TGS: Square announces U.S. release dates

[09.17.99] » "Yes" to Parasite Eve II, "No" to Chocobo Stallion, "Maybe" to Chrono Trigger

   Square representatives at the Tokyo Game Show announced new titles for U.S. release and gave more concrete dates to previously announced titles. Dew Prism and Vagrant Story, both previously announced for U.S. release, have been given solid release dates: the first and second quarters of 2000, respectively. Both games are not text intensive and should require only minimal localization.

   Parasite Eve II was also announced for U.S. release; not surprising, as the title was shown in "teaser" form at the stateside E3 convention this past May. Both PE II and the previously announced Chrono Cross are due in North America "sometime in 2000." Gamers should have plenty of time to complete Dew Prism and Vagrant Story, as well as the previously-announced Chocobo's Dungeon 2 and SaGa Frontier II, first.

   Finally, Square representatives were surprisingly open to the possibility of localizing the Chrono Trigger rerelease. Chrono Trigger was one of Square's most popular titles, and the forthcoming release of Final Fantasy Anthology proves that Square believes there is a market for older, "classic" titles in the states. It would also be an excellent way to keep the Chrono franchise fresh in players' minds before the release of Chrono Cross. Chrono Trigger's more substantial enhancements make it, in the words of the representative, a "substantial possibility," shooting down widespread misinformation on the Web that the game wouldn't come to the U.S. at all. Moral of the story? When Square says it has "no plans currently," it means it has "no plans currently."

   Finally, Square cruelly axed Chocobo Stallion's chances for a U.S. release, upsetting absolutely no one. Hypercute, stat-heavy chocobo racing simulations is one genre we can do without.