Ultimate Hits
Encyclopedia
The Japanese video game company Square Enix
publishes budget range
titles under three labels: , "Legendary Hits", and "Eternal Hits".
budget range in the NTSC-J
regions, which include Japan
and the rest of Asia. Square Enix first announced the Ultimate Hits collection in July 2005, encompassing several PlayStation 2
titles for re-release in September of that year. The following March, three Game Boy Advance
games were released under the budget label. The Ultimate Hits lines was a huge success, selling over half a million copies by the middle of 2006. Sixteen additional titles, including several PlayStation
games, were added to the release schedule for July 2006. By early 2008, the Ultimate Hits line had sold over 1.5 million copies. Two more titles, both PlayStation Portable
games, were released that March.
Ultimate Hits titles are recognizable by a platinum/silver colored band on the game's casing. For PlayStation 2
games, this band normally run along the left-hand side of the case's front, with the original game cover cropped. The game disc features the original release disc's design, with added "Ultimate Hits" designation on the disc. For PlayStation
games, a detachable (separate) leaflet colored silver, with the name of the game is included and attached at the disc cover on the left-hand side. The disc contains no indication if the disc is released as Ultimate Hits. The manual contains no indication of Ultimate Hits. Instead the manual included is identical to the original release. This applies to both PlayStation and PlayStation 2 Ultimate Hits releases.
re-released several PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable titles in its "Eternal Hits" collection.
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
publishes budget range
Budget range
Budget range is the name given to software that are sold for a fraction of a regular product price...
titles under three labels: , "Legendary Hits", and "Eternal Hits".
Ultimate Hits
The Ultimate Hits range is a Square EnixSquare Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
budget range in the NTSC-J
NTSC-J
NTSC-J is an analog television system and video display standard for the region of Japan.While NTSC-M is an official standard, "J" is more a colloquial indicator as used in Marketing definition but not an official term.-Technical definition:...
regions, which include Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and the rest of Asia. Square Enix first announced the Ultimate Hits collection in July 2005, encompassing several PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
titles for re-release in September of that year. The following March, three Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
games were released under the budget label. The Ultimate Hits lines was a huge success, selling over half a million copies by the middle of 2006. Sixteen additional titles, including several PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
games, were added to the release schedule for July 2006. By early 2008, the Ultimate Hits line had sold over 1.5 million copies. Two more titles, both PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
games, were released that March.
Ultimate Hits titles are recognizable by a platinum/silver colored band on the game's casing. For PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
games, this band normally run along the left-hand side of the case's front, with the original game cover cropped. The game disc features the original release disc's design, with added "Ultimate Hits" designation on the disc. For PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
games, a detachable (separate) leaflet colored silver, with the name of the game is included and attached at the disc cover on the left-hand side. The disc contains no indication if the disc is released as Ultimate Hits. The manual contains no indication of Ultimate Hits. Instead the manual included is identical to the original release. This applies to both PlayStation and PlayStation 2 Ultimate Hits releases.
| Title (followed by English title if different) | Original release date | Ultimate Hits release date | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Final Fantasy X Final Fantasy X is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square as the tenth title in the Final Fantasy series. It was released in 2001 for Sony's PlayStation 2, and will be re-released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in 2012... |
July 19, 2001 | September 8, 2005 | PlayStation 2 PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan... |
| Final Fantasy X-2 Final Fantasy X-2 is a console role-playing game developed and published by Square for Sony's PlayStation 2. It was released in 2003 and is the sequel to the best-selling 2001 game Final Fantasy X... |
March 13, 2003 | ||
| Final Fantasy X/X-2 Ultimate Box | – | ||
| Kingdom Hearts | March 28, 2002 | ||
| Kingdom Hearts Final Mix | December 26, 2002 | ||
| Final Fantasy Tactics Advance Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. A spin-off of the popular Final Fantasy series, the game shares several traits with 1997's Final Fantasy Tactics, although it is not a direct sequel. The player assembles a clan of characters, and... |
February 14, 2003 | March 9, 2006 | Game Boy Advance Game Boy Advance The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China... |
| Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories is an action role-playing game developed by Square Enix and Japanese studio Jupiter and published by Square Enix in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance. The game serves as an intermediary between the two larger-scale PlayStation 2 games in the Kingdom Hearts series. It was one of the first GBA games to... |
