The ESRB Knows What's Missing

[Skyblade]

Playing my PSP version of FFVII, I notice the ESRB warning: "Comic Mischief". This was a huge portion of FFVII, and even the rating board notices it. It is part of the reason the game is so loved. So why has it been forgotten? Take the FFVII Compendium. Where's the lighthearted fun, the whimsy, the silliness? Everything is drab, gritty, and ultra-serious. How is that a continuation of FFVII? FFVII had dark moments, sure, but they by no means overwhelmed the game.

And it's not just the Compendium. The games have been getting further away from the whimsical comedy. IX also had a lot (they did do a good job capturing the nostalgic feel with it). X still had a sizeable portion, but considerably less than VII and IX. XII had only tiny lighthearted sections, and XIII only has one that I've seen so far, and it's just a Datalog entry.

What happened to the fun part of the worlds? The part where everything is trying to kill you but you still can't help but laugh at the ridiculous antics of the Moogles? The part where you crack up because you are running in terror from something as cute as a :tonberry:? Where are the jokes, the mischief, the bit where the characters unwind and you get insight into a happier world? Where is the whimsy?

Square needs to go back, and take a good long look at why FFVII was their most successful game ever. It wasn't because it had ultra-perfect graphics, or because it took itself ultra seriously all the time, because it didn't. Even the ESRB noticed what that game had. Bring back the whimsy, Square.

[Freya]

I kinda agree. I love IX cause it's so fun and light hearted. Now it's all drama llamas. Bring back the lulz!

[Vermachtnis]

I also concur. Needs characters like Cid, who fell asleep during an important meeting. All this new found seriousness is one of the reasons I didn't like Dissidia. That game took itself way to serious. I'm also playing Super Mario RPG, it's not Final Fantasy but still a Square game. It was really fun and doesn't take itself serious at all.

[VeloZer0]

Super Mario RPG was a little to un-serious for my tastes, but I do seriously miss the light hearted moments from the old games.

[Chris]

I kinda agree. I love IX cause it's so fun and light hearted. Now it's all drama llamas. Bring back the lulz!
I strongly agree with this post. IX was a great game, that didn't have that pending doom hanging over its head the entire game, even though it was still about an evil villain seeking to take over the world, or destroy it if he failed. :D

[Mo-Nercy]

XIII only has one that I've seen so far, and it's just a Datalog entry.
SHEEP!

But I agree with you, the newer games all lack that sense of humour about them. I don't know.. maybe FFX-2 drained all the fun and games out of SE.

[Clo]

Y'know, something always bothered me about X - XIII, and now you've finally pinpointed for me what that is.

[Jessweeee♪]

FFX (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkbf1TYQ6hs) was full (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XteBU4WFGw&NR=1) of silliness (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H47ow4_Cmk0). Those are just the three I could find videos off. There are pleeenty more.

[Clo]

Actually, yes, X did have some silly parts, and I actually don't mind X at all. XII, on the other hand, does come across as far too serious. Except for that Captain Basch von Rosenburg part :D And some people found that annoying.

[Jessweeee♪]

That, Balthier's witty lines, and Vaan at the Viera place. That was about it. I loved FFXII to death, though xD

[No.78]

XIII only has one that I've seen so far, and it's just a Datalog entry.
SHEEP!

But I agree with you, the newer games all lack that sense of humour about them. I don't know.. maybe FFX-2 drained all the fun and games out of SE.

What about the Gigantuar scene?

Obviously not as much in it, but there are still dribs and drabs.

AND THE SHEEP RUUULE

And honestly I always found FFVII like really SRS. I wouldn't use that as an example for light-hearted comical FF, but I would say FFVI was.

[Karifean]

Sazh's lines are mostly epic :D. But I agree it is not enough.

[Bolivar]

Wow Skyblade you really got it - I remember getting my copy of FFVII and seeing comic mischief on the back, I had already played some of it and laughed thinking about the cross-dressing scene.

