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Would you like the next main Final Fantasy to have the same art style as KingsGlaive?
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Dark_castle
Junior Member
While I appreciate that Kingsglaive had a pretty interesting Japanese's take on Western character design and art style, my dream for the next mainline FFXVI to more like FFIX with a more stylized, non-realistic charming cartoon-ish art direction.
What identity crisis...?
MagnaderAlpha
Member
I've been wanting an early-20th century styled world. Basically, 1900-1940 in visual style. Lots of dieselpunk machinery, detectives(hard-boiled), flappers, mobsters, all with a fantasy edge. There will still be sorts of Magitek weaponry(robots and such), crystals, dragons, kingdoms, but all with a sort of film noir setting. For instance, have a femme fatale that's also a powerful sorceress(or summoner), a hero that's a chain-smoking detective(who has a sort of gunblade) sent on a case but embroiled in a grander scheme that engulfs the world at war . Crime families fighting on the streets for control of the Magicite market. Cities that look fantasy/art deco, part-Fritz Lang's Metropolis
part-Burton's Gotham City
and part-sci-fi fantasy like this from Jean Giraud:
There is no identity crisis. FFXV's world is what it is and the world seems pretty consistent(even though the characters have changed) since the Versus days. It was always meant to be a world where modern cities co-exist with myth and monsters, and where places like Lucis were the most advanced, while other nations were more in lesser states of modernization. Thats... pretty much how it was and how the world still is.
DiipuSurotu
Banned
Yes.
Pejo
Member
Personally, all I've ever wanted was Kingdom Hearts levels of artstyle and graphics. Really clean, well animated, but like not photo-realistic. I feel like it's a nice mix for the types of characters created. These anime hairstyles never look right when slapped onto realistic bodies.
Coincedentally, this is also the artstyle I'd like them to use if they ever full-on remake FFVI.
Coincedentally, this is also the artstyle I'd like them to use if they ever full-on remake FFVI.
FFXV doesn't know what it wants to be, or at the very least, that's what FFXV's incredibly bad marketing makes me believe. For example, FFXV and its extended universe have no visual coherency. Characters in Kingsglaive look rather realistic while their game counterparts are obviously more stylized. Kingsglaive's designs bleed over into XV, but even then it's not consistent as Luna is still stylized. Characters that appear in both XV and Kingsglaive have two voice actors to appeal to different crowds. Insomnia itself was heavily changed from its original depiction due to complaints from the Japanese fans that it looked too much like Tokyo. The current Insomnia is the result of (again) trying to appeal to different crowds simultaneously, but it all looks like jumbled mess to me.
The concept itself is not the problem. In fact, I always thought that "A fantasy based on reality" was a great idea. In the end, I get the impression that FFXV doesn't know whether it wants to the more lucrative Western market or to their traditional (but dwindling) fanbase in Japan. The changes of various character designs (Regis, Prompto) and gameplay elements show that they want to appeal more to the west, but they are obviously not willing to give up their Japanese roots as they stick to the typical Japanese acting and scripts.
So yes, there is an identity crisis.
sublimit
Banned
This is exactly how i feel as well.
I don't have much stake in FF anymore, but if I were to focus on things that would actually interest me again, I have no real need for making things feel more Westernized, but also don't believe that leaning too far toward excesses in JRPG sensibilities would be wise. As far as setting and art direction go, something more akin to FFX and Chrono Cross (particularly the latter) would be more interesting to me than what we're getting in XV or the idea of going back to a medieval swords-and-sorcery style.
Speaking of FFX: I hope XV has a scene that's a memorable as Yuna's first sending.
Slamtastic
Member
Yes!
If they're going go towards realism in all their details like hair and shaders, get the facial structure of the characters to look like humans instead of anime.
If they're going go towards realism in all their details like hair and shaders, get the facial structure of the characters to look like humans instead of anime.
The Praiseworthy
Member
As a huge FF fan... I wouldn't mind it.
But I would prefer FFIX style.
But I would prefer FFIX style.
Newtype-001
Member
This is the setting not the art style.
For example would you want a FF in the same setting as IX but with photorealistic graphics like those of KingsGlaive?
Hmmm i dont think id like that.