November 11, 2004 | ||
| Slime MoriMori Dragon Quest: Shōgeki no Shippo Dan | November 14, 2003 | ||
| Front Mission 4 Front Mission 4 is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on December 18, 2003 and in North America on June 15, 2004. Front Mission 4 is the fourth main entry and sixth entry overall in the Front Mission series... |
December 18, 2003 | May 11, 2006 | PlayStation 2 |
| Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Romancing SaGa is a role-playing video game originally developed and published by Square as the fourth game of their SaGa series. Initially made available in January 1992 for the Super Famicom, the game was later ported to the WonderSwan Color handheld system in December 2002, with both releases being exclusive... (Romancing SaGa) |
April 21, 2005 | ||
| Chrono Cross Chrono Cross is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation video game console. It is the sequel to Chrono Trigger, which was released in 1995 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System... |
November 18, 1999 | July 20, 2006 | PlayStation |
| Chrono Trigger Chrono Trigger is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995. Chrono Triggers development team included three designers that Square dubbed the "Dream Team": Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Square's Final Fantasy series; Yuji Horii, a... |
November 2, 1999 | ||
| Dragon Quest IV: Michibikareshi Monotachi (Dragon Warrior IV) | November 22, 2001 | ||
| Dragon Quest VII: Eden no Senshitachi Dragon Warrior VII Dragon Warrior VII, known in Japan as is a Japanese console role-playing game developed by Heartbeat and ArtePiazza, and published by Enix for the PlayStation in... (Dragon Warrior VII) |
August 26, 2000 | ||
| Final Fantasy VII International | October 2, 1997 | ||
| Final Fantasy VIII Final Fantasy VIII is a role-playing video game released for the PlayStation in 1999 and for Windows-based personal computers in 2000. It was developed and published by Square as the Final Fantasy series' eighth title, removing magic point-based spell-casting and the first title to consistently use realistically... |
February 11, 1999 | ||
| Final Fantasy IX Final Fantasy IX is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation video game console. It is the ninth title in the Final Fantasy series. The game introduced new features to the series like the 'Active Time Event', 'Mognet' and a unique equipment and skill system.Final Fantasy IXs... |
July 7, 2000 | ||
| Final Fantasy Tactics Final Fantasy Tactics is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Sony PlayStation video game console. It is the first game of the Final Fantasy Tactics series and was released in Japan in June 1997 and in the United States in January 1998... |
June 20, 1997 | ||
| SaGa Frontier SaGa Frontier is a role-playing video game developed by Square for the PlayStation and released in Japan on July 11, 1997. The game was later published by Sony Computer Entertainment in North America on March 25, 1998. It is the seventh game in the SaGa series and the first to be released on the PlayStation... |
July 11, 1997 | ||
| SaGa Frontier 2 SaGa Frontier 2 is a role-playing video game developed by Square for the PlayStation. It is the eighth original game in their SaGa series. Initially released in Japan in April 1999, an English version was made available in North America in January 2000 by Square Electronic Arts and in the PAL region the following... |
April 1, 1999 | ||
| Seiken Densetsu: Legend of Mana Legend of Mana Legend of Mana, known in Japan as , is the fourth game in the Mana series. The game was released for the PlayStation in Japan on July 15, 1999 and in North America on June 7, 2000, with a delayed release in Canada... (Legend of Mana) |
July 15, 1999 | ||
| Vagrant Story Vagrant Story is a Japanese-developed console role-playing game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation video game console. The game was released in 2000, and has been re-released through the PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable consoles eleven years later... |
February 10, 2000 | ||
| Valkyrie Profile Valkyrie Profile Valkyrie Profile is a video game series developed by tri-Ace and published by Enix . It comprises three titles:* Valkyrie Profile, a 1999 PlayStation game**Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, the 2006 PlayStation Portable port... |
December 22, 1999 | ||
| Dragon Quest V: Tenkū no Hanayome | March 25, 2004 | PlayStation 2 | |
| Dragon Quest VIII: Sora to Umi to Daichi to Norowareshi Himegimi (Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King) |
November 27, 2004 | ||
| Star Ocean: Till the End of Time Director's Cut Star Ocean: Till the End of Time is the third main game in the Star Ocean series. The game was developed by tri-Ace and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2 console. It was released in Japan, North America, and the PAL territories. The original Japanese release date was in February of 2003 by Enix, its penultimate... |
February 27, 2003 | ||
| Front Mission 2 Front Mission 2 is a tactical role-playing game for the Sony PlayStation developed by G-Craft and published by Square Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on September 25, 1997. Front Mission 2 is the second main entry and the third entry overall in the Front Mission series... |
September 25, 1997 | October 5, 2006 | PlayStation |
