about FF Graphics and its impact

[C i d]

We all know that most FF games are epic. They (almost) always managed to impress us. In turn, these factors made us love them.

My question is, do you THINK you NEED beautiful and cinematic graphics for you to feel the epic-ness?

My question specially goes to those who did not play the older games when they first came out, because I am sure they had 'excellent' graphics in their times if you play them in that period.

For me, high-def graphics make ff gaming experience better. The older 2D games like FFI, II, etc did not create any big impact on me. I do like them, but I still feel that it would have been much better with better graphics. I will love the storyline, characters and world much much more if they are in 3D instead of mere sprites and pixels.

For example, detailed graphics in FFXII and XIII made me forgive these games a lot. On the other hand, although I know FFVI has great story and characters, they do not have the same kind of impact as the newer games. They are less memorable too.

Then again, I am a very visual person, so opinions differ.

 

[The Dilemma]

Hell no. There's a reason why I like novels better then video games. Story trumps visuals every day.

 

[Demon]

I think the graphics do improve the Final Fantasy experience. I voted for the second option.

However, I think I would have liked XIII more if they had focused more on the gameplay instead of the graphics.

Overall, I don't really care. It's exciting to see the graphics of the latest games, but with XIII-2 and Versus, I'm more concerned about the gameplay.

 

[Zantetsuken7]

I care not if the game is in high graphics or 2D old school FF (of course it will improve gaming experience) but if the game has an epic storyline that keeps you playing that's more than enough for me. I am a gamer that does not watch the graphics like most of the players do. Even now all they want is Best graphics and do not care for good storyline. This is just my opinion.

 

[squaredgirl]

I went with "Honestly, there's not much of a difference."

I don't mind pretty graphics, not at all! But I don't feel like they influence my gaming experience. I can go and enjoy the original FFIV with its 16BIT graphics, FFVII with its very polygone-ie graphics and even FFXII with the pretty 3D graphics... but the look of a game doesn't really come into play with the atmosphere and feel of a game for me. It's the story and dialogue that is the key factor for me. In fact(!) I think that the music in a game sets the scene more than the graphics do.

But this is just my opinion! Forgive my rambling!

 

[Linnaete]

Visuals and aesthetics play important roles in the modern games now, but from the way I see it, while they do enhance the experience to a large extent, there are more pressing factors at hand that can ruin this experience anyway, regardless of how beautiful the visuals are. From my point of view, are astonishing and flashy graphics fundamental to make a great experience? Not necessarily. FFVI and FFIV are among my favourites. They're rich in storyline, characters, music and gameplay and are yet graphically rather primitive. A game with astonishing graphics can play like crap, and that's something to bear in mind. On the other hand however, you can argue that graphics do have a major impact as well. It allows you to immerse yourself into the game's universe much more effectively, and to connect with the characters and all that. On a more generic level, visuals do sell and in preference, I would ideally enjoy having good visuals in any FF game nowadays, though development-wise, an over-focus on visuals can lead to compromises in other factors.

 

[Six]

A gorgeous game is nothing without a great story line, but that. A pretty face without anything behind it. That's boring, that's not interesting. It might be nice to look at, but that soon fades if it doesn't interest you.

So I say story > graphics. For example like someone already said, look at the lego blocks in FFVII, to this day I play it, to this day I enjoy it.

 

[Sora-kun]

I love the amazing graphics of the game, I think they definitely have an impact and will continue to do so. It also does help the experience, however I wouldn't necessarily need it to enjoy an FF game, I mean there are so many of them that don't have the best graphics compared to others and they are still a lot of fun.

 

[Rey]

I look for a good story. If it isnt a good storyline I couldnt care less about the graphics. Although I do love the beautiful graphics of Final Fantasy XIII and such. They dont really make up the game. The first batch of FF's have some really good storylines. Such as FF IV, VI, VIII, IX and of course X. Maybe even XII. Graphics make pretty faces just Like Kira said but if it is a pretty face with no reasons behind it then that just is terrible. I like my characters to have a good side to them and bring a very great storyline. Now Versus XIII and Type-0 and FF XIII-2 look so pretty and will no doubt have great storylines. XIII-2 is attempting a better storyline than XIII. I dont get why some people say XIII had no story. Sure it did it just wasnt the best one ever created. So in short Storyline > pretty faces. Example of this would be Stella in Versus XIII. I love her pretty face but if she isnt written well than I wont care. Samething with Jihl. She was pretty and looked really cool in the trailers. But in the final game she was shit.

 

[Rydrum2112]

Good graphics are necessary but not sufficient for a video game, keeping in mind the system they are on. Obviously SNES game and a PS3 are going to be worlds different but good FF games have better graphics than peer games.

