Square-Enix Isn't Sure Where to Take Final Fantasy

[Sinbeans]

I might be alone on this one, but I loved the combat in FF12. I hate the rpg convention of magically teleporting to a weird battle dimension for every random encounter. The combat system in that game was fluid, easy to comprehend, and still a challenge (unlike the ridiculous 20 hour tutorial in 13.)

That said, I still love the other games. FF9 comes in as a close second favorite for me.

I would like to see some changes. Considering the level of interactivity in most current gen games, Final Fantasy has some catching up to do when it comes to including the gamer. I hope that's the sort of changes their talking about. Fifteen minute epic cutscenes just don't do it for me anymore.

 

[SpaceMedarotterX]

A Megatron said to Tarantulas "I will suffer your trechery Liutenant, BUT NOT YOUR INCOMPETENCE!"

Yoichi Wada is quite possibly the stupidest C.E.O. in the world, no wonder the people who actually make the games hate his guts.

you can't think of ANYWHERE for the Final Fantasy Franchise to go? really I wonder why that is... maybe because you were the head of Enix which made Dragon Quest which didn't 'Innovate' for 7 fucking installments! You can't think of anywhere to go because you are creativly bankrupt and a fool.

Final Fantasy USED to be about trying out new systems and finding what works, if it didn't work you did something else and if it did really well it set the benchmark.

You could have done that with XII, you could have set the standard but you didn't because of executive medelling.

And yet you can't think of anywhere to go but Nomura is going "Okay how about a fantasy set in modern reality mixed with medieval sensibilities using an action combat system that's trying to be impressive like DMC. Drawing on Shakespear as insperation?"

You know? maybe the problem isn't you don't know where to go it's that you keep giving Toriyama games when he never directed a good game in his life.

God Kitase and Nomura are most likely going to be in Mistwalker or there own studio by the time Versus is done.

Tl;DR? Wada is an incompetent.

 

[Korten12]

This game would have been more enjoyable if it wasn't a 38-hour movie/tutorial. In my opinion, the future FF games would need to be more action-oriented, because waiting for a bar to fill to do an attack sucks. I kinda liked FFXII's movement in battle thing. Now, get rid of the waiting bar (unless an attack skill/spell was used, then those would have individual cooldown times) and implement auto-attacking...

This is sounding a lot like an MMORPG, or a Japanized Dragon Age. Still, adapting is an awesome thing.

FFX had no waiting bar, just sayin'.
Plus the whole MMO combat thing is WAY overused. FFX's was my favorite it allowed you to think and plan while not having to wait if you've already decided. Plus that games characters and story pull me in immensly. I don't care if it's linear just please, make a as emotionly driving and well rounded characters as FFX.

yeah... FFX was amazing... I need to play it again...

 

['-_-]

How about down the toilet bowl?

 

[Kelethor]

Well, I hate to say it kids, but it's time...*Loads a shell into the shotgun* Everyone look away, you'll only be hurting yourselves.

 

[UberNoodle]

I think a large factor is that it was multiplatform - not in terms of quality or such, but that butt gurt gamers then decided that they had to crucify the game that had 'betrayed' them.

 

[viranimus]

"Should Final Fantasy become a new type of the game or should Final Fantasy not become a new type of game? The customers have different opinions. It's very difficult to determine which way it should go."

I love this ideology. FFXIII in the US outsold copies in Japan within 2 days. Seriously. SE knows full well that arguably the largest bulk of their audience comes from the north american region, So how is it even a point of contention? How many industries can purposely ignore the requests of their customer base and continue to prosper?

Now to each their own. Some people just eat that anime tripe up. Some like the combat systems, some like the micromanagement, but really.. if your going to make the largest bulk of your money in USD instead of Yen... then what you should be doing is looking at your native competition from the North american market, and see whats propelling sales in this region.

Arguably the lead RPG developer in this region is either Bioware, or Bethesda.In both cases what is the consistent theme between both developers? Good writing.

Fact is, part of the reason why SE is as big as it is today is based off the strength of 2 titles. FF3 (screw the japanese numbering system) and FF7. Both which had their strengths in the narrative of the game. You have consistently seen that for the most part favorable response to FF games has vastly diminished the more they put in regurgitated anime story arcs into the games.

Another factor is the hands off approach. The more they automate, and linearize the games taking control away from the players, the less favorable the response has been.

I mean I applaud SE for FFXIII because it is gorgeous, And its combat system is highly refined. which those are laudable goals for any RPG to improve upon. But if you fail to give a person a reason to care, then they are going to quickly loose interest in killing off their four thousandth recolored flan enemy.

