It is nice to see a minimalist design (although I agree with Mr. Funk that it doesn't quite grab me), although the PAL covers do tend to be minimalist while the North America covers are busier. See: FFXII, FFX, FFX-2
Archemetis: Considering the box art for the all the previous Final Fantasies, I honestly see no issue here.
I think the real off-putting thing is we're more used to seeing JUST the logo on a whit background. This I think is the only one I've ever seen (I never look for box art I'm never gonna have in my own country.) that has featured a character on it... Which makes me wonder why they bothered to put her there when the previous method was successful.
Well technically most of them featured characters on them, just not in the in-game graphics and more concept artsy-fartsy style. The FFX-2 picture I linked on page 1 has Yuna, Rikku and Paine, FFX has Yuna, FFVIII has Squall and Rinoa as memory serves, FFXII has Judge Gabranth. Hell, this was the FFIX box art
Yeah but that was still the logo, not the actual characters themselves standing on the box like lightning is on this one.
I never consider the characters in the colourful parts behind the text to be pictures of the characters, that's all just the associated logo to let on to what the story is gonna be about. [these are just the ones I can remember] 7 - Meteor. 8 - Squall and Rinoa's all-conquering love. 9 - The Crystal at the heart of everything. 10 - The summoner. 12 - I've not actually played enough of 12 know why Judge Gabranth is in the logo but I'm sure he's a key part of the story.
But yeah, I consider them logos, not characters.
[quick edit]: also, I never had that box art for IX because I live in the UK and we always get the plain white with logo art.
Aye, I'm a UK resident as well, I just thought it best to adequately display that's not all that's been out there. The Crisis Core box art had the character, same with Dirge of Cerberus (both EU boxes there). We see Dissidia returning to the loved standard of old though.
As for why Gabranth is on the box art of FFXII, he doesn't play a super-major role. I would postulate that it is a leftover of when Basche was meant to be the main character of FFXII instead of Vaan.
Sleipnir
Can't say I think much of it. I'm not even sure that's Sleipnir. I only count 4 legs.
Well, I'm getting it either way. Square is one company that does not have to resort to "Sex Sells". It'd be funny if they did an Evony style ad, though.
Archemetis: Considering the box art for the all the previous Final Fantasies, I honestly see no issue here.
I think the real off-putting thing is we're more used to seeing JUST the logo on a whit background. This I think is the only one I've ever seen (I never look for box art I'm never gonna have in my own country.) that has featured a character on it... Which makes me wonder why they bothered to put her there when the previous method was successful.
Well technically most of them featured characters on them, just not in the in-game graphics and more concept artsy-fartsy style. The FFX-2 picture I linked on page 1 has Yuna, Rikku and Paine, FFX has Yuna, FFVIII has Squall and Rinoa as memory serves, FFXII has Judge Gabranth. Hell, this was the FFIX box art
Yeah but that was still the logo, not the actual characters themselves standing on the box like lightning is on this one.
I never consider the characters in the colourful parts behind the text to be pictures of the characters, that's all just the associated logo to let on to what the story is gonna be about. [these are just the ones I can remember] 7 - Meteor. 8 - Squall and Rinoa's all-conquering love. 9 - The Crystal at the heart of everything. 10 - The summoner. 12 - I've not actually played enough of 12 know why Judge Gabranth is in the logo but I'm sure he's a key part of the story.
But yeah, I consider them logos, not characters.
[quick edit]: also, I never had that box art for IX because I live in the UK and we always get the plain white with logo art.
Aye, I'm a UK resident as well, I just thought it best to adequately display that's not all that's been out there. The Crisis Core box art had the character, same with Dirge of Cerberus (both EU boxes there). We see Dissidia returning to the loved standard of old though.
As for why Gabranth is on the box art of FFXII, he doesn't play a super-major role. I would postulate that it is a leftover of when Basche was meant to be the main character of FFXII instead of Vaan.
Sleipnir
Can't say I think much of it. I'm not even sure that's Sleipnir. I only count 4 legs.
