Is Final Fantasy losing it??

[Fading]

Do you guys think this could be the make or break game for FF? I've been thinking, the last few FF's have been pretty poorly recieved amongst fans. FF pretty much survives on a loyal consumer base, as no one else would buy FFX2 in mass unless they were doing it out of sheer loyalty lol. Some fans (even tho I think it's stupid to get angry over this) feel 'betrayed' that FFXIII is releasing on the 360 (even tho square did the same when going from SNES to PS1). So do you think after a string of dissapointing FF's, and square angering some of it's base, that this FF is make or break?

I do know some ppl will still buy FF's no matter what. And that the FF after XIII (assuming if XIII was bad, which I think it'll be alright personally) could be a good game. However it could potentially do damage in the long run if it drives off new customers as well as long time fans. That could be a big reason they went to the 360, to make sure it sold good by getting the largest base they could (the obvious bigger reason is $$).

 

[A.J.Rimmer(BSC)]

Whilst I wouldn't say its make or break time, I think they done themselves a big favour returning to the high tech future timeframe.

As long as there is an actual story with actual characters, unlike 12 and it doesn't go overboard with mind numbing cutscenes a la 10, I think it'll be fine.

Besides, if all else fails, a re-do of the ff6-ff8 games would bring everyone back regardless.

 

[MoPlaYa]

My Favorite FF games are

5.FFVII
4.FFX
3.FFIX
2.FFXII
1.FF Tactics

 

[Cunning Stunts]

I'm hoping XIII will rock, but to be honest, I haven't been able to find myself caring a lot about the characters or giving too much of a damn about an FF storyline since VII. VII set the bar so high and as of yet, I don't feel like that bar has been touched.

The world was authentic feeling, and it just became a little... Lame, after that. I liked VIII a lot, but it didn't come anywhere near VII.

I honestly think the reason X gets a lot of praise is because it's a more updated game. I've tried to play X a number of times, and it in no way touches VII, in my opinion. IX was effing dumb, never got to try XI, and XII looks only marginally interesting.

I've got my thumbs crossed for more VII spinoffs.

 

[Fading]

I liked X, I think I just don't like annoying lead characters. Zidane leaping all over the place and mocking everyone is part of the reason I didn't like IX as much as a lot of other ppl did. Cloud and Squall were both quiet straight to the point guys, they talked, but didn't constantly talk or annoy everyone. There's just something about hyperactive RPG's/characters that turns me off to a game. Which luckily since Lightning is a female Cloud she should adopt his personality which should help.

Story of course is a big deal as well. If I'm not hooked by the story then I have trouble getting thru it if it's trying to be a serious game and not mind numbing action game. I think VII-X all had good stories, good enough I cared to finish and replay in most cases. XII had the best graphics of the series to that point, decent combat (still prefer the old system tho), but it had lousy characters and next to no story. XII took me several tries to finally care enough to beat it. I got midway and lost all interest.

 

[Havok83]

XII would have worked much better had they made Ashe the lead character. They kind of had it be the annoying Vaan by default but that was only early on. Once the whole party was put together, instead of focusing on one main character, it didnt really focus on any except for certain points of the game. This is probabbly why people felt disconnected from the story.Ashe was the most important figure to the story. It would have been stronger had they let her be the main character.

 

[Fading]

I agree that they should have had more focus and Ahse be the lead. By not taking one path it just kinda diluted the story as they were trying to touch on everyones story a bit, but not delving into any of them. It made all characters forgettable by making whoever you want to be the main character.

I think it suffered from trying to hard to be an MMO. The funny thing is I actually like the game up to a certain point. I still like playing the first part of the game occasionally, but the deeper the story gets the more you realise how weak it is.

I'll say it again, but I really hope I never have to hear the phrase, "Day manufactured nethersite" again . Also Ashe constantly going back on forth of whether she should or shouldn't use it became too much of a reoccuring theme. Then there were gaps, like Ashe and Vaan hinting a possible romance in one scene, then nothing else mentioned for the rest of the story. It's like subplots would start and then never get mentioned again.

 

[SouLeSS]

Crisis Core is pretty good.

But Infinite Undiscovery. Holy **** is that game good, but at thesame time terrible.

Square Enix as a whole has been progressivly getting worse and worse with their releases since they merged. Star Ocean 3 was the last Square game that's been top notch and I've been able to actually play through without forcing myself to.

Hell, I still havn't finished FFXII cause the story was just so ****ing boring as was the gameplay.

 

[SouLeSS]

Do you guys think this could be the make or break game for FF? I've been thinking, the last few FF's have been pretty poorly recieved amongst fans. FF pretty much survives on a loyal consumer base, as no one else would buy FFX2 in mass unless they were doing it out of sheer loyalty lol. Some fans (even tho I think it's stupid to get angry over this) feel 'betrayed' that FFXIII is releasing on the 360 (even tho square did the same when going from SNES to PS1). So do you think after a string of dissapointing FF's, and square angering some of it's base, that this FF is make or break?

I do know some ppl will still buy FF's no matter what. And that the FF after XIII (assuming if XIII was bad, which I think it'll be alright personally) could be a good game. However it could potentially do damage in the long run if it drives off new customers as well as long time fans. That could be a big reason they went to the 360, to make sure it sold good by getting the largest base they could (the obvious bigger reason is $$).

FFX-2 was a damned good game, dispite it's whole lets play dressup thing. I've never had as much fun with a FF game as I did with FFX2.

