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PS2 Final Fantasy 7 Spinoff
Bagels writes "Square Enix is finally answering the prayers of thousands of FF7 fans with a side-story PS2 game called "Dirge of Cereberus: Final Fantasy VII." Not much is known yet - the game focuses on the character Vincent, it's set one year after the upcoming movie, Advent Children, and it's early in development as of now - but this is sure to be a hot topic amongst fans and critics of the series alike."
Okay, we have a buggy cell phone game with shoddy scrolling, a CG movie, and now Vincent May Cry... when are we gonna get a TRUE sequel to FF7?
On a second thought, after playing FFX2, maybe it would be best NOT to have a sequel...
First FFX-2, now this.. are they running of ideas? Or are they just more adversive to taking risks?
I'm not the devil.. just his advocate.
My ex-girlfriend wanted me to start dressing like a vampire after that, which I declined :P
Proof of why God isn't proven
God spoke to me.
My last two gaming system purchases were driven by "whatever platform the next Final Fantasy" would be delivered. And the game platform companies know this, which is why they hotly compete for Square's business.
I wish more of the older FFs were ported to newer platforms. (Heck, a generic SNES-on-PS2 emulator would be very cool.) I've never played FF7 but hear a lot about it. This could open a lot of past-their-prime games to a wider audience, much like the Atari classics movement.
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Since the original FF designer (I believe his last name is Sakaguchi) left Square a couple years ago, things have definitely changed in the FF world. Now we're getting sequels (FF-X, this new one), MMORPG versions, cell phone games...all things that never happened with the original designer running things. Was he holding back the franchise, or was he being smart by not letting things go hog wild?
While Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII is slated for release on the PlayStation 2 in 2005, Square Enix lists the game's genre as "undetermined," which suggests that the game is still in the early stages of development.
If it is early in development, NO WAY it will see a release in 2005. FFXII is has been delayed until 2005 in Japan and even later here, so I doubt they will overlap the releases, and I have a tough time believing they will have the resources to devote to the game to get it out by then. They royally screwed up the sequel to FFX, so let's hope they get this one right...
I'm not complaining about another FF game, but I'm starting to wonder something -- tell me what you think.
They talked about Advent Children coming out as a movie instead of a game, but now they have a game starting development. You think they decided to start the game development up because of the positive response from Advent Children? Or do you think that they are really just being that cool and pleasing us.
eor
I'm glad Square is finally listening to its fans! Last year they gave us an innovative sequel to one of the series best games (in X-2), and they're giving us more story for VII in the Advent Children project. Kudos! :)
I'm sure that most of use would prefer an RPG follow-up to it, but at least they're learning to capitalize on established characters (not just franchises). A game based around this very unique character could work out well. Sort of an updated Altered Beast type of thing? (for those that don't know, Vincent was a character who had the ability to change into various monsters during a battle). Of course, it could suck....kind of like Altered Beast
Squeenix games get a lot of flack from people, but it's mostly due to the raging fanboys that the games attract. If you can get past the fact that you're feeding the Squeenix monster, you'll often find a rewarding experience that can entertain those beyond the 14 year olds.
If you could be anything you want, I'll bet you'd be disappointed.
...will Aeris be alive?
Hail! The merger is now complete my masters and Square Intellectual Property is Now Ours!
LET THE BEATING OF THE DEAD HORSE BEGIN!!!
-=[ Who Is John Galt? ]=-
I am fairly certain the name of the series was chosen when the original developer, Square, was on the verge of bankrupcy. They named the original Final Fantasy such because they thought it would be their final game. It ended up being far more popular than they thought it would be, and the company was saved.
I haven't really played a final fantasy game since FFIII on my SNES like 10 years ago. That said, maybe someone out there knows the story better than I do.
I don't read or respond to AC posts
I had the opposite reaction to X. I've been playing the FF series since the first one (with my favorite being VI) and I actually stopped liking FF when it came out... I couldn't stand the game.
So from the opposite side of the spectrum, if it follows the format of X, I'm out.
