List of Square Enix companion books

Seven thick large paperback books, each with different Japanese writing on the binding, wrapped in plastic, sitting on a shelf in a row
Various Ultimania books at a Books Kinokuniya in San Francisco, California

Dozens of Square Enix companion books have been produced since 1998, when video game developer Square began to produce books that focused on artwork, developer interviews, and background information on the fictional worlds and characters in its games rather than on gameplay details.[1][2] The first series of these books was the Perfect Works series, written and published by Square subsidiary DigiCube. They produced three books between 1998 and 1999 before the line was stopped in favor of the Ultimania (アルティマニア Arutimania) series, a portmanteau of ultimate and mania.[3] This series of books is written by Studio BentStuff, which had previously written game guides for Square for Final Fantasy VII. They were published by DigiCube until the company was dissolved in 2003. Square merged with video game publisher Enix on April 1, 2003 to form Square Enix,[4] which resumed publication of the companion books.

Both the Perfect Works and Ultimania books have focused primarily on Square and Square Enix's role-playing video game franchises, such as the Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts series; over 45 of the 70 books are for games related to the Final Fantasy series. Sometimes, multiple books have been written per game or revised editions have been published years afterwards. One of the books, Final Fantasy IX Ultimania Online, was solely published online as part of an experiment by Square Enix with online content delivery; another for Final Fantasy XI was planned, but the idea was abandoned as unsuccessful and all subsequent books have been published traditionally.[5][6] The Ultimania series had sold over 10 million books by July 2007.[7]

Perfect Works

Title Game Date ISBN Ref.
Xenogears Perfect Works Xenogears October 10, 1998 ISBN 978-4-9250-7532-9 [8]
SaGa Frontier II Perfect Works SaGa Frontier 2 July 15, 1999 ISBN 978-4-9250-7554-1 [9]
Front Mission 3 Perfect Works Front Mission 3 November 20, 1999 ISBN 978-4-9250-7566-4 [10]

