More Rambling About Final Fantasy

Longtime readers will recognize a trend about my gaming. Yes, I love JRPG's. For whatever reason, I enjoy running around beautifully rendered worlds with generic archetypes with insane hair and seeing the deepest points of the uncanny valley as I do so. And those who just even just scan through know that I have the softest spot for the Final Fantasy franchise. Evidence of this is found in my defense of the 13th entry and its successor and beyond. I still enjoy the games, despite their flaws. So you should know very well how exhausted I am.

I have completed every single player, roman numeral entry in the series. I have played a couple of the off-shoots. And here I sit, during the 25th Anniversary celebration of the series as a whole. A history of great games is past, and there are thousands of people noting a list of successes that has come as a result risks taken by a company so many years past. But among them, there is anger, distress, frustration cold and bitter over decisions made by the persons holding the reins. These people don't want the changes made in the series.

Frankly, I feel that they just want more of Final Fantasy VII.

And I'm only right about a few of those people, I'm sure. But let's face it, nostalgia is both the best thing about Final Fantasy, and its curse. The majority of the first nine titles are indisputably among the most important games in history. Very few fans really argue about the quality of these titles, and will usually agree to disagree about which is the best. For some, these are their favorite games. I wouldn't argue with them either. There is something very special about playing a Final Fantasy game, and I always look forward to a new entry in the franchise. Hell, I'm even looking forward to Square announcing Final Fantasy XIII-3 at the anniversary thing in Japan at the end of August. It's unique to the Final Fantasy franchise, and no other series gives me that feeling. There are many great games out there, but Final Fantasy does the trick.

So you can imagine my frustration when I have to see the constant bickering on the internet about a Final Fantasy VII remake being the sole savior to the franchise. That's short sighted. Square-Enix was correct to say that it would be the end to the series. They are trying to make a game that satisfies both their creative needs and bring long estranged fans back. Whether you like XIII and its sequel or not, they were trying to bring some fresh blood to the series. It's not perfect, but it's a motion for progress. The sales numbers aren't all that much lower from previous installments, but the sales of other franchises are much higher, and that bothers the number crunchers of Square. The quick trigger anger flood of the internet scares them with poor review numbers on aggregate sites like MetaCritic.

The voice of the internet is hurting the video game industry in an indescribable way. Everyone sees the first person shooter as the way to make money, or even the duck and cover third person shooter. Pair that six hour campaign with a decent multi-player with DLC every few months, and you have a temporary success. If not a shooter, a sandbox game so full of content that some gamers just run out of interest by the time the finale rolls in to surprise people that they have actually reached the end. 'Casual' games allow people to fill the five minutes that they are waiting for the bus or class to start. These aren't bad points in gaming, and these are all extreme examples, but they aren't the complete experience of video games.

Innovation is supposedly driving the industry, but stagnation is the truth behind that 'innovation'. So many companies are so driven to reinvent the wheel that they forget that the simplest things are often what people were drawn to in the first place. Let's bring this back to Final Fantasy:Final Fantasy VIII contains what is probably the most needlessly complex stat system I've ever seen in a Japanese RPG. Some embraced the change and made it through a story that definitely sits in the love-or-hate category, and possibly even shattered the games difficulty in the progress. They immediately called in a system reminiscent of Final Fantasy VI, and it worked much better in the long run. The Wii even relies on simplicity, which is why so many people are drawn to it. The WiiU hasn't proven itself, but it seems to want to incite simplicity, despite having the potential for extreme complexity. The reality is, at the end of the day, it's just another button to press, and that has always been the core of the experience. For all of their innovation, we have reached a stage that we are just finding slightly different things for those buttons to do. Adding in a RPG leveling system for the kills accumulated in multi-player was innovative, but it's not a wholly different way to play those games. You still kill people in an arena and collect weapons that are stronger and kill more people in the process. World of Warcraft built on Everquest, which, in essence, was the same thing that Ultima had been doing or past twenty years before it had released. No one reinvented the wheel. They just put it in a different spot on the car.

