RipTen Videogame Blog » Final-Fantasy

‘Final Fantasy X’ Remaster Is Not A Remake

Curt Hutson — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:30:43 +0000

Fans holding out for a remake of ‘Final Fantasy X’ are crying into their Yuna plushies today after Square Enix producer Shinji Hashimoto, answering Final Fantasy fan questions at the Taipei Game Show, confirmed that the upcoming PlayStation 3 and Vita rerelease is just a ”remaster”.

He tried to lighten the sobering news with a bit about the game stating, ”the screen is much prettier than the original,” something that kind of goes without saying. Before this, details have been nil since it was curtly mentioned at Tokyo Game Show 2011 and then left alone.

While the idea of a remaster isn’t a terrible thing (just look at the Shadow of the Colossus/Ico collection) fans are probably looking forward to more, such as bonus content and the like. Square Enix may be set on not doing a remake, but there are several improvements they could implement that wouldn’t necessarily require one, including better facial animations, a remastered soundtrack and perhaps minor script tweaks to reduce Tidus’ whininess — also, recasting his voice in the American version would be fantastic.

In a perfect world, Square Enix would put less work into sequels and a little more into remakes of their most popular titles, something fans are always requesting (no, the innumerable versions of Final Fantasy I-III don’t count.).

So, readers, is a remaster ok with you or were you really hoping for a remake; or do you care either way?

Follow me on Twitter @8BitBomb

Via: [Joystiq]

Square Enix Working on Unannounced Title, Could It Be Kane and Lynch 3?

Sam Naylor — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:30:19 +0000

Producer of Final Fantasy Tetsuya Nomura has said that Square Enix have a ‘secret team’ working on an unannounced game, potentially Kane and Lynch 3.

Speaking to Japanese gaming magazine Famistsu, he said:

There is also a secret team working on an unannounced title, so there is a chance that some information about that will be announced this year too, please continue looking forward to these announcements.

Ooh, you big tease. Unfortunately, it turns out this might just be Kane and Lynch 3, as the trademark Square Enix registered for a subtitle of “Sleeping Dogs” we reported on last week suggests a link to that series. I say “unfortunately” because I have played a Kane and Lynch game.

I don’t know what it is about Kane and Lynch, but even seeing the name makes me feel like strangling something. Some parts of the first game provided me with the most frustrating moments of my gaming life- because of extremely poor game design. It just felt lazy- like everything in the game was a first draft. Let’s hope this one can actually resemble a game this time, if it’s indeed real.

Via [CVG]

How to Fix Final Fantasy

Stephanie Gutowski — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:00:50 +0000

Accept my presumption that the general gaming population has not grown sick of this discussion. Next, put aside whatever vicious barbs you may be preparing for me in defense of Square Enix, for I was once like you, and implore you to listen. Like all scorned lovers, I must find a means to soothe the pain of a broken heart. I’m beyond anger and have transcended to the illusive place of reason. I look upon that horizon like one would a barrel of a loaded gun. Few games have been so surprisingly offensive to me as Final Fantasy XIII, which exists in my mind as a near-complete failure. It also taught me that a 39/40 score from Famitsu means absolutely nothing. Hell, I approached every game review after that experience with some kind of trepidation. Eights and nines seemed impossibly generous, especially when the review itself explained just how disappointing this long-awaited entry into the FF saga was. I’m always eager to shift the blame to XIII’s director, Motomu Toriyama– who has not produced a single game I’ve enjoyed. Perhaps some sort of hive mind has assumed control over Square, hell-bent on taking the Final Fantasy series on the most painful tangent in its history, back to the realm of hyper-wacky Japanese RPGs that we’ve tried so very hard to embrace. Some of us love them and cherish that language barrier. Some of us would rather chew on aluminum that swallow a story that we were never intended to understand.