| Front Mission 3 Front Mission 3 is a tactical role-playing game for the PlayStation developed by and published by Square Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on September 2, 1999, and later in North America on March 22, 2000, and in Europe on August 11, 2000. Front Mission 3 is the third main entry and the fifth entry overall in... |
September 2, 1999 | ||
| Front Mission: Alternative Front Mission: Alternative is a real-time strategy video game developed and published by Square Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on December 18, 1997. Front Mission Alternative is the second spin-off entry and the third entry overall in the Front Mission series... |
December 18, 1997 | ||
| Front Mission 5: Scars of the War Front Mission 5: Scars of the War is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on December 29, 2005. Front Mission 5: Scars of the War is the sixth main entry and ninth entry overall in the Front Mission series... |
December 29, 2005 | PlayStation 2 | |
| Final Fantasy X International | January 31, 2002 | January 25, 2007 | |
| Final Fantasy X-2 International + Last Mission | February 19, 2004 | ||
| Dragon Quest: Shōnen Yangus to Fushigi no Dungeon | April 20, 2006 | June 28, 2007 | |
| Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria is the second installment in the Valkyrie Profile series. It was developed by tri-Ace and published by Square Enix. It was released for the PlayStation 2 on June 22, 2006 in Japan, September 26, 2006 in North America, and September 7, 2007 in Europe and other PAL... |
June 22, 2006 | ||
| Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Portable | May 25, 2006 | March 6, 2008 | PlayStation Portable PlayStation Portable The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004... |
| Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth | March 2, 2006 | ||
| Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Special | December 22, 2004 | June 26, 2008 | PlayStation 2 |
| Kingdom Hearts II Kingdom Hearts II is an action role-playing game developed by Square Enix and published by Buena Vista Games and Square Enix in 2005 for the Sony PlayStation 2 video game console... |
December 22, 2005 | ||
| Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+ | March 29, 2007 | ||
| Final Fantasy XII Final Fantasy XII is a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2. Released in 2006, it is the twelfth title in the Final Fantasy series and the last in the series to be released exclusively on the PlayStation platform... |
March 16, 2006 | ||
| Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII International | August 15, 2006 | September 4, 2008 | |
| Drag-On Dragoon Drakengard Drakengard, known in Japan as , is a PlayStation 2 action role-playing game developed by Cavia and published by Square Enix and Take-Two Interactive. It was released on September 11, 2003 in Japan, on March 5, 2004 in North America and on May 21, 2004 in PAL territories.The game was originally... (Drakengard) |
September 11, 2003 | ||
| Drag-On Dragoon 2 Drakengard 2 Drakengard 2, or in Japan, is an action RPG for the PlayStation 2 system and is a direct sequel to the original Drakengard. Like the original, Drakengard 2 combines on-foot hack and slash with aerial combat stages reminiscent of Sega's Panzer Dragoon... (Drakengard 2) |
June 16, 2005 | ||
| Slime MoriMori Dragon Quest: Daisensha to Shippo Dan Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime is an action-adventure video game developed by TOSE and published by Square Enix for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console. It is the sequel to Slime MoriMori Dragon Quest: Shōgeki no Shippo Dan for the Game Boy Advance. It was first released in Japan, and later in North America... (Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime) |
December 1, 2005 | October 23, 2008 | Nintendo DS Nintendo DS The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP... |
| Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker is a Nintendo DS role-playing game published by Square Enix, and the fourth installment of the Dragon Quest Monsters series. Square Enix released the game on December 28, 2006 in Japan and in North America on November 6, 2007.... |
December 28, 2006 | ||
| Final Fantasy III | August 24, 2006 | ||
| Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings is a real-time strategy RPG developed by Think & Feel and published by Square Enix for the Nintendo DS. It is a sequel to the best-selling 2006 PlayStation 2 role-playing game Final Fantasy XII.... |
April 26, 2007 | ||
| Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is an action role-playing game developed by Square Enix for the PlayStation Portable. First released in 2007, the game is a prequel to the video game Final Fantasy VII and is also the sixth installment in metaseries Compilation of Final Fantasy VII which includes products related to the game... |
September 13, 2007 | July 30, 2009 | PlayStation Portable |
| Final Fantasy | April 19, 2007 | ||
| Final Fantasy II | June 7, 2007 | ||
| Final Fantasy Tactics: Shishi Sensō Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix for the Sony PlayStation Portable and iOS. The game is an updated version of Final Fantasy Tactics for the PlayStation video game console.... (Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions) |
May 10, 2007 | ||
| Final Fantasy VII Advent Children | September 14, 2005 | ||
| Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job System | August 9, 2007 | PlayStation 2 | |
