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I think that there are too many problems to address to really elaborate with the time I have, but I'll do my best, from the standpoint of a slightly more than casual gamer, who pretty much only plays the bigger titles nowadays.
I think that for starters, FF is trying to go too mainstream with the MMORPGs. I'm personally not a fan of them, because I feel that the cost of the monthly subscription isn't worth it for how often I play. I have a job and a girlfriend, and social obligations, so it's really hard for me to plunk down serious gaming time daily. If I'm playing a game, it'll be for maybe an hour or two before I knock out, and if not, I'm prob putting something on Netflix to pass out. Right there, FFXI and FFXIV are out the window. Will the franchise lose sleep over my couple of hundred dollars between the cost of the game plus the monthly fees? Probably not, but there are probably thousands more who are in my boat. Granted there are equally thousands more who ARE playing them, so they are still making money.
My biggest problem with the past few releases, since FFXI, is that the whole fantasy aspect is kind of removed from the game, at least in terms of having lots of different creature/ characters. Most everyone has been human, and that's cool, but I loved the diversity of the older games. Granted most of the main party has been human throughout the series, but I do enjoy the whole diversity aspect.
I also don't like how the games aren't as open world as they used to be. I don't want to treat the world map as a series of separate mini maps, from this plains range to this mountain. I want to be able to walk or fly across the world map, landing where I please, going where I want when it becomes accessible to me, If that means bringing pack airships for my own personal use, then so be it. I loved the Highwind and Ragnarok in VII and VIII. It's possible to make a game with a sandbox world map without turning it into a sandbox game. I understand the concept of it, but at this day and age, the world that programmers can make should not be so limited. Look at Skyrim or Oblivion. They're full of open world areas with plenty of things to do and find, and they're also full of linear areas where you're kind of forced to just stay the course. They were all successful while being unique.
As for random battles, I'm ambivalent. I like the traditional random battles of the older FF games, but I can also appreciate the reality of seeing enemies in front of you and having the option to avoid them or take them on.
My biggest gripe of late though has been the leveling systems. I really Hate, with a capital H, the idea that all characters can learn everyone elses skills, save for a personalized tech or weapon. In FFX, XII and even XIII, I hated that by the end of the game, through the traditional grinding that I'm so used to, all of my characters maxed out their growth trees and were able to start working on the other party members, or learning skills that just didn't seem suited for them. I guess I really want a stricter caste system, akin to FFIX. Your tank shouldn't be able to learn magic, and your healer shouldn't be rocking a broadsword with heavy armor. It just doesn't feel right. Granted, I can understand the concept that humans are capable of learning, but at the same time, I like the idea that people are different, have different backgrounds and are innately different.
I also agree, Rowan, that the graphics of late have been way too similar. I understand that the artists and designers are probably the same, but at the same time, I want a different look and a different looking world each time I play it. Yes, I understand that trees are trees and mountains are mountains, but I want to see worlds that don't resemble each other as much. I don't care so much that the monsters and enemies are relatively the same; that's to be expected in a series, but give me more diversity in my characters and architecture. Also, stop with the androgynous characters and making people so pretty, or the cliche scarred warrior. Not everyone is a model.
Another problem I've had since forever, is the sequels. Yes, I understand that people want to know what happens to characters after the story, but at the same time, sometimes it's better to just leave it be. FFVII is my biggest pet peeve here. I felt that the game ended beautifully on its own. There didn't need to be a movie. There didn't need to be a prequel, introducing new characters to further elaborate on a single cutscene in the original game. However, these things were created to elaborate on a universe that was pretty much perfect on its own. They could have been working on new and original games and ideas, maybe new systems. And on top of it all, there are now continuity errors in the original game because of things that happened in the prequel. FFX-2 is another story, and seemed like it had no place in that universe, and while I own FFXIII-2, I haven't played it. Don't really care to since it also seems very meh.
I also want a return to the roots, and less melodrama and more of a lighthearted feeling game without all of the feelings of impending doom. Sure, there's plenty of doom to go around, but there are also moments of comic relief in the older games, whether it be through character actions or words. There's no more finding the humor in the horrible world, it's all "we have to be so serious and accomplish the mission." Hell, even Gears of War, despite its melancholy feel had moments that cracked me up. They need a little wacky to break up the emo. FFXIII and FFXII were particularly notorious with this. I felt like everyone was so miserable or just working on pigeonholing their character into a trope, between Snow who was pretty much a goon, who had to be a knight because thats what knights do and Vanille who was just so perky because you need a perky girl. Yes, Selphie was equally perky, but she had more redeeming qualities and seemed more real.
Maybe that's what it is too, I don't feel that the characters have been as relate-able. I haven't really been engrossed with what happens to the characters, other than hating their personalities, or voices. I don't think the characters have particularly redeeming qualities that outweigh their melodramatic mood or their own shortcomings. Even guys in the older games, like Kefka, was a giant douche and an asshole, but there is enough to like about him where you could understand where he was coming from. Even Sephiroth, Seifer, and Amarant had their redeeming qualities and backstories that made you understand why they were how they were. You didn't necessarily have to like them for their actions, but you could understand how or why they went about doing what they did.
Long story short, I think FF is largely doing what they're doing because they can, and they feel like they know best. 15 years ago, sure, I'd completely agree with that. Now, not so much.
Originally Posted by Andromeda
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