People's Issue With Square Enix

[Pearwood]

The only thing more annoying than people who automatically hate any Final Fantasy beyond a certain point, usually 6 or 7, are people who refuse to acknowlege any of the many flaws with each game. FF13 is alright in my opinion but all the criticisms people make are valid; personally I think the battle system works pretty well since you get into a nice rhythm of switching paradigms but it totally sucks until the fights get hard enough for you to need that kind of precision.

 

[Thaius]

I actually like Yahtzee. He's funny, while still making some legitimate points on the games he reviews. It is unfortunate that some people take his series as the word of god, though.

Except... Most videos I've seen of his, it's painfully obvious after a little while that he hardly played the game in question. His attempts at humour are juvenile at best, his grasp on gaming is flimsy.[footnote]Why should I have to respect the site's content & contributors when one of their contributors is basically a troll, and his "content" is little more than trolling?[/footnote]

For Rah's sake, I've actually seen it spend half a review talking about how he doesn't like games from japan, the system the game is on, and a completely unrelated game. When called out on being absolutely full of shit, he proceeded to personally attack the fans of the game in an "extra punctuation" article.

Spoiler

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Wait, I'm confused - not about what you said, I understand where you're coming from - but I think I did in fact write that at some point; it fits my style and my opinion on Yahtzee, but if I did write it, it wasn't on this thread. The heck?

 

[Thaius]

Something about Final Fantasy.

THEY AREN'T CLONES.

They're different games, with different stories, with some different gameplay elements, with different experiences.

Had to quote you on this one, because it's extremely true. It's one of the most overlooked truths in gaming. Sure, the basic turn0based battle format stayed the same through IX (it's changed quite a bit from X on), but even then no one who actually knows what they're talking about can claim that the materia system is the same as the junction system from VIII, and things like that make huge differences in how the game plays.

I won't even bother agreeing in detail about the story. Anyone who can honestly claim that VI, VII, or X have the same story is simply ignorant, and there is no way around that fact. And for Final Fantasy, honestly, the story is the premiere aspect of the experience, the thing that truly makes them great games.

 

[Chibz]

His The heck?

It's more frustrating to me to see someone dismiss an entire genre based on a few bad apples (FF7), and a few trolls (Yahtzee). There are some FANTASTIC JRPGs on the market.

I'm... not sure where I got it from now either. Unfortunately I don't have the time to search out the source of that quote, as I've got to skedaddle for D&D. Later!

 

[LiberalSquirrel]

I actually like Yahtzee. He's funny, while still making some legitimate points on the games he reviews. It is unfortunate that some people take his series as the word of god, though.

Except... Most videos I've seen of his, it's painfully obvious after a little while that he hardly played the game in question. His attempts at humour are juvenile at best, his grasp on gaming is flimsy.[footnote]Why should I have to respect the site's content & contributors when one of their contributors is basically a troll, and his "content" is little more than trolling?[/footnote]

For Rah's sake, I've actually seen it spend half a review talking about how he doesn't like games from japan, the system the game is on, and a completely unrelated game. When called out on being absolutely full of shit, he proceeded to personally attack the fans of the game in an "extra punctuation" article.

Spoiler

041809160004181516$$001912090305000114040003081516$$0003080119050020080500180102020920$$000815160008151600081516$$001821140001230125$$000900041514200003011805$$00090023091212000609140400251521000114252308051805

Wait, I'm confused - not about what you said, I understand where you're coming from - but I think I did in fact write that at some point; it fits my style and my opinion on Yahtzee, but if I did write it, it wasn't on this thread. The heck?

I dunno how, but he/she/it quoted you on something that I wrote on this thread. I was a bit weirded out too.

 

[Stammer]

I can get how Kane and Lynch 2 would suck, but I get the feeling that most of that hate comes from people who don't understand the point of JRPG's. They make great games. If you don't like it, piss off and go away. They've had some issues this year, and sure, 14 isn't going too well but it's a work in progress. WoW wasn't made in a fucking day.

Point is, why do people complain about them? It's the one thing that irritates me about Yahtzee and IGN and Gamespot and all of those gaming sites based in America or otherwise.

People are mad at Square-Enix because they used to make all of their favourite games. Nowadays they spend a lot of effort to make games that are barely entertaining at all. And the major reason for that is because they've really lost what it means to make good games. In their offices they have no communication between branches. They're not even allowed to talk to one another. And worst of all they don't listen to their fans. Fans want X, but Square-Enix wants Y, so Square-Enix uses Y and the fans get the shaft.

You're right, World of Warcrap wasn't polished in a day. But in a world where WoW is the king supreme among MMORPG's you need to have something to draw an audience in. Why would anyone play a completely unfinished game when there are plenty of finished games out there? When WoW came out there weren't many truly complete MMO's out there so they didn't have a lot of competition. Final Fantasy XIV has a lot of competition.

