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[Aurelius]

I got burned too many time with pre-ordering Final Fantasy games. Last good one in my opinion was FFX. This looks good, but I will wat until I have finished TotK.

Also, I don’t really see the point of pre-ordering games anymore.

 

[Gone]

Maybe Sony can compensate them.

 

[Ellery]

I don't even have enough time to think about this game between TOTK and Diablo 4.

Then there is also Street Fighter 6 which looks awesome.

We will see in a months time how things look then and how this game reviews (I expect 9/10+) and if they deliver then the sales will come guaranteed.

 

[Lasha]

I'm waiting for the complete edition on PC.

 

[Vblad88]

Wonder if putting the game into the "Action" section of Playstation store instead od "Role Playing Games" caused any of this.
I have an issue with the game. I love FF series, but I'm totally unimpressed with Devil May Cry, it is the first time they did this sort of shortcut in battle system implementation. FF always stood by battle systems being something different each time. Now it looks like DMC copycat. I hope the demo will prove me wrong, but def. no preorder this time.

 

[lefty1117]

I wish the series would go back to a little more turn-based combat, or maybe XIII combat which I thought was the best combination of action and turn based.

 

[ChuckeRearmed]

Oh, no. Anyway.

Though I expect it to do worse numbers than FF15 and FF7R. It does not have FF15 hype level and FF7R nostalgia attached to it. Maybe SE will discover eventually what makes other japanese publishers so successful these days.

 

[Raonak]

Who preorders a game these days?

 

[drganon]

There is a lot of things going against FF16.

1. Diablo 4 releasing on the PS5. Diablo is a bigger game at this point and will take a lot of sales away from FF16.

2. Japan PS5 game sales are just underwhelming to say the least.

3. People are not buying new games as much because it is 70 dollars.

4. Timed exclusive on PS5 instead of releasing on Xbox and pc at the same time.

5. Previous FF games were underwhelming and damaged the FF brand.

 

[Abriael_GN]

Now it looks like DMC copycat.

It doesn't play in any shape or form like DMC. It's not even close. Some people say that because the combat designer worked on DMC, but developers aren't one-trick ponies.

 

[The Cockatrice]

Shame. I myself am skipping a mainline game at launch for the first time ever. Waiting for impressions from people other than journos, the single character action combat focus has me a bit wary. If they can pull it off, could be fun, but Final Fantasy isn't what I look for, when I think of high octane skill based action combat.

I'll probably pick up the eventual PC version that they keep "wink wink nudge nudge"-ing about.

Then I watched the PAX east gameplay video and this part made me laugh.

Well it rarely happens but you made me not get it day one anymore lol. The fact that it's also not 60FPS most of the time in performance mode either also kinda seals the deal. Fuck dat casual shit.

 

[justonething]

It looks so generic. What stands out about it? Blandest looking FF game.

 

[Pejo]

Well it rarely happens but you made me not get it day one anymore lol. The fact that it's also not 60FPS most of the time in performance mode either also kinda seals the deal. Fuck dat casual shit.

Full disclosure, where I timestamped the clip, he's wearing a ring that turns the game in to "journalist mode". There are a few rings you can optionally wear or not that will dumb down the gameplay like that. But I want to see non-developer led combat or play it myself before I call it good or not.

 

[Abriael_GN]

Well it rarely happens but you made me not get it day one anymore lol. The fact that it's also not 60FPS most of the time in performance mode either also kinda seals the deal. Fuck dat casual shit.

Ah, the power of showing things out of context combined with credulity.

What you're seeing is the effect of equipping an accessory that serves as easy mode difficulty level enabler. It's entirely optional, and the actual game with its normal difficulty does not play at all like that. It plays like a fairly complex action JRPG, with a *lot* of depth.

It looks so generic. What stands out about it? Blandest looking FF game.

"generic" and "bland" are adjectives normally used as catchall bashing terms when one has nothing relevant to say.

There is absolutely nothing generic or bland about this game. It's literally the Final Fantasy game with the most distinctive art direction since 10, if not earlier.

 

[The Cockatrice]

It plays like a fairly complex action JRPG, with a *lot* of depth.

