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[[File:square-enix-logo-2_1290.jpg|frame]]
[[File:Square_Enix_logo.svg|thumb|350px]]


⚫
'''Square Enix''' is the result of a 2003 merger between two video game companies (Square and Enix, natch). They are primarily known for their work on RPGs, and several of their franchises have gone on to sell millions upon millions across the world.
{{quote| "''I'm thinking of a word. The first letter is 'S'. The last letter is 'X'.''"}}

⚫
Square Enix is the result of a 2003 merger between two video game companies (Square and Enix, natch). They are primarily known for their work on RPGs, and several of their franchises have gone on to sell millions upon millions across the world.

{{quote| "''The 'E' in the middle is but one of two.''"}}


Their merger was a huge event at the time. Square and Enix had been major rivals for years; both were known for their [[RPG|RPGs]], with Square being behind the world-dominating ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' franchise, and Enix responsible for the sales-record-smashing ''[[Dragon Quest]]'' games. By [[Rivals Team Up|combining forces]], they created a game-industry juggernaut which is a force to be reckoned with, especially in the Japanese market.
Their merger was a huge event at the time. Square and Enix had been major rivals for years; both were known for their [[RPG|RPGs]], with Square being behind the world-dominating ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' franchise, and Enix responsible for the sales-record-smashing ''[[Dragon Quest]]'' games. By [[Rivals Team Up|combining forces]], they created a game-industry juggernaut which is a force to be reckoned with, especially in the Japanese market.


⚫
Enix was the older of the two merging companies, and it found success earlier. Founded in 1975 as the Eidansha Boshu Service Center, it changed its name to Enix in 1982, just before it entered the video game market. Enix's early games (which included some [[Eroge]]) were released principally on the Japanese [[PC-88|NEC PC-8801]] and Fujitsu FM-7 computers. Though games such as ''The PORTOPIA Serial Murder Case'' were quite popular in Japan, ''[[Dragon Quest I]]'' was Enix's first game to be released internationally, albeit under the [[Market-Based Title]] ''Dragon Warrior'' (though they [[Justified Trope|had a good reason for this]]; a very similar trademark already existed).
{{quote| "''Seex?''"}}

⚫
Enix was the older of the two merging companies, and it found success earlier. Founded in 1975 as the Eidansha Boshu Service Center, it changed its name to Enix in 1982, just before it entered the video game market. Enix's early games (which included some [[Eroge]]) were released principally on the Japanese [[PC 88|NEC PC-8801]] and Fujitsu FM-7 computers. Though games such as ''The PORTOPIA Serial Murder Case'' were quite popular in Japan, ''[[Dragon Quest I (Video Game)|Dragon Quest I]]'' was Enix's first game to be released internationally, albeit under the [[Market-Based Title]] ''Dragon Warrior'' (though they [[Justified Trope|had a good reason for this]]; a very similar trademark already existed).


Square's early years were leaner; they began as a division of the software company Denyusha. In 1984 they released their first game, ''The Death Trap'', whose modest success led them to create a few more original games, as well as technically unimpressive ports of ''[[Dragon Slayer (Video Game)|Dragon Slayer]]'' for the [[MSX]] and ''[[Thexder]]'' for the NES. After Square Co., Ltd. became independent in 1986, they started putting out a variety of forgettable games for the Famicom Disk System, and were not doing too well when, a year and a half after ''Dragon Quest'', they released an [[RPG]] called ''[[Final Fantasy I (Video Game)|Final Fantasy I]]''...
Square's early years were leaner; they began as a division of the software company Denyusha. In 1984 they released their first game, ''The Death Trap'', whose modest success led them to create a few more original games, as well as technically unimpressive ports of ''[[Dragon Slayer]]'' for the [[MSX]] and ''[[Thexder]]'' for the NES. After Square Co., Ltd. became independent in 1986, they started putting out a variety of forgettable games for the Famicom Disk System, and were not doing too well when, a year and a half after ''Dragon Quest'', they released an [[RPG]] called ''[[Final Fantasy I]]''...


