Should Final Fantasy "go back to it's roots?"

[Goldenbane]

I know that there was only one (maybe two??) Final Fantasy game that let you custumize and create your own party (the first FF game for Nintendo) but would anyone be interested if Squaresoft went back to this for the next FF game...just for old times sake...and it was fully updated with lots of new and neat stuff to do? I'd really like this, as Final Fantasy hasn't been as fun for me when I'm forced to play a character I don't really care for.

Just wondering about opinions. :)

[Captain Sarcasm]

I know that there was only one (maybe two??) Final Fantasy game that let you custumize and create your own party (the first FF game for Nintendo) but would anyone be interested if Squaresoft went back to this for the next FF game...just for old times sake...and it was fully updated with lots of new and neat stuff to do? I'd really like this, as Final Fantasy hasn't been as fun for me when I'm forced to play a character I don't really care for.

Just wondering about opinions. :)

I think they could take a cue from Knights of the Old Republic - you create your character, the other characters are already preset, and you can choose how all the interaction between them goes.

You combine western style development with eastern style fighting, you just might unleash a force capapble of destroying the known universe and replacing it with something stranger.

Or, possibly, making some totally badass videogames.

One of the two.

[Alex]

I think they could take a cue from Knights of the Old Republic - you create your character, the other characters are already preset, and you can choose how all the interaction between them goes.

You combine western style development with eastern style fighting, you just might unleash a force capapble of destroying the known universe and replacing it with something stranger.

Or, possibly, making some totally badass videogames.

One of the two.
I've read a few times that more non linear, free form prgs that have a bit of popularity in america aren't as popular in japan.
PC Rpgs aren't as popular there i guess would be the common descriptor.
Now, i don't know if thats true, but being that Square is a japanese based company, it might explain why they don't go this route.
Even in the first FF game, the story, what there was of it, didn't really change depending on who you choose as a character.

[Captain Sarcasm]

I've read a few times that more non linear, free form prgs that have a bit of popularity in america aren't as popular in japan.
PC Rpgs aren't as popular there i guess would be the common descriptor.
Now, i don't know if thats true, but being that Square is a japanese based company, it might explain why they don't go this route.
Even in the first FF game, the story, what there was of it, didn't really change depending on who you choose as a character.

Well, I never claimed it was realistic...just what I think would make a good RPG.

[Alex]

Well, I never claimed it was realistic...just what I think would make a good RPG.
I'd liek it if they did a sequel to FF6 myself, but it will never happen.
DAMN YOU SQUARE!

[Sanagi]

If Square made a game like that they wouldn't call it Final Fantasy, they'd make some new title or pass it off as yet another sequel in a series that used to be good, like SaGa or Seiken Densetsu.

The only thing I ask of Square is that they do something with Ogre Battle. They bought the company, they should get some use out of it.

[FunkyGreenJerusalem]

Just go play Fallout 1 or 2.

That game defined RPG for me.

Everytime I hear RPG that's what part of me expects, and is always let down.

Though Baldurs Gate 2 was close, as was Torment.

but nothing tops Fallout.
(especially when you did the boxing part and could be called Dr.Fist)

[Endless]

I know that there was only one (maybe two??) Final Fantasy game that let you custumize and create your own party (the first FF game for Nintendo) but would anyone be interested if Squaresoft went back to this for the next FF game...just for old times sake...and it was fully updated with lots of new and neat stuff to do? I'd really like this, as Final Fantasy hasn't been as fun for me when I'm forced to play a character I don't really care for.

Just wondering about opinions. :)

For the next Final Fantasy game, I'd rather it stick to the later formula of Final Fantasy VII-IX, than go back to it's roots. I want my characters to have unique personalities and abilities, rather than create them myself. It just makes for a much better story. I've played Final Fantasy I, and although it's fun, the story is almost non-existent. You run around from place to place helping people and fighting monsters. Warriors of light save the world blah blah yada yada yada. There's no character interaction in your group, just people addressing you to do things. It's been a while since a normal Final Fantasy came out anyway (Final Fantasy X), so I'm looking forward to FFXII.

If you want to customize and create your own character and party, play Final Fantasy XI. Also, have you had the pleasure of playing Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls for GBA? It's the first two FF's revamped with nice graphics and more things to do. They're enjoyable, and provide some nice nostalgia.

