Part 4-Present Era (2009-Present)
Much like the Nintendo era, Final Fantasy saw immense
success with Square partnering up with Sony for 6 increasingly successful and
memorable entries. With its next couple
of chapters, the franchise moved beyond a single console to broaden the
appeal. The first of these many
undertakings was Final Fantasy XIII in 2009, released for both the
Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. Meant to be
the launch bed of a new sub franchise (like the eventual Compilation of
Final Fantasy VII that followed VII), XIII received praise for its
breathtaking visuals but received criticism for a divisive cast, linearity and
a less than Final Fantasy quality story.
Plans for its expanded universe including a PSP game (Final Fantasy
Agito XIII) and a PS3 action game (Final Fantasy Versus XIII) hit
several snags and both games went on to become other projects. Agito emerged as Final Fantasy Type 0
in 2011 and Versus…well we’ll get back to that.
Still XIII’s divisive criticisms didn’t stop it from becoming a huge
bestseller, enough to greenlight two direct sequels: Final Fantasy XIII-2
in 2011 and Lighting Returns: Final Fantasy XIII in 2013 both of which
improved on many of its parent games shortcomings.
2010 saw Square hit an unexpected new low, almost on the
level of The Spirits Within. Final
Fantasy XIV was greenlit to be a new MMORPG in the same vein of Final
Fantasy XI. However, when the game
launched in 2010, it was filled with several game breaking issues including a
bad player interface and combat system, though the visuals were praised. It was a huge blow to Square and many
wondered if this misfire, along with the mixed reception to XIII, was a sign
that Final Fantasy’s influence was beginning to wain. Rather than cry about it, Square put a new
team to work on a brand new Final Fantasy XIV, starting from scratch and
emerging three years later with Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. The critical reception was the exact opposite
of the original XIV, with many showering A Realm Reborn with praise and
commending Square for correcting its past mistakes. A Realm Reborn still enjoys a large and
healthy player base and continues to see expansions and patches today.
But what about the original single player experience,
what was next for the main number series?
Well that question lingered in the minds of many, especially with much
of Square hard at work on Kingdom Hearts, their surprise hit
collaboration with Disney which incorporated some of Final Fantasy VII and
VIII’s most popular characters. The
answer came in 2014 when it was announced during a surprise trailer that the
long awaited Final Fantasy Versus XIII was coming…only now it was going under
the title Final Fantasy XV. It
was a ten year wait (from the Versus announcement in 2006) before Final Fantasy
XV arrived in 2016. The game also came
with a new multimedia push including an OVA (Brotherhood: Final Fantasy XV)
and a new movie (Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV). Reception was still a bit mixed towards XV,
particularly with its story. But praise
was given to the vast visual improvement over XIII and the loveable bond
between the games four lead heroes. And
many fans themselves who had been hoping to play the game since its Versus XIII
days were happy to at last get their hands on it.
With XIV still receiving updates and the release of the
first part of the Final Fantasy VII Remake project, the franchise with
the name that makes no sense continues to promise that the “Final” in Final
Fantasy will probably never come true.
“Eternal Fantasy” seems more appropriate but when I hear the names
Cloud, Terra, Cecil, Tidus, Lightning, Noctis, Squall, Zidane or Sephiroth
amongst so many others or hear the term RPG come up in conversation…Final
Fantasy will be the first place my mind goes to and always will.
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