After the merger, fans were divided on how to refer to the company, as "Square Enix" was too unwieldy. Although some tried "Squarenix", it's now almost universally referred to as "Squeenix". Square Enix has even gotten in on this with their line "Squex Toys" in Japan, and their katakana [[Portmanteau Couple Name]] スクエニ (SukuEni) has appeared in Japanese promotional screenshots as a stand in for a player name.
After the merger, fans were divided on how to refer to the company, as "Square Enix" was too unwieldy. Although some tried "Squarenix", it's now almost universally referred to as "Squeenix". Square Enix has even gotten in on this with their line "Squex Toys" in Japan, and their katakana [[Portmanteau Couple Name]] スクエニ (SukuEni) has appeared in Japanese promotional screenshots as a stand in for a player name.
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In 2005, Square Enix acquired Taito Corporation, known for its work on ''[[Space Invaders]]''. Taito has mostly remained independent, retaining its games' copyright and self-publishing its games in Japan, though its parent company has recently begun to publish its games (such as ''[[Space Invaders]] Extreme'' and ''[[Arkanoid|Arkanoid DS]]'') elsewhere (with the label "Taito - A Square Enix Company" on the cover).
In 2005, Square Enix acquired Taito Corporation, known for its work on ''[[Space Invaders]]''. Taito has mostly remained independent, retaining its games' copyright and self-publishing its games in Japan, though its parent company has recently begun to publish its games (such as ''[[Space Invaders]] Extreme'' and ''[[Arkanoid|Arkanoid DS]]'') elsewhere (with the label "Taito - A Square Enix Company" on the cover).


In 2009, Square Enix took over Eidos (best known for ''[[Tomb Raider]]'', and also published the [[Porting Disaster|PC versions]] of Square's ''[[Final Fantasy VII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy VII]]'' and ''[[Final Fantasy VIII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy VIII]]'' as well as the first of Enix's ''[[Dragon Quest Monsters]]'' games for the [[Game Boy Color]] in North America). They renamed them "Square Enix Europe". Seems like a rather boring name until you look at [[Squee|the word they were getting at]].
In 2009, Square Enix took over Eidos (best known for ''[[Tomb Raider]]'', and also published the [[Porting Disaster|PC versions]] of Square's ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'' and ''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]'' as well as the first of Enix's ''[[Dragon Quest Monsters]]'' games for the [[Game Boy Color]] in North America). They renamed them "Square Enix Europe". Seems like a rather boring name until you look at [[Squee|the word they were getting at]].


Lately, they've been responsible for publishing and even developing gritty, [[Typecasting|out-of-character]] shooters such as ''[[Kane and Lynch]]'', ''[[Just Cause (Video Game)|Just Cause 2]]'' and ''[[Mind Jack]]'', and has collaborated with [[Activision]] by publishing the Japanese versions of their games. It seems that their strategy for entering the Western market is to publish promising Western-developed titles-- which causes existing fans of those series some trepidation and provides [[Mis Blamed|a convenient scapegoat]] for perceived flaws in the final releases.
Lately, they've been responsible for publishing and even developing gritty, [[Typecasting|out-of-character]] shooters such as ''[[Kane and Lynch]]'', ''[[Just Cause (video game)|Just Cause 2]]'' and ''[[Mind Jack]]'', and has collaborated with [[Activision]] by publishing the Japanese versions of their games. It seems that their strategy for entering the Western market is to publish promising Western-developed titles-- which causes existing fans of those series some trepidation and provides [[Misblamed|a convenient scapegoat]] for perceived flaws in the final releases.


They're also known for having a ''very'' [[Unpleasable Fanbase]]. The article even had its own example displaying the unpleasability of their fanbase, as well as the arrant hatedom that resulted. Similar to ''[[Nintendo]]'', they're also criticized for spinoffs and sequels of existing franchises and not coming up with "new" ones. This is despite all of the "new" Intellectual properties they develop or publish, most of which (Think ''[[Infinite Undiscovery]]'') are ignored, and they are then called out for ''not'' working on the next ''[[Final Fantasy]]''. There are some exceptions, such as ''[[The World Ends With You (Video Game)|The World Ends With You]]'', which actually ''wasn't'' glossed over.
They're also known for having a ''very'' [[Unpleasable Fanbase]]. The article even had its own example displaying the unpleasability of their fanbase, as well as the arrant hatedom that resulted. Similar to ''[[Nintendo]]'', they're also criticized for spinoffs and sequels of existing franchises and not coming up with "new" ones. This is despite all of the "new" Intellectual properties they develop or publish, most of which (Think ''[[Infinite Undiscovery]]'') are ignored, and they are then called out for ''not'' working on the next ''[[Final Fantasy]]''. There are some exceptions, such as ''[[The World Ends With You]]'', which actually ''wasn't'' glossed over.


