Your Opinions on Square.

I guess between ff4 and ff7 was squares golden age, and now the golden age is over really, we may see a renascence someday, but its focus on graphics and change of target buyers somewhat changes alot to me, and the large break away from ff tradition, tradition that makes the game. Alot of new fans have no idea of final fantasy heritage and hail the newer games (final fantasy 10/-2) as the best ever and only know of them and hail the characters as the best with no idea that there is a far wider and better range of characters out there then Rikku.

Square has been in the business a long time and so has Enix, and between them they have alot of exprience, so why have they turned away to the things that make final fantasy? By trying to catch a new range of fans there insulting the older fans who expect more, and this is what disapoints me most of all.

My two cents or whatever.

I still think Square-Enix is a great company. I have nothing against the changes they do. If it weren't for innovative companies like S-E, the industry would stagnate.
S-E is doing their best to making something better, better than their previous games. Clearly, they can't come up with something better every single time, but it definitely won't happen if they stick to the same, old recipie.

Now for some words about the increased focus on graphics, and how some people (the die hard fans) seem to not care about that. They pushed the NES to it's limits, they pushed the SNES to it's limits, they pushed the PS1 to it's limits, same goes for the PS2. All video game companies try to make their games as good looking as possible, why shouldn't S-E? The first impression (read: graphics) of a game is very important, especially for those who aren't die-hard fans.
S-E can't only make games that appeal to the fans, they need to make games that appeal to as big an audience as possible. Money is a very big and important part of the video game industry. That applies to S-E too.

Think I'm going to quote something a friend of mine once said, it covers my opinion pretty good too.

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They are meant to be very unique from the last, and each of them suits different tastes to provide to each individual gamer. Which is why none are the same, and the difficultly levels are varied. So as much as you enjoy searching for crystals, or chasing Sephiroth, or fighting Sin... Don’t expect to find the next FF anything like the previous. This I respect. Of course there will be Final Fantasies that some gamers don't like...
But guess what? They've already had a Final Fantasy that suited them perfectly, so lets give another gamer a chance to find theirs. And I hate it when those people are so greedy and self-centred that they can't see that this is what Square is trying to achieve... So since they can't have a Final Fantasy like the one they enjoy, they all of a sudden think that Square has met their "downfall". Get over it. Seriously

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FF6 was cricized for having the same graphics quality as FF4, which shows that with FF6 (imo, the best FF), their emphasis was on story, and gameplay, and they didn't really work on graphics too much.

I think that 7 was the last great one.

You know what the problem is? I grew up with Super Nintendo and NES, so when I play a game, I want it to be like it was. Unfortunately, the reality is that times change, and fads change, so there will never be another FF6.

I just get so sad when I think about it. Because back in the day, I could play FF6 literally for days on end, drinking a lot of Pepsi, that is. And it never got boring. It never got boring to walk around and fight, or to wander around the Veldt to learn new rages for Gau. That stuff was always fun. When I would go to school, I would be playing the music from FF6 in my head, over and over again, just ready to run home and play it (literally, run home). And I'd play till dinner, then eat, then play till bedtime, then get up and do it all over again. I remember being so excited that it was friday because I could stay up all night and play FF6 (eventually FF7 and FFT), and go to bed long after the sun came up the next day.

And I get sad when I realize that I'm never gonna find another game that makes me feel that way. I mean, it's really cool to be that engrossed in a game, and I'm worried that I'll never be that way again. Do you think that I am just growing up, or what? Whatever it is, it sucks.

I know it seems lame that I make this big of a deal out of games, but I'm sure that some of you can relate to me. I've never really had a bunch of friends, and I really wouldn't want them, because even if my friends were being a**holes, I could always hang out with Locke, Terra, Cloud, and Ramza. God, now I'm getting way too dramatic, huh?

I'll shut the hell up about it now.

Feion

I guess its just the times, Square is selling out to other people and betraying the fans and stabbing the ff mix for graphics focus, I doubt we will ever see an FF game such as 6 or 7 again until Square returns to there old ways.

In my opinion, the graphics in FF6 are much more detailed and varying than in FF4. Anyway, I can agree with there not being too much to do about the graphics, but then again, they did have a smaller budget than they do now too.

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I guess its just the times, Square is selling out to other people and betraying the fans and stabbing the ff mix for graphics focus, I doubt we will ever see an FF game such as 6 or 7 again until Square returns to there old ways.

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It was with FF7 they started the CG and 3D trend anyway. What you said didn't make much sense.

I guess I am lucky, I get captivated by all the FF. I enjoy playing them all, as far as graphics go, hell if S-E wants to make my experience more life like then so be it, it will just take me in that much more. the reason I think that I am lucky, is that I started way back in the 80's with FF1 and I am still as deep into them as I was then, Being a Product Designer means I don't have to fully grow up, and thats the best. I also have the ability to be a kid with my kid, he he, Sorry I am getting way off subject, but anyways I enjoy FF and I think they are getting better for the most part and about Marage's friends quote, hell yea, I would have to agree, its just too bad not everyone is so easily satisfied as I am.

I expect alot from a series such as Final Fantasy, Alot of people do but its annoying that alot of people started on ff10 and final fantasy doesn't go beyond that game or Rikku, and of which the newer games are aimed at a very diffrent target buyer group, these annoying Rikku fans.
As graphics have been improved story and overall game quality has gone down. There is a HUGE divide over final fantasy 10, and a lot of people hated it, (Ive noticed alot of them are the older fans) I guess, its because we have been playing the series for such a long time we expect more from them.

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They are meant to be very unique from the last, and each of them suits different tastes to provide to each individual gamer. Which is why none are the same, and the difficultly levels are varied. So as much as you enjoy searching for crystals, or chasing Sephiroth, or fighting Sin... Don’t expect to find the next FF anything like the previous. This I respect. Of course there will be Final Fantasies that some gamers don't like... But guess what? They've already had a Final Fantasy that suited them perfectly, so lets give another gamer a chance to find theirs. And I hate it when those people are so greedy and self-centred that they can't see that this is what Square is trying to achieve... So since they can't have a Final Fantasy like the one they enjoy, they all of a sudden think that Square has met their "downfall". Get over it. Seriously.

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I was the man who said that, so I guess that's my opinion on Square.

But on related topics in this thread.... I agree with Wuggly pertaining to how biased fanboys ruin the series. Although the exact same thing abides to biased old school gamers too. I discovered the Final Fantasy series back in 1991 with Final Fantasy IV (FFII Easy Type) and loved the series ever since. I've learned to appreciate each one for what they're worth. Usually, this doesn't apply to most people, but usually one's favourite Final Fantasy in the Final Fantasy that hooked you onto the series. Which is completely understandable, but it's horrible when they turn out to be arrogant and stubborn in their views to other FF titles.

Think of each Final Fantasy being just a totally new game with a few references. I mean, they could've taken Chrono Trigger, slapped a Chocobo in there and called it Final Fantasy. Then people's views on that game would be totally different just because 'Final Fantasy' is the title.

Holy crap, im so angry! i know so little about FF7 advent children, and every time i see a screenshot.... i just want to fall in love.. i DO fall in love! :eek: :eek: