Videogame Industry's First True 3D Fighter to Debut on PlayStation Game Console; Sony Computer Entertainment America Joins Forces with Square for Tobal No. 1

Business Wire, Nov 8, 1996

FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 8, 1996--Further asserting dominance in the next-generation videogame industry for its breadth and depth of software titles, Sony Computer Entertainment America has teamed up with Squaresoft to introduce a true 3D fighting game, Tobal No. 1, available exclusively for the PlayStation game console.

While Square is well known for its best-selling and ground-breaking role-playing games (RPGs), Tobal No. 1 marks the company's first venture into the "fighting" arena. Dream Factory, the top-rated development team, and world renowned anime artist, Akira Toriyama (creator of Dragon Ball Z and Chrono Trigger) were brought together to bring Tobal No. 1 to life.

Featuring a Battle System with full 360 degree movement, Tobal No. 1 allows gamers to have absolute control within a 3D environment, offering a full range of motions and the ability to attack your opponents from all angles. All character movements utilize fully, motion-captured animation running at a solid 60 frames-per-second, resulting in fluid gameplay with incredibly realistic controls and profound speed.

"Having Squaresoft bring their development expertise to the PlayStation certainly validates our position within the industry," said Peter Dille, senior director, product marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "The combination of Tobal No. 1 packed with a Final Fantasy VII interactive sampler disc will be a tremendously compelling product and a huge success."

The game is set on the planet Tobal in the year 2048, where agile humans and monstrous alien life forms gather together in a winner-takes-all fighting competition sponsored and judged by the King. Fighters compete in an arena where brute strength is pitted against savage skills -- all looking to become the greatest fighter in the universe.

Tobal No. 1 features a complex and very unique Grappling Technique which gives a whole new meaning to hand-to-hand combat. Instead of the standard grab and throw technique used in other fighters, gamers can hold onto their opponents and deliver head-butts, knee bashes or toss their opponents aside. There are eight characters to choose from, three bosses and three different modes of play: Tournament Mode, Vs. (the computer) mode and a Quest Mode.

"The new Quest Mode takes Tobal No. 1 beyond the traditional platform fighting games," added Dille. "This innovative and original feature plays like a fighting RPG and opens hidden areas and characters for a whole new challenge. It allows gamers to move through five dungeon-like mazes, battling enemies designed specifically for this mode and in full fighting-game style. This innovative, never-attempted feature places Tobal No. 1 in a genre all of its own."

Squaresoft Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Square Co. Ltd., in Japan, is headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif. A high quality RPG game developer and publisher in North America since 1989, Square is currently developing multiple titles for the PlayStation game console.

Sony Computer Entertainment America, a division of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc., is based in Foster City, Calif. The company markets the PlayStation game console for distribution in North America, publishes software for the PlayStation game console for the North American market, and manages the U.S. third party licensing program. Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America.

Visit us on the Web at http://www.sony.com.

CONTACT: Sony Computer Entertainment America

Molly Smith, 415/655-6044

or

Fleishman-Hillard Inc.

Samantha Sackin, 213/489-8250