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Well, the news has hit, a Final Fantasy game exclusive for the GameCube to combat the God knows how many that have and will appear on the PlayStation and PS2. So far the ‘word on the street’ is that there won’t be any turn based combat this time round though. Rumours about a Secret of Mana style of combat are also floating around.
First I’m going to address the issue of the combat then. Is it a good thing that there’s no turn based combat (if this is the case, since it’s still not clear...)? Hmm. I’m not sure. I think I’m right in saying that all previous FF games had turn based combat. So will doing away with this element make the game feel less like a ‘real’ FF game? Maybe. So why take the risk? Probably because Nintendo gamers haven’t been playing turn based games since the SNES. Granted, Paper Mario and a clutch of other games on the N64 had some sort of take on a turn based combat system, but Paper Mario was a more simplistic style and the only other game I can think of that had turn based combat of a sort (Hybrid Heaven) was a sort of turn based beat em up combo. Maybe Square are scared Nintendo gamers won’t embrace the turn based style. Maybe they’re too scared of changing to a real time style in the PS2 series, as the PS2 FF games have become such an established franchise, so they don’t want to risk a bold move like this on them.
But is a real time combat system going to be better? I’m not sure. Both systems have good points and bad points. Real time battles do offer the feel of more freedom due to no menus, and having to execute moves yourself, not select them from a list. But turn based combat often offers a wider range of moves/spells/items etc to use. Which is ‘best’ is largely a matter of taste.
But I’m not even sure the infamous FF style combat system is what makes the game. I much preferred FF7 to 8. I did prefer the no. 7 battle system to no. 8 (although both were turn based) but I think the real reason I liked FF7 over 8 was because of the plotline. I liked it a lot. I thought the plot in FF8 was more than a little stupid.
Another thing that was brought to my attention. If there’s no turn based combat, will there be just one hero? Most of the games have had a single main character as well as a host of others who you can choose from to make a three (or in some of the games four) strong team. Will this be lost in the GameCube edition? Hopefully not. Other characters can add more plot twists, sub-plots, and can be very humorous, as well as adding extra depth to combat. The addition of extra sub-plots depending on who you choose to be in your group adds some extra amount of replay value too if you want to discover the whole background of each character, and fully realise the plot. I think doing away with a team would definitely be a bad move.
So, what of the innovative new link up with the GBA? Well, here’s where my conspiracy theory of sorts comes into play. Apparently Crystal Chronicles on the GBA and Cube are the same game, and some kind of data will be switched between the two. I think we can only guess what this data could be. It could be anything from baby Chocobos (assuming they’re retained...) much like the Chao’s seen in Sonic Adventure 2, to save file data, because if they’re the same game you could download the save game to your GBA cart and carry on playing on the bus, at school, etc. But here’s my theory. While they are going to be one and the same game, I’m thinking what if the GameCube version has the real time combat that everyone seems to think it has, while the GBA version has turn based combat? I don’t see how they could re-create the same worlds and, more specifically, battles, on GBA as the Cube version if both had to be real time battles. The GBA simply couldn’t handle the same kind of real time combat system, so I think that they will re-create the same enemies, bosses, etc. but put them in a turn-based system. The game, plot, characters, etc. could all be the same. Only the game would have two separate experiences for battles. Turn based battles using menus etc. on the GBA and real time scrapping on the Cube. I think it’s a very real possibility...
First I’m going to address the issue of the combat then. Is it a good thing that there’s no turn based combat (if this is the case, since it’s still not clear...)? Hmm. I’m not sure. I think I’m right in saying that all previous FF games had turn based combat. So will doing away with this element make the game feel less like a ‘real’ FF game? Maybe. So why take the risk? Probably because Nintendo gamers haven’t been playing turn based games since the SNES. Granted, Paper Mario and a clutch of other games on the N64 had some sort of take on a turn based combat system, but Paper Mario was a more simplistic style and the only other game I can think of that had turn based combat of a sort (Hybrid Heaven) was a sort of turn based beat em up combo. Maybe Square are scared Nintendo gamers won’t embrace the turn based style. Maybe they’re too scared of changing to a real time style in the PS2 series, as the PS2 FF games have become such an established franchise, so they don’t want to risk a bold move like this on them.
But is a real time combat system going to be better? I’m not sure. Both systems have good points and bad points. Real time battles do offer the feel of more freedom due to no menus, and having to execute moves yourself, not select them from a list. But turn based combat often offers a wider range of moves/spells/items etc to use. Which is ‘best’ is largely a matter of taste.