So when Final Fantasy XIII dropped and players found themselves doing something rather alien to other games in the series, they were upset. They were also upset by the story, but let's face it, Final Fantasy hasn't ever been perfect in that department. It's Japan. They have their themes that always show up, and it was full tighter because of that threading. Nothing was truly shocking here, though, aside from the giant corridor from Act I to the end of Act II. Enough people realized this to have a good time, and we even got a great sequel out of it. It's not perfect, it's not as good as the classics, but it's still a lot of fun when you allow yourself to enjoy it.

Final Fantasy XV is no doubt coming down the pipeline. Square won't let their most important franchise to die out. People's expectations are rather low. That might be a good thing, because the people who will jump in regardless will probably be satisfied that it's a decent game. There is also the possibility that the experience that they picked up working on the potentially FFXIII Trilogy will show them with a fresh and exciting experience. More likely, it's going to be another average entry in a series that used to excel on every occasion.

But speculation is something that is dangerous and exciting. I don't know whether to expect another sci-fi inspired entry or a return to traditional fantasy entries, but I do know think that the XIII battle system is done after the potential XIII-3. There is going to be a push for control over a complete battle party rather than the methods used in XII and XIII, which both had perks. I know there will be characters that I like, and probably even more that are annoying to ends unseen. I'd like to see a return to simpler times, such as in IX, where the equipment setup doesn't require constant modification and reading of the strategy guide to understand how to get a proper weapon in the end game. Some variation on classic character building and possibly another variation on FFX's sphere grids will possibly arise, and I'm okay with that. I wasn't iffy about FFXII's license board, but it was functional enough. The Crystarium was great, despite being a time sink once the other three classes opened up in the last act. Whatever comes, I'm ready though.

I'm not trying to sell anyone on Final Fantasy. If you hate Final Fantasy, there is nothing in this blog to get you to enjoy it. If nothing else, you probably either read it and think I'm an idiot, or are at least interested in what keeps people playing these games.

Nostalgia keeps us buying the new ones. Nostalgia makes us buy the remakes and rereleases.

Now, where is a series box set to commemorate that 25th anniversary?

Oh wait, we aren't getting one...we're getting a music game that does look entertaining, and a VII PC Port rerelease with achievements.

I guess Konami and Capcom are the only ones who know how to throw a good anniversary shindig.

http://castlevania.wikia.com/wiki/Castlevania_Best_Music_Collections_BOX
http://venturebeat.com/2012/05/23/capcom-celebrates-street-fighters-25th-anniversary-with-a-huge-collectors-box-set/

I think I need to make my own box...and since I'm teaching myself photoshop, this might be the best opportunity.

Check back soon for some photo editing notes and examples.

Final Fantasy XIII-2, Writing, and Some Other Nonsense

Around twenty hours and thirty fragments into Final Fantasy XIII-2, I realized how much I miss the Chrono franchise. Sure, the Final Fantasy series still holds my attention far more than most RPG's, but the magic isn't quite as strong. At least, not until XIII-2.

Everything about this game screams out for me to dump an inconceivable amount of time into the game. It's too bad that the story, protagonists, and framework of the game kind of hurt it. Serah is an idiot, with ridiculous dialogue. Noel has an interesting past, and is a character I like to follow, but his ramblings about time are repetitive and don't drive the narrative. With all of the melodrama spread like fine butter over this story, it's a surprise to see that there was real potential here.

The antagonist, Caius Ballad (whose name is just as ridiculous as his giant winged sword), actually walks around with the real tragedy of the game. I won't ruin anything, but the things that happen around him are actually compelling, and could have made for one of the best stories in the franchise. There just isn't enough drive to the plot. However, I also think that if they locked the focus on the plot, it would have detracted from the gameplay. There could be a balance to be struck, with a longer story arc than exists, but it's not here just yet. I'm looking forward to the next two chapters, and the finale, because the game is actually quite good. Sure, it's not FFVI or even IX, but it's a sight better than X-XII, and pushes beyond the weaknesses of its immediate predecessors.

