The Offical Final Fantasy Game Thread

[DeadPresident]

I think mixing up the developers of these two franchises is a sign I need to go to bed =/

Lightning Returns seems to have gotten inconsistent reviews...they're not exactly knocking things out of the park anymore. Really hope they make something a little more traditional sooner rather than later.

 

[X Knight]

I would love to see more traditional turn-based RPGs.

are there any out there now on the PS3 ( doesn't have to be FF related )?

 

[zenith16]

I would love to see more traditional turn-based RPGs.

are there any out there now on the PS3 ( doesn't have to be FF related )?

there's a number there's Ni no kuni and this the tales series starting with Tales of Symphonia Chronicles. I have thread of the latter in playstation section.

 

[X Knight]

ah, thanks.

 

[Havok83]

IGN's review is up. The FF X/X-2 HD Collection got a 9.3!

Final Fantasy X is a brilliant game that every JRPG fan should have played by now, and whether you’re experiencing it for the first time or returning for another playthrough, Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster is outstanding. With enhanced art and music, tons of extra in-game content, cross-save compatibility, and bundling two huge games for the price of one, it’s a lot of bang for your buck. There’s so much to see and do, and being rewarded with new Trophies for going the extra mile with challenges and exploration feels great.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/03/10/final-fantasy-x-x-2-hd-remaster-review

 

[zenith16]

this doesn't mean that another sequel or prequel will happen.



Why Square Enix Made Final Fantasy X-2 . March 18, 2014 . 1:00pm

“It was a unique first time trial because we made such a rich story for Final Fantasy X and we wanted to build upon it. We didn’t want the story to end at X,” Kitase reminisced.

While sequels and prequels to numbered Final Fantasy games are common, it was Final Fantasy X-2 that started the trend. When Siliconera met with Final Fantasy producer Yoshinori Kitase, we asked him what it was like pitching the concept of making a Final Fantasy sequel to Square Enix.

“Traditionally, we would make a new world for each numbered Final Fantasy game. For [Final Fantasy X-2], it was a unique first time trial because we made such a rich story for Final Fantasy X and we wanted to build upon it. We didn’t want the story to end at X,” Kitase reminisced.

“The name of the game, Final Fantasy X-2… initially the name was not accepted in our internal meetings,” he revealed. “Actually, in our staff meetings it was disapproved once! Instead of making it Final Fantasy XI because it was a story that built upon Final Fantasy X we wanted to call it Final Fantasy X-2.”

Final Fantasy X’s story zooms in on Tidus and Yuna compared to say Final Fantasy VI where every character is a protagonist. Since Kitase worked on both titles, we asked him about the difference between creating a game with an ensemble cast compared to a solo journey.


“In the past, we would often focus on multiple protagonists. This style has its pros, but for Final Fantasy X we wanted specifically to focus on Tidus and Yuna to create a love story and show their inner emotions. The direction we took was to create a richer and more compelling story focused on these two characters,” said Kitase.

I asked Kitase if he were to write another Final Fantasy X story, but without Tidus and Yuna in it, who he would choose to focus on.

Kitase laughed, and replied, “There is a story about Auron and Braska who go on journey before the protagonists of Final Fantasy X. It would be interesting to focus on those characters as a contrast to the young and energetic Tidus and Yuna.”​

source Siliconera


​

 

[zenith16]

It was a cool sequel.

 

[zenith16]

What Does Square Enix’s Final Fantasy Committee Do?. March 25, 2014 . 2:33am

Last year, Square Enix formed a committee solely for the Final Fantasy franchise, consisting of Final Fantasy Type-0 director Hajime Tabata, FFXIV: A Realm Reborn director Naoki Yoshida, FFXIII director Motomu Toriyama, and series producer Yoshinori Kitase.

Last year, Square Enix formed a committee solely for the Final Fantasy franchise. Final Fantasy Type-0 director Hajime Tabata, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn director Naoki Yoshida, Final Fantasy XIII director Motomu Toriyama, and long time Final Fantasy producer Yoshinori Kitase are members of this group.

What does the Final Fantasy committee actually do? To find out, Siliconera asked Kitase.

“There are numbered Final Fantasy titles, remasters like Final Fantasy X/X2 HD, and mobile titles in the Final Fantasy series,” said Kitase. “We get together and update each other with current information or issues on our projects. [We] make sure there are no release date overlaps or bug issues. When we meet we also talk about if the content being discussed is appropriate for Final Fantasy.”
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source:Siliconera


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[zenith16]

• 
  
  Square Enix President Believes Company Has ‘Lost Focus’
  
  news
  on Mar 31, 2014 at 03:43 PM
  8,180 Views
  
  
  43​
  Bravely Default's success will have an impact on Square Enix's development priorities.
  ... more
  
• http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/...resident-believes-company-has-lost-focus.aspxsource:
  GI​

 

[Solidus]

“In the past, when we developed console games with a worldwide premise, we lost our focus,” Matsuda says, offering that recent Bravely Default taught the company a valuable lesson. “Due to having split [the development mindset] according to regions around the world, we weren’t able to see this clearly up until now, but fans of JRPGs are really spread around the world,” Matsuda says. In response, Square Enix will be developing more core JRPGs.

