theconstellationiris

Thank the gods this didn’t come to pass. Oof.

@EquiinoxGII Yeah, I’ve found myself pressing X to get through a lot of the side quest dialog. 😂 Some of them have good stories, though. The rest are usually boring, but they do often provide good crafting ingredients or gear, especially with the renown gear. The “+” side quests are definitely worth doing, too.

Hiroshi Minagawa is an absolute legend, this is definitely finding its way to my bookshelf.

At this rate, everyone’s E3 memories are going to be all the annual cancellations. It had its time, give it a rest.

@DaniPooo I’m gonna be honest with you, I am so bored of this discourse. It’s fine to disagree; all art is subjective, anyway. That’s one of the many great things about it! The only thing I can tell you is that, in the context of having played this series for over 30 years, across many, many iterations and variations, it feels like Final Fantasy to me. A different take on Final Fantasy, certainly — and not the best one, in my opinion — but hardly the first time that’s happened.

I’m glad we’re both clearly passionate about this subject, but let’s not try to change each other’s minds this time. Cool?

@themightyant Ah, okay; I definitely don’t follow COD, I wouldn’t know. 😅

That’s a good point about the first party release lineup so far for the year; either way, love to see it. Feels like an extension of the PS1/PS2 heyday.

I’m about ten hours in, so far; the action combat mechanics (including what that means for item/spell management and the like) are definitely far afield of my usual comfort zone, and I’d like to see a bit more whimsy than I’ve seen so far, but other than that, it is Final Fantasy through and through. Way too soon to place it in the context of prior entries in the series, but it’s fairly easy to say that it’s the best that single-player Final Fantasy has felt in nearly 20 years (since XII, essentially). Also too soon to say what this game means for the series going forward; there’s definitely room for improvement, I think, in keeping some of that classic Final Fantasy feel intact, but I don’t think I’d be getting this far into the game already if they had completely blown it. Would love to know what newcomers to the series in particular think of it!

I’m trying to think of any recent time that a third party game got this much marketing push from Sony, and nothing comes to mind; this is wild. If you didn’t know any better, you’d have good reason to think this was a major PlayStation Studios release.

I have a hard time with this one. It’s my favorite game ever, the existing version is such a treasure, and Square’s modern remakes have a bit of a mixed track record. As much as a fully realized 3D world based on the game would be incredible to inhabit, it has such a distinctive art and design direction that I’m not sure it would translate well. A good middle ground would be the HD-2D engine, I’d play that in a heartbeat.

That said, even with misgivings about the idea, you should know that I’d drop everything to play it as soon as I could, if they make it. 😂

Incredible review; counting down the hours until midnight! You love to see it; Final Fantasy reigns once again!

@DaniPooo Friend, you’re putting a lot of words in my mouth.

For one, I really don’t need a history lesson on the series, I’ve been playing since 1990. Two, I do not enjoy action games more (I don’t even know why I’m arguing this, but oh well); I simply recognize that it’s the norm now, and I don’t see the point in kicking and screaming about it. But that doesn’t suit the gatekeeper narrative. I’m not even going to get into it about your child labor point, because frankly that’s a gross conflation of entirely unrelated issues, with the latter a far more serious topic, and in my opinion, makes your point really disingenuous.

Final Fantasy is for everyone, and that’s why there are many options for players in the series. This has always been true, almost since the beginning. In the last 20 years, we’ve seen XI, XII, Lightning Returns, XIV, XV, and VII Remake all launch with action-based systems. This isn’t to spite turn-based players; it’s because the technology advanced enough to allow the creative teams to realize the vision they wanted. And as new creators came into the fold, they tried things in ways that catered to their experiences and tastes; we can debate the merits of approaches until the inevitable heat death of the known universe, but that doesn’t make each entry any less Final Fantasy.

If you don’t like the game, that’s okay! There’s nothing wrong with that, you can simply move on to something that interests you more; how is being a gatekeeper, trying to tell off other fans or potential fans, an act of love or respect for the series?

@Martijn87 Yeah, that demo makes the M rating very clear, ha. Definitely a lot of excitement for Rebirth in our house, though. The original VII and Remake are her favorites in the series, as it is (although certainly I did play through some segments and explain later, ha).

I just don’t understand all the “FF needs to be turn-based to be acceptable as FF” discourse. Regardless of personal preference, outside of FFXIII, numbered Final Fantasy hasn’t been turn-based in 20 years. This has long been a moot point.

My only complaint with the demo is that it didn’t really alleviate any concerns I’ve had about its treatment of women characters. Hopefully the rest of the game is better, but the “women are all wicked schemers that use sex to get what they want” trope is very tired, very cringey, and for all the great things that the game could take from its influences (namely, Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire), it’s very regrettable that one of the worst things may be core among them.

Other than that…. damn, that opening segment in particular is maybe the most memorable since VII.

And for all the “but it’s not turn-based” gatekeepers that often come rushing out, may I suggest that if the action combat isn’t your jam, then Triangle Strategy may be the game you’re looking for (both games seem to have very similar themes, if not exact mirrors of each other).

