DS Daily: New Square Enix vs. old Square Enix

by Alisha Karabinus { Dec 5th 2008 at 9:00AM }

Square Enix has been all over the DS, with remakes, franchise continuations, spin-offs, and more. Perhaps even more amazingly, however, is that the DS isn't just getting the same ol' series, but new games, too. Some are totally new, while others are newish, yet have connection to some of the company's other properties. If you're a fan of their work, you've probably played a lot of DS in the past few years. But what's been more exciting to you: the newer things, like The World Ends With You and the recently-announced Blood of Bahamut, or the oldest of the old, like the remakes (Final Fantasy IV, Chrono Trigger, more)?

Tags: blood-of-bahamut, chrono-trigger, final-fantasy, square-enix, the-world-ends-with-you, twewy

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Butters @ Dec 5th 2008 9:07AM

Newer things like The World Ends With You. Easily.

BobTheElephant @ Dec 5th 2008 9:32AM

agreed. As much as I am excited about the old stuff, the new franchises just interest me more.

miruki @ Dec 5th 2008 12:26PM

Same here.

Martin Greenberg @ Dec 5th 2008 9:35AM

I'm about halfway through The World Ends With You. Since this is an action-RPG, with only a semblance of turn-based combat (the weapons take time to be able to be used again) and although FFXII did use a modified turn-based system; the player had control of the character's movement through this, it seems that Square is looking to move away from their past (although remakes are aplenty) and their new games will innovate fundamentally more, rather than sticking to things that they know work.

igorponweed @ Dec 5th 2008 9:52AM

New! I like new games ore than having Final Fantasy 27:2: The Flying Monkeys.

Metayoshi @ Dec 5th 2008 10:09AM

I'd definitely say that new games such as The World Ends with You have made me more excited than remakes/enhanced ports from the past. Even though they are bashed for continually taking ideas from their past (FFIV has seen how many versions already?), I surprises me that they are still able to create new games like The World Ends with You, and this new Blood of Bahamut game in such a short amount of time.

I'd have to say, though, that games like Final Fantasy IV for DS are a must buy because they have a different experience compared to the original. And of course, Chrono Trigger is a must buy if you have never played it or don't own the SNES/PS versions. Which ever studio of Square's that is milking the FFVII franchise... That's the part of Square I hate.

Shin @ Dec 5th 2008 9:11PM

YES. Oh goodness, yes. I am so sick and tired of them making "prequels" to FF7. So very sick and tired. IMHO, Crisis Core and Dirge didn't need to happen. There was the Last Order OAV which explained Zack's role enough. We didn't need an entire game devoted to (Quoting Adam Sessler) a side character. Sure, he was important but Last Order was enough.
And Genesis? WTF? Where'd HE come from? Did Squeenix look through Fanfiction.net for plot ideas?

Getting on topic: It's nice that they make remakes of the older classic game so newer generations of players can get a crack at it but I'd rather see something new and fresh.
Squeenix is what I refer to as the era of fangirl fodder. I'm looking at you, CC, Dirge and KH2.
Hopefully, they'll stop doing this and get back to what really counts. Game developers should be trying to innovate games, not keep coming up with pointless sequels and fangirl fodder.
After all, that's why the original Final Fantasy took off, right? It gave gamers something new, something that was hardly done, something they haven't seen before.

Metayoshi @ Dec 6th 2008 5:14PM

@ Shin:

I'd have to agree with you on Dirge and KH2, but Chrono Cross was an awesome game, in my opinion. People may not like it due to it being such a different game compared to Chrono Trigger, but I love it for what it is, and it definitely shows more insight into the Schala story of CT. Of course, that's not to say it didn't add a few more questions about the Chrono canon, but that's for Masato Kato to decide whether he answers more questions with a new Chrono game.

Matias @ Dec 5th 2008 10:12AM

Taking in mind I still play mi SNES games, I preffer new ideas, but I wouldn't mind a remake of final fantasy V, my favourite.

milan @ Dec 5th 2008 11:11AM

ooh! ooh! me too!

Temp @ Dec 5th 2008 10:46AM

Seems to me that people would like SE more if they had released only Blood of Bahamut and TWEWY. Nobody forces you to buy the remakes, really.

SolidOtacon @ Dec 5th 2008 10:32AM

Square Soft forever !
I love them fot titles like FFVII, VIII, IX, KH, FFX.

What's the most decent game that Square-Enix made ? S-E are alright nbut not as good as Square Soft.

Gewurz Man got equipped with... Guitar Hero! @ Dec 5th 2008 6:39PM

Dragon Quest VIII. It's nearly as good, if not just as good, as FF7 in my book.

Ashe @ Dec 5th 2008 11:05AM

I love how they do new games and remakes of old ones. The World Ends With You and FFIV are my two favorite DS games. I'm excited for both types and looking forward to future releases.

Gennataos @ Dec 5th 2008 11:26AM

I like them both. I was never a console RPG player when I was younger, so things like the FF series and Chrono Trigger coming to the DS are completely new to me.

OmerMe @ Dec 5th 2008 11:46AM

I don't really like any of the FF games, but I LOVE The World Ends With You, and BOB looks really good too.
The thing that turns me off in FF is the turn-base fights
HATE IT.
So, newer realeses.

Broco Lee @ Dec 5th 2008 11:58AM

The new.

FF 46543 is getting too rusty....

Deozaan @ Dec 5th 2008 12:11PM

As of now I've got to go with old/remakes.

I just didn't "get" The World Ends With You. I probably spent an hour playing it and didn't touch it again. :(

And while Blood of the Bahamut looks interesting, I just can't tell yet whether or not it will be even close to enjoyable as Chrono Trigger.

