Final Fantasy X HD

carbonkid

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Considering how much of a botch job the PAL version of FFX was I'll be looking forward to this release.

Was it really a botch job...i remember the voice acting for Tidus not been the best but otherwise a solid game. I dont remember running into any bugs or noticeable long load times.

Retr0gamer wrote: »

It kind of has that linear dungeon annoyance of FFXIII and I remember the battle system becoming tiring during random encounters. Also spoony's review pointed out a lot of issues although I did think he was way too harsh.

FFXIII wasnt the best of the FF games, but dont think it was because it was linear. Like you said FFX was just as linear but loved by most jrpg fans. Personally with XIII, i hadnt a clue what i was doing or where i was going...sure did look pretty though ^_^

snausages

XIII's issue was that it was completely railroaded in every respect. X hided its linearity with some diversions and an engrossing story. XIII was a straight line with hardly any NPC interactions. Its story was absurd and made no sense unless you immersed yourself in all this codex BS. The sphere grid in X had some element of progress about it even though it was linear, but XIII had it so you would regularly max out at the end of a stage, everyone played through with teh same party. Plus it had that annoying thing from VI where they don't even allow you to customise your party until several hours in. X gets a pass because of its interesting characters and such but XIII was just grinding to reach a vaguely defined destination point that still made no sense once you got there.

The issue with the PAL version of X is that it's slow and squished. It makes an already slow paced game even slower.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tvFok9xYrs

Retr0gamer

carbonkid wrote: »

Was it really a botch job...i remember the voice acting for Tidus not been the best but otherwise a solid game. I dont remember running into any bugs or noticeable long load times.

The PAL version was an absolutely shocking conversion. Squaresoft never bothered optimising any of their PAL games even in the PS2 era when they were possibly the only big developer not doing it. It wasn't until Kingdom Hearts 2 that square bothered doing proper PAL conversions and even with that one it ran full screen but at a slower speed, Square made a big song and dance about that at the time. Even up until the PAL version of Persona 4 their games suffered from slowdown which was idiotic considering Sony allowed developers to run their games in NTSC after the Devil May Cray PAL version outcry.

There were no bugs in the game, it was more that that game ran very slowly compared to the NTSC version with borders that really affected the visuals by squashing characters and making them look fatter than they were.

carbonkid wrote: »

FFXIII wasnt the best of the FF games, but dont think it was because it was linear. Like you said FFX was just as linear but loved by most jrpg fans. Personally with XIII, i hadnt a clue what i was doing or where i was going...sure did look pretty though ^_^

Well XIII has an awful lot more problems of course I just remember getting a bit sick of the combat in random encounters in a few areas and felt some linear sections outstayed their welcome. I would have been far more tolerant of stuff like that back then. It will be interesting to see anyway and nice to get a version that isn't butchered although the Dark Aeons will be back to piss me off.

carbonkid

snausages wrote: »

In the SD version he has an angular face like a teenager but the HD version looks so weird as to make me not want to play it. Which is a shame for all the reasons Retro mentioned although I'm sure the Dark Aeons will be in this version also.

Its angular because there are less polygons. The ideal situation would be to re-model with the intention to divide the polygons. This involves a lot of work and tampering with the original models. The HD remake just means higher polycount, HD screen size and added lighting effects like ambient occlusion etc. For the most part i think they are trying to keep it to the way it was.

megaten

In terms of visuals the hair annoys me way more. They don't hold up at a higher resolution since its obvious they were designed with them blurring in mind. They just look like paper cut outs attached to the characters head now.

snausages

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpwr_mRSGFM

This looks amazing but I really hate the guitar stuff. Reminds me of that Black Mages/Advent children remix crap.

Aurongroove

FFX had the best turn based system I've ever played. I always loved it, and to be honest, I preferred it over ATB. I wonder if they'll change anything about the game? Grinding for the luck stat was pretty abysmal, along with Lightning bolt dodging and not to mention going to all the trouble of making insanely strong Dark Aeons plus Penance... and then making them one shot destructible with Yojimbo.

Looking at those graphics, I think the game is at risk of looking a bit too sterilized; as if everything, creatures and all, are made out of a lifeless pliable marble.

