Final Fantasy Should Take A Cue From Human Revolution

No, I don't mean Final Fantasy should adopt the sci-fi theme or the blend of first-person action and role-playing elements. I'm speaking on a bigger, more general scale.

Look, Square Enix has taken a ton of flak from long-time hardcore FF fans, and it's mostly because their beloved franchise has changed significantly. FFXIII just didn't feel like a normal progression for the exalted series, and many complained that it was closer to an action/adventure quest. And while many will attack the game's combat mechanic, lack of exploration, character design, etc., the bottom line is that most complaints stemmed from one problem: FFXIII just didn't feel like Final Fantasy.

Ask most any disappointed FF fan. All they really want is a next-gen, modernized version of the revered titles they've known and loved. Well, this is exactly what you get when you play Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Know why? Because it's Deus Ex through and through. The instant I started playing, I was reminded of all my hours with the other installments. Granted, the game can feel a little dated because of this, but not to the point where it hinders our enjoyment, and not to the point where it significantly impacts the production's quality. It's the epitome of what FF fans wish they had received: a newer, sharper, updated version of a game - or set of games - they've always adored.

So you can do it, Square Enix. Eidos made you exactly what the fans wanted. And those fans will respond; I can almost guarantee it. Maybe, just maybe this is the wake-up call S-E needed. You can't lag behind and you always have to keep pushing from a technological standpoint. You have to adapt to changing trends in the market. I understand all that. But you can do that and still retain the core structure of a franchise that made it so damn popular in the first place!

Related Game(s): Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Tags: deus ex, human revolution, square enix, final fantasy

8/22/2011 9:06:05 PM Ben Dutka

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Comments (40 posts)

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Riku994
Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 9:31:03 PM
Reply

If the critical reception of Versus doesn't open their eyes, nothing will. On that note, I would just like to say that I don't think Versus will sell well, but it will have better review scores than FF13. I think this because carrying the FF13 title is bad for any game at this point, and SE will have to market the HELL out of it for any good sales numbers to come up. I'm sorry for going so off topic but this was the closest thing I could get to.

Last edited by Riku994 on 8/22/2011 9:33:23 PM

0 up, 1 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 10:09:36 PM

The problem is you are presupposing that Versus will ever release :)

6 up, 1 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 12:16:56 AM

Riku, you have my thanks tonight. Your comment was the inspiration for this editorial:

http://www.velocitygamer.com/pt/Should-Final-Fantasy-Versus-XIII-Drop-The-XIII/blog.htm

Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 8/23/2011 12:17:12 AM

2 up, 1 down

Riku994
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 1:32:37 AM

My reply didn't make it apparently. That was a good read, I'm glad I inspired it :)

0 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 10:46:13 AM

Good read World.

I replied to the first commenter, as well.

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:46:05 PM

Appreciate the visit guys :)

0 up, 0 down

FatherSun
Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 9:34:21 PM
Reply

Have not played DE:HR yet but if your review and others are anywhere near the actual experience then it seems like an excellent game.

It just reminds me that YES! Ben we are LONG overdue for and Excellent Final Fantasy!

Also Ben, Do you NOT consider Final Fantasy Sci-Fi Fantasy? More Fantasy than Sci-Fi perhaps?

Last edited by FatherSun on 8/22/2011 9:42:49 PM

0 up, 0 down

OPHIDIAN
Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 10:00:54 PM

Magic more than science fiction.

Difference being that SF is plausible.

..........

I really find it odd that SE are doing this.

They need to focus on the fans that made them who they are, their initial target audience: the Japanese gamers.

Use the ff title for ff fans.

Use a different title for the cod audience.

how about ff combat 14 and ff14 :S - same worlds but one is Action other a true rpg.

3 up, 0 down

Claire C
Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 10:12:47 PM

Yeah, FF has sci-fi in it, but I think he means the same sci-fi feel that Deus Ex HR specifically employs, which is the more noir, realistic type.

1 up, 0 down

FatherSun
Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 10:25:06 PM

@OPHIDIAN, In these times, who know what is truly plausible. ;> Human Revolution. Now that is certainly plausible. More than likely inevitable. Faster than I expected too.

@Claire C, More Fantasy then Sci-Fi it is then.

What FF is missing is that feeling of being involved in the universe within the game. Final Fantasy isn't only an Epic Story or Excellent Graphical presentation. It is more. It just felt like a part of you as you experienced it. Like you are visiting another world.

I exclude any versions because FF players can debate to no end. lol..

Last edited by FatherSun on 8/22/2011 10:29:33 PM

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 11:01:50 PM

FF is definitely Fantasy, it just happens to have followed an arc from medieval fantasy to steampunk culture to sci-fi atmosphere.

