A thesis in regards to modern Final Fantasy (from VII)

[Martin]

This is a small thesis in regards to my feelings towards FF and its ability to move forward from here.

When I first picked up FFVII, I was a bit like to quote Morpheus from the Matrix, "Alice, tumbling down the rabbit hole." I was a bit bemused to say the least. It's quite a difficult game to get used to you see, and it was my first FF. To say I am a 'Guru' my first was VII, and I played the earlier ones after that. But it staggered me to find the sheer attention to detail that had been placed within it. The game had mountains to sift through, wide sprawling cities and towns, and a gigantic world to explore filled with interesting and diverese characters. It was held back by graphical constraints, nothing more. It was all new to me, and I was intoxicated for want of a better word. My eyes had been opened to what I would call the greatest gaming series that has existed. And this is due in no small part to its originality, and the staff which under stress and duress created their finest works.

That was what struck me most, the uniqueness of it. There will never be a game quite like VII or VIII or IX or X or any FF ever again, or at least so we thought, but that issue will be tackled later on. Now don't get me wrong, this is not just another fanboy deliberating on how great it is. Quite the opposite in fact, I hope to explain why I think the series is in a decline and why it needs to stop the nosedive it's plunging into. It saddens me to think that the 'golden age' of FF is over as far as I'm concerned. But why do I think this? Well there are many reasons, which all interlink with it's biggest issue... SquareSoft ceasing to exist, and Square-Enix in it's place.

After FFVII had took it's righteous place as one of my all-time favourite games, I played VIII, which I have finished on numerous occasions and enjoyed thoroughly. The different settings and a more active fighting style were only small changes but were not lost on me and I think if they'd been implemented into FFVII, it could have been a contender for the best game of all time which is debatable anyway. VII + VIII took up a large part of my childhood, but I'll remember them fondly nontheless, because if you enjoy something as much as I did them, you'll love them for it. If this is the caliber of game you could come to expect from SquareSoft I thought, on a consistent and regular basis, then the future of gming was bright indeed. FFIX made an appearance not long after and although it was not quite at the standard I'd come to expect from the series upto that point, it was still a good game nontheless. It was 2000 now, and I knew that all the hype was around a FF being made for the elite PS2 console, so obviously I begged an begged to get one, and a copy of the game when it was released. It was completely different in the way it played, the turn-based battle system gave you more time to think and it was not something I was accustomed too and I wasn't necessarilly sure I liked it, butI gave that niggle the benefit of the doubt. It has to be said, there was far too much fitted into that game, but it's still a truly great game, which has a cult following. FF was at it's peak, millions upon millions buying the games, attracting new players every day. It was announced there would even be a featue film made on the franchise, using cutting-edge animation technology. And this is it's downfall...

In 2003 it was announced that costs for Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within had far outreached the meagre profits it had made in the Box Office. SquareSoft was under real threat from solvency and ceasing to exist. It was then that a rival company who in all fairness, weren't a particularly well known brand offered to merge with Square, thus keeping the business alive. That company was Enix.. and thus Square lived to see another day. When announced that the merger had been completed, gaming fans such as myself rejoiced. The games we'd loved would continue to be made, with a fresh side to the company helping to provide fresh ideas. My enthusiasm was short-lived however, when I heard the news that a sequel was planned. FF's should not have sequels, it defies the point of their existence. They are stand-alone games, with each title providing a different gaming experience, and this system had made Final Fantasy as a brand successful in the first place. Why change the successful formula? Then questions sprang to mind. Sch as which game would 'recieve it's own sequel, when would it be released? After all, what was to say that this was just not another gaming rumour, like the FFVII remake that had surfaced for the then-announced PS3. Then the title was given. FFX-2 would take place after the events of FFX. I was sorely disappointed.

