Blue Dragon dated for Europe

By Tom Bramwell Published 28 June, 2007

Winging its way in August.

The Hironobu Sakaguchi-produced Xbox 360 RPG Blue Dragon will go on sale in Europe on 24th August, publisher Microsoft said today.

The game - the first of a pair overseen by Final Fantasy veteran Sakaguchi, and in this case developed by Blinx scribes Artoon - puts players into the role of Shu, a young boy on a quest to rid the world of evil forces. It also boasts music from Nobuo Uematsu and character design from Akira Toriyama of Dragon Ball Z fame.

You can catch up with it in more detail in our Blue Dragon first impressions, published yesterday, where Rob Fahey claimed it was a "pitch perfect" exercise in nostalgia.

Whether that will be enough is something you'll get to assess as we draw in on release and you can scamper all over our review. Alternatively, if you've made your mind up already, you can also do as Microsoft suggests and download a Fan Site Kit. How peculiar.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (59) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • alimokrane #1 5 years ago

    Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

  • LeD #2 5 years ago

    That's the day before my birthday! \o/

  • Blerk #3 5 years ago

    Sooner than I expected!

  • LeD #4 5 years ago

    What, my birthday?

  • Donny #5 5 years ago

    That's the same day as Bioshock.

  • aine #6 5 years ago

    wait... Artoon? For fuck's sake. Why do they still get work?

  • LeD #7 5 years ago

    Same day as Bioshock? Expensive birthday then!

  • The-Bodybuilder #8 5 years ago

    What a drought, eh?

  • souljacker2000 #9 5 years ago

    woohooo lovely...
    artoon.... where did i hear that recently

  • Kiigan #10 5 years ago

    Artoon did a good job with BD by all accounts.
    Blinx might have been an anomaly. Good studios can make bad games sometimes.

  • alisdair #11 5 years ago

    Is it confirmed as having no Japanese audio track option for the PAL release?

  • aine #12 5 years ago

    Artoon did a good job with BD by all accounts.
    Blinx might have been an anomaly. Good studios can make bad games sometimes.

    I'd say it's the other way around - Blue Dragon is the anomaly. I've heard nothing but bad things about all of their other games. Even Yoshi's Island DS is pretty much a mess, saved only by the fact that most of the gameplay and level design is ripped straight from the original.

  • EmiliasHorse #13 5 years ago

    Yup Artoon made Vampires Rain and Blinx so Blue Dragon is the anomaly.

    I'll be buying BD and Bioshock.

  • lennon #14 5 years ago

    I liked Blinx.

    Anyway I think Microsoft are trying to bankrupt me. So many games I want. Thankfully July looks a bit slow so I will save a few pounds and go mad in August and September! :)

  • Darren #15 5 years ago

    A month earlier than expected... NICE! :)

    I'm betting that BioShock gets delayed a week or so though...

  • gizmo #16 5 years ago

    Nobuo Uematsu ?

    YES!!

  • GamerAddict #17 5 years ago

    LeD - same here mate, I'm on the 25th too :)

    Bioshock AND Blue Dragon on the same day?!?!?! DAMN!!!!

  • penhalion #18 5 years ago

    Isn't this developed by Mistwalker and published by Microsoft. What have Artoon got to do with it?

  • aine #19 5 years ago

    Isn't this developed by Mistwalker and published by Microsoft. What have Artoon got to do with it?

    Quite a bit, it seems. I'm not sure how much involvement each company has - it might be that Mistwalker's only contribution is Sakaguchi and everything else (music and character design aside) is Artoon's... or maybe (hopefully) all the actual design was done by Mistwalker and Artoon are just doing the grunt work.

  • TheStranger #20 5 years ago

    What is peculiar about a fansite kit? Mass Effect has one, and so does BioShock...

  • Caimbeul #21 5 years ago

    Any confirmation of Japanese Audio track in the game?

  • aine #22 5 years ago

    Apparently it doesn't have one. They're including tracks in a few different European languages, and there wasn't room on the DVD for the Japanese. Or they couldn't be arsed. Something like that.

  • cheeseweasel #23 5 years ago

    @aine Mistwalker's wiki page says

    'Mistwalker outsources coding duties to other companies (including Artoon, and Feel Plus), preferring to focus primarily on the design portion of game development.'

    so it sounds like thankfully, maybe your second theory is correct.

  • kmittal82 #24 5 years ago

    Did I get it wrong, or is it correct that it took them almost a year simply to localise the game, and translate it from Japanese to English ???

  • LeD #25 5 years ago

    /highfives GamerAddict

  • Peew971 #26 5 years ago

    Someone on the forum mentionned this should be the date for 360 Elite and 120GB HDD. That's a lot on a single day.

  • Kiigan #27 5 years ago

    "Did I get it wrong, or is it correct that it took them almost a year simply to localise the game, and translate it from Japanese to English ??"