Yeah Square's crazy nowadays. I wish they were making Dragon Quest X on the PS3.

[Clo]

I absolutely love the entire Sector 6, Don Corneo mission. It's so, so amusing.

[theundeadhero]

What's up with Dissidia having a nudity rating? Who's boobies do we get to see?

[Jessweeee♪]

http://www.videogamesblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/cloud-of-darkness-dissidia-final-fantasy-character-artwork.jpg

[Clo]

Oh, that doesn't count. Moar boobies!!

http://havy.ic.cz/MoarCAT.jpg

[Loony BoB]

I wholeheartedly agree. I think they need to alernate or something. I also think that, sadly, it's another downside of superior graphics. They're finding it harder to take such real looking people in such a real looking world and then throw in completely bonkers scenarios and situations. It's a shame. I do like the dark gritty styles of the new games, too, though... and I feel that it's important that they keep some of them. But they really need to alternate better, have one funny, one serious, one online, rinse and repeat.

If they manage to revamp one of the older games using the newer modern console graphics then maybe they will realise/remember what humour can be put into these games and to what effect, despite the graphics. I for one would love to see the Don Corneo scenes with fully realised characters. xD Can you imagine? Oh man. That would be super great.

[Jessweeee♪]

I'll chop them off.

[Raistlin]

One of the best part about FFVII was its comedic scenes, and it is unfortunate that some of that has been lost in later games. For me, some of the humor-type scenes in FFXIII seemed kind of forced, whereas in FFVII I was perfectly fine running around finding women's underwear for Cloud.

[Tokimadoushi]

Who is that anyway? @ Jesswee

Don't forget the fiasco at the opera house in 6 :D

All of a sudden a nefarious octopus and a couple of guys tumble down from the rafters and take over the show, and the poor impresario trying to turn it into a plot twist

[PeneloRatsbane]

Thats why I love VI and VII, crazy stuff happens. I'm kicking myself because I can't remember the name of the octopus but I just loved him so much. Both had dark moments but they weren't short of fun and Quirks.
I think thats why i'd love to see them remade, because done right *with less dreary grey tones and less emoness, heres looking at you DOC and AC* they could be fantastic.

[Bolivar]

I wholeheartedly agree. I think they need to alernate or something. I also think that, sadly, it's another downside of superior graphics. They're finding it harder to take such real looking people in such a real looking world and then throw in completely bonkers scenarios and situations. It's a shame. I do like the dark gritty styles of the new games, too, though... and I feel that it's important that they keep some of them. But they really need to alternate better, have one funny, one serious, one online, rinse and repeat.

If they manage to revamp one of the older games using the newer modern console graphics then maybe they will realise/remember what humour can be put into these games and to what effect, despite the graphics. I for one would love to see the Don Corneo scenes with fully realised characters. xD Can you imagine? Oh man. That would be super great.

This is actually very much true. Imagine if they did remake FFVII on the PS3 - do you think they'd be able to pull off the Wall Market scene?

But there is a solution, and I really wish more developers realized this:

Just because you have highly detailed graphics doesn't mean you have to make a highly realistic game!!

Just look at 3D Dot Game Heroes, or better yet Valkyria Chronicles (since it's already out). One of the reasons why VC is arguably the best RPG of "this generation" (God i hate that phrase) is because of the art style. It was a painting in motion before they started hyping God of War III as a painting in motion. I think if SE had some design specialists (or something) go back and look at those old 16-bit games and realize how to achieve that look on new consoles, idk, my life would be complete? Kind of like how Level-5 did Dragon Quest VIII on PS2.

I think that's how it's supposed to be done.

[Jessweeee♪]

Who is that anyway? @ Jesswee


The Dissidia version of Cloud of Darkness!

[Tokimadoushi]

Wow she looks freakin' awesome!!! But she's not green anymore...