@Martijn87 My kid has been mildly upset that this is a Final Fantasy game that we won’t be able to play together. On one hand, I totally welcome an FF game for adults, and on the other…I’m going to miss the joy of experiencing it for the first time together.

Solid throwback to FFV.

I’ve thought for awhile that they would eventually do away with the numbered entries, especially with VII Remake throwing things off (not just including prior comments by Kitase-san about how remaking VII would be the end of the series).

The challenging thing will be making clear which games are “mainline” entries, versus which games are smaller, less essential games in the series. That said, the flip side of that is that removing pressure to always have major “mainline” releases could mean even more experimentation in the mainline series once again.

They should’ve given the protagonist a real Final Fantasy name, like Butz.

They’re all great, but I’m glad to see the PS1 love. It’s hard to argue against utter perfection.

Yeah, one of these is definitely finding its way into my house. Astro is very popular around here.

Can’t say I’ve ever played Mortal Kombat for the story anyway, couldn’t care less what it’s called. New MK is always a good time, and one of the few games that my partner (who isn’t very interested in them) will play with me.

Poor, beleaguered Bobby Kotick is gonna be waiting awhile for his golden parachute.

Glad to see the new PS Plus starting to find its stride after a relatively rough launch. This is another killer lineup for the month, definitely more than a few things here that pique my interest.

Bummer that these are exclusive, I guess I’ll keep an eye out on import sites. Would be fun if they also do an FFVII Rebirth set later, too.

Re: PS5 controllers and plates with classic PS colors, let’s hope they have something fun up their sleeves for next year’s 30th anniversary (although that’d probably be in 2025, with the anniversary being late in the year).

Somebody call the waaaaaaah-mbulance.

@Voltan Very much this. Left out of most of those discussions is that AI tools like Copilot aren’t evenly effective across languages, either. AI tools seem better for more “menial” things, like documentation or unit tests, rather than implementation details. Indeed, we’re a long way off, there.

There’s a reason independent mid- and low- budget games on devices like Switch or Steam Deck or even phones/tablets have done so well. There are definitely times and places for AAA gaming, but an enjoyable game, at a much more palatable cost (for both the developer and the player), with the freedom to be played anywhere at any time, is a demonstrably winning combo. It’s good for players and studios.

(Of course, the downside there is discoverability, but that’s a whole other discussion.)

“Mini Review: Final Fantasy VI Pixel Remaster (PS4) - The Greatest RPG of All Time”

FIFY

Given that the game was mostly a retelling of Star Wars with a Final Fantasy coat of paint, I sort of always thought (based on that and the events of the game) that the “main character”, if there really is one, is Ashe. And, like Star Wars, we’re experiencing Ashe’s story through the eyes of Vaan and Penelo — much like the audience is intended to experience the story of Star Wars through the eyes of R2-D2 and C-3PO, at first. Well, from a certain point of view, anyway. Heh.

@KaijuKaiser I wouldn’t want to potentially spoil anything for anyone that is trying to go in completely fresh, but they’ve definitely unveiled certain details in trailers and gameplay presentations that I was surprised by, and would’ve preferred not knowing ahead of time. I’m sure there are plenty of other parts of the game that they’re still keeping close to the chest, but it’s a pattern that we’ve seen with Square before, too (perhaps most recently with FFVII Remake).

Waffling between whether or not to watch this, only because they’ve already given away so much information about the game’s general plot, characters, and world….but also, it’s Final Fantasy, sooooo….

Still such a great surprise that this is even real, I’d thought they were done with this series years ago. The memories came flooding back when this was announced. Can’t wait!

This, on the heels of the TikTok hearing, sure does point to an expansion of US political xenophobia.

The irony is that Sony has almost certainly done more to bolster the gaming industry in the US over the last nearly 30 years than Microsoft, while Microsoft has routinely mismanaged its efforts and its studios to the point that they have to write down billions of dollars from their other businesses to spend on enormous acquisitions, because they don’t know how to be a “successful” gaming company otherwise.

At this point, just let them buy ABK, and sit back to watch them continue to shoot themselves in their own feet, over and over and over again.

I’m not yet sold on the idea of Sony buying Square, but it’s hard to deny that it has merit, when seeing how their partnership continues to bear fruit that has never quite materialized the same way on other platforms.

And this is exactly why these limited-run editions are as scarce and as premium-priced as they are. You get to either cough up $350 to Square, or at least double that to a scalper, and both options put many prospective buyers right out of the running. It sucks to see this, every single time.

@kcarnes9051 I dunno, friend; of course, everyone’s got a right to their opinion, and I get where you’re coming from….but, as one of those long-time players (since 1990 here; still have my original complete-in-box copies from the NES on up, and near-mint!), I gotta say, I’ve seen a great many changes and experiments with the formula over the years. Since the very beginning.