Oh man I hope this is true. I'm so glad they realized that the traditional core JRPG's are in high demand, and the reason many have walked away in the past 10 years is because of them walking away from that. I'm just very glad to see that. Guess I will have to wait until FFXVI for that possibly but at least they finally admit it.

 

[Soapy]

I'm still really excited for XV, but yeah, I'm glad it seems that Square has seen the light.

 

[Havok83]

FFX/X-2 HD Remaster to be honest is the best release they put out all generation

 

[Solidus]

I'm still really excited for XV, but yeah, I'm glad it seems that Square has seen the light.

Took them long enough to understand that. I'm glad Bravley Default showed that those games can still rock. Don't water down the product. Core JRPG's still have lots of fans and can easily gain new ones.

FFX/X-2 HD Remaster to be honest is the best release they put out all generation

Sad but true. Well minus their handheld games. But for main console, ya.

 

[Tron Bonne]

How did Bravely Default do in Europe and the States?

 

[Soapy]

I don't know the actual numbers, but I know it was a lot better than Square expected.

 

[Iceman]

I'm glad they've seen the light. Really anyone should have been able to. They went from one of the most dominant games to almost an afterthought. I believe XV will be the best FF we've had in ages though. It's very near the top of my anticipation list.

 

[zenith16]

Bravely Default dis was well recived world wide in all of north america and around the world according to places like Joystiq.

 

[Solidus]

Ya I'm pretty sure I heard it sold really well. And seems to be staying steady. I wish they would put it on PSN/Live. That would really increase sales.

 

[zenith16]

Ya I'm pretty sure I heard it sold really well. And seems to be staying steady. I wish they would put it on PSN/Live. That would really increase sales.

well I'm not sure what the deal with nintendo fully on exclusivity there. But we'll find out with in a year or so. It will happen any way.

I know there are alot of JRPG's on the horizon with X with Nintendo(can't wait for them Mechs) and SAO with sony (the latter of which took a page from mass Effect ) and that latter one had an anime series already. and there's tales too. so there's a lot of promising ones coming that can and have given FF a run for it's money.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Nintendo published, translated, and marketed the game in Europe and North America, much like Dragon Quest IX and the other DQ remake (IV or V? I can't remember). I think it's a fair bet they have some kind of lock on the title. Plus, it's a handheld game anyway. I know sometimes they jump is made, but it's not all that common really.

I'm glad they've seen the light. Really anyone should have been able to. They went from one of the most dominant games to almost an afterthought. I believe XV will be the best FF we've had in ages though. It's very near the top of my anticipation list.

Internet myth. FFXIII, despite the internet hate, was a successful endeavor. The main financial issues came from the amount of money that Square put into the entire Crystalis project which didn't pan out. But XIII was still a success for them, and Final Fantasy is still more or less the only JRPG that has any real international significance. Just the fact that there's so much media focused on FFXV shows that. Seems Bravely Default has some good buzz, but it's still in it's infancy.

Unless you meant game company there, which is probably true. But you can say that about pretty much all the Japanese companies outside Nintendo, though. Almost all the Japanese giants of the PS2 era failed to transition well into this one.

 

[Havok83]

Internet myth. FFXIII, despite the internet hate, was a successful endeavor. The main financial issues came from the amount of money that Square put into the entire Crystalis project which didn't pan out. But XIII was still a success for them, and Final Fantasy is still more or less the only JRPG that has any real international significance. Just the fact that there's so much media focused on FFXV shows that. Seems Bravely Default has some good buzz, but it's still in it's infancy.

to be fair its success came from its reputation. Most jumped into it bc of the high quality pedigree SE had with the series. It was going to sell regardless. The disappointment didn't come until people got it in their hands and realized it wasn't up to par with the rest of the series. FF XIII-2 and Lightning Returns sold substantially less in comparison bc many had checked out due to being unimpressed with XIII

This isnt unheard of. Despite many saying its the worst in the series, MGS2 sold incredibly well and it was bc it came after MGS1. 3 didnt do as well, likely bc those dissapointed with 2 didnt bother with it

And I would say it IS a fact that SE is now an afterthought. FF was once the crown jewel when it came to RPGs but no one speaks of it as such anymore and SE as a company is nowhere near as revered for the genre anymore. I do not think his statement is false

 

[Tron Bonne]

to be fair its success came from its reputation. Most jumped into it bc of the high quality pedigree SE had with the series. It was going to sell regardless. The disappointment didn't come until people got it in their hands and realized it wasn't up to par with the rest of the series. FF XIII-2 and Lightning Returns sold substantially less in comparison bc many had checked out due to being unimpressed with XIII

I honestly don't attribute XIII-2 and Lightening Returns can be attributed to XIII so much. For instance, X-2, if I recall, was not as big a seller as X. There's just not as much anticipation for spin-offs than main titles. If XIII had truly killed the franchise, no would give a **** about FFXV, but they do, and they did even when it was Versus XIII. Plus, while not selling as well as the main XIII, did either of those entires really sell poorly?

