Guardian Cross

Guardian Cross (ガーディアンクルス, Gādian Kurusu) is a smartphone game for iOS and Android, created by Square Enix. It was released on September 13, 2012 for iOS, and on August 5, 2013 for Android. In it, the player captures creatures to form a deck of cards that they use to battle human and computer opponents. Battles take place as turn-based matches on the device, while capturing creatures is a first person shooter mini-game. Although reviews were not complimentary towards the game, it sold well. The multiplayer servers for the game were shut down on January 10, 2017.

Guardian Cross
Developer(s)Square Enix
Publisher(s)Square Enix
Producer(s)Shinichi Tatsuke
Designer(s)Hiroyuki Ito
Artist(s)Ryoma Ito
Composer(s)Naoshi Mizuta
Platform(s)iOS, Android
ReleaseiOS
  • WW: September 13, 2012
Android
  • WW: August 5, 2013
Genre(s)Card Game, role-playing game
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer

Gameplay

The player is given the job of capturing creatures, or "Guardians," many of which take their names from characters in works of high-caliber literature and classic mythologies from around the world, to become part of their deck from a selection of potentially hundreds of cards to unleash upon computer and human opponents.[1] The game features two modes of play; turn based card game against a single opponent, and a first person shooter mini-game to track and subdue Guardians for recruitment.[2] The game also has online multiplayer modes where players can battle and trade cards with players worldwide.

Plot

Players assume the role of two Guardian masters named Bran and Athran, who serve the Empress of the land of Northern Cross.[3] Using a magical rifle, the player must tame Guardians, train them, and use them in battles with both human and computer opponents.[4] Players use their Guardians to go on quests to uncover why the Guardians have awakened from a thousand-year dormancy.[2]

Development

The concept of Guardian Cross was created by Active Time Battle designer and Square Enix director Hiroyuki Ito.[4][5] Producer Shinichi Tatsuke at first tasked Ito with the creation of a battle system for a new game. However, the plan changed and Tatsuke then told him he had a different project in mind. The producer now requested a concept for a social game which he felt was an interesting opportunity to have Ito work on, given his experience with simple Nintendo Entertainment System game systems.[6] The development team that implemented this concept to Guardian Cross was previously responsible for Knights of the Crystals.[7] The director of the card illustrations was Ryoma Ito, who had previously served as the character designer of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift.[8] The character designs of Guardian Cross were done by Akira Oguro, who had previously served as the character designer of Final Fantasy Dimensions.[8] The composer was Naoshi Mizuta, who had previously served as the composer of Final Fantasy XI.[8]

In January 2012, Square Enix registered a trademark for the title Guardian Cross.[9] In February 2012 it was revealed to be registered to Square's download games division and was announced first for iOS and later for Android mobile operating systems.[9] It was to be released in the Spring, in both English and Japanese.[9] After being delayed, the game was shown at E3 in June 2012 as part of Square Enix's upcoming games for iOS.[10] The game was eventually released on September 13, 2012 and is the first Free-to-play game released on iOS by Square Enix.[11]

During the original launch of the game, as a cross promotion with their MMORPG games Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV, rare cards depicting monsters from both games could be earned by sending invitations to friends to join Guardian Cross.[3] Another cross promotion done from 20 December 2012 until 7 January 2013. It allowed players to fight and capture the four Elemental Archfiends of Final Fantasy IV.[12] A special coliseum became available from 26 December 2012 until 31 December 2012. It allowed players to capture Golbez.[13] Cross promotion done again from March 26, 2013 until 16 April 2013. It allowed players to fight and capture the "super bosses" of Final Fantasy V.[14] Another opportunity to obtain the Final Fantasy V cards and some additional cards from the game, such as Gilgamesh, was provided from 10 July 2013 until 15 July 2013.[15] Cross promotion was done again from August 26, 2013 until September 30, 2013. It allowed players to fight and capture the primals of Eorzea from Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.[16]