 

[Havok83]

FFX-2 was a damned good game, dispite it's whole lets play dressup thing. I've never had as much fun with a FF game as I did with FFX2.

FFX-2 is the most underrated FF game. It really didnt deserve all the hate it got.

 

[SouLeSS]

Pretty much. Once you get past the whole dressup and 3 chicks being the only playable characters, the game's actually pretty awesome. The combat and story was actually pretty deep as I recall.

 

[Fading]

I honestly tried to play it, I really did give X-2 a shot. I'm not kidding when I say it's the JRPG that made me stop liking JRPG's so much. I might be the only person who feels this way, but X-2 is the worst RPG experience I've ever had. After it I didn't pick up another JRPG (I put J there because I did play Oblivion which is a western RPG) until XII, which disappointed me. Before X-2 I loved JRPG's, and it may sound like a cop out or overexaggeration but I really have had less drive to play them since that game. It's like a switch flipped and I stopped caring about the genre as much.

However with White Knight Chronicles, and a few others on the way I'm getting interested again. I just hope FFXIII and Vs. turn out to be good as up until X-2 I thought of FF as the king of RPG's (tho the Suikoden series is close IMO, and SO 2 rocked).

 

[SouLeSS]

What made you hate it? You know, other than that opening FMV singalong fanfest.

 

[Fading]

Pretty much. Once you get past the whole dressup and 3 chicks being the only playable characters, the game's actually pretty awesome. The combat and story was actually pretty deep as I recall.

I was able to look past the singing. The dress up system annoyed me however. The lack of freedom in travel annoyed me. The story also annoyed me. Even tho it was sad that the main char went away in X, I felt it was more powerful that he did. They defeated the evil Sin, but it wasn't a truly happy ending, which is kinda rare in RPG's that they guy and girl don't end up together or it atleast hints that they will. X-2's story, the entire point of it, was to undo what I felt was a good ending.

Beyond that, I just found it shallow. It just gave the feel, to me, that it was made with the intention of cashing off of X. It added no real depth to the X universe IMO. The mission set up, everything....just honestly didn't like pretty much any of the game other than the actual combat.

 

[Havok83]

I found the dress up system to be the best part of the game. I liked being able to change class mid battle and it made the fights more dynamic, complex and fun. Despite only being 3 characters, there was alot of room for customization and that appealed to me. Plus I loved the FFX world and enjoyed revisiting it again

 

[Nathan]

The entire gameplay was pretty good, in an otherwise pretty lame game.

 

[Joe Von Zombie]

In my opinion JRPG's had their time and their place: that time was 97-99, that place was the PSX. there hasn't been a single JRPG that has really wowed me since FF7,FF8,Xenogears and to a lesser extent The Legend of Dragoon.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

It isn't so much losing it as other franchises have caught up. Final Fantasy XII was actually my favourite in the series since IX came out years ago, but it was overshadowed by Persona 3 which is one of the best RPGs ever made. They are still great games, but not nearly as dominant as they once were.

 

[Tojo]

I stopped play FF when FFX arrived. I disliked that game intensley, from the storyline to the characters to the level up system.

I have incredibley fond memories of FF7 however, and it's funny to see that so many other people feel the same way. For it's time the graphics were ok, but they really add to the charm and innocence of the game. The cutscenes were incredible at that time though, and the gameplay was engaging, simple and fun. I just loved the whole world of the game, it had so much character, and as for the characters themselves, i truly felt engaged with them. I think it was and will always be remembered as a landmark computer game. One of the best ever.

I enjoyed FF8 to a large degree although it lacked the character of it's predeccesor. I'd play both again for sure.

 

[WolfCypher]

Mystic Quest: Final Fantasy was my 1st FF (even though originally Final Fantasy wasn't going to be included in the game's title, so calling it a FF game is debatable) and while I enjoyed that game, it is far from my favorite FF game. VI, VII, and VIII are the trifecta for me. Those three games were just unimaginably incredible in all aspects! But while many will say FF7 were/are their favorite RPGs from yesteryear, I have just-as-fond a memory or two with Star Ocean 2 and Chrono Cross (ESPECIALLY Chrono Cross).

I'm waiting (praying) for FF8 & Chrono Cross (ESPECIALLY Chrono Cross) to appear on the PSN.

 

[Papa Burgundy]

X-2 was crap, VIII had a very unlikeable lead character, IX is freakin underrated vivi easily is one of the best characters in the history of the series. just thought id say that.

 

[Image]

I actually like Squall(FFVIII), second if not first favorite character next to Cecil(FFIV). I actually miss the 2D style FF games. I only beat VII,I,II,III,IV,V,VI in that order. The others I played, but never beat. I would start to enjoy it, and just lose interest, with the ones I didn't beat. Hopefully I will not do so with FFXIII.

 

[Cunning Stunts]

X-2 was crap, VIII had a very unlikeable lead character, IX is freakin underrated vivi easily is one of the best characters in the history of the series. just thought id say that.

IX is easily the weakest game compared to its predecessors.

 

[MoPlaYa]

FF Tactics was amazing!

 

[MoonChild]

I throughly enjoyed XII, but XIII didn't capture me in any way, even though I played it through to the end, and still return from time to time to keep levelling up my party and going for the harder marks, it just falls flat with me.

I will be very interested to see if XIII-2 can improve on, and build on XIII, and even at this early stage I have read it will be more open world.

What I really didn't like about XII and XIII were the summons, and I hope that future installments do them justice.