Final Fantasy brought a party and basic classes/jobs to the typically solo affairs of Wizardry, Ultima, and Dragon Quest. FFII brought rotating party members and changed up the experience system. III introduced the Job system and greatly expanded the world map. IV introduced the ATB system and character-specific abilities. So on and so on and so on. These mechanics were what we fell in love with and became comfortable with, but they’re just that; they’re gameplay mechanics, typically constrained by the technology of the time, and serve to support the growth of the characters and story. Never once, in all those years, have I ever said to anyone “you’ve really got to try checking out the Final Fantasy series, they’ve got the most amazing turn-based battle system!”

The point is this; each game — whether a numbered entry or a spin-off — has experimented with the formula, hopefully in ways that serve the core Final Fantasy experience. At its best, Final Fantasy has always been a showcase for epic stories, engaging characters, breathtaking art and design, and evocative music that you’ll still hum to yourself years later.

I get that the action focus is very far afield — it’s not my favorite, either — but if it means it appeals to more players, what’s not to love? Final Fantasy is amazing, and it’s great to be able to share enjoyment of the series with more players. We should be welcoming of newcomers to the series! That used to be a very rare thing, and it’s awesome to see it thrive now.

And funny enough, many of the same criticisms that are levied at XVI today were also levied at XII, which feels appropriate in the context of this article (XII is such an underrated gem, I remember being really hyped for it then, too). The varied styles of gameplay, particularly where the Eikon battles are concerned, look like they’ll be a lot of fun and add some fresh coat of paint to a beloved, but aging, series.

The part of this game that still gives me pause has nothing to do with combat or tone or any of that stuff — it’s the issue that the State of Play still did nothing to address, which is the overwhelming lack of diversity in the people in the game. I hope the actual game does do more to address that, but it leaves a bad taste in the mouth, and I’m definitely concerned that the final product won’t really live up to what it should be, in that sense.

@ShogunRok Given the state of DLC and content revisions well after release, I think it’s safe to they were also busy rewriting the script months after, too. 😂

@Matroska Evergreen comment. Thank you for your service.

People are getting mad at Sega for….including exactly what they said they were including? It’s not like they were ambiguous about it, it’s very clear that they’re the Game Gear versions. If you don’t want it, don’t buy it. Ay yi yi.

Good grief, I just want this stupid saga to be over already. If for no reason other than being tired of seeing large corporations complaining about how beleaguered they are or will be.

It is incredible how badly Square can continue to be mismanaged and still remain afloat as it has. Whatever the solution to getting them back on more even footing is, I’m sure it isn’t a scattershot release schedule (which had some genuinely great games in it!), followed by blockchain initiatives that absolutely no one has asked for.

@Nem Heh, jinx.

Relax, y’all. Microsoft has promised 10 years of equivalent access to other platforms, which is probably about 5 years longer than it’ll take them to mismanage and tank all of ABK’s studios like they’ve tanked all the studios they currently own. They own roughly 30ish studios, I think? (Don’t quote me.) And exactly one is still a success story, and that one is Mojang. Can’t wait for the next big Microsoft write-down on another wasted mountain of money that could’ve been spent solving actual problems.

It definitely shows. The first trailer or two looked pretty rough early on, but every look at it since has been pretty incredible, from a technical perspective. I’d love to go back in time and show ten-year-old me these summon/Eikon battles and watch my face melt.

@KaijuKaiser My comment wasn’t really in regards to the quality of the story, which is subjective, but the content of it. Arise has some pretty dark subject matter, at times, but doesn’t require the rest of the game to be devoid of any vibrancy or levity as a result. That’s all. Hell, as an even closer-to-home example, FFXIV itself also fits that bill. Granted, the audience and reach of that game, by definition, must be a great deal more broad and varied.

All things told, the action gameplay and tone aren’t really the things that concern me about this game. I do still hold some interest, but that interest has been tempered since being blown away by the initial reveal (which makes me very sad to say, having been a fan of the series since the NES).

I remain unconvinced of this “we have some dark/serious subject matter in our game, so we needed a grimdark fantasy setting devoid of color and joy, or else it wouldn’t work” reasoning.

Persona 5 and Tales of Arise would like a word.

@get2sammyb Yeah; as one of those series stalwarts, I don’t necessarily love the changes to the format, but I’m also not going to rail against them without playing it, either. There are definitely things that make a Final Fantasy game to me, and neither combat style nor lighter/darker tone necessarily factor very high — VI has remained my favorite video game for nearly 30 years, and it has some of the most grim content the series has seen to date — but I do share in some of the other concerns raised about it. I’m still cautiously optimistic, given the team that’s working on it and some of what’s being said about this preview, so we’ll see! Definitely want to be blown away by it, for sure.

Y’know, a lot of the concerns that have been and are being raised about the gameplay for XVI remind me an awful lot of the things we heard way back when about games like FF Tactics, Parasite Eve, Xenogears, and Vagrant Story — games that are considered classics nowadays. (Yes, only one of those games bears the name Final Fantasy, but they are all series-adjacent.) I’m definitely willing to keep an open mind in regards to the gameplay and style; it’s the lack of character diversity in the world-building, and Square’s more recent track record with women in its games, that gives me cause for concern.