There's a fine line between innovation and perversion.
That's all I have to say.
If you really want an example, look at the Legend of Zelda franchise.
They've been able to more or less tell the same damned story and retain the same melodies for twenty five years, yet they have continuously reinvented themselves in unique and unprecedented ways to make outstanding and successful titles one after another, even on simple handheld platforms.
Lol... they also have *** up their stories in so many ways. Where was that chart again lol. I'll admit that Zelda is a good franchise and that they know what their consumers want, but look at what the FF fanbase is now. Us guys like 20ish grew up with the glory days. The fanbase now is looking at prolly started during X-2 *shivers* (sadly I did shiver when I said that too... and I just did again.... scary). Also look at the current popular games now that are RPG's. They aren't the old school RPG's at all infact complete hybrids. They are all RTS/Tactical/Action with a RPG wrapper.
I hate to make such extreme and immeasurable examples, but to give a vague idea of how these changes process through my mind and in my eyes, the direction FF titles have been led down as of late with the Ezio costume DLC and over saturation of rap and electronica in what would otherwise should be classical in nature, it feels like this is one step below modernizing FF for the sake of mass demographs appealing to those that cannot fathom, let alone remotely measure and enjoy the elaborate beauty and involvement of what is Final Fantasy, and to have SE sell out by adding a Lady Gaga track or something of the like to bolster attention and increase sales.
Meh I'm all for innovation on FF series.... I'm not gonna sit there with turn-based forever... I like the new battle system, but I feel the new upgrading system of skills... is *** HELP I AM TRAPPED IN 2006 PLEASE SEND A TIME MACHINE. I like some of the new music, I like the classical feel, but I want something newish too, like I said I thought the first 1:32 of that song was over done and not well put together but after that it's fine. My favorite FF will always be X. Though FF 7 is another fav of mine. I didn't care for 9, and 8 was good but I felt it was over-hyped imo. 6 I didn't play. 5 I didn't play. I played 2 and 4 though. lol hacked Ps1 disks...
I'm not trying to sound like an old man with a cane or have nostalgia glasses fixated to my eyes, but I cannot help but observe a steadfast diminish of quality within newer FF titles with each and every release.
This isn't to say FFs in general aren't without their flaws of trend. After all 7-10 retained their cliche of an angsty teenager protagonist mixed with questionable placement of situations that put the fate of the world on the hands of a random hodgepodge assortment of unlikely people with demi-humans intermixed.
But the primary factor to me is the ability to create a product that comes together in various elements and aspects. A combination of astonishingly detailed graphics, a tour de force of a soundtrack with unparalleled storytelling that has you on the edge of your seat through each turn of events.
Now it all feels stale in exchange for over-saturated eye candy and explosions and mellow-dramatic over burdened people that clash their causes together yet retain companionship for the greater good, with a soundtrack that tends to fit more accurately in a nightclub scene than a full and detailed world undiscovered by our or the character's eyes. To turn the avatars into Transformers was really the last nail in the coffin for FF to me.
There's a fine line between innovation and perversion.
That's all I have to say.
If you really want an example, look at the Legend of Zelda franchise.
They've been able to more or less tell the same damned story and retain the same melodies for twenty five years, yet they have continuously reinvented themselves in unique and unprecedented ways to make outstanding and successful titles one after another, even on simple handheld platforms.
Lol... they also have *** up their stories in so many ways. Where was that chart again lol. I'll admit that Zelda is a good franchise and that they know what their consumers want, but look at what the FF fanbase is now. Us guys like 20ish grew up with the glory days. The fanbase now is looking at prolly started during X-2 *shivers* (sadly I did shiver when I said that too... and I just did again.... scary). Also look at the current popular games now that are RPG's. They aren't the old school RPG's at all infact complete hybrids. They are all RTS/Tactical/Action with a RPG wrapper.
See that's the beauty of it though.
Zelda games are linked in the most vague manner possible that it's up to the players and community to put the pieces together, but by no means had any sort of obligation to do so, and instead end up losing themselves in insanity by trying to make sense of what never was supposed to make sense. Each title can be enjoyed in it's own right while subtle connections can be left to those with an imagination to justify it.
Being a die-hard FF fan, I like to tell myself that SE is using a few installments as experiments.
7 / 8 / 9 all had the same world map / open world freedom with the well constructed stories.
10 got linear and repetative.
10-2 (lol)
11 was online (duh)
12 was 11 for people who didn't want to pay $13/mo for 11 but had a more linear story than the expansions in 11.
13 was way linear but started embracing a more interactive battle system - more action game-esque.
13-2 I'm hoping is taking 13 one step in a more promising direction. They seem to have killed of many of the terrible characters in 13 and made it seem much less linear (judging by the demo)
Basically, 10 seems to be the beggining of the decrease in FF success because it strayed away from the turn based fighting style and absolute freedom overall in the game. Hopefully 13-2 takes a step back in the right direction from the response 13 got.
Kristyl, I strongly encourage you to play and finish 6.
It is the pinnacle of what embodies a quality FF title in my opinion.
