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[King of the Potato People]

It's a definite. Give up your hopes of a pure Final Fantasy set within a medieval utopia with turn-based combat that rewards patience and those with a keen eye who love to check every corner of an virtual world.

Expect whole civilisations with the creative fashion as something that was shat out of Gackt, trendy monsters that look like they were spruced up in the Spandex factory, ZIPS and ZIPS and ZIPS, with a battle system that's more interested in having 'cool' moves like rocket cat-wheels than management, and a world with less flexibility than a escalator, that leads to another escalator and another...

 

[Extra Sauce]

If they're going to make these ultra linear corridor games, they might as well make them action RPGs yeah.

 

[badcrumble]

Nomura doesn't have much experience designing battle systems, though.

What?? CURSE YOU YET AGAIN, NOMURA!!!!!!!

 

[H_Prestige]

That's what Versus is for.

Versus isn't FFXV, and there has never been any indication it would be the template for future FF games. It's just what Nomura wants FF to be.

 

[More Fun To Compute]

They should just go all in and make it a military FPS since they also count as action RPG now.

 

[H_Prestige]

It's a definite. Give up your hopes of a pure Final Fantasy set within a medieval utopia with turn-based combat that rewards patience and those with a keen eye who love to check every corner of an virtual world.

Expect whole civilisations with the creative fashion as something that was shat out of Gackt, trendy monsters that look like they were spruced up in the Spandex factory, ZIPS and ZIPS and ZIPS, with a battle system that's more interested in having 'cool' moves like rocket cat-wheels than management, and a world with less flexibility than a escalator, that leads to another escalator and another...

I hope this post is a joke...

 

[udivision]

Versus isn't FFXV, and there has never been any indication it would be the template for future FF games. It's just what Nomura wants FF to be.

Um... No FF is a template for future FF games other that gil and big yellow birds.
Kagari's point still stands.

 

[Orayn]

They should just go all in and make it a military FPS since they also count as action RPG now.

Be careful what you wish for.

 

[Combichristoffersen]

They should just go all in and make it a military FPS since they also count as action RPG now.

Well, FF XIII was inspired by Call of Duty, so I guess they could make a first-person shooter RPG where you take turns shooting tonberrys in the face

 

[Kagari]

Versus isn't FFXV, and there has never been any indication it would be the template for future FF games. It's just what Nomura wants FF to be.

So... what's the problem with that? They change the formula for each "mainline" FF. How is Versus any different from that?

 

[More Fun To Compute]

Be careful what you wish for.

I'm just helping Final Fantasy fans mentally prepare for the inevitable.

 

[Beth Cyra]

Odd question, I mean nothing they could say would mean shit at this point so the question is even more of a time waste then odds and ends about Type 0 and FF XIV vanilla.

Regardless kinda shocked how many people are still hoping that VS is suddenly going become XV.

Either way, can't wait for almost all of SE products, to me they still make amazing software and I am happy to support them. Don't know if I want a full on Action Based FF XV, but I will at least give it a shot if it does come to that.

 

[computers putin']

If I get a good, engrossing story with endearing characters with actual depth, then I don' mind the change.

Be careful what you wish for.

seeing this makes me want to cry for some reason

 

[H_Prestige]

So... what's the problem with that? They change the formula for each "mainline" FF. How is Versus any different from that?

I don't think they changed the formula for FF games, outside of FFXI and to a lesser extent FFXII. The first nine FF games all followed the same template in terms of game design. It's like they had a "FF rpg maker" program for each console that they just plugged all the art into.

 

[Magicpaint]

Terrible idea, and I love RPGs.

 

[MuddyDonut]

Two new game announcements! Exciting.

Explain this to me like I am 5 years old.

 

[Jive Turkey]

So the entire fan base is only interested in standing in a line taking turns selecting battle commands? I think changing the battle system to something more akin to KH, while keeping the high production values FF is known for, could help reignite the spark like FFVII did years ago.

It could also kill off current fan interest like FFVII did years ago.

 

[GeekyDad]

At this point, it's the jargon (chocobos, phoenix downs, fira) that make up a Final Fantasy game, so really, they could make it a GTA clone and still call it Final Fantasy -- which would actually be pretty cool. Either way, this series is aging like Joan Rivers.

 

[Beth Cyra]

It could also kill off current fan interest like FFVII did years ago.

Well if they could more then double the fan base over what VII did just as VII did to the series did before it I don't think any of us could blame them for doing it.

 

[H_Prestige]

It could also kill off current fan interest like FFVII did years ago.

While bringing in millions of new fans and putting the series on the map internationally.

