Link has actually beaten Cloud in the GameFAQs character battle. After seeing nearly every other character crushed by Final Fantasy characters, Link finally came out on top.
Meh. It’s not that amazing. Link and Cloud are pretty equal on GameFAQs.
Solo how many Zelda fans do you think there are in the world?
More than FF7 ones that’s for sure.
Maybe the mindless masses are starting to forget about Cloud Strife, or maybe Final Fantasy 7 (the “RPG” that introduced many so-called “RPG fans” to the genre) is finally going out of fashion.
In your dreams =P
Square is actually making a spin off game to Final Fantasy 7 no doubt to capitalise on the game’s long-standing fame, so it looks like there’s no end in sight to Cloud fandom… at least for the foreseeable future.
I was hoping that Sega would redefine what it means for a game to be an RPG, but the upcoming Shining Force is basically another Final Fantasy game.
Sigh.
Meh. Link won two years ago didn’t he?
A) You have very little info on the upcoming SF game.
B) It still doesn’t sound like FF, first of all it’s most propably an action RPG and doesn’t use a turn based battle system.
C) Maybe it’s not a true SF game, still, nothin justifies calling it a FF game or similar, not yet atleast…
And about that FF7 spin off game, Vincent stars in it and it’s an action game in the style of Devil May Cry (I think) so I don’t believe it will do anything for the Cloud fandom… If anything it would propably anger the fans just cos it doesn’t have Cloud as the main character, heh…
And I’d think you’d actually support a movement like that since it’s atleast not another FFRPG and the company is doing something new(for them atleast, it is)…
I think what Geoff means by similar to FF is the fact that the games aren’t related to each other.I think that sucks myself.
[quote=“GehnTheBerserker”]Solo how many Zelda fans do you think there are in the world?
More than FF7 ones that’s for sure.[/quote]
I’m not sure about numbers of fans, but there sure are a lot of Final Fantasy fans out there. Usually when RPGs are mentioned in a conversation, the words “Final Fantasy” spring up somewhere to compare combat systems. At the moment at least, Zelda seems to be less popular because more people have PS2s than Gamecubes (there’s only one person I know personally who has a Gamecube).
Geoff: SquareEnix are also making a prequel to Final Fantasy VII on mobile phones called Before Crisis or something, and a movie sequel called Final Fantasy VII Advent Children.
You might want to go into hibernation.
[quote=“Al3xand3r”]A) You have very little info on the upcoming SF game.
B) It still doesn’t sound like FF, first of all it’s most propably an action RPG and doesn’t use a turn based battle system.
C) Maybe it’s not a true SF game, still, nothin justifies calling it a FF game or similar, not yet atleast…
And about that FF7 spin off game, Vincent stars in it and it’s an action game in the style of Devil May Cry (I think) so I don’t believe it will do anything for the Cloud fandom… If anything it would propably anger the fans just cos it doesn’t have Cloud as the main character, heh…
And I’d think you’d actually support a movement like that since it’s atleast not another FFRPG and the company is doing something new(for them atleast, it is)…[/quote]
Something new? All Square-Enix is doing is milking a cashcow. Even if Square made the worst RPG in the world, Square could still sell it to the masses by simply putting the words “Final Fantasy” in the title. I hate games that sell on the strength of the developer’s name or game’s name alone, or both (Konami is guilty of selling Silent Hill 4: The Room on the strength of Silent Hill’s reputation – originally Silent Hill 4 was just going to be called Room 302, but Konami wanted to guarantee high sales, so naturally made it a part of the Silent Hill series).
Sooner or later, most gamers come to realise that Final Fantasy 7 is the most overrated “RPG” the world has ever known. The truth of the matter is Final Fantasy 7 wasn’t as revolutionary as everyone thought it was; all it did was prove that there was indeed a market for Japanese console RPGs in America and Europe (much to the horror and surprise of Sega of America’s former president, Bernard Stolar, who never thought there was). Your respect for Square-Enix is misplaced.
Remember what I said about all Japanese RPGs fitting the same mold? IMO, it can be argued that the Final Fantasy games are the reason why Sega changed the battle system in the new Shining Force. The reason for changing the battle system is self-evident: to broaden the game’s appeal. If your average Final Fantasy game is the type of RPG that most (teenage) RPG fans want to play, then of course Sega will strive to conform with the questionable standard it has set, right? And why not? If cloning popular games means making money, then so be it, right? This is a business after all.
Am I wrong?
Square has recently realised that by making direct sequels to its popular RPGs that continue their stories, it can actually make money.
Any good series of RPGs needs at least some continuity to justify calling itself a series. I love seeing how the outcome of one game sets the stage for the next.
I think Geoff’s attitude so far and in this last post of his shows that he means a lot more than just that. FF is not the only series where each sequel does not follow the same story as the games before it so he could easily find another example or even simply express his dissappointment in that aspect of the game (and by the way there’s FFX-2 and the above mentioned prequel to FFVII so that aspect of the story styles does not apply as a FF “trademark” anymore). This comparison is obviously intentional in order to provide the highest insult he could think of since he always points out how much he hates the FF series (and that hatred is not caused just by the separate storyline of each game:) and now goes ahead to call the new SF the same. So I replied to just that.
[quote=“Solo Wing Dragon”]Geoff: SquareEnix are also making a prequel to Final Fantasy VII on mobile phones called Before Crisis or something, and a movie sequel called Final Fantasy VII Advent Children.
You might want to go into hibernation.[/quote]
There’s no escaping this madness is there? 
Whenever someone parades the Final Fantasy series in front of me as the finest example of a modern series of RPGs, I feel like bringing the world to an end. Heh.
Although let’s be honest; aside from Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy, what other major RPG series actually are there?
How about Baldur’s Gate, or The Elder Scrolls?
Unfortunately, the Final Fantasy series remains the template for marketable Japanese RPGs in America and Europe, which is a shame because each Final Fantasy game has more in common with a soap opera than anything else.
Even some Japanese RPGs don’t receive the recognition they deserve merely because they aren’t a part of the Final Fantasy series, or weren’t made by Square-Enix.
All I can say is, since Japan ceased to be the center of the gaming universe, I’m glad that western RPG developers are in a better position to compete with their eastern counterparts.
I would really like to say Phantasy Star. I grew up on that series and to this day it holds a special spot for me. =)
And I am actually interested in this new Final Fantasy Game with Vincent. He is my favorite character in that particular game but still one of the more mysterious ones.
Although the hatred for specific games just makes me think back to the days when you actually played the game that was fun. I still think that it is true.
Although I agree with Geoffrey about some of his ideas, but all I can say is that the Western games have become more fun to me. Fable is probably the most addictive game to me at the moment.
Western rpg’s have evolved (and are more diverse in terms of gameplay) whereas eastern ones have not. (much anyways…)
The last RPG I remember completing was on a GameBoy all those years back.
The last MMORPG I played was Ultima Online. I thought, what the hell let me try this and see what it’s all about… so did all I could to understand it and try and get into the game. Learning all the trades, reading the forums… building up my stats. Anyway those were the 56k days and I got totally smashed. One of my worst experiences ever, lag + other lamers killing you and stealing your goods = hate. So I just cancelled my subscription and threw the game away box and all.
Never played any console RPG, the only time i’d try one now is if it’s MMORPG (might wait a bit till that happens).
So you haven’t played Panzer Dragoon Saga? >_>