Square-Enix is also known for having one of the textbook examples of "[[Scapegoat Creator|Quarterback Syndrome]]", in which the Quarterback is [[Tetsuya Nomura]]. Partly reinforced by how he had managed to misblame himself from various interviews, but still played straight when the [[Internet Backdraft]] of ''[[Final Fantasy XIII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy XIII]]'' somehow treated him like he was the sole person involved in the game design. (For the record, he only designed ''some'' characters in ''[[Final Fantasy XIII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy XIII]]''. He wasn't even the ''art'' director!)
Square-Enix is also known for having one of the textbook examples of "[[Scapegoat Creator|Quarterback Syndrome]]", in which the Quarterback is [[Tetsuya Nomura]]. Partly reinforced by how he had managed to misblame himself from various interviews, but still played straight when the [[Internet Backdraft]] of ''[[Final Fantasy XIII]]'' somehow treated him like he was the sole person involved in the game design. (For the record, he only designed ''some'' characters in ''[[Final Fantasy XIII]]''. He wasn't even the ''art'' director!)
----
----


== Pre-Merger Games: ==
== Pre-Merger Games: ==
=== Games originally published/developed by Square: ===
=== Games originally published/developed by Square: ===
* ''3-D Worldrunner'' (the first of Square's games to be released in the U.S., where it was published by [[Acclaim (Creator)|Acclaim]])
* ''3-D Worldrunner'' (the first of Square's games to be released in the U.S., where it was published by [[Acclaim]])
* ''[[Bahamut Lagoon (Video Game)|Bahamut Lagoon]]''
* ''[[Bahamut Lagoon]]''
* ''[[Brave Fencer Musashi (Video Game)|Brave Fencer Musashi]]''
* ''[[Brave Fencer Musashi]]''
* ''[[Bushido Blade]]''
* ''[[Bushido Blade]]''
* ''[[Chrono Trigger (Video Game)|Chrono Trigger]]''
* ''[[Chrono Trigger]]''
** ''[[Radical Dreamers (Visual Novel)|Radical Dreamers]]''
** ''[[Radical Dreamers]]''
** ''[[Chrono Cross (Video Game)|Chrono Cross]]''
** ''[[Chrono Cross]]''
* ''[[Ehrgeiz]]''
* ''[[Ehrgeiz]]''
* ''[[Einhander]]''
* ''[[Einhander]]''
* ''[[Final Fantasy (Franchise)|Final Fantasy]]'' series
* ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series
* ''[[Front Mission]]''
* ''[[Front Mission]]''
* ''[[Hanjuku Hero]]''
* ''[[Hanjuku Hero]]''
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* The ''[[SaGa]]'' series
* The ''[[SaGa]]'' series
* ''[[Secret of Evermore]]'' (published and developed entirely by Squaresoft USA)
* ''[[Secret of Evermore]]'' (published and developed entirely by Squaresoft USA)
* ''[[Super Mario RPG (Video Game)|Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars]]'' (developed by Square, published by [[Nintendo]])
* ''[[Super Mario RPG|Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars]]'' (developed by Square, published by [[Nintendo]])
* ''[[The Bouncer]]''
* ''[[The Bouncer]]''
* ''[[Threads of Fate]]''
* ''[[Threads of Fate]]''
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* ''[[Treasure of the Rudra]]''
* ''[[Treasure of the Rudra]]''
* ''[[Vagrant Story]]''
* ''[[Vagrant Story]]''
* ''[[Xenogears (Video Game)|Xenogears]]''
* ''[[Xenogears]]''