Regardless of where the series derailed or how, Final Fantasy is not beyond hope. In fact, Square should arrange a company retreat and rent “The Labyrinth” just so every single freaking creative mind in that mass of identity crises can hear this line spoken by a freaking puppet, which, in 1986, had ten times the personality and intrigue of that walking knee-to-the-groin they called “Vanille.”

“The way forwards is sometimes the way back.”

In this case, scratch out the “sometimes” and replace it with “oh my God, you go back RIGHT now and look at your games. LOOK AT THEM. Now DO THAT.” No, I don’t mean re-do Final Fantasy VI and cover it with a sterile layer of too-perfect skin textures and backdrops. I mean remember what set you apart. Let’s break it down.

Reel In that Plot Line

Final Fantasy XIII’s plot was a mess. It began with a stoic main character set out on destroying something. Yeah! Go Lightning! Kill things! Make some gil! Stop Shin-… Something. Lots of questions and virtually no answers were intended to develop interest and pull us along by the nose. When things began to unfold, did they make sense? Sort of, usually after several hours of reading those datalog entries you’d been ignoring during the mindless killing. We were supposed to be invested in the fate of Cocoon and Pulse and cieth and crystals and all the other blandly-named elements. Yet it took hours upon hours to get me to care. The stakes began so high and by the time things really started to take off, the situation was just ridiculous. These characters were thrust into a near-hopeless situation and just pushed on like freaking GI Joes. The issues with the gods and the purpose of Cocoon were so removed and surreal that there was nothing to ground you in this place. Yet remember what worked: rebels versus a power-hungry energy titan, green soldiers versus an ancient evil-made-real in a world rife with war, oppression and injustice; greed and powerlust. These were missions we could relate to. When these stories reached their climax, the true villains reared their heads and the heroes regrouped, then moved on. These adversaries weren’t so unbelievable as to remove us from the story, but they were otherworldly enough to up the ante. Shin-ra evolved into Sephiroth, Edea and Deling became Ultimecia and time itself, and even Archadia became Vayne. We began grounded in a world, facing a tangible problem and then ascended, facing a seemingly-indestructable foe. It doesn’t need to be something as complex and over-the-top as destroying a world and summoning a god. I’ve never, ever been tasked with something so grand as bringing down my entire paradigm, nor have I faced something I can equate it to. Then I have to deal with all these twists and turns when I was never invested in the first place. Your complexity shouldn’t come from the plot devices you throw in to take us off-course. It stems from your believable characters you’ve forced into this and their attempts to deal with an already difficult situation, ancient gods and worlds aside. In short: If you think you’ve come up with a genius complex plot, you haven’t. Shut up and simplify it.

We Shouldn’t Hate Everyone

I don’t know about you, but I had one hell of a time rooting for the home team. Even Lightning grated on my nerves with her lone-wolf routine and stubbornness. Don’t even get me started on Vanille and Hope. Now there’s always going to be a set of Final Fantasy stereotypes. There’s the annoying girl, strong girl, silent guy and loud guy, etc. Yet we can usually find something redeemable in all of them. Selphie might have driven you nuts, but she knew when to shut up, kick ass, and fly the Ragnarok. Even Cloud had his redeeming moments, especially after his revelation. Despite their intended stereotype, these characters weren’t completely boxed into that identity– they were still dynamic people, responding to situations with some sense of humanity. Their dilemmas built up over time rather than the case of FFXIII, where everyone’s already got piles of baggage to drag around. What’s worse is despite the situation they’re forced to deal with, they react with either an impossible coolness or inexplicable frivolity. No, it wasn’t endearing in the least. Laughing in the face of a giant monster is downright stupid, not brave. Hope’s brooding moments came off as whiny and overtly emotional rather than complex and believable. Unique personalities are forged by actions, not stupid little quirks you assign them later. Stop with the giggling and the thumbs ups. Stop with the “oh, it’s been an hour. Time to sit down and mourn my mom and stuff.” There was no realism in these people. They were bound to the personalities picked out for them, which doomed them to these reactions-on-rails rather than human responses. “What would Vanille do in this situation? Oh, well, she’d laugh, because that’s what Vanille does.” Wrong. Try again: what would a human do in this situation, given her background and what she’s already experienced? Perhaps the voice acting played a big part of why I thought these characters were such failures, but I truly believe that the overt stereotypes doomed them to be flat and predictable. In short: Back off the stereotypes and consider the human psyche.

