As a huge enthusiast of digital worlds, immersing myself in captivating game narratives is a passion I cherish. Exploring the rich tapestry of stories offered by Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs) is an unmatched thrill, and I intend to continue exploring these worlds as long as I can.
However, it’s important to remember that games, despite their artistic and playful elements, are also commercial products. This entails money, consumer base, corporations, stakeholders, and inevitably, the full spectrum of capitalism.
Regrettably, the gaming industry isn’t always idyllic. Many games slip under the radar for every celebrated title, and most of us never even realize it.
Today, I’d like to explore some of the most disappointing canceled games from Square Enix. These include projects that were never widely known to have existed, along with others that never went beyond the conceptual stages but would have been incredible if they had made it to release.
11
Gun Loco
Are You Crazy, Square Enix?
Personally, Gun Loco never resonated with me. I’ve always favored Square Enix for their story-driven role-playing games, so a third-person shooter with online features held little appeal.
Still, Gun Loco earns its spot on this list as evidence that Square’s forays into multiplayer or unconventional genres are not novel, despite any thoughts about Foamstars, Outriders, or the upcoming Killer Inn.
The game was slated as an Xbox 360 exclusive, making a third-person shooter logical for the console. Further, Gun Loco appeared to be a hybrid of battle royale and extraction gameplay. The narrative described a prison planet holding twelve inmates, each controlled by a different player at the beginning of a match.
Players could jump, hide, climb, or run along walls with the apparent objective of being the last prisoner alive. But we can only speculate about that, since Square Enix canceled Gun Loco in 2011 without providing a rationale.
10
Chocobo Racing 3D
No Betting Allowed
The only Chocobo races I now engage in are those within Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s Gold Saucer. I only participated for the rewards. It was an excellent minigame, possibly even superior to the standalone Chocobo GP.
Back in the day, I invested countless hours in playing Chocobo Racing on my original PlayStation. The prospect of a new Chocobo racing game was enticing, even though it was intended for the Nintendo 3DS, a handheld I acquired considerably after its initial release.
Chocobo Racing 3D was announced in 2012 as an upgraded version of the 1999 Chocobo Racing. A brief gameplay preview revealed a swordsman riding a Chocobo, slashing at various monsters.
In 2013, Takashi Tokita, the original Chocobo Racing director, verified that the game was canceled. Soon after, Shinji Hashimoto, then–Final Fantasy brand manager, restated the cancellation and cited unsatisfactory game quality, stating that console games should be targeted toward adults. Pokémon and Mario Kart might suggest otherwise, but what do I know?
9
Project Prelude Rune
Tales of Fantasy
Hideo Baba, previously the producer of the Tales of series, departed from Bandai Namco after Tales of Zestiria. He created the studio Istolia in 2017, backed by Square Enix, and soon unveiled an upcoming role-playing game titled Project Prelude Rune.
The project received a teaser at TGS 2018, showing a vast, colorful open world. The character, who was probably the protagonist, was traversing it. It clearly screamed “JRPG.” Naturally, I was also screaming in excitement back home.
Shortly thereafter, in 2019, the game vanished without a trace. Social media, the official website, and every reference to Project Prelude Rune disappeared from Square Enix’s history.
The cancellation of the game was easy to assume, despite not being given any reason. It was a real pity because I would have been delighted to watch Hideo Baba take the lead on a new Square Enix JRPG.
8
Final Fantasy Tactics 2
This One Hurts
Final Fantasy Tactics sold less than Final Fantasy VII or VIII at the time, but it’s still regarded as one of the best games in the series and one of the most successful spin-offs ever. Hence, a sequel seemed like a sensible idea before Final Fantasy Tactics Advance.
After the release of the Return to Ivalice raid in Final Fantasy XIV, Yasumi Matsuno met up with old team members on a live stream. Here, they talked about the history of Final Fantasy Tactics. Matsuno shared details and screenshots of a scrapped Final Fantasy Tactics 2 during the gathering.
Hironobu Sakaguchi initially wanted to create a sequel. However, differences arose regarding the game’s direction, such as whether to develop it internally or externally. Eventually, the project was shelved.
Matsuno shared that he planned to transition from 3D visuals to a 2D hexagonal layout. Personally, I love Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and even its Judge system. But, I’d do anything to see a sequel to the original. It should maintain the mature tone and complex political story.
7
Ambrosia Odyssey
PlayOnline’s Second Child
I’ve always wanted to experience Final Fantasy XI. But, as a Brazilian, owning a PS2, a legitimate copy of the game, an online adapter, and a subscription was beyond my budget. Why do I regret the cancellation of Ambrosia Odyssey, an action RPG linked to Square’s PlayOnline service, if I would not be able to play it anyhow?
If the game had been a success, Square might have had another popular IP, even if they didn’t develop it. Square was publishing Ambrosia Odyssey, and Rocket Studio was the primary developer. They also had support from other companies.
The plan was for an offline experience with an evolving narrative alongside online features. In this role-playing game, gamers could construct towns and grow them, which would lead to different storylines. I was reminded of White Knight Chronicles by the ability to share and visit other towns online.
But, as the title of this article suggests, Ambrosia Odyssey was canceled. According to some, Square was entirely devoted to Final Fantasy XI. The MMORPG was incredibly popular, which made it seem like a safer investment.