Meanwhile Final Fantasy 4 took me about 90 hours to complete, and I'm about 10 hours in on Chrono Trigger. Besides, Chrono Trigger is the best RPG ever, so it's nice to have it back without resorting to an emulator or getting out the SNES to play it.

And I can't wait for the (USA) Final Fantasy 3 (FF6 in Japan) to be remade! These are all excellent games that deserve to be played again. And if it costs a little money to be able to play an improved/updated version, then it just might be worth it.

Zealot @ Dec 5th 2008 12:14PM

My first system was an N64, and that was toward the end of the console's life. My second system was a PS1, also toward the end of the console's life. I was eleven and played mostly shovelware on each. I know nothing of the old Square-Enix--the first of their games I played was Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. That said, I'm not getting much of a chance to know the new Square-Enix, either. Because nine of ten things they churn out is a remake or a spinoff of an existing property meant for people already familiar with that property, I'm a little left out.

The only non-remake Square-Enix game I played for the DS was TWEWY, and while I personally didn't like it I can respect the inventiveness that went into it. I'd like to see more Square-Enix games with this kind of creativity. I'd go back and play some of their stuff for the PS1 because supposedly this was their golden age of creativity, but scalpers have shot prices for used copies of most PS1 RPGs into the stratosphere. A used GH copy of FFVII is $60+ on ebay, for instance (luckily I got a black label copy at a yard sale for $5). It's madness.

Ibinixer @ Dec 5th 2008 1:05PM

Man, how about TWEWY and Chrono Trigger vs. everything else Square Enix have ever made? FF fanboys be damned.

Blood of Bahmut looks good though.

chispito @ Dec 5th 2008 1:31PM

I much prefer new titles and ideas. If I never get sucked into a random encounter when I'm just trying to get from A to B, it will be fine with me.

Venom @ Dec 5th 2008 1:46PM

I'm for new. TWEWY was pure genius, I couldn't leave it until I finished and collected everything 100%. Blood of Bahamut looks damn awesome and could be loads of fun multiplayer.

While Chrono Trigger is a great game, FFIV didn't quite thrill me. It might be cause I never got to play those games before on SNES, so I don't feel nostalgic or something...

Either way, I think SE is on a really good path and I'm looking forward to Blood of Bahamut and whatever new ideas they might be planning. :)

Tsubasa @ Dec 5th 2008 1:49PM

As much as love the new stuff, the old games will always out weigh them. I mean Chrono Cross and Final Fantasy 9 compared to World Ends With You and Final Fantasy 12, I would choose the old stuff any old day.

VexLenin @ Dec 5th 2008 3:18PM

Although I do not mind any of square-Enix's remakes, I find that their almost over doing it at this point. As much I'd want a hand held remake of the Final Fantasy PS classics FFVII, VIII, and IX. I don't think it will ever happen since Square-Enix seems so wrapped up in remaking games and making spin-offs. Like someone already stated, "how many FFIV remakes are there now?" I bought the DS FFIV because I thought it would have a much deeper storyline than the original, but in reality it's just the same game with a cut scene here, and a new feature there. I actually though Square-Enix was getting back on their feet with The World Ends With You, but it seems I was mistaken. Like someone already stated, "Square-Enix will never regain the reputation it once had with it's older fans when it was Squaresoft."

1337stra @ Dec 5th 2008 9:12PM

FFVI DS, I'm waiting damnit.

chibi_wings @ Dec 5th 2008 5:24PM

really, why all the Squareenix hate? if you don't like the remakes don't buy them. SE makes remakes because they sell, so stop buying them!

Unlike the majority of people on here, I like both the old and the new. I enjoyed FFIV (& III) DS and I love CT DS. I also enjoyed their newer titles, TWEWY, and Chocobo Tales. Actually with so much RPG variety on the DS right now, I don't understand all the whining. And it seems the Square of Squareenix is getting more thrashed around then the enix. hmmm.

chispito @ Dec 5th 2008 8:16PM

The vast majority of commenters are in no way "hating" on SE or the remakes or ports. It's just that we prefer the newer titles.

soundpaint @ Dec 5th 2008 6:02PM

You know, I'm going for new. It feels like Square-Enix is actually trying new concepts again these days. I can feel you shooting me before I'm even done typing this, but I'm not a huge fan of Chrono Trigger (and I'm not trolling) and I find the milking of Final Fantasy VII ridiculous. SE 'expanding' the FF franchise wouldn't be so bad if they'd put the focus on other games.

I can't say I mind the remakes all that much though, since I had fun playing FFIV again.

chibi_wings @ Dec 5th 2008 6:57PM

I'm not to fond of the FFVII milking either, and for that matter, I don't understand the 'hype' surrounding the game. It's a good game, but not the best FF IMO.

See what I don't like is not that people feel Squareenix does too much rehashing, it's whinny people who buy these games and complain (and some people buy the remakes yet they don't buy the new games and they still complain) ;)

Lard @ Dec 5th 2008 9:24PM

I miss Chrono Cross and Threads of Fate :(

aj @ Dec 5th 2008 11:04PM

I like almost everything SE puts out. "Rocket Slime" is probably my favourite game on the DS. I'm no into TWEWY, but I just didn't buy it.

My problem with SE is their pricing. 40$ is insane. Luckily, their games are really easy to get used for 10$. Unlike my other favourite company's games (*cough*atlus*cough*) who seems to enjoy the inflated secondary market for some reason.

cheesecakes @ Dec 6th 2008 12:14AM

Definitely the new ones. While the remakes have been fun (especially for those who never got to play the originals. I also like "traditional" RPG settings every once in a while.) its always nice to see something new from them.

And am I the only one who's played Dragon Quest 7 (then known as Dragon Warrior)? I'd love to see a remake of that.