=== Games originally published/developed by Enix: ===
=== Games originally published/developed by Enix: ===
* ''[[Actraiser]]''
* ''[[ActRaiser]]''
* ''[[Brain Lord (Video Game)|Brain Lord]]''
* ''[[Brain Lord]]''
* ''Bust-A-Groove'' (called ''Bust-A-Move'' in Japan, but that title was given to ''[[Bubble Bobble (Video Game)|Puzzle Bobble]]'' in some other countries)
* ''Bust-A-Groove'' (called ''Bust-A-Move'' in Japan, but that title was given to ''[[Bubble Bobble|Puzzle Bobble]]'' in some other countries)
* ''[[Dragon Quest (Video Game)|Dragon Quest]]'' series (Called ''Dragon Warrior'' in US until the rights to that name were procured in 2005)
* ''[[Dragon Quest]]'' series (Called ''Dragon Warrior'' in US until the rights to that name were procured in 2005)
* ''[[EVO Search for Eden|E.V.O.: The Search for Eden]]''
* ''[[EVO Search for Eden|E.V.O.: The Search for Eden]]''
* ''[[Itadaki Street (Video Game)|Itadaki Street]]'' series
* ''[[Itadaki Street]]'' series
* ''[[Mischief Makers]]''
* ''[[Mischief Makers]]''
* ''[[Rakugaki Showtime]]''
* ''[[Rakugaki Showtime]]''
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== Post-Merger Square Enix Games: ==
== Post-Merger Square Enix Games: ==
* ''[[Chaos Rings (Franchise)|Chaos Rings]]'' series (iPhone)
* ''[[Chaos Rings]]'' series (iPhone)
** ''[[Chaos Rings (Video Game)|Chaos Rings]]''
** ''[[Chaos Rings (video game)|Chaos Rings]]''
** ''[[Chaos Rings Omega (Video Game)|Chaos Rings Omega]]''
** ''[[Chaos Rings Omega]]''
** ''[[Chaos Rings II (Video Game)|Chaos Rings II]]''
** ''[[Chaos Rings II]]''
* ''[[Drakengard]]''
* ''[[Drakengard]]''
* ''[[Dungeon Siege]] III'' (developed by Obsidian Entertainment, franchise bought from Gas Powered Games)
* ''[[Dungeon Siege]] III'' (developed by Obsidian Entertainment, franchise bought from Gas Powered Games)
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* ''Mario Sports Mix'' (same as above)
* ''Mario Sports Mix'' (same as above)
* ''[[Mind Jack]]''
* ''[[Mind Jack]]''
* ''[[Musashi Samurai Legend]]''
* ''[[Musashi: Samurai Legend]]''
* ''[[Nie R]]''
* ''[[NieR]]''
* ''Order of War''
* ''Order of War''
* ''[[Project Sylpheed]]''
* ''[[Project Sylpheed]]''
* ''[[Radiata Stories (Video Game)|Radiata Stories]]''
* ''[[Radiata Stories]]''
* ''[[Song Summoner]]'' (an iPod-based RPG)
* ''[[Song Summoner]]'' (an iPod-based RPG)
* ''[[Supreme Commander (Video Game)|Supreme Commander]] II'' (in collaboration with [[Gas Powered Games]])
* ''[[Supreme Commander]] II'' (in collaboration with [[Gas Powered Games]])
* ''[[Thexder]] Neo''
* ''[[Thexder]] Neo''
* ''[[The World Ends With You (Video Game)|The World Ends With You]]''
* ''[[The World Ends With You]]''
* ''Yosumin!''
* ''Yosumin!''


