Yoshinori Kitase, producer of Final Fantasy XIII-2, has hinted that the next iteration of Final Fantasy could see it drift away from its turn-based roots and be an action-RPG.
In an interview, Kitane told us that the increasing popularity of action-RPGs compared to their turn-based equivalents represented "a trend…you ignore at your peril."
"I think the nature of the franchise is to present something new each time," Kitase said. "In the global market we see many players moving away from games that used turn-based systems toward what you might term an action-RPG.
"That's a trend, and you ignore things like that at your peril."
Kitase went on to say that changes introduced in Final Fantasy XIII showed that the series was moving forward with each iteration - but left the door wide open for more subtantial changes to be made in the next full game in the series.
"FFXIII and FFXIII-2's battle systems have those elements of speed and action that are the key words for us, though that doesn't necessarily mean we're going to stick to the same route in our next game," he said. "That's something only time can tell."
Despite its long history as a turn-based RPG, it wouldn’t be too surprising were Square Enix to take the Final Fantasy series in a new direction. While five million copies of 2009's Final Fantasy XIII were shipped worldwide, the online RPG Final Fantasy XIV has had a dismal time of it since its launch in September 2010.
Last December, Square Enix announced a delay to the PS3 version of the game following the PC release's dismal reception. CEO Yoichi Wada offered the company's "sincerest apologies"; producer Hiromichi Tanaka stood down, and was replaced by Naoki Yoshida; the dev team was reshuffled; and the free trial period was extended indefinitely.
In September, Wada conceded: "The Final Fantasy brand has been greatly damaged," and confirmed that the team was "basically fully redoing the game." Further evidence that the publisher recognises the need for change came from senior executive officer Koji Taguchi, who said in June that Square Enix's "decline in Japanese titles [shown at E3] was almost humiliating." Just one game of Japanese origin was shown at the conference: Final Fantasy XIII-2.
Comments
9Just give us a decent turn based JRPG with a full world to explore and a decent and involving storyline. It really is that simple.
Here here.
Toriyama + Kitase + Main series + Action RPG = new things which players never image such as Paradigm Super Shift & Super Linear Story =))
There are not enough people who like traditional turn based jrpg's anymore in order to justify the huge budget required to do a modern FF. They have two choices as I see it. Either they create a 'Lo-Fi' FF that harks back to the FF6 era (would be nice but is never going to happen) or they move with the times and make it more action based (will happen but the vocal minority will have a hissy fit).
They need to do a Resident Evil 4 style reboot before the franchise is lost.
Sounds like he wants to make Xenoblade Chronicles...
I've grown tired of turnbased RPG's. For me only the Mario & Luigi serie works well nowadays, because its overall theme is more suited to it and Alpha Dream knows how to keep you interested with lots of inventive ways to execute them.
The more powerfull the graphics, the more awkward turnbased feels in FF. The good feedback that jrpg Xenoblade received does say something...
From Secret of Mana onwards, I've much preferred action-based.
I have a few comments to make. Forgive me if some of my info is incorrect. First, the whole deal of possibly moving to action-RPG. I thought to myself, long before this article came out, that's one of the things that should happen. Otherwise, I wanted it to return to turn-based. You've been experimenting with real-time systems since FFX-2. There where 2 things I didn't like about this, though. I either found it was hard to choose powers while monsters where repetitively hitting me or the system was too automated. I felt, particularly in FFXIII, that the AI could respond much faster than a player. It would work in a logical manner trying to exploit monster weaknesses and the player would make his own decisions to try and expedite the process.
There would be battles where I'd just watch my characters destroy the monsters without even touching a button. This is not how I think it should be (and that is one reason why I feel that it should be made turn-based again {although I have a preference for that speed element you mention} ). That speed element offers a challenge of skill (in addition to strategy).
I think if you go action-RPG, it should have some elements of that automated system for your "currently" unselected party members; but have no effect on you "currently" single selected party member. Your current selected character will only attack if you choose (for example). I think it should be some what like Infinite Undiscovery. Rather than making all powers active through button combinations, though, adding hotkey powers as well.
Second , just about the comment that "the final fantasy brand has been greatly damaged." I wouldn't say it in such a straight forward manner. The concept of coming out with new games is expanding with new ideas; and I sough that with each new fantasy that's come out. I think, with the experimentations of the real-time systems, that you've kind if steered off coarse. I, also, think you've come up with some great concepts. I loved how you added cinematic animations outside of combat and cinema's (in FFXIII).
I don't think you need to completely build the game from the ground up (although I do believe there are a lot of areas that should be reviewed). Look back at all the games that you've made and all the ideas that where put into them. There where successes in each game in some way. Collect those successes and build onto it a new game for this new era.
I think this is a good time to make some comparisons. Madden NFL used to be a great series which included many innovative features and great game-play. Although unfortunately now it has become just a marketing tool for the NFL. Offering very little if any real changes or updates with each yearly release. That in which is part of the problem. Final Fantasy in comparison while I have been a huge fan in the past has somewhat steered into that same trap. Although I will admit at least they aren't Madden which has become a joke. Changes nevertheless need to happen if the series is going to be relevant in the foreseeable future.
Other examples such as Tomb Raider are taking a drastic approach as well which may alienate some hard core fans. Although I think this is one very good example of a series which needed a serous reboot. From what I can tell at the moment it looks to be on the right track. After playing Uncharted 3 and most recently Skyrim which is damn near perfect game. I see the huge potential a series like FF could bring into the Action RPG vein, if done right. While some fans, like in the case of Tomb Raider will most likely be upset by the current trends the series is undergoing.
I certainly welcome it as it is for the better. Change doesn't mean they will abandon everything what makes them what they are. This is no different for FF as the same applies at it's core. I feel they could turn this into something truly epic while still maintaining what has made FF a household name. Final Fantasy is still a reverent series with a rich history and a large story database to pull from. It just needs a new direction which will help bring it into the modern age. I look forward to seeing this vision with optimism.