Aurongroove

Also god help us all but some of those Minigames in X-2 not to mention the game itself, was/were a real drag.

Lets hope they've fixed the Mascot Garment Bug.
Despite qualifying for it on two separate occasions, and achieving 100% completion, I have never even laid eyes on the Mascot garment let alone equipped it.

Retr0gamer

I'm going to go back through FFX-2 with an open mind the next time I play it. I won't think of it as a sequel to FFX but more as a bizarre fan fiction because even though it was silly it was a lot of fun. Also I won't being going in trying to get 100% completion. I can live without it now. Back when I played it I stopped playing when I found I missed loads and couldn't go back to find them again. I'm not as OCD anymore (thank you P&P roleplaying for teaching me the way to properly play WRPGs).

ancapailldorcha

Retr0gamer wrote: »

I'm going to go back through FFX-2 with an open mind the next time I play it. I won't think of it as a sequel to FFX but more as a bizarre fan fiction because even though it was silly it was a lot of fun. Also I won't being going in trying to get 100% completion. I can live without it now. Back when I played it I stopped playing when I found I missed loads and couldn't go back to find them again. I'm not as OCD anymore (thank you P&P roleplaying for teaching me the way to properly play WRPGs).

I quite enjoyed FFX-2's battle system though it was the second RPG I ever played (after FFX). The story just killed it for me.
P&P roleplaying?

Retr0gamer

Pen and Paper, the ultimate in nerdy past times. My friend got me into a P&P group a while back and it was a lot of fun. A surprising mix of guys and girls playing. It thought me where RPGs come from and not to play them trying to get the best ending or being super nice. Play a character in character and make the story your own is the way to play WRPGs I found. I thought me to let go as well when it comes to 100% games which was a bad OCD habit I picked up.

NoviGlitzko

FFX HD is to be released on the 18th of March 2014. Glad we got a date but it's later than I anticipated unfortunately.

I haven't played this game since 2008 so I've been holding off when I heard of the HD release.

Adamcp898

Why oh why could this not be released on the 360 I remember buying it on release day and knocked a ridiculous amount of time out of FFX on the PS2

carbonkid

Adamcp898 wrote: »

Why oh why could this not be released on the 360 I remember buying it on release day and knocked a ridiculous amount of time out of FFX on the PS2

That is kinda weird...i assumed it would be released on 360. Must be a licensing agreement with sony, when it was originally released on PS2.

Retr0gamer

I'd imagine it's more to do with the money Square are investing in it. It's a cheap port that Square can farm out to a third party on the cheap, making a 360 version will add to the expense. The main market for this would be Japan where polls show FFX now to be everyone's favourite FF game. The market for RPG re-issues isn't so big in the West and their biggest JRPG audience would be on PS3 more so than 360. Any license agreements would be well up by this stage.

In other words, Square's bean counters decided more money would be made this way.

Pushtrak

A friend of my brother had X-2 and I gave it a go for an hour. It didn't motivate me to play further, and a chance to do so didn't present itself. Would likely have chosen something else even if it had. Does it actually get good though?

Retr0gamer

I was having a lot of fun with it until I realised I couldn't go back and complete quests I left behind which during my OCD 100% completion phase made me rage quit. I'd be much more forgiving of the game now. Just treat it as fan fiction instead of canon because some of it is really stupid. If you can laugh at the stupid you'll have fun.

I just saw that they are remastering the soundtrack which I'm not happy with. They seem to be taking quite a lot of liberties with it as well. I hope you can choose your soundtrack because these remasters aren't the composers original intention and are really just bad cover versions as a result.

snausages

Previous FF remasters have allowed that so I don't see why this wouldn't. I don't like the new sound either.

Klair88

yeah the video of the new sound didn't impress me. I loved that soundtrack! Very interested to see the trophies for the game and their requirements.

Also, i absolutely loved FFX. It's my 2nd favourite FF game.. but i never played X-2. I learned long ago that it was a wise choice but i'm tempted to play it now, seeing as i'm getting both on the one disc!

Gbear

The battle music there sounds good to me, except the cring-inducingly awful guitar.

