The Role Of Summons? Important or Not Important?

[Dimi]

With FFXIII being released with no official release date yet, I'm guessing it'll probably be released later this year or early 09. But, aside from that, do you think the role of summons should play an important role in the game?

On the top of my head, games like FFVI, FFIX, and FFX had a huge role with summons involved. In FFVI, espers were what enabled to teach you magic as well as the Empire wanting to capture espers and learn magic. Then in FFIX, you had Brahne wanting to extract Garnet's eidolons to use as weapons of war. And in FFX, summons played a massive role with Yuna going on her pilgrimage and receiving aeons.

But with FFXII, I was a bit bummed out on how espers weren't really that important to get aside from bragging rights and the Sky Pirate Den Figurine when obtaining all 13 espers. I would've like them to have more of a significant importance then what it actually was.

FFXIII looks bright though just looking at the summons. Shiva transforms into a bike. So I'm guessing other summons will have something similar to that.

[Meier Link]

Originally Posted by Fishie

But with FFXII, I was a bit bummed out on how espers weren't really that important to get aside from bragging rights and the Sky Pirate Den Figurine when obtaining all 13 espers. I would've like them to have more of a significant importance then what it actually was.

your not the only one that was bummed, i just wish they could play a little better part and not become obsolete a few hours after obtaining them. i did dig IX and X where there where only limited summoners but the summons where decent so their lack of physical attacks where compensated.
loved the obtaining of magic through summons in VI (that was brilliance)

so hopefully they dont mess it up and we can get a little stronger more intruiging summons. maybe put some emphasis on how each came to be.... oh only one could hope.....

[Crazy Chocobo]

It would be nice for the Summons to have a larger role in this game than in XII. I agree with what Fishie said, they weren't that great in my opinion and I was really disappointed with that. I didn't even think they were that great at all, I was interested in getting them either. In X it was good since they fit into the storyline but they didn't in XII and it just didn't interest me in the least. Who knows what they will do this time around, I just hope it is an improvement. I hope they are useful and that they have an important role in the game this time round. Yay!

[KeyranSolo]

Judging from Final Fantasy XIII's style, i'm guessing that Summons don't play a huge vital role to character creation or the storyline, I think they'll be just like Final Fantasy VII summons, you summon them, they do generally high damage to the enemies, and that's it, I think they'll be very basic, well that's opinion anyway. So much isn't known about FFXIII yet, so my opinion could very well be hugely different.

[Ryu-Kentoshii Hirokima]

The summons will probly be important @ some points in the game (Hopefully). I just can't wait till it comes out.

[Raven3005]

I think summons will play somewhat of a role in the game but maybe not something completly necessary to the storyline like in X. Either way i hope we get to see a wide range of summons and i hope that it won't just be Shiva, Ifrit, Ramuh, Bahamut etc

[Ryu-Kentoshii Hirokima]

Ya hopefully they will have all summons plus newly created ones...Well hopefully...we will just have to wait and see.

[Ifrit & Hashmal]

yes we will just have to wait and see, but...im tired of waiting. I wanna know now.

[Ryu-Kentoshii Hirokima]

Ya same here. Anybody else feel this way???

[Clint Eastwood]

I was never a fan of summons. I always looked at them as an excuse to not level up your characters, but instead, take the easy way out of a battle, and throw a powerful monster-thing at them. I'd rather see Final Fantasy take a more realistic turn, with less summons and less magic, and focus more on physical combat.

[_Cloud_]

honestly i really dislike the fact that summons are going tech like shiva transforming into a bike and in XII they were airships and such but i but i do hope that they play a large role like they did in past FF games it would be a nice change

[Mataos]

it think they should have a role like they did in ff7. not overly important but powerful enough that you actually use them in battle and have incentive to obtain them.

[Ruin]

As for me, I believe summons should be a big influence on the games. I loved in FFIX that the Summons, especially Ramuh, portrayed not only mythical beast, but a part of the Legends of the games' past.

Personally, I hope that summons not only participate in story and battle, but as the earlier posts stayed, I hope that they also are useful in the field.

Crao Porr Cock8 forever!

[Noctis Lucis]

actually i thinks summons are goin to be lik a supporting role for the main characters from what ive heard each character has their own summon kinda lik how each greek family had its own god

[Alucard]

Yes I feel summoning is highly important. The ability to bring forth creatures to assist you in battle and in the story to traverse worlds and to influence the tide of battle is part of Final Fantasy. Always has been. I liked the way FFX incorporated aeons into the story line.

[angeal18]

I have one wish.... Gilgamesh as a summon...... Please.... lol

[tre skills]

yes i reakon it is important but, it wouldnt hurt to have them left out for at least one final fantasy but, yeah im bummed out aswell

[Gi1gamesh]

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood

I was never a fan of summons. I always looked at them as an excuse to not level up your characters, but instead, take the easy way out of a battle, and throw a powerful monster-thing at them. I'd rather see Final Fantasy take a more realistic turn, with less summons and less magic, and focus more on physical combat.

FF8 was a realistic turn then considering you only needed summons to junction your magic to your stats and you could go all the way through with your characters with just physical combat. it was good and still my face FF but i do like the fact you have the options to use summons magic if you want.

[Jeremy]

Originally Posted by Noctis Lucis

actually i thinks summons are goin to be lik a supporting role for the main characters from what ive heard each character has their own summon kinda lik how each greek family had its own god

That would be absolutely amazing if it's true. That's how it should have been all along. Having summons that are exclusive to each character and have them match the personality of the owner would be a great change to the franchise.

[Arch]

amazingly important

i love summons and they have to bring back the classic ones

Bahamut, Shiva, ifrit etc