[Skyblade]

I wholeheartedly agree. I think they need to alernate or something. I also think that, sadly, it's another downside of superior graphics. They're finding it harder to take such real looking people in such a real looking world and then throw in completely bonkers scenarios and situations. It's a shame. I do like the dark gritty styles of the new games, too, though... and I feel that it's important that they keep some of them. But they really need to alternate better, have one funny, one serious, one online, rinse and repeat.

If they manage to revamp one of the older games using the newer modern console graphics then maybe they will realise/remember what humour can be put into these games and to what effect, despite the graphics. I for one would love to see the Don Corneo scenes with fully realised characters. xD Can you imagine? Oh man. That would be super great.

This is actually very much true. Imagine if they did remake FFVII on the PS3 - do you think they'd be able to pull off the Wall Market scene?

But there is a solution, and I really wish more developers realized this:

Just because you have highly detailed graphics doesn't mean you have to make a highly realistic game!!

Just look at 3D Dot Game Heroes, or better yet Valkyria Chronicles (since it's already out). One of the reasons why VC is arguably the best RPG of "this generation" (God i hate that phrase) is because of the art style. It was a painting in motion before they started hyping God of War III as a painting in motion. I think if SE had some design specialists (or something) go back and look at those old 16-bit games and realize how to achieve that look on new consoles, idk, my life would be complete? Kind of like how Level-5 did Dragon Quest VIII on PS2.

I think that's how it's supposed to be done.

Or, why not look at Kingdom Hearts? They know how to do detailed graphics without looking too realistic. They just have lost that in their later games.


Scenes in X: They had a couple, I admit. And the ones they had (like Yuna's bed head) were awesome. But they were much sparser than they were in previous FFs.

XII: Gilgamesh, and the two optional bosses before Chaos in the Necrohol of Nabudis (Humbaba getting crushed by his own sword? Fury being a dreamhare? AWESOME). That's about all I can remember. The "I'm Captain Basch" thing was just painful (much worse than Tidus' laugh).

XIII: The original datalog on the Chocobo chick Revealing this creature's name might send ripples of destiny around the world. Or Sazh just hasn't thought of one yet. Sazh only has a couple good lines that fit in. He has some excellent comedy, but most of his silly bits just seem out of place. For example: Take the scene where you unlock the Cactuar encounter on the Archylte Steppes. It was trying, but wound up way too forced.


@Penelo Ratsbane: The Octopus was Ultros. A perfect example.

[Loony BoB]

You know, if they made a completely slapstick comedy overdramatised FF, I'd buy it and probably enjoy it. :p

[PeneloRatsbane]

@skyblade: Ultros!!! of course! thanks it was driving me mad that i couldn't remember his name

[Jessweeee♪]

Scenes in X: They had a couple, I admit. And the ones they had (like Yuna's bed head) were awesome. But they were much sparser than they were in previous FFs.

Whaaat, there was a humorous scene in almost every area xD


In Besaid there's Wakka pushing Tidus into the water, STAY AWAY FROM THE SUMMONER YOU'RE A BAD MAN and "hahaha what if she comes onto me?" You have their silly little race in Kilika, though that was interrupted, and Donna and Bartello. On the boat to Kilika or to Luca O'aka is introduced and Tidus steals some binoculors and oggles Lulu's chest, which was quite funny. It's also his first introduction to a chocobo (wtf giant chicken?!). Luca has a ton of Blitzball related silliness ("You're stiff, man. No, not your face.")and the "I thought I told you not to tell Wakka!" thing. Not to mention the infamous laughing scene! In Mi'hen (helly doo sad wee to you too!) if the Chocobo Eater pushes you off the cliff Tidus gets glares and such. Tidus and Yuna have another nice scene with some mushiness and a bit of silliness with him imitating Mika. D'jose has more Donna and Bartello and Tidus dancing like a maniac in the background for some reason, the Moonflow has Shoopufs and Rikku's introduction. In Guadosalam you can flirt with either Lulu or Rikku depending on who likes you more. Rikku freaks out in the Thunder Plains because of her silly phobia. Macalania has Rikku trying to be more like Lulu and that "You can always count on Auron to make trouble!" bit. Speaking of which, I didn't get that bit that goes like "Kimahri roars and Auron runs off and..." "I didn't ask you to follow me." Oh well. The desert has CACTUARS~ and Rikku's horrible sense of direction. Bevelle has that cute "Wherever you go I'll follow" scene where everyone runs off and leaves Auron behind. The Calm Lands is Giant Chicken Central. Mt. Gagazet has Wakka and Tidus wrestling like idiots in the background while they're talking to the mountain elder.

