Is Square Enix Killing Final Fantasy?
By Dustin Mendel | September 18, 2011 | Editorials | 27 comments | Share
For almost 25 years, Square Enix has established themselves as the kings of what is affectionately known as the JRPG, and their crown jewel has been the Final Fantasy series. From the very first Final Fantasy which helped popularize the genre, to the groundbreaking Final Fantasy VII, considered by many to be the best game of all time, and beyond to the newer generation of games which raised the bar technically and in terms of gameplay, the series has become synonymous with role-playing games. Fans would happily wait out the agonizingly long development cycles for each game, knowing that with the newest Final Fantasy would be an amazing experience.
Sometime after the release of Final Fantasy XII, that began to change. At 2006’s E3 conference, not one but three Final Fantasy titles were announced, and to this day, only one of them has seen the light of day. Additionally, a second MMORPG has been announced and (kind of) released, a sequel to one of the most polarizing Final Fantasy games was announced, and most recently, a remake of FFX has been scheduled for release, despite the persistent cries for a remake of FFVII. There have been rumblings that Square just isn’t the same RPG giant it once was, but is this a case of quantity over quality, or are all of these upcoming games future classics? Let’s take a look at the games within the Final Fantasy series that have been announced or hinted at, to see whether Square Enix is on the verge of greatness once again, or a complete and utter collapse.
Final Fantasy XIII-2
After the lukewarm reception Final Fantasy XIII received upon its release, it seemed highly unlikely that it would become only the second game in the series to get an official sequel, and yet that’s exactly what’s happening. The game is expected to be released in Japan this winter, just two years after the release of XIII, which is a staggeringly short period of time for a Final Fantasy game. The developers have chalked this up to having the framework of XIII already done to work off of, but they insist major improvements will be made in the sequel, including tweaks to the combat system, branching dialogue and a darker, more serious story.
That sounds great, but it doesn’t address the concerns of gamers who have no interest in returning to Gran Pulse, or playing as characters who looked and behaved like stitched together versions of previous Final Fantasy protagonists. On the plus side, XIII-2 will apparently finally answer the question of whether or not main character Lightning is truly happy though, so get ready to camp outside your local game store for that.
Final Fantasy Versus XIII
Final Fantasy Versus XIII was announced alongside FFXIII in 2006, as part of a shared universe of games called the Nova Crystallis Series, but since then, Versus XIII has remained a mystery in every possible way. Versus XIII looks like it will be unlike any other Final Fantasy game before it, combining action-RPG gameplay similar to the Kingdom Hearts series with third-person shooter elements. From the limited footage that has been released of the game, the setting and tone looks to be based more on our own world than the standard airships and giant magic chickens in previous Final Fantasy games.
Everything about Versus XIII sounds like it could be the ambitious reimagining that the series may need, only there’s no sign of this game coming out any time soon. Earlier this week at the Tokyo Game Show, Square announced that Verus XIII has entered 100% full production, which begs the following questions: what the hell does that mean, and what percentage has the game’s production been running at for the past five years?
Final Fantasy Type-0
This one is a bit of an odd duck when compared to the other games on this list. Type-0 was originally called Final Fantasy Agito XIII back when it was announced alongside Versus XIII and FFXIII in 2006, until the developers came to the realization that, aside from sounding cool, the name Agito had nothing to do with anything. Originally intended as a mobile phone game, Type-0 has been reworked for the Playstation Portable, easily making it a handheld game with one of the longest development times ever. Type-0 will apparently follow a group of twelve playable protagonists, each named after a playing card with their own unique weapons, and the game will have a combat system similar to another PSP game, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII.
The game is set for release in Japan next month, and it remains to be seen what plans, if any, Square has for bring the game overseas. Type-0 is a great example of the lengths Square has gone to in order to further develop the universe introduced in Final Fantasy XIII, insisting on keeping the game’s ties to Gran Pulse and the l’Cie despite removing the XIII from the game’s title.
Final Fantasy X HD
The hi-def rerelease of Final Fantasy X was announced earlier this week, marking the return of one of the most popular games in the series. FFX was a major milestone for Square, as it proved they could make the transition to 3D environments and voice acting without losing the rich storytelling and deep gameplay that had made the Final Fantasy games so popular (that would come later). FFX is also the only other game, aside from FFXIII, to receive a direct sequel, which makes the decision to release FFX HD somewhat puzzling. HD collections have become immensely popular in the last two years, and series producer, Yoshinori Kitase, had been quoted as saying that if demand was high enough, they would “seriously consider” a collection featuring FFX, FFX-2 and FFXII.
It seems unlikely that demand was only high for one of these three games, and perhaps Square Enix decided it made more financial sense to release all three games separately for full price, rather than bundling three massive RPGs together. If that’s the case, you can consider Final Fantasy X-2 and Final Fantasy XII as future releases on top of the other games on this list.