    7 or 8 months more like, and translated into lots of different languages, including localising all the voice acting. It's more than Nintendo have managed with SPM. At least we're getting BD at the same time as the USA (roughly) so it doesn't feel quite so bad. It is nice that the game is getting a western release at all.
    Edited by 1 at 28/06/07 @ 16:48

  • CitizenGeek #28 5 years ago

    This game might actually make me buy a 360 in August! I should have money by then too! :)

  • alimokrane #29 5 years ago

    quote [ Did I get it wrong, or is it correct that it took them almost a year simply to localise the game, and translate it from Japanese to English ??? ]

    About 8 months I would say and it's not like final fantasy didnt take that much.

  • miiiguel #30 5 years ago

    I really hate this "360 drought" (quoting PS-only gamers), it messes my finances.

  • menage #31 5 years ago

    "That's the same day as Bioshock.""

    Godamn it. How am I supposed to save foir a HDTV like this.

  • mysteryfaceuk #32 5 years ago

    Enjoy the game, 360 owners. Just don't weep when FFXIII is released for the PS3 next year and blows this game away.

  • TheStranger #33 5 years ago

    "Enjoy the game, 360 owners. Just don't weep when FFXIII is released for the PS3 next year and blows this game away."

    That so? And Blue Dragon 2 will wipe the face with it if not the first.

  • JediMasterMalik #34 5 years ago

    Impressed I am, took about 30 comments or so until it descended into fanboy bullshit.

  • menage #35 5 years ago

    "Enjoy the game, 360 owners. Just don't weep when FFXIII is released for the PS3 next year and blows this game away. "

    (No offense to other PS3 owners which do have more than a single braincell)

    Jezus Christ. Were you the one that made that YouTube video jealous idiot. Have fun waiting until 2009 then.
    Edited by 2 at 28/06/07 @ 19:31

  • mysteryfaceuk #36 5 years ago

    Blue Dragon just doesn't look very good. It's very much designed for the Japanese market with its cutsey graphics. The only reason it's getting any attention over here is that it's the first Japanese RPG for the 360.

    Microsoft hyped this game up a lot when it was first released and seemed to think it was going to help them win over the Japanese market. True, it did increase sales of the 360 over there for a while but this is not the sort of game that will appeal to Western audiences.

  • menage #37 5 years ago

    That still doesn't justify your first comment, as nobody has seen anything substantial about FFXIII. And if Sakaguchi and Toriyama are behind it, it certainly has a good reason for being hyped. Hell, I would be interested in this if it was on PS2, just because 2 of the most influential men in the JRPG Industry are behind it.

    Not because it's the first JRPG on 360. That's Enchanted Arms.
    Edited by 2 at 28/06/07 @ 19:59

  • Agent_Llama #38 5 years ago

    Instead of the fanboy crap about FFXIII versus BD, how about we just buy both and *enjoy them both*? I know I shall be.

  • Scimarad #39 5 years ago

    That's going to be an expensive day...

  • famous_roy #40 5 years ago

    This is coming out way earlier than expected! Same day as Bioshock, damn I need a HDTV for that glorious day.

    Mystery face is clearly very envious, why does BD coming out affect you so much? Clearly insecure and not comfortable with himself.. also ends his name with UK. : /
    Edited by 1 at 28/06/07 @ 20:08

  • menage #41 5 years ago

    "Instead of the fanboy crap about FFXIII versus BD, how about we just buy both and *enjoy them both*? I know I shall be.
    "

    You're right. I'm sorry for getting suckered in derailing the thread.

    They both look very good.

  • mysteryfaceuk #42 5 years ago

    I just don't get this game. I'm happy for others to enjoy it but I just don't get it myself. I'm not all envious.

  • The-Bodybuilder #43 5 years ago

    >"this is not the sort of game that will appeal to Western audiences."

    That can be said for any j-rpgs.

    Besides, if MS marketing are smart enough, they could market this using the "also by the maker of dragonballz" and market it more towards the younger crowd (ala kingdom hearts).

    The j-rpg adult lovers will still buy it, so nothing is lost.

  • TheStranger #44 5 years ago

    "I just don't get this game."

    Do you "get" the xbox 360? I'll assume you have a 360, and are just not sure about the game...

    Check out:
    [link url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=15 1265
    ]http://ww w.computerandvideogames.com/art...[/link]
    [link url=http://thexboxdomain.net/2006/11/30/famitsu-revi ews-blue-dragon/
    ]http://th exboxdomain.net/2006/11/30/fami...[/link]

    "I'm happy for others to enjoy it but I just don't get it myself. I'm not all envious."

    Ok.

  • Monkey-Wizard-Ken #45 5 years ago

    mysteryfaceuk

    silly fanboy

  • DrunKao #46 5 years ago

    Does anyone want to take bets on how long the European release of FFXIII will be after the US release? 2009 for Europe?!?!?!
    Edited by 1 at 29/06/07 @ 00:34

  • mysteryfaceuk #47 5 years ago

    I'm not a fanboy and I don't have a 360. I have a PS3 but I actually don't care whether people have a 360 or PS3 that's not the point. I just don't understand what all the fuss is about this game. I now it has a good pedigree because of Sakaguchi but I just think personally that this is a game created for the Japanese market, not the Western world. Just like the Dragon Quest games are.