Ultimania

Title Game Date ISBN Ref.
Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania Final Fantasy VIII March 31, 1999 ISBN 978-4-9250-7549-7 [11]
SaGa Frontier II Ultimania SaGa Frontier 2 June 18, 1999 ISBN 978-4-9250-7553-4 [12]
Legend of Mana Ultimania Legend of Mana September 30, 1999 ISBN 978-4-9250-7564-0 [13]
Chrono Cross Ultimania Chrono Cross January 27, 2000 ISBN 978-4-9250-7573-2 [14]
Vagrant Story Ultimania Vagrant Story April 13, 2000 ISBN 978-4-9250-7575-6 [15]
Final Fantasy IX Online Ultimania Final Fantasy IX December 29, 2000 Internet-only [5]
Final Fantasy X Scenario Ultimania Final Fantasy X September 14, 2001 ISBN 978-4-8878-7010-9 [16]
Final Fantasy X Battle Ultimania Final Fantasy X September 14, 2001 ISBN 978-4-8878-7011-6 [17]
Final Fantasy X Ultimania Ω Final Fantasy X January 31, 2002 ISBN 978-4-8878-7021-5 [18]
Final Fantasy IX Ultimania Final Fantasy IX February 28, 2002 ISBN 978-4-8878-7025-3 [19]
Kingdom Hearts Ultimania Kingdom Hearts June 13, 2002 ISBN 978-4-8878-7042-0 [20]
Kingdom Hearts Ultimania Revised Edition Kingdom Hearts January 9, 2003 ISBN 978-4-8878-7090-1 [21]
Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania Final Fantasy X-2 May 31, 2003 ISBN 978-4-8878-7126-7 [22]
Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania Ω Final Fantasy X-2 February 13, 2004 ISBN 978-4-7575-1161-3 [23]
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles World Ultimania Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles March 19, 2004 ISBN 978-4-7575-1162-0 [23]
Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania Final Fantasy X-2 April 16, 2004 ISBN 978-4-7575-1205-4 [22]
Final Fantasy X-2 International+Last Mission Ultimania Final Fantasy X-2 International+Last Mission April 16, 2004 ISBN 978-4-7575-1163-7 [23]
Final Fantasy X Scenario Ultimania Final Fantasy X May 28, 2004 ISBN 978-4-7575-1215-3 [16]
Final Fantasy X Battle Ultimania Final Fantasy X May 28, 2004 ISBN 978-4-7575-1216-0 [17]
Final Fantasy X Ultimania Ω Final Fantasy X May 28, 2004 ISBN 978-4-7575-1214-6 [18]
Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania Final Fantasy VIII June 25, 2004 ISBN 978-4-7575-1243-6 [23]
Final Fantasy IX Ultimania Final Fantasy IX June 25, 2004 ISBN 978-4-7575-1244-3 [23]
Chrono Cross Ultimania Chrono Cross July 30, 2004 ISBN 978-4-7575-1249-8 [23]
Seiken Densetsu: Legend of Mana Legend of Mana July 30, 2004 ISBN 978-4-7575-1250-4 [23]
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories Ultimania Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories December 17, 2004 ISBN 978-4-7575-1344-0 [23]
Kingdom Hearts Ultimania Revised Edition Kingdom Hearts December 17, 2004 ISBN 978-4-7575-1349-5 [23]
Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Ultimania Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song July 15, 2005 ISBN 978-4-7575-1487-4 [23]
Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Ω Final Fantasy VII September 9, 2005 ISBN 978-4-7575-1520-8 [23]
Kingdom Hearts Series Ultimania α ~Introduction of Kingdom Hearts II~ Kingdom Hearts December 9, 2005 ISBN 978-4-7575-1597-0 [23]
Kingdom Hearts II Ultimania Kingdom Hearts II February 23, 2006 ISBN 978-4-7575-1621-2 [23]
Final Fantasy XII Scenario Ultimania Final Fantasy XII June 16, 2006 ISBN 978-4-7575-1696-0 [23]
Final Fantasy XII Battle Ultimania Final Fantasy XII June 16, 2006 ISBN 978-4-7575-1697-7 [23]
SaGa Frontier II Ultimania SaGa Frontier 2 July 20, 2006 ISBN 978-4-7575-1733-2 [23]
Vagrant Story Ultimania Vagrant Story July 20, 2006 ISBN 978-4-7575-1734-9 [23]
Final Fantasy XII Ultimania Ω Final Fantasy XII November 24, 2006 ISBN 978-4-7575-1821-6 [23]
Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+ Ultimania Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+ May 2, 2007 ISBN 978-4-7575-2013-4 [23]
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings Ultimania Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings June 14, 2007 ISBN 978-4-7575-2024-0 [23]
Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job System Ultimania Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job System September 6, 2007 ISBN 978-4-7575-2100-1 [23]
Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Ultimania Final Fantasy VII September 13, 2007 Part of the Final Fantasy VII Potion box set [24]
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII October 18, 2007 ISBN 978-4-7575-2126-1 [23]
Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania File 1: Character Final Fantasy series January 31, 2008 ISBN 978-4-7575-2206-0 [23]
Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania File 2: Scenario Final Fantasy series April 10, 2008 ISBN 978-4-7575-2251-0 [23]
Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania File 3: Battle Final Fantasy series June 19, 2008 ISBN 978-4-7575-2320-3 [23]
Dissidia Final Fantasy Ultimania α Dissidia Final Fantasy December 4, 2008 ISBN 978-4-7575-2466-8 [23]
Chrono Trigger Ultimania Chrono Trigger January 20, 2009 ISBN 978-4-7575-2469-9 [23]
Dissidia Final Fantasy Ultimania Dissidia Final Fantasy January 29, 2009 ISBN 978-4-7575-2488-0 [23]
Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Ultimania Revised Edition Final Fantasy VII April 16, 2009 ISBN 978-4-7575-2560-3 [23]
Final Fantasy XI Story Ultimania Ver.090409 Final Fantasy XI June 11, 2009 ISBN 978-4-7575-2507-8 [23]
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days Ultimania Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days June 25, 2009 ISBN 978-4-7575-2578-8 [23]
Final Fantasy XIII Scenario Ultimania Final Fantasy XIII January 28, 2010 ISBN 978-4-7575-2775-1 [23]
Final Fantasy XIII Battle Ultimania Final Fantasy XIII January 28, 2010 ISBN 978-4-7575-2776-8 [23]
Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep Ultimania Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep March 25, 2010 ISBN 978-4-7575-2788-1 [23]
Final Fantasy XIII Ultimania Ω Final Fantasy XIII September 30, 2010 ISBN 978-4-7575-2958-8 [23]
Kingdom Hearts Re:coded Ultimania Kingdom Hearts Re:coded November 4, 2010 ISBN 978-4-7575-3050-8 [23]
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Ultimania Action Side Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy March 10, 2011 ISBN 978-4-7575-3161-1 [25]
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Ultimania RPG Side Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy March 31, 2011 ISBN 978-4-7575-3162-8 [26]
Final Fantasy Type-0 Ultimania Final Fantasy Type-0 November 30, 2011 ISBN 978-4-7575-3432-2 [23]
Final Fantasy XIII-2 Scenario Ultimania Final Fantasy XIII-2 January 31, 2012 ISBN 978-4-7575-3496-4 [23]
Final Fantasy XIII-2 Battle Ultimania Final Fantasy XIII-2 January 31, 2012 ISBN 978-4-7575-3497-1 [23]
Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] Ultimania Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance May 1, 2012 ISBN 978-4-7575-3615-9 [23]
Final Fantasy XIII-2 Ultimania Ω Final Fantasy XIII-2 June 21, 2012 ISBN 978-4-7575-3619-7 [23]
Final Fantasy 25th Memorial Ultimania Volume 1 Final Fantasy series December 18, 2012 ISBN 978-4-7575-3769-9 [23]
Final Fantasy 25th Memorial Ultimania Volume 2 Final Fantasy series December 18, 2012 ISBN 978-4-7575-3770-5 [23]
Final Fantasy 25th Memorial Ultimania Volume 3 Final Fantasy series December 18, 2012 ISBN 978-4-7575-3771-2 [23]
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Ultimania Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII December 19, 2013 ISBN 978-4-7575-4158-0 [23]
Final Fantasy X HD Remaster Ultimania Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster December 26, 2013 ISBN 978-4-7575-4159-7 [23]
Final Fantasy X-2 HD Remaster Ultimania Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster January 30, 2014 ISBN 978-4-7575-4160-3 [23]
Kingdom Hearts Series Memorial Ultimania Kingdom Hearts Series October 2, 2014 ISBN 978-4-7575-4384-3 [23]