It's here I believe that Final Fantasy has lost it's way. FFXI is credible enough, fans were screaming out for a way to play and battle each other in a fully interactive world, and it wouldn'r be much of a change from previous games. But to create a sequel to an FF messes up the gameplan. It didn't need one, and it's an unpopular idea. Now more sequels, prequels and compliations are in the pipeline, such as the Compilation Of FFVII. This is ridiculous and exploitative, and mocks the fans which pay £40 or $60 a pop for a game. The main problem with FF now is Square-Enix. It's become a greedy corporation who are happy to please mindless fans, which ruins the memories for the true fans, who don't want a sequel, or a prequel. Was there any real point to Advent Children? Is there any real purpose to the Compilation of FFVII? For goodness' sake, it's on three different platforms, making the fan buy games they may never be able to play just so they have the satisfaction of saying I own it.

Mark my words, what I say is true. I love FF, but FF loves no-one.

Please, if you have anything to say on the matter feel free to post. Anything at all, if you agree or disagree please say so, after all a thesis is debate.

Thank you for taking the time to read it at least.

[Lordofdragons]

Thats very interesting i didnt know squaresoft was under threat of ceasing to exist after FF: TSW. Like you i started playing at FF VII and played all the FF games after that, and loved all of them.
I must say i liked your thesis it was very interesting.

[Angantyr]

I completely agree with you, though FFVII wasn't the first RPG I ever played it was what truely got me addicted to the gaming series. All though you didn't mention in a think the since FFVIII they have put in a set of boundries they won't push anymore in favour other boundries. Like with Aerith's death, now obviously that was a very emotional part of the game which left people with their mouths open BUT that wasn't the first time something in the FF series happened. I believe in 5 and 2 there were scenes just as deep as them but perhaps due to the graphics didn't get as much attention as they did, I think they will never make something as good as those games again. Hopefully a new RPG will take their place.

As for all the Sequels I completely agree, I support the remakes simple because the give people like me a chance to play them properly. But I feel they are milking the whole series too much. Firstly I don't think FFXI should of been called that, like tactics it should of been considered FF: Online. The Spirits Within was total crap, not worth the plastic it was made on. FFX-2 in my eyes is not the Sequal to FFX, it is not a proper FF game per say, I will say that I think it is a good game but it wasn't what FF fans really wanted. Now Advent Children.... to be honest this movie was good but not great. Being a huge fan of the series I obviously brought the DVD, and have seen it twice. But I think it could of been 10 times better, it was too short, lack of a decent story and it didn't give much attention to the other characters, basically it was not what I feel people wanted when thinking of a sequal to FFVII. And now that I see there is going to be three differant versions of FFXIII I am real disapointed. Why don't they just make FFXIII the best that they can rather than leaving room for sequals? Square needs to stop milking things and make games for the fans, they will still make good money but this seriously sux. Too many disapointments to say the least.

[Martin]

Hey guys, thanks for reading it and proving to me that there are like-minded people out there. I understand what you say when you comment on pusing the boundaries Wintermetal, especially on Aerith/Aeris' death, but if you have a look on a certain website called www.ff7citadel.com and in particular the secrets and mysteries section, then you'll find that there is proof to suggest she was never meant to die at such a critical moment as that at all... Therefore, what would be the use of creating something that effective again? Although I did argue about how gaming series keep their success by consistency, the issue would be raised about whether or not the FF series was to become a one-trick pony, feeding off emotion to create a pleasurable gaming experience. There is also an argument to be said about whether or not that would be a bad thing in itself...

The problems as clarified by myself and Wintermetal are real to those who play FF. The series is beginning to stagnate a little, with too much emphasis placed on graphics and music and GREED and less on those people who just want to play a game for the story. Innovation is key but should not be an absolute. It is fundamental but as much as any other feature.

[Andromeda]

I feel the need to remind people before things get too far out of hand on bashing FFXIII. That Versus and Agito are not sequels. Square-Enix already stated that they are stand alone titles. All three games are not going to be directly tied to each other. Consider it FFT and FFXII. They both take place in Ivalice, but none of the characters are there. The same is with FFXIII FF Versus XIII and FF Agito XIII. The only reason that they probably being called FFXIII is because unlike FFT and FFXII which were not played at the same time, these three games are being planned at the same times.

The games take place in the same world and use the same mythology, but that is it. They are sequels as people seem to think. FFXII is a traditional RPG, more or less, how much traditional it is going to be is still undecided, but it is a RPG. FF Versus XIII is an action based game, probably some RPG elements, but more akin to KH, namely since the KH team is working on it. Agito really do not know what will be up with that game, since there is not a lot of information on it other than I think it takes place at a school.