*shrug*
If it's more like IX, or VI, or perhaps even VII or VIII, count me in, I'll even consider buying a PS2.
since when are there actual sequels to the final fantasy games? call me a purist but it feels like a bastardization of my favorite stories when there's a continuation made after the story has ended. it's as if there was a braveheart 2 being made.
Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy X is actually in my PS2 right now. I like the story but the game play is a little annoying.
When I first started playing, I was ticked-off that there were so many cut-scenes breaking the pace of my game play. I'm 3/4 through FFX now and I find myself getting ticked-off that the game play is interrupting my animated movie...
I would have liked FFX's gameplay more tied-in with the story such as NeverWinter Nights or Splinter Cell, to cut down on the extreme use of cut-scenes - or less emphasis on the constant need to power-up so we could spend more time exploring, like Myst or Syberia, and enjoying the pretty scenery and cool music.
If you want to actually see the game AdventChildren.net has a scan of the Shounen Jump article about the game. You can see the scan (direct link) here
... but I didn't think Vincent was all that compelling of a character in the first place.
The thing about FF games, is that everyone remembers their first as the best. Proof enough is that I've met people who played FF8 first, and they think its the best one...when I think only X-2 could surpass it in lameness. Is FF7 really the best? Who knows. Maybe I'm biased, but best magic system, and best minigames, bar none.
As for the experimenting with new designs, Square/Enix doesn't really have a record of 'experimenting' and more like 'maverick designer ideas'. Parasite Eve was some-what turn-based but the whole guns, move while fighting, 1 character, sorta thing was totally different from the FF games. Same with Vagrant Story. Targeting different parts of the body? Weapons/Armor that change weaknesses/strengths to certain enemies? No more level system? Thats a pretty radical jump from the FF standard 'you attack, I attack' system.
Not that Enix is innocent either. Their Dragon Quest/Warrior series is still using the old menu system founded with DQ/DW game.
I always wondered about the 'Final' thing. Thanks Wikipedia!
"The series' name comes from Square's brush with bankruptcy, and is an excellent example of gallows humor. Head designer Hironobu Sakaguchi decided to make the company's last project a fantasy role-playing game, as the name of Final Fantasy implies. The game's success brought the company to profitability, and the Final Fantasy video game franchise was born."
(Note: somewhat obscure joke, based on the sequel to the seventh part of one popular western CRPG series...)
Scene: North Corel, eighteen months after the end of FF7...
Barrett: "Yo, homes."
Cloud: "So there are some news about these Cerberus things?"
Tifa: "All I found among Sephiroth's belongings was a map showing the way to a place called the Isle of Cerberus, and this letter."
Barrett: "Okay. Slap it down there!"
As Tifa opens the letter, it magically animates, casting a gigantic holographic projection of Jenova in air...
Barrett: "Jump back!"
Jenova projection: "Sephiroth! Know that my face is most goth-like! While it's unlikely that this ludicruous gang that you spoke of manages to ruin our plans, you must send a clone of you to the Isle of Cerberus, to learn the secret of Acne Medication! Soon I and my horde of puppets will destroy the planet!"
Cloud: "We must send Vincent to the Isle of Cerberus..."
Vincent: "Hm? Why me?"
The rest of the characters unceremoniously tie Vincent to the back of a gold chocobo, which panics and runs off across the ocean. Then, at one point, it disappears mysteriously with a "Zot!" effect.
I probably should give up lurking and actually create an account here, but I figured I'd take a stab as AC. I have to agree that FF7 isn't the best of the series, but it's pretty close. FF6 is probably one of the better final fantasies for the simple fact that it actually chose to destroy the world halfway through the game instead of trying to avert the destruction and succeeding ultimately like in any of the other games, 7 included. It also dealt with some stuff you haven't seen since such as Celes' attempted suicide, Terra dealing with teen pregancy and becoming a surrogate mother, and the bad guy's destroying the world without much of a reason--he's just crazy. This is just some of what the game has to offer with just a little bit of hope that life does go on despite adversity. I liked FF7 too, and I think its battle system was better, but despite the weak translation we got, I think the premise of FF6 was bolder in comparison.
