cookiesmonster wrote:
Seriha wrote:
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Of course someone will say "that's just a trailer, you can't judge the game based on just that". Well, I can judge the fact that SE thinks the best part of the game to show off is battle explosions and wrist-slashing cutscenes. If they had some really brand new ideas or gameplay elements, they'd show it off. Instead, it's 12v2.0/10v3.0/8v4.0/etc. I love all those games, I'm just not going to buy a PS3 and the game just for new flash.
Because what will hopefully be 40+ hours of gameplay can get crammed into a trailer a few minutes long? Really, I wouldn't even think it's begun to scratch the surface on the story and showing off eye candy in trailers has kinda been a staple for games and movies alike. SE knows the FF fans will pick it up. The point of that trailer is likely to snag those who aren't. Could it be FF7 all over again? Who knows.
Storywise, like others said, it doesn't give any clear indication of what it's about. Instead we get vague snippets of dialogue that do not even tease us as to the story except in the most broadest of terms, e.g. "personal conflicts with worldwide conflicts as a backdrop".
Would you rather it all start with, "In a world where..." kind of thing? You're basically looking to swap out one marketing cliche with another, and regardless of your thoughts on spin-offs, the fans will be there. What I saw almost struck me as an appeal to the female gamer who might not be hardcore about it. Yes, they do exist.
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And no, I do not expect 40+ hours blah blah blah. I expect bites of gameplay that showcases where the game will shine, for example any detail on the leveling/learning system. Instead we got battle scenes bloated with spinning and exploding lights and damage numbers (and really it just looked like the first 10 minutes of FFX).
Systematic breakdowns are boring to the common viewer. A demo version has also been released in Japan, of which I'll simply say hands-on experience will describe far more than a couple seconds of, "See the revolutionary new BLAH system!" Though, the lack of demo here doesn't help (Think it came with the BR Advent Children release there). I'm sure youtube and more dedicated reviews can scratch that itch of yours, though.
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And as for "SE knows the FF fans will pick it up", I'm not so sure. 12 seems like the only solid success they've had in a while, where as the 7 sequels and X-2 had mixed reviews and the best GBA sales are the remakes not the Crystal Chronicles. But the most prominent game in the FF fandom for the past few years has been and still is 11. And though I like it, 11 has alienated many FF fans, so they shouldn't take their fanbase for granted until they rebuild their image of quality.
X-2 was the best incarnation of the ATB system and honestly wasn't a bad game if the prissy dudes bemoaning it could get past the fact it wasn't a Barbie simulator. Beyond that, the failure of other spin-offs is more a result of SE experimenting and not going with a full-blown experience we're usually used to with the numbered installments. I also wouldn't call XI the most prominent game in the franchise, now or ever. That's the illusion of replayability mixing the timesink of MMOs. And those that swear off SE products because of their XI experiences are, frankly, lying in my eyes. Not that we have any way of proving they'll stick to their word, either.