Do you think the end of the Final Fantasy series is near?

FFXII will probably be the FFVI of this decade. Rediculously awesome.

What kind of question is that?????? There is no way ff's end is near. The games have all sold like crazy. Square would have to be crazy to end the series if the games sell like they are. The quitting of Nobuo probably will hurt though.... Also, I don't know about you other people. My first ff game was VII and I loved it. I also loved VIII. I still don't see why a lot of people just can't seem to like both games. I have loved every single one of the games, and the way i see it, XII won't change that.

As long as there is money in the banks and consoles to throw the money into, Final Fantasy will not end. Mario has hardly sold since Mario 64, and Nintendo is still going.

It's interesting to see the mixed opinions of the FF fans out there. I've got one of my own, so here goes.
I started playing the FF series when 7 came out. (Ahh, what better game to lose your RPG virginity to?) I think the reason FF7 was so popular was because Square was eager to reach a large fanbase. They were thinking about the storyline in the same vein as their previous releases for the SNES, and they may not have anticipated the boom they'd receive from a PSX release; basically, their focus was on storyline, not on graphics because, lets face it, storyline is all you've got on a 16 bit console (or is it 32? I always forget.)
This created two seperate but equal extremes of the Final Fantasy Series, between which most fans fall. On one side of the scale, there's the old Final Fantasy style with big heads, outlandish characters, a save-the-world plot, and an overall feeling of fantasy (as opposed to science fiction, which I'll get to in a moment.) The other extreme was that of the technology-based realism, where you had to make decisions to influence the plot, and where the main point of the story could be to convey live between two characters. I personally fall into the former category. I loves me some Final Fantasy IX.
So after FFVII, Square was left with a decision to make: stay with the old style or pursue a new avenue. Thus FFVIII was released. Some believed the world and characters were too dark, while others said it was realistic. Many fans were upset about the lack of old standards (A/N: Or that DAMNED JUNCTIONING SYSTEM), but many others were happy with the changes.
To appease the other fans, Final Fantasy IX was released. It returned to the old styles and staples, but the newer fans believed it to be too cartoony and ridiculous. Square obviously figured out that you can't please all of the people some of the time, so they've settled for pleasing some of the people some of the time by switching between the two styles.
FFX was a failure to many. The release of the first Final Fantasy on the PS2 could've been as potent as the release of FFVII for the PSX, but I believe that the production staff at Square is a group of living, breathing people, just like us. Some may have believed the game would sell on the merits of the PS2 alone, some may have been uninspired, some may have believed the release of the PS2 would overshadow all of their hard work. I can't say for sure; I'm not a part of the Square staff. Whatever the reason for it, it was another pass at the new style. Some fans still liked it, and it did have the most realistic look of the series at the time of it's release. Remember, not every FF can be a gem. "The sweet is never as sweet without the sour."
I have no excuse for FFX-2. May it burn in hell.
Honestly, I think FFX-2 was released because Square saw a vastly untapped resource in a female consumer base. I didn't play it very far before setting it down. In disgust, I might add.
With their plot-line cataclysms of FFX and FFX-2, they had the release of FFXI, the first (and with any luck, the only) release of a Final Fantasy Massive Multiplayer Online RPG. There were some major glitches in the Japan release that were, with any luck, worked out for the US. I've heard raving about how fantastic the game is from other gamers. From the looks of it, Square (now SquareEnix) returned invariably to the old style again. The only problem is the cost. If you don't have a computer, an internet connection, a subscription to the online world, and of course, the game (with optional expansion pack), you're out of luck. Some have even taken to selling their fictional money from the game for real money! Now would be a good time to remember that SquareEnix is a business based in games, but a business nonetheless. A business that has done an impeccable job of catering to the consumer; giving them what they want, even if they didn't know they wanted it.
Now, with the release of FFXII, yet another return to the old style, fans are beginning to ask if the series will draw to a close in the forseeable future. My prediction is no. The downward trend is obvious, but SquareEnix (more specifically, Square) has had more daring comebacks in the past. Between their releases of FFVII: Advent Children, FFVII: Dirge of Cerberus, FFVII: Before Crisis, FFXII, and their release of the future FFXIII (which, if following the pattern, will be a "new style" FF), I believe the Final Fantasy Series will continue until the original creators such as Nobuo Uematsu leave. At this point, either they will be replaced with someone who will revolutionize the FF series, giving it new blood to keep moving, or their replacement will not live up to the expectations set by their predecessor and may be replaced again. Either way, the concept of the Final Fantasy Series is that these RPGs are in no way interconnected. They each have different worlds with different characters, different styles and different systems to progress with. With such a multitude of venues to explore, I'm sure we will have something to look forward to from SquareEnix in the future.

Long live Final Fantasy !

I started when FF I was released on the dinosaur nintendo. and I played U.S. II and III on the Super nintendo, I was addicted to the series then, I actually quit for a few years and then VII came out for the PS and rekindled my obsession, and the following games just kept reeling me in more, They just keep getting better IMO. I am an old school gamer from the beginning of the RPG years and still going strong, I personally believe that SE and the FF series is like a fine wine, keeps getting better with age......

I dont think the series will end for a while. But with all these sequels (most of them not even needed cough Dirge of Ceberus cough crisis core or whatever its called) i think maybe we might be seeing less of the normal roman numerals and more of 'Final Fantasy VI -2' Or 'Final Fantasy XI: The atomic fish' sort of stuff. (Hope not....but probably)

And in regards to some posts ive been reading about the series declining.....i think in most cases (note i said MOST ok? MOOOOOST!) the first game that introduced them to FF is their fav: hence the reson why FFVII usually wins the polls. For me VIII was the first one i played and it is my fav by far.

