What Direction is Final Fantasy Heading?

This is a question that I’ve heard many fans of the popular game series ask, and one that I myself have also wondered. It’s obvious that the series has changed drastically since the original Final Fantasy came out back in 1987, but with releases such as the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV and Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, where is Square-Enix truly taking the series? Is it leaving traditional RPG gameplay behind and moving towards other elements in gaming?

The latest Final Fantasy release for the Nintendo 3DS, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, excited many hard-core Final Fantasy fans (such as myself). Similar to Dissidia, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy features characters from existing releases that we’ve all grown to know and love, such as Terra, Cloud, Zidane and Tidus. But instead of following the traditional RPG style that the rest of the games support, Theatrhythm is almost exclusively rhythm-based. This opened up many doors for gamers who aren’t typical RPG fans, but in turn shoved some Final Fantasy players away.

In the game, players are asked to choose a title from the main Final Fantasy series, which will result in different types of gameplay with the chosen game’s theme. You may have up to four party members during battles, which primarily consists of rhythm. The main focus in battle is to tap or slide your stylus across the screen in rhythm to the music. If you miss a beat, damage is inflicted on your HP meter. While the battles may seem pretty simplistic at first, the rhythm of the beat intensifies rather drastically as the game progresses.

One thing that I think would make this game worth playing for any Final Fantasy fan would be the revived soundtracks from all the games in the main series. Almost every song is in its original form, making this game feel like a trip down memory lane for many avid fans. Once again you’ll have the chance to battle with some beloved boss themes such as One-Winged Angel and Dancing Mad, in a gameplay that’s entirely its own.

Many of us are looking forward to the future release of Final Fantasy Versus XIII, which is being made for the Playstation 3 and has yet to support an official release date. This game has been in development for nearly six years, and the graphics have only improved since its initial creation. The quality of the cutscenes are beautiful, paired with a story that looks beyond intricate. After Final Fantasy XIV and Theatrhythm, I’m about ready for a real RPG again, *cracks knuckles

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