Has Final Fantasy really gotten deeper since the 16-bit days?

[Ishin Ookami]

Lately Ive been playing Final Fantasy IV Advance. and the more I play, the more in convinced that not much has changed in RPG's since those days except the graphics. FFIV still had a great story, deep characters, tragic backstories and mysteries for the main characters, a combat system that is fairly deep, plenty of equipment, yadda yadda yadda.

So I've been wondering, have the games gotten any deeper since those days of yore? prettier perhaps, a definite improvement on the presentation values, but as GAMES go, I am really hard pressed to find much difference. Stratergy RPG's have improved greatly, mostly thanks to Nippon Ichi (Disgaea, Makai Kingdom) but RPG's in general really havnt changed all that much as far as I can see. Its not so much a bad thing seeing as how sonic or mario games havnt changed much either.

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

What are you getting at? You start off talking about story but towards the end you're insinuating that that has some effect on gameplay.

[Christmas]

Lately Ive been playing Final Fantasy IV Advance. and the more I play, the more in convinced that not much has changed in RPG's since those days except the graphics. FFIV still had a great story, deep characters, tragic backstories and mysteries for the main characters, a combat system that is fairly deep, plenty of equipment, yadda yadda yadda.

So I've been wondering, have the games gotten any deeper since those days of yore? prettier perhaps, a definite improvement on the presentation values, but as GAMES go, I am really hard pressed to find much difference. Stratergy RPG's have improved greatly, mostly thanks to Nippon Ichi (Disgaea, Makai Kingdom) but RPG's in general really havnt changed all that much as far as I can see. Its not so much a bad thing seeing as how sonic or mario games havnt changed much either.

It might be helpful if you go into a little more details to what you are expecting. We will do all our very best to meet your expectations.

[Ishin Ookami]

storytelling and gameplay havnt changed much. I personally find the characters of FFIV to be just as detailed and in depth as FFX (or even FFVII). and I've already mentioned the gameplay. As for music, Nobuo was doing the sound until he left square. but overall the audio hasnt changed much either, since even back in the 16-bit days there were musical themes that had vocal tracks.

[DJZen]

No, the gameplay hasn't gotten a whole lot deeper. The specifics have changed, but the generalities haven't. However, FFXI radically broke from the traditional FF control scheme, and Square recycled it for FFXII. I don't know that it's DEEPER, per se, but it does involve quite a bit of getting used to if you've only ever played I-X.

[Gilthanes]

I would say its EASIER to notice deepness of characters in 2nd generation FFs due to the fact that you can see emotions much more clearly. Think of the dancing scene of FFVIII after the dollet mission. Would it have been as breathtaking and amazing/fun to watch if it were 16-bit? Likely not, but having said that... how many FFs have launched an opera? Yeah thats right, first generation only (VI)(FFIX almost did it, and even then, FFIX was a callback to first generation FFs too)


Rambled a bit there, I think my point is, characters were just as deep in FFVI as they are in FFVII+, its just you have to pay more attention to it to notice it

[The Devourer Of Worlds]

No, just more interesting.

[Ishin Ookami]

I would say its EASIER to notice deepness of characters in 2nd generation FFs due to the fact that you can see emotions much more clearly. Think of the dancing scene of FFVIII after the dollet mission. Would it have been as breathtaking and amazing/fun to watch if it were 16-bit? Likely not, but having said that... how many FFs have launched an opera? Yeah thats right, first generation only (VI)(FFIX almost did it, and even then, FFIX was a callback to first generation FFs too)


Rambled a bit there, I think my point is, characters were just as deep in FFVI as they are in FFVII+, its just you have to pay more attention to it to notice it

I think what prompted this past was that in their reviews some publications stated that FFIV isnt as deep in terms of gameplay and story as modern RPG's, and while I will admit the combat system is a bit simple, the story is a great one with some wonderful characters. I really cant see all that much of a change in the 2nd generation save for graphics. And while graphics are the proverbial spoonfull of sugar that helps the medicine go down, they shouldnt be the main draw, story and gameplay should be, and FF has changed little if at all since the early days.

[YTDN]

I think the first games are very good, maybe better than the newer ones, coz you need to use your imagination more. It's like saying 'the book was better than the movie'.

[Dreddz]

I believe the storys havent got any deeper since FFIV till FFX, if this is what you meant, No, games havent gotten deeper since the 16 Bit days.

[Markus. D]

So I've been wondering, have the games gotten any deeper since those days of yore? prettier perhaps, a definite improvement on the presentation values, but as GAMES go, I am really hard pressed to find much difference. Stratergy RPG's have improved greatly, mostly thanks to Nippon Ichi (Disgaea, Makai Kingdom) but RPG's in general really havnt changed all that much as far as I can see. Its not so much a bad thing seeing as how sonic or mario games havnt changed much either.

you forgot Phantom Brave, that !IS! the best Nippon Ichi game.

[Vyk]

I don't consider the characters in FF4 to be all that deep. There's some underlying issues with the characters. But you never see them deal with it like in games today. You just have to "imagine" that it's going on. That's the big difference. Characters are more fleshed out and well defined these days. Cecil destroys Rydia's home, yet she never seems to care about that. Compare that to Wakka expressing his feelings and opinions every chance he gets. They both follow blindly. But only one really conveys true character.

[Desert Merchant]

Keep in mind the Advance version is the latest FF released and the story has undergone alot of changes to make it more like the newer FF's for example Kain now has a past and a father.

[Ishin Ookami]

Keep in mind the Advance version is the latest FF released and the story has undergone alot of changes to make it more like the newer FF's for example Kain now has a past and a father.

The story hasnt been changed at all. Its been more directly translated from the original FFIV hard type, but it hasnt changed. FFII was al altered, dumbed down version of FFIV because square thought the game was just too much for american audiances. I played the original version before, but its great to have it in handheld format.

I don't consider the characters in FF4 to be all that deep. There's some underlying issues with the characters. But you never see them deal with it like in games today. You just have to "imagine" that it's going on. That's the big difference. Characters are more fleshed out and well defined these days. Cecil destroys Rydia's home, yet she never seems to care about that. Compare that to Wakka expressing his feelings and opinions every chance he gets. They both follow blindly. But only one really conveys true character.

Rydia's issues do get addressed, like her initial reluctance to use the fire spell, her initial mistrust of cecil, in certain conversations. which do contrast in interestng ways to the lady she grows up to be. It may not be as extensive as cecil, kains or rosa's background, but I do feel she was explored in sufficent detail.

But I do agree that FFX had more character development then in past games, and present. I miss sakaguchi working on FF

[DeathKnight]

Final Fantasy X's battle system is the BEST, period, finitio, end, ultimo!

Storywise FFVIII and FFX/X2 are the best.