FFXIII-2

[TacoTaru]

@Mikoko: If that was serious, then I'm sure you have a fetish for clowns and circus acts. I think the only Amano character design I've liked over the in-game work was Amarant from IX.

I'm not someone who fawns over Amano like some people, but really, you didn't like Terra and the Magitek armor design he did that's pretty much the standard for VI? Even with his art style being a bit out of the realm of my liking at times, that didn't feel that abstract and was rather gorgeous in context to the game.

Also, I see a lot of people talk about how Basch (I think) was supposed to be the main character for XII, but I never really followed much of that game in preproduction. I really like XII (but I like to troll people about it more) so I'm curious to read more about it. Are there any articles/stories that detail more about what the game's original plot was before it was swapped to Vaan?

[Lucavi]

Amano has a unique style and sure, it has its high points, but it also has its low points if you aren't into clown suits and black lipstick, and the same expression on everyone's face. My opinion is the same as it was; I'm glad that the technical limitations of the era didn't allow for Amano's full "vision" to be realized within the game. I much preferred the sprites to any of his work, save for a rare few. I can't even begin to compare how awesome Cid from IV's sprite is compared to Amano's work.

[perkin8tor]

Also, I see a lot of people talk about how Basch (I think) was supposed to be the main character for XII, but I never really followed much of that game in preproduction. I really like XII (but I like to troll people about it more) so I'm curious to read more about it. Are there any articles/stories that detail more about what the game's original plot was before it was swapped to Vaan?

I always thought that higher ups at SE didn't want Basch to be the main guy, so they tacked him on at the last minute and substituted Vaan for Basch as the person you ran around towns as. Other than that he never does much besides be along for the ride. The Basch and Ashe story/dynamic was very much front and center throughout the game. With that said, I'll never consider Vaan to be the "main" character of FFXII.

[Hyan]

Focus groups didn't like Basch.

Same deal with Raiden, for example....

[Kuya]

Something about japanese tastes seems off.

[Lucavi]

Focus groups didn't like Basch.

Same deal with Raiden, for example....

Even though Basch and Raiden are nothing alike. Vaan and Raiden are more similar than Basch, to include the bare chests. Basch also seems far more "Western" (actually Nordic) than Vaan. I dunno what nationality you could call Vaan. Its alright, though; he's a fucking boss in FFTA:2. That outfit is amazing.

[Elcura]

Even though Basch and Raiden are nothing alike...

What he meant was that focus groups didn't like Solid Snake, so they replaced him with Raiden. Same deal with Basch and Vaan.

No fucking surprises that Japanese people don't like old(er) main characters.

[Bregor]

I always thought that higher ups at SE didn't want Basch to be the main guy, so they tacked him on at the last minute and substituted Vaan for Basch as the person you ran around towns as. Other than that he never does much besides be along for the ride. The Basch and Ashe story/dynamic was very much front and center throughout the game. With that said, I'll never consider Vaan to be the "main" character of FFXII.

I felt Ashe drove the story the most out of all six main characters. Vaan just seems like an onlooker for the most part, which is fine, but if you didn't walk around towns as him there's no way you'd know he was supposed to be the "main" character.

[Charismatic]

That's because he isn't.

[Ayn]

Taken from an interview with Yoshida:

Yoshida: In the early stages of development the hero character was more rugged -- big and tough. As we started shaping up the scenario and taking into consideration the target demographic, the character became what you see today. There were other ideas tossed around.

Until motion capture and voice actor Kohei Takeda was cast for Vaan, the main character was actually a little more effeminate. With him playing the role, the character became more active, upbeat, bright and positive. The character would have been even more effeminate had Takeda not been cast.

Q: How does Vaan compare to previous FF protagonists?

Minaba: Well, the person who's creating the characters is different -- that's one difference. I don't think he can be compared to any of the FF characters.

[Spira]

i thought people who played RPGs should know by now that the main protagonist that you control is not necessarily the central character that drives the story, and doesn't even have to be. There are different styles of storytelling at play in RPGs and that style reflects in how the games play out too.

in the context of FF, theres FFX and FFXII as really good examples of main protagonists (or if you'd like, the guy you run in town with lol) who aren't the characters that drive the story (that would be Yuna and Ashe (or some would say Basch Gabranth) respectively).

XIII was really more of an ensemble cast affair but im pretty sure this isn't going to be the case in XIII-2. Not really making a point cos I didn't read what started this topic train anyway

[Mytiwar]

But in FFX it was "his story"




lol
(FFX is actually my favorite game I just thought the whole "my story" bit was overplayed <.< )

[Tyrath]

wat? You're crazy if you think Tidus isn't the protagonist of FFX. FFX was a great example of a character outside of the ongoings of the world coming in and making it his own story, for the lack of a better term. FFXII was not. Vaan came in as an onlooker and stayed that way.

[Nevex]

Yuna is FFX's true protagonist, much like Ashe was FFXII's.

[Appie]

What he meant was that focus groups didn't like Solid Snake, so they replaced him with Raiden.

I never knew this. Jesus fuck, what a goddamn morons rofl. How the fuck can you not like Snake? Just wow... my mind is blown.

[Tortalius]

That's only true for like MGS4+ or something. Kojima made Raiden in MGS2 completely intentionally.

[Elcura]

That's only true for like MGS4+ or something. Kojima made Raiden in MGS2 completely intentionally.

No... it's completely about MGS2 lol

And yes, it was intentional, because of the focus groups.

[Hyan]

I never knew this. Jesus fuck, what a goddamn morons rofl. How the fuck can you not like Snake? Just wow... my mind is blown.

It gives me pleasure to know that the focus groups HATED Old Snake but Kojima used him anyway. Brilliant.

SE needs to grow balls too.

[Nevex]

I never knew this. Jesus fuck, what a goddamn morons rofl. How the fuck can you not like Snake? Just wow... my mind is blown.

I never liked Solid Snake, but that doesn't mean I liked Riaden.

[Spira]

But in FFX it was "his story"




lol
(FFX is actually my favorite game I just thought the whole "my story" bit was overplayed <.< )

it actually is "his story" because the first chunk of it is told from his point of view and him giving various bits of introspective monologue here and there.. up to the point where the game hits its 'intro', which is the campfire scene in um.. zanarkand or gagazet i believe..

it was quite a novel way of telling the story i think.. never seen it done before in an rpg