Which game would you say has replaced Final Fantasy as the premier RPG franchise

1. 68

   EJ Lambertposted 12 years ago

   Which game would you say has replaced Final Fantasy as the premier RPG franchise?
   
   Final Fantasy owned the RPG genre for a decade but has since lost its swagger.  Which new franchise has since taken over that pedestal?

   replyreport
2. 82

   Souther29posted 12 years ago

   Hmm in terms of series I'm not so sure. Monster Hunter seems to be extremely popular with every release at the moment and obviously you still have World of Warcraft continually sucking in new members.
   
   If it was still going I would bargain Shadow Hearts. It was different enough to Final Fantasy to be unique but familiar enough to newcomers - sadly the series just didn't have the budgets for promotion.

   replyreport
   1. 68

      EJ Lambertposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      The first Shadow Hearts was one of the best I ever played.  Nice choice.

      replyreport
3. 67

   Willsummerdreamerposted 12 years ago

   I don't think that any franchise has, really. But then again I think the only recent FF game that is genuinely awful in my opinion was the original release of Final Fantasy 14. Every one else seems to bitch about this series now just to bitch. But thats just me.

   replyreport
   1. 68

      EJ Lambertposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      True.  It has lost most, if not all of its luster.  The creativity and drive is gone.

      replyreport
   2. 67

      Willsummerdreamerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I don't agree, Lambert. but to each their own.

      replyreport
4. 74

   JohnGreasyGamerposted 12 years ago

   While FF held the baton for an extremely long time, it doesn't seem as though it's passed it on. It's just thrown said baton over the hedge and into the road during the school Olympics event. Final Fantasy was *the* RPG in its day but as gaming has become ever more popular and thus more people want more of different genres, there's all kinds of competitors out there. The Elder Scrolls games come to mind, as Skyrim brought all kinds of players, both undesirables and loyalists.
   
   Nothing has put the hurt on FF, as its market is completely different to others. Don't forget that the Fantasy franchise is aimed towards the Japanese-American markets, and yet very few games from JP shipped here receive good reception or last long enough to make a statement. Because FF did it early and has shown development through the years with J/ARPGs, it has survived. You try putting WoW in China and look what happens - all kinds of restrictions and a new licensee are required to sell it, hurting their subscriber base considerably.
   
   All in all, nothing has taken over FF, and won't for a great deal of time. There'll be snowballs in Hell before FF has another franchise take its title as the No.1 revolutionary RPG, and while the TES may be great games, they've done nothing in comparison to FF's feats.

   replyreport
   1. 68

      EJ Lambertposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Hard to argue with that.  I would say Elder Scrolls and perhaps Fallout come close in terms of world building but their stories don't even compare to FF.  That is the sad state of the RPG.  It's too focused on big worlds and not the stories they tell

      replyreport
5. 59

   Tonyx35posted 12 years ago

   As far as I know Fire Emblem and Dragon Quest continue to release seemingly solid entries. Western games like Elder Scrolls and Mass Effect  for the Western side. The Japanese developers took notice and made  Dark Souls and Dragon's Dogma 
   
   I'm not sure if any of them  sell as well as the FF series though.

   replyreport
   1. 68

      EJ Lambertposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Mass Effect would be my pick in terms of story and characters for sure.  I only wish they were longer so you could do more but that is a great pick, Tony.

      replyreport
6. 71

   melfinaposted 12 years ago

   Unfortunately, I have to agree with most of the other answers.  Final Fantasy has lost its luster as a series, but nothing has come along to replace it.  Seems like good RPGs are a dying breed.
   
   One series of games I still enjoy are the Tales games, but they can be hit or miss.  Another awesome series is the Shin Megami Tensei/Persona series, and they at least have some really good recent entries.

   replyreport
   1. 68

      EJ Lambertposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      The sad thing for me is I feel the Fable series had the most potential to do it but for one reason or another they keep fumbling the ball.

      replyreport
7. 62

   Andy Buiposted 12 years ago

   I believe there has been a shift from turn based rpgs to action rpgs. There aren't really anymore turn based games these days. The Demon Souls genre has become quite popular as has the Elder Scrolls series as well.

   replyreport
   1. 68

      EJ Lambertposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Can't argue that point.

      replyreport