    Sure, the FF games are as well to a degree but they have at least changed the graphics to give them a more realistic look that appeals to people outside of Japan.

    I thought Bodybuilder's comment about marketing it to a younger audience was a good one though. If this was a PS2 game (yes, PS2) it wouldn't achieve the same success as FFXII just did.

  • menage #48 5 years ago

    ` just think personally that this is a game created for the Japanese market, not the Western world. Just like the Dragon Quest games are.
    `
    exactly why I like it. ±P

  • TheStranger #49 5 years ago

    "I'm not a fanboy and I don't have a 360."

    Then, why care about Blue Dragon? Why would it need to convince you of its worth? Why do you think we care what a Sony fanboy thinks of a 360 game? Why am I even bothering with you?

    "I now it has a good pedigree because of Sakaguchi but I just think personally that this is a game created for the Japanese market, not the Western world. Just like the Dragon Quest games are. "

    And Final Fantasy. Yes, exactly. Blue Dragon is really MS trying to sell 360s in Japan. That people from Europe and NA will get the title is an added bonus. Don't really see the need for any confusion here...

    "Sure, the FF games are as well to a degree but they have at least changed the graphics to give them a more realistic look that appeals to people outside of Japan. "

    Ultimately, most of the FF sales come from Japan. NA and Europe aren't nearly as interested. So obviously its not working too well.

    "I thought Bodybuilder's comment about marketing it to a younger audience was a good one though. If this was a PS2 game (yes, PS2) it wouldn't achieve the same success as FFXII just did."

    Probably true. Final Fantasy sells on brand alone. After all, the latest games have been rubbish.

  • mysteryfaceuk #50 5 years ago

    I can't believe some of you are getting so worked up over this. Geez! Why are 360 gamers so uptight. Just because you've bought a console that breaks down every few months doesn't mean you have to take it out on the rest of us.

  • miiiguel #51 5 years ago

    mistery: let it go man, system wars is so passé. we know it's a bitch to love a useless item, but lighten up theres new maps for the Cod with aliens, coming up (eventually), maybe by Xmas there'll be 2 more games, who knows? You should also realize that we don't care if our 360 breaks, we just buy another, 'cos is so... as you say: "da awesome!".

    Don't like BD?, sure, sure, of course... ;)
    Edited by 4 at 29/06/07 @ 01:26

  • NegativeZero #52 5 years ago

    Any word on a collector's edition? Preferably with that awesome faceplate that the Japanese bundle release had?

  • menage #53 5 years ago

    "can't believe some of you are getting so worked up over this. Geez! Why are 360 gamers so uptight. Just because you've bought a console that breaks down every few months doesn't mean you have to take it out on the rest of us."

    You started it with "hey 360 owners, you may get your little thing now but we will will have the sht later" Don't come whining now..

    If you would just have said that FFXIII was your RPG of choice
    ,alright, acceptable. But you adressed the whole enthousiastic 360 crowd. And implied that the PS3 will have better games. And now you're surprised about the backlash. Pffff. think before you write something then.
    Edited by 1 at 29/06/07 @ 08:45

  • BartonFink #54 5 years ago

    JMM wrote:Impressed I am, took about 30 comments or so until it descended into fanboy bullshit.

    In fairness there was just one, mysteryfaceuk. Amazing the amount of damage one fool can do to a thread eh?

    Anyhew can't wait for this August looks like it's gonna be an expensive month. As for Artoon they had the makings of a great game in Blinx but they spectacularly failed in the execution. Thankfully it's Mistwaker at the reigns.

  • menage #55 5 years ago

    I'm really surprised that a company like Artoon has so many big names in their portfolio. The screwed up royally a couple of times.

    Still this turned out fine:p

  • sharpfish #56 5 years ago

    I'll be buying BD and Bioshock, but Bioshock will be the PC version... still gotta take any FPS on the PC if it's on both. All other genres first choice of platform would be Xbox360.

  • adman123 #57 5 years ago

    It may be a game that is made for a Japanese audience but at the end of the day there are still big enough numbers of fans in Europe for it to be a viable release here.

    A game like Enchanted Arms is released because there is a fanbase out there...and no doubt with this game looking 10x better will please fans of the genre ever more.

    It can't be a situation where Europeans should be alienated. I think the more the better...having these games out there hardly means there will be less "Western" experiences for people to have out there, it simply means there is more choice for the consumer, and at the end of the day that can't be a bad thing.

    Peace
    Edited by 1 at 29/06/07 @ 12:57

  • miiiguel #58 5 years ago

    I had arround 60 hours of high quality video-game time with Enchanted Arms.

  • adman123 #59 5 years ago

    I totally think that game is awsome, i just meant there are fanbases for games designed for Japanese audiences here....and hence I used Enchanted Arms as an example seeing as it is the only Japanese RPG released in Europe so far for the XBOX 360.....