Spot the clichés

[TBG07]

I like Final Fantasy, I really do. I've played FF VII, VIII, IX, X and XII. Some of them I've played multiple times. You can guess my favorite in one try. But as you get older you start noticing stuff.

The thing is... I'm getting really tired of saving the world, protecting something or someone. I'm really tired of the obvious "good versus evil" stuff, the world isn't black and white. I'm tired of the flat characters, the endless recycling of used content. I mean sure moogles and chocobos are fun and they are considered mascottes of the FF franchise... but come on... something new once in a while couldn't hurt. They don't have to be in every release.

I know people say: "don't change a winning formula"... but it isn't a winning formula forever. I'm getting the feeling Square-Enix is afraid to try truly new things.

I really hope FFXIII is going to be different.

I'm not trying to convince anyone here, just sharing my point of view.

I have an "assignment" for you (if you could call it that ). Take a long good look at the currently available content (trailers, scans, info about characters and story) for FFXIII and ask yourself the following question:

"WHERE HAVE I SEEN THIS BEFORE?"

Ohh... and do tell me please.

[Kätharina]

Where have you seen this before.

[Naunen]

Sure, FFXIII, when all looked overwhelming to Lightning, a man comes in to join the fray and seemingly saves her. Versus XIII, the soldiers are equivalent to any weakling you see get their asses kicked in any fighting cutscene of FF involving a huge group of enemies.
We haven't seen much of FNC.
The first half of this post of yours oughtta be put into a different thread like an intro thread.

[Amleya]

Shouldn't this be in the FF section? Not the FNC part?? o.o;

Let's see... saving the world... saving the world.... I mentioned saving the world, right? You know, it almost doesn't help that the saying "There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so" describes the game too

[Naunen]

Oh, and Versus XIII, it's said that the screen of the four guys looking towards somewhere are looking at the burning government (perhaps) building of the kingdom. Then that screenshot of the four men with their backs to that building, walking like there's no turning back. I've seen a similar scene with FFII and FFXI where their hometown's burning because of an enemy attack and they knew there's no turning back at the time.

[Whiplash]

Originally Posted by Amleya

Shouldn't this be in the FF section? Not the FNC part?? o.o;

Well really it's about whether the FNC games will break the cliches, not about identifying the cliches in the games, so it's fine where it is.

[Amleya]

Well now I feel dumb. FFXIII is mentioned.

I think there'll be a conspiracy about destroying worlds. D: Where Lightning's just used but then she gets back at them!! Yes, I think there'd be a cliche about a conspiracy involving the mission that Lightning doesn't know.

[TBG07]

Look guys, I'm not trying to spoil the euphoric mood everyone's having (yay a new FF). I just can't get rid of this nasty feeling that FFXIII will be more of the same, but in a different package. If by any chance i do ruin the mood, for that I'm sorry.

Face it: the basics tend to stay the same (not just FF). The protagonist (main character) sets out on a quest (knowingly or not) to defeat some evil (saving something or somebody in the process). On this quests he/ she will be accompanied by several other characters. The protagonist will visit various places for various reasons (on foot, in vehicles, on animals) before going to the final "dungeon" to face the evil in an epic final battle. Happy end.

You can change names...it's the core concept that's frozen. One essential thing can never be changed (and that's ok): it's always a quest. The rest can be changed (IMO).

It's just that...this path has been walked a thousand times. For creativity to blossom...new paths should be forged.

[Strifer]

I NEVER questening FF. I always respect it. Get used to it. And I'm not bored at all.

[TBG07]

Originally Posted by Strifer

I NEVER questening FF. I always respect it. Get used to it. And I'm not bored at all.

FF sure is an achievement and for that it deserves respect...i agree. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't question it.

I HAVE gotten used to it... that's what bothers me. It has become...somewhat predictable.