 

[sublimit]

Make it a collabotation with From Software.

 

[Rentahamster]

Final Fantasy Souls, sure why not.

 

[Nemo]

I'll be waiting until we get a numbered FF again that's exactly in the style and gameplay design of FFVI in 1080p. Don't disappoint me SE, make it 600 hours or something of main story as well. It'll only cost a few million to make anyway

 

[Jive Turkey]

Well if they could more then double the fan base over what VII did just as VII did to the series did before it I don't think any of us could blame them for doing it.

I don't disagree from a business standpoint. Though I believe FFVII was kind of a perfect storm and with the way Square-Enix has been acting in the past few years I just don't think they have it in them to pull off that kind of success again.

 

[Negator]

I'd love to see an internally developed Final Fantasy take of what they would do with a Tales of/Star Ocean-esque style battle system.

 

[Crash Station]

I don't think they changed the formula for FF games, outside of FFXI and to a lesser extent FFXII. The first nine FF games all followed the same template in terms of game design. It's like they had a "FF rpg maker" program for each console that they just plugged all the art into.

Yes, and those were their most successful years. They stuck to a base system while experimenting with it mildly in battle and changing the adventure outside of it. They created other franchises and capitalized on existing ones to satisfy the ARPG fans. Going with a "if it isn't broke, don't fix it" mentality was helpful back then and would be helpful now if they weren't so intent on dividing the fanbase with every new mainline release.

 

[Orayn]

I'd love to see an internally developed Final Fantasy take of what they would do with a Tales of/Star Ocean-esque style battle system.

I'd love it if they went back to the basic template of FFXII and tried to one-up Xenoblade. Increase party size to four characters, let me switch between characters whenever I want, add a gambit-like system for the ones I'm not using, give the characters and abilities even more synergy, and have plenty of positional skills like Shulk's. This, of course, would accompany a gigantic open-ended skill/class system akin to the license board with fewer artificial restrictions from equipment.

 

[storafötter]

I would say go for it if they could make the battle system as solid as a Devil May Cry game or Star Ocean lite. Square action games haven't been the best, and have had very floaty and slow game-play.

 

[Diablohead]

After the automatic combat in 13, sure why not.

 

[Einbroch]

I am slowly liking action RPGs more than tradition ones. If this is because the quality of the latter has dropped, then so be it, but I don't have a problem with FFXV the ARPG.

 

[decoyplatypus]

I don't think they changed the formula for FF games, outside of FFXI and to a lesser extent FFXII. The first nine FF games all followed the same template in terms of game design. It's like they had a "FF rpg maker" program for each console that they just plugged all the art into.

I don't understand this. Most FF games have featured radically different progression systems. The battle system itself changed in IV, X, and XII (to say nothing of XI or X-2). VIII ditched the conventional equipment system. These are not minor changes you just "plug in." For RPGs they're at the very heart of the gameplay. Ignoring those differences would be like ignoring the differences in parries/counters/focus attacks in Street Fighter games. Frankly, there's been far more variation among FF games than there has been among a good many FPS franchises.

If you want to say FF would sell better by ditching command-based combat, fine. But it's ridiculous to argue that the move would automatically improve the series.

 

[RDreamer]

If they said that they had a cool idea for a battle system and it happened to be an action RPG, then I'd be fine with that. I fear, though, that SE is just throwing shit at the wall to see what sticks. After reading the interview where they cite Call of Duty it really seems to me like they're just oblivious as to why certain games sell more and the different fan bases that there are. The fact that they would pull linearity from Call of Duty and throw that into an RPG and expect that to excite me just proves they're completely off their goddamned rocker.

Fact is there are still plenty of people over in the west that play RPGs, and there are RPG series over here that sell quite well, and those are the things that SE should be getting inspiration from. No, I'm not saying they should create an open world game, but putting more freedom would make a whole helluva lot more sense and at least be catering to the correct type of player that making the entire game linear as hell certainly didn't and would never accomplish.

And really the RPG players that still exist and still buy RPGs in droves don't seem to mind a bit slower gameplay. They don't need a ton of action. Just build a good game around something "turn based" and it'd still sell. If they did something like FFXII I really doubt anyone would have a problem with that type of battle system, but refined. And I also don't think many people actually had that much of a problem with XIII's battle system. Actually most people really liked that part of it. It was everything else around it that pissed people off, and it's weird that they'd ignore that.

 

[GhaleonQ]

NO. THE 3RD ONE IN THE GENERATION IS ALWAYS THE BEST ONE, THE PINNACLE, THE ONE THAT'S RELIABLE. NO. I KNEW IT. IT ENDS WITH XV.

