If you're a fan of Japanese role-playing games, then you'll likely know of Square Enix, the legendary developer with a rather impressive pedigree. From Final Fantasy to Kingdom Hearts to Dragon Quest the Japanese developer, which has more recently moved into the more 'Western' games with Tomb Raider, Hitman and Deus Ex with it's purchase of the ailing UK publisher Eidos, held it's first E3 conference in a while days ago - and had a few big announcements up it's sleeves. With a Tangled world promised for the upcoming Kingdom Hearts III, a much-awaited Final Fantasy VII remake in development and the adorably chibi World of Final Fantasy coming in 2016, its line-up is already looking pretty amazing - but we're not sure anyone was expecting their closing announcement.
Codenamed 'Project Setsuna', the game promises to be a totally new role-playing game - not a spin-off, not a remake, but the beginning of a completely new series, created by a similarly new studio, Square Enix's appropriately named Tokyo RPG Factory. Staying true to it's moniker, the studio is set to focus on creating traditional Japanese role-playing game experiences, while Sqeenix's president pledged the company's devotion to continue "creating incredible new RPG titles" - which should be music to many a Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy fans ears!
So far Setsuna seems to promise snow, snow and more snow...
While very little was shown of the game outside of a few pieces of concept art, it's apparently in development as we speak, and slated for a 2016 worldwide release on unspecified consoles. In a games industry that seems way too hung up on sequels, remasters and remakes, it's nice to see a new, original IP being shown, even if we didn't actually get to see an awful lot. Promising a "delicate and somewhat wistful atmosphere", the three shots, which ranged from snowy mountains with strange cogs or clock workings in the sky to a snow-covered wooden village with what looks like log people roaming around, to a lone caped figure in a snow-capped forest, again with a strange mechanical tower in the background may look pretty, but as for what it means for the game besides Project Setsuna having a penchant for winter, we're not entirely sure.
All in all, we would have liked to see a little more on Project Setsuna - especially as, if it's supposed to be out next year, the team at Tokyo RPG Factory must be further along than three pieces of concept art. But, given Square's history of creating some seriously epic and moving adventures, we're chalking this one up as one to watch! Why not check out the reveal for yourself below:
