[16/11] Kitase: Final Fantasy XV could be an action RPG?

[Linnaete]

The next mainline Final Fantasy could move away from the series’ turn-based roots in favor for a more action-oriented battle system, according to Final Fantasy XIII-2 producer Yoshinori Kitase.

Speaking to EDGE, Kitase said the rising popularity of action RPGs are becoming “a trend”—one “you ignore at your peril.”

“I think the nature of the franchise is to present something new each time,” Kitase said. “In the global market we see many players moving away from games that used turn-based systems toward what you might term an action RPG.

Final Fantasy XIII‘s battle system moved towards action in its display, but remained turn-based at heart. The next Final Fantasy may see even bigger change.

“Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIII-2‘s battle systems have those elements of speed and action that are the key words for us, though that doesn’t necessarily mean we’re going to stick to the same route in our next game,” he added.

“That’s something only time can tell.”

Square Enix’s 1st Production Department is currently developing Final Fantasy Versus XIII for PlayStation 3, an action RPG in the vein of Kingdom Hearts.

Thanks, Gematsu!

Well, this won't be everyone's cup of tea, so if anyone envisages another FFX-like flagship title, you may want to look away now and go consider Dragon Quest or something.

 

[C i d]

I will save my judgment for when more information and confirmation are released.

But if it really turns out to something really action-ish, I think I won't fancy the gameplay. I have never been a fan of action games.

As long as some of the the RPG elements such as towns, etc, are present, I shouldn't mind the overall presentation in the end.

Let's just wait and see.

 

[Hatifnatten]

By all means. As long as it's not online and not given to americans, I can swallow it.

Poor Square, showed backside to abide by the stupid rules of trends instead of making ones. Gaming industry is slowly dying.

 

[Ohri-Jin]

Ok someone please answer my question as I dont actually know what a action rpg is...shit I dont think I ever played one...hmmm..

Some examples of action rpg's please?...

Is DMC an action rpg? Onimusha?

Im not sure this is something for FF.... I do like KH battlesystem, FFXII's and Rogue Galaxy's battlesystems and thus I am looking forward to Versus..

but I think SE will really fuck it up with this action rpg bs...

 

[harunashiro]

@Ohri-Jin

Ok someone please answer my question as I dont actually know what a action rpg is...shit I dont think I ever played one...hmmm..

Some examples of action rpg's please?...

Is DMC an action rpg? Onimusha?

Im not sure this is something for FF.... I do like KH battlesystem, FFXII's and Rogue Galaxy's battlesystems and thus I am looking forward to Versus..

but I think SE will really fuck it up with this action rpg bs...

Don't assume Square Enix is going to "fuck up" when you don't know what an action RPG is capable of in the hands of a company such as this. Especially if you don't know any examples of action RPGs.


That mini-rant aside, a good example of an action RPG (in my opinion) is to take a look at the game, NieR (NA) (alternately titled NieR Replicant for PS3 and NieR Gestalt for Xbox 360 in Japan). Hopefully that'll give you a good idea as to what kind of game FFXV might look like (possibly.)

 

[Steve-O]

Why are they talking about FFXV Awhen there still got Versus and XIV to sort out before they should even start thinking about XV i think it wrong for interviewers about games that are not even been annonced yet because i think it rude and saying thay don't care about the games their making and they only care about a new game.. not the ones that the company working hard on to make soo they will like it

 

[Ohri-Jin]

@Ohri-Jin


Don't assume Square Enix is going to "fuck up" when you don't know what an action RPG is capable of in the hands of a company such as this. Especially if you don't know any examples of action RPGs.


That mini-rant aside, a good example of an action RPG (in my opinion) is to take a look at the game, NieR (NA) (alternately titled NieR Replicant for PS3 and NieR Gestalt for Xbox 360 in Japan). Hopefully that'll give you a good idea as to what kind of game FFXV might look like (possibly.)

Just because Nier was a really populair action rpg by SE doesnt reassure me that a FF action rpg will be so swell..there is a reason why its a whole other story.

Its about touching the main line of FF and turning THAT into a action rpg..

Also yeah I dont know examples of action rpg's and I asked someone but clearly you havent answered me that either except Nier that happens to be developed by CAVIA and PUBLISHED by SE

 

[Linnaete]

I've no problems with this if you decide to ditch turn-based systems entirely, as long as the end product is something that has more gameplay than Crisis Core's ten minutes. Of course, not everyone's going to like this, especially if you wouldn't go near an action RPG with a barge pole. If you're one of these people though, I don't imagine you being all that bothered by Versus, as that was the immediate game that came to mind.

The easy trap an action RPG can fall into - and this is something I fear may be happening to Versus unless they show us something new to suggest otherwise - that they have incorporated something fresh and interesting to the combat - is that it becomes a generic stat-based hack and slash with few content. Like a Dynasty Warriors with numbers and expensive CGI. Throw in large, picturesque, explorable, areas in a more interactive in-game world and a variety of interesting sidequests in there along with a fluid, dynamic and fresh kind of action combat, and you have me interested.