Releasing a buggy, un-beta-tested, unfinished game with 90% of your game mechanics wholly incomplete is NOT going to get you an audience. Especially when you're charging $20 per month.

Compare Final Fantasy XIV to the not-yet-released Guild Wars 2. Those guys down at NC-Soft are doing everything they can to ensure their game is not only "ready" when it's released, but that it's competent enough to stand on its own and maybe draw an audience. The key isn't to make WoW, because WoW already exists. The key is to make a game that will get you OTHER players.

Square-Enix dug themselves a hole, but it's not too late to climb out of it yet.

 

[SamtheDeathclaw]

I like them. *shrug* I've never played the Kane and Lynch games, so I can't ***** about them, and I personally enjoyed Final Fantasy XIII. But then, I bothered to play all the way though. But everyone's entitled to their own opinions.

 

[Thaius]

I actually like Yahtzee. He's funny, while still making some legitimate points on the games he reviews. It is unfortunate that some people take his series as the word of god, though.

Except... Most videos I've seen of his, it's painfully obvious after a little while that he hardly played the game in question. His attempts at humour are juvenile at best, his grasp on gaming is flimsy.[footnote]Why should I have to respect the site's content & contributors when one of their contributors is basically a troll, and his "content" is little more than trolling?[/footnote]

For Rah's sake, I've actually seen it spend half a review talking about how he doesn't like games from japan, the system the game is on, and a completely unrelated game. When called out on being absolutely full of shit, he proceeded to personally attack the fans of the game in an "extra punctuation" article.

Spoiler

041809160004181516$$001912090305000114040003081516$$0003080119050020080500180102020920$$000815160008151600081516$$001821140001230125$$000900041514200003011805$$00090023091212000609140400251521000114252308051805

Wait, I'm confused - not about what you said, I understand where you're coming from - but I think I did in fact write that at some point; it fits my style and my opinion on Yahtzee, but if I did write it, it wasn't on this thread. The heck?

I dunno how, but he/she/it quoted you on something that I wrote on this thread. I was a bit weirded out too.

Oh, okay. That did seem like something I would write, and I've written similar things before, but I hadn't on this thread, so... I was confused. And I still am, just differently. Well then, all credit goes to you. We seem to think similarly.

 

[Judgement101]

I just hate their numberings

FFI
FFII
FFIII
FFIV
FFV
FFVI
FFVII
FFVIII
FFIX
FFX
FFX2(XX?)
FFXI
FFXII
FFXIII
FFXIII2(XIIIXIII?)
Also don't forget the others!
FF:T
FF:CB
FF:Herp
FFerp(I am aware that these aren't the names, I know I am missing a few so these are fillers)

 

[Nathan Allison]

I hated Final Fantasy X
I loved Final Fantasy X-2

Crazy? No. I can see what actually makes a game good. X-2 had great combat system, fun characters and highly replayable with the New Game+
The combat system was fast, but deep, by far the best combat mechanics in any FF game. The mechanics can be abused and turn to game on easy mode, but really, what RPG doesn't have that flaw? I just avoid using Dark Knight + Alchemist combo as much as I can.
Although it's not winning any awards with it's story and has probably the biggest plot holes I've seen. The characters Yuna, Rikku and Paine are great! They get well developed and overall fun. When Yuna is forced to fight Dark Bahamut, it was a sad emotional fight, I felt sorry for Yuna. Yet, Hopes mom dies, I watched her die and I couldn't careless. Even the minor villain in X-2, LeBlanc, was fun. She's a *****, but that is what made her awesome. Every freaking FF villains are dark-depressed evil motives greedy brainwashed stereotypes.

Square Enix is going back to basics, which is exactly the problem. Paine from FFX-2 has a better character structure than Lightning, her motives are clear and you feel for her from what she went through in the past, thus making her a better character. Lightning is based off of Cloud, yet, she's not lovable.

The point is, if we keep telling Square Enix that we hate this X game, their going to stop trying new things. Which is one reason why their in this rut now.

People hate Square Enix because they are ruining their own series, which is a shame, partly because it's the gamers fault.

 

[Vykrel]

i just dont like their games. i understand Final Fantasy is a japanese series, but its just so freaking weird and the characters are annoying as hell. i know several people that like the series, but even they were pretty unsatisfied with FF13.

while playing it, though, my brother and my friend both said something along the lines of "It gets better around 15 hours..."

thats not a good thing.

i will say that i did enjoy watching my brother play FF10 when i was younger. the battles were somewhat entertaining to watch (and the first cutscene was awesome, which helps), but when i tried playing the game, i was bored as hell. FF is actually my least favorite video game franchise.


as for Kane and Lynch, it just has gameplay issues. the gunplay is shitty, as are the movements, and really all the controls in general. but i like what they were going for.



id say the best thing that Square Enix has ever had anything to do with at all would have to be Just Cause 2. incredibly fun game

 

[LiberalSquirrel]

Oh, okay. That did seem like something I would write, and I've written similar things before, but I hadn't on this thread, so... I was confused. And I still am, just differently. Well then, all credit goes to you. We seem to think similarly.

