There have been many spin-off games in the past that came some are forgotten, and some are remembered. And some annoyed me, but was able to live with their existence....World of Final Fantasy. However is one i'm trying to tolerate by trying to find its merits, i keep finding flaws instead. (and i'm still trying to tolerate ff13's existence, so keep that in mind on how much i'm trying to tolerate).
So there are a few things about this game. This game was intended to be PSVita, but also moving it to ps4 to promote the system. However, if you keep looking at everything, more and more suggests their trying to sell the ps4 more than the vita.
Its no surprise that SE has been trying to get FF as this universal "catch-all" demographic for those who like JRPGs. (and to me, that's a sign of them selling out) With the latest visual games, almost every game recently has been just a nostalgia ride sometimes with a combination of taking other (FF Record Keeper, FF Explorers, every FF social game, and FF All the Bravest). And its not just FF that's doing it. Dragon Quest taking closer to "Samurai Warriors" series and even making their own "Minecraft" style game.
SE has no shame at all.
So how does this fit with World of FF? Let me first point out the merits that i was able to find. WoFF is trying to ride on the nostalgia with the chibi style. Open world, (apparently from cutscenes) and you can stack up with monsters. It seems like an interesting idea (at least on paper).
Not truly original. There is one particular game series that this game resembles (and no, its not Pokemon), and that is Dragon Quest Monster: Joker. DQM:J allowed you to capture monsters and use them in your team. Also had town and an overworld. Sure it has a WoFF, "stack system" and tries to build the nostalgia more, but it just feels like its trying to be DQM more than anything else. Plot-wise, it STRONGLY resembles FF:U or Final Fantasy: Unlimited. Twin characters, jumping into a mysterious world and already there is a train.
Clashing design: the characters and cast look awkward. Sure, i see general intention of being cute, but the main characters in their full-size bodies are disproportionate. Their heads appear to be that of at least 16-18 years old but their bodies say otherwise. They also lack in distinguishing characteristics. I see the male trying to fit the stereo type, but with his clothing choice and his body language, its unappealing. Second is the female who is wearing skimpy clothes so means we get to see the shape of her body closer. It really does look like its trying to be an adult woman's body, but since the size of everything (and the size of her head), it looks like they intended to make a rather sexy child. Which to me, is DISTURBING. We have the silver hair woman who also looks strange too. But not as much because she's not so revealing. But those white hips and curvy legs on the main character is too much.
Keep in mind that when their in their chibi form, that's when its most awkward as mixing the two seem to clash together, but also worst when they use mirages. I can understand making aminiature off the main cast, but Looking at Ifrit and the other summons, they dont necessarily look "cute". sure they look simplified and have that plastic look SE has been suing since the ps2 era, but doesn't even look like the attempt to be cute is there. This is especially awkward when you see those "Mirages" combined with the chibi artstyle. If you look at the latest screenshots, you can see a "Cerberus" type of mirage that looks dark and mean looking on with two super-deformed characters on top of it. At first i laughed, but now i just can't stand the sight of it.
The name, everything about the name suggest that its a hardcore introductory to the world of FF, or what makes it so amazing. Seeing all the monsters, creatures, and overall a giant world. Its a heavy contrast from the chibi and simplified designs. Even FF-Explorers looks bigger than this. The name just suggests what amazing world we could've been exploring.
A little too casual. Out of everything about this game, its not really trying to sell you with characters and story. The cast personalities look quite typical, they look like they both have that happy go lucky attitude. All in the mean time the story looks quite simple, travel this world to uncover some "memory". Which no doubt has something to do with saving this world. And considering SE latest track with the use of Grimoire and also with the way they've handled FF (merging into the real world), it wouldn't cross me that this world is just some story.
it all seems designed strictly on one aspect. those who like chibi style. Now sure, it may have other merits, but it doesn't look like SE is banking on those...they want us to be invested on the chibi artstyle more.
MY MAIN CONCERN: As you may know, why am i bringing this up? Well, i'm tired of seeing SE make one mistake after another. Because of the severe hype of FF13 (created by SE, not fans), we got two more sequels of a game, making last gen annoying. Its these kinds of mistakes that made Tomb Raider a timed exclusive to xbone, when Tomb Raider has always been on Sony consoles . I would love to see this game flourish, and help SE make the bigger games we've been wanting...BUT....so far, i haven't seen it.
