The FFVII Mobile Game Initiative (2004-2008 Era)

[NaoyaShinota]

I never thought about that. I can do that. This was originally a video for a friend. And I figured well, why not just upload the video.

 

[Odysseus]

You're like, our only in into any aspect of this game, so share whatever you can plz I beg u.

 

[Shademp]

@kraze has contributed with one of the lost games from the North American 'Square Enix Mobile' library: Brave Shot 2
See download link to the game files at the bottom of this post.
- Archived official NA 'Square Enix Mobile' website, Brave Shot 2 description

kraze transferred the game data to an LG VX8600 and plays it on there in this video during 2:40 to 14:13

E3 is over... 15 years ago. IGN has made then, for the first time, its Wireless Games Awards.

Within the titles available for me, and on a period accurate hardware, I am trying to re-experience the games from the E3 2006 IGN Wireless Games Awards roster as if it were 2006.

This is part 1 of 2.

For some reason the LG VX8600 I have did not produce any sounds in BREW. It did make calls. I could not resolve the issue whether the phone was faulty, or the game versions were incompatible, so, I added some soundtrack from the Youtube Audio Library.

The original Brave Shot and its sequel are worlds apart, though they are both shoot 'em ups.

Brave Shot: Top-down shoot 'em up with primitive graphics



Brave Shot 2: Sideways-view shoot 'em up blending 2D and 3D graphics, with targets transforming into- and out of gundam form.

Spoiler: Brave Shot 2 official screenshots

Some of the concept art seen in the background reminds me of Metal Gear Solid.


Out of the known games in the NA Square Enix Mobile library, Brave Shot 2 is the only one that we now have preserved in some form. Massive thanks to kraze for sharing the files!

List of known games in said library:​

- Brave Shot​

- Brave Shot 2​

- Destiny's Child Groove​

- Dirge of Cerberus: Lost Episode​

- Final Fantasy VII Snowboarding​

- HEXCITE Fusion​

- Megatouch Mobile Arcade​

- Megatouch Mobile Arcade II​

- Musashi: Mobile Samurai​

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[NaoyaShinota]

It turns out that the OST for Before Crisis on the CD is different than the one from the game. Here is a playlist of the original OST from the game. You will notice some differences from the CD and the Phone ost. It was difficult for me to find something like this.

Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII OST (Original / FOMA 900i Sounds) - YouTube

 

[The Twilight Mexican]

Huh. That is interesting.

 

[Tetsujin]

Yeah I have the OST. It's basically Crisis Core level quality of sound whereas in the actual game it's all cheap compressed MIDI stuff

 

[Makoeyes987]

Oh how nostalgic. Hadn't heard this in awhile.

Yeah, this is the music that played during Grimoire Valentine's playthrough of Before Crisis they uploaded to youtube.

I know it's cheap compressed MIDI but I fucking love it. "Survive" is probably my favorite, along with "Secret Action." Before Crisis has a pretty damn awesome soundtrack. Even with its style, it's just...evocative of a nostalgic time in gaming, I suppose

 

[Torrie]

It turns out that the OST for Before Crisis on the CD is different than the one from the game. Here is a playlist of the original OST from the game. You will notice some differences from the CD and the Phone ost. It was difficult for me to find something like this.

Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII OST (Original / FOMA 900i Sounds) - YouTube

Oh my, thanks so much for sharing! I had no idea that the midi soundrack has been available on Youtube all this time. I have the OST too (well, downloaded from somewhere), and I was so surprised that the tracks sound different, with heavy guitars and all. Elfe's Theme and Black Beat are absolutely charming in their in-game versions, in my opinion.

 

[NaoyaShinota]

I have more to share. Magazine scans talking about Before Crisis Final Fantasy VII. And from what we have seen, this is what the Beta use to look like. Famitsu and Dengeki during 2004 before September and after may Have some Before Crisis Contents.

 

[NaoyaShinota]

Their is a lot to go into to this. At one point Sephiroth would join you in battle? Fire looks much different then the official version. Your materia, HP and MP was displayed on screen during gameplay. In the final version, you need to navigate through the menu within the game.

 

[NaoyaShinota]

Just some advertisements of the game. And descriptions of the characters that is available on wiki.

 

[NaoyaShinota]

You can tell the dialogue box is much different then what it Is from the final version.

 

[NaoyaShinota]

And thus will be the last of the scans that I have been able to find and upload. famitsu RPG where this is found. Talks about Free Mode in Chapter 19. According to the various websites, it seems their is more things to do in free mode, extra dialogue, monsters, NPC to interact with. Just so much more that we do not know about.

 

[NaoyaShinota]

Video is in German, I could be wrong. If I am, sorry. Tokyo Game Show 2004 was the first convention Square Enid showed off Before Crisis Final Fantasy VII.
14:04 BCFFVII Booth
19:57 Before Crisis Final Fantasy VII

 

[Torrie]

Video is in German, I could be wrong. If I am, sorry.

No need to be, it's indeed in German. My German skills have become quite rusty with the years, but I'll give it a watch and perhaps will be able to catch some interesting bits and pieces. Otherwise I can forward it to a couple of German FF fans I know.