Full disclosure, where I timestamped the clip, he's wearing a ring that turns the game in to "journalist mode". There are a few rings you can optionally wear or not that will dumb down the gameplay like that. But I want to see non-developer led combat or play it myself before I call it good or not.

Lets be real for a sec tho. I have almost never seen difficulty where games become completely different from easy to hard. Gameplay does not magically change just because you set difficulty to hardest. Enemies will deal more dmg and you take more damage but the gist remains the same. It always looked casual in most of the gameplay bits I saw. But alas, like I said, not 60FPS is a also why I wont bother. Might as well throw my PS5 in the trash and just wait for the PC version. Why did I even buy a PS5 if we're going back to 30fps, unlocked framerate shit era?

 

[Abriael_GN]

Lets be real for a sec tho. I have almost never seen difficulty where games become completely different from easy to hard. Gameplay does not magically change just because you set difficulty to hardest. Enemies will deal more dmg and you take more damage but the gist remains the same. It always looked casual in most of the gameplay bits I saw. But alas, like I said, not 60FPS is a also why I wont bother. Might as well throw my PS5 in the trash and just wait for the PC version. Why did I even buy a PS5 if we're going back to 30fps, unlocked framerate shit era?

I play games, don't count frames.

As for "being real" there are MANY games that completely change and become one-button mashers at the easiest difficulty level, while still having a very deep combat system at the normal difficulty level.

Two examples are Street Fighter 6 and NieR Automata, which are both excellent.

 

[The Cockatrice]

NieR Automata

Lol, no.

 

[Abriael_GN]

Lol, no.

Obviously, you have not played NieR Automata enough to notice the auto chips, which are *literally* the same thing as what FFXVI has. The only difference is that NieR automata has more of them.

You also must have missed a big part of NieR Automata's promotion, because they were shown off on several occasions. Takahisa Taura has always been rather proud of them.

Support Chips | Nier Automata Wiki

Support Chips is a Plug-in Chip Category in NieR Automata: Support Chips Guide, All Support Chips, Tips, Effects, and Where to Find for NieR: Automata.

nierautomata.wiki.fextralife.com

You're welcome.

 

[DenchDeckard]

There's a difference between not liking something and haunting literally every thread dedicated to it. Disappointment and obsession are different things. You appear to heavily lean toward the latter.

Incidentally, this isn't a "linear level driven action game" and the disingenuity and reductiveness in the way you describe it shows your colors.



The action combat of Devil May Cry in the PS2 era offers a completely different level of spectacle compared to what it does today.

You don't have the slightest idea on what the decision to make Final Fantasy initially turn-based depended. It is a *fact* that action combat at that time was much less attractive due to technical limitations than it is now. It was clunky and much more expensive and challenging to develop. The fact that it was *possible* is irrelevant. Possible doesn't mean attractive or fitting.

Gameplay development trends are fluid, and "possible" and "impossible" are not the only two variables.

It is fitting now according to its developers, so that's what they do. You may want to give it a rest.

Well, I'll ignore all the feedback I've heard from all the podcasts I listen to then. They must all be wrong.

 

[Ronin_7]

Who the FUCK pre order games this much in advance?

I'm buying the game and I'm not pre ordering shit!

Once Demo & reviews Hit it'll be absolutely fine unless the game is crap.

 

[Abriael_GN]

Well, I'll ignore all the feedback I've heard from all the podcasts I listen to then. They must all be wrong.

You must listen to some really bad podcasts if they make you so bitter that you have to haunt literally every thread about FFXVI that you find with this ridiculous negativity.

 

[DeepEnigma]

It’s like they don’t even read GAF. You shot yourselves in the foot, it’s over SE.

The same Gaf where some users will question or berate people as to why they preorder games in current year.

 

[Sonik]

Not to worry guys, you still have an entire Western division full of well known IPs to keep you afloat if FF doesn't perform according to expectations, that was smart how you diversified like that.

...oh wait

 

[Abriael_GN]

Not to worry guys, you still have an entire Western division full of well known IPs to keep you afloat if FF doesn't perform according to expectations, that was smart how you diversified like that.

