Square Enix is like a member of the family for most gamers. The company has been around forever and is one of the biggest publishers and developers out there. It’s best known for its days as Square, when it made a name for itself creating some of the best RPGs ever, and has since branched out since acquiring Enix, Eidos and Taito to cover multiple genres. If you’ve been playing games for any substantial period of time, then odds are you’ve played at least one Square Enix game.

Which is why we’re looking back at the company in today’s Important Importables. We’re just briefly reviewing the company’s history, then offering up a few classic game suggestions in case you have some spare time and feel like reliving, or perhaps making, some memories.

Square Enix has recently announced that it is also planning to step up to help Japan recover after the devastating earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. Wait! Don’t go run to iTunes. I know that’s probably instinct now, after Capcom, Sega and 5pb had relief efforts that involved discounted iPhone games with proceeds going to charity. That’s not the road Square Enix is taking though…

Poor Bub and Bob. The bubbles just never stop coming and now, thanks to New Bust-a-Move, they have 80 more stages filled with bubbles to pop. Not only that, but New Bust-a-Move also includes special boss stages in each area, which will make things even more challenging for those little dinosaurs. As you can probably guess, this is the latest incarnation of the Bust-a-Move series and has been created with the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad in mind…

PopCap is expanding its influence around the world. The casual game developer announced it is bringing a new social game service called Pop Tower to Japan. PopCap will be teaming with Taito Corporation. You may know Taito as the developers of Space Invaders from the late 1970s. The company has been a property of Square Enix since 2005.

Square Enix has decided that it’s time to make one of the most amazing technological advances a bit more retro-chic, with the iPad release of Space Invaders HD. For $4.99 you can replicate the classic arcade cabinet experience. It looks practically identical to the original game, right down to the on-screen joystick and shot button.

Adding to the experience is the fact that the two player multiplayer is played the exact same it was when the game originally appeared in arcades…

After years of waiting, a new Lufia game is on the way! Famitsu has revealed that Square Enix is working on Estpolis: The Lands Cursed by the Gods for a yet undisclosed system. Don’t let the whole Estpolis thing throw you, in Japan the Lufia series goes by Estpolis. Lufia & the Fortress of Doom and Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals were called Estpolis Denki and Estpolis Denki II there.

Almost all of the previous Lufia games, except for Lufia: The Ruins of Lore, were developed by Neverland and published by Taito. Square Enix, Taito’s new owners, will be publishing Estpolis: The Lands Cursed by the Gods and since Famitsu says the original development team is back, that probably means Neverland is on the job as well.

And, that’s it for now. The official reveal of Estpolis: The Lands Cursed by the Gods will be in the November 19, 2009 issue of Famitsu. What a tease. Now we have to wait a week to learn what console it will appear on and when it will be released.

This is such fantastic news. The Super Nintendo Lufia games, Lufia and the Fortress of Doom and Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals, were classic RPGs and among the best releases for that system…

When Cooking Mama turned out to be a huge success, gamers knew that Taito and Majesco wasn’t going to let her be a one hit wonder. Sure enough, she soon became the star of a series of DS and Wii games, all focused on cooking.

Now, Taito and Majesco have decided to branch out and see how well Mama will do in other, similar situations. Could she be so charming and magnetic a figure, and the gameplay so addicting, that all sorts of spin-offs could find the same success? Gardening Mama is the first attempt to test and see just how much Mama people want…

Taito just announced that it plans to release My Pet Shop (Japanese title: Pet Shop Monogatari) for the Nintendo DS on March 10, 2009.

My Pet Shop is a simulation game that emphasizes the importance of organization, responsibility and care that is required in the raising of a multitude of pets. The game takes place in sunny, happy-go-lucky Green Town where you assist Mama/Mom (who looks like a younger version of Cooking Mama) in running the local pet shop through shopping, chores, and befriending the other people of the town.

While Taito is primarily marketing this title towards young children…

Title: Pet Shop Monogatari DSPrice: $48.90System: Nintendo DSRelease Date: July 8, 2008Publisher (Developer): Taito (Dream Age Collection)ESRB Rating: Everyone Pros: Simple controls, huge selection of pets to discover, variety of items to accessorize pets, many locations to explore, not having to clean any pet danderCons: Simple game play may become repetitive, trial and error pet catching can become frustrating, lack of ability to actually pet animalsOverall Score: One thumb up, one thumb sideways; 88/100; B+; ***1/2 out of five

With Taito’s infamous Mama making the leap from cooking (Cooking Mama) into gardening (Gardening Mama), it was only a matter of time before Mama would spread her bountiful cheerfulness and optimism into yet another game. Pet Shop Monogatari DS (PSMDS) revolves around the newly opened pet shop in Greentown where you, the player, and Mama are in charge.

Click through for the full review…