Games The Final Fantasy Thread!

[Crude]

I'm actually pretty excited for A Realm Reborn. It looks so much better than the glorified beta that SE released previously. This time around it actually looks fun!

 

[riki]

SE is going all-out to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of FF

- First, they will be selling a FF Anniversary Ultimate Box, which will include all thirteen games. The special items are: a special anniversary video disc, Crystal ArtWorks -- an anniversary visual art collection, a two disc anniversary music selection CD, a Final Fantasy XIV Mogu Mogu Earring item code, and a mini replica of Amano FF 25th Anniversary visual and stand. This box set is only available at SE's Japanese internet store.

- They will also be releasing FF Memorial Ultimania books. Each book will have 326 pages, which contain artworks including never-been-released. Book I will have FFI to FFVI, Book II will have FFVII to FFIX, and Book III will have FFX to FFXIV. This will also be available only at SE's store. If you buy all three, you will receive a bonus item.

- Lastly, here is a pic of Noctis and SE confirmed that Versus XIII is still around.

---------- Post added September 01, 2012 at 12:00 AM ---------- Previous post was August 31, 2012 at 04:43 PM ----------

- As expected, a new FFXIII game has been announced - Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. You can watch the clips HERE

 

[Jammin]

- As expected, a new FFXIII game has been announced - Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. You can watch the clips HERE

Why....Why square? What did fans like me do to you that causes you to keep churning out sequels to the worst Final Fantasy story ever written.

It almost doesn't even matter how good or bad the game is to me at this point. The Final Fantasy XIII series carries such a stigma in my eyes that if someone gave my a copy of this game I would probably throw it in the trash just because the character Lightning is the star of the show and that's reason enough for me to turn my attention elsewhere.

I mean, of all the things they could devote their resources to this is what they choose? REALLY!?

 

[phio_chan]

I have kind of losing hope with Final Fantasy XIII Versus. Out of all Fabula Nova Crystallis installation, I was expecting it out the most. Interesting battle system, story plot, and character design. I have been waiting for its development for how many years, I lost counting already... And here I am today reading that they are going to create and release the third installment to Final Fantasy XIII? Maybe it's popular but I don't like the way they're throwing other projects aside to work and announce a new one since the previous one is so successful. That may not be the real reason behind this but as a fan I can't help thinking of it like that.

But why do you have such opinion that Final Fantasy XIII is bad, Jammin?

 

[Jammin]

I have kind of losing hope with Final Fantasy XIII Versus. Out of all Fabula Nova Crystallis installation, I was expecting it out the most. Interesting battle system, story plot, and character design. I have been waiting for its development for how many years, I lost counting already... And here I am today reading that they are going to create and release the third installment to Final Fantasy XIII? Maybe it's popular but I don't like the way they're throwing other projects aside to work and announce a new one since the previous one is so successful. That may not be the real reason behind this but as a fan I can't help thinking of it like that.

But why do you have such opinion that Final Fantasy XIII is bad, Jammin?

It's going to be hard to explain without profane language but I will try....

A role playing game is essentially a game in which the player steps into the role of a character, or characters, in a story. Which can provide a wonderfully immersive story telling experience if done in a way which successfully creates the illusion of being a part of the world in which it is set.

Final Fantasy XIII doesn't even try to immerse players in the story it's trying to tell. The approach it takes is to basically make a pretty CG movie then link it together with linear gameplay sequences. Which I find to be an insult to the very concept of RPG storytelling. They essentially copied the action game story telling model and applied it to a Final Fantasy game. Then to make things even worse they turned the combat into what was essentially AI management, which is as immersion breaking as anything could possibly be; and creates further distance between gamer and characters.

All this undermines connection between gamer and game world which is so crucial for RPG stories to live up to any kind of potential.

Final Fantasy XIII is the perfect example of style over substance in game development. If the story was written nobody would want to read it. If the story was told nobody would want to listen to it. The flashy graphics often times don't even serve any purpose other than to distract from the laughable attempts and emotional characterization and the fact that 90% of the game was on a rail.

Continuing to try and tell stories off of that original story is like trying to build a brick house on quicksand.