But I’m not even sure the infamous FF style combat system is what makes the game. I much preferred FF7 to 8. I did prefer the no. 7 battle system to no. 8 (although both were turn based) but I think the real reason I liked FF7 over 8 was because of the plotline. I liked it a lot. I thought the plot in FF8 was more than a little stupid.
Another thing that was brought to my attention. If there’s no turn based combat, will there be just one hero? Most of the games have had a single main character as well as a host of others who you can choose from to make a three (or in some of the games four) strong team. Will this be lost in the GameCube edition? Hopefully not. Other characters can add more plot twists, sub-plots, and can be very humorous, as well as adding extra depth to combat. The addition of extra sub-plots depending on who you choose to be in your group adds some extra amount of replay value too if you want to discover the whole background of each character, and fully realise the plot. I think doing away with a team would definitely be a bad move.
So, what of the innovative new link up with the GBA? Well, here’s where my conspiracy theory of sorts comes into play. Apparently Crystal Chronicles on the GBA and Cube are the same game, and some kind of data will be switched between the two. I think we can only guess what this data could be. It could be anything from baby Chocobos (assuming they’re retained...) much like the Chao’s seen in Sonic Adventure 2, to save file data, because if they’re the same game you could download the save game to your GBA cart and carry on playing on the bus, at school, etc. But here’s my theory. While they are going to be one and the same game, I’m thinking what if the GameCube version has the real time combat that everyone seems to think it has, while the GBA version has turn based combat? I don’t see how they could re-create the same worlds and, more specifically, battles, on GBA as the Cube version if both had to be real time battles. The GBA simply couldn’t handle the same kind of real time combat system, so I think that they will re-create the same enemies, bosses, etc. but put them in a turn-based system. The game, plot, characters, etc. could all be the same. Only the game would have two separate experiences for battles. Turn based battles using menus etc. on the GBA and real time scrapping on the Cube. I think it’s a very real possibility...
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I want turn based battles. Turn based defines Final Fantasy, and so does random. Sure, they may annoy some people, but the fact is, changing them will change what I love about Final Fantasy. Making enemies appear on the normal map is making it more realistic. Making combat realtime is making it more realistic. And you know what? Realism bites. If they want realtime, enemy-show-on-map battles, make a non-Final Fantasy game. Heck, that's what they did with Kingdom Hearts, isn't it...???
Well, the news has hit, a Final Fantasy game exclusive for the GameCube to combat the God knows how many that have and will appear on the PlayStation and PS2. So far the ‘word on the street’ is that there won’t be any turn based combat this time round though. Rumours about a Secret of Mana style of combat are also floating around.
First I’m going to address the issue of the combat then. Is it a good thing that there’s no turn based combat (if this is the case, since it’s still not clear...)? Hmm. I’m not sure. I think I’m right in saying that all previous FF games had turn based combat. So will doing away with this element make the game feel less like a ‘real’ FF game? Maybe. So why take the risk? Probably because Nintendo gamers haven’t been playing turn based games since the SNES. Granted, Paper Mario and a clutch of other games on the N64 had some sort of take on a turn based combat system, but Paper Mario was a more simplistic style and the only other game I can think of that had turn based combat of a sort (Hybrid Heaven) was a sort of turn based beat em up combo. Maybe Square are scared Nintendo gamers won’t embrace the turn based style. Maybe they’re too scared of changing to a real time style in the PS2 series, as the PS2 FF games have become such an established franchise, so they don’t want to risk a bold move like this on them.
But is a real time combat system going to be better? I’m not sure. Both systems have good points and bad points. Real time battles do offer the feel of more freedom due to no menus, and having to execute moves yourself, not select them from a list. But turn based combat often offers a wider range of moves/spells/items etc to use. Which is ‘best’ is largely a matter of taste.
But I’m not even sure the infamous FF style combat system is what makes the game. I much preferred FF7 to 8. I did prefer the no. 7 battle system to no. 8 (although both were turn based) but I think the real reason I liked FF7 over 8 was because of the plotline. I liked it a lot. I thought the plot in FF8 was more than a little stupid.