Despite being two dimensional, with a MIDI soundtrack, the simplicity and charm within the intertwined plight of various characters coming together against what is arguably one of the greatest antagonists there have ever been, makes for a timeless game and one of the best of all the FF titles.
I need to get over my snobbyness when it comes to graphics and sounds and play that. Everyone says its so good. I guess I'll find it and pick it up in the near future. I owe myself that xD
Being a die-hard FF fan, I like to tell myself that SE is using a few installments as experiments.
7 / 8 / 9 all had the same world map / open world freedom with the well constructed stories. 10 got linear and repetative repetitive.
10-2 (lol)
11 was online (duh)
12 was 11 for people who didn't want to pay $13/mo for 11 but had a more linear story than the expansions in 11.
13 was way linear but started embracing a more interactive battle system - more action game-esque.
13-2 I'm hoping is taking 13 one step in a more promising direction. They seem to have killed of many of the terrible characters in 13 and made it seem much less linear (judging by the demo)
Basically, 10 seems to be the beggining of the decrease in FF success because it strayed away from the turn based fighting style and absolute freedom overall in the game. Hopefully 13-2 takes a step back in the right direction from the response 13 got.
Being a die-hard FF fan, I like to tell myself that SE is using a few installments as experiments.
7 / 8 / 9 all had the same world map / open world freedom with the well constructed stories. 10 got linear and repetative repetitive.
10-2 (lol)
11 was online (duh)
12 was 11 for people who didn't want to pay $13/mo for 11 but had a more linear story than the expansions in 11.
13 was way linear but started embracing a more interactive battle system - more action game-esque.
13-2 I'm hoping is taking 13 one step in a more promising direction. They seem to have killed of many of the terrible characters in 13 and made it seem much less linear (judging by the demo)
Basically, 10 seems to be the beggining of the decrease in FF success because it strayed away from the turn based fighting style and absolute freedom overall in the game. Hopefully 13-2 takes a step back in the right direction from the response 13 got.
Really?
LOL ;~; did you really call me out on my first spelling error? It's almost 6am and I'm tired :<
Or were you debating my opinion on 10? I hated 10, there were 1 or two good characters, the worst voice acting ever, gameplay was temple > CS > go to next temple > solve it > CS > go to next temple.... I got tired of that. At the end I ended up using a gameshark and killed Seymour with giltoss >.>; The story didn't keep me super interested, but I will say the ending was very enjoyable.
I need to get over my snobbyness when it comes to graphics and sounds and play that. Everyone says its so good. I guess I'll find it and pick it up in the near future. I owe myself that xD
FF7 was my first FF, and the whole thing blew me out of the water, especially with the ending overture repeating with the sea of stars flying past your screen at the end, with the whole 500 years later thing, left a real sense of awe and respect for what went into the story and game itself.
But the level of captivation and being at ends of how you feel about each and every one of the characters based on how bittersweet things are concluded left me speechless on a level I cannot even compare to anything else. I think the only other thing to rival it was the "good" ending of Chrono Trigger.
Being a die-hard FF fan, I like to tell myself that SE is using a few installments as experiments.
7 / 8 / 9 all had the same world map / open world freedom with the well constructed stories. 10 got linear and repetative repetitive.
10-2 (lol)
11 was online (duh)
12 was 11 for people who didn't want to pay $13/mo for 11 but had a more linear story than the expansions in 11.
13 was way linear but started embracing a more interactive battle system - more action game-esque.
13-2 I'm hoping is taking 13 one step in a more promising direction. They seem to have killed of many of the terrible characters in 13 and made it seem much less linear (judging by the demo)
Basically, 10 seems to be the beggining of the decrease in FF success because it strayed away from the turn based fighting style and absolute freedom overall in the game. Hopefully 13-2 takes a step back in the right direction from the response 13 got.
Really?
LOL ;~; did you really call me out on my first spelling error? It's almost 6am and I'm tired :<
NO NO LOL SORRY.. that's a habit of mine.. I didn't even realize I did that... sadly.. I meant you thought it was linear and repetitive
Being a die-hard FF fan, I like to tell myself that SE is using a few installments as experiments.
7 / 8 / 9 all had the same world map / open world freedom with the well constructed stories. 10 got linear and repetative repetitive.
10-2 (lol)
11 was online (duh)
12 was 11 for people who didn't want to pay $13/mo for 11 but had a more linear story than the expansions in 11.
13 was way linear but started embracing a more interactive battle system - more action game-esque.
13-2 I'm hoping is taking 13 one step in a more promising direction. They seem to have killed of many of the terrible characters in 13 and made it seem much less linear (judging by the demo)
Basically, 10 seems to be the beggining of the decrease in FF success because it strayed away from the turn based fighting style and absolute freedom overall in the game. Hopefully 13-2 takes a step back in the right direction from the response 13 got.
Really?