 

[riki]

Bad news: Versus XIII will NOT be shown at TGS this year. They are focusing on FFXIV and Lightning Returns.

 

[ibra87]

One can only hope the reason it takes so long is because they intend to make a glorious open world as seen in the old Final Fantasy games or at least FF12-ish. But one thing is for sure, it won't be released before all the FF13 crap they've been spitting out have already reached their selling potential (including collector editios etc).

 

[zelllogan]

I finally took the risk to buy FF13-2 now that it's cheaper. And I have to say that it's more interesting than I expected.

Characters are not as annoying as in FF13 (even hope is a good character in FF13-2, I didn't know it was possible but it's true) & Noel is a good main character, the best we had since the PS1 era. I had my doubts on Serah but she isn't a "Vanille' kind of character. Sure, she is no lightning or fang but she still do the job.

Scenario is much more interesting than in FF13 (but it's not hard to do better). The time paradox are well handled. Playing with time in a story is always a possible problem but it's well handled here.

Gameplay: there is a real plus with those monsters in your party. Fighting alongside a behemoth is refreshing .

Overall: I'll give it a 16/20. It's no longer an rpg for me but more an adventure game. And as an adventure game, it's good. As a final fantasy ? Still behind the ps1 era but not a letdown like FF13.

But if square/enix want to continue to play in the "top-rpg" world, they have lessons to take from Bethesda ...
Plus, in sqaure/enix, there is "enix", it's about time we got a star ocean at the same level of "till the end of time"

Edit: correction: 16-2/20 --> 14/20. The fuck is that ending ...
Edit 2: Still not getting over it. What's wrong with happy end ? Fuck, I even think that the ending of mass effect 3 is better.

Edit 3: Ending spoiler:

Spoiler

Serah die, Noel cry, Hope cry ... You think it's sad ? Well, think again.
Basically during the whole story, you get warnings from Caius that what you are doing isn't right ... and guess what: Caius is right the whole time. Noel & Serah simply destroyed the past, the present, the future and human existence itself.
And when you realize that, when you're already shaken by the ending you just saw, you get the final: a big "to be continued".

Edit 4: gBgfbFVQHMmfhqzfhpqhucsdfv ..... RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

[riki]

So Lightning's new outfit for FFXIII-3 has been posted online and it's... interesting. A new trailer will be posted this Saturday.

---------- Post added at 09:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:36 PM ----------

The trailer has been leaked.

---------- Post added December 22, 2012 at 08:52 PM ---------- Previous post was December 19, 2012 at 09:48 PM ----------



---------- Post added December 25, 2012 at 09:33 PM ---------- Previous post was December 22, 2012 at 08:52 PM ----------

According to Famitsu, Lightning is the only playable character.

---------- Post added January 17, 2013 at 07:16 PM ---------- Previous post was December 25, 2012 at 09:33 PM ----------

Extended trailer for LR: FFXIII


A new character has been introduced as well. Lumina, who looks similar to Serah, is a frenemy. She will provide help but will also hinder Lightning. Oh, Noel is back too

The game will be out in the fall

 

[Crude]

Re: The RPG thread

I think Lightning Returns is going to turn out to be a pretty good game. XIII-2 was an improvement over XIII in terms of gameplay, and I think the next game will be even better, that or an equally good game. It's just a shame that the whole XIII has one hell of a convoluted plot, one that really doesn't seem to have been planned at all.

 

[shahdan]

Re: The RPG thread

Versus XIII is possibly shifted to PS4: http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/02...us-xiii-possibly-shifting-to-next-gen-in-2014

Time for a collective suicide.

 

[Shinsatsu]

Re: The RPG thread

Time for a collective suicide.

a "marketing" decision . . .

 

[Jammin]

Re: The RPG thread

Versus XIII is possibly shifted to PS4: http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/02...us-xiii-possibly-shifting-to-next-gen-in-2014

Time for a collective suicide.

More like time for Enix execs to murder whoever is in charge of that project. I mean, my god, can you even imagine how much money they tossed into that sinkhole. It's probably going to come out in 3 years and be a final fantasy angry birds ripoff for the vita.

