@songhunter: I suppose it could be cool, and I'm reserving judgement. It's just Squenix's tendency lately in battle systems towards speed at the cost of all else. Battles in XIII and XIII-2 just amounted to mashing X with a frequency of 1 hertz. The Crystarium was essentially linear. FF XII could play itself if you set the gambits up properly. XV is a game nobody's played (much) yet, and it's battle system and progression could be totally superficial and flashy. I'm someone who wants to be in control of all aspects of my team's performance that matter, and if that means turn-based then that's what I prefer. I hate surrendering control to the AI, but if I must I at least want to 'program' that AI beyond simple healer or debuffer settings. We'll see.
I don't think, realistically and objectively, that anything they did would've made me happy. That said, I'm especially disappointed to hear them say "Kingdom Hearts-style" combat and changes to the storyline. I am and always will be a fan of a slower, more controlled style of RPG combat that just isn't in vogue right now, and especially not in Japan. I second the sentiments that "episodic" just sounds destined to lead to rushing the final episodes and potentially cutting the game short. From a company notorious lately for development hell and being hilariously out of touch with their fanbase. I'm honestly surprised that this hasn't gone more in the way of their mobile 'remakes' in that they're quickie, low quality re-skins for new platforms, riddled with microtransactions.
I think I'm going to ignore their FF VII games for a long time, and only take a look at it when they're done (as much as they will be), packaged together, and on sale. I can always play the real thing on PSN.
I have so much rage for Japanese game developers lately. I really wish they'd get their collective heads out of their hindquarters before it's too late for the Japanese game industry to recover.
Ya'll literally had a 50/50 shot. @austin_walker, @vinny, @alex I do seem to remember dorsal and ventral for up and down from a Star Trek movie. In any case, game looks well made, but I don't know if planar boat style combat will do it for me. That and with my Elite Dangerous habit... probably don't have time for this one.
That said I wonder how these games that rely heavily on procedurally generated missions for the bulk of their hour count will perform going forward. I'm already starting to feel that fatigue. Maybe this is just a part of a larger downward trend with open world games? Dunno.
@lurkero: What I wonder is what it is about pre-orders that entices the publishers so much. Theoretically the only function of a pre-order is to gauge demand to insure adequate supply. In the age of digital distribution, complete product shortages are (ideally) a thing of the past. There must be some deals or contracts predicated on pre-order figures. I wonder if the brick-and-mortar retailers are the driving factor. That reminds me of another practice I can't stand: retailer-specific exclusive content. The consumer can potentially be forced into a mutually exclusive choice between bonuses even if interested in pre-ordering.
My current practice if I'm interested in a pre-order bonus is to reserve the last day you can, just because. I hate handing over money just to see a game get delayed.
If every consumer were to receive preorder bonuses for free after a game is released then there wouldn't be as strong of an incentive to preorder.
The practice I think most people have a problem with is never being able to acquire pre-order or promotional content, for free or otherwise except through said preorder. Everything should eventually be available for purchase at some point. And, I think, everything needs to be bundled together in a GOTY package for a reduced price at some point (looking at you EA). You're just leaving sales on the table otherwise.
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