Hironobu Sakaguchi leaves Square; joins Acclaim

[04.01.00] » Producer of Final Fantasy to lend creative talents to WWF Smackdown! II, WWF Tactics.

   After an stint of over ten years with Square, Final Fantasy series producer Hironobu Sakaguchi has departed the company to join Acclaim's U.S.-based development studios. Sakaguchi, known as "the most electrifying name in video game entertainment", will serve as lead producer on WWF Smackdown! II, and will also lend a hand to the recently-announced WWF Tactics as an executive producer.

   Sakaguchi promised a radically different for WWF Smackdown! II, which is rumored to return to the WWF games' roots by replacing the high-tech entrances and special rings of WWF Smackdown! I with medieval sparring grounds and super-deformed wrestlers. Sakaguchi also stated that the themes of Smackdown! II will be "Hope" and "Discovery."

   Sakaguchi also revealed a few more pieces of information regarding WWF Tactics, mentioning that The Rock will be accessible as a playable character in chapter 4 -- but only after defeating Stone Cold Steve Austin's elder brother Stone Cold Steve Austin. "Then the Rock will cometh and layeth down the smack," Sakaguchi said in an interview with Famitsu magazine. "And that's the bottom line, 'cause Sakaguchi said so!"

   WWF Smackdown! II will be released for the Nintendo 64 this July, with WWF Tactics to follow in September.