Final Fantasy XII
Video Games November 19th, 2003
Square Enix officially announced their next summer blockbuster of sorts in the form of Final Fantasy XII. According to reports, they revealed details about the game at the trendy Roppongi Hills metroplex in Tokyo, Japan.
It’s interesting. I thought about how many of the Final Fantasy games I’ve played. I mean now there are twelve? I’ve played seven of them and am about to pick up my eighth: Final Fantasy X-2.
I was volleying e-mails back and forth with Bill last week about video games, role-playing games in particular. He mentioned that his connection to FF was not so strong as mine. I considered that: I’ve played Final Fantasy games since I had the first Nintendo console. It’s like growing up with a movie franchise or some music artist. I’ve tried most releases with wide eyed enthusiasm, to be entertained or what not. So I have a strong connection that way.
Not to say that I praise all of them. I think the most memorable stories came from the FF games that push far back, maybe the second and third US FF releases for the Super Nintendo console. Up to now they have been a good source of entertainment (as well as frustration or annoyance) at times. But I play release after release.
People make emotional connections to film. Some can’t fathom making some sort of emotional connection to stories in videogames. They, instead, mock the idea. It’s kind of absurd really, when you think about it. When a game is more interactive than a film, why is that? Especially now with the visual and aural quality of polished titles.
It’s like Prince of Persia: Sands of Time. Sometimes I compare it to watching a Disney film of some sort - the characters could certainly look the part. Same goes for the dialogue.
It’s just the enthusiasm/interest to play. You grow up with different things, make stronger connections with some more than others. Some of them stand out and, apparently, stick with time.
UPDATE: Picked up FF X-2 at Fry’s Electronics, got a free poster. Can’t complain about that. Here’s to all my friend’s who worked on the title.
November 19th, 2003 at 12:57 pm
Funny that you posted this just now. A few days ago, one of my roommates and I were going through some old video tapes and came across one with recorded video game endings. Among them was the ending from Final Fantasy X - hadn’t seen that in awhile. Anyway, as we got to the credits and Quality Assurance showed up, I said “Wait a minute…I think James was on the QA team…”
And sure enough, just as I finished saying it, your name went rolling by.
November 22nd, 2003 at 3:13 am
After looking at some FFXII footage and reading more about, I get more interested in it. This one may rekindle the flame for me. I also liked IV and VI the most (II and III in the US) of all the FF series. Mainly because of the medieval feel and the incredible story line. This one seems to take it back with that feeling (the armor and a war setting), but with a lot of differences. A different team working on it also peaks my interest in what they can bring to the table.
But I still don’t like the male lead character’s look, but I’m sure I’ll get over it by the time I start playing :).