Podcast Questions!

Hmmm, I agree with 12 for choice acting. Choccobo exploration from 15 was great, but I'm not sure how that would fit with FF6 style graphics lol.

In fact, I would pick 12 for voice acting too honestly. Now I don't know what I would pick 15 for.

Resonant Arc

There you go. Dude_McGuy knows what's up.

Resonant Arc

How about the ability system from FFXIII? Not the progression, but the fact that every ability/skill you learn is useful from the beginning to the end of the game.

Maybe the logo design? Lol

Story elements: Final Fantasy 4 Battle Mechanics: Final Fantasy 10 Equipment System: Final Fantasy 9 Limit Break System: Final Fantasy 7 Graphics/Aesthetic: Final Fantasy 6 Character Progression: Final Fantasy 5 Music: Final Fantasy 8 World Structure/Exploration: Final Fantasy 12 Voice Acting: Final Fantasy 15 Difficulty: Final Fantasy 3 Sense of Adventure/Freedom: Final Fantasy 1 (really stretching here, haha) Tone: Final Fantasy 2 Can't think of a single thing from 13 I'd want in this game, haha.

Resonant Arc

We actually talked about a very similar topic on a recent podcast. This link should take you straight to our conversation on it! <a href="https://youtu.be/Rtt4J1H_BRI?t=43m37s" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/Rtt4J1H_BRI?t=43m37s</a>

Resonant Arc

No. No one deleted any comments. What did you ask?

Resonant Arc

Do you think it's great that more female characters are becoming leads of video games? I think Square Enix really was a pioneer in this aspect as Terra and Lightning were leads. I'd like to see more video game developers continue this trend. Lightning is my favorite character in the FF series.

You guys deleted my question?

List of some of the acclaimed Nintendo games for each console for reference: NES: Mario Bros 1-3, Zelda and Zelda II, Metroid, Punch-Out, Star Tropics SNES: Super Mario World, Super Mario Kart, Super Metroid, F-Zero, Zelda Link to the Past, Star Fox, Earthbound, Super Mario RPG, Donkey Kong Country 1-3. N64: Mario 64, Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, Mario Kart 64, F-Zero X, Star Fox 64, Mario Party 1-3, Super Smash Bros, Kirby 64, Donkey Kong 64, Paper Mario, Banjo-Kazooie, Jet Force Gemini. Gamecube: Luigi’s Mansion, Pikmin 1 and 2, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Mario Kart Double Dash, Super Mario Sunshine, Metroid Prime 1 and 2, Animal Crossing, Zelda: Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, Paper Mario: The Thousand-year door. Wii: Wii Sports, Metroid Prime 3, Zelda: Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword, Mario Kart Wii, Mario Galaxy 1 and 2, New Super Mario Bros Wii, Smash Bros Brawl, Xenoblade Chronicles. Wii U: New Super Mario Bros U, Super Mario 3D world, Pikmin 3, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Mario Kart 8, Smash Bros. for Wii U, Splatoon, Super Mario Maker, Xenoblade Chronicles X, Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Nintendo question! Nintendo is well known for their great 1st party software. If you compare the first party games across console generations, which Nintendo console (not including Switch) do you think had the overall strongest lineup of 1st party games? (Obviously this is highly subjective, but I'm interested to hear what you guys think. For me it's the N64, but the Gamecube comes very close.)

I wholeheartedly agree with you on Legend of Dragoon. A good game that has definitely aged poorly. Really hope it gets an HD version to smooth out issues and give it some enhancements. This game more than any other PS1 JRPG really needs a new version to speed up the gameplay and expand on the characters and story.

Discussion suggestion: There's a noticeable divide with Strategy/Tactical RPGs and regular RPGs, (leaning more on the Japanese studios in the PSX era) While both hold their own, RPG is a victor in sales, but over the years there's die-hards for strategy. Many narratives have been sold strongly in both, and some styles of story have strengths in either. What keeps RPG players from diving into a Strategy RPG? complexity in battle mechanics? Time consumption of even the easiest of battles? the gaming industry sortof forgot about the genre for a while there, and most today come from indie studios, certainly not many AAA titles, and many great Japanese strategy games were never localized to other countries. I'd love to hear a discussion on the topic.

Paul Metcalf

What are your thoughts about leaks about new projects or behind the scenes news of game making that companies do not want released? Are they damaging to the creation of new media or harmless to new media? Are overly sensational leaks just an aspect of gaming news that are inevitable, or do they occur because of the tight control of information and narrative building that game developers try to have with the games they make?

Imaginary scenario: you get to craft the perfect final fantasy game, only thing is you must include one element from each of the previous entries in it (11 and 14 can be excluded if you want). Whether it's the music, tone, story elements, battle mechanics, equipment systems, etc. Each of the previous games must have some sort of influence in this new title.

Are there any games which are widely revered as classics, but you think may have actually aged very poorly? For example, I absolutely loved Legend of Dragoon when it first released back in 2000, but upon trying to re-play it recently, I can't help but notice how shallow the combat and character development actually are. I've personally found that the game gets extremely repetitive after the first 8-10 hours. In the case of Dragoon, I think many games like Shadow Hearts and Blue Dragon have had similar timing-based combat mechanics, but with far more depth and customization, which has caused Legend of Dragoon's gameplay to feel very dated.

It’s more of a general trope discussion than a specific question so approach from any angle. Do you think that RPGs tend toward having a male main character drawn out of his (at least seemingly) normal mundane life by a mysterious female character rather than the other way round? (Mundane girl, mysterious boy = twilight). If so is it because developers think that all RPG gamers are nerds that dream of having an exciting mysterious girlfriend to pull them out of their humdrum lives? Would an RPG that takes a female main character more seriously (so not FFX-2) be more interesting and original to you?

ChocolateRob