Then again, i would like to see SE learn from their mistakes, and this indeed looks like a bigger mistake. It really doesn't take too much effort to come up with something new yet familiar all while not banking on nostalgia and general tropes. What happened to the days when it was great story and characters that made an FF go round?
So there are a few things about this game. This game was intended to be PSVita, but also moving it to ps4 to promote the system. However, if you keep looking at everything, more and more suggests their trying to sell the ps4 more than the vita.
Its no surprise that SE has been trying to get FF as this universal "catch-all" demographic for those who like JRPGs. (and to me, that's a sign of them selling out) With the latest visual games, almost every game recently has been just a nostalgia ride sometimes with a combination of taking other (FF Record Keeper, FF Explorers, every FF social game, and FF All the Bravest). And its not just FF that's doing it. Dragon Quest taking closer to "Samurai Warriors" series and even making their own "Minecraft" style game.
SE has no shame at all.
So how does this fit with World of FF? Let me first point out the merits that i was able to find. WoFF is trying to ride on the nostalgia with the chibi style. Open world, (apparently from cutscenes) and you can stack up with monsters. It seems like an interesting idea (at least on paper).
Not truly original. There is one particular game series that this game resembles (and no, its not Pokemon), and that is Dragon Quest Monster: Joker. DQM:J allowed you to capture monsters and use them in your team. Also had town and an overworld. Sure it has a WoFF, "stack system" and tries to build the nostalgia more, but it just feels like its trying to be DQM more than anything else. Plot-wise, it STRONGLY resembles FF:U or Final Fantasy: Unlimited. Twin characters, jumping into a mysterious world and already there is a train.
Clashing design: the characters and cast look awkward. Sure, i see general intention of being cute, but the main characters in their full-size bodies are disproportionate. Their heads appear to be that of at least 16-18 years old but their bodies say otherwise. They also lack in distinguishing characteristics. I see the male trying to fit the stereo type, but with his clothing choice and his body language, its unappealing. Second is the female who is wearing skimpy clothes so means we get to see the shape of her body closer. It really does look like its trying to be an adult woman's body, but since the size of everything (and the size of her head), it looks like they intended to make a rather sexy child. Which to me, is DISTURBING. We have the silver hair woman who also looks strange too. But not as much because she's not so revealing. But those white hips and curvy legs on the main character is too much.
Keep in mind that when their in their chibi form, that's when its most awkward as mixing the two seem to clash together, but also worst when they use mirages. I can understand making aminiature off the main cast, but Looking at Ifrit and the other summons, they dont necessarily look "cute". sure they look simplified and have that plastic look SE has been suing since the ps2 era, but doesn't even look like the attempt to be cute is there. This is especially awkward when you see those "Mirages" combined with the chibi artstyle. If you look at the latest screenshots, you can see a "Cerberus" type of mirage that looks dark and mean looking on with two super-deformed characters on top of it. At first i laughed, but now i just can't stand the sight of it.
The name, everything about the name suggest that its a hardcore introductory to the world of FF, or what makes it so amazing. Seeing all the monsters, creatures, and overall a giant world. Its a heavy contrast from the chibi and simplified designs. Even FF-Explorers looks bigger than this. The name just suggests what amazing world we could've been exploring.
A little too casual. Out of everything about this game, its not really trying to sell you with characters and story. The cast personalities look quite typical, they look like they both have that happy go lucky attitude. All in the mean time the story looks quite simple, travel this world to uncover some "memory". Which no doubt has something to do with saving this world. And considering SE latest track with the use of Grimoire and also with the way they've handled FF (merging into the real world), it wouldn't cross me that this world is just some story.
it all seems designed strictly on one aspect. those who like chibi style. Now sure, it may have other merits, but it doesn't look like SE is banking on those...they want us to be invested on the chibi artstyle more.
MY MAIN CONCERN: As you may know, why am i bringing this up? Well, i'm tired of seeing SE make one mistake after another. Because of the severe hype of FF13 (created by SE, not fans), we got two more sequels of a game, making last gen annoying. Its these kinds of mistakes that made Tomb Raider a timed exclusive to xbone, when Tomb Raider has always been on Sony consoles . I would love to see this game flourish, and help SE make the bigger games we've been wanting...BUT....so far, i haven't seen it.
Then again, i would like to see SE learn from their mistakes, and this indeed looks like a bigger mistake. It really doesn't take too much effort to come up with something new yet familiar all while not banking on nostalgia and general tropes. What happened to the days when it was great story and characters that made an FF go round?