A doubt with Final Fantasy Xiii

[Jimmy_Amstel]

As I have not played the game obviously I don't have much ground to stand on to form a solid argument against my doubt with FF13. After viewing the trailer I was slightly worried about the art style and setting of the game. What I mean by this is its the same sort of setting as X and XII. As well as a few games that have recently been released by Square-Enix. I was really hoping they would pull away from the 'futuristic/medieval' setting and do something a little different. Does anybody else agree with my views on the setting and style.

Also I hope its nothing like FFX-2 as its the same team " Gullwings Goooo!"

Please, i really thought it ruined X's credibility having such a 'cheesy' sequel that was NO final fantasy.

 

[Enrage The Sky]

First off the game isn't even out yet, so I'd be worried if you did play it.

And about the game "style" I'm not really sure about what your saying, I understand the whole "midevil/modern" thing. But what don't you like about it?

 

[Misty]

Well, if the setting doesn't appeal to you, which, in previous games, is what you'd expect from a Final Fantasy game, what do you prefer.

 

[Jimmy_Amstel]

Something with a more original feel to it. More medieval and magic as opposed to futuristic technology. I just feel like it has been over done and was surprised there was no slight change in direction with the art style and setting. When I say the setting I mean the futuristic feel mixed with the old, similar to FFX and FFXII.

 

[Dionysos]

FFX isn't a good example to compare it with. FFX wasn't a medieval / future setting at all. It had more Asiatic, hindu elements to it.

I don't think breaking away from the setting is a bad idea though. What I don't like is when they break away from gameplay elements, music and all round FF feel, which is what I personally have found lacking in later games.

I don't believe setting really matters. Sure medieval fantasy environments are what we are used to, but they could still produce a very FF feeling game in other environments, ala FFX. I liked the feel they went for with that game. But I personally don't mind if they do keep a medieval setting, seeing as it worked for a lot of the other installments.

What sort of differences are you expecting?
I'd love to see a bronze age Agean style themed FF game... but that's just me.

 

[Aztec Triogal]

I actually think the artistic style of Versus is killer. The main game, I'm not so sure. It seems a tad dolled up for my tastes... but it's definitely not bad. Still though, I'd call Versus's look a cross between FFVIII's modern look and the Turk's classy cool style. It seems more like a stylized modern look than anything else. Either way, I'm pretty sure it will work for the game -- even if it's not too different from its predecessors. I've never had a problem with artistic styles repeating in FF games, regardless of obvious similarities.

 

[Serah]

Something with a more original feel to it. More medieval and magic as opposed to futuristic technology. I just feel like it has been over done and was surprised there was no slight change in direction with the art style and setting. When I say the setting I mean the futuristic feel mixed with the old, similar to FFX and FFXII.

You should've realized by seeing all the scans and such that FFXIII had to offer, as well as other trailers and the types of weapons, the scenery, the summons (Shiva turning into a motorcycle for example), that this game was going to be centered around futuristic as opposed to medieval times.

Not to mention, didn't the creators blatantly state that XIII was going to be a lot more futuristic? I'm fairly certain they did. How could you have had different expectations when all the scans we've seen thus far and early trailers suggested otherwise?

 

[Shu]

Well I understand the theory of there needs to be a "setting" change, since most revolve around Kingdoms and what not. The fact is most Japanese RPGs today mock eachother with the same elements as the one before it. Originality to the Developers is a hefty fee in order to take the risk of a dissapointment, so instead they usually stick with the same theme, and add a few more elements.

Let's take in mind the aweful story line of FF12. Some liked it, Some Hated it, and very few loved the entire concept. I have noticed the people that loved it were the ones just getting into FF (since maybe FFX). They added the whole license board along with the Gambit AI. Then they made a female protagonist (ashe) who had the fate of a Kingdom on top of her head. They dumbed down the depth of characters and made it more of a visual pleasing game. They stripped the story line and the villain named Vayne was made to be another unoriginal character. Also does anyone think Nethecite was a little to much like materia?

Anyway for them to pull away from the other FF's, it would take quite a bit of balls. I believe that it will be another "kingdom" theme, it will definitely not be mideval due to the screen shots. It will be entirely futuristic, but to be honest I'm more focused on versus. So we will see which one has more originality..