Now, yes Square Enix is milking the FFVII story dry, but they are a company and one looking to make money. FFVII was one of their most popular and successful games, fanboys and girls around the world have waiting a remake or sequel, anything from it. Well Square Enix is answering those calls.

Though, seeing FFVII and FFXIII as the future of FF is a little bit of a leap. Anyone that played the International version of FFX I believe would have the side story that was included, this was only in the Japanese version. There was a lot of public interest in the side story that became FFX-2. Square Enix would never have made it if people were not interested in it. FFX was another popular game, so they tried to make a sequel. As a story it did fail, but as a game it succeeded. I enjoyed it more than most of the FF because it was focused on having fun rather than grinding through everything and doing everything. It was something different, and FF is always about doing something different.

[Martin]

I agree with you Andromeda on some parts, but how can I judge games I haven't played such as FFXIII for example. That's the problem you see, I can only go off opinions as far as XII and XIII are concerend, although to an extent I have been deterred a little. What I am trying to say as above is Square-Enix are satifying the appetite of the mass with no consideration to true fans. Yes people wanted a sequel, my opinion was that I didn't. But obviously, they are a business and will want to appeal to the mass. My point is that as Square, they didn't feel like they had a need to appeal to mass, that they could cater for the individual, and that was what make FF stand out as an alternative gaming series and what made it unique in my humble opinion. Now it has changed and thy seem more concerned about profits than fun, and this upsets me as a fan and a gamer.

[Angantyr]

Though I do agree with you on some levels in has been ages since I have had a chance to play a new FF game, I really enjoyed FFX but it wasn't the type of game that would of get me obsessed with RPG (Though the Side Quests are indeed quite addictive). I remember back when VIII, IX and X came out and VIII and XI came out before I even knew the existed and and I pretty much played them the day they came out and played them to the bone. But because of my situation I couldn't get FFXI and I dunno when I will end up getting it. Either way it has been a long time since I've been able to play seriously and I don't want to see them end up being sub-par as FFX-2 ended up being.

[Martin]

But you see Wintermetal, that's precisely my point. I'm debating the state of the series from this point, not having played the newer ones (not for a lack or trying but nontheless...) so I can't really say what wil happen from that point. But what am I saying is that if FF has reached its critical point, its peak, it's limit... Then it should stop. I'm really hoping against that this is the case, and that what's happening now is just a blip, and that the company will see the error of their ways and correct it. But from the standpoint I'm in now, I can't say that's going to happen, and with names such as Nobuo Uematsu resigning... What's to say that this isn't the beginning of the end... I really hope I'm wrong though.

[LionheartVIII]

In my opinion the last "real" final fantasy that was made was FFX. But since Square has made so much money on doing the same thing over and over for all these years, they have started to experiment making new types of games for new types of gamers. For example FFX-2 was targeted more toward females, in an attempt to make them into fans. Im sure if all these new types of FF fail to bring in the cash for Square- Enix they will go back to their old formula. I wouldnt say that the series is at its peak right now either considering how great the series has always been.

My point is that as Square, they didn't feel like they had a need to appeal to mass, that they could cater for the individual, and that was what make FF stand out as an alternative gaming series and what made it unique in my humble opinion.

As much as i would like to believe that a company would cater to individuals, it will never happen, and almost never has happened. I promise you that Square has never done this, and never will. They are going to do whatever it takes to make more money. If the majority will like something, weither or not the majority are true fans, Square will do it. Thats how bissiness works my freind, sad isnt it. Life isnt fair unfortunately.

By Wintermetal

But I feel they are milking the whole series too much.

I agree they are milking the series. I think they are really milking FFVII, with the movie and all that new stuff like crisis core. Like i said above if the majority will buy it, Square will make it and thats exactly what is going to happen.

[Martin]

What I meant about Square catering for individuals... was the fact they gave the real fans what they wanted and to an extent Square-Enix don't do that, they are more concerned with commercialism at the expense of us...