Ah fair enough, Yeah I take the other box art into account (well I'm aware of it at least) and I've noe found out that some of the box art for the FF spin-offs seem to have more character driven art attached now, like you say, Dissidia had characters pasted all over it.
And while It's been mentioned... Vaan was the main character of FFXII? I was lead to believe that Balthier was the hero of the story, Vaan was just the lpayer character along for the ride. (I got this information from a friend, like I said I never had the patience to play past the license tutorial.)
chishandfips: Personally, I'm wondering why there's a picture of Lightning on the cover at all. All the previous main titles (at least in Europe, anyway) have just put the logo on the front and nothing else, and I really liked that. Why have they decided to change that now?
Because the lead characters a GIRL!! zomg the nerds will lap it up /sarcasm
north american box art for final fantasy tends to be more flashy, take dissidia for a recent example, the japanese one was just the dissidia logo, and the american version added in ten characters from cosmos or chaos (depending which box art you got) but I am a fan of simple designs.
this isn't right for a european release i don't have a problem with the leg its just that the european cover has always been the white background with the logo so this should be the cover: Not a picture even if it is the main character
Archemetis: Considering the box art for the all the previous Final Fantasies, I honestly see no issue here.
I think the real off-putting thing is we're more used to seeing JUST the logo on a whit background. This I think is the only one I've ever seen (I never look for box art I'm never gonna have in my own country.) that has featured a character on it... Which makes me wonder why they bothered to put her there when the previous method was successful.
Well technically most of them featured characters on them, just not in the in-game graphics and more concept artsy-fartsy style. The FFX-2 picture I linked on page 1 has Yuna, Rikku and Paine, FFX has Yuna, FFVIII has Squall and Rinoa as memory serves, FFXII has Judge Gabranth. Hell, this was the FFIX box art
Yeah but that was still the logo, not the actual characters themselves standing on the box like lightning is on this one.
I never consider the characters in the colourful parts behind the text to be pictures of the characters, that's all just the associated logo to let on to what the story is gonna be about. [these are just the ones I can remember] 7 - Meteor. 8 - Squall and Rinoa's all-conquering love. 9 - The Crystal at the heart of everything. 10 - The summoner. 12 - I've not actually played enough of 12 know why Judge Gabranth is in the logo but I'm sure he's a key part of the story.
But yeah, I consider them logos, not characters.
[quick edit]: also, I never had that box art for IX because I live in the UK and we always get the plain white with logo art.
Aye, I'm a UK resident as well, I just thought it best to adequately display that's not all that's been out there. The Crisis Core box art had the character, same with Dirge of Cerberus (both EU boxes there). We see Dissidia returning to the loved standard of old though.
As for why Gabranth is on the box art of FFXII, he doesn't play a super-major role. I would postulate that it is a leftover of when Basche was meant to be the main character of FFXII instead of Vaan.
Sleipnir
Can't say I think much of it. I'm not even sure that's Sleipnir. I only count 4 legs.
Ah fair enough, Yeah I take the other box art into account (well I'm aware of it at least) and I've noe found out that some of the box art for the FF spin-offs seem to have more character driven art attached now, like you say, Dissidia had characters pasted all over it.
And while It's been mentioned... Vaan was the main character of FFXII? I was lead to believe that Balthier was the hero of the story, Vaan was just the lpayer character along for the ride. (I got this information from a friend, like I said I never had the patience to play past the license tutorial.)
Who the 'hero' is of the story depends on your perspective. Arguably it could be Balthier, but most of the game is based around Ashe and her mission. Vaan is the main character in so much as he's the guy you meet first, he does the narrations as I recall (with the exception of the ones done by Ondore) and he's the model you control when you're running around cities.
Basche was meant to be the original focus of FFXII, or at least the main character, but that changed during production to Vaan - supposedly to appeal to their target audience.
I've nothing against it, it's OK. But really, out of all the poses we have of Lightning, this was my least favourite.
Macksheath: Lightning seems to be little more than a female cardboard copy of that whiney emo shit Cloud...although whoever is developing the game did say she was like that...
I really hope this doesn't turn into the new FF7.
