DRAGON QUEST™ VIII : Journey of the Cursed King™ To Ship To Retailers November 22, 2005
Exclusive Features Include Playable Demo of FINAL FANTASY® XII
Los Angeles, CA (September 21, 2005): Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square EnixTM interactive entertainment products in North America, announced today that DRAGON QUESTTM VIII : Journey of the Cursed KingTM (DRAGON QUEST VIII) will ship to retailers November 22nd, exclusively for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system.
The first PlayStation2 title in the series, DRAGON QUEST VIII is the latest in the legendary franchise that has sold over 40 million units worldwide. Updates for the North American release include: voice-overs, a full-orchestral soundtrack, a completely renovated GUI menu system, new battle abilities, and improved animations. These new additions greatly enhance the gaming experience for the North American audience. A bonus disc will also be included with a playable demo of the North American version of FINAL FANTASY® XII.
The wait is finally over. DRAGON QUEST is back, now in glorious 3D! Representing the collaboration of some of Japan's finest creative talent, DRAGON QUEST VIII showcases the masterfully woven narrative of series creator Yuji Horii, the distinctive character designs of legendary manga artist Akira Toriyama, and the grandly evocative orchestral soundtrack of renowned composer Koichi Sugiyama. Charged with the task of uniting these visions, highly respected developer Level 5 delivers a richly detailed environment, vast enough to house Yuji Horii's sweeping drama, and a cel-shaded graphics engine which perfectly captures the spirit of Akira Toriyama's character designs. The result is a living, breathing world straight from Japanese anime, where the shapes on the horizon aren't just scenery, but new places to explore!
A mysterious jester. A forbidden scepter. A fiendish curse. A once idyllic kingdom lies entangled in a web of enchanted vines, its king and princess hideously transformed, its castle and subjects frozen in time. Only one person has survived this horror unscathed: you!.
Only you can save your king and country by lifting the shadow of the evil jester's curse... But it won't be easy. An epic tale of friendship, bravery, and adventure awaits you on the grassy fields, snow-capped mountains, and restless seas of DRAGON QUEST VIII!
DRAGON QUEST VIII will be available at North American retailers for a suggested retail price of $49.99 (USD). Additional information and the official trailer can be found at www.dragonquest8.com. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has rated the title "T" for Teen. For more information about the ESRB, visit http://www.esrb.org.
About Square Enix Co., Ltd. and Square Enix, Inc.
Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix) develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises - FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 63 million units worldwide, and DRAGON QUESTTM, which has sold over 40 million units worldwide - under one roof. Square Enix is one of the most influential providers of digital entertainment content in the world and continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation.
Square Enix, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Co., Ltd. with offices in Los Angeles, CA and Seattle, WA. It handles operations in North America, including development, localization, marketing, and publishing of Square Enix titles. More information on Square Enix can be found on the Internet at http://www.square-enix.com/
® 2005 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. ® 2004, 2005 ARMOR PROJECT/BIRD STUDIO/LEVEL-5/SQUARE ENIX All Rights Reserved. ® KOICHI SUGIYAMA All Rights Reserved. SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE ENIX logo, DRAGON QUEST, JOURNEY OF THE CURSED KING, FINAL FANTASY, and other names of products mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Square Enix Co, Ltd. in Japan and/or other countries. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.