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=== Games published by Taito: ===
=== Games published by Taito: ===
* ''[[Arkanoid]]''
* ''[[Arkanoid]]''
* ''[[Bubble Bobble (Video Game)|Bubble Bobble]]'' series
* ''[[Bubble Bobble]]'' series
** ''[[Bubble Bobble (Video Game)|Puzzle Bobble]]'' series
** ''[[Bubble Bobble|Puzzle Bobble]]'' series
* ''[[Cadash (Video Game)|Cadash]]'' (an ''arcade'' [[Action RPG]] with platformer elements)
* ''[[Cadash]]'' (an ''arcade'' [[Action RPG]] with platformer elements)
* ''[[Cooking Mama]]'' (Japanese publisher)
* ''[[Cooking Mama]]'' (Japanese publisher)
* ''[[Darius]]''
* ''[[Darius]]''
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* ''[[Growl]]''
* ''[[Growl]]''
* ''Gun Frontier'' (tweaked to ''Gun & Frontier'' outside of Japan to avoid confusion with the anime of the same name; notable for being the [[Spiritual Predecessor]] to ''[[Battle Garegga]]'')
* ''Gun Frontier'' (tweaked to ''Gun & Frontier'' outside of Japan to avoid confusion with the anime of the same name; notable for being the [[Spiritual Predecessor]] to ''[[Battle Garegga]]'')
* ''[[Kiki Kai Kai]]''
* ''[[KiKi KaiKai]]''
* ''[[The Legend of Kage]]''
* ''[[The Legend of Kage]]''
* ''[[Lufia]]''
* ''[[Lufia]]''
* ''[[Metal Black]]''
* ''[[Metal Black]]''
* ''[[Night Striker (Video Game)|Night Striker]]''
* ''[[The New Zealand Story]]''
* ''[[Night Striker]]''
* ''[[The New Zealand Story (Video Game)|The New Zealand Story]]''
* ''[[The Ninja Warriors]]''
* ''[[The Ninja Warriors]]''
** ''[[The Ninja Warriors Again]]''
** ''[[The Ninja Warriors Again]]''
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=== Games published by Eidos and its subsidiary labels: ===
=== Games published by Eidos and its subsidiary labels: ===
* ''[[Batman Arkham Asylum]]''
* ''[[Batman: Arkham Asylum]]''
* ''Conflict'' (published by former parent company SCi)
* ''Conflict'' (published by former parent company SCi)
* ''[[Deus Ex (Video Game)|Deus Ex]]''
* ''[[Deus Ex]]''
* ''[[Gex]]''
* ''[[Gex]]''
* ''[[Hitman]]''
* ''[[Hitman]]''
* ''[[Just Cause (Video Game)|Just Cause]]''
* ''[[Just Cause (video game)|Just Cause]]''
* ''[[Kane and Lynch]]''
* ''[[Kane and Lynch]]''
* ''[[Legacy of Kain]]''
* ''[[Legacy of Kain]]''
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* ''[[Tomb Raider]]''
* ''[[Tomb Raider]]''
* ''[[Total Overdose]]''
* ''[[Total Overdose]]''
* ''[[Urban Chaos Riot Response]]''
* ''[[Urban Chaos: Riot Response]]''
* ''[[Warzone 2100]]'' (now open-source)
* ''[[Warzone 2100]]'' (now open-source)
* ''[[Whiplash]]''
* ''[[Whiplash]]''
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== Manga published by Square Enix's ''Gangan Comics'' imprint: ==
== Manga published by Square Enix's ''Gangan Comics'' imprint: ==
⚫
* ''[[A Certain Magical Index]]''
* ''[[Bamboo Blade]]''
* ''[[Bamboo Blade]]''
* ''[[Bitter Virgin]]''
* ''[[Bitter Virgin]]''
* ''[[Black Butler (Manga)|Black Butler]]''
* ''[[Black Butler]]''
* ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]''
* ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]''
* ''[[He Is My Master]]''
* ''[[He Is My Master]]''
* ''Hero Tales''
* ''Hero Tales''
* ''[[Jungle wa Itsumo Hale Nochi Guu|Haré+ Guu]]''
* ''[[Haré+Guu|Haré+ Guu]]''
* ''[[Mahoraba]]''
* ''[[Mahoraba]]''
* ''[[Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok]]''
* ''[[Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok]]''
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* ''[[Nightmare Inspector]]''
* ''[[Nightmare Inspector]]''
* ''[[Pandora Hearts]]''
* ''[[Pandora Hearts]]''
* ''[[Pani Poni Dash]]''
* ''[[Pani Poni Dash!]]''
* ''[[Sekirei]]''
* ''[[Sekirei]]''
* ''[[Seto no Hanayome]]''
* ''[[Seto no Hanayome]]''
* ''[[Shikabane Hime]]''
* ''[[Shikabane Hime]]''
* ''[[Six Six Six Satan (Manga)|Six Six Six Satan]]''
* ''[[666 Satan]]''
* ''[[Soul Eater]]''
* ''[[Soul Eater]]''
* ''[[Spiral]]''
* ''[[Spiral]]''
* ''[[Sumomo Mo Momo Mo]]''
* ''[[Sumomomo Momomo]]''
* ''[[Tentai Senshi Sunred (Manga)|Tentai Senshi Sunred]]''
* ''[[Tentai Senshi Sunred]]''
* ''[[The Record of a Fallen Vampire]]''
* ''[[The Record of a Fallen Vampire]]''
⚫
* ''[[To Aru Majutsu no Index]]''
* ''[[Violinist of Hameln]]''
* ''[[Violinist of Hameln]]''
* ''[[Until Death Do Us Part (Manga)|Until Death Do Us Part]]''
* ''[[Until Death Do Us Part]]''
* ''[[Working (Manga)|Working!!]]''
* ''[[Working!!]]''
* ''[[Zombie Loan]]''
* ''[[Zombie Loan]]''
----
=== Tropes associated with Square Enix: ===


