I was thinking about things I hated about the recent FF games that Squenix has tossed out, and something struck me I hadn't noticed before.
Since when do we grind for items?
Going back to all the previous FF games, I can't remember grinding for equipment. Abilities, yes, but not equipment. Stronger weapons either came from stores, chests, or rewards for quests/bosses. Yet, lately, getting new equipment has become a grind that far surpasses the standard ability grind. The system was somewhat experimented with starting in X, with the grind for customization and ultimate weapons, but it wasn't until after their MMO, FFXI, that Squenix seemed to clue on to the idead that pointless grinds for equipment = wonderful. And they have put it in every game since. FFXII featured the convoluted Bazaar system, FFXIII had that awful upgrade system, Dissidia had the huge shop... Heck, KH 358/2 Days featured a ton of this too.
I don't mind the ability grind. I generally enjoy it, and feel that the ability grinds tend to be well balanced to gameplay. But these new item grinds are just insane. First, they are almost completely superfluous, as you can beat the game without them quite easily (in fact, I beat one of XIII's superbosses, Vercingetorix, without upgrading a single piece of equipment), and second, they go on forever. By the time you max the Liscence Board in XII or the Crystarium in XIII, you will be barely scratching the grind for items.
Why has Square taken this route, and what needs to be done to convince them to go back to the way things were?