Though I think Versus 13 looks interesting I have to agree with you there. It really doesn't seem "Final Fantasy-y". I don't see this as 'hope for the series' as some have dubbed it, it just seems too far removed.
As for my impressions: The combat looked cool but there is one thing hanging around that I didn't like. The AI characters running around. If I am hacking and slashing things up the last thing I want to worry about is some dumb ass AI running around and getting itself killed. They better be able to take care of themselves.
^ If it's the KH team, chances are your A.I. friends non-consequential. Though it does appear in the trailer that you can switch to a few of them so maybe there is more to the party system than it seems.
I'll admit I'm not wild about it being an action RPG cause they usually feel imbalanced in some way and often times developers make them too easy. Still, I've kinda grudgingly accepted the fact that developers don't want to use ATB or turn base combat anymore for their high profile console games. Considering the huge outcry from critics and detractors about Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon using traditional ATB and not feeling "next generation" I'm pretty sure most developers won't touch those types of battle systems when even the original creator of FF can't get away with using it anymore. Not that I agree with people who don't like command based combat, or the developers who feel that fans won't like their games if they happen to use it.
Still, its starting to become more of a niche and RPG combat systems are merging with action games. Players want speed and flash, not strategy.
True beauty exists in things that last only for a moment.
Current Mood: And it's been a long December and there's reason to believe. Maybe this year will be better than the last. I can't remember all the times I tried to tell myself. To hold on to these moments as they pass...
This is 100% correct. It saddens me because turn-based RPGs in the vein of the classic FF titles are my favorite games.
I did enjoy the KH games though and this basically looks like a dark gritty grown up version of the battles in KH so it should still be cool. I would like another FF where I get to control all my characters someday though.
I like Kung-Fu.
Interesting. I can't think of a much more descriptive response really at this stage
Battles look suspiciously hack-and-slash, but then XIII basically *was* hack-and-slash and managed to make it interesting so we'll see (I still miss strategic turn-based stuff. FFX had the best battle system that way, IMO).
The world is not very fantasy, I've accepted different types of fantasy one of which is the futuristic style of VII and VIII (and to a lesser extent X) but this is basically the real world. To be honest we see the real world every day, I want Final Fantasy not Final Realstic Fiction. But again, we'll see.
The character design is typical of modern FF, lots of recycling. The love interest, visually, is Sarah with a hint of Yuna and a dash of Lightning.
I'd have to agree with it being the last hope for fans of the PS1 and pre-PS1 golden era. It looks like it's likely to be very different, and I suppose if there's one constant in FF it's how much it changes.
Apparently SE is releasing the "super secret" trailer themselves January 27th I believe. Have seen it a bunch of times and can't help but wonder whether or not the more action-oriented combat will be good for the series from now on? I mean a big reason why they didn't just rename this game to FFXV was because this had a darker story, more mature themes and instances of blood (which believe it or not is a first for the series).
But the KH-CrisisCore battle mechanics look alot better than the ATB system implemented in FFXIII. Seeing how soo many RPG series are taking the action route, mabey Final Fantasy should start doing it too? I know this'll upset the majority of the Old school-Hardcore fans, but the newer generation doesn't seem to be interested in traditional RPG styles. That said ME2 sold a little under 2 million units while FFXIII is closing in the 6 million mark, so there's definitely an audience that doesn't want action-heavy RPG's.
Can't help but think that this game is really putting JRPGs in the all-or-nothing spot. Like it's deciding the future for JRPGs (whether to stay traditional or follow WRPGs in the action category)! I still have hope that SE will redeem it's name with Versus and I know this'll be my favorite game of this gen (Bought a PS3 just for this game back in 2007 after seeing a trailer for it).
Can't wait for 2011 or 2012!
^
^
Actually, Versus XIII is the last hope for traditional Action Adventure RPGs, stuff like Illusion of Gaia and Terranigma which are don't exist anymore because they do take a long time to make them, probably some of the hardest and most time consuming genre.
Ahh I understand my mistake. But I have to disagree with your statement of the ARPGs dying. Action Adventure RPGs are some of the best selling RPGs this gen, not to mention some the highest rated. Everything from Dragon Age, Fable, Mass Effect, etc. (most WRPGs) are under that banner, so no, VERSUS will not be deciding that genre's fate.
What I had meant to say was that VERSUS XIII might be showing other Japanese developers to see a less traditional style to the genre and take a more action-esque route in the future. I agree that for us, the gamers, this is bad. It'll mean that there's less variety out their in types of genres (read: most new IPs are FPS nowadays). But in the business stand point it'll be better for the company to sell more units if they're appealing to a broader audience. Don't get me wrong, I love JRPGs, but at the same time I want to see more innovation so that the Japanese industry will still have a place 5-10 years from now. Japanese presence in the gaming industry is in an alarming decline and more and more closures mixed with amalgamating studios is making the industry alot tougher to survive in. I just want to make sure that JRPGs have a place in the future.
That is why you had to put a "traditional", When I think of traditional action adventure RPG, I don't think of "levels/hubs", but instead a connected world like old FF where the player go through a big adventure, and that is what i want from Versus XIII but it would be better to wait a little bit and see how they will deal with world map.
Then they should play something else!
It's annoying that FF is changing to suit these people. I can understand why S-E are doing it (biggest audience = highest profit) but they're not doing what they're best at which is frustrating for long term fans and probably won't even be effective in the long run.
What they're doing is still good, but it could be so much more and it worked so much better as a game aimed with passion at the specific JRPG niche it had than it will ever work as a brand milking exercise. And whilst you can kill a brand, you can't kill a concept.
@Cloudane
So your basically telling SE to make games how they used to fit the "niche" you were describing. And by "these people", what exactly were you refering to? The brain dead gamers that are caught in the cliche action game? They're the majority, Live with it! And unfortunately for you, SE is a business and as a successful publisher i don't think them prioritizing on a method they used back in the day is gonna cut it in today's world. I hope you understand that they can't keep publishing these low selling games, that's why they tend to "milk" the brands that do sell well, cause at the end of the day, they need PROFIT. If they can't show their making money then investor confidence will go down and the company will begin to drag and that will reciprocate back to you, the gamer.
This really is a no-brainer, but apparently some old-school fans have a hard time adjusting to it. You said "frustrating long time fans"? I've been a fan since VI, and other than XIV, I think they're doing a pretty good job. Not the best I admit, but sales talk louder than any stupid comments ever will. Not a shot @ you BTW.
By "these people" I mean people who have decided they want to play FF because they've heard of it, and found that they didn't like it. Yet instead of playing something else they demanded that FF itself change to suit their tastes. It reminds me of what happened to Everquest 1, amongst other things.
Being very skilled at serving a niche (which Squaresoft were) can be highly profitable.. it doesn't have to be all about finding the biggest market. Cars are more popular than motorbikes so does that mean all motorbike manufacturers should give up and make cars?
Instead of doing the unique thing they did and doing it very well the focus seems to be shifting (albeit gradually) towards making average action games. I just find that to be a shame and don't know if it'll even work once people get past the brand recognition phase.
I know it's a company and companies are all ultimately driven by profit maximisation, but some of them do have a "soul" and a desire to excel above others in more ways than just finding the easiest way to rake in money. Sadly most of Square's soul went to Mistwalker, who don't seem to do much.
It'd just be nice if they'd throw the odd bone to the fans that brought them to fame and fortune in the first place... by all means make mass market action games and rake in money but perhaps leave FF as it is and have a division to look after it?
Last edited by Cloudane; 01-25-2011 at 02:44 PM.