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9:07 AM on 01.20.2008

47 comments
Final Fantasy XIII and Versus scans have a clown dog in them
Jim Sterling

Final Fantasy XIII and Versus scans have a clown dog in them screenshot

As Square Enix continues to develop its upcoming multi-release cash cow, some new images and not-so new details have surfaced of both Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII. Secured from the denizens of NeoGAF, we now bring you the newest information to arise from Square's latest dabbling in androgynous mayhem.

The magazine from which the scans are taken have some translated plot details, but it's nothing that followers of the title won't know already, as it talks about the floating city of Cocoon that has already been discussed by Squeenix in the past:

Built by a great entity, it is a society floating in the sky, enclosed in a "shell" -- Cocoon. It flourishes, protected by the great machines and living creatures invented by the Crystal.

The inhabitants of Cocoon, in a long period of tranquility, fear infection from the outside. Outside the shell, an underworld -- Pulse's entity awakens. Fearing this faceless invader, people begin to suspect one another, and hatred takes root.

Cocoon's government, wishing for stability, takes emergency measures. They arrest large numbers of citizens who were suspected of being "infected from the outside", and announced that they would be compelled to migrate to the underworld "Pulse". In reality, it meant banishment, but the fate which awaited them was even more cruel than that...

The crystal, a symbol of harmony, chose a person to whom to entrust destiny and lead the world.

She was chosen.

As the enemy of mankind, which ruins the world.

That's all dramatic and interesting, I'm sure, but look at the CLOWN DOG! Since it's on a page with Ifrit and Shiva, I wonder if he's a new Carbuncle (the green around his face and the red jewel on his head makes me think of the cute healing summon). Either way, he's bloody adorable, that's for damn sure. On the strength of one picture of an animal wearing a ruff, I declare FFXIII and all its presumptuous spin-offs a success.

[Mini-update: Atheistium has stated that the text indeed calls the dog Carbuncle. Score one for Matlockery!]



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Dtoiders have posted 46 comments:

atheistium's Avatar
atheistium at 01/20/2008 09:11

Well the Japanese on the picture does indeed say Carbuncle. ^^;

Also: oh man now I gotta buy a PS3
atheistium's Avatar
atheistium at 01/20/2008 09:14

Oh dang, Siren looks amazing :O (pictured under Ifrit)
Jonathan Holmes's Avatar
Jonathan Holmes at 01/20/2008 09:17

Totally disturbing. Androgynous mayhem indeed.
Chocobo Knight's Avatar
Chocobo Knight at 01/20/2008 09:24

Poor Carbuncle. D:
JamesSorensen's Avatar
JamesSorensen at 01/20/2008 09:25

Awesome scans.. got some new characters shown

damn i want these games BAAAAD
ZargonX's Avatar
ZargonX at 01/20/2008 09:25

I can only hope that each of these beautiful summons is five minutes long and totally unskippable.
Crunshii's Avatar
Crunshii at 01/20/2008 09:35

well SE finally has butchered Carbuncle... but you gotta admit, those graphics look totally badass. Ifrit's Pyrotechnics are killer, you can tell SE is trying to unleash all the details they can from the PS3.
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 01/20/2008 09:40

Butchered? They have only improved.

People -- it's a CLOWN DOG in a RUFF!
MauroDiogo's Avatar
MauroDiogo at 01/20/2008 09:51

I don't want to sound cool or anything but as soon as I saw the picture I noticed it was carbuncle! I dont know apanese but the jewel, the green ish/marine blue colour AANNNDDD something some people didnt notice the EARS! Coming out of the golden jewels are his big trademark ears! Even if it looks stupid I think we will see better summons to make up for it :P Never liked carbuncle that much anyway.
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 01/20/2008 09:55

Score another for Matlockery! We are wise to your ways, Squeenix!
bluki's Avatar
bluki at 01/20/2008 09:56

hmmmm.......... honestly i don't know how to comment this, i have mixed feeling for FFXIII project.
timtheterrible's Avatar
timtheterrible at 01/20/2008 10:16

No way those are in-game. I have a PS3, and I don't believe it.
Professor Pew's Avatar
Professor Pew at 01/20/2008 10:25

The graphics whore in me wants these CGI cutscenes!
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 01/20/2008 10:31

There's no such thing as "in-game" in a Squeenix game. It's all CGI, all the time, 24/7!
Xavier's Avatar
Xavier at 01/20/2008 10:35

I agree with Jim.
atheistium's Avatar
atheistium at 01/20/2008 10:36

@timtheterrible of course they are not.
However this is.
vp360's Avatar
vp360 at 01/20/2008 10:43

is that a real dog
Milhouse's Avatar
Milhouse at 01/20/2008 10:54

Just amazing...
blu3steel's Avatar
blu3steel at 01/20/2008 11:11

How many different animals has carbuncle been?
Novakaine's Avatar
Novakaine at 01/20/2008 11:14