Final Fantasy XIV
Now technically, Final Fantasy XIV has already been released for the PC, but technically, said release was such a disaster, Square Enix has decided to redesign the game entirely post-release, while people continue to play it. FF XIV is the second MMORPG in the series after Final Fantasy XI, but from the moment the game was announced, it was clear it had its work cut out for it in a way XI never did. For one thing, Square’s first foray into the world of MMORPGS came in 2002, a full two years before World of Warcraft was released, forever becoming the measuring stick for all future games like it. By the time XIV launched its open beta, the lack of things to do and agonizingly long periods of idle time had gamers frothing at the mouth.
After the game’s producer resigned from the project (and presumably threw himself into the sea), it was decided that everything, from the graphics to the battle system to how and when quests occur, would be completely reworked, and the game’s 30 day free trial was extended indefinitely. Square Enix insists that the Playstation 3 version of the game is still forthcoming, despite the lack of success MMOs have had on consoles thus far, and FFXIV currently having the appeal of a wasabi suppository, so fingers crossed that they figure out how to make the game fun before it’s released…again.
Final Fantasy XIII-3
This is entirely based on speculation and guesswork, but if it turns out to be true, this may truly be the end times for Square Enix. Recently, it was revealed that a domain name for Final Fantasy XIII-3 has been registered through an independent company that Square has used in the past for registering websites. If it turns out to be true, that means that Final Fantasy XIII will become the first trilogy in the series’ history, whether fans want it or not, and before Square even gets a chance to gauge reception to XIII-2.
Verdict
Final Fantasy XIII may not have been the critical and commercial success that Square Enix had hoped for, but that alone wouldn’t be cause for concern. The problem lies in the fact that for the next several years, they will make no attempt to distance itself from the world of Final Fantasy XIII, choosing instead to delve deeper and deeper into a story that fans have refused to embrace in a way like they did for any of the Final Fantasy games from FFVI onward. With that in mind, it also means that the six, possibly more, games that I’ve mentioned will remain the focus of Square Enix despite the continued cries from their fans for a remastered Final Fantasy VII, a proper HD collection or even to move forward to Final Fantasy XV.
It was well publicized that the company only thought to test FFXIII in non-Japanese markets long after they could effectively do anything with the results of said testing, and it’s this type of thinking that will potentially do Square in. The RPG giant has become so big, so successful from previous games, that they have adopted the dangerous attitude that they know what people want, regardless of what they may hear from their fans to the contrary. Many of the games on this list suggest this, and the fact that Final Fantasy VII HD remains a pipe dream is perhaps the most damning evidence of all.
Personally I feel that the need to sell stuff over whelms the need to make a good game. I lost faith in square when I read in Game informer they were interested in making flash games and games for android. It was fun while it lasted. While I won't say I won't play a game of theirs to check it out, I just feel that the magic I felt from FFII (america one) and the latter is just a memory of the glory days that I will tell the younger generations about my days of true RPG gaming (I won't call it JRPG) playing and they won't understand.
Critical success not but FFXIII sold a hell of a lot of copies so financially I think they did great. FF has a huge fanbase of zombies that will buy anything that has the name on it so don't expect Square-Enix to improve that much. Just wait for them to gimp FFvsXIII to make it multiplat because they know people will buy it anyway, they are just testing waters with FFXIII-2 to make sure they can pull it off.
FF13 was a good game. If it had a different title and had been developed by anybody else, people wouldn't be criticizing it, they would be praising it.
exactly, you douche the only reason you wan cry about final fantasy 13 is cuz its linear.So what if it was, any real ff fan plays the game manly to get emotionally drawn into the story and they did exactly that in ffXIII. it was a good game with good mechanics along with a great story and extremely unique character personalities.your just another cry baby who wants another ffVII.Now you helios you lil moron,if you lost faither in square after two then your just an idiot,squares games only got more emotionally involving and better in most aspects. just cuz they want to try and widen there range so even more people can experience there great games then good for them,THATS A GOOD THING. your just pissed cuz they arent tailoring to exactly what you and and what you think they should be doing......and the sad thing is even with all your "disaapointment" about the franchise to date, they are still making loads of money and STILL progressing there ff franchise only with other quite well from when they start when they almost went bankrupt.
@mrdante1287 - Are the characters in FFXIII really that unique? Most of them seemed like gender swapped versions of previous protagonists, or stereotypes of JRPG characters, like Vanille.
FFX is probably remastered in HD whereas FFVII needs a complete remake. you cannot compare the amount of work needed to do one or the other as the work needed for either is completely different.
before spouting off in an article, pleasetake the time to consider that
@max - You missed the point. Regardless of the amount of work, people have been begging for a remake of Final Fantasy VII, and there's nothing, aside from the massive number of FFXIII projects, stopping them from working on one, even if it takes years.