 

[Busta]

I don't really thing that FFXII can be considered futuristic really, so I'm not sure that FF games have been leaning that way recently. You take a look at FFXI and FFXII and they seem to focus more on castles and kingdoms, and villages and peasants and such. FFXIII seems to be going to a somewhat unprecedented area with gaming in the FF series.

You can bash the setting or the way the game looks set, but it is a Fantasy game overall; it's make-believe. It's meant to go beyond the realm of realism to a point where the gamer can enjoy an imaginary set-up and adventure. I'm looking on the positive side for FFXIII mainly because I'd rather be looking forward to it for over a year as opposed to sitting at my computer bitching about it during that same time frame. Might add a few years to my life that way.

 

[RioDragon]

Am I the only one who thinks the Final Fantasy series should decide where it stands to set itself apart? Nothing wrong with mixing medieval, sci-fi, and fantasy... Except that it's been done too much. Maybe just sticking to one setting would be some fresh air for the series, and allow Square-Enix to maybe ACTUALLY go a nice direction with it. I'm fine with change when something has been used too much, because it often breathes new life into a franchise. The only series with problems when that happens are ones that have tight, encapsulating themes or storylines.

Personally, Final Fantasy isn't one of them. So they should quit sitting on their asses doing the same s**t and experiment, for god's sakes. After all, no matter what they do, it'll sell like hotcakes. Even if they try something that doesn't work, their sales figures for it will be up there. I just want FF to stop looking so generic and style-over-substance and actually five us some meat or something when they get to FFXVI. Obviously, we are going to get any with FFXIII and Versus.

 

[Dr.Jackal]

Yea, I don't like the medieval. I have Final Fantasy XII and I didn't really love it that much. I was hoping for a more future kind of background to it. Well anyways i'll give the new final fantasy a shot and see how it is. It looked really cool though in my opinion.


*EDIT*- Plus all those kings names and the places didn't even make sense LOL king rabenastad. also i got lost in it =|

 

[Dreamer]

Yea After watching the trailer last night for both games i remember noting to myself that this game has a sort of X vibe to it as well as a XII vibe but it also had a really big VIII vibe as well if you really look you might agree, i can't really think about examples right now but off just my memory but one of the scenes it shows a car leaving or something and that sort of got the whole VIII vibe idea in my head as it reminded me sort of the cars that you'd see in that game, so after that it i noticed more things. So yea anyways to stay on topic i sort of agree and disagree. I disagree because I have no quarrels with the futuristic medieval style although a change would be refreshing.. I've always been a fan of sort of psedo-futuristic Steampunk style so maybe that would interest me. What I didn't like was that the game reminded me too much of XII which shouldn't ever happen because this isn't ivalice and shouldn't look like it.. and it just bothers me because anything in ivalice I never ended up enjoying.

 

[Valkyrur]

I'd be glad with a more medieval setting, actually. Not that i detest futuristic or anything, its just a preferrence.

Furthermore, from the trailers. It really look like a futuristic setting is coming up though, seeing how the troops are all using guns, rather than swords. In short, the technology looks pretty advanced. (I'm sure there will be a place in the game's that's still medieval though)

Add on the rumours i heard about Bahamut being a commercial plane, I guess its already obvious what XIII might turn out to be.

 

[Remiel]

I just feel, that after all the mediums I've played/watched/read through, that I'm done and tired with plain old medeival. Same with straight forward sci-fi. And while it's been done too much, I'm not tired of the neo-ancient feel of the current Final Fantasy's. It still makes me happy on the inside. ...*glee*...

Yeah.

Anyways- so far, I'm on edge for the new style of XIII. I like most of what I've seen- but the Summons? Magical motorcycle Shiva? Something about discs? Nah, not for me.

Also, battle system worries me. If they can make it work, and make it work well, it'll be incredible. ...If not...then we're all doomed.

That's problem with FF games. They've got such a high level of standards now with all of their games, that it's just so hard to keep up.

Versus on the other hand fits perfectly for me. The art direction, the style, the characters, EVERYTHING seems to flow so effortlessly together in the kind of atmosphere created for the game thus far.