There needs to be a western created Final Fantasy (main series)

[Kenryoku_Maxis]

Rei said:

@ Kenryoku_Maxis:

FFXIII's battle system is as different from previous FF games as it can get. The game's main character is, first time in 15 years, a female. So I dont really see your point.

And it's not just FF that is in decline sales-wise, most estabilished jRPG franchises are, including Pokemon. Tales of franchise has been in decline sales-wise ever since Symphonia, it's not getting any new fans either. As for Persona - I dont think it makes much differense if it sells 450k copies instead of 400k, this series is completely niche and irrelevant, always has been.

Pokemon is not in decline.  If anything, it is in an upswing as people have said.  Sure, it probably won't see record sales like its first gen saw, but it will see amazing sales, well beyond any Final Fantasy title.  Other series like Tales and Persona, etc are also not in decline.  Aside from their 'side' games, they are actually gaining sales (albeit slowly).  And despite your view that these series are 'niche and irrelevant', they are relevant.  I suppose if FFXIII sells badly, we can call Final Fantasy irrelevant and you won't call us out on it?

Secondly, the battle system for FFXIII, the little we've been told, looks quite a bit like the traditional Final Fantasy battle engines of the PSX/PS2 era, just with more effects to make it 'look' like there's real time actions going on.  In all reality, it appears to be more of a combination of the battle engine of FFVII and FFX, with the skill upgrading system of FFXII to boot.  All just redone to make it appear like the characters are moving around the battlefield and attacking creatures in real time.  But more than any Final Fantasy title before, they seem to be trying to reuse ideas from the past, and it makes sense.  They want to appeal to their fanbase.  Its a smart move, as their going to be selling the game on the HD systems and need more than simple graphics and storyline to sell the game this time.

KungKras said:
I want a 2D mainline Final Fantasy on current hardware.

It would be interresting, and probably incredibly awesome^^

A secondary group in SE is actually creating a DS title called 'Final Fantasy Gaiden' which is actually looking pretty good.  Looks a lot like the early Final Fantasy games, but brought into the modern day.  I'm actually more interested in this game then I have been in any FF game in years, and more interested in it than something like FFIV DS or FFXIII.  It just seems to have that extra bit of 'old school' charm while still focusing on the gameplay.

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/tgs-09-4-warriors/56963