Even with a full plate of games to play this holiday season, I am counting down the days until the release of Final Fantasy XIII. I've waited far too long to play this game, and I'm a bit of a fan (by "bit" I mean "I would knock a baby out of a stroller if it meant I could play it early"). I've avoided playing the demo, but couldn't resist watching the trailers. Most of the footage gave me shivers, but there are two points in particular that trigger a Phantom Menace-like warning.
Meet Hope, a 14-year-old boy who brings a boomerang to a sword fight. This kid shouldn't go to the same stylist as his mom, and I'm guessing the shawl means he has no friends. Kid's as party members are always annoying. Cite any example and I'll tell you why they are annoying. The only glimmer of hope for Hope (groan) is his summon, Alexander. Alexander did after all defeat Bahamut in Final Fantasy IX. That counts for something, right?
And the second warning centers on the summons' ability to transform into vehicles. Shiva morphs into a motorcycle? Really? And it's apparently not just an ordinary motorcycle, it's a sexcycle! "Yeah, that's great that you transformed, lady, but I'm not sitting on your crotch." Taking this artistic direction into mind, I pray that Diabolos doesn't transform into a hang glider.
So, yes, my concerns are minor, but the last thing that I want to see is my favorite RPG series jumping the shark, especially with a bratty kid.
In the end, I pray that Square Enix's Final Fantasy think tank hasn't gone George Lucas crazy. I don't want "little Annie" in my Final Fantasy. In the wake of the Star Wars prequels, I pray that every storyteller employs someone with the specific task of running a George Lucas filter over their scripts and final product.
I can sympathize with your concerns because mine are much the same. However, on a very slightly off topic note I would love to see Cloud come back in a final fantasy game as a main character. He's my favorite.
Dude!!! That guy is riding to chicks. Thats awesome!
This is a win. Congratulations.
are all of the final fantasy games that weird?
Watch Ifrit turn into a fighter jet. That would make my day.
I like you have been waiting very patiently for this game, heck you should check out our group discussion on xiii it's been getting pretty busy as of late with people more and more interested in this game. As far as your concerns about a kid being the main character, I by no means think he will be the type that just sits on the bench. There's probably something hidden in him that releases somehwere during the game, just a hunch for the plot line. Also I though Star Ocean Till the End of Time was a good game, and that had a kid as the main character too. So all Hope may not be lost, lol, couldn't resist.
While it's your opinion and taste, I still don't understand how Hope is a brat. Just like how the word Emo gets thrown around at everything these days kids in video games are automatically annoying or something involving the female organ. And while there are certainly kid characters that are in fact annoying or some that I even over look, that doesn't make every kid in a game that way by default. So what the kid is upset in the trailers because his mother died but what kid wouldn't? Besides it's not like he's crying in the trailers if anything he's angry. I mean he blew Snow off a ledge of what looked like a pretty high building. And he hasn't shown any more emotion than Snow, Vanille, or Sazh in the trailers. There is really nothing there to make me think he is some brat. And I know that you aren't saying for sure he is going to be annoying but it's what your implying. Look at Palom and Porum from FF IV or Karol from Tales of Vesperia were great kid characters. Sure they may have had there sigh moments, but overall they were kid characters done right. Then you have Rico and Rucha from Infinite Undiscovery who weren't all that great. I do understand your worry though I just don't completely agree with it. So I guess just try to be more open to Hope.
I can understand you problems. I sort of like Hope's character but I hate his weapon. The only thing I don't mind too much is the Summon transformations. Also Shive is not just called Shiva anymore. Shiva is now called Shiva Sisters or Styria and Nix. Of course that could change but just letting you know from my view.
Don't forget to check out the Final Fantasy Group.
Sexcycle lol. Anyways, as I was about to say I agree with dethmatic, the force is strong with that kid. I don't think he will be as strong a player as he will be in the storyline. Kinda like Yuna was to FFX, she was weaker, she died easily, but without her well you wouldn't have the story. BTW Sora was a kid in KH, he was pretty awesome : ) He sure fared better then his elder friend Riku who was on the dark side for over half the game. I agree that I hope you won't HAVE to use him, but I am sure Final Fantasy has chosen a good direction for him.
Not for nothing but I have a feeling he is going to do something very big in the story. I don't know what he will do but my Major alarm is ringing.
I got that same feeling collision, it's like he's the only character that really sticks out, something's got to happen with him and when it does you better watch out!
From what I've seen, it appears Hope has anger issues. His father also seems like he's had enough of him. That's where the "bratty kid" comment comes from. And to Collision's "major alarm," I too feel he will be a cog in the plot. I just hope he isn't annoying.
For the record, I would have abandoned Karol in the first boss fight if I could have.
Shouldn't a series called Final Fantasy be over by now? JK. Any game that has a 14 year old boy who looks like that, AND who is named Hope definitely needs to be George Lucas filtered.
I was just thinking whatever it is, I think it might have to do with Snow.
see I was thinking differently I think he ties into either Jihl or Yaag in some sort of way. Oh and for those who are unaware of who these two characters are, they are the two known "bad guys" of the game thus far.
Or maybe there is a moment when Snow needs help or is about to die and Hope rescues him and dies.
now that would be one hell of a plot twist
*prays that plot twist is in the first five minutes*
Lol. It would be a great plot twist. I mean the boy who wants revenge for his mothers death saving the reason his mother died in the first place. Its just fits! Oh god I hope I didnt just ruin that part for myself
Well, I personally have high expectations of this game. I've found that the first canon FF title released each generation have been my favorite of that generation (i.e. FFI, FFIV, FFVII, and FFX).