This isnt unheard of. Despite many saying its the worst in the series, MGS2 sold incredibly well and it was bc it came after MGS1. 3 didnt do as well, likely bc those dissapointed with 2 didnt bother with me

MGS2 being so disliked is another internet myth. The reception to it was almost universally positive outside a very small, vocal group that tries and paint a much different picture of how the game was received than what it was.

And I would say it IS a fact that SE is now an afterthought. FF was once the crown jewel when it came to RPGs but no one speaks of it as such anymore and SE as a company is nowhere near as revered for the genre anymore. I do not think his statement is false

As I said, SE as a company, sure, but Final Fantasy? Not even close. No other JRPG gets a fraction of the kind of media a main numbered FFs will get (barring the MMO entries, but even they will get more time of days than say a new Tales will). Kingdom Hearts is probably the only other one, but I think it's a special case considering it's western friendly crossover partner.

With Bravely Default, maybe things are changing. We'll see, though I'm skeptic. But no way is Final Fantasy some kind of faded afterthought. Less important than the PS2 days, okay sure, but it's one of those franchises that remain pretty important. It's honestly probably the only JRPG with any real international importance.

 

[Iceman]

Internet myth. FFXIII, despite the internet hate, was a successful endeavor. The main financial issues came from the amount of money that Square put into the entire Crystalis project which didn't pan out. But XIII was still a success for them, and Final Fantasy is still more or less the only JRPG that has any real international significance. Just the fact that there's so much media focused on FFXV shows that. Seems Bravely Default has some good buzz, but it's still in it's infancy.

Unless you meant game company there, which is probably true. But you can say that about pretty much all the Japanese companies outside Nintendo, though. Almost all the Japanese giants of the PS2 era failed to transition well into this one.

I was talking about myself when using the word afterthought in regard to FF post XIII. Final Fantasy was my no.1 series and the game I anticipated most at one point (around VII & VIII time but continued up to XIII minus the MMOs). XIII was the sole dictator of which console I was going to get. And I didn't hate XIII and I liked XIII 2. But I did think the magic of previous titles was missing and I think the developers were at fault.

The concept of Final Fantasy also started to blend in with the other 100 or so good games of the generation to me. Series like Mass Effect, Gears of War, Uncharted & God Of War have taken it's place as my favourite series for different reasons and there are so many series that are at least on a level with FF if not better nowadays.. Halo, Bioshock, Assassin's Creed, Arkham, Elder Scrolls........

It used to be my 1st thought whenever gaming came up. In the latter part of last gen it didn't always even make it into conversations about games. I think XV looks like the kind of game that could have kept FF where it was for me but coming now that other new and existing major series are batting up there, it will likely have to exist alongside them rather than smash them all out the way. I'm really optimistic though that it will allow me to recreate my love for this franchise while bringing it bursting on to next gen and attracting a load of new fans while regaining many lost ones.

 

[Tron Bonne]

I was talking about myself when using the word afterthought in regard to FF post XIII.

Ah well, if you were talking about your own personal feelings, then nothing I said matters.

[blackout]THOUGH IT'S ALL TRUE![/blackout]

 

[Iceman]

Ah well, if you were talking about your own personal feelings, then nothing I said matters.

[blackout]THOUGH IT'S ALL TRUE![/blackout]

Haha

Was FFXIII 2 an afterthought to others as well or just me? I guess I don't even really know because I stopped following its progress. And I didn't really hear much about it. Strange because I actually liked it a lot when I got round to playing it. XIII was obviously a huge deal regardless of its reception and future FF's that look "big" and aren't a sequel will also always be a huge deal as that fanbase will always hope the next one is the one that takes the series back or close to the top.

On a separate note I think analysing any project that has a history of doing amazingly is difficult when it does very well (but not as amazingly) and has a mixed reception. I think Havok touched on this. It's a bit like The Phantom Menace which did massive box office but much of that was guaranteed just from the hard work of the Original Trilogy. Who knows how much better these mixed reception behemoths could have done (and how much better a future they could have set up for their sequels) if they had been made to the same reception as their predecessors?