[meethraa]

Just go play Fallout 1 or 2.

That game defined RPG for me.

Everytime I hear RPG that's what part of me expects, and is always let down.

Though Baldurs Gate 2 was close, as was Torment.

but nothing tops Fallout.
(especially when you did the boxing part and could be called Dr.Fist)
As someone who's currently playing both Fallout 2 and Torment (and KOTOR, actually) I just can't get into the later. I've read so many good things about it but now that I finally got it I can't help but feel I'm missing something.
Does it get better after the first few hours?
One of the things that really annoy me is never knowing which areas are supposed to be ground where characters can walk and which aren't. Some of it has to do with 2D perspective, I guess, but a most of it is because of the weird level design.

[Alex]

As someone who's currently playing both Fallout 2 and Torment (and KOTOR, actually) I just can't get into the later. I've read so many good things about it but now that I finally got it I can't help but feel I'm missing something.
Does it get better after the first few hours?
One of the things that really annoy me is never knowing which areas are supposed to be ground where characters can walk and which aren't. Some of it has to do with 2D perspective, I guess, but a most of it is because of the weird level design.
But you love fallout 2, right?

[meethraa]

Oh, yeah. Fallout 2 is definitely one of my favourites. I hadn't played it in a few years but it holds up.

[Sadyv]

I'd love to see some sort of all-star Final Fantasy game, combining the worlds and character from 4-6 into one great epic adventure, taking places over multiple dimensions and worlds.

[MKTerra]

I'd love to see some sort of all-star Final Fantasy game, combining the worlds and character from 4-6 into one great epic adventure, taking places over multiple dimensions and worlds.What, like Kingdom Hearts? :)

[Endless]

What, like Kingdom Hearts? :)

It's too bad Kingdom Hearts doesn't involve the old school characters from 4-6. Oh well, Kingdom Hearts II should be a blast anyway.

[Sadyv]

Sorry, never played Kingdom hearts. Isn't that the game that has Disney and Square characters in it?

[Spiff]

What kind of Final Fantasy game (post FF6) wouldn't have an annoyingly angsty main character? At this point it kind of defines the series.

[Captain Sarcasm]

What kind of Final Fantasy game (post FF6) wouldn't have an annoyingly angsty main character? At this point it kind of defines the series.

Tidus and Zidane weren't angsty. They were incredibly well-adjusted for all the sh*t that got piled on their heads.

[Draconomicon]

Honestly, Im trying to play Final Fantasy 7 and can never play longer than a few minutes.
I have now Aeris in my team and made it to the train graveyard and am already bored again.

I'd rather play Breath of Fire, Chrono Cross, Final Fantasy tactics or old school SNES FF...

[Spiff]

Tidus and Zidane weren't angsty. They were incredibly well-adjusted for all the sh*t that got piled on their heads.

I thought Tidus was kind of angsty, what with all the issues with his father.

I can't recall anything Zidane did. I actually can't recall a whole lot of FF9, but I think Dagger was fairly angsty. I think.

[Ray192]

Indeed, FF should go back to its roots. That is, its REAL roots. Like actually trying to be a RPG again. I just detest how FF and DQ turned RPGs into interactive movies nowdays. I have adventure games for that, thank you.

[Hiromi]

Tidus not angsty? Did you play the same FFX game as I did?

[Endless]

Indeed, FF should go back to its roots. That is, its REAL roots. Like actually trying to be a RPG again. I just detest how FF and DQ turned RPGs into interactive movies nowdays. I have adventure games for that, thank you.

Except RPG's storylines tend to be better than any adventure game. I think the movies tend to enhance the experience, with the exception of Xenosaga, in which it just became too excessive.

[Captain Sarcasm]

Tidus not angsty? Did you play the same FFX game as I did?

Most of the time he was cheerful, optimistic and genuinly trying to cheer up Yuna. That doesn't spell 'angst' to me.