1 up, 0 down

shadowscorpio
Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 11:17:57 PM

I think that's why I like FF9 so much. It kind of took a step back into the mediavel feel. I would love for FF15 to do that. Not that I minded the steakpunk style of FF7. Heck , FF10 was pretty much a water based tropical world.

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 12:14:48 AM

It would be totally wild if FF went back in time again. IX was a real surprise in that way, loved it.

1 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 9:57:15 AM

Yeah, IX did have a unique and memorable feel just on that fact alone.

1 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 10:01:08 PM
Reply

Just give me the materia system again.....PLEASE.

I miss the grinding, the towns, the items management, the guys that are as hot as girls...give it back to me!

5 up, 1 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 10:11:27 PM

And the unnaturally large racks, bring them back too!

7 up, 1 down

Claire C
Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 10:16:53 PM

I bet SE will take a lot of the criticism to heart with FFXV. XIII-2 obviously wasn't gonna be a total overhaul, but they can set things right with a completely new game.

3 up, 0 down

FatherSun
Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 10:35:15 PM

Isn't it kinda freaky how it seems like SE can just flip a switch and give us exactly what we want? Like they simply just refuse to do it. Almost like they are toying with us.

A proper FF would have been a definite money maker. They had story telling and gameplay down pat. This gen graphic was supposed to exalt these games to new heights! Then... they just had to journey west...

Last edited by FatherSun on 8/22/2011 10:35:54 PM

2 up, 0 down

FatherSun
Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 10:43:01 PM

@World, I tried to give you 2 thumbs up! You know, one for each.(o)(o) But it didn't work.

Last edited by FatherSun on 8/22/2011 10:43:28 PM

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 11:03:15 PM

Nyaaa, Claire why did you have to post right after that comment?

0 up, 0 down

Claire C
Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 11:21:00 PM

Your big boob comment? Forgive me... :O

4 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 10:18:23 PM
Reply

I hope I get into Deus like you did Ben.

As for FF I think it's screwed, they won't pay any attention to this or any other game that gets its sequels right. The Brain Trust at SE will just release FFXIII-2 and keep wondering why it won't sell like previous FFs:

"Well, we went western and dropped everything the fans liked to get new fans and that didn't work, we added some of the stuff back in that we stripped out and that didn't work, so I guess we just have to make it even more western."

Short of firing Wada and winning back Hironobu Sakaguchi I think the series is just headed down the tubes. It pains me so much to say that too because FF is the series I've always known would be awesome forever.

1 up, 0 down

FatherSun
Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 10:37:16 PM

So you have decided to pick up Deus after all? Good Revolutioning to you.

2 up, 0 down

johnld
Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 10:51:13 PM

@world

yeah, i dont think they'll listen. if they just blatantly ignore the time when their website crashed after they asked an obvious question, i dont think they'll listen to their fans complaining about final fantasy games not being final fantasy.

2 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 10:58:25 PM

@Fatha Yup, it's coming tomorrow. I'm too weak :)

2 up, 0 down

shadowscorpio
Monday, August 22, 2011 @ 11:21:39 PM

@ World

I agree. Either that or make Tetsuya Nomura CEO. I feel TN's mind is in the right place for the series.

0 up, 0 down

main_event05
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:56:39 AM

off topic world and in response to your question. I can code, but i'm a noob at it, right now my main focus is environments and character design.

----------------------------------------------

maybe if we're lucky some other studio will come along and become what square was. But idk, i just have this feeling like, this will all pass. One day (soon i hope) SE, and maybe all of Japan, will come to their senses and go back to making games the way the did in the before time, during the long ago.

2 up, 0 down

Ultimadream
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:47:53 AM
Reply

Well I once again disagree with what has been said above, I enjoyed Final Fantasy XIII. It definatly had a connection and feel to the series, far more than XII or any of these ivalice games. The Ivalice games setting and gameplays styles feel more relatable to PC RPGS.

I personally could not stand XII, I have got through half of Vagarant Story which I like the story for but the dungeon crawler element, The enivroments just seem the seem all the way through. Tactics, well I don't like strategy RPG's so it's just not my cup of tea. Is there an open world in that game or is it just all battles, if there isn't a lot of you FF fans on the XIII Linear Hate Train have a lot to answer for. I have not played any of the other Tactics games or XII on the DS due to my unenjoyment of the other titles.

I have to admit still, I dont want a XIII-2, I enjoyed XIII, but for me I saw no reason to continue it. As for versus, like ev everyone else I'll have to wait and see. I just hope it is better than Type-0, which I played the Japanese demo the other day and found it awful. It's not a FF game, it's a Persona game.