References

  1. ↑ "Final Fantasy X Ultimania Guide". IGN. 2001-08-20. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  2. ↑ Ashcraft, Brian (2009-04-01). "Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Book Getting Revision". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2011-03-03. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  3. ↑ Studio BentStuff, ed. (1999-03-31). Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania (in Japanese). DigiCube. p. 3. ISBN 978-4-925075-49-7.
  4. ↑ "Consolidated Financial Results for the Six Months Ended September 30, 2004" (PDF). Square Enix. 2004-11-18. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2006-05-06. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
  5. 1 2 "Ultimania シリーズ［6］" (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  6. ↑ "Final Fantasy XI Playtest". IGN. 2002-04-05. p. 3. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  7. ↑ アルティマニアシリーズの累計発行部数が1,000万部を突破！ (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. 2007-12-29. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  8. ↑ "Xenogears Perfect Works the Real thing―スクウェア公式ゼノギアス設定資料集 [ペーパーバック]" (in Japanese). Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-03-02.
  9. ↑ "スクウェア公式 サガフロンティア2設定資料集 [大型本]" (in Japanese). Amazon.com. ISBN 4925075543.
  10. ↑ "front mission 3 Perfect Works―スクウェア公式フロントミッションサード設定資料集 [大型本]" (in Japanese). Amazon.com. ISBN 4925075667.
  11. ↑ "Ultimania シリーズ［1］" (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  12. ↑ "Ultimania シリーズ［2］" (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  13. ↑ "Ultimania シリーズ［3］" (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  14. ↑ "Ultimania シリーズ［4］" (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  15. ↑ "Ultimania シリーズ［5］" (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  16. 1 2 "Ultimania シリーズ［7］" (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  17. 1 2 "Ultimania シリーズ［8］" (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  18. 1 2 "Ultimania シリーズ［9］" (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  19. ↑ "Ultimania シリーズ［10］" (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  20. ↑ "Ultimania シリーズ［11］" (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  21. ↑ "Ultimania シリーズ［12］" (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  22. 1 2 "Ultimania シリーズ［13］" (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 "アルティマニアシリーズ　公式ページ | Square Enix Game Books Online" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  24. ↑ "大判でフルカラー208ページの豪華仕様！「ファイナルファンタジーVII 10thアニバーサリー アルティマニア」" (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. 2007-07-31. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  25. ↑ "「ディシディア デュオデシム ファイナルファンタジーアルティマニア -アクションSIDE-」3月10日発売！" (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  26. ↑ "「ディシディア デュオデシム ファイナルファンタジーアルティマニア -RPG SIDE-」DLCコード付きで3月31日発売！" (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. 2011-03-25. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
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