I prefer the less realisitc stylised look.
John Kowalski
Banned
I don't know, I don't think all this fidelity is paying off tbh.
umop_3pisdn
Member
Same. I kind of think Square's usual style is a bit tired and KingsGlaive actually feels fresh for them.
Moon Presence
Member
I would like something like FFVI, FFIX or XII. Really miss that aesthetic and atmosphere.
Edit: I would go insane if they showed something post apocalyptic. A Final Fantasy dark adventure in a bizarre, intriguing world would be amazing
Edit: I would go insane if they showed something post apocalyptic. A Final Fantasy dark adventure in a bizarre, intriguing world would be amazing
sublimit
Banned
Me too!
I want this the most.
What is distinctly JRPG?
You have to remember that Final Fantasy is the agent of change for the entire genre. The series has always been the standard that other JRPGs aspire towards. Final Fantasy is never going to go back to looking like Xenoblade X or Star Outsource V, it's going to continue to use the latest tech and inspire JRPG developers like Bamco to stop releasing HD PS2 games. The entire genre took a step backwards last gen, which is partially why it became irrelevant until this generation.
umop_3pisdn
Member
This style emerged when, with FF7? FF8? It's not definitive for the genre and it feels like time for a change.
mortal
Gold Member
Very much so! Well, not specifically FFXVI, but a mainline Final Fantasy nonetheless.
Admittedly, the realistic artstyle of the film works so well because of the implementation of the fantasy based on reality aesthetic. It feels natural, and contrasts rather well with the fantastical elements.
I would just love to see a mainline Final Fantasy game with a less perfected approach to character design. Possibly an older character in the lead role. I mean anywhere between early 30's to mid 50's. A more exotic and unconventional cast of characters even. I know a lot of people will automatically point to XII, but I mean beyond that. That's thinking in the past.
As much as I am a fan of Nomura, as an artist , his designs at times can be a bit too homogenous. Where in most of the characters are young, typically attractive, with little to no physical flaws. Beyond him, it's really become an issue with most of Square Enix designs across the board, save for a few examples.
Final Fantasy art is a expression of beauty, whether it be embodied or more abstract. But the exploration of beauty shouldn't have to be restricted to conventions. Final Fantasy survived this long because of how often it's been reinvented, both mechanically and creatively. Kingsglaive serves as a great example of what happens when square is willing to explore and bring interesting and unusual concepts together.
Admittedly, the realistic artstyle of the film works so well because of the implementation of the fantasy based on reality aesthetic. It feels natural, and contrasts rather well with the fantastical elements.
I would just love to see a mainline Final Fantasy game with a less perfected approach to character design. Possibly an older character in the lead role. I mean anywhere between early 30's to mid 50's. A more exotic and unconventional cast of characters even. I know a lot of people will automatically point to XII, but I mean beyond that. That's thinking in the past.
As much as I am a fan of Nomura, as an artist , his designs at times can be a bit too homogenous. Where in most of the characters are young, typically attractive, with little to no physical flaws. Beyond him, it's really become an issue with most of Square Enix designs across the board, save for a few examples.
Final Fantasy art is a expression of beauty, whether it be embodied or more abstract. But the exploration of beauty shouldn't have to be restricted to conventions. Final Fantasy survived this long because of how often it's been reinvented, both mechanically and creatively. Kingsglaive serves as a great example of what happens when square is willing to explore and bring interesting and unusual concepts together.
Implying that the Tales of design choices have anything to do with "inspiration" and not the shoestring budget they have to deal with.
Final Fantasy series has not done anything for the genre in a long while and since this particular game is not even trying lead and move forward the genre but instead trying to catch up with the bigger and most popular games that raised in the last years... yeah.
sublimit
Banned
Yeah but who made photorealism the "high standard" that Final Fantasy games should aspire to achieve?