Don't blame you for the confusion, I was/am pretty confused too.

...But I am perfectly okay with thinking like someone with a Sokka avatar.

 

[ultimateownage]

What's with being this defensive about Square Enix? Do you get personally offended when someone criticises them?

They suck, therefore people criticise and complain about them. You may think it's a sad waste of life, but that's where you can buzz off or try to refute the arguments people put forth.

It's not that I get personally offended, but people don't give a good reason to complain. People didn't complain when Just Cause 2 came out but they'll go straight to insult them with their JRPGs.

That's because Just Cause 2 was good.
When people don't like their games, they complain. When they're good, they don't complain. I don't see why you think everyone's going out of there way to attack Square Enix.

 

[Nanaki316]

I don't give a shit what people say about Square Enix. I love them, I love their games. If no one else does that's fine. No one can like everything 100% of the time, and loads of people will hate stuff that you love. It's just a fact of life.
I don't really get the hate either, but I rise above it.

 

[gandhi the peacemake]

Blimey, the past few threads to pop up here have been intriguing to the point that I finally decided to create an account.

Anyway, I have to wonder if the OP's just butt-hurt, trolling, or has a serious complaint. So people hate Square, some for less rational reasons than others. Worse things have happened... like Final Fantasy XIII being made, for example. Badumtish.

I'm sure others have already mentioned this, but much of the hate on Current Square stems from such a love for Past Square. Past Square made masterpieces. Current Square makes Advent Children and Final Fantasy XIII. No matter how you feel about either of them, there's no denying that they will never be the classics that the older games managed to become.

I say "Final Fantasy VI" and different people everywhere will remember different parts of the game that endeared them to it. I say "Final Fantasy XIII" and half of those same people will remember a boring, boring, exceedingly boring game.

 

[Thaius]

Oh, okay. That did seem like something I would write, and I've written similar things before, but I hadn't on this thread, so... I was confused. And I still am, just differently. Well then, all credit goes to you. We seem to think similarly.

Don't blame you for the confusion, I was/am pretty confused too.

...But I am perfectly okay with thinking like someone with a Sokka avatar.

And I have no problem with thinking like someone who recognizes and appreciates a Sokka avatar. Flameo, hotman!

 

[Phoenix_XIII]

Blimey, the past few threads to pop up here have been intriguing to the point that I finally decided to create an account.

Anyway, I have to wonder if the OP's just butt-hurt, trolling, or has a serious complaint. So people hate Square, some for less rational reasons than others. Worse things have happened... like Final Fantasy XIII being made, for example. Badumtish.

I'm sure others have already mentioned this, but much of the hate on Current Square stems from such a love for Past Square. Past Square made masterpieces. Current Square makes Advent Children and Final Fantasy XIII. No matter how you feel about either of them, there's no denying that they will never be the classics that the older games managed to become.

I say "Final Fantasy VI" and different people everywhere will remember different parts of the game that endeared them to it. I say "Final Fantasy XIII" and half of those same people will remember a boring, boring, exceedingly boring game.

Serious complaint. And another thing, welcome to The Escapist community, friend!

 

[espressojet]

Personally i love Square Enix...it's just... they should REALLY stick to what worked before all their games became crap [sometime after FFX]

 

[JasonKaotic]

Well my reason isn't everyone else's, but I dislike Enix for, in my opinion, ruining Final Fantasy. But that's just me.
They were great when they were just Square. But I've hated every Final Fantasy made by Square Enix.

 

[Inkidu]

Ever since Square merged with Enix they've been on the downhill side. JRPGs as big console properties is going away in general. I think their future is in the hand-held market. I haven't really liked anything that Square-Enix has produced for consoles (The World Ends with you was okay, but I was unable to finish it. See hand-helds.)

Final Fantasy 13 their most-recent game was a total lobotomy of JRPGs in general. I think Yahtzee said it best, "The story and gameplay of JRPGs are separated by a wrought-iron gate, made of tigers."

When I look at Square-Enix now I don't say, "Oh, new Final Fantasy" I say, "What awesomeness is Eidos giving us now!"

I don't know, maybe I've been spoiled by immersion and having choices other than what my character goes into battle wielding. Actually, I think that high-end cut-scenes are hurting console JRPGs. They detract from the narrative, because they usually don't explain anything and focus on being pretty. However, I'm also getting really cynical and jaded about the whole Japanese market.