0 up, 2 down

___________
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 5:16:57 AM
Reply

yes and no.
yes they should, thats basically the whole point of sequels!
no they wont because, well, $E are in the mindset that no one wants the old style back.
that and they think that there are more who like the new instead of the old, which is a utter crock of sh*t!
thats why you have to look to versus XIII, tis the only title where $E might go back to the old ways.
but the day that comes out is the day wardevil comes out!
wonder what happened to that?
last i heard of it was a closed demo for select few at E3 09.

0 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 6:26:26 AM
Reply

I just gotta ask: Is Deus Ex considered to be a japanese or western game by those of you who are into these things, since Eidos is owned by Square Enix?

Last edited by Beamboom on 8/23/2011 6:31:31 AM

0 up, 0 down

josephps3
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 8:01:01 AM

I have to say Western because the story actually makes sense and not convoluted and makes you roll your eyes. Its plausible real world issues.

3 up, 3 down

___________
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 9:54:48 AM

definitely western.
the art style, the gameplay, the characters.
tis why i hate calling these things RPGs, because whenever i do i think of the ps1 adventure classics.
just does not feel right.

1 up, 1 down

Teddie9
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 10:28:40 AM

I'm almost absolutely sure that it was Eidos Montreal who made the game. (Atleast nearly all the people in the dev diaries were french :p)

EDIT: So to answer your question, western.

Last edited by Teddie9 on 8/23/2011 10:29:15 AM

1 up, 1 down

Beamboom
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 11:31:22 AM

This is interesting: Three replies, three very different explanations. Is it western because of art style, game play, story or geographical location of developers?

For example, what is it about MGS4 or Vanquish that makes people classify them as so typical japanese as opposed to for example games like Crysis2 or Deus Ex?

Last edited by Beamboom on 8/23/2011 11:41:19 AM

0 up, 0 down

Teddie9
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 2:48:32 PM

It has to do with Ben's earlier articles to do with japanese flair. I think we can agree, even with out playing it, that the entire package (especially the plot) takes itself seriously.
On a side note the dark, gritty atmosphere presented in Deus Ex is uncommon in what we stereotype as japanese games.
Finally none of the characters SEEM to have the satirical wackiness found in games from the eastern side of the globe.
I didn't mean to make it sound that the game was western only because the people behind it were, I just thought there was some confusion about the influence...which I don't think Square had a hand in at all - maybe they helped with CGI or something like that.

1 up, 0 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:04:02 PM

joseph: If you don't have any clue about great Japanese stories that absolutely do exist, don't issue blanket statements. It gives away your age.

Beamboom: It's an Eidos game and Deus Ex has always been distinctly Western. I'm not sensing much Japanese influence at all.

2 up, 2 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:49:17 PM

Japanese RPG plots make sense, you just have to understand they deal with real life issues through allegory instead of stark realism. And you have to have a light heart and a remaining shred of childhood innocence. :)

3 up, 1 down

Beamboom
Friday, August 26, 2011 @ 2:27:45 AM

Ben: I believe you when you say they are distinctly western. What I am trying to find out is *why* they are so.

Teddie9: So MGS and Vanquish are then, by your logic, "typical japanese" because they have vacky elements/characters? If so, there are plenty western games who has crazy characters too? Or utterly unrealistic over-the-top action?

World: I do of course understand why the anime'ish games like many of those old-style top-down big headed cute adventure rpgs or todays wkc are "japanese" by nature. That's obvious. Or for that matter, the incredibly wacky Katamari games (I *love* those).

The reason why I ask is essentially because I don't understand why more traditional games like mgs4 and Vanquish (I've played both) are labelled "japanese", I just don't see their obvious difference from western stealth games or over-the-top action games.
This has obviously much to do with me being unexperienced with japanese games.
Again, I do not doubt what you guys claim, I just seek to be able to determine the difference myself.

And! Has ever a western developer made a typical japanese game?

Last edited by Beamboom on 8/26/2011 2:40:51 AM

0 up, 0 down

Douchebaguette
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 7:54:41 PM
Reply

I believe this game could certainly influence Square-Enix, however I reckon they'd take it the wrong way.

There is where I really reckon [hope] Xenoblade will make a difference. It's a J-RPG with tons of exploration and high as hell review scores. That game really gives Square-Enix a slap in the face.

0 up, 0 down

Ash33
Thursday, August 25, 2011 @ 4:13:31 PM
Reply

i feel the main reason why most of us arent happy with this final fantasy game is that it is NOT a final fantasy game... wheres the airships? the open atmosphere? the towns? the money system: REDICULOUS!!! killing 100 enemies barely yields you enough to buy a single health potion in this game (and you need that money in order to upgrade your weapons).. inability to control the other characters is a huge one too.. and the biggest--- no side quests!!!...... the fighting system,, well,, itll change over time and thats expected.. the story was fine (even tho a lot of things were never explained).. and everything else was decent... but it was not a final fantasy game; it really should have been a different name

0 up, 0 down

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