When I turned it down a bit so I couldn't really hear the guitar it sounded fine.

With FFVIII released on Steam I'd like to think that means IX, X and X-2 won't be too far behind.

snausages

Probably not as none of them were ported to PC

Kiith

Really looking forward to playing X again, but I hated X-2. I know it's supposed to be a light hearted version, but ugh...didn't even get past the start bit where Yuna and co. were singing in the stadium.

thomond2006

This seems to be a cheap option for the limited edition version: http://www.zavvi.com/games/platforms/ps3/final-fantasy-x/x-2-hd-remaster-limited-edition/10856117.html

Is the release date 27th December though?

F1ngers

thomond2006 wrote: »

Is the release date 27th December though?

March 18th in the US, maybe the 20th here.

thomond2006

Ah ok, it actually says 31st March 2014 in the pre-order for the regular edition.

I can't wait for it, I loved FFX. I didn't really like the slant that FFX-2 took though!

Klair88

Here's the trophy list.


Dodge 200 Lightning Bolts, Obtain all Celestial Weapons, Defeat Penance.. Full 100% completion really. Looking forward to doing it all again!

snausages

Apparently there might be an FFX-3: http://www.novacrystallis.com/2013/12/final-fantasy-xx-2-hd-remaster-voice-drama-spoilers-leak-out-suggest-sequel-is-inevitable/

Sin might be coming back. Wonder if they'd continue the strand in FFX-2 where it was all a prequel to FFVII. Maybe Sin could be Jenova or something.

ancapailldorcha

snausages wrote: »

Apparently there might be an FFX-3: http://www.novacrystallis.com/2013/12/final-fantasy-xx-2-hd-remaster-voice-drama-spoilers-leak-out-suggest-sequel-is-inevitable/

Sin might be coming back. Wonder if they'd continue the strand in FFX-2 where it was all a prequel to FFVII. Maybe Sin could be Jenova or something.

Wouldn't surprise me. Square Enix seem to a bit desperate for ideas these days.

Risteard

Just gimme the HD, no need for X-3.

What is puzzling though is the refusal to remake 7. If they're willing to add in all this stuff because they need ideas for games, then Remaking 7 is probably like a winning lottery ticket to them. Of course this is all on the proviso that the assumption of an X-3 are true.

Unless it's being held back as sort of their last phoenix down to save them if they ever get into financial trouble. /****ty FF joke.:p

That trophy list looks fair difficult though. Both a blessing and a curse, in that it will probably motivate me to actually 100% but that lightning bolt one is going to drive me insane.

ancapailldorcha

I don't think nearly enough people played FFVII to make it worth remaking. It'd essentially be making a new game from scratch. I didn't know the game even existed until I was finishing secondary school though that's obviously anecdotal. It's far too big of an investment to indulge simple nostalgia. If Square Enix thought it'd be a good idea, then they'd do it. Today's generation seems mainly interested in the likes of Call of Duty and Battlefield than RPGs.

Risteard

True, it could be that I'm overestimating the level of exposure it had compared to FFX. It was the first FF I played and was blown away by it, so obviously my own personal memories of it will impact that. That said X is probably my favourite game if all time so I couldn't give 2 farts if they remake VII since I'm getting to play X again.

snausages

Ocarina 3D sold pretty well considering the platform. VII-HD would break records.

Apparently you cant change the soundtrack in the re-release. I'm going to look and see if I can find it somewhere to listen to. Pity the battle theme sounds so busy and over-orchestrated.

ancapailldorcha

snausages wrote: »

VII-HD would break records.

I doubt it. Nintendo games seem to have their own devoted band of followers who'll buy them regardless, though it's been explained to me that their games are almost always high quality and largely peerless.
FFVII on the other hand is a basic RPG and there are much more satisfying experiences available. Square Enix knows this. I'd say your best hope is modding the PC version. Remember, this is the company that released this. If they thought there was any chance of a remake doing better than breaking even then they'd have done it by now. The idea that they're holding it back as some kind of ace in the hole is ridiculous.

