Famitsu: Star Ocean PSP Reviewed, HAZE, Devil May Cry 4 News

The latest issue of Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu comes in today with new reviews and news. Lets start with the reviews.

PLAYSTATION Portable
Star Ocean: First Departrure: 8, 7, 8, 8
- Movies and characters done well, will please fans.
- Battles are easy for the first half, start to require skill later.
- Can take a while to do everything.
- Limited field of view and long map movement times make it seem like a poor fit for the PSP.
- Map expanded too much, and you can't save on it.
- Interface is unusually convenient.
- Story has its charming points.

PLAYSTATION 3
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare: 10, 9, 9, 9

This weeks issue also brought us news on some upcoming PLAYSTATION 3 titles such as HAZE and Devil May Cry 4. You can view this information below.

HAZE (Spring 2008) (PS3)
- First person action-shooting game.
- Using the wonder drug "Nectar" to enhance one's mind and spirit, one can increase one's strength and focus.

Battlefield: Bad Company (2008) (PS3/Xbox 360)
- To survive on the battlefield, you have not only weapons but an abundance of soldier's tools.
- Up to 24 players.
- 90% of objects are destructable.
- Can poke holes in cover to fire through.

Frontlines: Fuel of War (Spring 2008) (PS3/Xbox 360)
- Your gear is near-future weaponry modeled after that of a modern soldier.
- Due to playstyle, various unusual skills may be usable.
- You can customize a character with gear and skills.
- Vehicles and aircraft are usable.
- Up to 32 players.

Mystereet Portable: Yasogami Kaoru's Challenge (Spring 2008) (PSP)
- Adding to the PS2 ADV, a collection of short mysteries called "Yasogami Kaoru's Challenge." This mode focus on Kaoru using quizzes to crack the culprits' secrets, and is good for play in free time.
- Adds "Scenario 3.5" to the main game.

Devil May Cry 4 (January 2008) (PS3/Xbox 360)
- Nero's demonification isn't like Dante's; instead, a blue and white demon grows out of his back and helps with attacks.
- Nero's abilities and their effects are improved when demonized.

Sadly, thats all the real information this week's Famitsu brings us.

[Via NeoGAF]

Square Enix Updates Jump Festa 2008 Site: Includes Mega Theater List

Square Enix have updated their Jump Festa 2008 mini-site by adding two more pages. One page confirming the trailers that will be shown in the Open and Closed Mega Theater.

Open Mega Theater
- Star Ocean: First Departure
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Young King and the Country of Promise

Closed Mega Theater
- Fabula Nova Crystallis (New trailers)
- Dissidia: Final Fantasy (New trailer)
- Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days (New trailer)
- Kingdom Hearts: Coded (New trailer)
- Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep (New trailer)

The second page contains photos and the reward system for anybody who visits the Mega Theater. They can exchange their random photo they will receive for points.

[Via Forever Fantasy]

Star Ocean PSP Revealed

The limited edition Star Ocean pack is expect to be around 24,840 yean, which clocks in at around USD 216. The current release date is set for December 27 in Japan. No word yet on a possible North American or European release, though there’s nothing to stop enthusiasts checking out Yes Asia or Play Asia for all your import needs.

The boxart was also revealed, which can be seen below.

[Via PSU]

Star Ocean: First Departure Coming with Limited Edition PSP

Square Enix' upcoming Sony PlayStation Portable title, Star Ocean: First Departure, will be bundled with limited-edition PSP Slim & Lite units on it's December 27, 2007 release. The classic remake coupled with the handheld will be available in Japan for 24,840 yen (US$ 210).

Those who'd rather just grab a copy of the game can get one for 5,040 yen (US$ 43). Images of this limited edition PSP will come when they arrive.

[Via Dengeki]

Star Ocean PSP: New Scans Reveal Release Date

This week's Famitsu issue features two pages with information on Square Enix's Star Ocean remake that is headed to the Sony PSP. The issue reveals the release date of the game in Japan, which is December 27, 2007.

The Famitsu issue also reveals that a Star Ocean bundle that includes the game and a Sony PSP will be available by the end of the year.

[Via Famitsu]

Star Ocean: First Departure Site Gets Updated

What once was a teaser site for Star Ocean: First Departure is now far different from what you've seen a few days ago. It's now been update to include lots of info, details, and, more importantly, screenshots.

The site is in Japanese of course, but you can find your way through easily. There are character profiles for Ratix Farrence, Milly Killiet, and Dorn Marto. There's a section on Story - but much use that'd do if you couldn't read Japanese. New Elements is a section where Square Enix lists what they've boosted for this PSP remake.

View the site at the link below and enjoy fans!

[Via Star Ocean]

Star Ocean Portal Site Opens

If your excited from the PlayStation 3 Star Ocean IV announcement today, get excited for more. A new site just opened up from Square Enix, the Star Ocean portal.

According to the page, the PSP remakes of parts one and two will be playable at the show. Star Ocean 4 will see a video trailer, as confirmed by the game's producer in a recent issue of Famitsu.

[View Star Ocean Portal]

New Star Ocean Series Scans

We have the latest scans for the latest Star Ocean games. Enjoy, above is Star Ocean IV. We also have some details on the game:

• The game “isn’t that far off”
• Specific details on SO4’s release will be available by the time people are done playing the SO1 and SO2 remakes
• In its current stage the battles are already playable, but full of placeholder elements
• The story is done, and while he can’t talk about its setting yet, there might be some surprises related to that at the TGS. But it won’t be so different that characters from other games in the series won’t be able to return.
• He concedes that past Star Ocean games have not really felt like they were set in an ocean of stars. In this one you will be able to pilot a ship and travel to different worlds, and while it will retain fantasy elements, it will live up to the series’ title more than the previous games in the series have.
• The man and woman in the screenshot are the hero and heroine of the game. As a teaser they placed figures of them in the display at the SE party and he was disappointed that almost no one noticed.
• The heroine’s name is Reimi. The hero’s name is Edge Maverick!
• There aren’t just two or three planets in the galaxy this time. There are more. Sounds like a lot more.
• You can have four companions with you in battle this time. There are a lot of new elements and it doesn’t really feel like the battle system of SO3.
• Private Actions will, of course, return.

Also, it is going to be a one console exclusive, the PlayStation 3. Below, we have Star Ocean I and II for PlayStation Portable:

[Via Forever Fantasy]