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People have been hating on Final Fantasy for a long time. The drama boiled over recently with Chris Kohler’s article stating that Final Fantasy wasn’t just dying, but that the iconic RPG series was already dead and buried with no phoenix downs in its pocket. If you ask me, Kohler and the Final Fantasy haters are plain old wrong. Hit the link for my take on the Final Fantasy hate.
Final Fantasy haters have more complaints than a chocobo has feathers. Let’s take a look at just a few of them.
Final Fantasy VII is over-rated: If FFVII came out today, I wouldn’t give it a perfect score. But you’ve got to remember that the game was developed in 1995 and 1996. Haters complain that FFVII doesn’t utilize the 3D space to its full potential. I wouldn’t argue with that, but I would point out that RPGs were in the middle of transitioning from 2D to 3D. Final Fantasy VII is basically a 2D RPG with 3D graphics. Did it age perfectly? No. Is it still worth playing? Totally. Is it impressive for a 15 year old game? Very.
All Final Fantasy games suck except for the original and VI: Really? They suck or you just don’t like them? I think this argument comes from the same part of the hater’s brain as where Apple hate comes from. Once something gets a certain amount of praise and popularity, to some people it automatically sucks. I’m not going to spout off the merits of each Final Fantasy game, but saying the majority of the main line of the series sucks is just silly.
Most new Final Fantasy games are cash-ins and the majority of Final Fantasy games suck: Yup. The iOS Final Fantasy games are lame, as are a lot of other FF games. But to all of a sudden say Final Fantasy is dead because of this is ridiculous. The series has always been producing duds along with diamonds. Mystic Quest? The Chocobo series? The Legend series? Not only that, but lots of huge series have the same issue. Mega Man anyone?
Final Fantasy’s game design is stagnant: The Final Fantasy series is - duh - a series. Each installment is going to have a lot of things in common with the others. The same goes for Mega Man, Super Mario, Uncharted, whatever. That said, the series does innovate, make departures for its formula and, take risks. Different characters had different fighting styles in VI. Both XII and XIII had unique and fun combat systems. The list goes on. Now XV is ditching the turn-based system for real-time combat and people are complaining. Again, this reminds me of Apple hate. “Apple has to make a 7” iPad!” 7” iPad comes out. “This is the end of Apple!”
Saying a beloved series is dead is a great way to put out an attention-grabbing headline. But the Final Fantasy hate is undeserved and often unfounded. The series has problems, but it’s certainly not dead. Haters gonna hate.
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Thanks to Meteor Opteration we have more new full color images of the UFO Leader Class Optimus Prime Weapon Rack and Trailer accessory kit. This set relives the scene with the weapons armory that Optimus Prime broke out in Transformers Dark of the Moon movie. The kit is listed for a pre-order price of RM215.00 / 82.20 USD. No details on a release date at this time. Check out the images for the full color looks and details at this accessory kit.
Just up on the offical Transformers Youtube channel is a new Beast Bites video featuring Bite size clips of all our favorite Transformers Beast Hunters characters. Meet the Top Secret Autobot team sent to defend our planet. Are you in on the secret? Everyone else is so check it out! Watch the new Beast Bites! clip that is not to be taken seriously, unless you want to.
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Transformers 4 is said to be close to a wrap on the filming at the Downtown Detroit Michigan set where the mock Hong Kong town was built. In the last week we have seen the actors shooting a number of scenes involving explosions, a sword weapon, wedding and the appearance of the Pipe Smoking robot character. According to the MLIVE site, the crew will be moving on to filming at the GM Lansing Delta Township assembly plant this weekend. Check out some of the images and details below.
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Thanks to ACToys member charles529 who have posted more in-hand images of the MP-8 King Grimlock that will be released as an Asia Exclusive Transformers action figure. This set of images offer a much better in-hand look at the exclusive packaging, accessories, and the figure that has been updated from the original Takara Tomy MP-8 edition shown in his robot and alternate T-Rex Dinobot modes with close-ups of the paint apps and more.
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E-Hobby have posted a product listing with official images of the Transformers Generations TG-29 Sandstorm that will be released Takara Tomy in Japan next December 2013. This figure has been released already by Hasbro, but here we get a look at the figure and the differences the Takara edition will have. Check out the official images of the voyager class triple changer's three modes below for the full look at Transformers Generations TG-29 Sandstorm figure.