But there are other things going on in the world beyond this game. By the way, the Collector's Edition version is spectacular. The packaging is lovely, the art book a nice little addition, and the four disc soundtrack stealing the show. While I wish they'd kept the artwork from the announcement photo, it's not a hideous design. The soundtrack itself is...well...schizophrenic. The orchestral bits are pretty good, and there are some other moments that are alright, but all of the battle music is awful. Death metal fused J-Rock doesn't fill with me excitement when I'm cutting down giant monsters.

I just jumped back on the game for a second there didn't I? Okay, let's just move on.

Instead of working on my short story, Dead City Center, or editing my novel, currently titled either Crusader, Weakness, or something else...I'm writing this blog and playing this game. The short story I'm working on right now is a great little oddity, and an absolute blast to think about, but a nightmare to structure and write. I will be finishing, and then editing it. I want publication. A portfolio. I want work.

And as for work, I'm still at CVS, I'm working very hard, yes, and it sucks away a lot of time. I do like being at home more though, and life has improved in that regard. Spending more time with Jo just sweetens everything about my existence. Getting off work means more than it ever has.

So, here's the coming soon.

--Finish Dead City Center
--Edit more of Weakness
--Create a cover and Ad Campaign for the novel.
--Begin the kickstarter program
--Find a publisher for Dead City Center
--Beg some media types to do a story on the novel and its kickstarter.

Now, I do fully realize that no one will care about this beast of a book just yet. This will take a lot of work, and I hope that my friends will spread the word. Just a little share on their facebook page will be all that it takes.

And I pray that it helps with the stuff that is tabbed on my browser right now.

Let's see what happens folks...


Recent Library Additions:

Final Fantasy XIII-2 Collector's Edition (XBOX 360)
Sonic and Knuckles (CIB, Genesis)
Mortal Kombat II (32X)

A Theory on Final Fantasy XIII

It's been a while since I put the tunnel vision behemoth down after reaching a particularly difficult Eidolon battle. And since these insolent little conflicts are one of the games biggest flaws in my opinion, I took a break. Who doesn't under such circumstances, and I will not take any flack for my waiting to continue. However, I returned to the game, passed the fight, and proceeded, and discovered something very odd as I progressed.

Let's go ahead and note that Final Fantasy XIII hasn't been widely accepted by the gaming community, and only a few people have found enjoyment out it. I enjoy it despite it's flaws, mostly due to the fact that it tells a story better than it's predecessor. Sure, the story may not be that great, and still pales in comparison to the Playstation and SNES era, but it's a story that kept my interest.

And now that I've cleared my throat, it's time to get down to business.

Final Fantasy XIII is a perfect example of Square-Enix trying to apply the style of American mainstream games to the Japanese role playing game, specifically calling on first person shooters.

Let that sink in, folks. It's an odd statement, and I have plenty to support it with. Just...breathe it all in.

Alright, now that you are ready for this, let's dig in.

Anyone who has played the game knows very well how narrow the path is, leading you from story event to story event, with absolutely no variation in the game until the eleventh chapter. I can compare this to the average modern first person shooter, wherein which you go down streets or tunnels or whatever the path de jour, and go from battle to battle. Even the actual combat plays out similarly to an FPS. Attack, defend, heal, repeat. Sure, the FPS is going to be a bit more intense seeing as your character is directly controlled by you, but I still stand that this is the flow of combat in FFXIII. Not to mention that potions of almost all kinds are nearly worthless now. It's much easier to switch paradigms for a quick heal than going through the menus for potions several times.