The graphics don't have to be the greatest ever- but above average is what we need. Clearly gameplay & storyline are more important.

 

[Squid]

I voted for the second option.
While I can play old games without cut scenes and sparkley graphics and enjoy them completely I do enjoy the good looking graphics you get with games like FFX or FFIX (compared to how the game play graphics looked)

but then you have the other extreme FFXIII where it seems all the time was spent on graphics rather than story or characters.

it really does depend, I can live without graphics if the game has an engaging story but am a lot happier if it also has amazing cut scenes!

 

[King Sean]

Graphics do play a good role, in my opinion. They make the experience a little better, as seeing the game played out in great visuals can improve the entertainment value.

However, they are not as important and gameplay and story. The story must be great or the visuals can come across as a last ditch effort to make the game look good to potential players. I chose the second option, as graphics don't make a game, but do have a decent impact on the quality, to a certain extent.

 

[Starships]

The FF games with the chibi , outdated SNES graphics are the better Final Fantasies imo. FF4- FF9. FF9 is like eleven years old I think, and goodness knows how old FF4 is now. None of the characters speak, the music is outdated, and the graphics are small and chibi, but that's the moment of the best Final Fantasies. Why, because they all had beautiful stories, characters, and battle systems. Look at FF6. Amazing story, characters and deep gameplay but not a flashy AMV clip in sight. Unless you count the PlayStation opening. :dave: When the graphics started to come in, about X that's when the Final Fantasy series started to fail a little bit, and slowly worsen. I like the AMV clips in FF 8 , FF9 and FF10, but they didn't make the game any more special. Actually they kinda make the game feel more like a movie than a game, which isn't a good thing.

Final Fantasy shouldn't feel like a cheesy Hollywood movie, it should really feel like a novel, and that's how FF4- FF9 feel. Like your inside a Final Fantasy novel.
Of course FF1- FF3, are the oldest and have the worse graphics, but look how fun they are compared to FF13 and FF12. FF12 is boring, but in FF1 you have a choice of game party, you have freedom to travel whenever you desire, and collect crystals. Really FF4- FF9 was the Golden Age of FF imo.

 

[Fusionist]

While graphics are pretty awesome and something I enjoy, I think what gave more impact to the FF games wasn't the intensity of the graphics, but the actual scenes themselves.

Although I do have to admit, while nothing wrong with 2D graphics, I felt more impact with some scenes that were actually rendered in 3D. I mean, seeing two characters embrace in 3D has more impact than seeing two 2D sprites standing next to each other xD

 

[Busta]

I love the old-school games with their 2D and sub-par graphics, but I do gotta be honest and say I'm a sucker for a beautiful game AS LONG AS, it has a great story with it. If the games is the best looking game ever, but cannot capture my attention or appeal, I will not finish it since I'll view it as just a waste of time.

 

[Soltharn]

I think the main problem with many games nowadays is that they're focusing more upon graphics and gameplay rather than story and immersion. The latter two aspects are what make me satisfied with a purchase and contribute to whether or not I'll choose to replay them.

 

[DarkShadow]

Yeah I agree with @Soltharn The visuals of a game,well I couldn't care less about it.....I don't know why but nearly all game-makers try and make their game look as beautiful as possible. Forgetting it's not the visuals of the game that needs to be good,but the gameplay

But in FF's case and my opinion the story and world need to be the focal point.

 

[Noize]

I'm pretty much a sucker for graphics aswell, but oddly enough, when it comes to the FF games, i've found that the better the graphics in the game, the less impact the story has, i mean, the classics had SNES graphics ect, but at the same time, the storyline was huge.

As time grew, and more releases came out, the graphics got better, but the storyline grew weaker AND shorter.

personally, SE needs to make a game where the Storyline is substantial like with the classics, but at the same time boost the graphics to current standards. I wouldn't care of multiple discs were needed, aslong as i got decent play out of it....

 

[Ahlchamest]

Though I do love the graphics in FFX-XIII, I'd say I love the SNES FF's a little more. The graphics in XIII were simply amazing, and it had a great story, but it just didn't feel the same as FFIV, where the graphics really didn't matter, and was very fun.

 

[Bloodred]

I voted : Honestly, there's not much of a difference. I grew up playing Final Fantasy from the PlayStation, so the graphics were decent at the time. However, I couldn't careless about graphics at all, I've always been against any remake of a Final Fantasy game, I want my cloud with weird arms and no mouth it's just how it is! All I need is game play, a story and memorable music all three of which every Final Fantasy delivers right up to the current Final Fantasy XIII.

That said I'm a fan of retro games anyway so