Uncharted 2 May Serve As Inspiration For Future FFs
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves"Measuring stick" games like Uncharted 2: Among Thieves can have a profound impact on designers everywhere, even if the projects in question aren't exactly action/adventure titles.
Take Final Fantasy, for instance. Most would assume that FF and Uncharted have very little to do with one another, but considering the raging success of last year's masterpiece from Naughty Dog, even Square-Enix is standing up and taking notice. As noted by PS3Center, FFXIII director Motomu Toriyama referenced Uncharted during a speech at the Game Developers Conference. He spoke about the differences between Western and Japanese gaming preferences and ideals, and he admitted that player interaction in FFXIII was almost exclusively found in combat sequences. In the future, he'd like to bring the player more into the cut-scenes; his inspiration for this is last year's award-winning sequel. Said Toriyama:
"I think there will be more interactivity (in future Final Fantasy cut scenes) — if you have 1000 flying dragons, hopping from one dragon to the other would be great fun. If you can achieve that compared with Uncharted 2, I think that Final Fantasy is going to replicate the masterpieces of film, and that is certainly one of our goals."
We've known for a long time that Square-Enix has wanted to include aspects of film in each and every Final Fantasy installment, so this comment should come as no surprise to avid followers. It's just interesting to see so many different developers looking to the best games of the generation for new ideas and concepts; it's not about "stealing," it's about advancing forward by paying homage to breakthroughs made by others. Nothing wrong with that.
Related Game(s): Final Fantasy XIII
3/14/2010 9:06:19 PM Ben Dutka
Put this on your webpage or blog:
Email this to a friend
Follow PSX Extreme on Twitter
Comments (72 posts)
Kowhoho
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 11:38:31 PM
.....Seriously though, this is a good thing. This is one area where Uncharted excels and just about any other game genre could do the types of things that Naughty Dog has done and benefit greatly.
4 up, 2 down
godsman
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 11:39:10 PM
If Square Enix wants to ever reach Uncharted quality, make it exclusive. Many exclusive PS3 games are only possible for a reason. Even Xbox games that are exclusive look better than multi-platform games.
8 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 11:58:21 PM
Square already admitted FPS had some influence on FFXIII and it's turning out as a BAD one. Final Fantasy need no influence other then Final Fantasy.
9 up, 2 down
MysteriousMagus
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 12:40:36 AM
But I agree... I hate how Square are trying so fu**ing hard to westernize their JRPGS!
It's nonsense... because it will never be fully western or J its like a bastard child... it will never ever work. It didn't IMO with XII... I just want it to be like the old days... like FFX!
1 up, 0 down
Mavfan321
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 4:08:17 AM
Last edited by Mavfan321 on 3/15/2010 4:11:15 AM
0 up, 0 down
totozero18
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 6:16:56 AM
Last edited by totozero18 on 3/15/2010 6:18:44 AM
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 10:43:43 AM
2 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 10:08:03 PM
Reply
10 up, 0 down
Qubex
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 10:22:16 PM
SONY WHERE ARE YOOOoooouuUUUUU in all this!!!
...and the tune goes...
"wwwaaaaaadddaaa waadadddaaa waaadaaa wada wada... wadda you doing!!!"
Q!
" waadaa... wadda you doing!!! "
Last edited by Qubex on 3/14/2010 10:24:07 PM
7 up, 0 down
johnld
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 12:16:14 AM
3 up, 0 down
SmokeyPSD
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 10:10:41 PM
Reply
Santa Monica. We're flattered that other developers are trying emulate us, but we really just focus on our own work, and try and better our own abilities.
Square. We want to be more like call of duty. we want to be more fast paced. we want to be more like uncharted, we want to be more western, we want to be more loved, we want to be more understood... I am sick of SE... I really am... With all these ridiculous statements they are going to simply kill my interest in buying another FF again completely, im already going back and forth whether i should buy FFXIII.
7 up, 1 down
Jawknee
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 10:16:35 PM
7 up, 1 down
SmokeyPSD
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 11:00:58 PM
1 up, 0 down
NoSmokingBandit
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 10:23:42 PM
Reply
However, if you are going to draw inspiration from one western game it might as well be Uncharted 2. Seeing as its awesome and stuff.
Last edited by NoSmokingBandit on 3/14/2010 10:24:11 PM
1 up, 0 down
maxpontiac
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 10:25:11 PM
Reply
4 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 10:30:04 PM
6 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 10:29:31 PM
Reply
1. How to stay exclusive.
2. How not to pander to immoral influences coming from from filthy rich unimaginative companies way too lazy to bother making more than 4 or 5 of their own 1st party game.
