Square can't make a good game anymore unless it's a remaster. I hope 15 is good, but I have my doubts.

I see what you're trying to say, and I won't be surprised if XV will simply be an OK FF game and nothing more, with SE anything is possible!

Except remaking the classics in true HD.

Yeah.. Your post reminded me about how much I want a FFIX HD remake to happen! :/

Thanks for the explanation. I still don't see a logical reason behind it.

Why is that exact point is what makes a FF? The battle system, while being ture based, the experience and how the games play are greatly different. The draw and junction system in VIII is nothing like VII Material system for example, both have big and direct effect on how you play the game, yet, we are ok with it. 

Having a fresh and different experience in every FF is fine... As long it is Turn-based.... Which has more than one form... And nevermind everything else that affect that battle system. That is why I think this logic is contradicting itself, it just has no standards, it is like saying "I want the game to be differently the same"

As for me, I respect people preferences, but FF is more of an experience as a whole rather that one picked element. Every little element plays a part into making that rpg fantasy experience. 

Things can be different in some ways, and the same in others. Final Fantasy has different characters with each game (not including sequels). Final Fantasy has a different way they utilize magic/abilities for each game. Final Fantasy has a different storyline for each game. The one consistent is that you used to (up until, and including, Final Fantasy X-2) have a similar battle setup. You would have a party of 3-4 characters. You could control all of your characters, and dictate which action they took. These were in a confined area (e.g. you didn't fight them in real time, like in Final Fantasy XII), and it was a random battle style (e.g. not Final Fantasy XII and Final Fantasy XIII where you just don't run into someone if you don't want to fight them). This battle system was consistent for all main (numbered) Final Fantasy games up until Final Fantasy XI, and it's been non-existent ever since.

Not really. Square always tried to stray from the formula with every single game. It may appear as consistent to us, now but in the 90s they were just confined by technology. As soon as they had more power they tried more things, simple as that.

If turn based rpgs are your thing then -from my perspective- you were never primarily a Final Fantasy fan.

I'd say it's not  underappreciated because most people don't expct the same things from a FF game as you. It was just a dated 90s homage at best. Lots of folks want to discover something fresh with every new FF game, both on the story and gameplay front.

On the first point: Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 were released in the 2,000's, not in the 90's. These still kept the turn-based, random battle, full party control that the other Final Fantasy games incorporated. Final Fantasy X is the second highest selling Final Fantasy game, and that's just taking into consideration the PS2 release, not the HD remake.

On the second point: That is your opinion, and you are entitled to it.

What I'm getting from this is a lot of Final Fantasy fans want things to be the same... but different.

What I think it really boils down to is people want to recapture the magic of the first Final Fantasy games they played, but I don't think that can be put down to just a "turn-based battle system", or "open world" or "characters that aren't whinny little shit, Hope" (actually, might be onto something with that last one).

Final Fantasy games (and jRPGs in general) are about story, world building and the overall fantasy experience. I never truly cared too much about the battle system as long as it was playable and had logical progression. The story, the world and the experience of entering those fantastical worlds is why I play. Funnily enough I always wanted the games to go real-time, and when they finally did in XII, I was disappointed by the overall storytelling!

The FF series has had to evolve, innovate and modernise its gameplay to bring new players in. There are plenty of turn-based games for people who enjoy them (I'd recommend the Tales games personally).

OP: I can understand why you might be a bit apprehensive about XV. FF XIII seemed to have no soul and stripped the Final Fantasy experience to its bare-bones. From what little I've seen of XV though, it may be able to re-kindle some of the magic of Final Fantasy whilst still being a modernised jRPG.

Bolded point one: This is where Final Fantasy has been (to me) lacking. The story in Final Fantasy XIII, for example, is convoluted/complex, and I didn't much care for it. Also, there was no "world". There was a giant hallway until Gran Pulse, and that was just a glorified Calm Lands (Final Fantasy X). There was no exploration. Final Fantasy X also had limited exploration, but at least you could go back wherever you wanted, and it had a lot of mechanics that still made the game (again, to me) great. Final Fantasy XIII, in my opinion failed on both of your points.

Bolded point two: Final Fantasy did evolve and innovate gameplay with each new title. The gameplay was "modernized" in a sense when they went to ATB, but you still had full control over all of your character's actions, and it was still a variation of turn-based. Also, Final Fantasy VII, VIII, IX, and X all sold more copies than Final Fantasy XIII. Sure, you can argue that they were out longer... but look at Final Fantasy XII. The only one of those games that Final Fantasy XII sold more than was Final Fantasy IX. Final Fantasy XII isn't stll on the shelves being sold (at least, not in any way that would make a dent on VGChartz sales). Just because it's new doesn't mean it's better. Final Fantasy X is the second-highest selling Final Fantasy game (without including the HD remake), and that came out about a decade ago. It sold almost a million more copies than Final Fantasy XIII, over 5 million more copies than Final Fantasy XIII-2, and almost 7 million more copies than Lightning Returns. Also, keep in mind that all three of those games had the advantage of being released on two consoles, and I added those console totals together. Even though Final Fantasy X was on a single console, it still sold better than every Final Fantasy game after it, some of which were released on multiple consoles to give them a better chance of selling. SquareEnix didn't need to change anything. They were doing just fine, and they lost fans when they changed what they wanted (my opinion).

Bolded point three: Perhaps. I suppose we will see.