On the eve of the Digital Life expo, Square Enix (in conjunction with New York City) declared October 11, Final Fantasy Day. The company held its official launch party for the upcoming Final Fantasy XII (available on October 31 for PS2) at the Times Square Visitor Information Center.

Unusual venue notwithstanding, the event turned out better than expected. Eager fans and NYC media lobbed questions at Final Fantasy Executive Producer Akitoshi Kawazu and Square Enix President Daishiro Okada. They wrapped up the Q&A session with the FFXII game trailer, and the hundred or so people in the audience (a few decked out in full Final Fantasy regalia) watched with a quiet reverence.

One things for certain, the hype about the RPG's excellent cutscenes is well-deserved. Square Enix's developers have outdone themselves, delivering flawless animation and voice acting. It's a shame that after the cutscenes end, you're transported to the in-game graphics, which -- while attractive -- pale in comparison to the glorious movies preceding them.

Several people dressed as FFXII characters stood on stage, including one guy in a complete (and completely sweet) suit of armor. Even without a huge fanboy presence, there was still plenty of rubbernecking as baffled Times Square tourists tried to figure out why people were dressed like Renaissance Fair refugees.

After the anticipation created by today's event, it will be hard to wait two more weeks for the game's release. This will be the most mainstream-friendly Final Fantasy to date, and a simplified battle system will make this a must-try for anyone, even players who usually shy away from turn-based combat.

Look for the next Final Fantasy saga this Halloween. In the meantime, check the photos from today's event. For more info, check out our updated Final Fantasy XII preview.