By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
Alphachris on 30 January 2015
Edit Thread

Final Fantasy is the one franchise that tries to tell the "big Stories". Their storytelling has become very mature, but that is something that many seem to ignore.

Final Fantasy XII had a great story... It was just a game that got rid of the idea of a "main hero" and tried to balance the importance of each characters somehow. It also wasn't a hero-Story... you actually were member of a small kingdom that lacked power to defend itself against a much stronger enemy. The characters were actually quite interesting, but they simply were not the everyday superheroes with no depth trying to beat some supervillain...

Final Fantasy XIII also had interesting characters and a very good story. It dealt with the philosophical topic of free will, with the concepts of gods and their power... It is a very difficult story well told.It is also a game, where your main characters are no "heroes". Actually, they are the public enemies...

If you ask me what the essence of the newer Final Fantasy games is... it is mature Storytelling dealing with philosophical dilemmas.

FF VII had big questions regarding nature vs technology. If you have "really" played FF7 you started to think about the possible impacts of abusing natural ressources, genetical engineering, etcc...

FF IX should make you think about the artificial Magicians... How they developed a human consciousness. It is a game about humanity...

FF X is a game about the impact of religious fundamentalism and how Religions can manipulate mankind. It is a story about individuals making sacrifices for the common good.

FF X-2 is a story about how things not simply end well just after a revolution. Every Revolution leeds to a power vacuum that leaves the question how it should be filled again... leading to a new struggle. It is a game that deals with the question of how people should find their way of living in the "new world".

Sometimes I got the feeling that Final Fantasy simply had to much success in the PS1 era. No matter what square will do, they will never satisfy the people.