The only thing I know about Final Fantasy is.... That the English voice acting in FFXIII was really horrible. Yugh! I really did NOT like that.
Only crazy otakus buy theese games. Soon ppl wont care about this series. Very soon...
"Final Fantasy XIII may not have been the critical and commercial success that Square Enix had hoped for"
What?! The game sold +6 million copies worldwide! WTF are you talking about? They expected more than this?
@Jack - FFXIII: Released on the PS3 and Xbox360: ~6m.
FFVII: Released on the PS1 and PC: 10m just on the PSone, not even counting the PC sales, just to name an example.
SE needs to learn that Final Fantasy fans just want it to be "back to the roots", in terms of gameplay, story and characters. There's a reason why Cloud and Sephiroth are still the most popular Final Fantasy characters and why FFX, FFX-2, FFXII and FFXIII are considerd to be a disaster character-wise.
It's the same story and gameplay-wise. The typical Final Fantasy fans NEVER wanted MMOs or Action games.
@C - On that time you can bet we had less JRPGs to buy and play than today. So people who bought FFVII just loved it for being a new of the genre, new gameplay, new mechanics, pretty much new in everything. After more than 10 years, it's not easy to please players like you, who is saturated with the absurd amount of RPGs being thrown at you that tries to innovate with different styles.
Of course i would play a remake of FFVII and any Remake of any FF to new consoles, as i do today. But everyone wants to try new gameplay RPGs from now on and Square a big company as it is understands that and so it has to innovate.
I know a bunch of people who would not buy a FFVII remake for simples reasons, like they grow up and stop playing videogames. They never bought a console of a new generation (and won't do so just to play a game). They don't care about graphics and so on.
We have a new generations of gamers and company aren't here to please fans, they are here to please gamers of all kind. Don't try to act smart and think you know better than Square Enix in this issue.
That goes to you too, Dustin Mendel.
@C - "FFX, FFX-2, FFXII and FFXIII are considerd to be a disaster character-wise."
First... considered*
And really? Final Fantasy X is my absolute favorite game of all time. All seven of the playable party members are on the top of my all time favorite character list from any game, period.
I have no idea why Cloud and Sephiroth are still popular, FFVII was not that entertaining. I only made it about halfway through before chucking it aside for other games that didn't bore me so much. VIII was a lot better, and from there on I could at least finish the games, sometimes playing through somewhere near 5 times for FFX and the newer ones.
I agree. SE has become the biggest fail this generation. The Versus development is a joke; 13-3 may come out before it! SE needs to cut development times, and go back to the basics (FF15 should be similar to FF 9 [going back to the old school]).
Where is Star Ocean 5? Where is sequels for PS1 classics?
Someone has to put those penny-pinching men of square enix to work.
The very fact that a ff13 part 2 is being made must piss so many people off. it must be tough to be so sure that your opinions are correct about a game being bad. Only to see a rare sequel come of it. They want so badly for this game franchise to disappear but it will not. At the end of the day you just have to admit that you never were a ff fan. Or maybe you've just grown out of it. More likely would be the fact that most people just aren't intelligent and patient enough to enjoy a Final Fantasy game, but they sure have a lot to say about it. It's one of biggest video game franchises of all time and the train ain't stopping...deal with it and go play angry birds or something.
"Yoshinori Kitase, had been quoted as saying that if demand was high enough, they would “seriously consider” a collection featuring FFX, FFX-2 and FFXII."
Source? :O
Honestly, the game that deserves a remake/sequel, is undoubtedly FFX. . . . .II. FFXII is perfect in every way. Amazing story, insane amount of options battle-wise, versatileness and a ridiculous amount of incentive to play. C'mon, if that isn't enough, check the perfect score from Famitsu. I would pay an ungodly sum of cash to be able to get my hands on a sequel.
@Homeboy - "Yoshinori Kitase, had been quoted as saying that if demand was high enough, they would “seriously consider” a collection featuring FFX, FFX-2 and FFXII."
If this is true, I would without a doubt sell my 360 to get a PS Vita.
@iNHUMAN - Can you post a link to this!? That would be amazing.
@nate-dog7 - Sorry guys, I don't know what happened to the link, but I've added it back in to the article now.
Being a fan of the series for over 10 years, I can safely say XIII wasn't the kind of FF I was anticipating... For me the story wasn't very gripping, little confusing and a tad too futuristic and sci-fi'ish that didn't set the tone previous ones left. They all had a more ancient mythological vibe mixed with other-worldly innovation, but not quite Star Wars if you know what I mean? They also had awesome lore between them with intriguing characters that all had their own part to play along with the stories.
