Okay, the first thing I thought when I was watching this new trailer for Final Fantasy XIII was: “are those raptors?!”
Yes, it appears that the upcoming lucky 13 entry into the Final Fantasy franchise will feature dinosaur-like creatures...but don't worry, there are still all sorts of newfangled airship-type things. You'll also spot popular summons Ifrit, Carbuncle, and...well, okay, I'm not sure if the harp-playing feathered chick is a summon or not, but I think it's Siren...she had feathers and a harp in FFVIII, right? I'm a little distressed that Carbuncle now looks like some kind of koala dressed as a court jester.
You'll see other characters who look familiar too, although I'm not sure if it's intentional. A guy with long, pale hair and a sword? A girl in a white hood being escorted as though a prisoner? A perky-looking girl with a bare belly, a lot of packs around her waist, and pink/yellow/red clothing? Methinks you might need to consider a new character designer, Squenix.
That said, the real weakness of the trailer was its failure to incite any interest in either the story or the characters...it looks more like they just pulled together the coolest-looking videos they already had done and jammed them together. The world looks impressively broad, what with its dinosaurs and high-technology and magic feel, but in a trailer it just feels too completely unfocused.
That said, I'm still buying it. You? [Via Topless Robot]
If it's not a simultaneous launch, then I'll just import the Japanese copy ;)
You don't have to think too hard about the Final Fantasy series' settings. I mean a world where huge firearms are available, yet swords are not outdated yet? Sweet!
Yes, FFVII was very well done. They fleshed out the world really well, from sleepy towns, to the modest slums. Which reminds me, I should play it again!