LOL ;~; did you really call me out on my first spelling error? It's almost 6am and I'm tired :<
NO NO LOL SORRY.. that's a habit of mine.. I didn't even realize I did that... sadly.. I meant you thought it was linear and repetitive
xD lol
Or were you debating my opinion on 10? I hated 10, there were 1 or two good characters, the worst voice acting ever, gameplay was temple > CS > go to next temple > solve it > CS > go to next temple.... I got tired of that. At the end I ended up using a gameshark and killed Seymour with giltoss >.>; The story didn't keep me super interested, but I will say the ending was very enjoyable.
I need to get over my snobbyness when it comes to graphics and sounds and play that. Everyone says its so good. I guess I'll find it and pick it up in the near future. I owe myself that xD
FF7 was my first FF, and the whole thing blew me out of the water, especially with the ending overture repeating with the sea of stars flying past your screen at the end, with the whole 500 years later thing, left a real sense of awe and respect for what went into the story and game itself.
But the level of captivation and being at ends of how you feel about each and every one of the characters based on how bittersweet things are concluded left me speechless on a level I cannot even compare to anything else. I think the only other thing to rival it was the "good" ending of Chrono Trigger.
Damn, I miss Squaresoft
I also need to pick up Chrono Trigger, I played Chrono Cross a few times, love that game and I hear Trigger is so much better.
I need to get over my snobbyness when it comes to graphics and sounds and play that. Everyone says its so good. I guess I'll find it and pick it up in the near future. I owe myself that xD
FF7 was my first FF, and the whole thing blew me out of the water, especially with the ending overture repeating with the sea of stars flying past your screen at the end, with the whole 500 years later thing, left a real sense of awe and respect for what went into the story and game itself.
But the level of captivation and being at ends of how you feel about each and every one of the characters based on how bittersweet things are concluded left me speechless on a level I cannot even compare to anything else. I think the only other thing to rival it was the "good" ending of Chrono Trigger.
Damn, I miss Squaresoft
I also need to pick up Chrono Trigger, I played Chrono Cross a few times, love that game and I hear Trigger is so much better.
Well, bear in mind Cross is a direct sequel to Trigger, so to really even remotely grasp the concept and inter-workings of Cross, you need to have had played Trigger in it's entirety.
Chrono Cross is already an absolute mind-*** in it's delved concept of parallel universes with an already heavy and difficult to follow scenario and storyline inside of that, it makes for turning your brain into scrambled eggs.
Then again, I last played and finished it when I was like 13, so perhaps a matured outlook and comprehension of inner workings of physics, time, and space will help me in understanding it.
But yes, Trigger I would say is a better game as a whole, while Chrono Cross feels more like a philosophy lecture guised as a game.
Fascinating and amazing nonetheless, just on a totally different playing field of enjoyment.
You know it's really interesting. I've noticed some franchises have their own manner in going about their subsequent releases and where they tie in or play with previous ones.
For example, Zelda games retain both location and lore as well as generations of the Hero Link, as well as the sage Princess Zelda, and evil demon king Ganon. However, each game is set within a completely different time frame where the sands of time erode and fade the land of Hyrule and it's legends to where it seems as a vague and far away bedtime story but slowly and subtlely engrosses into the vary thing you take part in. A legend becoming reborn time and time again, passed down generation to generation, all within the same lands faded and reshaped by hundreds and hundred of years, perhaps even eons.
Then take The Elder Scrolls for example. Each game retaining their lore and chronological sequence of events but with each game revolving strictly within a particular region or province of a massive world you piece together using your own mind from the unfolding story and tales found within.
Things like that fascinate the hell out of me.
A shame FF didn't find their own ground to play on, but it's just as well that each FF stands alone as their own game rather than needlessly connecting one another in a web of half-truths and flawed familiarity.
I played the demo several times and I never had a problem with any of the tracks contained within it. I am actually really looking forward to the game. I really enjoyed XIII *gasp* even though it was a bit linear. The battle system was new and fresh, and challenging when they first throw it at you.
I try not to compare any FF titles to another, as they are each their own, and each has its own different concepts. And no, FF7 was not my first FF. I started back on FFI for the NES and played each one as they came out :P
Back on topic, if you really think about it, one of the concepts of the XIII universe is that magic and technology are irreversibly integrated, so the soundtracks fits that in my opinion.
Also, if anyone has a link for the soundtrack, PM it to me please /bow
The ost has its ups and downs (more ups in my opinion), but this is my favorite track in it.
The singing in some tracks is muffled in the game anyway from what I've experienced so far, it should not be that bad.
To clarify between the normal tracks and their aggressive versions.
Normal versions of the song is when you're in a particular area, obviously.
Aggressive versions of the song is when encountering monsters in the field. (A slight disappointment to me, but this is as much as I'm going to say until the game is released outside of japan.)
i love the new bodhum track it's just soooooo awesome <3
the one i really like too is "Invisible Invaders" the Bresha Ruins theme...both versions (US and JP) are sexy...sad tho they removed the lyrics in the US version :/
i just left my PS3 on with the demo running and noel in BR lol just to hear the song over and over xD
I think the soundtrack for FF XIII-2 (so far judging by the demo) is going in an absolutely awesome direction.
Yes I have been a fan of many FF soundtracks, they are all awesome in a different way and I think this techno-y soundtrack is fitting in really well with the direction the game is going.