Pick Up Ezio’s Threads in Final Fantasy XIII-2

Justin Carter — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:30:36 +0000

Assassin’s Creed protagonist Ezio has been all over the place. First came the news that he’d be playable in Soul Calibur V, then he returned in Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (which was a resounding success). Now he’s joining Lightning and Serah in Final Fantasy XIII-2.

Well, sort of. His clothes will be in a DLC pack for playable character Noel Kreiss. At the time of writing Square Enix and Ubisoft have not given out pricing or a release date, or even if Ezio’s gear will be retailer-specific. Still, you get to travel the Final Fantasy world as Ezio. Pretty cool, right?

Final Fantasy XIII-2 hits shelves January 31, 2012 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Via IGN

Exciting New FFXIII-2 Cinematic Showcases an Epic Battle

Garrett Hartman — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:00:50 +0000

Square-Enix released a video highlighting Final Fantasy XIII-2‘s cinematic cut-scenes which showcases an epic battle between Lightning and Caius in Valhalla.

The visual style and detail is amazing, but what else would you expect from a Final Fantasy game?

FFXIII-2 releases in North America on January 31 for the PS3 and Xbox 360.

RipTen Asks: What’s Your Favorite Final Fantasy?

Stephanie Gutowski — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 01:00:20 +0000

It’s time for RipTen Asks, a weekly gathering for the video game enthusiasts who have opinions about things. Video game-related things.

We toss this question around a lot here at RipTen and it always seems to end in some great debate. When there are so many games to choose from, it’s hard to pick a winner, much less defend that winner from those who would challenge its excellence. Yet we’re always curious to see which games resonate with fans most. Whether you’re a diehard VII fanboy, or a misunderstood lover of XIII, we want to know which is your favorite and why.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Share your love/hate in the comments section below.

New PlayStation Advertisement “Michael” Is Brilliant

Aaron Alexander — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:05:26 +0000

Ever wondered what Cole from Infamous, or Nathan Drake from Uncharted would get up to when you’re not controlling them? Well nothing, they don’t exist.

If they did however, it would probably go a little something like this;

To Michael! To Michael! To Michael!

Final Fantasy XIII-2 Fits on One Xbox 360 Disc

Chris Carlson — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 02:00:28 +0000

Xbox 360 fans planning on picking up Square Enix‘s next installment to the Final Fantasy franchise, will be happy to know that Final Fantasy XIII-2 will be a single disc title. Director Motomu Toriyama confirmed the news to Famitsu, and also stated that XIII-2 will feature the same amount of content as its predecessor.

If you remember correctly, Final Fantasy XIII came on a whopping three discs for the Xbox 360. So how exactly is this possible? Apparently, Square Enix has made the event scenes in real time. It also adds the bonus of showing your armor changes as well. Sweet.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 is set to release January 31st, 2012 for Xbox 360 and PS3.

Moogle Gets Tossed Around In New FFXIII-2 Screens

Chris Carlson — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 23:29:22 +0000

Square Enix has released quite a nice selection of new screens for Final Fantasy XIII-2. Most of them revolve around Moogle getting tossed around because apparently, it’s to help retrieve look that your character can’t get to. There’s also a few battle screens as well. Enjoy.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 is set to release in 2012 for Xbox 360 and PS3.

Final Fantasy Tactics Finally Ready To Go for iPhone and iPad

Catherine Cai — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 01:59:50 +0000

Square Enix’s iOS port of Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions was finally submitted after being delayed in June for the gameplay mechanics to be polished and for some last minute tune-ups. Square Enix promised that fans would hear something about the game towards the end of July.

