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Well, I HAVE been saying that gameplay should cater to the story, not the other way around, sometimes. But point is, they really need to bring back the old school formula, maybe in the next one or something. I mean, you can say, "It's still Final Fantasy" but to me, playing Final Fantasy was about the world maps, and the "Pokemon-like" battles, which is what I associated JRPGs with back then. Point is... The world was just so much better when you can freely explore the forests, towns, it gave the game a much more complete feeling. Like you're in an actual world, and you can learn about the world, but seeing where the towns were and how the people in them lived.

Whereas if you're just taken through a linear game, all you're given is the given moment. It's a lot more difficult to see the big picture.

So like I said, FFXIII looks like an awesome game with a cool storyline, but I doubt I'll get the Final Fantasy experience out of it.

Yeah, but it's nearly impossible to have a "Final Fantasy Storyline" because there is no such thing at this point. It started out with semi-medieval themes centered around crystals. FF6 moved it into the Steam Punk centered around summons, FF7 got rid of the crystals, cyber punk, heck summons had nothing to do with the story at all. FF8 moved it into a more futuristic era, got rid of equipment system, Summons play a part of the storyline, etc. etc. etc.
Each world is so diverse and different, the only thing they all have in common are Chocobos and a character named Cid, the summon and monster names, and even then, not each one has them consistently.
And there's plenty of RPGs out there with big, epic storylines, and unique combat mechanics. Look at Suikoden or Shadow Hearts Covenant.

My point is, all those elements are trait signs of an RPG, including the story. And frankly, if the only thing that separates Final Fantasy from another RPG are chocobos, then what's the point of even doing that?
Final Fantasy is a name. Nothing more. For all intents and purposes, each and every Final Fantasy game is a completely different RPG. As different as Legend of Dragoon, Suikoden, or Shadow Hearts.
All I'm saying is, yeah, I guess there is no such thing as "The Final Fantasy Experience" anymore. The last game that truly and wholeheartedly had "The Final Fantasy experience" was FF5.
Now, the things I liked about FF5, those things are still present in all FF games up to and including 9. X threw away the world maps, etc. Is it still an RPG? Sure. But it's not a Final Fantasy experience.
And if all you're looking for is an epic storyline and a unique combat system, then there's a whole lot out there.
And that's not saying that FF13 is a bad game, or not worth the money, or not an RPG... But you can't really say, "There's no real rason to not call FFXIII a Final Fantasy game", because I can just as easily say that about Legend of Dragoon or Lunar, or countless other RPGs out there.

But that's even more vague. Even if you narrow it down to epic fantasy. Heavenly Sword has a fantastic storyline and it's not even an RPG.


Right, so yeah, it is like you said, Final Fantasy is nothing more than a namedrop to a fairly generic RPG... More or less... Because FF doesn't have a status quo, you could end up with something generic, you could end up with something unique. It's all up in the air, but that's why having actual expectations for a Final Fantasy game is unreasonable. And anyone who actually liked every singe Final Fantasy game that's out there, either likes EVERYTHING, or is blinded by the title.

Final Fantasy Tactics is the perfect example of this. It says Final Fantasy on the title, so it must be the best of its kind, right? Well, no, if you truly examine strategy RPGs, and you look at functionality, characters, etc. It's by far not the best. And yeah, let's say it was the best for its time, when it came out in 1998.
But they Re-Released it for PSP recently, and I mean ported it to UMD. And many people say, "It's the best Strategy RPG on the PSP" which is total bullshit. As much as I loved FFT, the combat on the PSP version of it was slowed down. You could actually hear the sound effect of, say, lightning spell, and the animation would be happening 2 to 3 times slower than it's supposed to. Which could make half hour long battles last twice as long as they should. Where as you have games like Disgaea or Jeanne D'Arc with excellent storylines, smooth and fluid gameplay, excellent battle systems. Heck, Disgaea has the best combat system I've ever seen in a Strategy RPG. But still, the fans are blinded by the "Final Fantasy" label on the Tactics.
Same with Dirge of Cerberus, same with Dissidia.

It's just a title, and it means very little. It really does. Judging a book by its cover goes both ways.