I've been wanting an early-20th century styled world. Basically, 1900-1940 in visual style. Lots of dieselpunk machinery, detectives(hard-boiled), flappers, mobsters, all with a fantasy edge. There will still be sorts of Magitek weaponry(robots and such), crystals, dragons, kingdoms, but all with a sort of film noir setting. For instance, have a femme fatale that's also a powerful sorceress(or summoner), a hero that's a chain-smoking detective(who has a sort of gunblade) sent on a case but embroiled in a grander scheme that engulfs the world at war . Crime families fighting on the streets for control of the Magicite market. Cities that look fantasy/art deco, part-Fritz Lang's Metropolis
part-Burton's Gotham City
and part-sci-fi fantasy like this from Jean Giraud:
Are you me? I've been having similar fantasies about a FF with a more fantastical Film Noir setting, or something inspired by surreal 70's Sci-Fi like Moebius (which I haven't read, but the images I've seen are wonderful) or also like Panzer Dragoon Saga. But all of that just setting-wise. Visually I definitely want the realistic style like Kingsglaive.
Moebius:
Panzer Dragoon Saga:
Ah man, so many amazing images and ideas in my head right now, that I would love to see being realized
umop_3pisdn
Member
Honestly at this point I'd take practically anything that feels fresh for Square. I think it says a lot that a fairly generic art style like this one is able to accomplish that for them.
DiipuSurotu
Banned
and part-sci-fi fantasy like this from Jean Giraud:
Yusuke Naora's early concept art for Final Fantasy X was very Moebius-like:
Hibiki Kurosawa
Member
No, looks uglier than FFXV and I'm not a super fan of FFXV's art style.
What the hell. I knew about the early FFX concept "Seventeen" and 3 or so images of proto-Tidus/Yuna/Auron, but I've never seen those environment images before. Looks dope and actually the direction I was fantasizing about in my last post! Thanks for posting.Yusuke Naora's early concept art for Final Fantasy X was very Moebius-like:
RevolverRoden
Member
As long as there's Nomura, the jpop will never stop.
Crossing Eden
Hello, my name is Yves Guillemot, Vivendi S.A.'s Employee of the Month!
Their tech demos are pretty much proof that they have no intention to go back to a heavily stylized look. FF is supposed to be the cutting edge of the Japanese games industry and they're already testing what's possible with a global audience.
Teletraan1
Banned
I like the Ivalice aesthetic personally and wish they carried on with that. We saw the tech age of Ivalice pretty well in XII but we got limited exposure to what rose up after that fell in FFT due to the nature of the game and tech at the time. I want to explore that Ivalice. Plus no moogles lol. I would also love to see a mainline with painterly graphics featuring Amano art but I don't think that would do well at retail.
ArkhamFantasy
Member
You mean like World of Final Fantasy? =)
Crossing Eden
Hello, my name is Yves Guillemot, Vivendi S.A.'s Employee of the Month!
I was talking more in terms of mainline entries, not spin offs.
World of FF art would NEVER make it for a main line entry in the series.
Incitemaybe
Member
I agree, everything since 10 had looked like an abomination to me.
Paradox me
Member
Honestly, as far as JRPGs go, I feel like Final Fantasy has shown some restraint. It's undeniably Japanese, but rarely has it been overwhelmingly so (in my opinion). I love Kingsglaive/FFXV's direction as a one off and for its similarities to parts of FFVIII, but I'd like XVI to lean more towards traditional fantasy. More Western in the sense that the first five or six games in the series were very much based on Western fantasy. Ivalice, FFXI and FFXIV are more or less what I'm asking for. I feel like those are close enough to the series' roots of knights, wizard, European style castles, etc. while still setting themselves apart from actual WRPGs. Preferably they would then alternate between more traditional fantasy and science fantasy for each installment.
Not sure what you are talking about. FF as the series is the most diverse in settings. FFXIII is pure futuristic while FFXIV is significantly fantasy-ish. Now FFXV is taking the FFVIII route and goes modern.
No one complains when other JRPG franchises use the same old anime art direction since forever. But FF is somehow generic even though each title since FFIX has distinct setting. Also I challenge you to name one single game that has similar art style with FFXV that is not FFVIII.
umop_3pisdn
Member
I'm not talking about the setting, I'm talking about the character designs, which as far as I can tell is the main thing that is different between FFXV and Kingslave, so presumably that's what pretty much what a lot of other people are talking about too.
Also FF is supposed to be a stylish franchise, the standards are different. Nomura's stuff used to feel stylish to me, but after the better part of two decades I don't feel that way anymore.