{{creatortropes}}
* [[Anime Hair]]: Several heroes ''and'' villains have this. In fact, many of SE's games give their characters an [[Anime|anime-like]] look overall.
* [[Anime Hair]]: Several heroes ''and'' villains have this. In fact, many of SE's games give their characters an [[Anime|anime-like]] look overall.
⚫
* [[Gallows Humor]]: Square was saved from bankruptcy when Hironobu Sakaguchi released the original [[Final Fantasy I|Final Fantasy]]. [[Meaningful Name|He thought it would be the last game before Square collapsed.]] [[Long Runners|It wasn't.]]
* [[Cash Cow Franchise]]: Three of them: [[Final Fantasy]], [[Dragon Quest]], and [[Kingdom Hearts]].
⚫
* [[Gallows Humor]]: Square was saved from bankruptcy when Hironobu Sakaguchi released the original [[Final Fantasy I (Video Game)|Final Fantasy]]. [[Meaningful Name|He thought it would be the last game before Square collapsed.]] [[Long Runners|It wasn't.]]
* [[Impossibly Cool Clothes]]: Many games, especially the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series, feature amazing outfits that would give a [[Cosplay|Cosplayer]] a run for his money.
* [[Impossibly Cool Clothes]]: Many games, especially the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series, feature amazing outfits that would give a [[Cosplay|Cosplayer]] a run for his money.
* [[Japanese RPG]]: The company's main genre. Whichever division of JRPG they use varies from series to series.
* [[Japanese RPG]]: The company's main genre. Whichever division of JRPG they use varies from series to series.
* [[One-Winged Angel]]: The [[Trope Namer]] coming from ''[[Final Fantasy VII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy VII]]''. It's almost a requirement to for every game to have a One Winged Angel. Square Enix even has its own folder on the trope page.
* [[One-Winged Angel]]: The [[Trope Namer]] coming from ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]''. It's almost a requirement to for every game to have a One Winged Angel. Square Enix even has its own folder on the trope page.
* [[No Export for You]]: An infamous case.
* [[Rivals Team Up]]: The merger.
* [[Rivals Team Up]]: The merger.
* [[Too Many Belts]]: Common when [[Tetsuya Nomura]] is the character designer of a game.
* [[Too Many Belts]]: Common when [[Tetsuya Nomura]] is the character designer of a game.
* [[Updated Rerelease]]: The reason their [[No Export for You]] cases are some of the most well-known.
* [[Updated Rerelease]]: The reason their [[No Export for You]] cases are some of the most well-known.
* [[Zipperiffic]]: Once again, when [[Tetsuya Nomura|Nomura]] is the character designer. The quote of this trope's page from ''[[The World Ends With You (Video Game)|The World Ends With You]]'' [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshades]] this.
* [[Zipperiffic]]: Once again, when [[Tetsuya Nomura|Nomura]] is the character designer. The quote of this trope's page from ''[[The World Ends With You]]'' [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshades]] this.


----
----
{{quote| You weren't thinking of something naughty, were you? [[Developer's Room|That's]] [[Final Fantasy IV (Video Game)|right]]! It's SQUARE ENIX!
{{quote|You weren't thinking of something naughty, were you? [[Developer's Room|That's]] [[Final Fantasy IV|right]]! It's SQUARE ENIX!
}}
}}


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[[Category:Square Enix]]
[[Category:Square Enix]]
[[Category:Creator]]
[[Category:Creator]]
[[Category:Japanese Games]]

Latest revision as of 19:54, 26 June 2021

/wiki/Square Enixcreator

Square Enix is the result of a 2003 merger between two video game companies (Square and Enix, natch). They are primarily known for their work on RPGs, and several of their franchises have gone on to sell millions upon millions across the world.

