Square Enix Launches Two Social RPGs On Facebook

Developer and publisher Square Enix launched its first Facebook games, Chocobo's Crystal Tower and Knights of the Crystals, both of which are in beta and are free to play. Though the Japanese company is mostly known for its RPG releases (Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest) on home console, handheld, mobile, and PC platforms, Square Enix revealed in April that it was working on several projects for social networking sites. In Chocobo's Crystal Tower, players raise and breed Chocobo, giant bird-like creatures featured prominently in the publisher's Final Fantasy games. The game challenges users to raise a Chocobo that can venture off to Towers, fight monsters, and earn Gil (currency) and treasures. Along with the ability to customize Chocobo (e.g. hats, clothing) and their ranches, the "rearing RPG" features social elements allowing players to care for others' Chocobo, send virtual gift to friends, and even propose mating their Chocobo with another users'. Knights of the Crystals, which features art from character designer Ryoma Ito (Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Final Fantasy XII Revenant Wings), is also an RPG in which players level up heroes, change jobs for different special abilities, and challenge or cooperate with friends to complete quests. "We’re pleased to be supporting social gaming with these two exciting new Facebook games that offer very different but fun and friendly experiences," says Square Enix's Digital sales director Antony Douglas. "Both titles encourage socializing and adventure and boast a wide variety of content to keep players entertained."