Look at Shiina’s smile of confidence. I haven’t been peachy keen with all the things that Square Enix has been doing lately, but that smile makes me want to trust them. Square Enix promises updates about the game’s release date as soon as it has been approved. Don’t you go breaking my heart again, SquEnix, as you’ve done with every Final Fantasy you’ve released after X.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 Set to Hit Stores in January

Matthew Sims — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 20:16:00 +0000

There were more than a few people who were disappointed by Final Fantasy XIII, and I’m one of them. There was something about the rather ridiculously convoluted story and Hope’s incessant whining that led me to quit the game about half-way through. I’ll return to it eventually, but certainly not by January when Final Fantasy XIII-2 releases.

The sequel will continue the story of Lightning, and that’s about all I know, or care to know. As much as I felt the first one was rather disappointing, I can’t help but feel that I will return to it and that there is a payoff somewhere near the end. I mean I there had better be a payoff, or else there’s a good bit of wasted build up. Also, I feel the need to say that a boomerang is a stupid weapon. Seriously.

Square-Enix will be showing off some more of FF-XIII at their booth at Comic-Con later this week.

13 New Glorious FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 Screenshots

Chris Carlson — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:00:47 +0000

Square Enix have just released thirteen brand new screenshots for FINAL FANTASY XIII-2. The game is easily a beautiful one as you can see from the screenshots, lets just hope the gameplay surpasses its predecessor this time.

New Final Fantasy XIII-2 Screens

Justin McCullough — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:07:04 +0000

Square-Enix, the makers of everything fantastical, magical and Final Fantasy related, sent us a wonderful e-mail today with a few new Final Fantasy XIII-2 screens for our perusal. Seeing as how we do things here at RipTen, we like to share – and share we will.

Things to note: We see what the newer, choker-equipped Lightning looks like. We get to see what the inside of Cocoon looks like. We have to fend for ourselves now. And we get to look down into a chasm with 3 robotic fingers pointing at us – probably waiting to flip us off. Enjoy the screens!

Square Releases Stunning New Final Fantasy XIII-2 Screens

Garrett Hartman — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:10:46 +0000

Square Enix has released a selection of screens taken for the upcoming sequel Final Fantasy XIII-2 and they look predictably awesome. FF XIII-2 is set to be a direct sequel to 2010′s Final Fantasy XIII and will improve upon it’s predecessor’s visuals and introduce an improved combat system.

What are you waiting for? Click on these screens below for a closer look:

RIPTEN review: Chaos Rings Omega

Brandon Fenty — Tue, 24 May 2011 23:21:27 +0000

Square Enix is hardly a newcomer to the RPG genre; they’ve been releasing the final fantasy games for over a decade. It’s no surprise, then, that they are able to deliver a fun, engaging, and graphically beautiful RPG to the iOS platform. Chaos Rings: Omega is exactly that, one of the best RPG experiences available on iOS.

If you played the original game, then you’ll find Omega to be very familiar. In fact, it’s nearly identical in some respects. The story follows the same formula, with several couples abducted and brought to a mansion by a mysterious and powerful being known as the Agent. They are told they will have to fight to the death against each other, but first, they will have to collect the Chaos Rings to prove that they are worthy. To complicate matters, your character’s wife is very pregnant. Your wife’s parents are another couple that was abducted, as well, and so you will eventually have to fight them according to the rules the Agent has laid out before you. Sound complicated? It is. Overall, the story is very deep and involved for an iOS game and is one of the games best qualities of the game.

That meter in the top left tells you whos winning the battle at a glance.