Nooooooooooooooo! I'm not feigning this.

 

[Foffy]

Am I the only one..not angry about this? Final Fantasy isn't Dragon Quest, it attempts to modernize itself with newer installments. It seems like an acceptable evolution to turn into a more action RPG affair.

Or are people assuming they mean an action game with very little RPG elements?

 

[Paracelsus]

Am I the only one..not angry about this? Final Fantasy isn't Dragon Quest, it attempts to modernize itself with newer installments. It seems like an acceptable evolution to turn into a more action RPG affair.

Or are people assuming they mean an action game with very little RPG elements?

Does it make a difference at this point? The only reason FFXIII can be called a Jrpg is the atb itself.

 

[Brandon F]

Sure hope FFXVI ends up being a Final Fantasy game!

 

[chickdigger802]

I usually wouldn't give a damn, but man, kingdom hearts has some of the dullest combat around. Camera is eternally shit for some reason. It's like they wanted to make a dmc/GoW style beat up mobs in an arena style game, but instead of the perfectly fine static camera above, they decided to give you a really bad free camera...

Combat also 'feels' terrible. Space Marine had many problems, but the 'feel' is perfect while wacking dudes...

I don't remember when keyblades were cool, but man...

So yeah, just don't make it into a monster hunter clone and it should be... I have no clue.

 

[linko9]

Well, if they want to make an ARPG, I hope they take a lot of inspiration from Vagrant Story. That's best single-player RPG effort to come from Square, and it was damn good.

 

[Kyoufu]

Well, if they want to make an ARPG, I hope they take a lot of inspiration from Vagrant Story. That's best single-player RPG effort to come from Square, and it was damn good.

I'd only trust From Software to remake that. Nobody at S-E could do justice to that game.

At this point I'm not really excited for FFXV or whatever. Toriyama and his team aren't very good.

 

[decoyplatypus]

Am I the only one..not angry about this? Final Fantasy isn't Dragon Quest, it attempts to modernize itself with newer installments. It seems like an acceptable evolution to turn into a more action RPG affair.

Or are people assuming they mean an action game with very little RPG elements?

I wouldn't care that much about FF going action RPG (it's been eight years since I've enjoyed an FF game) except that there are so few big-budget, command-based RPGs these days. My disappointment would be more for the sub-genre than FF.

 

[genjiZERO]

Final Fantasy WRPG could be so awesome. Not sure how they would handle multiple characters, but maybe they could bounce between them as different chapters. It could be really exciting though. FF aesthetics with Elder Scrolls gameplay.

 

[Grinchy]

Final Fantasy Souls, sure why not.

I really do want this. If they could do something like FFXII with its world, but more like Dark Souls for its combat, they would have an awesome game on their hands.

 

[hosannainexcelsis]

I wouldn't care that much about FF going action RPG (it's been eight years since I've enjoyed an FF game) except that there are so few big-budget, command-based RPGs these days. My disappointment would be more for the sub-genre than FF.

Are there any big budget command-based RPGs these days besides FF13? As far as command RPGs go, I can only think of SMT/Persona, Etrian Odyssey, Atelier, and the Trails/Kiseki series, as well as a few one-off or even more niche IPs (e.g., 7th Dragon). None of those games have a large budget.

 

[Vamphuntr]

Xenoblade already stole your thunder, Squeenix.

That shouldn't be too hard to rip off. They probably have a tons of boring fetch quests/loot quests that they can copy from FFXI and FFXIV. They only need to copy those huge landscapes and people will forget about the crappy quests and half baked battle system.

But since it's SE people will bitch in full force about the boring fetch/loot quests.

 

[The Jason]

I'm kind of getting tired to square trying to do action games. Just look at FFXIII-Versus, the combat looks stiff and clunky compared to action games like DMC. Stick to fast paced strategic RPGs, not action RPGs.

 

[Luigiv]

Not at all interested. They have an action RPG series, and Type-0 went that way and and Versus is going that way too, which is cool, but abolition of the command RPG style completely is not something I want.

I don't think they'll abolish it completely but the FF main series has always flip-flopped between different styles.

 

[gamergirly]

I'm ready for a change. Something different than FF13

 

[Mungular]

thatd be pretty sweet

 

[watershed]

They've been moving this way anyways. I could see them making the game an action rpg but where you can pause the game to pull up a menu of traditional rpg controls or assign spells to buttons kind of like how Mass Effect is/tries to be a shooter with rpg combat elements mixed in.

 

[Pyrrhus]

Why the fuck not, i mean isn't like they haven't ruined it already.

Exactly as you say. And so early on in the discussion, too.