modern hd final fantasy is simply bad. except XIV.
XIII - simplyterrible. it lack of 'proper' content but i do believe that those stuff like linear and no town etc never been part of devs intention since beginning. crystal tools is just terrible. however XIII-2 deserved some recognition since it actually pretty decent game, a step up compared to XIII. XIII-2 and LRXIII is a prove of what the devs can do once they settle down and get used to the tools they have. put aside the creative content, but those game has what an rpg should have which is missing in the first HD 720p final fantasy xiii games. town, quest, open area for example. it is sad since this, to think that i get very sceptical about wherever square capable to square output a game with proper content like open area, quest, town etc compared to other big western rpg developers. even XV feels like a failed attempt.
XV- however, doing little bit better than XIII but still left too many things to desired at. just decent game thats all, but definitely not right up in the quality that 'Final Fantasy' name should have. i wonder how the reception if the game doesnt carry the franchise name. only things that it manage to done is connect with the player but thats all. but since that game is the team first open world game with new developed engine alongside it actually kind of understandable. now they should already has the knowhow of developed open world game and the engine is finished, so with the technical aspect is ironed out they can focus more on creative stuff and for their next game, i expect some quality jump.
XIV- this is a game that return my faith in the series and perhaps save the franchise. to think that an mmo version of the mainline final fantasy game is the one that manage to do what other single player ff cannot in this past decade. you look for a game that with quality and content like those ps2 era or ps1 final fantasy? you get it in there. it even sit among the best in the series and i would rank it among the best rpg ever, despite has mmo label on it. you want multiple traversal option? i used to wonder why square cant do rpg like bethesda or cdprojekt did, where player roam big world ride a chocobo. but it is there. swim, dive? it is there. quest system like skyrim which is trend of modern rpg? it is there. even personally for me each quest of FFXIV has storyline in it, not just merely go there and kill the bland fetch quest.
the game structure despite has mmo label on it, very much has modern rpg trait in it which is missing in XIII and even badly existed in XV. strip all those online component, and FFXIV still would have no problem exist as single player game and sit as one of the best in market. mark my word. well no suprise since that game basically like single player game with multiplayer element. you want xenoblade style game? here we get. it is quest driven heavy story system.
at first like other people i also complain to those who put this game as one of mainline numbered final fantasy game, believing this game is mmo so it should never been grouped together. but ohh boy once i play by myself, i never been glad to eat my own word myself. this game has the final fantasy souls that lost this past decade. everything that ff fans wished and dreamed of nowdays it is right there. at first i tried due to i starve to play some mmo since it been awhile i played one and while being curious to those praise Heavensward get. at first i though it just 'good' on mmo standard thats all. but hoo boy... never been glad to be wrong. only regret is i wish i play it earlier.
FFVII R - this is a pleasant suprise. i never thought they nailed it. put aside XIV, after a decade, finally square enix able to ship a 'proper' and good rpg. the combat is stellar. all these years square enix is looking for new formula which is allow them goes action while without abandon the command turnbased system and they found it. it even has the 'ideal' summon formula that they been searching for all this time. it probably the best system square enix manage to create nowdays. great balance between action and command, easier to pick but has deep depth to master. you know it is good and solid once there are player did some crazy stuff like having 3 frog fighting sephiroth. for the structure, despite the linear aspect which is understandable due to ealier midgar part of original game, the content, moment to moment feels so high quality that i feels like playing a 3rd person, single player linear sony first party games. although some stuff like whispers which is i hate very-very much but the rest part of the game is cant be ignored. downside is the sidequest which is feels very low quality, cheap fetch quest but it not such a big issue since it just optional, smaller portion which is just designed to give break time for player before continue the story. this game also example of what the devs can do if they already settle down their technical aspect. using good and complete engine like UE4 surely helped and give lot more room to the developers. i do worry about how they tackle next open area part but hopefully they can pull it of especially considering next gen console has fast ssd to utilize at. but overall, the game has solid foundation for next part.
looking back, it not these developers not capable, but they get held back, struggled on technology standpoint. during ps3 era, lot of japanese devs including square enix struggle to develop game in hd. this is even affecting big name franchise like FF. things might be different if they never has the issue. imagine is Crystal Tools is great engine, easier to work or they use UE3 instead since beginning. FFXIII might not end up linear no town game with better story and character exposure. we might get Versus 13. we might get KH3 much earlier. but however we might never get current XIV.