 

[NaoyaShinota]

Here is some Shurkien (Cissnei) footage for Before Crisis Final Fantasy VII. You will notice something different. Chapter 19 only. Some characters can only be played on certain missions. This video is hard to find when searching on YouTube. I will put it here for easier to find. And it’s also nice that we get to see something like this.

 

[Torrie]

Tokyo Game Show 2004

This is quite funny how the reporter in the video calls video game characters and cosplayers/entertainers "freaks" Not that much interesting, unfortunately. A lot of stuff was prohibited to take footage of. Square Enix showcased their material "behind closed doors" and with "enhanced security measures". The presenter complains about the lack of FFXII news and the limited capasity of certain booths despite high demand. Advent Children screening room allowed only up to 30 people, and the viewers were handed out a pair of glasses and big over-ear headphones. Dirge of Cerberus was only introduced, and Vincent Valentine was mentioned as the protagonist. An Advent Children trailer was included in that DVD the video was ripped off, so the presenter suggested the video be watched therefore he didn't speak much about it during the show. "Square Enix is going on butchering Final Fantasy VII as a whole Compilation including AC and DC, and now there's a completely new mobile game Before Crisis, which has just come out and is currently available in Japan." That's literally all there is about FF titles in the video.

 

[NaoyaShinota]

Before Crisis Final Fantasy VII in 2006 at E3
Thanks to IGN from many years ago, we have this. Before Crisis and even Dirge of Cerberus Lost Episode is talked about. it was suppose to come to the U.S. in 2006, but for some reason, I still can’t find a clear answer why. Either way. Enjoy
0:23 Before Crisis is shown as one of the many titles that they plan to bring to the U.S.
8:51 talks about Before Crisis coming to the U.S.

 

[Makoeyes987]

You just straight up opened a time tunnel into the early aughts. Thank you so much.

You wouldn't happen to have any other magazine scans from old school FFVII stuff, would you?

 

[Tetsujin]

Video is in German, I could be wrong. If I am, sorry. Tokyo Game Show 2004 was the first convention Square Enid showed off Before Crisis Final Fantasy VII.
14:04 BCFFVII Booth
19:57 Before Crisis Final Fantasy VII

Ohh, a blast from the past.

I'm getting retroactively annoyed at them not being allowed to film off those screens. Heavens forbid this promotional footage actually gets to customers! Reminds me this was also the period of Square doing their "Closed Mega Theater" shit. God I hated that. Times have changed, thankfully.

 

[NaoyaShinota]

Before Crisis Final Fantasy VII Characters Chapters playability
Also some extra things I have found. According to bloggers (I love those Japanese blogs) I have been able to gather information on characters and what Chapter they are playable on. My info comes from bloggers, game news like Famitsu and such, FAQ and other places. I have lost my sources but will find them and edit this post to verify what I am saying is true. Info like this is scarse and hard. Becuase going back to 2004-2007 on the internet is difficult.

1. Rod 1-24
2. Guns (Female) CH 1 - 24
3. Guns (Male) Ch 1 - 24
4. Fighter (Woman) Ch8 - Ch24
5. Fighter (Male) Ch10 - Ch24
6. Shotgun CH 1-24
7. Nunchuck CH1 - 24

Note: Nunchuck was originally a SoftBank exclusive. But he was later added to Docomo version of BCFFVII. Further research is needed for this info. Added some time after March 26th 2007.

1. Shurrikem CH19-24
2. Sword (Male) Ch19 - CH24
3. Nife (Female) CH1-24

Nife was originally a EZappli exclusive but later added to Docomo version of BCFFVII Possibly May 30th

 

[NaoyaShinota]

You just straight up opened a time tunnel into the early aughts. Thank you so much.

You wouldn't happen to have any other magazine scans from old school FFVII stuff, would you?

Ive had this info locked up for a while, haven’t been able to share it, kind of got inspired recently. And thank you.
I do have a source that has backed up Game Magazines. Mostly U.S, but Japan, UK and many other are on here.
if you are referring to FFVII itself I do not
but for BC FFVII I have some from English magazine
either way, you may have some luck with this
https://www.retromags.com/

 

[cold_spirit]

Thanks for the videos and info on Before Crisis. Always a joy to see.

My goodness, Advent Children and Devil May Cry 3 at the same game show? We have yet to reach that level of style again. What an exciting time.

 

[NaoyaShinota]

According to the FFVII 10th anniversary book, the FFVII snowboarding game was free for those who have already purchased Before Crisis Final Fantasy VII. If you did not have BC, then you would have to pay for it. Finding info for Snowboarding is hard. Out of all of the FFVII mobile games (cell phone) I feel that Snowboarding isn't that popular. But that could just be my opinion.

 

[NaoyaShinota]

There are two FFVII 10th anniversary books. One was released in a special edition bundle that came with a Potion drink. I bought this back in 2016. And I believe that this was exclusive to the bundle for a short period of time. Then sometime after a revised version was released. This one actually include info regarding Reno Mission from BCFFVII. And some more screen shots. From what it looks like, it takes place during Crisis Core. Here are some images that I was able to find. You may have seen it or not.





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