It is safe to say that over the years, the Final Fantasy series has been a staple in the RPG world. For a very long time, it was actually the gold standard, with any gamer worth their salt having played Final Fantasy VII at least once, if just to understand the hype. Well, things have changed as technology has grown and the game industry itself has grown. The industry has seen a drastic shift in options presented to gamers and there have been many “Western” RPGs that have pushed new boundaries and in a sense, overtaken the classic JRPG in the hearts and consoles of modern gamers.
There is no better example than Final Fantasy XIV. Final Fantasy VIX was the latest in the long series of Final Fantasy titles, which some gamers still hold onto like a warm blanket from their childhood, while others have simply moved on after a decided lack of innovation and just new ideas. That isn’t to say that the Final Fantasy formula or the last few games weren’t good, just that many gamers outside of Japan have found other games that they enjoy more, and if Square doesn’t put out their very best possible effort, they’ll hear about it endlessly. That is the cost for producing some of the best games in the history of gaming, and something they have yet to come to grips with yet, apparently. I say that as we are on the verge of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, which is a re-release of the poorly-received Final Fantasy XIV.
If you would have told me ten years ago that a Final Fantasy game would be released and be so heavily scorned, I’m not sure that I’d believe you, but here we are. Square is making good on old promises and adding new features, upgrading maps, graphics and everything else you could imagine, essentially releasing a new game to prove the doubters wrong. This latest trailer is further proof of that and was released at PAX Prime.
