Square-Enix is a regular fixture on the Tokyo Game Show floor, offering an impressive range of merchandise representing its most popular games, old and new. Soundtracks are by far the most common item, but there are plenty of toys to look at if music isn’t your thing. Join us on a tour through Square-Enix’s Tokyo Game Show 2017 merchandise booth, and keep an eye out for your favorite series; you may find something special (read: expensive) you never knew existed.
NieR: Automata was a surprise hit earlier this year, and its soundtrack lives on as a mesmerizing treat. Video game soundtracks on vinyl are also a recent phenomenon, and here we have a look at some of the original art created for the upcoming vinyl releases. Speaking of…
Whoa! Hold the phone, I thought these soundtracks weren’t supposed to release until December? Square-Enix pulled a fast one and offered early copies to TGS attendees. On the left you can see a box set that contains selections of tracks from NieR: Replicant, NieR: Gestalt, and NieR: Automata. To the right are the individual soundtracks within. You could save a few hundred yen by purchasing the individual releases, but who doesn’t want the sweet boxset with the fiendish mask worn by NieR’s lead creative, Yoko Taro? (I couldn’t resist.)
Well there’s a face we haven’t seen in a while. What we have here is a series of orthographic sketches devised to inform Square-Enix’s upcoming figure of Xenogears‘ iconic mech, Welltall. Before there was Xenoblade Chronicles, or Xenosaga, Xenogears was the only Xeno-game on the block, and it’s viewed by many as a long-lost classic that never quite got its due. Square-Enix will bring Welltall back as a new Wander Arts series figure down the road, and while it was a bit disappointing to miss out on seeing an actual prototype at TGS, it’s nevertheless gratifying to see Xenogears get some love, nearly 20 years after its release.
Speaking of Wander Arts, here’s a look at a new figure of a Wanzer mech from Square-Enix’s Front Mission series.
You know what they say: one good Wanzer deserves another…
…and another. Seriously, these mechs look great in person, and may be the perfect accompaniment to the recently announced Left Alive, the newly announced game purportedly set in the Front Mission universe, coming in 2018.
Odin rides again, making his second appearance as a Play Arts Kai figure. This rendition of Odin was hard to place at first, but that’s because it doesn’t belong to a mainline Final Fantasy game: it’s Odin as seen in 2015’s arcade-exclusive Dissidia Final Fantasy, the basis for the upcoming Dissidia Final Fantasy NT.
Keen-eyed fans of Final Fantasy may also notice that this is one of the most accurate renditions of Odin compared to Yoshitaka Amano’s original concept art for the character’s debut in Final Fantasy III.
A new Play Arts Kai variant of Bahamut strikes a pose for the camera.
Here we see Zack (Cloud Strife’s former best friend at Shinra) from Final Fantasy VII and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII.
Everyone’s favorite corporate enforcer-turned vampire, Vincent Valentine, showed up at TGS too. This new figure is still a work in progress, hence the drab paint job.
Lightning also gets an updated figure to ring in the arrival of Dissidia: Final Fantasy NT.
Terra, a main character from Final Fantasy VI with a tragic story, looking ready for the release of Dissidia: Final Fantasy NT.
Advent Children took Final Fantasy VII‘s designs and bumped them up a notch. Here we see Cloud Strife riding Fenrir, his elaborate motorcycle.
While Sephiroth appears to be a pre-existing figure, Cloud on the right has been newly minted to hype up the much-anticipated Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Final Fantasy VII‘s Cid finally gets a modern figure from Square-Enix, and it appears he’s not alone…
Cait Sith is along for the ride too!
Sora will make a comeback when Kingdom Hearts III comes out, but until that day comes, you can look forward to a pair of new figures coming soon.
Here’s the alternate Sora, featuring the Guardian Form color scheme from Kingdom Hearts III.
This figure of Balthier from Final Fantasy XII came out earlier this year, but when it looks this good, why not show it off again.
The same goes for this top-notch Gabranth figure.
And why not, bunny-eared Fran for good measure.
Aranea Highwind (who shares a surname with Final Fantasy VII‘s version of Cid) will make her Play Arts Kai debut in early 2018.
Now onto the cute Final Fantasy stuff, namely Chocobos and Moogles!
And where there are Moogles, Cactuars and Tonberrys are sure to follow.
Beyond the impressive soundtracks we showed off earlier, NieR: Automata made a strong showing in the figure section as well.
Some of the NieR figures were on the cuter end of the spectrum.
But for the most part, NieR’s figures opted for a more authentic look.
And no figure (or android) would be complete without swappable body parts.
Not to leave the Enix side of Square-Enix out, here we see a smattering of plushies representing iconic Dragon Quest enemies, like the sizable King Slime.
And after you’ve filled out your sheet with little marks next to every item you want, time to line up and pay the piper.
For more behind-the-scenes looks into Tokyo Game Show 2017, head over to our TGS cosplay gallery to see some of the best homespun and high-end costumes from the show floor. For a more encompassing look at TGS’ big and bizarre sights, look no further: we’ve got you covered.
Source: GameSpot