Sakaguchi to Square-Enix: 'Stop rehasing Final Fantasy'

Hironobu Sakaguchi, creator of the Final Fantasy series, recently took part in a candid exchange with a Square Enix employee in which he told the company to stop endlessly rehashing the same game.

Hironobu Sakaguchi, generally credited with creating the Final Fantasy series, left his executive vice president position at Square in 2004 to start his own studio, Mistwalker, responsible for Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey.

In a (light-hearted and friendly) Twitter based exchange with game designer Takashi Tokita, current head of one of Square Enix's development divisions, he was surprisingly frank:

Sakaguchi : "What about if you stopped all the rehashing of Final Fantasy?"

Tokita : "We're planning to!"

Twitter

Sakaguchi fields scepticism about his own current project, "The Last Story":

Ahiru0026: "Last Story sounds just like a Final Fantasy rehash from its title alone, what's up with that then?"

Sakaguchi : "If you tried it, I think you'd see it's not in any way a rehash."
Twitter

Few could help but sympathise with Sakaguchi's comments – Japan's gaming industry, and in particular its RPG segment, have become stultifyingly unoriginal in recent years, failing to innovate in any significant fashion save moderate improvements in graphics.

Even Square Enix boss Wada, known to be a fan of western games, has given hints that the franchise may finally move on – might change finally be in the air?

Edit: You can get the full article from SankakuComplex

Doubt it. FF is a staple francise. Also the fact that they can always try something different with the series since nothing connects. Which to me is a plus to the series. Since if you dont like one part its not a fact that you will not like the next since it will be different. To me the main thing FF13 lacked was a bit more freedom. Im not talking uncessery big like 12 but somewhere in the middle. FF13 combat was great though.

He's right about The Last Story not being anything like FF though.Thunderdrone

Which is surprising considering the titles are synonymous.

I thought FF XIII was a great new entry to the series and while it didnt give the series new life it was a bold new step.

I hope SE steps up their quality

Is this from Kotaku?thom_maytees

I just check on kotaku and I havent seen this. so It can't be

I thought FF XIII was a great new entry to the series and while it didnt give the series new life it was a bold new step.

Shirokishi_

Aside from similar titles, Last Story already looks like a radically different game. When was the last time you saw a stealth and cover system in a JRPG?

As if Lost Odyssey wasn't a FF rehash, how ironic.

As if Lost Odyssey wasn't a FF rehash, how ironic.

Ziek-AAT

Rehash or not its better than any recent FF titles, the battle system made me remember old school FF.

When the original creator of FF is getting annoyed with SE, that's a bad sign for the company's future.nervmeister

This seems very ironic to me. His studio has released two very generic JRPGs while every Final Fantasy does something different to stay fresh. The only thing SE seems to rehash with the franchise is the name.

[QUOTE="Ziek-AAT"]

As if Lost Odyssey wasn't a FF rehash, how ironic.

archvile_78

Rehash or not its better than any recent FF titles, the battle system made me remember old school FF.

People don't know what they want.siLVURcross

This seems very ironic to me. His studio has released two very generic JRPGs while every Final Fantasy does something different to stay fresh. The only thing SE seems to rehash with the franchise is the name.

Ragnarok1051

Whats rehasing?

This seems very ironic to me. His studio has released two very generic JRPGs while every Final Fantasy does something different to stay fresh. The only thing SE seems to rehash with the franchise is the name.

Ragnarok1051

Right on the spot. If it was just a rehash the gameplay would be the same again and again and again which it isint. Each FF is different in one way or another.

Definitely agree, too many spin-offs based on VII and now they are doing the same with XIII.

Also, what silVURCROSS said is also true, Fans really don't know what they want. All of them are demanding a remake of VII while others want a new original IP.

As if he could be more of a hypocrite, maybe his new game is different, but so far I've enjoyed FFXIII more than any of his games since he went to mistwalker, and I didn't think FFXIII was all that.

On "The last Story":

In the game the protagonist Elza will attack the enemies automatically, and you just need to press the corresponding button to evade attack or use his unique Gathering power, which attracts nearby monsters.

Now I'm kind of worried.

As if Lost Odyssey wasn't a FF rehash, how ironic.

Ziek-AAT

Lost odyssey is a great game

Sounds like Final Fantasy is about to get a Reboot.

