Not just for the FF franchise. Not just for SE. Not just for the JRPG subgenre, RPG genre or Japanese games, but for the entire gaming industry.
"Why?" you would ask? Well for starters this generation has had several disappointing games come out...and many of them from well established franchises. Games that were hyped up a lot and had some sort of problem with them. Some issue that made them not so special, some thing that ruined them in gamers hearts in some way; whatever it is: less than expected reviews, DLC bombardment, technical problems, marketing decisions, game design issues, glitches, the works.
FFXV has been a very long time coming. The only other game that was announced (off the top of my head, and if I'm wrong someone correct me) that took longer to come out after being announced was Duke Nukem Forever. One big difference between the two obviously however is hype. FFXV is far more hyped up than Duke Nukem Forever...Ever was. And after the Uncovered event, it has been pushed far above every game I can think of this generation for marketing purposes, going so far as to create an anime and even a full CGI movie, a CGI movie containing 3 of the most well known actors in television: Sean Bean, Lena Headey and Aaron Paul. Also a car, can't forget the car.
What will it say if such a game of this caliber and for a game that has taken this long to come out isn't amazing? By this caliber I mean not just of this level of production value with all the works, I mean a game of this standard specifically. From the demo, we can gather that the approach to this game will be much different than most games out there. Or for that matter especially, most AAA games. The gameplay of FFXV will probably require experimentation and exploration of use to achieve maximum enjoyment out of the game. Based on the demo, you can play amazing if you can "git good". But it might not be so difficult as this video below makes it out to be:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV-ANQvMkXg
From the looks of it, switching between weapons while attacking and defending is what will require some practice, but I digress. Let's hope that with some time anyone can play this well. But let's also hope that even if you don't intend to use every technique available, people will love to experiment and figure things out to a certain extent to enjoy this game. It would be a crying shame if this game turns out to be amazing, but only for hardcore gamers willing to learn new things or gamers that were waiting on this game for 10 or so years. In the general scheme of things that wouldn't be considered amazing, because it would be too intimidating for some gamers to even care to try and to introduce them to new ideas and new playstyles.
FFXV is experimenting with so many things and defying what we though we would ever see in a FF game in both story and gameplay. AAA video games, especially from well established franchises over this and the last generation seem to have for the most part found their space, and prefer consistency to change. And reviewers and gamers seem content to let these franchises just be that way. Which is fine, but I feel like a lot of games tend to get better reception if they only meet or exceed expectations. If expecations are defied however, or pushed and molded, usually its met with negativity. As a result the game is punished for it.
The higher cost it takes to make a game, the riskier it will be to defer from the path as well. SE however, as we have all become accustomed to are pretty much pioneers for change. I don't think any other well established franchise has risked this much with so many different design elements. It's scary indeed! In the Fifteenth installment, there has never been another main FF with more change or defied choices of game design.
But imagine if this game does become beloved by most, and actually manages to amaze most who play it. It sends a message to developers and gamers of all kinds that it is ok to experiment and try new things. It is ok to push the boundaries and risk.
Conclusion:
The game turning out at least great is what many all hope for and want, but it needs to be even better than that to send the right message to everyone. If it fails to be amazing (even if the game is great overall)..it will just be another risky venture that sends a message to developers (especially AAA developers) not to experiment and try new things, thus staying comfortably numb to different ideas or possibilities.
PS Coming-of-age open world games not withstanding :P Was referring more to a game's entire approach, control, look, design etc staying very similar despite said open world trend in this generation.
Lube Me Up
