicated to the RPG has now been published on Nintendo's Japanese site. The game's director and Misterwalker CEO Hironobu Sakaguchi, and...
September2010
News Nintendo of Japan Showcases Wii Line-up in New Video
Includes footage of (presumably) a new Rhythm Heaven game
As part of their recent conference, Nintendo of Japan's just released a video showcasing some hotly anticipated games in the upcoming Japanese Wii line-up. Everything from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword to Super Mario Collection Special Pack and Mar
August2010
News Last Story's Website Gets Updated With Info & Screenshots
Learn more about where the game is set and the combat system
With Hironobu Sakaguchi blogging about Last Story in its final stages of development almost four months ago, it is with open arms that we welcome the RPG's updated website that includes game details and oh-so-beautiful screenshots. It looks like the Final Fantasy creator cou
July2010
News The Last Story Gets Incredible First Trailer
Mistwalker RPG in motion at last
The Last Story has been one of the Wii's most-teased titles this year, with only the tiniest of details creeping out of Hironobu Sakaguchi's Mistwalker studio. Now we finally have the first footage of the game in action in this Japanese trailer, and it's an absolute stunner. Even from this brief footage it's clear...
April2010
News Launch Trailer Shows Blue Dragon Sequel's Return to RPG Roots
Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow hoping to fly off the shelves next month
When Mistwalker brought the Blue Dragon franchise over to the DS, it took a bit of a departure from the traditional RPG mould that the Xbox 360 original was cast in. Instead, Blue Dragon Plus took on a real-time strategy format, which was a fundamental change to long-time fans but...
News Mistwalker in Final Stages of Development With Last Story
Hironobu Sakaguchi writes a tantalising blog entry and mentions what we're all waiting for
When you have the creator of the Final Fantasy series working on an RPG for the Wii, you know it's going to be big news. Since the announcement of Last Story's existence earlier in January, all the gaming community has to grab onto are a few pieces of concept...
March2010
News More Last Story Artwork Emerges, Looks Suitably Gorgeous
Hironobu Sakaguchi's new project is certainly a looker
We have to admit that Mistwalker's forthcoming Wii RPG is getting us pretty excited, despite the fact that we haven't actually seen a single screenshot yet. What we have seen is some particularly lovely concept artwork, and if the game can capture the same feel of these images then Wii fans are...
January2010
News Final Fantasy Creator Working on Last Story for Wii
Nintendo trademark is for a new Mistwalker RPG
Remember that mystifying trademark that Nintendo registered a while back? Turns out it's not the subtitle of the next Mario adventure (as we half-jokingly predicted) but an RPG from the creator of Final Fantasy, Hironobu Sakaguchi. Nintendo has confirmed the launch of a new Web site dedicated to the...