I think its a good thing that they are finally extending the story from one of their more popular games. The ending to FFVII was so ambiguous, that its practically crying for another story to tie up the loose ends. Now, if Square tried to make a sequel outta something like FFVIII, then I might disagree, but this is probably the best thing they could have done for the story of FFVII.
I doubt that. Lets look at Vincents character - he was a Turk who loved a chick (lucrent - something like that) who loved an evil scientist (Hojo) who eventually experimented with their child (Sepheroth - probably spelled wrong). Vincent then confronting Hojo gets his arm shot off and replaced with a mechanical claw while being experimented on by Hojo and locked in a basement for 30 years.
His character joins you looking for revenge mostly. So it seems that when the initial fighting and saving the world part is all said and done that he would have some issues of his own that he needs to deal with.
Damn I need to take a shower and wash off this nerd smell now.
Ave Molech Setting
.. there's Final Fantasy A+!"
Norman Cook's Ode to Sl
Who plays ANY game wearing pants? :)
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unlike Final Fantasy X, where the story continued after Sin was destroyed (As it always has for 10 years, but this time possibly longer?, but i'm sure there is more too it than FFX2), the ending of FF7 was the END OF the 'Human' existance!
For those that completed the game, when Cloud released Holy to destroy Meteor (after killin sepiroth with that kickass limitbreaker that did more damage than anything else in the game) , it was said elsewhere in the story that when Holy is unleashed, it will erradicate ANY AND ALL threats to the life force of the planet.
After the totally kickass CGI of holy doing its dirty, it goes black for a few seconds and then shows a world overgrown by nature 500 years into the future. If you look at it good enough, you'll see that the area that is overgrown is the old Shinra headquarters and that floating city that crashed to the ground. Mankind did not survive the fate of Holy, thus making a real sequel to this story not possible (or horribly fake).
If anything, i'd like to imagine that this isnt the story after the holy was unleashed and the meteor stopped and earth saved, but instead a whole other story that is going on at the same time with various characters, or even a backstory for Vincent.
I follow the SDK and GDN principles.. Spelling Dont Kount, Grammer Dont Neither
Enix is well known for whoring out many, many spin-offs, side stories and the like. Right now there are multiple games available where you play as a slime or merchant from Dragon Warrior. Even within established series Square never did a true sequel until the merger with Enix. I guess this is the end result of the failure of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.
According to the sales figures I saw, FF8 was the best selling FF game, outselling 7, but after 8 the sales slowly declined with every title.
Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
Those that like the old school FF's (FF1, 4, 5, 6, and to some extent 9), and those that like the newer ones (FF7, 8, 10). There's some overlap, but the general feeling exists for me. Staff listings have some interesting trends in the series too.
Myself, I'm more old schoolish. I liked 7, but never saw it as the "Oh my $DIETY!" opinion that everyone else in the world seems to have about it. 8 was an interesting story but boring game. I'm still undecided about 10. I've never been able to decide which of FF4,5,6 is my favorite among the whole series.
I'm looking to get rich. I've got steps #2 (????) and #3 (PROFIT!) planned out, but am having trouble coming up with #1.
And make the plot nonsensical in the process?
Face it, there was never a storyline involving Aeris' resurrection.
Rob
No. Every single FF game has a different game play situation than the previous one. Some will introduce classes (FFV, FFX-2, FFT), some introduce summons (FFIV and up pretty much), some have no summons or classes (FFVI). Some require equipment to learn spells (FFVI, FFVII), others have you learn them by purchasing items (FFI) or gaining levels (FFIV). Some have special attacks when you get a full meter of some kind (FFVI, Saban; FFVII, FFVIII). They just change radically from each one to the next. Some will even change up the method of battling (Wait vs active) or allow you to change it yourself. If a feature is popular enough (Chocobos, Summons) it will appear in nearly all the games after the next one.