The gameplay is a good mix of easy to pick up for beginners and deep enough for more hardcore fans to still enjoy. By defeating monsters, you can start to learn their skills. The more you kill, the more of their skills you learn. Monsters are encountered at set points in the game, as well as random encounters as you wander the map. You can also fight in pairs, and select solo or combined attacks depending on the situation. Certain attacks will be more effective against certain monsters, for instance. Mixing up the gameplay are puzzles, which are generally fairly simple to solve. While not terribly complicated, they do serve to break up the game. If you do get stuck on a particular puzzle, you can just skip it after three tries, which keeps you from ever getting bogged down on a single puzzle.

The graphics, as well, look great. The visuals are reminiscent of a Playstation 2 era final fantasy game, with full 3d models and hand-drawn backdrops. The models are detailed, and the whole thing is optimized for the retina display, so it looks even better on newer devices. The developers also added some options to change the graphics and turn off some of the effects, so that if you have an older device you can still enjoy the game without experiencing slowdown; definitely a good feature and one I wish more iOS developers would implement.

Character models are highly detailed.

Exploration is a key element to any good RPG, and Chaos Rings is no exception. The maps are both pretty to look at, and varied from area to area. However, the layouts can sometimes be confusing. Too often, the maps are random layouts with teleporters connecting them to each other, and don’t really make much sense. The in game map is also useless, leaving you lost and confused far too often.

Players from the original game will notice almost immediately that the game is practically identical in nearly every way. Monsters are the same, the menu is identical, and even the story borrows heavily from the original. For those looking for more of the same game, then that’s exactly what you’re getting with Chaos Rings Omega. If you’re looking for a new experience, however, then this game doesnt deliver. The fact that the game is so similar to it’s predecessor isn’t a bad thing; the original was great and replicating it makes for a great game.

The backdrops are stunningly detailed.

In the end, Chaos Rings Omega is a well done RPG for the iOS platform. If you’re a fan of the PS2 Final Fantasy games, then you’ll definitely want to check this one out. If you played the original and are looking for more, then Omega delivers. At $11.99 Chaos Rings is one of the pricier options in the App Store, but this game goes far beyond most of the other options, and you get what you pay for.

The Rundown:

+Deep gameplay and story, some of the best on iOS

+Great graphics reminiscent of PS2 Final Fantasy

-Confusing map system

-Almost identical to last game in series

Final Fantasy III Now Available on iPad

Danielle Cantrell — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 21:04:58 +0000

Square-Enix announced today that Final Fantasy III, originally released in 1990 (JPN) and re-released on the DS in 2006 (USA), has now been released worldwide for the iPad (yay). The iPhone/iPod Touch version came out last month and it plays wonderfully.

The iPad version of Final Fantasy III has better 3-D graphics to take advantage of the iPad’s increased power in comparison to the DS, and is known by many as one of the best Final Fantasy games there is. The Final Fantasy class system was pioneered in III and allows characters to change jobs at any point. The immersive and memorable story has also captivated many fans both new and old.

Final Fantasy III is available for $16.99 on the App Store right meow.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 Announced – Details with Stunning Trailer

Matthew Sims — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 19:14:02 +0000

Square has officially announced a direct sequel to last year’s Final Fantasy XIII to be called Final Fantasy XIII-2. You’ll notice that this is the same numbering system that Square used when it unveiled Final Fantasy X-2 that continued the saga of Yuna, Tidus, and the dozens of androgynous supporting characters. Details are extremely scarce in the press release and the it leaves us with only a cryptic phrase.

“Why does mankind deny its fate?”

Square promises that this new title will improve on the former in almost every respect, even going as far as promising the evolution of the battle system that is considered one of the best in the genre. The game is currently slated for a release next Winter; that is an extremely ambitious goal considering the time it took for Final Fantasy XIII to materialize.

It is quite possible that the amount of content manufactured was much more than could fit in one game and Square has decided to cash in on the title that sold 6 million worldwide. I’m waiting with bated breath, all I ask is that Square gives Hope a better weapon than a damn boomerang or kills him altogether. I hate whining.