Their merger was a huge event at the time. Square and Enix had been major rivals for years; both were known for their RPGs, with Square being behind the world-dominating Final Fantasy franchise, and Enix responsible for the sales-record-smashing Dragon Quest games. By combining forces, they created a game-industry juggernaut which is a force to be reckoned with, especially in the Japanese market.

Enix was the older of the two merging companies, and it found success earlier. Founded in 1975 as the Eidansha Boshu Service Center, it changed its name to Enix in 1982, just before it entered the video game market. Enix's early games (which included some Eroge) were released principally on the Japanese NEC PC-8801 and Fujitsu FM-7 computers. Though games such as The PORTOPIA Serial Murder Case were quite popular in Japan, Dragon Quest I was Enix's first game to be released internationally, albeit under the Market-Based Title Dragon Warrior (though they had a good reason for this; a very similar trademark already existed).

Square's early years were leaner; they began as a division of the software company Denyusha. In 1984 they released their first game, The Death Trap, whose modest success led them to create a few more original games, as well as technically unimpressive ports of Dragon Slayer for the MSX and Thexder for the NES. After Square Co., Ltd. became independent in 1986, they started putting out a variety of forgettable games for the Famicom Disk System, and were not doing too well when, a year and a half after Dragon Quest, they released an RPG called Final Fantasy I...

After the merger, fans were divided on how to refer to the company, as "Square Enix" was too unwieldy. Although some tried "Squarenix", it's now almost universally referred to as "Squeenix". Square Enix has even gotten in on this with their line "Squex Toys" in Japan, and their katakana Portmanteau Couple Name スクエニ (SukuEni) has appeared in Japanese promotional screenshots as a stand in for a player name.

In 2005, Square Enix acquired Taito Corporation, known for its work on Space Invaders. Taito has mostly remained independent, retaining its games' copyright and self-publishing its games in Japan, though its parent company has recently begun to publish its games (such as Space Invaders Extreme and Arkanoid DS) elsewhere (with the label "Taito - A Square Enix Company" on the cover).

In 2009, Square Enix took over Eidos (best known for Tomb Raider, and also published the PC versions of Square's Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VIII as well as the first of Enix's Dragon Quest Monsters games for the Game Boy Color in North America). They renamed them "Square Enix Europe". Seems like a rather boring name until you look at the word they were getting at.

Lately, they've been responsible for publishing and even developing gritty, out-of-character shooters such as Kane and Lynch, Just Cause 2 and Mind Jack, and has collaborated with Activision by publishing the Japanese versions of their games. It seems that their strategy for entering the Western market is to publish promising Western-developed titles-- which causes existing fans of those series some trepidation and provides a convenient scapegoat for perceived flaws in the final releases.

They're also known for having a very Unpleasable Fanbase. The article even had its own example displaying the unpleasability of their fanbase, as well as the arrant hatedom that resulted. Similar to Nintendo, they're also criticized for spinoffs and sequels of existing franchises and not coming up with "new" ones. This is despite all of the "new" Intellectual properties they develop or publish, most of which (Think Infinite Undiscovery) are ignored, and they are then called out for not working on the next Final Fantasy. There are some exceptions, such as The World Ends With You, which actually wasn't glossed over.

Square-Enix is also known for having one of the textbook examples of "Quarterback Syndrome", in which the Quarterback is Tetsuya Nomura. Partly reinforced by how he had managed to misblame himself from various interviews, but still played straight when the Internet Backdraft of Final Fantasy XIII somehow treated him like he was the sole person involved in the game design. (For the record, he only designed some characters in Final Fantasy XIII. He wasn't even the art director!)

Pre-Merger Games:

Games originally published/developed by Square:

Games originally published/developed by Enix:

Post-Merger Square Enix Games:

Child Company Games:

Games published by Taito:

Games published by Eidos and its subsidiary labels:

Other Western-developed games ported by Square-Enix:

Manga published by Square Enix's Gangan Comics imprint:

Square Enix provides examples of the following tropes:

You weren't thinking of something naughty, were you? That's right! It's SQUARE ENIX!

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