XIII also felt half-finished, extremely linear, with sub-par characters that simply weren't as interesting I'm afraid. Infact the only things that can be credited is the CGI sequences. XIII-2 is supposed to answer the criticisms XIII left, yet from what I've seen the exact opposite has happened.
Lightning's younger sister Serah is now the main character for a starter. Yes, the pink-haired 12 year old looking girl that looks no older than Barret's daughter Marlene. She even has her very own transforming Moogle that turns into a bow & arrow, Kupo! As if turning the summons in XIII into "Transformers" wasn't enough, they've got the Moogles in on the act too. Good job SE! The battle music can also only be described as "Rap music", as you'll hear during the Paradox Alpha Fight trailer on Youtube.
Anyway, before we get depressed about that, I feel the reason why XIII could be claimed successful is because of the hopes it had on it's shoulders. I'm pretty sure those high hopes are the reason (and mines was one of them). And that's because we'd never had a Final Fantasy game for the next-gen consoles before, it was uncharted territory and the potential seemed boundless. But somewhere along the way leading up to it things changed.
Squaresoft merged with it's rival to become Square-Enix, Hironobu Sakaguchi (Creator of Final Fantasy) left the company, Yoichi Wada became the new president and XIII was the answer we were given. Kind of sad really.
But we all have opinions, I'm sure there's fans of the series as old as me who enjoyed XIII...
.
I loved ff7, ff8, ff9 and ff10.
ff 10-2... wow, wtf were they thinking. I couldn't play that through and almost put me off playing ff.
I have never played ff11, or ff12, but bought a psp with crisis core and I did enjoy it, the story was very average. But the game was fun.
ff12 looks interesting,I would play it if it were released on the ps3.
I bought ff13 soon as it was released on the ps3 and wow... its so slow and boring, and the story i find extremely confusing... still playing it :(
I would like to see them focus more on characters and story, and stop giving us automated combat mechanics, with linear story and exploration. They gutted what I loved about the earlier games.
I would also like to mention music has been getting progressively forgettable since ff7 , ff8, ff9. Which I would have to say are great game soundtracks.
Please let them focus on new FF's... All the remakes make me think that they ran out of ideas. I'm a long time FF player and I've played all FF games, including XI and XIV (still playing), but what they put on the market at the moment is just not enough to keep me interested in the FF series. I miss the good old FF's.
I'm a huge fan of Final Fantasy, and them coming out with this garbage is laughable. When i saw XIII-2 i knew that it was over. I dont know how they expect the true fans to buy into such a poorly written storyline twice! Its bad storytelling when you have to open up an in game dictionary that explains what is going on. I dont understand why they keep using this MMO-esque fighting style when they should just return to their roots. FF fans arent looking for a beat em up, or a monthly free mmo game with a disastory. They want STORY, with great music that sets the mood.
They should cancel half these games, concentrate on one like they used to, and pay Nobuo Uematsu whatever he wants to make another FF soundtrack.
personally, i couldn't care less if square died. the best they had left a few years ago anyway, akira, sakaguchi, and co fled for higher hills. kitase and uematsu are both alone. the reason behind the FF-X remake is because is the first game they had completely in their hands, whereas final fantasy 7 will NEVER be remade because
*yellmode -1*
IDIOTS YOU BUNCHA DUMBASS NO READING MORONS SHOULD ALREADY KNOW IT BELONGS TO SONY, WHICH IS WHY IT WAS RELEASED ON THE PSP AS WELL. *yellmode -0*
(and i dont mean zach's game, dumbasses) in otherwords, FF7 will never be remade. ever. period. now you can start crying. ff7 belongs to sony, just like ff6 and chrono trigger belong to nintendo. For christ's sake PLEASE DO YOUR FUCKING HOMEWORK, i guess all it takes these days to write an article is have a keyboard and a shitty pc connected to... SOMETHING.
there are copyrights, trademarks, etc that will stop a game from being 'remade', for ANY console, many of them complicated and too long to list here. this is the main reason none of the actual loved squaresoft games will be remade, because someone at the main office was smarter than the idiot who programmed, mixed/muxed/encoded said game, and another reason those games wont make it is due to the fact that many of the orignal staff that worked on them got sick of squares bullshit and QUIT, which i applauded. ever play blue dragon? yeah it wasn't amazing, but i'm glad sakaguchi and co fled square.
Honestly, I don't think any other company has the ability to control the Final Fantasy series. Square know what they're doing. And FF13 got more than a "luke warm" reception. Maybe FF13-3 is going too far but who are we to judge a third installment that hasn't even been confirmed and before we've even played the sequel? The danger is that FF13-2 will be as bad as X-2 was, but time will tell. Personally I think they're still doing a good job of it...we'll have to wait and see.