| Dragon Quest Swords: Kamen no Joō to Kagami no Tō Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors is a first-person adventure game by Square Enix exclusive to Nintendo's Wii game console. The game is a spin-off from the Dragon Quest series.-Battle system:... (Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors) |
July 12, 2007 | December 3, 2009 | Wii Wii The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others... |
| Star Ocean: First Departure | December 27, 2007 | PlayStation Portable | |
| Star Ocean: Second Evolution | April 2, 2008 | ||
| Dragon Quest IV: Michibikareshi Monotachi (Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen) |
November 22, 2007 | March 4, 2010 | Nintendo DS |
| Dragon Quest V: Tenkū no Hanayome (Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride) |
July 17, 2008 | ||
| Dragon Quest IX: Hoshizora no Mamoribito (Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies) |
July 11, 2009 | ||
| Final Fantasy IV Final Fantasy IV (Nintendo DS) is a role-playing video game for the Nintendo DS. It is an enhanced remake of the original Final Fantasy IV, which was released in 1991. It was released as part of the campaign for Final Fantasy series 20th anniversary on December 20, 2007 in Japan and in North America on July 22, 2008... |
December 20, 2007 | ||
| Dissidia: Final Fantasy Dissidia: Final Fantasy is an action RPG/fighting game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation Portable as part of the campaign of the Final Fantasy series 20th anniversary. Information on the game was first released during the "Square Enix Party" event of May 2008... |
December 18, 2008 | September 16, 2010 | PlayStation Portable |
| Dissidia: Final Fantasy Universal Tuning | November 1, 2009 |
Legendary Hits
Released on January 25, 2007, this collection is composed of five PlayStation games.| Title (followed by English title if different) | Original release date |
|---|---|
| Bushido Blade Bushido Blade Bushido blade or Kannuki may refer to:* Bushido Blade , a 1981 American film about a stolen samurai sword* Bushido Blade , a 1997 3D fighting game developed by Light Weight* Bushido Blade 2, a 1998 sequel video game... |
March 14, 1997 |
| Bushido Blade 2 Bushido Blade 2 is a fighting game published by Square, released in both Japan and North America in 1998. It is the sequel to Bushido Blade, which had been released the previous year.... |
March 19, 1998 |
| Tobal No. 1 Tobal No. 1 is a fighting game for the PlayStation developed by DreamFactory and published by Square in 1996. The game was DreamFactory's first release, as well as Square's first release on the CD-based console.... |
August 2, 1996 |
| Tobal 2 Tobal 2 is a 3D fighting game developed by Dream Factory and released by Square in Japan in 1997. It is the sequel to Tobal No. 1. Unlike the latter, Tobal 2 was not released in North America or PAL territories... |
April 25, 1997 |
| Dewprism Threads of Fate Threads of Fate, known in Japan as , is an action role-playing game for the PlayStation console developed and published by Square . The story revolves around the adventure of two characters, Mint and Rue, and a highlight of the game is that the player is able to play from the perspective of either... (Threads of Fate) |
October 10, 1999 |
Eternal Hits
The wholly owned subsidiary TaitoTaito
Taito may mean:*Taito Corporation, a Japanese developer of video game software and arcade hardware*Taito, Tokyo, a special ward located in Tokyo, Japan*Taito, also known as matai, paramount chiefs according to Fa'a Samoa...
re-released several PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable titles in its "Eternal Hits" collection.
| Title (followed by English title if different) | Original release date | Legendary Hits release date | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Densha de Go! Final | May 27, 2004 | June 28, 2007 | PlayStation 2 PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan... |
| Densha de Go! Shinkansen: Sanyō Shinkansen-hen | September 20, 2001 | ||
| Energy Airforce | September 26, 2002 | ||
| Jet de Go! 2 | March 28, 2002 | ||
| Taito Memories Gekan | August 25, 2005 | ||
| Taito Memories Joukan | July 28, 2005 | ||
| Taito Memories II Gekan | March 29, 2007 | ||
| Taito Memories II Joukan | January 25, 2007 | ||
| Chronicle of Dungeon Maker Dungeon Maker: Hunting Ground Dungeon Maker: Hunting Ground is a role-playing game from XSEED Games for the Sony PlayStation Portable. Originally released in Japan on September 28, 2006 under the title Chronicle of Dungeon Maker, it was later brought to North American audiences on June 19, 2007.-Story:In an effort to protect a... (Dungeon Maker: Hunting Ground) |
September 28, 2006 | September 27, 2007 | PlayStation Portable PlayStation Portable The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004... |
| Exit EXIT (video game) Exit is an action/puzzle video game that was developed by Moss and published by Taito for the PlayStation Portable. It was first released in Japan, on December 15, 2005, in North America on February 14, 2006, in Australia on March 30, 2006, and in Europe on March 31, 2006. A version for Xbox Live... |
December 15, 2005 | ||
| Jet de Go! Pocket | |||
| Space Invaders Extreme Space Invaders Extreme is a re-vamped incarnation of the classic arcade game Space Invaders. The DS and PSP versions were released to mark the 30th anniversary of Space Invaders which saw its original arcade release in... |
February 21, 2008 | August 30, 2009 |
External links
- "Ultimate Hits" official site at Square-Enix.co.jp
- "Legendary Hits" official site at Square-Enix.co.jp
- "Eternal Hits" official site at Taito.co.jp