[Ray192]

Except RPG's storylines tend to be better than any adventure game. I think the movies tend to enhance the experience, with the exception of Xenosaga, in which it just became too excessive.

storylines? It's more grand and epic, but the presentation of it really lacks, and that is what actually matters. When was the last time a RPG had the mystery, humor and experience of a good adventure game, like Grim Fantago? And I'm not talking about movies, but the game BECOMING a movie. Square and Enix proved to the world you can just slap a genre tag on any random game and get away with it. Of course, one must mention Planescape:Torment. That game has better storylines, dialogues and characters than any RPG I've played, and it's not nearly as movie-like as say, The Xenos. Frankly, even Fallout felt better, mainly since you feel really good when you make the effort to find out the storyline, and not have it handed out on a platter. That kind of storytelling is simply much better than movie-style revelations, IMO.

[Endless]

storylines? It's more grand and epic, but the presentation of it really lacks, and that is what actually matters. When was the last time a RPG had the mystery, humor and experience of a good adventure game, like Grim Fantago? And I'm not talking about movies, but the game BECOMING a movie. Square and Enix proved to the world you can just slap a genre tag on any random game and get away with it. Of course, one must mention Planescape:Torment. That game has better storylines, dialogues and characters than any RPG I've played, and it's not nearly as movie-like as say, The Xenos. Frankly, even Fallout felt better, mainly since you feel really good when you make the effort to find out the storyline, and not have it handed out on a platter. That kind of storytelling is simply much better than movie-style revelations, IMO.

What game are you even talking about and what RPGs have you actually played through? The Xenosaga games aren't even made by Square Enix.

[Kirayoshi]

I thought Tidus was kind of angsty, what with all the issues with his father.

I can't recall anything Zidane did. I actually can't recall a whole lot of FF9, but I think Dagger was fairly angsty. I think.
Hey, if your mom tried to kill you and your kingdom then was destroyed, your life wouldn't be a Zoloft commercial either!

Dagger was more determined than angsty(except for the portion of the game where she lost her voice). A real self-starter that one.

Zidane was more happy-go-lucky, frequently trying to put the moves on Dagger.

Freya, kind of angsty.

Aramant; sullen, loner but not angst.

Eiko; too cute.

Steiner; comic relief

Vivi; timid but determined

Quina; first cousin of the Cookie Monster!

Not a lot of angst there. Certainly not on the levels of Cloud or Squall.

[pirulaso]

i havent enjoyed FF games since probably the first one and chrystal chronicles. i think they should go back to this idea.

[saintjon]

Although I like the older games way better than the ones I don't think they should go back, they need to take steps forward, just different steps IMO.

FFXI was pure garbage btw. Probably the most poorly designed, unfun FF ever. Once the novelty of all the online people wore off I found myself in a distinctly poor game, and got the hell out of it. For anyone who is going to want an example I'll provide a few: levelling. If you're going to make so you need that much more experience to level up as time goes on it would be nice to be able to increase your earning power too. Fighting. Boy this is exciting, here I stand watching my guy fighting away, waiting for my job abilities to become available again. I have a weapon skill ready but if I use it the pt leader will start swearing at me for wasting a skillchain. I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself.

Anyways, I think they should drop FF for awhile. Seriously. go play with some other concepts. Make an FF after several years' absence that will absolutely blow people's minds.

I have a dream, that someday video games will be judged, not by the extremity of their cinemas, but by the depth of their gameplay.

[Endless]

Anyways, I think they should drop FF for awhile. Seriously. go play with some other concepts. Make an FF after several years' absence that will absolutely blow people's minds.

I have a dream, that someday video games will be judged, not by the extremity of their cinemas, but by the depth of their gameplay.

Of course they'd never drop FF as long as they were making money, and that's really what it comes down to. The name Final Fantasy is worth a lot in itself regardless of the game quality. There'd also be a serious uproar against Square Enix, because everyone always wants to know what the next FF is, and when it's coming out. From what I've been hearing, Final Fantasy XII's gameplay should be promising anyways. At least I can say that I loved Star Ocean 3's battle system, and that came out in the past year. Oh, and although I can't argue the fact that FFXI is garbage, I'm still an addicted player of it anyway. :p

[Dizzy D]

As someone who's currently playing both Fallout 2 and Torment (and KOTOR, actually) I just can't get into the later. I've read so many good things about it but now that I finally got it I can't help but feel I'm missing something.
Does it get better after the first few hours?
One of the things that really annoy me is never knowing which areas are supposed to be ground where characters can walk and which aren't. Some of it has to do with 2D perspective, I guess, but a most of it is because of the weird level design.