[QUOTE="Ziek-AAT"]

As if Lost Odyssey wasn't a FF rehash, how ironic.

Wild_man_22

Lost odyssey is a great game

No, it is not.

[QUOTE="Wild_man_22"]

[QUOTE="Ziek-AAT"]

As if Lost Odyssey wasn't a FF rehash, how ironic.

Ziek-AAT

Lost odyssey is a great game

No, it is not.

▲ I wonder...what are the possibilities that Bioware will be making a Final Fantasy game in the near future. Many Japanese developers are now outsourcing to western devs. I could see this happening. ▲

[QUOTE="Wild_man_22"]

[QUOTE="Ziek-AAT"]

As if Lost Odyssey wasn't a FF rehash, how ironic.

Ziek-AAT

Lost odyssey is a great game

No, it is not.

I, for one, enjoyed the battle system as it was some kind of throwback to old school turn-based RPG i grew up with. So yes it is.

[QUOTE="Ziek-AAT"]

[QUOTE="Wild_man_22"]

Lost odyssey is a great game

archvile_78

No, it is not.

I, for one, enjoyed the battle system as it was some kind of throwback to old school turn-based RPG i grew up with. So yes it is.

As if he could be more of a hypocrite, maybe his new game is different, but so far I've enjoyed FFXIII more than any of his games since he went to mistwalker, and I didn't think FFXIII was all that.

On "The last Story":

In the game the protagonist Elza will attack the enemies automatically, and you just need to press the corresponding button to evade attack or use his unique Gathering power, which attracts nearby monsters.

Now I'm kind of worried.

110million

[QUOTE="archvile_78"]

[QUOTE="Ziek-AAT"]

No, it is not.

110million

I, for one, enjoyed the battle system as it was some kind of throwback to old school turn-based RPG i grew up with. So yes it is.

I agree with you, from time to time, i'll be grinding to learn certain skills but the little intro before each fight gets tiring after a while. I think you know what i'm talking about.

@yoshi_64: I thought the Gambit system in XII was horrible, the game was playing by itself BUT i'm happy it was optional and not forced.

[QUOTE="110million"]

As if he could be more of a hypocrite, maybe his new game is different, but so far I've enjoyed FFXIII more than any of his games since he went to mistwalker, and I didn't think FFXIII was all that.

On "The last Story":

In the game the protagonist Elza will attack the enemies automatically, and you just need to press the corresponding button to evade attack or use his unique Gathering power, which attracts nearby monsters.

Now I'm kind of worried.

yoshi_64

[QUOTE="110million"][QUOTE="archvile_78"]

I, for one, enjoyed the battle system as it was some kind of throwback to old school turn-based RPG i grew up with. So yes it is.

archvile_78

I agree with you, from time to time, i'll be grinding to learn certain skills but the little intro before each fight gets tiring after a while. I think you know what i'm talking about.

Lost in translation? FF 13 wasn't a rehash at all. Vs. 13 also is a different direction from the main series. SilverChimera

[QUOTE="archvile_78"]

[QUOTE="110million"] I liked how the immortals could learn the skills of the others, but the poor framerate and slow paced combat took too long for typical random battles. 110million

I agree with you, from time to time, i'll be grinding to learn certain skills but the little intro before each fight gets tiring after a while. I think you know what i'm talking about.

Heh, i'm myself on Disk 2 but its because i've got too many games to play. D;

[QUOTE="SilverChimera"]Lost in translation? FF 13 wasn't a rehash at all. Vs. 13 also is a different direction from the main series. YuriSH

[QUOTE="SilverChimera"]Lost in translation? FF 13 wasn't a rehash at all. Vs. 13 also is a different direction from the main series. YuriSH

[QUOTE="Ziek-AAT"]

[QUOTE="Wild_man_22"]

Lost odyssey is a great game

archvile_78

No, it is not.

I, for one, enjoyed the battle system as it was some kind of throwback to old school turn-based RPG i grew up with. So yes it is.

[QUOTE="Wild_man_22"]

Lost odyssey is a great game

Ziek-AAT

No, it is not.

Yes it is.

Japan's gaming industry, and in particular its RPG segment, have become stultifyingly unoriginal in recent years

Blue-Sky

Gamespotters: Do NOT attempt to play scrabble with this man. You've been warned...