If it was up to you to design the next Final Fantasy game...

[Skratt]

(using modern graphics) You are an immortal that has lost your memory. Or maybe you are an esper or something. You were defeated by the big bad from FF1, who went on to end all life on all planets in the FF Universe. You wake up on an ethereal plane, guided by an unknown (spirit?) with no memory of who you are, but you have to figure that out along the way.

This plane of existence is actually outside of time and the splinters of worlds lost exist here, but they are long dead and broken (they are actually storyline places from various FF games). But you can travel to key events in time where things were supposed to happen one way at these broken locations, but happened some other way and so everything got mucked up.

Do you fix the pieces and have everything revert back to how it was supposed to happen, where the original 4 have their journey and everything is back to how it should be again, but your name and what you have done is never spoken of. Or do you make subtle / overt changes that spin the universe and time line off into something it never was?

You could enlist the help of other immortals to right the wrongs, or try to end up on top in a bid for power so that you are never defeated again. Or something in between.

 

[omega 616]

I would make FFX-2, you know ... a good one.

The same style and characters (that could be there, aka no Tidus or Auron) as the first one, get rid of that stupid dress sphere crap and generally make a proper sequel to one of my favorite games.

 

[Mr. GameBrain]

I think FF needs to go back to boot camp!

They should draw their inspirition, but not be limited to, FF 1,2,3,5,6 and 9.

Key word being Fantasy. There are too many Sci-fi RPGs around nowadays, and western RPG's like Oblivion take the fantasy part too seriously. A Final Fantasy game just need to have a good plot, catchy music and a gameplay system that is accessible, but not to the point that the game is doing the work for you.

 

[Urgh76]

I would call it, The Final Final Final Final Final Final Final Final Final Fantasy EVER!! AND WE MEAN IT THiS time! Then release a sequal

 

[Joshroom]

Remake the FF7 but with the cast completly changed around into moogles. And instead of chocobo races you ride around on Barrets shoulders. Game would be a comedy hit. Or bomb and cause squarenix to go backrupt, who cares its never gonna happen anyway. And no, I'm not just prejudiced towards moogles because of my avatar.

 

[breadlord]

It's already being made.

 

[Dexiro]

I think i'd do an Oblivion, but stretch the main story out a bit more.

So the world is pretty much completely non-linear bar a few story areas. You can complete the main story which is in linear chunks, so you can take breaks in between long sections.

There are tons of sidequests that you can work on instead of grinding constantly (NO grinding quests).
And once you've completed the epic storyline there's loads of branching sidequests that are super-difficult and work towards the most ridiculously hard FF boss so far (apart from those on FF11 maybe).

Also it needs tons of spells and summons, and the ability to make almost any enemy your pet and train it up as a party member.
Oh and it needs a really awesome leveling system, something like the sphere grid on FF10 but even bigger and less linear.

And maybe different planets to travel too

 

[Circusfreak]

I myself would probably have an open steampunk world and make the combat sort of like the 3D worms games. you would start of rinding chocobos around the world and then you get a chocobo wagon and you'll end up with an airship (if you level up your chocobo it can eventually fly). the main character would be rather customizable; He already has a name, a backstory and an appearance but you can get different clothes for him and make him specialise in diffrent weapons and such. the graphics is rather stylized and there would be some platforming for getting around as well. the story would be told while staying in gameplay (think halflife 2) rather than as Yhatzee said "cutsceneing me unconscious". oh! and there will be a gun that shoots giant finalfantasyVII style SWORDS!

 

[Circusfreak]

nooooo it died

 

[Julianking93]

I would change it from making Final Fantasy 14, to making Kingdom Hearts 3.

Square, if you see this ever see this, I am begging you, FOR FUCK'S SAKE START WORK ON KINGDOM HEARTS 3!!!!!

 

[Gigaguy64]

It would start with the opening of FF7 then it would have Cloud get stabbed by me and on the screen it would say.

"There isnt going to be a remake of FF7, give up"

Or in terms of sales take the Dead or Alive route.

FF Xterme volleyball.

Now I just have to find out which FF characters are chicks or not.

Good luck with that.

OT: the most important thing i would do is go back to turn based.

Say all you want, get good ability's, spells, and weapons then mix it with interesting Monsters/Bosses, story, and Fight Music, its a recipe for success.
It adds a deeper layer of strategy.
And maybe make the Setting more of a near future Science fiction, remove some of the steam punk and add a splash of Gunblades.

 

[A Weary Exile]

1. Bring back the FFX or FF9 battle system.

2. More equipment that actually shows up on your character when you wear it.

3. More room for character "Class" customization, I never liked that each character was esentially stuck in their class.

4. A deep and engaging story with interesting characters, so basically nothing like FF8, X-2, or 12.

5. Non-linear gameplay with an open world and many different towns and dungeons to explore.

I think i'd do an Oblivion, but stretch the main story out a bit more.

So the world is pretty much completely non-linear bar a few story areas. You can complete the main story which is in linear chunks, so you can take breaks in between long sections.

There are tons of sidequests that you can work on instead of grinding constantly (NO grinding quests).
And once you've completed the epic storyline there's loads of branching sidequests that are super-difficult and work towards the most ridiculously hard FF boss so far (apart from those on FF11 maybe).

Also it needs tons of spells and summons, and the ability to make almost any enemy your pet and train it up as a party member.
Oh and it needs a really awesome leveling system, something like the sphere grid on FF10 but even bigger and less linear.

And maybe different planets to travel too

And I agree with this. All good ideas.

 

[e2density]

I'd drop the whole idea then send all my people to go 3DRealms to work on Duke Nukem Forever.

 

[traceur_]

I'd make a prequel to FF10, I want to play as Jecht damnit! From the looks of it, I reckon FF13's combat system would go pretty well with it. And I'd have proper 3D Blitzball, you're underwater, you can move in 3 dimensions! The passing, shooting, tackling, catching would all be in real time.

That's all I'd ask for before passing the reins back to Square.