Is Final Fantasy Versus XIII The Real FF For Loyal Fans?

While I am indeed a fan of Final Fantasy XIII, I have often spoken about my mixed feelings concerning the gameplay. Although Gran Pulse makes it feel a bit more like FFXII, the decide-everything-for-me approach to the strategy still grates on me.

Now, I've wondered in the past if this is a nod to a new audience; to appeal to the "twitch-gaming" crowd that can't sit still for ten consecutive seconds without mashing buttons. And granted, you don't necessarily "mash buttons" in FFXIII but in order to speed up and streamline the battles so there is no "pausing" or break in the action, they simplified the approach. This to me is "RPG Lite." And then you factor in the lack of traditional RPG elements fans of this franchise have come to expect. I'm not saying they're essential; I'm merely saying there's still a place for them within the role-playing community who still pine for an FF they'd actually recognize. That being said, does anyone think Final Fantasy Versus XIII might boast more of a standard RPG feel; might FFXIII be the "new FF" for a new audience while Versus be more of a nod to the veteran, die-hard fans?

First, you've got the apparent existence of a map and airship in the game, which immediately reminds me of RPGs the way they used to be. Then you've got FFXIII director Motomu Toriyama saying that due to difficulties and obstacles with "new hardware" (which was new when they first started making FFXIII), they simply couldn't include those missing RPG elements. But at the same time, he says that now that the team has a firm grasp on things, those elements will return. Thirdly, now that FFXIII is out the door, many of the guys and gals that worked on the game have moved over to work on Versus XIII. Lastly, there's some logic worked in: FFXIII was the first FF that went to an Xbox platform and Square-Enix has been saying for several years they needed to cater more towards a Western audience. So a FFXIII release on the 360 makes perfect sense.

But I think Square-Enix knows that's a bit of a different audience. It's a group that tends to focus more on shooters (as Western gamers tend to do) and because of this, they may have factored this reasoning into the making of FFXIII. Would not the rapid-fire combat system of FFXIII appeal more to those who don't play much besides Modern Warfare 2 and Gears of War? Now, we all know Versus XIII is exclusive to the PS3; Square-Enix knows the majority of FF fans are also PlayStation fans; they've been with them since the PlayStation and FFVII. They know that audience. Hence, considering all this, might it be safe to assume that the new FF could be best described as the true FF for the loyal fans? Well, we'd have to see some gameplay first, I suppose. If it's just an action/adventure game, than I say it's another spin-off and certainly not for the fans. But hey, based on the news and evidence...just thinking out loud, here.

3/25/2010 12:28:58 PM Ben Dutka

Angelus the Wraith wrote:I hope so.
As much as I love FFXIII, I can't help thinking they put too much weight on the Paradigm shifts. Despite my best efforts, I could find no reason not to use auto-battle.

Now all I'm hoping for is that versus includes more strategy, and less button mashing, while using most of my PS3's capabilities.

Nivael wrote:Yeah I totally agree. I'm very happy to see that FFVXIII is retaining to some of the FF series roots. From what I know, the battle system is a "realistic derivation of Kingdom Hearts's battle system with some elements of a third-person shooter aspect.". I honestly don't know what to think with that. Also "Nomura has also stated in Dengeki PlayStation that he aims to create previously unseen "tricky" battle sequences, reminiscent of the CGI film, Final Fantasy VII Advent Children.". I don't know what to think of that either.

Gyoza wrote:Nope, real FFs are 1-6

Gyoza wrote:Nope, real FFs are 1-6

Gyoza wrote:Nope, real FFs are 1-6

Angelus the Wraith wrote:

Gyoza wrote:Nope, real FFs are 1-6

Similarly to Sony, Square Enix tends to release a greater product than their last. Final Fantasy 1-6 are all available on portable systems, I and II on PSP, III and IV on NDS, V and VI on GBA.
The PSP installments are visibly better than the GBA's, and the NDS's failed attempts to good 3D result in catastrophe.

I own V and VI for PSone, and, unlike FFVII-IX, I wouldn't play them outside remote play.

TRF wrote:

Angelus the Wraith wrote:

Gyoza wrote:Nope, real FFs are 1-6

Similarly to Sony, Square Enix tends to release a greater product than their last. Final Fantasy 1-6 are all available on portable systems, I and II on PSP, III and IV on NDS, V and VI on GBA.
The PSP installments are visibly better than the GBA's, and the NDS's failed attempts to good 3D result in catastrophe.

I own V and VI for PSone, and, unlike FFVII-IX, I wouldn't play them outside remote play.

I thought Final Fantasy III on the DS was decent.

Angelus the Wraith wrote:

TRF wrote:

Angelus the Wraith wrote:

Gyoza wrote:Nope, real FFs are 1-6

Similarly to Sony, Square Enix tends to release a greater product than their last. Final Fantasy 1-6 are all available on portable systems, I and II on PSP, III and IV on NDS, V and VI on GBA.
The PSP installments are visibly better than the GBA's, and the NDS's failed attempts to good 3D result in catastrophe.

I own V and VI for PSone, and, unlike FFVII-IX, I wouldn't play them outside remote play.

I thought Final Fantasy III on the DS was decent.

It was. The job system was great, the story could be better, but still good. What I hated about it were it's graphics. The game looked better when it was in 2D. FFIV was able to bring in voices, but the voice acting was nothing special.

