Games in Review #6 – Final Fantasy XIII

Image: Final Fantasy XIII box art. Square Enix.

Welcome back to Games in Review! Today we’ll be reviewing Final Fantasy XIII for the Xbox360. It is also available on the PlayStation 3.

Story

The game starts out in a world called Cocoon, a pinnacle of civilization when compared to the lawless, monster-infested boogeyman world of Pulse. The citizenry of Cocoon wet their pants at the mere mention of a Pulse invasion. Apparently there was a huge war way back. Whatever.

The story begins with a mass deportation being enforced on anyone from Cocoon who came anywhere near a Pulse Fal’Cie (really powerful magical bastards). The heroes of the game are suitably pissed, as most are on that list, so they eventually join up in a resistance against the Sanctum (Cocoon’s government).

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Square Enix attempts to mask shame, making Final Fantasy XIII-2

Image: Final Fantasy XIII-2 logo. Square Enix.

No one can forget (although many would like to) Final Fantasy X‘s sequel, Final Fantasy X-2. That was done, presumably, to fill the gap between X and XII for those not interested in XI, which was an MMO.

SE is repeating the pattern described above for the current generation of Final Fantasies, with Final Fantasy XIII-2 now announced. Similar to the PS2 era, this is presumably being done to cover up that awkward gap between XIII and XV known as “Final Fantasy XIV;” or, “the shitty MMO Square just released.

Not much is known about the game at this point, except that head members from XIII‘s development will be back. “Lightning,” who was apparently the main character will also be down for XIII-2. No word on a work-around for pronouncing the ugly game title has been announced.

This still doesn’t explain what Final Fantasy Type-0 is.

Source: IGN

Square Enix trademarks “Final Fantasy Type-0,” “Type-1,” etc.

This hardly seems final.

What deviousness is Square Enix up to? Trademarks for “Final Fantasy Type-0,” “Type-1,” “Type-2,” and “Type-3″ have popped up in Europe’s trademark database.

Another spin-off, further diluting the Final Fantasy brand, perhaps? Or maybe the company believes Final Fantasy XIV is far enough, and will be starting back at “Type-1″ now. I know, it’s got to be a hard-core reboot of the Final Fantasy series. Each one a blood, aliens, guns, and excessive use of the word “fuck” remake of its numerically corresponding original.

Yeah, I actually have no idea, and I probably never will, either. That is, until the company holds a press conference next month, presumably to explain this.

Sources: NeoGAF, GoNintendo

Square-Enix low on Gil for 2010

Image: Adapted from Hughes, Vincent Valentine, Tifa?, and Cloud? Cosplay by pockybum522 under a CC-BY license.

The company that once brought you quality entertainment like levitating triangular hair and Tifa’s bouncing breasts has fallen on hard times.

Following the delays of Deus Ex: Human Revolution and the PS3 version of Final Fantasy XIV, Square-Enix has been forced hack, slash, and maim its annual net profit forecast by over 90%. The company now expects to make a mere $11.9 million this year, compared with its previously predicted $142.8 million.

Those delays aren’t SE’s only problems this year. The company blames “weak sales performance of console game titles that have been newly released during the current fiscal year as well as harsh market feedback regarding a key title.” That key title being, of course, Final Fantasy XIV. The game’s PC version has seen repeated extensions of its free subscription period due to ongoing complaints from loyal Moogle worshipers.

The house that teen angst and overwrought cut-scenes built may still be able to redeem itself. Analysts such as those who frequent message boards and comment sections on the internet have been quick to point out that all the company needs to do is remake Final Fantasy VII for [insert most honourable choice for game console here].

Source: Gamasutra

Square-Enix has an important announcement for XIV remaining Final Fantasy fans

Yoichi Wada has released a letter to fans apologizing for the current state of Final Fantasy XIV. He begins by thanking his otaku minions for their “continued interest in and support of FINAL FANTASY XIV,” then launches into a full blown apology/admittance of shameful performance up to this point:

While more than two months have passed since the official launch of FINAL FANTASY XIV service, we deeply regret that the game has yet to achieve the level of enjoyability that FINAL FANTASY fans have come to expect from the franchise, and for this we offer our sincerest of apologies.

That’s not all, however, as Mr. Wada goes on to announce the appointment of new leadership for FFXIV (you know, the game that has already been made, released, and sold to the unsuspecting public, sometimes in Collector’s Edition form). He has also promised to continue the free trial period, and has delayed the PS3 version of the game until March 2011.

Sadly, a 3DS remake of Final Fantasy VI was not offered as a means of making amends.

Source: Final Fantasy XIV
Image: Final Fantasy XIV logo. Copyright Square-Enix.