For those of you who can’t wait, a trailer was leaked to the internet. I, of course, will save you the trouble of hunting it down by embedding it below (because I’m nice like that.) I’m not going to bother deconstructing it, because I don’t speak Japanese; I’ll leave that to the comments section.

The full press release is below:

London (18 January 2011) – Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces a new release for next winter, FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2 for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. A sequel to “FINAL FANTASY XIII” originally released in Europe in March 2010 that has since shipped a cumulative total of 6 million units worldwide.

“Why does mankind defy its fate?”

“FINAL FANTASY XIII-2” is currently in production with an aim for producing high quality game content which exceeds “FINAL FANTASY XIII” in every aspect; namely, a brand-new story which stems from the previous title as well as a battle system which has evolved further since “XIII” – and more. We will be disclosing further details about the new game in the future.

From the release of the first FINAL FANTASY in 1987, this unique RPG series has continued to offer the industry’s most advanced graphics, highly imaginative worlds and rich stories as it gains the highest accolades from users around the world. Titles in the series have so far achieved a cumulative shipment of over 97 million units worldwide (* as of September 2010).

For more information about FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 please visit the official website at http://www.finalfantasy13-2game.com

Product overview

Title:                FINAL FANTASY XIII-2
Platform:         PlayStation3, Xbox360
Genre:             RPG
Release date: Coming next winter
RRP:               TBD
Copyright:       ©SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. CHARACTER DESIGN: TETSUYA NOMURA
Website:          http://www.finalfantasy13-2game.com

Dissidia 012: Final Fantasy will have a “Battle Watching Mode”

Garrett Hartman — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 21:11:55 +0000

Japanese retailer Gamestar has let slip some Dissidia 012: Final Fantasy details and among the features listed is a battle watching mode.

The feature works as a type of scouting mode for tournaments with multiple participants. Fighters not involved in the current fight will be able to watch it and perhaps “scout” their opponents.

Other features mentioned include: improved wireless support, exchanging friend cards, and the ability to create and exchange original quests.

There will be bonuses for those with the original Dissidia. Importing data will allow players to carry their character level over and receive an accessory.

More details are expected to be released at Square Enix’s premier event on January 18th.

Source

Final Fantasy Type-0 Trademarked In Europe

Aaron Alexander — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 19:07:52 +0000

Square Enix recently trademarked “Final Fantasy Type 0″ in Europe according to Siliconera. No real tidbits of information has surfaced about the game, however aside from the title, Square-Enix also Trademarked a logo with some kind of Kanji.

Though it’s not particularly clear what this product will be, Square-Enix is hosting an upcoming event where they are expected to announce some new titles. I’m sure we’ll hear more information about “Type-0″ then, or at least get some kind of convoluted trailer that explains nothing. Either way, more Final Fantasy is coming. Hooray?

Source: Joystiq

Final Fantasy IV Battle Recreated With Little Big Planet 2

Danielle Cantrell — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 01:33:09 +0000

What do you get when you combine the unlimited possibilities of Little Big Planet with the paladragoony-ness of Final Fantasy IV? You get this awesome video.

Shuanji has created a Christmas gift of sorts, for those of us who are fans of the Final Fantasy series. Using the LittleBigPlanet 2 Beta, he made a short battle sequence, including an ATB gauge, limit breaks, and some easily recognizable FFIV battle music.

This is one of my favorite examples of what can be done with more creative games and it’s definitely great fanservice to those of us who appreciate Final Fantasy and gaming nostalgia.

Here’s what he had to say:

For my Chrismas gift to the community, I present to you a prototype of Project Crystal’s ATB Battle System, pitting you and an AI controlled Dragoon Knight against the Magitek BlastWyrm! Includes Magic Points, one spell, Technique Points, one technique, FF4 Boss theme, a (terrible, lazy, one button and overpowered) Limit Break, attacking, and even an escape option! xD

I don’t remember there being limit breaks in FFIV . . .

Check out Mr. Shuanji’s homepage HERE.