Retr0gamer

Ocarina of Time did ok but didn't get the sales that a HD remake of FFVII would warrant to be considered successful. The game will have to be made from the ground up, there's no easy way to up res FFVII like they did with FFX. Also it would need some major work done on it. FFVII is quite simple and I'm not sure it will go down well in this day and age when you have the likes of SMT's press turn system and even the likes of Bravely Default. The game in it's original form is pretty janky as well, the mini games are awful and it's an obvious rush job in many areas. it would need a lot of polish. One worry could be the fanboys getting annoyed if they change too much even if it makes it a better game. In short basically they would have to give it the budget of a brand new game.

There's a large vocal group that wants a FFVII remake but the fact is that nostalgia doesn't sell and the group that want FFVII and will buy it is far smaller than the audience Square Enix would get with a brand new game.

Also one of the reasons FFX has been chosen to be remade is that in recent japanese polls it's now voted as the favourite by the public. There's a much bigger audience there for FFX and it cost them a fraction of cost a FFVII remake would cost.

snausages

This book is coming out today: http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Final_Fantasy_X-2.5

Final Fantasy X-2.5 (ugh :rolleyes:). I'd say it's almost certain there'll be a X-3.

snausages

Neogaf has some translated stuff from X-2.5. It sounds awful: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=741166

Tidus kicks a blitzball and his head explodes lol.

Kiith

That sounds beyond bad. Like a really bad fan fiction sequel.

Surely, even with Square Enix being as bad as they are now, this couldn't be real?

snausages

The badness is probably exaggerated. Having said that I caught a look at Lightning Returns leaked ending on youtube an it's probably the barmiest ending to an FF yet.

Lightning travels to France

snausages

Very disappointed by some of the videos of this on Youtube. FFX was famous at the time for its facial animation detail but in the new game the characters look like inanimate dolls. Wakka is the exception for some reason.

Retr0gamer

snausages wrote: »

Very disappointed by some of the videos of this on Youtube. FFX was famous at the time for its facial animation detail but in the new game the characters look like inanimate dolls. Wakka is the exception for some reason.

Rose tinted glasses. Those animations haven't been changed since the original release.

snausages

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Rose tinted glasses. Those animations haven't been changed since the original release.

This is a massive difference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxeZC_Q4hmU

Look at those dead eyes. Tidus is even worse (5:30)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKAHAT4pbM0

RedXIV

snausages wrote: »

This is a massive difference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxeZC_Q4hmU

When you look at this video, you have to admit, it does look a lot worse than the original

NoviGlitzko

You have to remember this isn't your TV screen your looking at. I bought Kingdom Hearts 1 HD which came out about the same time and the difference was truly massive.

Retr0gamer

Depth of field effects seem to be totally missing as well. PS2 was a beast when it came to post processing effects and transparencies while the PS3 and 360 to a lesser extent really struggles with them. It's beginning to look like the Silent Hill port where they have pared back on these so that it will work on the new machines.

snausages

NoviGlitzko wrote: »

You have to remember this isn't your TV screen your looking at. I bought Kingdom Hearts 1 HD which came out about the same time and the difference was truly massive.

You don't really need to see it on a TV though, the difference is pretty plain to see. On a tv it'll look sharper but sometimes sharper isn't always better with these old games.

Varik

Disappointed that there won't be an option for the Japanese audio, I didn't care when the game came out but after hearing and recognizing some of the voices (especially waka) that I'd like the option. In this age of DLC I'd say it'll show up and unless it's an exorbitant price I'll get it.

Retr0gamer

http://www.usgamer.net/articles/reconsidering-final-fantasys-awkward-middle-age-with-final-fantasy-x-hd

Sephiroth_dude

So whos getting this?

Risteard

I'll definitely be picking it up at some point but won't be for ages due to the impending **** ton of college work that's about to hit in the next month and a half. Will play it then and add it to FF13-3, Bioshock, Tomb Raider and any other PS+ games that have come out in the last two months in my backlog.

This will definitely be first to be played though and that platinum trophy, she will be mine.

NoviGlitzko

Same. I have no platinum trophies yet but what better place to start with one of my all time favourite games. Unfortunately, I won't be able to pick this up myself with work and because there will be a lot of it before I go on holidays in a couple of weeks. Straight away purchase when I get back though. Really can't wait!