SE, you want to know what direction to take the next non online FF title. Go back to your roots, and spend half as much time developing the motivation to play as you put into refining how you play, and you might start to win back some of the ones who have completely lost faith in the franchise. Try letting the next title be written by western writers, and art direction from western artists, leaving more mechanical concepts to their eastern counterparts. I bet even money if you try this approach you would see a vast return to form in the western markets, and likely even an increase in the eastern. Which lets be honest, the whole reason SE has stagnated to the point they have is because they are too afraid to let their flagship title alienate eastern audiences.

 

[seditary]

Well all this thread has managed is to reinforce my very long held belief that Final Fantasy games would be better received (albeit worse selling) if they weren't called Final Fantasy.

Almost every response has been either kill it with fire or go back to old titles, either in style or form or completely.

No wonder people didn't like FF13...

 

[Korten12]

They should make it more action-packed. That is where all other RPGs are heading.

...So? Just because BioWare is doing it, doesn't mean EVERYONE ELSE has to. SquareEnix has no reason to blindly follow them. Might be shocking to your boy head, but there ARE people who really don't like Mass Effect and/or Dragon Age. It's not their type of game. Not a problem. "WRPG" fans? Play your damned WRPG games! "JRPG" fans? Play your damned JRPG games!

This goes to both sides here. If you DON'T like WRPG's, DON'T BOTHER SAYING ANYTHING. Just play the games YOU want to. Don't like JRPG's? Fine! Don't play them, don't discuss them, don't even consider them! Just leave the two industries separate, if you're so adamant to keep JRPG's and WRPG's as sub-genres.. But don't you DARE tell someone their game choice is wrong.

so true... people for some reason want JRPG developers to make WRPGS and it is also starting to piss me off aswell. I am one of the those few who like linear stories and premade stories. In every game I don't want to have to choose all of the time! If I want to play a game where I make my own adventure ill play a WRPG if I want to play a linear premade story then ill play a JRPG... I don't want JPRGs to become WRPGs just different origin of developers...

 

[Danpascooch]

Oh, great. This should restore fans' confidence in the series.

I know right?

They just need to go back to bare bones, exploration and good writing.

OPEN UP THE WORLD.

 

[viranimus]

"Well all this thread has managed is to reinforce my very long held belief that Final Fantasy games would be better received if they weren't called Final Fantasy...."
[/quote]

I totally agree with this notion. Honestly FFXIII would have been a great spinoff series to work from, because people do have an attachment the name.

I mean arguably the biggest complaint about 13 is the story and char development, and in the scheme of things, if you make a final fantasy game and fail to captivate the audience through the narrative... its a major fail.

 

[Arcanist]

Where should you take it?

I'll give you an idea. Considering that Final Fantasy has been free-lining the hard video-game drugs of menu-based combat and incomprehensible plots since VII, you should put the poor thing out of its misery and smother it while it sleeps.

Then burn the house down.

And purge the earth with fire and salt.

 

[MattAn24]

Arguably the lead RPG developer in this region is either Bioware, or Bethesda. In both cases what is the consistent theme between both developers? Good writing.

SE, you want to know what direction to take the next non online FF title. Go back to your roots, and spend half as much time developing the motivation to play as you put into refining how you play, and you might start to win back some of the ones who have completely lost faith in the franchise. Try letting the next title be written by western writers, and art direction from western artists, leaving more mechanical concepts to their eastern counterparts. I bet even money if you try this approach you would see a vast return to form in the western markets, and likely even an increase in the eastern. Which lets be honest, the whole reason SE has stagnated to the point they have is because they are too afraid to let their flagship title alienate eastern audiences.

SquareEnix, do not pay any attention to this wave of bullshit. BioWare has good writing? Huh.. Is that why I couldn't stand the Mass Effect 2 demo and never bothered with buying the game? The standing still, choosing options to talk thing was so fucking full. At least in cutscenes, things are ACTUALLY HAPPENING while dialogue is taking place! I.. Hate Western writing. Bethesda? Good writing? What? In a bland grey/brown wasteland. Yes.. That HAS to be brilliant for writing... No, wait.. No it isn't. I really never liked those games, nor a bunch of other western games. There's no fucking way I want western concepts invading Japanese-made games. You obviously don't like JRPG's, so how would you like EVERY SINGLE FUCKING WRPG wiped out and remade as JRPG's. JRPG writing, JRPG concepts. See how YOU like it while the rest of us are over here playing a game we want to play.

Don't want to play JRPG's? Fine. Don't play them. Stay away from JRPG discussions, keep the fuck out of this thread. No need for your tripe. If you want to be so damn demanding about JRPG's literally becoming WRPG's, you have no right to argue if your precious WRPG's reference JRPG's. Stick to your own blasted games!