So FFVII: DoC might have a class system, no levels, and require you to purchase spells.
Nice to see Square care about the original fanbase.
I been playing FF games for about 15 years now and TBH I can't stand the latest ones. They just don't feel the same and now they are being whored. When do we see the following.
FF7 : Cloud golf
FF7 : Getting in Tifa's panties
FF7 : Sephiroth's molestung yaoi fangirls
FF7 : Tifa's big adventure
FF7 : Red XIII's spelling games
hint hint. FF7 is hugely over rated and is only loved so much because it was the first FF game alot of people played. The fanbase is so rabid no one even wants to deal with them any more. It's like Dragon ball in the anime community or counter strike for gamers.
I thought with FF:CC and the mana series remakes we'd start to see Enix fixing the problems with square. I guess this went right out the window and we've back to whoring the series.
Guess I'll be sticking to FF6 and below from now on. Thanks for ruining my childhood Square, remind me to thank you for supporting a rabid fanbase plagueing everything gaming wise (AKA go look at ANY FF7 involved Gfaqs poll).
I like muppets.
I didn't particularly like the job system because it was REQUIRED that you micromanage your characters. I'm much more fond of more optional micromanagement available in newer games:
FFX: grid-style stats let you micromanage your character's path to your heart's content, or sit back on your lazy ass and take the default path.
Tales of Symphonia: depending on the title you choose, and how your EX skills are leaning (T vs S), you can end up with many different combinations of stats and skills. Or, you can be lazy and just get a few more levels to make up the stats difference, and live without the extra goodies.
Games that deliver the level of involvement that EACH PLAYER wants are by-far the best implementation of growth options. The job system in FF5 felt just like...a job, because you basically had to use it. If you didn't constantly measure your growth and set long-term goals, your characters floundered.
Other problems I had with FF5:
FF4 PLOT: I tried to stop the evil guy from getting to the crystals, but hey, I get to go to the moon.
FF5 PLOT: I tried to stop the evil guy from getting to the crystals, but hey, I get to go to another planet.
Character development was also pretty thin. And talk about bad storyline...the biggest plot "twist" in the game is a severe letdown:
So, the only living original Dawn Warrior dies at the hand of your great enemy...and is instantly replaced by his daughter, who magically inherits all of his abilities and stats. How cheesy can you get? Note that, shortly after hitting this amazingly pitiful plot twist, I decided to stop playing.
Man is the animal that laughs.
And occasionally whores for Karma.
Slashdot: A website that ex-histed around the year 2000. A place generally known for geeks to post endless amounts of posts in responce to other geeks.
:)" and get moderated "Score:3, Insightful" out of a possible 5.
A typical example of one such post; was to post something like "Who plays ANY game wearing pants?
This, rather shamefull, example was typical before the new geek order.
There you go, that's your story! It doesn't get any deeper than that... There's no inner turmoil or human issues that are dealt with in other FF's. This is intentional, because the characters are faceless so they can change to different jobs (this was done much better in Tactics, where you had main-character-specific jobs, which meant that they achieved an individualism). There's no explanation of why the villain came to be so bad. And, that's my next point, the villain is the faceless Ex-death, who's evil, m'kay? But why is he evil? He's just evil, m'kay?
At the end of the game, I felt no apathy towards the characters I was playing as, and I didn't really care for defeating Ex-death. Sure, tactically I was on fire, but the fun was in levelling up and gaining new skills. So, by the final battle, where I had all the skills I wanted, it was boring, because it was the same as every other faceless boss fight. And the start of the game was also boring, because the skills weren't very interesting (until later level ups).
Sure, for it's time, it was revolutionary. But like Quake, it was a technical game which has now been superseded by technically better games (V by Tactics, and Quake by Quake III, both of the recent games do what the original done, just better). Games like FFIV don't get superseded, because it was about the story and atmosphere, and you can't 'upgrade' that experience without remaking the original game.