Um, have you possibly watched any of the trailers? In particular the most recent one? She seems nothing like Cloud. And plenty of people that have played the game agree that Cloud wasn't whiny anyway, at least not until he gat derailed by Advent Children. Poor guy.
Especially Rikku from X-2 and Ashe from XII (pictures on the first link and the link on "Final Fantasy"). Rikku's got a bikini and a skirt cut so short you can see the straps on her thong, and Ashe has so little cloth precariously covering her loin region she could have a Paris Hilton moment at any second.
Especially Rikku from X-2 and Ashe from XII (pictures on the first link and the link on "Final Fantasy"). Rikku's got a bikini and a skirt cut so short you can see the straps on her thong, and Ashe has so little cloth precariously covering her loin region she could have a Paris Hilton moment at any second.
As futile as it is I'm going to try to explain the belt's and zippers to people who just don't get it. And yes this is a case of you just not getting it, this doesn't mean I like the style I understand it though.
In Japan belts and zippers ARE apart of the fashion, there pop/rock stars wear them and it's the trendy fashion. It's like how in australia your likely to see someone in thongs on a normal day even though it's not appropriate footwear. Or how we get earings and tattoos.
Actually thionk of pirates who used to recieve multiple earings to look 'grand' or 'rich'
I also present Exhibit A. The lead character of Final Fantasy XIII Versus
Oh yeah sure the picture is dark and I'm not digging the bored look on his face but the clothes are for the most part subdued.
And do I even need to bring up all the damn pouches and hoisters brought about by the Rob Leinfield era of art in the 90s? How about the chains and biker leather.
Seriously as far as 'stupid designs' go Belts and Zippers are a fad, it's not that Nomura is obsessed with them it's that he's pandering to whats popular.
He has a subdued clothing style as well.
Also not on topic but I would buy the fuck out of a Clothing Line by Tite Kubo seriously look at this
Don't even tell me you wouldn't buy the fuck out of some of them.
Can't say I think much of it. I'm not even sure that's Sleipnir. I only count 4 legs.
I was going to bring that up. My bet is that the horse is actually Ixion. For those that need a reminder, Ixion was one of the summons/aeons in FFX. He also had a curved horn on his head, which is very similar to the sword she is holding in the picture. And his element was... lightning! Fitting, non?
Onmi: Also not on topic but I would buy the fuck out of a Clothing Line by Tite Kubo seriously look at this
Spoiler: Click to View
Don't even tell me you wouldn't buy the fuck out of some of them.
Heck, those aren't even the best examples of Kubo's clothing designs. This'll go over most people's heads, but back during the Bount story-arc, there was an image unique to each episode in the opening credits. They were essentially a character posing in one outfit or another, and each one looked pretty fucking slick.
Can't say I think much of it. I'm not even sure that's Sleipnir. I only count 4 legs.
I was going to bring that up. My bet is that the horse is actually Ixion. For those that need a reminder, Ixion was one of the summons/aeons in FFX. He also had a curved horn on his head, which is very similar to the sword she is holding in the picture. And his element was... lightning! Fitting, non?
Ah, no. The horse is Odin.
In FF13, the summons all have a Gestalt mode in which they transform into a vehicle: Odin --> Horse Brynhildr --> Car Shiva sisters --> Motorbike Alexander --> Fortress Bahamut ---> Flying Dragon Hecatoncheir ---> War machine
And the characters ride the summons in Gestalt mode, so it's just Odin in Gestalt mode.
As long as they dont use the one of her riding that horse. Sorry but I think that ones even worse, and as far as boxart goes this isn't bad, its not great either, but its not terrible.
I honestly don't care too much about box art since most of my games end up in a shelf with only their spines viewable, that being said this box art isn't that bad and at least it isn't cluttered by garbage around it.
WrongSprite: That is a gorgeous cover. I'm quite excited for this now.
Indeed. Square seems to be revolutionising Final Fantasy, and I say full steam ahead!
Sadly, I'll be getting the PS3 version which covers the leg with the rating, but hey, this is going to be the greatest game of all time so no complaining from me!
Can't say I think much of it. I'm not even sure that's Sleipnir. I only count 4 legs.
