It makes sense that they wouldn't want this to compete with FFXIII but..the fanboy side of my brain wants to cry.
No, go away business brain, this isn't for you to decide!
Versus and Agito suffer from the same "Announced and revealed too early"-disease that XIII carries around, but to differ them from XIII is that MUCH less has been revealed about them, which has made me at least much more tired of them. We have nothing concrete about these games other than I can think back to major points in my life and go "Hey, I knew just as much about these games back then that I do now"
Given that FFXIII is out in a couple of months, whereas Versus XIII doesn't even have a release date yet, I'm not in the least bit surprised by this. No need to be denting FFXIII's publicity machine by releasing a ton of info about a different game.
@Psudonym: You havent, and won't see it any time soon because of 13. However, if both were exclusive still, you could probably've been playing it right now.
If there even was a trailer for Versus being shown, I am sure it would be a private press event anyways. You know the ones where Square insists that everyone entering does not posses a Camera, pencil, 20/20 vision or the ability to write about what they have seen in a descriptive fashion that would explain what took place inside.
Hey... Versus looks awesome, but I'm excited for XIII. XIII seems to be tapping into many of the things that made the good FF games good... Ok, so it has transformers, but they've always tried to do something different with summons... At least in 6, 8, and 10 they did... 12s summons were entirely original, and the classic summons became ships? Whatever. 12 was a black sheep.
I have a huge interest in FF XIII Versus, not because the character looks like a "badass" (as I'm sure why many people choose Versus over XIII), but because it looks as though the game will be providing a more personal narrative that will center around Noctis and Stella. Seeing this narrative makes this game seem much more appealing to me than the warring factions depicted in FF XIII.
@BubbleF**kingBuddy: Love how that squ'eenix list shows Vaan but no Balthier or Bosche (sp?), and the Squaresoft list shows Auron but no Tidus... Not exactly fair, is it?
As for the two iterations of Sora... I only have 4 words: Return of the Jedi
@bobtheduck: The Vaan thing is because he was never supposed to be in the game but Square gave into fan girl demands and put in a feminine lead. Hell, Cloud and Sephiroth were originally based on Guts and Griffith from Berserk. Now look at them.
@Black-Dog-Howls: Even with Vaan's highly androgynous appearance, he still ranks highly as one of the least whiny JRPG leads, another reason why FFXII is criminally underrated. Also, what's happened with the Final Fantasy series? I mean, it's always had an over the top uber stylized bent, but what's with the ridiculous fight scenes and motorcycle shit? Advent Children was stupid as hell, one of the most vapid things I've ever see, and Squeenix seems to think that it's the ultimate model now. Motorcycles? That was a ridiculously small part of FFVII and then a game in Gold Saucer. What happened to the intriguing characters in a fully realized world and epic storyline? C'Mon, FFXIII has a black fellow with an afro, that's some strange kind of shallow.
@until.december: I don't think you've been playing the same FF games I have. I can't really recall any of the characters from any FF game being more than a shallow well of angst and/or vengeance with optional mysterious background which doesn't really add that much depth once you know it.
Not to say I don't love them, but seriously. Advent Children wasn't really any more shallow than any of the games, and it doesn't take 40+ hours. I suspect you just feel more attached to people when you are with them for that long.
@Polite Society: Of course this begs the question: Why are you playing a 40+ game that you find ultimately banal and insipid? Of course, I have to agree, we aren't playing the same games apparently. Angst: n. A feeling of anxiety or apprehension often accompanied by depression. This is, of course, something we all encounter from time to time, and can easily manifest into that suburban angst we've all come to mistake for what the word actually means. Now let's use a few examples of Final Fantasy angst. You're a noble knight, defender of the crown and admirable father and loyal husband defending your kingdom from a long and bloody siege which will likely end in the loss of your kingdom. Then, if the prior weren't so bad, some douchebag in makeup comes along and poisons your water supply, massacring your kingdom and taking away your son and wife. Do you think that would cause a little depression? Of course that same done up asshole was himself once a young man who was warped by his own kingdom's scientific machinations. Now, one could easily argue that those are tired story threads even at the time FFVI came out. However, as far as angst goes, that seems as good a reason as any. These characters have angst because of the story. They have a history that allowed them to become major players in this epic story. Even amidst the pathos driving hardships that define Final Fantasy characters, many have a sense of humor and hope that they can make their world better. Even the most one dimensional character in Final Fantasy, Squall, has actual reasons for being in the story and changes and learns as the story progresses. It's the love of their characters that has always attracted me to the series.
@Polite Society: I think that's a little harsh. IV and VI at least have some relatively well-rounded characters. Certainly given the age of those two games.
But in general, yes, Final Fantasy is hardly Tolstoy, is it?
@until.december: There's a reason why he is one of the "least whiny JRPG leads" and it's because after the first couple of hours he does absolutely nothing.
While the other characters discuss important matters, like what is going on, or a person's past, Vaan runs off in the background to look impressed at whatever new area they are in together with Penello.
To call him a lead is fallacy, because he doesn't lead even once, he follows. Ashe leads, or Balthier does. The Princess and Bash are the only characters with motivation. Balthier is along because he can profit, and Fran follows because she goes wherever Balthier goes. Vaan and Penello? They are just along for the ride.