Stick with Planescape. I guess you are not out of Sigil yet? Just bite through those first missions (I always hate the early missions in RPGs as well.) Once you leave Sigil the game and story will probably pull you in. They did with me.

[titanfan]

I don't mind whether I can create my own characters or not. There are enough RPGs that let you do that where I can get my fix somewhere else. I just don't want them to do something like Final Fantasy 8, where all the characters were pretty much totally generic and didn't really have any uniqueness to them.

If there's one change I think they should make permanent though, I think that is bigger party sizes. WTF cares if they can't put as detailed character portraits on the scene. Bigger Parties = More fun and more combat strategies/options!

[founder81]

I don't mind whether I can create my own characters or not. There are enough RPGs that let you do that where I can get my fix somewhere else. I just don't want them to do something like Final Fantasy 8, where all the characters were pretty much totally generic and didn't really have any uniqueness to them.

If there's one change I think they should make permanent though, I think that is bigger party sizes. WTF cares if they can't put as detailed character portraits on the scene. Bigger Parties = More fun and more combat strategies/options!

Didn't FF X kinda fix this?

You only had 3 on screen but you could change your entire party in and out when needed.

And FF XI you can have up to 18 characters (6 characters per party, but up to 3 parties can form an alliance to fight any thing hard.)

[saintjon]

LOL one of the labours of Hercules should have been to try to get an 18 member alliance to achieve anything beyond swear at each other and get killed lol.

ff 4 baby, it's all about the 5 man super-team.

[meethraa]

Stick with Planescape. I guess you are not out of Sigil yet? Just bite through those first missions (I always hate the early missions in RPGs as well.) Once you leave Sigil the game and story will probably pull you in. They did with me.
Eh, I recently unistalled the game, but I kept the saved games and I'll give it another try once I get my new PC.

I think I'm still in Sigil, yeah. I just got teamed with the girl with cat features to go find the place where she found my body. Or something like that.

[TheGreenSamurai]

One thing before I give my opinion, what the crap?! 50% of all posts on a thread asking should Final Fantasy "go back to its roots" didn't even answer the question! :confused:

characters, party size, graphics and nostalgia put aside--Final Fantasy should not go back to its roots--The reason being, most of the time when a sequil(or a new game based in on an old setting and characters)is made of a popular game, it can't ever be as good as the original unless there was a very HORRIBLE flaw with the game itself. Granted, Final Fantasy X-2 looked great, unfortunately I have yet to play it though. :(

I guess if they did make a game where you could watch: Fighter(Warrior), BM, RM, WM, Theif and BB(Monk) kick ass and light up the 3-D world of Final Fantasy One, I wouldn't complain! :D

Goody goody gumdrops!!!
--Fighter, total idiot, but great with implements of DOOM!

[Endless]

I guess if they did make a game where you could watch: Fighter(Warrior), BM, RM, WM, Theif and BB(Monk) kick ass and light up the 3-D world of Final Fantasy One, I wouldn't complain! :D


Thats what Final Fantasy XI wanted to be, although technically it's not the same world. On a side note, I dislike FFXI; it tends to annoy me.

Yep, FF shouldn't and won't go back to it's roots. There are too many fanboys who would be upset if they didn't get their fill of movies, angsty teenage characters, and girly villains anyway. :p

[saintjon]

That's one thing I liked about Suikoden lol,the return of manly villains. Golbez should go around and pimp-smack the bejeezus out of some of these FF villains we've got prancing around now.

FFXI could have been glorious if they hadn't screwed the pooch on levelling and fighting so bad. I mean the whole game revolves around fighting and levelling (and getting better gear to fight and level with) so you'd think they would've worked out something a little less likely to inspire suicide.

P.S. Had a totally awesome but less common job combo of Monk/Thief and you wouldn't believe how much bs you have to put up with from arsehole drks and stuff who think they're better than you even though you consistently lay down more damage.

[founder81]

P.S. Had a totally awesome but less common job combo of Monk/Thief and you wouldn't believe how much bs you have to put up with from arsehole drks and stuff who think they're better than you even though you consistently lay down more damage.

I can believe that quite easily. Its people like that, that suck the fun out fo the game. SOme people need to remember Game = fun.

[saintjon]

all I have to say is at level 41 or whatever sneak attack+Raging Fists pretty much speaks for itself.