Lightning is hot, and that red-headed girl is UBER hot... but FF is dead to me. =(
CaffeinePowered's Avatar
CaffeinePowered at 01/20/2008 11:34

If Kefka was a dog...
danthemagnum's Avatar
danthemagnum at 01/20/2008 11:41

Mostly the screens look good, but I'll admit that dog looks pretty stupid IMO.
GuitarAtomik's Avatar
GuitarAtomik at 01/20/2008 12:15

Looks OMG amazing. I'm almost glad it's so far away since it would force me to find a way to buy a PS3.
Kia's Avatar
Kia at 01/20/2008 12:35

..THAT is the ever-so-cute Carbuncle?! FAIL. Jesus christ who the hell came up with half of these ideas.
F Whipple's Avatar
F Whipple at 01/20/2008 12:49

DO NOT WANT....the dog that is.

And what is this FFXIII agito?
donkeykong's Avatar
donkeykong at 01/20/2008 13:10

There's a man with brown hair who looks just like the man with gray hair! What if they're the same person?!
Aurain's Avatar
Aurain at 01/20/2008 13:48

Carbuncle has always been Fail. Ifrit is looking awesome though.
deiga-the-semivaliant's Avatar
deiga-the-semivaliant at 01/20/2008 13:59

Shut up, Carbuncle is awesome.

You guys just don't appreciate dog clowns enough.



Seriously, I really like Carbuncle. You guys can suck it. :P
MisterMingo's Avatar
MisterMingo at 01/20/2008 15:14

This Carbuncle beats the shit out of the ugly ass "cutesy" Ryo-oki thing in previous games. It's a FUCKIN' CLOWN DOG, PEOPLE!! THE CIRCUS HAS COME TO TOWN!! :D
for the aeon of the hallowed's Avatar
for the aeon of the hallowed at 01/20/2008 15:21

hmm, maybe it's the translation, but that storyline sounds like it was concocted by a fantasy obsessed eighth grader in study hall.

mystical crystal AGAIN? try somethin new ffs!
IceMax's Avatar
IceMax at 01/20/2008 15:39

Wow, if those are in game SS, that is one dam good looking game
MuadDib's Avatar
MuadDib at 01/20/2008 16:00

Good Lord! Shiva is a motorcycle and Carbunkle is a stupid clown dog. I can't wait until they reveal that Bahumut is actually a pair of socks. Please wake me up when some non CGI images come out.
Im OK's Avatar
Im OK at 01/20/2008 16:03

Clowns are frightening and unknowable.

Does this also hold true for clown dogs?
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 01/20/2008 16:49

Dog carbuncle? Really? So weird.
Quilliam Fyre's Avatar
Quilliam Fyre at 01/20/2008 17:54

Mmm, pretty pictures. :3

Oh, jeeze, didn't mean to flood the room with my spittle.

And, yeah, let's hope for no crystals, or at least very few, for XIV.
Aertyr's Avatar
Aertyr at 01/20/2008 18:40

Why god why. I ask for an M-rated FF and they give me a clown dog. Why is life so cruel.
Chad Concelmo's Avatar
Chad Concelmo at 01/20/2008 20:40

I'm with you, Jim: Dog Carbuncle is awesome. :)
VWGTI's Avatar
VWGTI at 01/20/2008 22:02

I can't wait for these games. Maybe Carbuncle will be useful this time around.
danthemagnum's Avatar
danthemagnum at 01/20/2008 22:20

@ VWGTI

three words: not. bloody. likely.
kawitchate's Avatar
kawitchate at 01/20/2008 23:06

can't... get... excited. game... not out... until 2009...
MissHinasaki's Avatar
MissHinasaki at 01/21/2008 00:37

That thing is quite cute. A little on the scary side though... Like Hindu art...
SourGr8pes's Avatar
SourGr8pes at 01/21/2008 01:18

Clowns are scary, but Clown Dogs rock major socks.

As for FFXIII: Meh. From the character designs I've seen already, it looks way too FF8. Do not want.
AgentMOO's Avatar
AgentMOO at 01/21/2008 01:39

@Im OK

The first thing that came to mind with the pic in the link you posted is the megaman 1 box art:

Aurain's Avatar
Aurain at 01/21/2008 02:06

Going to be great when the game is released and you see these idiots on Springer/Jeremy Kyle who have phobias of Clowns not being able to complete the game cos they're so scared of Carbuncle.
twincannon's Avatar
twincannon at 01/21/2008 12:36

The Japanese sure do use a lot of exclamation marks.
Fading_Star's Avatar
Fading_Star at 01/22/2008 13:01

Clown dogs for the win!


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