...oh wait

These have never been what kept Square Enix profitable. Hence why they've been divested.

 

[Roberts]

Wish the game all the best and the fanbase must be large enough to make it a success.

That said, I have seen a few videos/trailers and the game doesn’t look interesting to me, like, at all. That comes from a guy who has bought a few FF games in the past and dropped them all after playing for an hour or two. Probably just not my jam.

 

[Sonik]

These have never been what kept Square Enix profitable. Hence why they've been divested.

They made plenty of profit, it was just never enough for the airheads running Square who always compared them with cash cows like FF as if the franchise would last forever or wasn't already declining. The fact that they sold the entire division for scraps is the funniest part though

 

[Sonik]

Wish the game all the best and the fanbase must be large enough to make it a success.

That said, I have seen a few videos/trailers and the game doesn’t look interesting to me, like, at all. That comes from a guy who has bought a few FF games in the past and dropped them all after playing for an hour or two. Probably just not my jam.

It looks like it was made with Unreal Engine 3 and I'm not talking about the tech, it's the the art that looks ugly as sin and reminds me of that cursed era of UE3 games with ugly, generic art.

 

[BennyBlanco]

I'm definitely waiting for PC after they said the game won't be locked 60 fps outside of combat. If I had nothing to play I would've bought it day 1. But I just bought Zelda, Diablo, and SF6 and so did a ton of other people. I still think the game will do fine.

 

[lyan]

They made plenty of profit, it was just never enough for the airheads running Square who always compared them with cash cows like FF as if the franchise would last forever or wasn't already declining. The fact that they sold the entire division for scraps is the funniest part though

Revenue is not profit. Their Western studios had profit margin far below the rest of the group.

 

[KungFucius]

There is a lot of things going against FF16.

1. Diablo 4 releasing on the PS5. Diablo is a bigger game at this point and will take a lot of sales away from FF16.

2. Japan PS5 game sales are just underwhelming to say the least.

3. People are not buying new games as much because it is 70 dollars.

4. Timed exclusive on PS5 instead of releasing on Xbox and pc at the same time.

5. Previous FF games were underwhelming and damaged the FF brand.

I have the game preordered and am thinking of Diablo 4 instead. Normally that would be PC but the clowns at Blizzard decided couch coop would be console only so I would buy it on PS5 so I can play with my kid. Also I think Zelda is another reason. I just finished playing that for weeks and am not really in the mode for a single player game.

I have not missed a Final Fantasy release since they launched III (6) on SNES for like 80 bucks.

 

[The Cockatrice]

Obviously, you have not played NieR Automata enough to notice the auto chips, which are *literally* the same thing as what FFXVI has. The only difference is that NieR automata has more of them.

You also must have missed a big part of NieR Automata's promotion, because they were shown off on several occasions. Takahisa Taura has always been rather proud of them.

Support Chips | Nier Automata Wiki

Support Chips is a Plug-in Chip Category in NieR Automata: Support Chips Guide, All Support Chips, Tips, Effects, and Where to Find for NieR: Automata.

nierautomata.wiki.fextralife.com

You're welcome.

Let me put it in simpler words for you to undestand, I get it, youre a blind fan. I played Automata extensively stop assuming everyone is bad at games like you. Enjoy your casual shit.

 

[balls of snow]

Im there day 1 but you cant deny they lost the final fantasy charm with xvi. Vii remake had cloud, aerith, tifa and that was enough for people to buy in. Xvi is final fantasy by way of gears of war. Doom and gloom.

 

[Ar¢tos]

After the FF15 messy story with movie prequel at launch, I'm not really surprised. I'm sure it will sell well if it is good at launch.

 

[Nautilus]

Like we all have been saying for a long time now: Square treats Final Fantasy as a brand now, because as a franchise it has no idea what to do with it.

FF was always about turn based combat, party management, build customization, and a strong story. This narrative about FF being something completely new every time was always bullshit. So when Square comes and makes a FF that has almost nothing FF in it, what do you expect to happen?

