While 2010 was definitely a year of great games, it was also a year of massive disappointments. Just look at Epic Mickey or, if you’re a JRPG fan, Final Fantasy XIII. The latest numbered entry in the decades-old franchise was awaited with high hopes, and by most accounts, it completely failed to deliver.
Now Square Enix has announced that development on a direct sequel is already underway, and they’ve promised that it will “exceed FFXIII in every aspect.” Can they recover from their recent slump and deliver a worthwhile experience, or will Japanese developers continue to lag behind now-superior Western games?
After all, Japan led the industry from the 80s until now. But with their flagship ambassador franchise in the Western world absolutely polarizing fans and critics, American and European developers have been stealing the limelight from once-mighty Japanese devs.
It seems every Final Fantasy game since around number seven has been more and more divisive. Of course, with great popularity comes a greater disparity in public opinion, but Squenix’s recent penchant for reboots, remakes, ports and unnecessary spin-offs hasn’t won them any fans, either. I see Final Fantasy XIII’s epic failure as the nail in the coffin containing Square Enix’s credibility, buried at sea somewhere in the Pacific between Japan and San Francisco.
“Final Fantasy XIII-2 is currently in production with an aim for producing high quality game content which exceeds Final Fantasy XIII in every aspect; namely, a brand-new story which stems from the previous title as well as a battle system which has evolved further since XIII – and more,” reads the official release sent out today. Obviously they’re dancing around the issue that FFXIII was by most people’s estimates not a good game.
Wouldn’t it be refreshing if they went beyond vague promises of improvement though? Maybe if they could swear the last game’s crushing linearity will be replaced by a sprawling, open-ended world, fans would be able to breathe a sigh of relief. Or at least let out a little of that breath they’re holding in.
The game is apparently coming out this year, and the first trailer should hit your eyeballs in just two days, on January 20. Look forward to it?
And sorry to berate you with Square Enix posts – we don’t make the news, we just decide which parts to write about. And I couldn’t resist a bit of a rant.
