The Last Story Focuses On Game’s System Over The Narrative

By Spencer . August 26, 2010 . 7:59am

In an Iwata Asks interview, The Last Storydirector Hironobu Sakaguchi said the game’s system took precedence over the story.

“During 23 years there are 3 times when I considered the [gameplay] system first,” Sakaguchi reminisced. The first time was Final Fantasy when he figuring out how to bring a PC role playing game to the Famicom. “There was a considerable amount of trial and error.” Sakaguchi thought about how to use 3D graphics over the story when creating Final Fantasy VII.

The Last Story is the third game, which Sakaguchi says has the feeling of a game with a story in it.

* I Love it.. they are taking the tri-Ace approach to JRPG development pretty much confirms this game cant suck

This was the game where they showed in game footage of active combat in the environment and someone flipping over some obstacle while rearwards fighting? Not some abstract stand their and keep on hitting attempting to do mo HP damage before you take to much?

I'm looking forward to this game.

Strange, I'd have thought that he'd say FF V instead of VII (and no, that's not meant as a dig at anything).

LOL Sakaguchi. No matter what you say, I will not get a wii to play your "next FF game."

this approach seems a bit weird. im sure it will turn out fantastic but he shoulda just focused on both

Do you know why JRPG's from the SNES era are stilled help in hi regards? because they followed this same format. This is the perfect way to create a a grand RPG, JRPG's that focus on super realistic graphics and over convoluted story lines and a abundance in CGI are always lacking.

Intriguing; nothing wrong with something that focuses on plot (Xenogears for instance), but it's nice to see that Sakaguchi is flexing his gameplay muscles.

I want Sakaguchi to focus on the way characters walk too, if possible. They suffer from butterfeet syndrome on the last gameplay clips shown.

Apart of that, bring it on!

The more JRPG's I play, the more I start to realize that for the most part I enjoy them despite of their story and narrative, not because of them. Very rarely will I play a JRPG that hooks me story-wise to the point where I'll trudge through questionable or unappealing gameplay decisions.

But i never said he shouldnt focus heavily on the gameplay im just saying it seems like hes giving less focus on the story at least from what i read. I thought he was focusing on them equally though theres nothing wring with this approach. Also i dont like most snes era jrpgs so that may be a factor. Though as good as he is I beleive he can focus on both and do great.