It appears as if this generation’s Final Fantasies are following the pattern that last generation set for us. First, we have the awesome new release that re-defines the franchise (Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy XIII). Then, we have the MMO which will inevitably lose to World of Warcraft (Final Fantasy XI, Final Fantasy XIV). Then, we have the direct sequel to the first awesome game, that will pale in comparison to the success of the first (Final Fantasy X-2, … wait what?)

Yeah, according to Yoshinori Kitase, producer of Final Fantasy XIII, he would really like to see a direct sequel, if the first succeeds of course. In a recent interview, Kitase said “In the past three years we worked both on the world and on the various systems. Creating these systems isn’t very glamorous and can frankly be a bit boring. If we could do a XIII-2, we could direct all our attention to the story and refine what we have already built.” However, he also said that this all “…depends on how well the game sells in the West!”

Gamers may remember the success of Final Fantasy X, and the promise of a sequel in Final Fantasy X-2, back in the early days of the Playstation 2. However, Final Fantasy X-2 had strayed so far from the groundwork laid out by X, that the game was poorly received. It was mostly gimmicky, had totally new gameplay systems, and had very little to do with the actual story of Final Fantasy X. This of course, has many gamers skeptical about a Final Fantasy XIII sequel, especially since Final Fantasy XIII is already getting a spin-off in Final Fantasy Versus XIII.

However, perhaps what is more interesting, and in fact, more depressing, is that Final Fantasy XIII-2, if it happens, may be our last chance to actually see a new Final Fantasy game. The producers themselves seem skeptical that Final Fantasy will survive. Kitase said “We do not know if there will be a XV. This depends a lot on the success of XIII. Also, it is difficult to pinpoint elements that are typical Final Fantasy. They are mostly invisible: part of the DNA of the game, that everyone recognizes as typical Final Fantasy. But if there is a XV, I hope the way we wrote our characters carries over. We strived to create believable people of flesh and blood. They are not robots. And they are not super heroes. I hope this humanity is something we will see again.”

I don’t think any of us want to see Final Fantasy finally kick the bucket. It is one of the only surviving JRPG franchises that succeeds in America. However, peculiar design choices as of late has certainly put the series in peril. Final Fantasy X-2 failed as a sequel, Final Fantasy XII had a very lukewarm reception, Final Fantasy XI simply didn’t succeed as much as people thought it would, Final Fantasy XIV is going to be another MMO when no one seems to be asking for one, and now Final Fantasy XIII seems to be getting it’s fair share of sequels and spin-offs. Personally, I believe that Squeenix should shift focus back to traditional numbered installments, like Final Fantasy XIII, becuase the Final Fantasy brand simply doesn’t seem to hold as much weight in any other setting, and every one of these new “experiments” alienates some more of the classic Final Fantasy fan-base. If the life of Final Fantasy seems to hinge so much on the west, then it seems only natural to give the western Final Fantasy fanbase what they want, rather than trying to branch out with new ideas that really haven’t been working. Without more traditional Final Fantasy hits, we may see the series die before we know it. [Write About Games]

Related posts on 30ninjas.com:

• Final Fantasy XIII Director Wants To Remake Final Fantasy VII?
• Final Fantasy XIII-2 Plot and Production Details Revealed in Famitsu
• Final Fantasy Versus XIII Delayed Some More
• Final Fantasy XIII DLC Canceled
• Final Fantasy Versus XIII Was Not As Finished As You Thought … But Is Now!
• Final Fantasy Versus XIII Might Come to Xbox?