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

[bjj hero]

why not get to work on that remake of FFVIII now. Build it up from scratch. Its a guaranteed success.

It's not going to happen. To make it all in 3D with voice acting would make it the biggest, most expensinve game ever made. It would need 14 discs to hold the information and wouldn't get finished for decades. Don't hold your breath. Shamus explained it much better than me if you check the archives.

What to do with FF? Rest it. Work on building on the Vagrant story world for a bit. It felt like a breath of fresh air at the time and it's disappointing it was never expanded on. We have moved on 2 generations since the original, its time to make it the epic it deserves.

My other thoughts on FF would be to cut down on the many many cut scenes, allow for more charecter customisation. Also, trial a 2D sprite based engine. If you've tried the most recent KOF it looks gorgeous.

 

[BlueHighwind]

If they were to put me in charge of the series, here's what I'd do for FFXV:

1) Adapt the game's storyline from the opera from FFVI. This would mean we're basically returning to the old style of medieval fantasy. I don't necessarily think this is better than the other styles, just that its been awhile.
2) Bring back the major exploration element from FFXII, but kill off most of the evil grinding parts of the game. (For example, the money you get from encounters actually is enough to buy the next level sword, and quit with those random treasure chests.) And yeah, there will be towns.
3) Bring back the summon system from FFX, since that was by far the most useful.
4) Have a normal leveling system. No more Sphere Grids or License Boards or Crystariums. You gain a level, you gain EXP.
5) Some player choice on the plotline: During the course of the game, a major character will die. And it will be either directly or indirectly by player choice. Maybe the character with the least EXP by the tenth dungeon will be dead. There will also be something like three standard plots that the player might run into as a branching element.
6) Gilgamesh will return, and he will be playable.
7) Two words: action RPG. Remember the first trailers for FFXIII? It will look like that.
8) UPDATE: Job System returns.

I can't say the fanbase won't hate this one too.

 

[Megawizard]

I think FF was kinda ruined after 9 at that point.

 

[Reyalsfeihc]

I've got an idea. Why not make the FINAL Fantasy? -_-

 

[Nyrad01]

I think the Final Fantasy series has been fortunate enough to have released a lot of very good, genre defining JRPGs for many years. The problem though now, is that they haven't released anything of note for a while. I think now is a good time for Square Enix to call it a day with Final Fantasy games, rather than damaging the series anymore. If they done this, other products they release wouldn't be half finished, for example The Last Remnant, and games that could of been good, will be.

 

[Lissa-QUON]

I dunno what they could do to save the series for their fans, since I've only played the first two Final Fantasy games for any length of time (and that was during a blizzard).

But my main complaint with JRPGs is that it honestly feels like you are slogging through fight sequences to get to another cut scene which you have no impact over. I could get the full effect of the game, without having to do the whole Fighter>Attack>Goblin routine a hundred times, by going on youtube and watching all the damn cutscenes.

There may be others that are different but I don't know the genre very well.

So maybe going the Bioware route where the player gets some control, over the party, over the plot, whether or not your character is a douche etc might help. Cause thats what I like in my games, the feeling that my actions make an impact in some way.

 

[Con Carne]

I say they should go back to their roots. Take the "sci-fi" out of the fantasy and go back to what they were. Their methods got them this far. Why not go back to when a majority of the fans were pleased instead of just half of them. A remake of any Final Fantasy between 1-9 would be awesome. Obviously some would sell more than others. Or heck you don't even need a remake, just go back to the familiar formulas, or better yet....good sequels. None of the crappy spin-offs they're obsessed with making.

 

[WildFire15]

Two things I'd say would massively improve the next Final Fantasy game:
1: Get rid of that bloody grid and just give us regular xp and levels again.
2: Don't make what is effectively the opening sequence 3 bloody hours long. In FFVII you've blown up a reactor and escaped within the first 40 odd minutes of play, in XIII you've still got no idea what the hell's going on after 3 hours of running down the same corridor and watching morons bicker or sulk for 10 minutes at a time.

 

[Jameseh]

-

 

[uppitycracker]

I still say the first one on NES was the best. everything leading up to 7 was good, 7 was decent (for its time, AMAZING, but yeah), and since then it's been crap, crap and more crap. maybe it's eventually time to call it quits, fellas.

Pretty much this although I wouldn't say that FF7 is crap. It's still amazing, I just prefer the first one.
Even so, I'd love a remake of FF7 as well.

Oh, I never said that 7 was crap, I thought it was decent, although AMAZING for it's time. Everything after was crap, in my humble opinion. But that's just my opinion, the first was by far the best. Glad I'm not hte only one that thinks so!!

I actually still have it, in pristine condition. seriously looks like it just came out of the box.

 

[DarkRyter]

I hate how people see Final Fantasy as some kind of franchise like, say, God of War, Pokemon, Legend of Zelda, Mario, or something else like that.

In truth, every major Final Fantasy game has honestly, very little connection to the previous games in terms of gameplay, especially nowadays. Similarities amongst the games (chocobos, moogles) are usually aesthetic in nature, and the gameplay similiarities are always core aspects of the JRPG genre (turn-based combat, linear progression).