Maybe the most loved, but best? Why best? The only thing that Final Fantasy is truly best at is presentation. Yeah, they always got the best graphics, and they always bring the most flash, the most pizzaz than any other RPG... But that's got nothing to do with the storyline. What else is best about it?
I mean, the battle systems are often different from one another, but that's a hit and miss. And the more different they go, the more it's a miss. Case in point, FF12.
Then there's storyline. Which, if you break it down, usually has maybe 5 great characters per game, with the others ranging from passable to forgettable to down right annoying.
The plots themselves... Well, yeah, usually it's epic, and grand, and let's save the world, and has its share of twists. But that can be said about the majority of RPGs out there. And frankly, I can't say that Final Fantasy is the BEST of its kind, in terms of the story itself.
The one thing that made Final Fantasy truly stand out were the worlds themselves. Like I said, the setting is always new and unique, but again, the setting is so much more fleshed out when there IS a world map. Because then you get the sense of where each town is located in relation to one another. And I dunno, maybe FFXIII does convey that very well...
But FFX did it terribly. It was just going from location to location, I dunno where I was in relation to where I started.

Now, FF13 is focusing more on the characters than the world itself. And that's cool. But still, I doubt very much that the characters in it are more fleshed out and memorable than in Persona. Persona 3 and 4 had more character development than any RPG I've seen, and they were grounded as hell. So you really don't need a big epic world for that kind of thing.

My point is what while Final Fantasy is a great RPG series, (with X - XII being heavily lackluster), and while XIII looks like a really promising game, with what looks to be a cool storyline, and gorgeous presentation...
To say it's the best of its kind is ridiculous. Because the most extravagant presentation, or most epic cinematics do not make it the best.
Like I said, Persona 3 is one of the most grounded RPGs I've ever played, it all happens in one town, that town is on our planet. But it became my favorite RPG ever pretty much as soon as I got into it. And Persona 4 followed.

My point is, yeah, when it comes to the storyline it's definitely a matter of opinion, but to say, "Final Fantasy delivers the best of its kind" is a fanboy remark. No offense. That's like saying, "Resident Evil delivers the best survival horror experience" and even if you forget that RE4 and RE5 exist... Resident Evil had 10 installments, 11 if you count Remake, and of those 11, only 4 I'd consider truly great Survival Horror games. 4 good survival horror experiences. 2 mediocre. And 1 crappy.
So yeah, Sometimes Final Fantasy does deliver the best of its kind, but you can't just expect it. Because you never know when it'll be another XII.

FFXIII, I might pass on that game. Another one has caught my eye. Resonance of Fate/End of Eternity.

Don't know much about it except it just came out. It seems to have a modern/steampunkish influence. No swords from what I can, but guns. Not many RPGs really have actual guns, some do, but it's normally limited to one or two characters.

PS: Just throwing this out there, one of the best RPGs, in my personal opinion, is Legend of Dragoon. I remember near the end of the first disc, how one event got me close to tears. Manly tears, mind you. If only they made a series out of it, or hell, maybe a remake.

*High fived*

Nah, I'll check out your list momentarily.

You sir, are correct.
I'll never forget that moment.

1. Certainly it isn't. But more than likely it is the safest bet.

2. Past ten years for the main series...X, XI, XII, XIII. Other than XI, which got some heat for the game changer, all the other entries have recieved high praise. Even XII. Cuz even though it also was a game changer, since XI came out, it was easier to accept.

3. Yes, you're right. FF hasn't been a standard setter in recent years (Except of course for it's high presentation values). So unlike what I said about past entries, the new games aren't generic. But I see it as it has been a standard setter since, what, IV all the way up to X? At least in terms of how to present itself, tell a story, and innovate.

4. True, it's not always true. But when it comes to presentation and story telling in FF games, don't you think they have gotten better over the years? Hmm? Might just be me.

5. But let it matter just for us for the sake of this conversation.

6. Actually, plenty plenty of stuff, to be exact. But I never found a greater RPG series, only games. And I say greater because it's hard not to look at FF with greatness when everyone else does. And the fact that I like a couple of it's installments also has me one sided. But it's not fanboyism, just conforminism.

7. That's exactly the way I wanted it to come off. I really do think the FF developers know everyone thinks their RPG series is the best, so they go about trying to make it the best so that people still call it the best. Doesn't that seem sort of like logical speculation rather than comments of a fanboy?

But with western RPGs (Echh) overtaking the American market, seems like it won't be considered the best for much longer...At least in regards to current installments.

8. Oh, don't get me wrong. I agree. Since 2001's , the two immediate installments (XI and XII. X's sequel doesn't count) that came out I thought were lackluster as well. And it took them 9 years to make an FF game that I think I can truly be interested in again. So I agree in saying that if you look at the FF series from a modern perspective, then maybe you shouldn't get too excited about upcoming installments. That being said, the fact that the series is resposible for such massive hits such as IV, VI, VII and X (Well I'll exclude X since you don't like it, and add VIII because you do) would make lots of people still get excited for it, just because it's the name behind those games.

@Bio: Ok, by Saturday I will have commented on your journal entry.

Did anyone see the new South Park? It was s'alright.