At least FW, the game's sales will certainly be dissapointing, and I can't see it reviewing high enough to justify people changing their minds on a day one purchase.

 

[Unknown?]

After the FF15 messy story with movie prequel at launch, I'm not really surprised. I'm sure it will sell well if it is good at launch.

If it's good it will but absolutely this! 15 damaged the brand.

 

[Sakura]

I don't understand why SE can't take the FF that was IX, VIII, VII, etc and make a bigger and better version of that for the modern day.
Why do they have this desire to keep going in these weird directions with FF?
On the off chance XVI doesn't do well, I hope they don't think that means people don't like Final Fantasy any more and move even further away from it.

 

[Boy bawang]

I am a long time fan but I'm personally not interested by the direction the series has been taking.

 

[Nydius]

If it's good it will but absolutely this! 15 damaged the brand.

I think the damage goes all the way back to 13, which was also a hot mess.

Add to this the fact that for many people these days “Final Fantasy” is synonymous with the MMO (due to the prolonged length of time between single player entries).

The franchise is definitely in a weird place.

 

[Markio128]

I haven’t pre-ordered FF16, but I’ll be there day 1. Not sure how much stock I put into this tbh.

 

[Spyxos]

No wonder, Square Enix no longer stands for quality. In addition, 80 euros for the game and it is clearly different from other numbered FF games. And part 15 was extremely bad, after that they have to earn my trust again.

I will get it someday, but I can easily wait longer. And I'm still playing Zelda and in a few days Diablo 4.

 

[The artful mincer]

Shame. I myself am skipping a mainline game at launch for the first time ever. Waiting for impressions from people other than journos, the single character action combat focus has me a bit wary. If they can pull it off, could be fun, but Final Fantasy isn't what I look for, when I think of high octane skill based action combat.

I'll probably pick up the eventual PC version that they keep "wink wink nudge nudge"-ing about.

Then I watched the PAX east gameplay video and this part made me laugh.

I don't like that. There's a few games that pull that "push a button and watch a bunch of shit happen".

Are you two high? They are using accessibility options in that footage

Jesus

 

[The artful mincer]

I think this will be like RE7 slow sales at first but it will pick up with good word of mouth.

 

[Godot25]

Square: We managed to alienate Xbox fanbase by not releasing our big FF games on platform
"Final Fantasy XVI has weak pre orders"
Square: *surprised Pikachu face*

 

[Nautilus]

Square: We managed to alienate Xbox fanbase by not releasing our big FF games on platform
"Final Fantasy XVI has weak pre orders"
Square: *surprised Pikachu face*

Xbox has zero influence on this. Very few Square sales comes from Xbox. You might have had a point if you mentioned PC. Xbox? Zero influence.

Plus, Imran has said that pre orders are low even considering that it is releasing on only one platform.

 

[Mr Moose]

I haven't pre-ordered it but I'll be getting it.
Is there any pre-order incentives on disc?
It does but they are shit, I don't need clothes patches.

 

[Godot25]

Xbox has zero influence on this. Very few Square sales comes from Xbox. You might have had a point if you mentioned PC. Xbox? Zero influence.

Plus, Imran has said that pre orders are low even considering that it is releasing on only one platform.

So you want to claim that preorders would not be higher if game was targeting every big platform?

Interesting

 

[Davevil]

A picture of a memorable cast

A picture of bland cast.

 

[Thirty7ven]

So you want to claim that preorders would not be higher if game was targeting every big platform?

Interesting

Xbox has proven to be a non entity when it comes to FF. Barely moves the needle.

If they targeted the game for the Switch it would make a big difference, but it would also be a completely different game.

 

[intheinbetween]

I guess this is why they signed an exclusivity deal with Sony, so they can cover the loss in case of launch/sales number not meeting their expectations, right?

 

[Nautilus]

So you want to claim that preorders would not be higher if game was targeting every big platform?

Interesting

It was not what I was saying...

Read what Imran wrote again: He said that even if you assume the fact that the game is releasing only on PS5, the game is tracking below what Square expected. That means that the game is fumbling now because of itself(not being attractive enough, marketing not being good enough) and not because it isn't releasing on more platforms.