At the end of each path, following several rounds of combat, a story event comes, at times paired with a more difficult round of combat than before. Yes, this is an element of pretty much every game, so this one is a bit unfair, but keep in mind that exploration offered something to keep the player interested in plowing through those random battles. No such variety exists here, until the aforementioned eleventh chapter. I can't think of very many modern first person shooters that offer branching paths out into open areas that stray from the missions provided. So, needless to say, why not apply such constant focus on the story of a game through a similar method of progression? The story of FFXIII seems to be what is in the sight of the director, allowing no way to step away until almost the end.

But that's not saying that they haven't been going this direction in the past. Final Fantasy X suffered a similar progression, despite having many more opportunities to step off the beaten path.

The lack of cities and the usual variety of NPC's is almost unexplainable for a JRPG. I can only assume that this is something else borrowed from the mainstream FPS tradition. Sure, even Gears of War has a cast of someone other than Marcus Fenix, but aside from the squad of Gears that accompany him, the world isn't exactly populated with fine folks offering you guidance from city to city. And that's fine for the genre. You don't need a world full of people in a game where aliens are annihilating cities and wiping out the general population. However, when you are playing a game where you traverse a few still standing cities, you should expect to see a few people in passing.

Also missing from the usual formulas are the shops. Yes, there is a menu where you can buy and sell weapons, accessories, items, and components, but there isn't any personality beyond the backgrounds and sound effects associated with them. I can't say that there was much variety between the shops in towns in past games, but at least you had a sense of place, going through the game as it progressed. All of the environments in FFXIII felt more like they were there as a result of necessity. Have we programmed a snow/ice area? Okay, stick on here. Industrial? Alright, let's play that card. Undergound? Do it. What does this have to do with American FPS games? Not much at all, other than it's something you often see in those games as well. And every other game.

The only place I can see the differentiation is in the way the story plays out. While many have gotten this right, most first person shooters keep the story and the game play apart from one another. You could make the argument that Final Fantasy has been doing that since the first installment. However, I stand that a lot of the story from the classics in the series came from the world, and the people you interacted with throughout the story. More than anything, FFXIII and the modern first person shooter have you interacting with set piece events and combat sequences that do little more that add some of that good old "wow" factor.

While I don't think that FFXIII stands on the same level of quality as it's predecessors, I still enjoy it, warts and all. It's a bizarre run of experimental game design, filtered through a unfocused development process. It will never stand on the same playing field with Final Fantasy VI, but it's still more interesting than some games. If you agree, disagree, or whatever, that's fine. Just think about this if you stick the game in some time in the near future. You might be surprised by what you see.

Oh my, my never ending cheapness is going to pay off.

First thing I see when I open up IGN this morning is an article announcing that Xenogears, the classic PS1 JRPG, is going to PSN tomorrow. This guy right here is going to get it.

Just for a little bit of background, I got to the PS1 late, opting for the Nintendo 64 for my gaming at the time. When I got hooked on JRPG's in middle school, I begged the parents for PS1, and eventually got one, with Final Fantasy VII. Now I think that game is massively overrated, and have better memories of better games on the console. Xenogears was one that I borrowed from a friend who got lucky on a reprint copy. I never finished the game, getting stuck at the tail end of the game.

Now I get a sweet little second chance, provided I can find the time to play the bloody thing.

Despite that, I'll put it on my PSP along with Final Fantasy VII-IX (yes, I know I just called VII overrated. That doesn't mean it was bad). Maybe I'll dig up my old save...or start all over. I'm a much smarter gamer than I was back when I first played the controversial and massively confusing game.

Oh, no, I don't look forward to the giant never ending storybook sections that make up the second disc. I'm not sure what it is about philosophically charged things involving giant robots, but these two things usually bring on the death knell of mass media creativity--budget cuts. The last episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion suffered a similar mess, in which the entire thing was made up of still shots and about three minutes of animation. And while the game actually plays and runs fine, it's still a bit dodgy at it's conclusion as a result.

But the first disc is still spectacular!

Now...to wait until it's financially feasible to buy and download this beast.