I was going to bring that up. My bet is that the horse is actually Ixion. For those that need a reminder, Ixion was one of the summons/aeons in FFX. He also had a curved horn on his head, which is very similar to the sword she is holding in the picture. And his element was... lightning! Fitting, non?
Ah, no. The horse is Odin.
In FF13, the summons all have a Gestalt mode in which they transform into a vehicle: Odin --> Horse Brynhildr --> Car Shiva sisters --> Motorbike Alexander --> Fortress Bahamut ---> Flying Dragon Hecatoncheir ---> War machine
And the characters ride the summons in Gestalt mode, so it's just Odin in Gestalt mode.
Ahh, fair enough. I knew about the Gesalt mode, but I wasn't aware they had confirmed exactly what could turn into what, or even which summons were in the game beyond Shiva. Still, it raises more questions; like what exactly is a "War Machine"? And why didn't they just use the already existing horse who just so happens to be based around the element after which the main character was named? And how long has a horse been considered a vehicle? And where the hell is Ifrit? But fuck Ixion anyway, just bring back Ramuh!
PS: Also, I'll assume you initially meant to say Sleipnir instead of Odin. The alternative is that Odin gets off Sleipnir, turns into a seperate horse himself, then allows Lightning to ride him while Sleipnir stands off to one side eating grass.
Can't say I think much of it. I'm not even sure that's Sleipnir. I only count 4 legs.
I was going to bring that up. My bet is that the horse is actually Ixion. For those that need a reminder, Ixion was one of the summons/aeons in FFX. He also had a curved horn on his head, which is very similar to the sword she is holding in the picture. And his element was... lightning! Fitting, non?
Ah, no. The horse is Odin.
In FF13, the summons all have a Gestalt mode in which they transform into a vehicle: Odin --> Horse Brynhildr --> Car Shiva sisters --> Motorbike Alexander --> Fortress Bahamut ---> Flying Dragon Hecatoncheir ---> War machine
And the characters ride the summons in Gestalt mode, so it's just Odin in Gestalt mode.
Ahh, fair enough. I knew about the Gesalt mode, but I wasn't aware they had confirmed exactly what could turn into what, or even which summons were in the game beyond Shiva. Still, it raises more questions; like what exactly is a "War Machine"? And why didn't they just use the already existing horse who just so happens to be based around the element after which the main character was named? And how long has a horse been considered a vehicle? And where the hell is Ifrit? But fuck Ixion anyway, just bring back Ramuh!
PS: Also, I'll assume you initially meant to say Sleipnir instead of Odin. The alternative is that Odin gets off Sleipnir, turns into a seperate horse himself, then allows Lightning to ride him while Sleipnir stands off to one side eating grass.
Actually the horse is Odin. When summoned, he doesn't come with Sleipnir, it's just him in all his badassness, he fully transforms into the horse during Gestalt Mode. I don't think Ifrit is in this game, I'm pretty sure Brynhildr is his replacement as the fire-elemental summon.
This is the War Machine by the way, I don't know what it actually is but "war machine" seem to suit it for now.
It seems to me like Square are revitalising Final Fantasy with this one, making this one as fresh as possible, might be why they didn't use as many old summons.
I was expecting something more racy for some reason. I mean Lightning is an actual girl rather than just looking like one. She'll probably be some kind of tough girl, though. Like Payne.
Looks very boring. They shouldn't have just had a white backround: even though it's sort of a staple of FF box art, it just doesn't work when you stick Lightning in front of it. Her outfit doesn't provide enough contrast with the backround to stick out, and the fading to grey outlines of the backround don't look visually appealing.
chishandfips: Personally, I'm wondering why there's a picture of Lightning on the cover at all. All the previous main titles (at least in Europe, anyway) have just put the logo on the front and nothing else, and I really liked that. Why have they decided to change that now?
Ninja'd.
Who likes short shorts?! Squeenix likes short shorts!!!
It is nice to see a minimalist design (although I agree with Mr. Funk that it doesn't quite grab me), although the PAL covers do tend to be minimalist while the North America covers are busier. See: FFXII, FFX, FFX-2