System Features is a repetition from the traditions that we kept for FFXV, but the identity of Final Fantasy is that all those RPG elements are in place. No matter what, we want to make sure everything is included for every numbered Final Fantasy title.
So he wants Final Fantasy games to still be rpgs, makes sense.
The second feature wed like to carry over is the Action Battle System from FFXV.
I like both action and turn based systems when they are done right. If Final Fantasy wants to keep on challenging itself as a franchise, this is a direction they should move in. What makes combat fun in an rpg is the ability to grow your characters in very different and diverse ways. If you gave FFV an action battle system the gameplay would still feel great due to all of the thought the player gets to put into on how they level their characters.
With that being said, Id make it where you can actually fail next time. I dont need FF titles to be insanely difficult but the balance of FFXV (parry system/items) simply doesnt work.
And lastly, what we did with FFXV, the open-world design, thats something Id like to explore once again.
We broke a lot of traditions in designing an open-world game with FFXV, and we saw a lot of thingswe saw a lot of the potential that an open-world design has, and we dont want to go backwards. We want to continue moving forward in this direction and its something Id like to definitely put in place for my next FF.
Im all for this, I felt like FFXVs open world (or open continent) did show some strengths. The atmosphere that comes from of being able to see the world and its landmarks from miles away can feel really good at times.
Final Fantasy 15 told a piss poor story but Im not entirely convinced that this was only due to the games open world design. I can think of tons of examples of ways they couldve injected more story elements into the locations the party travels too.
With that being said, Id also personally be fine with a more linear experience too. It all depends on how its conducted.
Maybe one character would have a very traditional means of leveling up where its really just about gaining experience and leveling up. Maybe a second character, their leveling up is purely based on how many times they actually attack enemies and how many times they get hit by enemies. Maybe a third character is a blue mage, and they level up only when they learn a new spell from an enemy. Maybe if we want to make a true open-world design, maybe the characters all should have different features, different attributes, and design a leveling system that revolves around those unique characters.
Experimenting is how we move forward but Id try this with a side title first. Though I do like that he mentioned bringing back Blue Mages.
"Maybe next time around the main story should still be clear to the player, but maybe the side quests offer up a lot more color. Maybe some are extremely difficult, some are extremely easy, some are very serious, some are very fun. But just giving a lot more variety to this open-world design and really making it feel cohesive is my goal for the next time I come around to making an FF."
This
"What Im thinking is to really take advantage of the open-world design, maybe the main story shouldnt always be so obvious to the player. Maybe the player should have to explore and kind of find out where they need to go next. And maybe its just the line between the main story and the side quests are a little blurred where its more of a gradation and more of a blend, so the side quests are more of an extension of the main story. And so its more about the players seeing the adventure through on their own."
Not this, if you want to add side quests to the main story those side quests need to be far better than what we have been getting. The side quests should be an extension to the main story as they teach you more about the important characters and the world. The camping quests are the only ones that attempted this in FFXV. I'd also personally be happier with less side quests.
Id be fine if this guy works on the next Final Fantasy game, he just needs to work with people who also see the value in more traditional game design.