That's all I care to recall at the moment. Sure most of them probably didn't have you laughing soda out of your nose, but they were humorous and lighthearted, and there's certainly a ton I left out. It was certainly heavy at times, but they balanced it out quite nicely.

[VeloZer0]

I completely forgot all about all that stuff in FFX. Probably because I wasn't amused by it due to my dislike of Tidus. What a waste :D

[Mo-Nercy]

"When I grow up, I wanna be a Blitzball." - Kid in Kilika.

[Jessweeee♪]

Ahahaha yes.

[ReloadPsi]

You know, if they made a completely slapstick comedy overdramatised FF, I'd buy it and probably enjoy it. :p

Everyone rejected FFX-2. Except me, because it was comedy slapstick.

[VeloZer0]

There is a fine line between adding some humor to the game and making something I can't take seriously enough to play. Unfortunately FFX-2 fell on the latter side of that equation.

[Loony BoB]

I would prefer something I couldn't take seriously but could still stomach. Having girls play dress up is not something I can stomach in a video game.

[Del Murder]

You know, if they made a completely slapstick comedy overdramatised FF, I'd buy it and probably enjoy it. :p

Everyone rejected FFX-2. Except me, because it was comedy slapstick.
I didn't reject it either. Leblanc and her henchmen were funny.

We definitely need more 'comic mischief' in FF games. Sazh had plenty of funny lines in XIII but they got pretty sparse near the end and never went as far as it could. Nothing on par with Ultros, Gilgamesh, or Yuffie stealing your materia.

[Vermachtnis]

They need to give Gilgamesh his own game.

[Del Murder]

I was annoyed that the very one dimensional and boring Exdeath was the villain entry for V instead of Gilgamesh. Would have fit in well with Bartz's light-hearted storyline too.

[Jiro]

This makes so much sense.

Also, I agree with the graphics thing. Doesn't need to be hyper realistic to be great!

[Persephone Stephanie]

I find XII hilarious. There's lots of little interactions between characters that are witty and cute. My recent favourite moment is when Larsa leaves Lhusu Mines after partying with Vaan & co to rejoin his cortege who are incidentally holding Penelo. While the camera is trained on Larsa talking to the Judge, you can see Vaan in the background starting to rush out from behind the pillar to Penelo, and Balthier yanking him back. :jess: Larsa proceeds to outwit Judge Ghis with his usual charm and intellect. Well, I find it really funny...

And talking 'bout Balthier: "No one knows men like Fran does."

But it seems this thread is less about comedy in the cutscenes and more about actual gameplay involving comedy? I haven't played the earlier FFs so I haven't much to comment on that. It would be nice to see in future games.

[PeneloRatsbane]

"I always knew Fran didn't like to be tied up..."

another example of Balthier humour, he jips her but she gets him back in the end with the "I'd say you're in more of a supporting role" quip.

I do love those two.

[Jessweeee♪]

Balthier is great xD

[Skyblade]

I was annoyed that the very one dimensional and boring Exdeath was the villain entry for V instead of Gilgamesh. Would have fit in well with Bartz's light-hearted storyline too.

Yeah. Even Ultimecia had more personality than Exdeath. He really was just way too bland for Dissidia.