Reception

Pocket Gamer awarded the game a 5 out of ten, calling it "boring", and noting that without the use of in app purchases, players had to wait to play the single player game, and would not be able to access powerful enough cards to be competitive in the multiplayer matches.[17] However, Modojo awarded the game 4 out of 5, calling it, "A highly polished card battler, with some fresh gameplay twists."[18]

Sales

Square Enix stated that they are "very happy" with community reaction to the game and its pricing model.[11] The Guardian listed the game among its Top 20 mobile games of the week, noting Square Enix's many attempts in 2012 to experiment with different game genres on mobile platforms.[19] Guardian Cross was in the top 100 highest-grossing games, and the top 150 free games in the iTunes App Store.[3] The game was the only Square Enix game in the top 200 top-grossing applications in the iTunes App store in October 2012.[11] In December 2012, the game crossed the 1 million downloads mark on iTunes, making it the most downloaded original title that Square Enix has ever released on iOS.

gollark: B L O R P !
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gollark: Its fusion reactors are very underpowered!
gollark: My creative test world is now powered by a completely overkill reactor from NuclearCraft which with MOX-239 runs at about 1.5MRF/t.
gollark: Nothing could possibly go wrong!

References
  1. Lucas M. Thomas (2012-09-13). "App Store Update: September 13". IGN. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  2. Gilmour, James (2012-09-13). "Final Fantasy-inspired card-based RPG Guardian Cross shows its hand". Pocket RPG. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  3. Davison, Peter (2012-02-27). "Square Enix jumps aboard the card-battling bandwagon with Guardian Cross". Inside Mobile Apps .com. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  4. Spencer (2012-09-13). "The Man Who Created Final Fantasy's ATB Battle System Made An iOS Card Game". Siliconera. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  5. "GUARDIAN CROSS Available on Android". Square Enix. 5 August 2013.
  6. "【徹底ガイド】人と魔獣があやなす"深化"を遂げたカードバトル『ガーディアン・クルス』" (in Japanese). Famitsu. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  7. North, Dale (2012-02-24). "Square Enix's card battle game Guardian Cross for iOS". Destructoid. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  8. "OS向けカードバトルRPG「ガーディアン・クルス」の配信が本日スタート。 魔獣ガーディアンを捕らえて育成し，最強チームの結成を目指せ" (in Japanese). 4gamer. 21 June 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  9. Ishaan (2012-02-24). "The Mystery Of Square Enix's "Guardian Cross" Has Been Solved". Siliconera. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  10. IGN's E3 Strike Team (2012-06-01). "E3 2012: The Big Games List". IGN. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  11. Schreier, Jason (2012-10-09). "Square Enix Defends The Surprisingly High Pricing of Their iOS/Android Games". Kotaku. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  12. "★★★Limited Event★★★ The four Elemental Archfiends, those most vile servants of Golbez, have descended in the form of Guardians. Hunt them all and harness their powers before their sojourn in Northern Cross comes to an end!". Square Enix. 21 December 2013.
  13. "★★★Special Coliseum★★★ The worlds of FINAL FANTASY IV and Guardian Cross have collided, and as the four Elemental Archfiends continue to spread terror throughout Northern Cross, their dark master now descends upon the Coliseum!". Square Enix. 26 December 2013.
  14. "★★★Limited Event★★★ A quartet of FINAL FANTASY V's nastiest bosses have found their way to Northern Cross! They'll only be lurking for a limited time, so hurry over to Deadmoon Desert before its too late!". Square Enix. 26 March 2013.
  15. "★★★Limited Event★★★ FINAL FANTASY V's nastiest bosses have found their way to Northern Cross once more! They'll only be lurking for a limited time, so hurry over to Deadmoon Desert before its too late!". Square Enix. 11 July 2013.
  16. "★★★Limited Hunt★★★ FFXIV limited-time event now underway for both iOS and Android versions!!". Square Enix. 26 August 2013.
  17. Mundy, Jon (2012-09-26). "Guardian Cross". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  18. Bedford, John (17 September 2012). "Guardian Cross iPad Review". Modojo. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  19. Dredge, Stuart (2012-09-20). "20 Best iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows Phone games this week". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
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