They never add one thing to the story, even less than any of the guest-characters do.
I've seen an awful lot of interest in Versus XIII, often times along the lines of "who cares about XIII, I want Versus" and so on. Unless I missed something, all we've seen about Versus is still that one trailer right?
I'd think XIII would have considerably more hype at this point, but I've been wrong before.
@SurprisedFace:
I personally am hyped up more forVersus more so than XIII. Main reason being XIII just looks like a complete, random-fest (with some of the most silly names), while Versus APPEARS to have a more calm, subdued approach to it's design. Not necesarilly 'realistic' but just not... crazy as XIII.
Besides, that trailer with that atin Song, Somnus somethign is amazing. Yoko Shimomura can do no wrong...
@Scottaholic: Well if you ask me, Mr. Pilgrim, I'd say it was something to do with the theme of the trailers. Comparing the one trailer with the guy killing all of those guards and the other trailer where everything seemed somber and serious to FFXIII's cheesy techno-and-flutes, Versus seems like a whole different beast. If the themes were switched, I'd be rooting for FFXIII all the way.
The only thing that has me weary is the battle system, which is said to take after Kingdom Hearts, Crisis Core, and Dirge of Cerberus.
@BubbleF**kingBuddy: Ah, thematic sensibilities. I was thinking more in terms of gameplay.
I can't trust trailers to tell me much about emotional depth; when I think game themes, I think Victorian steampunk or zombie-cowboy. And nobody wants to give me either.
@Paradox me: I think it's because one went multiplat and the other still PS3 exclusive. Although personally, I have to say Versus looks darker and more mature out of the two.
Pssh as if adding chainsaws to a game could make it a good game. That's just stupid. The only thing more stupid than that would be to put a chainsaw on a gun. By far the worst idea anyone could ever have.
Sora runs out of HP and Mickey jumps into the fray with a chainsaw: "I'll save you Sora!" 5 minutes later Mickey walks away slowly, covered from his ears to his tail in Heartless blood.
I might actually have the patience to finish a KH game if that were the case.
08/31/09
No, go away business brain, this isn't for you to decide!
08/31/09
08/31/09
08/31/09
Someone show me proof otherwise. Please. I actually want to see it.
08/31/09
08/31/09
08/31/09
08/31/09
I have a huge interest in FF XIII Versus, not because the character looks like a "badass" (as I'm sure why many people choose Versus over XIII), but because it looks as though the game will be providing a more personal narrative that will center around Noctis and Stella. Seeing this narrative makes this game seem much more appealing to me than the warring factions depicted in FF XIII.
08/31/09
Who cares about FF13 and v13? S'all about FF14.
08/31/09
@Black-Dog-Howls: That image sure is making it's way around.
08/31/09
08/31/09
As for the two iterations of Sora... I only have 4 words: Return of the Jedi
08/31/09
08/31/09
08/31/09
Not to say I don't love them, but seriously. Advent Children wasn't really any more shallow than any of the games, and it doesn't take 40+ hours. I suspect you just feel more attached to people when you are with them for that long.
08/31/09
08/31/09
08/31/09
But in general, yes, Final Fantasy is hardly Tolstoy, is it?
08/31/09
08/31/09
While the other characters discuss important matters, like what is going on, or a person's past, Vaan runs off in the background to look impressed at whatever new area they are in together with Penello.
To call him a lead is fallacy, because he doesn't lead even once, he follows. Ashe leads, or Balthier does. The Princess and Bash are the only characters with motivation. Balthier is along because he can profit, and Fran follows because she goes wherever Balthier goes. Vaan and Penello? They are just along for the ride.
They never add one thing to the story, even less than any of the guest-characters do.
08/31/09
I'd think XIII would have considerably more hype at this point, but I've been wrong before.
08/31/09
08/31/09
I personally am hyped up more forVersus more so than XIII. Main reason being XIII just looks like a complete, random-fest (with some of the most silly names), while Versus APPEARS to have a more calm, subdued approach to it's design. Not necesarilly 'realistic' but just not... crazy as XIII.
Besides, that trailer with that atin Song, Somnus somethign is amazing. Yoko Shimomura can do no wrong...
08/31/09
08/31/09
Hey, I hear they're making FF15! Why are they hiding what is clearly Game Of The (whatever) Year (it comes out)?!
08/31/09
The only thing that has me weary is the battle system, which is said to take after Kingdom Hearts, Crisis Core, and Dirge of Cerberus.
08/31/09
I can't trust trailers to tell me much about emotional depth; when I think game themes, I think Victorian steampunk or zombie-cowboy. And nobody wants to give me either.
08/31/09
07/09/09
07/08/09
/end sarcasm
07/09/09
Note: This also works with machetes, pitchforks, and axes.
07/08/09
Why are these words not put together more often? (outside of guro porn, that is)
I demand a campaign of game, TV show, and film re-releases... with chainsaws.
Kramer vs. Kramer... with chainsaws.
Frasier... with chainsaws.
Imagine: Chainsawz.
You can't tell me you wouldn't play/watch these things.
07/08/09
07/08/09
07/08/09
I might actually have the patience to finish a KH game if that were the case.