What is the dream Final Fantasy game?

[meone007]

Ok, so this thread is for those of us who have played all (or nearly all) of the final fantasies, and have noticed the severe changes from ne to the next. we have leveled through sphere grids and learned skills from Guardian Forces, and now I ask you: what would the theoretical best game be? This is for the creative types, so please don't put "all of FF VII" or put in things that have never been in a FF game. other than that, all pieces are game. Here's mine:

Story and lack of ATB in FFX
Leveling system of FFIX (and tactics)
Job system of FFV
Minimap of FFX
and art style of XII

 

[Amnestic]

Nonexistant.

Heh. Someone had to say it.

 

[meone007]

aww, why the hate? I should have put FF fans only I guess...

 

[Amnestic]

aww, why the hate? I should have put FF fans only I guess...

I am an FF fan, amusingly. I just recognise the ire the series gets. In truth I would rather they continue to progress with new gameplay styles to try to impress me rather than rely on old methods, just as with GTA. As such, the Perfect Final Fantasy perhaps is nonexistant, as one can always strive for improvements and I truly believe that there is always a better way than we've represented previously.

I like the look of XIII though.

 

[TsunamiWombat]

One thats FINAL.

Actually, one that returns to Final Fantasies roots of being a sort of epic lighthearted fantasy with interesting and amusing characters. Lose the emo metrosexual bullshit, if I see one more dude that looks like a chick or a chick wearing a belt and a sports bra i'm going to grind my teeth into powder.

 

[Elurindel]

One that has the feel of FFVII, but where the final boss is actually difficult to beat.

 

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

Actually, one that returns to Final Fantasies roots of being a sort of epic lighthearted fantasy with interesting and amusing characters. Lose the emo metrosexual bullshit, if I see one more dude that looks like a chick or a chick wearing a belt and a sports bra I'm going to grind my teeth into powder.

This. Except I wouldn't grind my teeth into powder. I actually liked Squall *GASP!* because many of the other characters echoed our frustration with him. Something more like FFX that can be lighthearted horseplay at some times and deadly serious in others, perhaps the most striking example of this being Wakka. He seems a pretty carefree guy until current issues start pushing his buttons at which point he becomes kind of a jerk. Moreover, he eventually spends enough time around the Al Bhed to get over his dogma towards them in a very human way. That's the thing to aim for in character growth, I think; more than just a too-serious protagonist lightening up or vice versa. Something else FFX did well is allowing every party member to shine in certain battles, with the possible exception of Lulu and Kimahri late-game. No useless members- everyone should have at least one unique skill.

A key problem Square-Enix has obviously been trying to deal with is that games have supposedly become too 'advanced' to allow Turn-Based battles due to them being 'unrealistic'.
FFX's system suited me just fine, and though I never played the sequel I heard it shoehorned ATB into it pretty well. One thing I've always wanted to see in an ATB system is for different attacks to consume different amounts of the ATB bar depending on their power. Better yet, some kind of passive defense that only stays active when your ATB bar is half-full or better. This way players are not compelled to attack the moment their bar is ready, but instead watch the timing of enemy attacks with their own. Also, either up the battle clockspeed a notch or allow multiple attack animations to play at once (unless they're Summons).

Tactics, 9, and 5's job systems are all great- properly balanced any of them could make a good layout.

 

[Limasol]

I think a time warp hat brings all the main party members of all the games together to fight a collection of villains would be awesome. Like you said a collection of the best features from previous games ramped up with a battle system like the last remnant seems to be, or bigger, 20 on 20 etc.

That would be a greater fan service than dissidia

 

[Ultimateslayer]

That one is difficult...
The astonishing graphics of a Final Fantasy 12 (okay, that´s easy)
Characters as deep as the ones in ff7
The humor of 9
A slightly dark setting like 7
A fast battle system like in the older ones but with something similar to the Sphere Grid
a twisting and unique plot...
After that list, let´s face it, if you would go the ff 7 way but with todays technique it´s damn hard to mess it up.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

Unique Character Abilities like FF6
CTB Battle System like FFX
A well designed world like in FF12
The Job System from FFV/Tactics
A plot similar to FF6
The likeable characters from FF9
Reinstate Yoshitaka Amano as Character Designer.

Nomura (Character designer from Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy 7, 8, 10 and 13) should not be allowed near it on pain of death.

 

[Milkatron]

FF6 with XII graphics. And the soundtrack consisted of all metal.

 

[HSIAMetalKing]

Job system (FF5/Tactics)
Hot chicks in slutty outfits (FF10-2)
CTB system (FF10)
Moogles (Real Moogles, like from FF9, not those bullshit Moogles from FF12 and Tactics Advance)
Knights of the Round summon spell (FF7)
Magical battle mechs (FF6)
Random battles (Like, all of them except for FF12)

 

[Aura Guardian]

My dream Final Fantasy?
Simple. To be forgotten

 

[xitel]

The Final one. Plain and simple.

No, but seriously I want to see one that is more action oriented, so we can do all the cool stuff you see them doing in the scenoes.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

You know what, I'd also like to see Final Fantasy take up Cell Shading ala Dragon Quest, could you imagine a Final Fantasy with some of the really great Cell Shading Work that's been done lately in things like Valkyria Chronicles and Tales of Vesparia?

That would be awesome.

 

[JediMB]

Hot chicks in slutty outfits (FF10-2)

Personally I like my girls covered in heavy black armor. <.<

Well, except Paine got to be an Alchemist. I needed a healer, after all.

 

[ffxfriek]

they were all good up until XII i believe when they changed the battle system

 

[NonCuro]

A lead character that doesn't look an androgynous fashion victim. Or at least have them designed by Amano. I would like to see the return of actually walking across the world map instead of walking through glorified corridors.

 

[laikenf]

My problem with FF (and I know A LOT of people disagree with me on this) is that it kind of stopped being fantasy, it's more like Sci-Fi now. This trend started more or less with FF 6, and was basicaly established in FF 7; and to me it just doesn't feel right. Of course all FF games always include the technology theme to some extent, but all those games before FF 7 the tech. theme was treated like something that not the whole world understood so the balance between the two created a universe and an atmosphere like no other game series. But the tech. theme on the more recent iterations of the series feel a bit forced and I've never been able to assimilate it. Having said that, I wish that the FF series (not the spin- offs) went back to those "Fantasy" roots; other than that (or gameplay wise) the series has evolved in some very interesting ways and I hope that Square- Enix keep on experimenting with the gameplay.