At the same time however, you can interpret this interview as sounding a little desperate. What I want to know is, which action RPGs were on his mind at the time? Skyrim? I mean, it seems likely. Skyrim is one of only very few recent action RPGs that have gripped much of the globe, particularly in the west. If so, then it's further evidence to suggest that the Japanese gaming industry is growing even more irrelevant nowadays if people such as SE big honcho Wada in particular had been harping on about the need for a more westernised kind of amalgamation and direction.

Some examples of action rpg's please?....

Nier, Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, Rogue Galaxy, Kingdom Hearts series, Versus, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Monster Hunter (arguably), Tales of Symphonia etc.

Western ones are probably all action RPGs.

 

[Ohri-Jin]

I've no problems with this if you decide to ditch turn-based systems entirely, as long as the end product is something that has more gameplay than Crisis Core's ten minutes. Of course, not everyone's going to like this, especially if you wouldn't go near an action RPG with a barge pole. If you're one of these people though, I don't imagine you being all that bothered by Versus, as that was the immediate game that came to mind.

The easy trap an action RPG can fall into - and this is something I fear may be happening to Versus unless they show us something new to suggest otherwise - that they have incorporated something fresh and interesting to the combat - is that it becomes a generic stat-based hack and slash with few content. Like a Dynasty Warriors with numbers and expensive CGI. Throw in large, picturesque, explorable, areas in a more interactive in-game world and a variety of interesting sidequests in there along with a fluid, dynamic and fresh kind of action combat, and you have me interested.

At the same time however, you can interpret this interview as sounding a little desperate. What I want to know is, which action RPGs were on his mind at the time? Skyrim? I mean, it seems likely. Skyrim is one of only very few recent action RPGs that have gripped much of the globe, particularly in the west. If so, then it's further evidence to suggest that the Japanese gaming industry is growing even more irrelevant nowadays if people such as SE big honcho Wada in particular had been harping on about the need for a more westernised kind of amalgamation and direction.



Nier, Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, Rogue Galaxy, Kingdom Hearts series, Versus, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Monster Hunter (arguably), Tales of Symphonia etc.

Western ones are probably all action RPGs.

Then it is settled then. I actually loved Rogue Galaxy to death, both story and awesome battlesystem.

Thats why Versus seems really ace imo.

So I do like action rpg. This could mean all future FF titles will be this way....
Some people still love turn based though.

I already told my favo battlesystems -> KH's, FFXII's and Rogue Galaxy's. Put in a awesome story and voila.

So far SE has disappointed in the action rpg genre imo wether storywise or gameplay.

 

[ribbit]

It seems that they're trying to appeal to the masses. Action RPGs are all right, and if they worked similar to Tales of games (without copying it completely) or Kingdom Hearts, I'd probably go for it. And if it's an action RPG, you can't exactly have a closed off world like FFXIII, so we might get a big open world similar to FFXII which I'd like. So there's ups and downs, but it'll be a while before they release this or even decide on whether or not this is how the game will be.

 

[Nocturne]

Action RPG's are usually pretty good.

Nier, Kingdom Hearts, Eternal Sonata, Star Ocean. Kingdom Hearts is probably the best example out of those though since there arent any battle screens that you load to.

I wouldnt mind this for a few reasons. The action tends to be pretty intense with action rpg's, so that can make things fun, but at the same time, sometimes you miss out on the little details.

Also, since the FF series has been moving to the 'you control one person with AI controlling the other members', type of gameplay since after 10, this makes sense as well. Action RPG's you only directly control one character, the rest is AI.

I always thought this would be a good move. I remember a while back, the rumors of a FF7 sequel that stared Cloud but it was a third person action game like Devil May Cry. That has massive potential to be awesome IMO.

I love turn based too though so I would be sad to see it go, but we live in a time when gamers are twitchy FPS gamers sadly

 

[Rydrum2112]

I don't mind Action RPG's, the one problem I have with them is that they turn into button mashing (I am not saying classic turn based don't have some component of this).

Recently, I have played Rogue Galaxy, Star Oceans, WKC (2)- which have battle systems like action rpg's and I find that I use less abilities and a smaller variety of attacks and spells in these types of games (Like ff12).

 

[Rey]

I can not really see Final Fantasy XV losing the turn based features. Final Fantasy has always been known for that Active time battle or turn based systems. I hate how crisis core was. That was the very definition of boring. If it is going to be like Tales and Star Ocean, than it is not really a bad idea. As long as it is not so easy, and actually is challenging at times. Versus XIII has tried something like Kingdom hearts, which is really different. I think I would have to play Versus XIII first to be the judge, and that is if it releases before we disappear.

 

[Ohri-Jin]

I liked FFXII's battlesystem because it was so realistic. No loading/battle screens and fiends/monsters in real time! Still it had a turn based element and I think hack & slash has to be in an action rpg to make it work.

Rogue Galaxy is the perfect example. I literally devoured that game..well maybe not literally.
Weapon upgrade system where you could blend 2 weapons into 1. Aahhhhhhhhhh..

Also I think SE really needs to do something about the equipment aspect. When I equip this or that it should show alltime in real time and thus also in cutscenes and maybe in cgi.