That being said, I liked FFT A2 more than any other DS installment.

Nivael wrote:

Gyoza wrote:Nope, real FFs are 1-6

I have to disagree with your opinion there. Honestly, Final Fantasy to Final Fantasy V were not considerably amazing in my opinion, the only Final Fantasy game on a Nintendo platform I consider amazing is Final Fantasy VI. Now, keep in mind that I have played through all Final Fantasy games on the NES and SNES in the original Japanese releases probably more than 10 times per each game, just the other day I was going through Final Fantasy III on NES. These are still great games, but in my opinion they aren't the only real Final Fantasy games. I respect your opinion though.

Angelus the Wraith wrote:

Nivael wrote:Yeah I totally agree. I'm very happy to see that FFVXIII is retaining to some of the FF series roots. From what I know, the battle system is a "realistic derivation of Kingdom Hearts's battle system with some elements of a third-person shooter aspect.". I honestly don't know what to think with that. Also "Nomura has also stated in Dengeki PlayStation that he aims to create previously unseen "tricky" battle sequences, reminiscent of the CGI film, Final Fantasy VII Advent Children.". I don't know what to think of that either.

My guess for tricky would be using teamwork to go high enough in the air, to be blessed by your dead girlfriend, and defeat Bahamut. The battle system is startim to sound like Kingdom hearts with crosshair instead of auto-aim.

I'm shivering with anticipation.

TRF wrote:

Angelus the Wraith wrote:

Nivael wrote:Yeah I totally agree. I'm very happy to see that FFVXIII is retaining to some of the FF series roots. From what I know, the battle system is a "realistic derivation of Kingdom Hearts's battle system with some elements of a third-person shooter aspect.". I honestly don't know what to think with that. Also "Nomura has also stated in Dengeki PlayStation that he aims to create previously unseen "tricky" battle sequences, reminiscent of the CGI film, Final Fantasy VII Advent Children.". I don't know what to think of that either.

My guess for tricky would be using teamwork to go high enough in the air, to be blessed by your dead girlfriend, and defeat Bahamut. The battle system is startim to sound like Kingdom hearts with crosshair instead of auto-aim.

I'm shivering with anticipation.

And it's going to be open-world, right? Kingdom Hearts combat mixed with open-world exploration sounds awesome.

FaytSaratome wrote:No, if it was for the real FF fan than it would have been more like FFI-FFVI. After FFVII I lost hope for the series. FFVIII was pretty good and FFIX gave me nostalgia of the old games but then it started leaving the FF. FFXIII isn't anything like the old FFs, as my friend once said. Why did they name it Final Fantasy when it's nothing like FF?

Angelus the Wraith wrote:

FaytSaratome wrote:No, if it was for the real FF fan than it would have been more like FFI-FFVI. After FFVII I lost hope for the series. FFVIII was pretty good and FFIX gave me nostalgia of the old games but then it started leaving the FF. FFXIII isn't anything like the old FFs, as my friend once said. Why did they name it Final Fantasy when it's nothing like FF?

The Final Fantasy series are known for their unparalleled story-telling, and re-inventing themselves with every installment. All Final Fantasy games take from each other, but none are truly alike. That is the greatness of Final Fantasy.

The question was "Is Versus for true FF fans?". And after reading your opinion, I'd say you aren't qualified to answer. For you are; a Wannabe Final Fantasy Fan.

FaytSaratome wrote:

Angelus the Wraith wrote:

FaytSaratome wrote:No, if it was for the real FF fan than it would have been more like FFI-FFVI. After FFVII I lost hope for the series. FFVIII was pretty good and FFIX gave me nostalgia of the old games but then it started leaving the FF. FFXIII isn't anything like the old FFs, as my friend once said. Why did they name it Final Fantasy when it's nothing like FF?

The Final Fantasy series are known for their unparalleled story-telling, and re-inventing themselves with every installment. All Final Fantasy games take from each other, but none are truly alike. That is the greatness of Final Fantasy.

The question was "Is Versus for true FF fans?". And after reading your opinion, I'd say you aren't qualified to answer. For you are; a Wannabe Final Fantasy Fan.

I'm a wannabe Final Fantasy fan? No I've been playing FF since FFI on the NES. Yes FF is known for reinventing itself, but what it isn't known for is changing up the whole game to where it's hardly noticeable any more.

FaytSaratome wrote:.. when did I ever say that the graphics is what made it suck or not FF or anything? I heard two things about Versus. One that it'll include all the towns, shops and etc. that are normal for FF. Another that it'll be like FFXIII. No towns, linear as hell, etc. If that's the case then no, I think it's not for FF fans.

Angelus the Wraith wrote:

FaytSaratome wrote:.. when did I ever say that the graphics is what made it suck or not FF or anything? I heard two things about Versus. One that it'll include all the towns, shops and etc. that are normal for FF. Another that it'll be like FFXIII. No towns, linear as hell, etc. If that's the case then no, I think it's not for FF fans.

XIII wasn't meant to be as linear as it is, Square had to water it down for M$. If Versus is anything that fits in this gen, it won't be for Senior Citizens, or Wannabe Final Fantasy Fans.
Most of the FF fans went PS3, and, in consequence, most of the true FF fans went PS3. Square will not let real fans down.