 

[shahdan]

Re: The RPG thread

^ I really don't get Wada. The man has driven SE into the ground. They are pushing Lightening down everyone's throats, when XIII-2 sales took a sharp slump from the first XIII. Everyone is waiting for Versus, but these people are passionate about a third iteration that most don't like. I don't get these people. It's as if SE is run by a 'head up the ass' monkey.

It is not Nomura's fault, believe me. I have been following every single news since day one when this game was announced. Wada - the president - is pushing Nomura's project forward for Toriyama's XIII.

 

[Jammin]

Re: The RPG thread

^ I really don't get Wada. The man has driven SE into the ground. They are pushing Lightening down everyone's throats, when XIII-2 sales took a sharp slump from the first XIII. Everyone is waiting for Versus, but these people are passionate about a third iteration that most don't like. I don't get these people. It's as if SE is run by a 'head up the ass' monkey.

It is not Nomura's fault, believe me. I have been following every single news since day one when this game was announced. Wada - the president - is pushing Nomura's project forward for Toriyama's XIII.

I really don't get it either. It's pretty obvious to the outside observer what most fans want.

• They want Final Fantasy VII remade.
• They want a new Final Fantasy Tactics game
• They want Final Fantasy VS XIII to come out ASAP

They have done none of these things. Instead they are focusing all efforts on sequels to a game whose reception by fans was lukewarm, at best.

 

[shahdan]

Re: The RPG thread

Who knows what is going on between Wada and Toriyama. God forbid, I am inclined to think it's hanky-panky, as they will - according to latest news - most likely go bankrupt if Tomb Raider Reboot doesn't do wonders for them. I mean, 70 million install-base for PS3 doesn't seem enough for them to make profits.

 

[Crude]

The whole situation is beyond ridiculous. It's been a tough gen for game developers, a lot of them making less games and focusing on less projects compared to before, but at least other studios are pretty organized. SE on the other hand... yeah, I still think Versus is going to end up being FFXV. And the longer we wait for Versus, the more time we'll have to wait for Kingdom Hearts 3.

 

[ibra87]

Re: The RPG thread

I really don't get it either. It's pretty obvious to the outside observer what most fans want.

• They want Final Fantasy VII remade.
• They want a new Final Fantasy Tactics game
• They want Final Fantasy VS XIII to come out ASAP

They have done none of these things. Instead they are focusing all efforts on sequels to a game whose reception by fans was lukewarm, at best.

You know, I would be content with a new proper FF game that we can fangirl about in forums and claim is the best FF out yet. Instead their storytelling ability seems to have deteriorated and is now limited to as shahdan said shoving lightning down our throats. HD remake of FF VI or VII would indeed be the best scenario in the future for the series seeing how they haven't released any proper game since FFXI (though I have to admit first ½ of FFXII was indeed good).


And VS on the PS4 Delaying went so well for D3 so now SE thought they'd do the same [/sarcasm]

 

[shahdan]

Re: The RPG thread

You know, I would be content with a new proper FF game that we can fangirl about in forums and claim is the best FF out yet. Instead their storytelling ability seems to have deteriorated and is now limited to as shahdan said shoving lightning down our throats. HD remake of FF VI or VII would indeed be the best scenario in the future for the series seeing how they haven't released any proper game since FFXI (though I have to admit first ½ of FFXII was indeed good).


And VS on the PS4 Delaying went so well for D3 so now SE thought they'd do the same [/sarcasm]

Couldn't have put it better myself. Just listen to Wada's horribly made-up excuses about NOT making a remake of VII. I mean, is there any fan of FF alive who wouldn't buy VII? Same is the case with his strange attitude about shelving or delaying Versus for these XIII and its two abortions. I am sick of this guy. Someone kill him already and make it look like an accident.

 

[zelllogan]

Re: The RPG thread

I really don't get it either. It's pretty obvious to the outside observer what most fans want.

• They want Final Fantasy VII remade.
• They want a new Final Fantasy Tactics game
• They want Final Fantasy VS XIII to come out ASAP

They have done none of these things. Instead they are focusing all efforts on sequels to a game whose reception by fans was lukewarm, at best.

I want a world map & a come back to the classic "turn by turn" gameplay system