Another thing that was brought to my attention. If there’s no turn based combat, will there be just one hero? Most of the games have had a single main character as well as a host of others who you can choose from to make a three (or in some of the games four) strong team. Will this be lost in the GameCube edition? Hopefully not. Other characters can add more plot twists, sub-plots, and can be very humorous, as well as adding extra depth to combat. The addition of extra sub-plots depending on who you choose to be in your group adds some extra amount of replay value too if you want to discover the whole background of each character, and fully realise the plot. I think doing away with a team would definitely be a bad move.
So, what of the innovative new link up with the GBA? Well, here’s where my conspiracy theory of sorts comes into play. Apparently Crystal Chronicles on the GBA and Cube are the same game, and some kind of data will be switched between the two. I think we can only guess what this data could be. It could be anything from baby Chocobos (assuming they’re retained...) much like the Chao’s seen in Sonic Adventure 2, to save file data, because if they’re the same game you could download the save game to your GBA cart and carry on playing on the bus, at school, etc. But here’s my theory. While they are going to be one and the same game, I’m thinking what if the GameCube version has the real time combat that everyone seems to think it has, while the GBA version has turn based combat? I don’t see how they could re-create the same worlds and, more specifically, battles, on GBA as the Cube version if both had to be real time battles. The GBA simply couldn’t handle the same kind of real time combat system, so I think that they will re-create the same enemies, bosses, etc. but put them in a turn-based system. The game, plot, characters, etc. could all be the same. Only the game would have two separate experiences for battles. Turn based battles using menus etc. on the GBA and real time scrapping on the Cube. I think it’s a very real possibility...
First I’m going to address the issue of the combat then. Is it a good thing that there’s no turn based combat (if this is the case, since it’s still not clear...)? Hmm. I’m not sure. I think I’m right in saying that all previous FF games had turn based combat. So will doing away with this element make the game feel less like a ‘real’ FF game? Maybe. So why take the risk? Probably because Nintendo gamers haven’t been playing turn based games since the SNES. Granted, Paper Mario and a clutch of other games on the N64 had some sort of take on a turn based combat system, but Paper Mario was a more simplistic style and the only other game I can think of that had turn based combat of a sort (Hybrid Heaven) was a sort of turn based beat em up combo. Maybe Square are scared Nintendo gamers won’t embrace the turn based style. Maybe they’re too scared of changing to a real time style in the PS2 series, as the PS2 FF games have become such an established franchise, so they don’t want to risk a bold move like this on them.
But is a real time combat system going to be better? I’m not sure. Both systems have good points and bad points. Real time battles do offer the feel of more freedom due to no menus, and having to execute moves yourself, not select them from a list. But turn based combat often offers a wider range of moves/spells/items etc to use. Which is ‘best’ is largely a matter of taste.
But I’m not even sure the infamous FF style combat system is what makes the game. I much preferred FF7 to 8. I did prefer the no. 7 battle system to no. 8 (although both were turn based) but I think the real reason I liked FF7 over 8 was because of the plotline. I liked it a lot. I thought the plot in FF8 was more than a little stupid.
Another thing that was brought to my attention. If there’s no turn based combat, will there be just one hero? Most of the games have had a single main character as well as a host of others who you can choose from to make a three (or in some of the games four) strong team. Will this be lost in the GameCube edition? Hopefully not. Other characters can add more plot twists, sub-plots, and can be very humorous, as well as adding extra depth to combat. The addition of extra sub-plots depending on who you choose to be in your group adds some extra amount of replay value too if you want to discover the whole background of each character, and fully realise the plot. I think doing away with a team would definitely be a bad move.
So, what of the innovative new link up with the GBA? Well, here’s where my conspiracy theory of sorts comes into play. Apparently Crystal Chronicles on the GBA and Cube are the same game, and some kind of data will be switched between the two. I think we can only guess what this data could be. It could be anything from baby Chocobos (assuming they’re retained...) much like the Chao’s seen in Sonic Adventure 2, to save file data, because if they’re the same game you could download the save game to your GBA cart and carry on playing on the bus, at school, etc. But here’s my theory. While they are going to be one and the same game, I’m thinking what if the GameCube version has the real time combat that everyone seems to think it has, while the GBA version has turn based combat? I don’t see how they could re-create the same worlds and, more specifically, battles, on GBA as the Cube version if both had to be real time battles. The GBA simply couldn’t handle the same kind of real time combat system, so I think that they will re-create the same enemies, bosses, etc. but put them in a turn-based system. The game, plot, characters, etc. could all be the same. Only the game would have two separate experiences for battles. Turn based battles using menus etc. on the GBA and real time scrapping on the Cube. I think it’s a very real possibility...
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