Square Enix recently announced its plans to remake one of the more receptive Final Fantasy games for the PS3 and PS Vita. Which one? Already the cerebral fluids may be pumping in anticipation as to which game was selected by Square Enix.
Drum rolls……Final Fantasy X. I know if you are a diehard FFVII fan like me then I already know the thoughts that are going through your head. Why is Square Enix so adamantly opposed to remaking FFVII? Why are they remaking FFX instead of FFVII? Who knows what their plans are? Perhaps it holds a glimmer of hope that we may see Square Enix return to FFVII to bring it back to the forefront of the franchise just one more time.
Despite so many people that would like us FFVII fans to give it a rest and move on, I would say Square Enix is moving on too quickly, in my opinion. Take FFXIV for example. It is no surprise that so many people have grown frustrated with the later generation games which are pumped out quicker than a queen alien lays eggs. Even Square Enix CEO, Yoichi Wada, said “The Final Fantasy brand has been greatly damaged” in regards to FFXIV at a press conference in Tokyo. I think his statement is correct that the franchise has damaged itself but not with FFXIV alone.
It’s the act of not listening to the diehard following that really hurts the franchise. Some would say this began to occur when Square dropped the “Soft” and switched to “Enix” just after Final Fantasy X was released. Since that time the franchise has focused on a growing amount of cut scenes rather than good, old fashioned fun. The latest games are a true testament to the amount of cut scenes versus game play. For example, how many times did you force yourself to stay put on the couch to press the SELECT button over and over again just to fight on in FFXIII? Many of us that grew tired of pushing SELECT basically skipped the entire plot since Square Enix spent more time developing their cut scenes (mini-movies) as opposed to making a kick-ass, free roam world with a plot that was integrated into the game play.
Yes, as far as great CGI cut scenes are concerned, we know Square Enix has great programmers. But CEO Yoichi Wada has to remember that we fans of the early FF series were used to 8-bit, pixel graphics. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that we get away from 1080p CGI. On the contrary, I like the clarity that science brings into my gaming experience each year. Yet, 1080p won’t automatically save a video game and neither will 3-D. In fact, what continues to make FFVII live on through the years is not the graphics. I mean, I just played the game a few months ago and laughed at the graphics of yesterday. But the game play is what made FFVII endure.
What parts about FFVII did you like? If you could incorporate any concepts from FFVII or FFX, which ideas would you demand in a remake of either game? Let’s get the thoughts flowing. This is only the beginning of a wonderful discussion that could go much further, should the fans demand it.
- final fantasy X
- final fantasy 10
- final fantasy 8 remake
- is the final fantasy 1 playstation remake better than the original
AMEN! Gameplay over graphics ANY DAY for me. I want freedom of exploration, mini games, puzzles, hidden characters, and cool customizable stuff. FF7 was a hit because they did everything right. It could have been a story set in any time frame yet just because it was in the future now they come out with games like FFXIII attempting to replicate that feeling and placing Lightning in a role similar to Cloud. Don’t replicate or clone, don’t attempt to wow us with graphics! Just play an old 8 bit FF game through (like FFVI) and see what makes us excited to play!
Square-Enix has moved so far off base that they lost their core audience and are now followed only by children and cosplayers. I don’t know what happened to this once great franchise. I wish Sakaguchi would come home.
I think they have begun to falsely assume that diehard fans are different than consumers. We ARE the consumers! Perhaps Square Enix shrugs our demands off as incessant whining but we are trying to get them back on track. I think remaking FFX is a good start but not the end all solution. Sometimes simpler is better.
Let’s face it. We (diehards) keep the franchise alive because every new FF game we purchase is made because we maintain a secret hope that the next game will be better than the last game in distribution; yet, ironically, every game gets progressively worse, especially with FFXIV being the latest steamy dung pushed out too hastily for a quick buck. (Keep in mind this IS a biased article that is geared toward those fans that have stuck this through from NES to PS3 (or XBox 360 if you swing that way for FF games).
What doesn’t enlighten me about the lastest FF games (After X) is just the story. I don’t feel captured or really think it portrays a good story like the old ones have. I think its just more political then the original good vs evil. DOn’t get me wrong, a bit of political debate makes the game interesting, but it has to make it’s overal focus on the characters quest to defeat the enemy.
VII would require a lot of time to remake, X seems more easier because of the PS2to PS3 format and who knows, maybe one day VII will be announced as Square’s first PS4 title
´´After serving 8 years in the U.S. Army as an Intelligence Analyst, Manny departed the military in order to pursue his B.A. in Philosophy from American Military University. Aside from college, he writes short stories and essays in the realm of philosophy and science fiction.´´´
Lol I bet he was playing ps3 all the time
c.o.d 2 modern warefare 