 

[Nick Angelici]

I have a few ideas for XV.

first, try to find something besides medival and glowing scifi (you know what I mean(IE the cocoon soldiers)) for your setting style. Steampunk isnt new, but welcome, or how about floating cities? again not new, but not often done in unique and interesting ways.or better yet, more than p one planet? Overall, don't try to be COMPLETELY new, just make it a good change of pace.

Second, make the main character more than just moody or on the other hand, upbeat, how about a "thinker" who happens to be a "man of few words" but isnt moody or depressed, more like a idealistic observer.

Third, as for the battle system, I'm not picky, but always allow complete control of the characters, and whether they are in a line, or move, I dont care, battles were never much of a issue for me. Bring back the "limit Breaks" style finishers, and try to add some other element that would drastially change the way the fight is fought, for example, a standard 3 on one battle suddenly become 3 on 3 when the boss splits into three different enemies who must all be fought one on one at the same time, in three separate battles on three different mini screens, using two buttons to "switch screens". thats pretty niffty.

Fourth, characters must be more complex than "mom dies now I swear vengence OH NO the man I am trying to kill is my dad". I dont care how you do it, but as long as its a refreshing way, I dont mind what you do. like Faris, Faris was a female trying to be a male pirate. that was new for the time.

thats all I can think of, but I hope someone with influence notices this, not likely though. but I can dream.

 

[Squilookle]

Maybe it's time to actually live up to the title FINAL fantasy. Then make the game all over again under a different name. It's a JRPG. Nobody will notice...

 

[fun-with-a-gun]

I know where they're going to take the Final Fantasy franchise... to the grave!

seriously though, don't you think that if it's changed this much it's time to retire the name "final fantasy" and move on into another IP?

 

[Nick Angelici]

Arguably the lead RPG developer in this region is either Bioware, or Bethesda. In both cases what is the consistent theme between both developers? Good writing.

SE, you want to know what direction to take the next non online FF title. Go back to your roots, and spend half as much time developing the motivation to play as you put into refining how you play, and you might start to win back some of the ones who have completely lost faith in the franchise. Try letting the next title be written by western writers, and art direction from western artists, leaving more mechanical concepts to their eastern counterparts. I bet even money if you try this approach you would see a vast return to form in the western markets, and likely even an increase in the eastern. Which lets be honest, the whole reason SE has stagnated to the point they have is because they are too afraid to let their flagship title alienate eastern audiences.

SquareEnix, do not pay any attention to this wave of bullshit. BioWare has good writing? Huh.. Is that why I couldn't stand the Mass Effect 2 demo and never bothered with buying the game? The standing still, choosing options to talk thing was so fucking full. At least in cutscenes, things are ACTUALLY HAPPENING while dialogue is taking place! I.. Hate Western writing. Bethesda? Good writing? What? In a bland grey/brown wasteland. Yes.. That HAS to be brilliant for writing... No, wait.. No it isn't. I really never liked those games, nor a bunch of other western games. There's no fucking way I want western concepts invading Japanese-made games. You obviously don't like JRPG's, so how would you like EVERY SINGLE FUCKING WRPG wiped out and remade as JRPG's. JRPG writing, JRPG concepts. See how YOU like it while the rest of us are over here playing a game we want to play.

Don't want to play JRPG's? Fine. Don't play them. Stay away from JRPG discussions, keep the fuck out of this thread. No need for your tripe. If you want to be so damn demanding about JRPG's literally becoming WRPG's, you have no right to argue if your precious WRPG's reference JRPG's. Stick to your own blasted games!

While I personally enjoyed Mass effect, I can see where you're coming from, I too like JRPGs, but only a select few, mostly FF though.

theres one thing I do want to say though, I DOESN"T MATTER IF THE MAIN CHARACTER IS A TEEN OR A GROWN MAN, ITS THE PERSONALITY THAT AFFECTS THE LIKABLITY OF THE CHARACTER, sorry for the all caps there, but I felt as though this a major mistake in mindset that should be addressed, also, Cloud needs to stop being confused for Squall, that would be great thanks.

ANYWAY, western writing and Japanese writing both need major work. and both could look at the other for help, I dont see why people think the west is so much greater just because they're made here, or that the East is better for making Final Fantasy. I would love to see Square and Bioware join together for a major project on a HUGE RPG, but that will never happen.

 

[QuickDEMOL1SHER]

Take it out with the trash. Seriously. People who think Halo and CoD are getting milked, just take a look at Final Fantasy. 13 games? Really? And that is just the numbered titles.

 

[fun-with-a-gun]

Take it to it's grave.

What's the most recent one like...The 304th?

Dang ninjas!!! (and I know there were more before, I'm just not bothering to find them.)