January 14^th, 2004 (12:00am) - Square Enix U.S.A today announced its first release for 2004, Drakengard for the PlayStation 2. Shipping to North American retailers on March 2, 2004, Drakengard is an action-filled game based in a mysterious kingdom overflowing with the discovery of magical beasts and
mysteries.

"Drakengard is not your ordinary action game," said Jun Iwasaki, president and CEO, Square Enix U.S.A. "The unique blend of RPG-style character growth, action, and a solid story that binds it all together makes this title a perfect hybrid of genres. This style of gameplay found in Drakengard is very addicting and appeals to gamers looking for a deeper action game."

Drakengard tells a tale of love, sacrifice, obligation and bitter compromise following the struggles of a Union soldier, Caim. He comes to find the Empire, an army with unexplainable great power, has taken his sister prisoner. In order to save his only living family member, he joins souls with a dragon. Together they begin their quest to unravel the mystery behind the Empire’s sudden rise to power. They will soon discover there is a connection between the Empire, Caim’s sister, the mythical Seeds of Resurrection and the gods themselves.

Drakengard features diverse battlefields, multiple experience and growth elements based on the player’s decisions that immerse the player in an all-new gameplay experience combining fantasy, interactivity and a tragic saga. In Drakengard, players can maneuver through the game on a powerful dragon utilizing two different modes, "Aerial Combat" in which players fly high above the landscape attacking airborne enemies and "Strafe Attack" allowing a large mass of enemies to be annihilated in one blast of fire. Players also explore and battle on foot, with an assortment of powerful weaponry imbued with magic. As the game progresses, the dragon and the character’s abilities will mature and the weapon selection will increase, allowing the player to choose from more than 60 different weapons. The tragic tale is conveyed through event sequences, CG movies and through the gameplay itself. Depending on the decisions made, players will encounter different story elements, environments, enemies and endings.

Early previews of Drakengard among the enthusiast press have been very positive. The title has been named as one of Official PlayStation Magazines’ "Big Games for 2004." Drakengard also won "Best of E3 -- RPG" and was nominated "Best of E3 -- Overall" by IGNPS2.com.

Drakengard will be available at North American retailers for a suggested retail price of $39.99. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has rated Drakengard "M" for Mature.

Additional information on Drakengard can be found at http://www.square-enix-usa.com/games/drakengard”> http://www.square-enix-usa.com/games/drakengard.