NEVER! Final Fantasy didn't come a long way for nothing. my support goes all the way for Final Fantasy. besides, even if XII is the last of the Final Fantasy games, i'm sure the series will be revived some day. that happened to FFVII right? i mean, we're all still expecting Advent Children and Dirge of Cerberus.

Im sure it will end, but not soon. I would only guess it would be around 15, if it was the last they would say and hype it up as the sales point. Besides as long as the title sells it will stay and at the moment final fantasy is a large title to square, and a gaint in rpg's.

This might sound dumb but i always thought that Square would end at 12 because it is the final numba on a clock. And since clocks are repeated, who knows how many times in FFs, i might have something.

But in saying that maybe theyll go till 24 taking after a 24 hour clock?

Heh :D

Personally i like games with a dark plote to them but a sort of happy story, like Final Fantasy 7 and 8, they are my two favorites probablly.

Final Fantasy 7: I loved the story and the characters and cant wait for the film. It wasnt linear and had great replay value. It was amazing not much else to say about it.

Final Fantasy 8: I fort was amazing too, and a classic for a lot of people, I know many people disagree but you sholudnt just start downgrading it and puting it off for others before they play it like its a mater of fact when really its only your opinion. Try playing it without comparing it to other games and put yourself in the characters shoes and then 8 really gets across the stronge love/war story with many twist and turns in, and it is funny in some parts..

Final Fantasy 9: I havnt played it properly, but from what i have played it seemed ok, but not as good as 7 or 8 or 10, but i will still get it eventually and play it through. Probly my least favorite.

Final Fantays 10: Im loving it at the moment (only got to defender-x boss) The opening movie is amazing, the graphics are top class. I also like the speech in it as it helps bring the characters a live although i think tidus sounds a bit cheesy at times but he is still cool. I dont think the story is with out its twist and turns in story line, and i dont think it is a linear story line. But i do undestand where people are coming from when they say you cant stary far from the main path, (unlike 7 or 8 where you can go off all over the place) and going to each temple is a bit repetative. The characters are good and I think seymour is a really good character i hated him from the start, not becasue its a rubbish game but because he is evil and he had just the right look about him.

Final fantasy 10-2: I havnt palyed it yet, but i dont like the look of it. I will still buy it though.

As for is the end of the series ,near, i think not for the same reasons as many other people, those being, they generate a lot of publicity and money for the company and because they change the storyline and the gameplay (which is chanding more dramstricly each time.) this brings in fresh players. I do however do not like the sound of Fianl Fantasy 12's battle system as I have always loved the Final Fantasy series for its turned based battle system as opposed to real time ones like dot.hack (which is a great game none the less.) I believe that 10 was ment to be there major break through (like 7 was on psx) in terms of groundbreaking gameplay, because they had actors for the voice, the best graphics so far, it was to be realeased on the ps2 (which was quite new at the time) , it had a more varried level up system than 7 and 8 because you actually got to choose which skills you want or not.But sadly this was not what a lot of veterin players were looking for or hoping for and so i think that Final Fantasy 12 or 13 or 14, around those titles will decide the fate for the series. I believe they will make many more titles after 12 13 or 14 aslong as they make money but they will lose a lot of profit and fans from them if they are not hits, which will lead to Square creating lots of sequals and spin offs to the greater classic Final Fantasys to keep the older fans to keep spending cash on them. I hope 12 is good, i really do. and i never want the series to end, i also hope they more films but not like spirits within, more like advent children.

My opinion : 7, 8 , 10, are great. 9, 10-2 look ok. 12 who knows yet, will see when its out.
**Please stop downgrading all the games you dont like as if its a fact, just state your opinion and leave it to other people to decide upon there point of view, after all its only a game.***

I think ive said everything i want to for now.lol. :eek:

I don't think that Sqaure are about to give it up just yet. They ran into a lot of financial difficulty after FFtSW bombed but then they merged with Enix and that helped them out a bit. I think that, as they have done with FFXI, moving into the MMORPG market will earn them a lot of cash so they look to be sorted for at least a while.

IMO they should've stopped after IX and maybe even started a new series.
I hope XIII is the last.
with this one they should make one that every fan will enjoy
have lots of references from all the games (except X and X-2 :mad: )
I hope that they stop concentrating on graphics
also bring back the world map and random battles,
without them it's not Final fantasy

P.S none of this will EVER happen
:funone:

Im pretty sure they'll do it again cause they have to because those were the best ff games yet.I'll keep looking on square-enix .com & ffextreme.com and if you can look to and find anything could you please e-mail me at wisam1023@sbcglobal.net





Thanks,
sam :)

To be honest I realy think that may be end of this game. Square has mede a lot of "Finals" and I think that they may stop it. They realy don't have any ideas. For example FFX-2. They have broken everything, whe they made this game. The naxt chapter of story??? It's not FF. ( To be honest I like FFX-2 :love: but it wasn't the same way of this game). And story of it wasn't something special. I'd like to don't know the story of Yuna and Tidus but I prefere new game with new characters. That will be something much more interesting when FFX is chapter without continue. I thing thet FF is only now the machina to make money. They don't put heart in it. But of corse I'd like to see new story of new characters in new FF. Btw. Do you think that FFXII will be the last FF on PS2 and I will have to buy PS3 to play FFXIII???