3. How not to chop up a full game's worth of content out of your games just for more financial gain later.
4. How to change "gaming's history", in a good way.
(And most of all)..........
5. How to show gratitude to your humongously loyal fan-base.
16 up, 0 down
SolidFantasy
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 6:05:17 PM
I guess you could just tell square enix to STOP SUCKING!!!... figuratively that is.
1 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 10:41:07 PM
Reply
Wada, Toriyama... I'm comin' for your necks. Who says gaining trophies is pointless?
6 up, 0 down
tes37
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 11:00:11 PM
Reply
7 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 10:48:53 AM
It's almost like they are ashamed of their own style or culture and are so infatuated with Western culture that they want to imitate it. Quite why they would be so ashamed of their original game culture I don't know. But, it's clear that they are not looking within.
2 up, 0 down
Fane1024
Saturday, March 27, 2010 @ 5:41:38 PM
The problem is not that Japanese developers are finally looking to develop. It's that they haven't been doing it for the last decade or more and the changes are now too radical for the long-time fans, who seem to want to play NES games for the rest of time.
Also, S-E don't seem to understand WHICH aspects of Western games to emulate.
If they had actually developed the Japanese tradition over the last while to keep up with the innovations in Western games, we'd probably be playing a turn-based game, though it would be vastly superior to old turn-based mechanics.
0 up, 0 down
Alienange
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 11:07:00 PM
Reply
0 up, 3 down
LegendaryWolfeh
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 11:18:23 PM
0 up, 3 down
Kowhoho
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 11:39:31 PM
;D
Last edited by Kowhoho on 3/14/2010 11:39:48 PM
1 up, 2 down
kraygen
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 11:26:33 PM
Reply
However after seeing the direction that SE is going, this statement makes me sick with worry. Is the next big FF game going to be a mixture of fps, button mashing, and interactive cut scenes?
Heck, street fighter, tekken, and mortal kombat are all popular, maybe you should put some of that in the next FF.
I can see it now,
Final Fantasy XV
Genre: RPG, Fighter, Action/adventure, Flight sim, Racing, Sports, Strategy.
Yeah, that's the FF I've been waiting for, come on SE, get a grip on reality and let go of the fat checks that will ruin your once good name.
4 up, 0 down
kraygen
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 3:30:03 PM
1 up, 0 down
Scarecrow
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 11:29:37 PM
Reply
Poor FF...its fall started with 13....
Though, At least they're influenced by a great game
(why can't they understand that all we want is an rpg? With great story?)
3 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 11:40:53 PM
0 up, 1 down
Scarecrow
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 11:50:50 PM
In part because even Ben admits that the Vagrant Story/Dragon Age battle system ain't as great as ATB, yet it is a good/fun system. And that is reflected in many reviews, including psxe.
FFXIII on the other hand is exposed in most reviews. A STRAIGHT game with so many limitations outside the "crazy graphics."
1 up, 0 down
Fane1024
Saturday, March 27, 2010 @ 5:54:27 PM
Meanwhile, the characters stand in a line and step forward to attack, just like they did in Final Fantasy I.
While not perfect, the system in FFXII was a vast improvement over everything that preceded it (even the Judgement Wheel).
Last edited by Fane1024 on 3/27/2010 5:57:16 PM
0 up, 0 down
Hezzron
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 11:50:15 PM
Reply
5 up, 0 down
just2skillf00l
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 12:08:28 AM
Reply
3 up, 0 down
johnld
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 12:13:01 AM
Reply
Last edited by johnld on 3/15/2010 12:13:38 AM
6 up, 1 down
Naztycuts
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 12:49:55 AM
0 up, 1 down
Highlander
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 10:49:58 AM
OMFG! Two words that should never be used next to each other. It's like matter and anti-matter.
1 up, 1 down
johnld
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 1:46:36 PM
0 up, 0 down
Naztycuts
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 12:55:59 AM
Reply
7 up, 0 down
Alienange
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 12:59:13 PM
0 up, 0 down
___________
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 1:35:03 AM
Reply
BLACK should be because it is by far the best, funnest, most amazing shooter ever released.
nothing has even come close to what black did.
this is why bodycount is number 1 on my list, if they did black with the ps2 imagine what they can do with current gen consoles.
1 up, 2 down
Snaaaake
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 4:12:19 AM
Reply
*Play FFX with tears in my eyes*
1 up, 0 down
totozero18
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 6:25:38 AM
0 up, 0 down
Snaaaake
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 6:43:59 AM
4 up, 0 down
JackC8
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 6:46:32 AM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 6:49:42 AM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
GuernicaReborn
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 10:32:11 AM
Reply
6 up, 0 down
coverton341
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 11:04:46 AM
Reply
Square-Enix execs were sitting in the board room running numbers and saw how well COD and other first person shooters were doing and decided to draw inspiration from them when making FFXIII. After which upon release they heard the rumblings of the fanbase and their general disillusionment with the new direction.
Now they are sitting in the board room running numbers and checking reactions to games and have found that Uncharted 2 is selling AND fans like it immensely so they are going to draw inspiration from that.
I have a better idea, and this may never be realised but hey, here it goes:
Hold an interview with someone, anyone and let fans of the Final Fantasy series call in and give you direct feedback. Have a twitter page for other regions and listen to fan feedback from that. Make a facebook page for feedback and actually listen to it.
I think that it is a great thing when a development team looks at a game that is doing well and they draw inspiration from it and try to do better, WHEN THAT GAME IS IN A GENRE THAT IS COMPARABLE! Stop looking to the best selling game in general and try to base a damn RPG on it. Look at the best selling RPG and base an RPG on it. Come up with something new and innovative in its own right.
Now, all this ranting aside I do like the thought of them getting the player more interactive with the cut scenes but last time they started talking about drawing inspiration from other games it was FPS and well, everyone who has played FFXIII has seen the results.
I will say that it is a terrific game, it's just not a terrific RPG, and it really isn't that great of a Final Fantasy. It could just be the nostalgia kicking in but my favourite moments in FF games were just exploring, building up my characters, searching for all the little hidden nooks and crannies, and doing all the little side things that didn't really matter. This game feels more like I am in the passenger seat of an Indy car (yes I know that don't have passenger seats) and I am just watching the scenery fly by, and what beautiful scenery it is.
Enough of my grumblings though, and here is to hoping that the next instalment takes into consideration some of the main gripes a lot of fans seem to have with this one.
5 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 12:38:55 PM
Last edited by Highlander on 3/15/2010 12:39:19 PM
3 up, 0 down
Alienange
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 1:02:31 PM
I can't believe you sai- oh, never mind.
1 up, 0 down
coverton341
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 2:07:16 PM
Couldn't agree more with you. I was trying to convey that but I don't really know how it came across but therein lies another problem with FFXIII, who is the main character? There doesn't seem to be a main focus on any particular entity to me and therefore I just don't make a real connection to any of the characters. I mean in previous games there was a single "this is the main character" character and you could connect with them as an extension of yourself and therein connect with the entire cast through those interactions as that main character. This is all just my opinion of course.
0 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 1:01:58 PM
Reply
5 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 1:07:20 PM
...and the characters will talk to themselves in film noir style inner dialog...
3 up, 0 down
Naztycuts
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 1:53:13 PM
0 up, 0 down
coverton341
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 2:09:35 PM
Watch out for Final Fantasy XV: Lord of War!
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 3:34:32 PM
0 up, 0 down
Irievibes
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 5:38:05 PM
Reply
next FF will jsut be one huge movie where you just time a button press otherwise it reverts back to the previous chapter if you miss the QTE, it will be called FF:the play button chronicles
or better yet, "Final fantasy tedium sixteen, that has a nicer ring to it, yeah lets go with that"...*piotures the above conversation and shudders*
Last edited by Irievibes on 3/15/2010 5:41:04 PM
0 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Monday, March 15, 2010 @ 6:21:32 PM
Reply
And so much so, that SE will probably be taking it's future cues from Heavy Rain for their next big FFXVI project, but with another huge "WESTERLY-WADA'S POTENTLY-PATENTED FLAIR-FAIL" systems added into it.
FFXVI will be played just like a interactive game, except there will be a whole new wada inspired theme of non-interactiveness to it.
SE's will be calling their brand new ground breaking style of game play,.......a "MOVIE"!
(since that's exactly the direction that wada's already stated he wanted to take SE into).
0 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Reply
Sunday, March 14, 2010 @ 9:57:08 PM
I love Uncharted 2. Quite possible the best game on the PS3 so far. But seriously, i want Final Fantasy, not Shooter Fantasy.
Last edited by Jawknee on 3/14/2010 9:57:22 PM