Final Fantasy: A Franchise Reborn
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The first Final Fantasy game debuted in Japan over 25 years ago, and somehow, someway, the franchise has endured. It has spawned no less than 13 sequels, and so many spinoffs that keeping track of them all has become a tall order. The games feature elements of many different genres (racing, shooting and action to name a few), but above all else Final Fantasy has been a driving force behind the rising popularity of JRPGs and role playing games in general in North America, and by extension the rest of the world.
As the gaming landscape has grown more and more online oriented, it was only a matter of time before the series went Massively Multiplayer. Plans to have Final Fantasy X become the first online game of its name were eventually scrapped, which led to the next title in the sequence, Final Fantasy XI, becoming the first MMORPG to hail from the series. It was fairly well received, exceeding expectations that weren't high considering its console roots and the fact that it was the first of the FF titles to go MMO.
While XI was a pleasant surprise that went beyond expectations, it hasn't just been smooth sailing since the first online title was released in 2002. So what comes to mind when one thinks of the series' lower points? Final Fantasy XIV, of course.
The fourteenth installment in the series was released in 2010 to a lukewarm reception- and that's actually being very kind. It was a terrible disappointment, garnering unfavorable reviews and building a strong case for worst MMO in recent memory. The game had breathtaking graphics and incredible music⦠and that's about all for the positives. The negatives, on the other hand, go on for quite a while. The game featured slow, choppy combat, flawed controls, and a steep learning curve that often had players writing down things because the game didn't keep track of certain information (like recipes learned in game by the player). But wait, there's more. There was a horrendous user interface with a plethora of unnecessary menus that somehow managed to lag (did I mention there's also lag?), and enough bugs and glitches that in actuality the whole thing looked like it was still in beta. So to sum up, Final Fantasy XIV was just broken in general⦠but you know, the graphics were good.
As expected, Square Enix quickly became aware of the negative reception surrounding its latest title. As opposed to taking the loss and moving on, roughly a year after XIV's release they announced that they'd be relaunching the game as Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.
The reboot will give Square Enix a chance at redemption- whether or not gamers will entirely forgive them for the mess they released the first time around has yet to be seen.
So what will be different this time around?
For one thing it'll be available on more than one platform this time, with Playstation 3 owners getting a chance to play as well as PC gamers. Additionally, Square Enix producer Naoki Yoshida has maintained that console gamers will have their own unique interface, designed specifically for the PS3. But will they want to give the game a chance after the failure of the first game?
The MMO has recently entered the closed beta stage of development, and some details have begun to surface. Though it's still rather early, it's safe to say that things are beginning to look up. A Realm Reborn looks to have much more content, doing away with the tedium players were often subjected to in the previous release. Combat looks more natural, and the sometimes overwhelming difficulty of FF XIV has given way to a game that is much more user-friendly, not only concerning the overall gameplay but also the little things that infuriated and frustrated gamers the last time around: the interface is much more practical and intuitive, and the game will actually keep track of recipes and combinations so you need not go scrambling for a pen and paper anymore.
These might seem like elementary aspects to any game, but Final Fantasy XIV has taught us not to take such things for granted. Hopefully such lessons won't need to be learned again.
In conclusion, Final Fantasy is a great series with an amazing history that has recently fallen into hard times. Luckily, things now appear to be headed in the right direction.
(^)