STAR OCEAN THE LAST HOPE: INTERNATIONAL Now Available for PlayStation(R)3

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in North America, announced today that STAR OCEAN® THE LAST HOPE®: INTERNATIONAL for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system is now available.

STAR OCEAN THE LAST HOPE: INTERNATIONAL delivers the prequel of the acclaimed STAR OCEAN franchise to PlayStation 3 system users. Developed by tri-Ace Inc. – renowned for offering gamers spectacular visuals and expansive storylines – the game adds to the rich, science fiction saga of the series, beginning with the aftermath of World War III.

This latest installment allows players to control their own spaceship to move from planet to planet as they explore the vastness of space. The refined gameplay features dynamic four-character team combat and the capability to seamlessly switch party members during battle. STAR OCEAN THE LAST HOPE: INTERNATIONAL also improves upon the innovative real-time battle system that has become a trademark of the STAR OCEAN franchise.

In addition to English and Japanese voice options, this PlayStation 3 system version will include a total of six languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish and Japanese, allowing STAR OCEAN fans around the world to blast off on their epic adventure among the stars.

STORY

The year is A.D. 2087. In the aftermath of World War III, Earth has been ravaged and the population decimated by a deteriorating environment. The countries that survived have joined together to form the Greater Unified Nations and turned their eyes skyward ... to space.

Edge Maverick and his childhood friend Reimi Saionji are chosen as pioneer members of the Space Reconnaissance Force, which was created to seek out new worlds beyond the stars. Their ship, the Calnus, takes its place on the lunar launch pad along with four other starships of the first reconnaissance fleet. These ships – humanity's last hope – blast off one-by-one and sail into the awaiting wormhole that leads to the vast star ocean.

And so, Edge and his crew begin their voyage in search of a new haven for humanity ... and a second chance.

FEATURES

• Combines sci-fi and fantasy elements, spanning multiple planets and the vastness of space itself to recount the origins of the STAR OCEAN universe
• Item creation and Private Actions, two hallmarks of the STAR OCEAN franchise, also make their return, allowing for players to enjoy upgraded versions of both systems
• Exhilarating combat expands upon the franchise's dynamic real-time battle system, now featuring amazing graphics through Blu-ray Disc®
• Up to four characters can take part in battles simultaneously and party members can be switched mid-battle
• New Blindside battle system fuses evasion and offense, enabling players to confuse and ambush enemies by quickly moving out of their line of sight when targeted
• Pilot the Calnus spaceship for the first time in the series and journey to various planets of the STAR OCEAN universe
• Features breathtaking CG movies by Visual Works, the cutting-edge studio whose previous work includes cut scenes for the acclaimed FINAL FANTASY® series
• In addition to English and Japanese voice options, the PlayStation 3 system version will include English, French, Italian, German, Spanish and Japanese language options for STAR OCEAN fans around the world

STAR OCEAN THE LAST HOPE: INTERNATIONAL is rated T (Teen). Please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) website at www.esrb.org for more information about ratings.

STAR OCEAN THE LAST HOPE: INTERNATIONAL is available at North American retailers for the suggested retail price of $59.99 (USD). The official website can be found at http://na.square-enix.com/starocean/.

About Square Enix Co., Ltd. and Square Enix, Inc. 

Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd., with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Asia, North America and Europe. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises – FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 92 million units worldwide, and DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 53 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 Holdings Co., Ltd. with offices in Los Angeles, California. 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.

DRAGON QUEST, FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE ENIX logo are registered trademarks of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. STAR OCEAN and THE LAST HOPE are registered trademarks of Square Enix Co., Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. Blu-ray Disc is a registered trademark of the Blu-ray Disc Association.

SOURCE Square Enix, Inc.