Especially nowadays, with the constant revamping of things like combat systems, final fantasy games are becoming increasingly more varied from one another. If you were to take someone who's never heard of Final Fantasy, had them play FFX, than FFXII, and then FFXIII, it is unlikely they would guess that all games were part of the same series, chocobos not withstanding.

Each game, in a sense, is Final Fantasy in name only. Final Fantasy VII could have been called "Cloud", FInal Fantasy X could be called "Summon: Tale of Sorrow", XII could be called "Star Wars: But not".

Final Fantasy doesn't exist as a franchise. It's a brand name. In truth, if Square Enix just makes a game, and then they call it Final Fantasy. They make another game, almost completely unrelated to the last, they call it Final Fantasy. If they didn't, they wouldn't have that "Final Fantasy" brand that's instantly recognizable amongst the gaming community. That's how you get stuff like Nier and Last Remnant. Have you even heard about those games?

We need to stop thinking about Final Fantasy as a whole. It's just a title that Square Enix happens to affix to any major, big budget, game they happen to make. We need to look at the games as individual games, held together ONLY by name.

That's why there's this dilemma. Since there are so many Final Fantasy games, each radically different from each other, there is no way they're going to please the fanbase as a whole. If they make a Final Fantasy game with a turn-based combat system, fans of Final Fantasy 12 will cry out that Square Enix is retreading old, beaten ground. If they try new fangled complex combat systems, more casual fans of simpler games such as 7 will be displeased. If they try to use Linear Story progression, fans of the more open and free roaming Final Fantasies gonna be hatin on that shit, yo.

I however, thank Square Enix. They disguise original Intellectual properties under the banner of Final Fantasy in order to give whatever original, innovative ideas and stories they think of a chance in the gaming world. I'm sure they'll think there way out of this rut. They have no set formula to hold them back, after all.

 

[HotFezz8]

they should take it out back and put a round in its head.

 

[Gigaguy64]

I have an idea.

Final Fantasy VS Capcom

I think it could work...

OT:Im not sure myself, i think maybe taking it back to its roots for a bit instead of releasing remakes might spark some interest.
Hopefully they can come up with something soon.

No no no, we need a Nintendo Versus Capcom first

Maybe even Nintendo Versus Capcom Versus Square Enix...

That would be awesome.

But with so many characters, SOMEONE will be pissed off...
Maybe the next Vs Game (after MvC3 of course) should start off small.
Like Guilty Gear vs JoJo's Bizarre Adventure?
That would be awesome.

 

[Tessa Master]

Here's somthings you might want to do.
1. Give us our goddamned turn based combat back! Preferbly FFX's.
2. Remake FFVII. Not favorite but many people love it.
3. Make a FFX prequal. With FFX's combat system.
4. Not a FF technicly but make KH3! It'll certinly get fan confidence back.
5. Less retarded story, please.
If you do any of those things you will get fan confidence back.
If you do all of those things you will gain unmatchable richness.

I completely agree with #3. I don't know about anyone else but I've been waiting for a Auron/Braska/Jecht Final Fantasy since the moment I played FFX.

 

[Technicka]

Why the hell are people STILL treating it as a series, non of the games have anything to do with each other, every Squaresoft/Enix game could be called Final Fantasy and they'd all have exactly the same in common.

The problem with the franchise is the idiots who don't know what they want or moan because it isnt exactly the same as a certain game they played and loved well SHUT UP!

It's annoying as hell! I can't believe people judge this game on its name, on both sides, people buy it and hate it because of its name, in their own rights every single game is brilliant, they're different, that's why you don't like them!

Some people (myself included) actually like differences in games and genres evolving, if you wanna play FFVII or whatever you call your favourite RPG etc etc then go play it, if you want an evolving history then dont complain because you're too stupid to understand change!

People treat it like a series because it IS a series. It's the video game equivalent of an omnibus of genre stories.

And so what if they judge the game on its name? That's the exact reason why SquEnix uses the moniker of Final Fantasy - it's brand recognition. And with that recognition comes expectations from people; be they in favor of, or against.

Change for change's sake is hardly a good strategy in game making. The ideal is to keep what works, and either improve upon it, or tweak the things around it to better ensure the finished product is the best it can be. VII was a drastic change from its predecessors, and it was great (if a bit overhyped imho) - so you can't say the fans are opposed to change in the series. They want the quality experience that FF used to provide. XIII spent too much time being pretty, and lost a bit of itself in the process.

 

[no oneder]

I'll have to admit it, when I read the title my first thought was: "Well, they can take it up their ars[BLEEP]"

But then I read it and made me rather sad

 

[Stabby Joe]

If they admit they don't know where to go with the series, expect more remakes, spin offs and similar yet non-FF installments. Whether that's a good thing is your opinion...

...mine is it's bad.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Remake FF7, FF6, FFX.

Then everyone is happy and final fantasy can rest... for a while... until we get final fantasy 23: the real final fantasy. Then a few more additions after that.

 

[Dastardly]

Where to take it? To the BANK, byutches... Cash out and go home.