Square's Trends (FF and other games) and the Effects on Society

by Emperor M

Many people have seen what they consider to be a bad trend in Square's games. They're more advertised, they have more graphical and video focus, and they are overall less and less like the RPGs of the early 90s. Many people out there loved those games. Why? They combined interesting and memorable plots with systems of play unlike any other. Many times, instead of just shooting and jumping, you had to think.

Now, we have this "new generation" of RPGs. This generation began with Square, who tried to do something new. Was it just a marketing scheme? I really don't know. For many people, it was their worst nightmare, mainly because after playing Final Fantasy VI, a game with a plot so far fetched, so unbelievable, so far from real life (and in a sense it was extremely clever), FF VII had to be even better, right? Well, Square didn't make a sequel to Final Fantasy VI, they made Final Fantasy VII. In Final Fantasy VII, you had many things never before seen. First, you had a plot, which was set in a time where technology ruled. You had guns, reactors, and all kinds of gizmos that were anti-fantasy, so to speak. This was horrible for people who had "fantasy" as one of their attraction to RPGs. You then had FMV (CG FMV specifically), which for some, took away the innocent charm of the game. It removed some of what had made RPGs special. It brought RPGs one step closer to something that could actually happen. Then, finally, you had what was at the heart of the game, its plot. Instead of focusing on each characters biography, instead of having a lunatic villain who was bad because it gave him kicks, and instead of having a plot with characters and storyline so far fetched it went beyond Jona and the Whale, you had a plot that for some, was boring. You had characters who did things for a reason, who felt things. You had Sephiroth, who wasn't a MagiTek experiment gone wrong, or a mad wizard name Exdeath, he did it because he was convinced that it was what he had to do. Filled with real, actual hate, he slaughtered a village without remorse, not much unlike the recent shooting at the Jewish Community Center. You had Cloud, and instead of seeing his past under a microscope, you saw into his mind, where something actually existed. It was something no game of this type had ever done before. Why did Square betray its loyal fans? I would speculate that these things, which could be called elements of the "Mature" RPG, would become what made Square stand out above the rest, and be successful.

Many see these elements as bad and betraying, and think Square ruined their masterpiece series. I feel differently. With so many increasing things in our world that are depressing to think about, Square has begun to make games that, for me lighten up the world. With all the school shootings, the decline of quality TV programs, the disgusting political campaigns and scandals, Square's latest games show me hope. Stories of things that could really happen (And yet are fictional and fantasy based), people with problems real people have (Cloud's fear of failure for example), and stories that you can actually learn things from, that teach and instill good values, instead of hate. Final Fantasy Tactics is the shining example for me. Ramza, a guy who'd always been the one left out, and lived in the shadow of his brothers, had the courage an bravery to do what he felt was the right thing. He could have joined them in their selfish conquest, but he chose a righteous path. While others did what was a quick solution to problems, and chose to hide behind the guise of bringing a better order to the world (So much like the rulers of today, sadly). And in the end, he saved his sister, and the world he loved, and for it he was labeled a heretic, but he was above that, and didn't care about his reputation. The satisfaction that he did the right thing was enough. Doing good is such a simple thing, and FFT showed that so many things can be considered "good" in some way, but there is only one true and right thing to do. How cool.

FF VII, FF Tactics, Xenogears, and even BFM have all been examples of why I like RPGs. They're a lot of fun to play, but unlike some, I think it takes a special talent to make you feel something more than just accomplishment.

While Square's latest games are definitely different from their predecessors, I've found an upside to them: Hope in a world that's shown me less and less that's good (No I'm not gonna commit suicide). So whether or not this effect their recent games have had on me is intentional, I don't know. But they've certainly shown me that more exists than fun and gameplay, and that video games can be quite a powerful means of communication.

As always feel free to disagree, and send me an e-mail if you really feel compelled: emperorm@subdimension.com but please back them up (No I hate FF VII because Cloud's sword was so big. Yes I have heard it).