Of FMV's and Gameplay

[Cerridwen]

Is it just me or those FF games take up too much disc space in order to make FMV's and skimp on the gameplay?! I really have to hand it to FFVII, it was a game with FMV and gameplay most balanced of the entire polygonal species of the upper FF titles (VII to whatever). I played FFVIII and FFIX and I must say I was pretty disappointed because it was just too damn short with all those FMV's popping all over the place. FMV's are real pretty, but what we really need is addictive and serious gameplay!

[RoboticSilence]

I think it's funny that you made a checklist poll.

[Raziel]

I like FMV, but I don't consider it necessary. Skies of Arcadia Legends had no FMV, and it was an awesome game.

[Kuja]

I think FMV are great yet not necessary.
(but greatly appreciated)

[Cerridwen]

Well, I HAD to know what other RPG players here think, Robotic Silence. And besides, even if there are no FMVs, it doesn't mean that the RPG in question is dull and boring to death. I loved the Suikoden series, and they had no FMVs, just little skits. But do you think if the FF games have no FMVs, would it mean that other people won't play it anymore? Just curious...

[Rurouni Storm]

Hmm, I do find that it was a problem with PSOne FF's and space (caused a lot of disc swapping) and occasionally I hated having a boss fight right after a long one (a long talk scene wouldn't be any different)

Thankfully, the DVD-ROM has (at least, temporarily) solved the disc swapping issue. As for length, keep them short and sweet.

[Cerridwen]

That's SO right.

And then there's this problem of having the game "hang" like so, and then you realize that when you reset it again, you haven't saved up to that crucial save point. AAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHHH~~~~~!!!

[WetWired]

Well, I HAD to know what other RPG players here think, Robotic SilenceWhat he means is that it is funny that you made a poll where one can choose multiple answers. Look at the results and compare them to the number of people who voted.

[Cerridwen]

Sorry about that! I should've made a CLEARER poll. ^____^;;

[Juggalo]

FMV's rule...I think they sometimes sorta hold the story together...

The 3 best ones where...

1. Sephiroth walking through the fire...
2. Sephiroth Stabbing Aries...
3. Kuja going into trance...

[Kashante]

yea...FMVs rule.but in some games,like FFX,they should of cut back on them a little.sure they look cool,but, some people would rather play the game than just watch FMVs.FFVII has shown me though,that it can handle FMVs and gameplay well,but not FFX.

[Rurouni Storm]

Sorry about that! I should've made a CLEARER poll. ^____^;;

Just ask and I think one of us mods can fix it.

[gpkyo]

FMV are really just a lil break i take from all that gaming i kick back and relax. I compare how much they enchance their FMV every ff, but there should be more gameplay involve yet their going the opposite way.

[Cerridwen]

Ok. HELP MODs, HEEEEEELLLLPPPPP~~~~~!!!

[Rurouni Storm]

Sorry, I can't fix it.

[Cerridwen]

Gee, thanks anyway, Rurouni. Your help was much appreciated.

Please, any kindhearted moderator out there...could you kindly fix my poll? I could, but then again I'm NOT a moderator. Pretty PLEASE~~~?!

[Kuja]

I dont think it can be fixed.

[haplo]

FMV's are an esential part to tie stories together. but they need to keep them a little shorter.

[Kuja]

Actualy it depend.
I think FMV size should be based on how important the event is.

[Raziel]

FMV's are an esential part to tie stories together. but they need to keep them a little shorter.

None of the Final Fantasies prior to 7 had FMVs, and I can name two at the very least that have much better plots than 7. FMVs are a nice bonus, but they're not integral in any fashion. They don't tie the story together at all. All they do is add cinematic quality to the action sequences. You need text and conversation to really further the plot. An FMV of Aeris' death certainly pushes the story along, but it's meaningless without the text to explain how the characters react to her death. FMVs enhance the story, but they're not necessary at all.

[Cerridwen]

WAAAHHHH~~~~!!! Well, thanks for all your help, kind moderators, they were all pretty much appreciated....

Hmm. FMV's are heart-stopping, and as what Raziel said, it would be no sense at all if after the FMV there was nothing to be said about THAT FMV that would help further the story in progress. They only add to much of the time spent playing. You were SUPPOSED to kill the silver-haired baddie, not watch those ribbons that entwine you around before you face him off.

On the other hand...it's boring if RPG's would have text instead of FMV's to deliver some of the game's finest moments. It's like choosing a moth-eaten book over a colorful comic book with all the gore and action and all the pretty visuals.

[Raziel]

The point I'm making is that, yes, FMVs are nice, but not necessary to conveying plot at all. If General Leo's death scene in FF6 had been in FMV, it certainly would have been more cinematic and impressive. But, it wasn't in FMV. It was in old-school 16-bit in game graphics, and the emotion and weight of the scene was perfectly translated, regardless. FMV would have just made it look nicer.

[Cerridwen]

Yes, exactly. But if there would be another FF game released without ANY FMV's, and since we were all used to the fact that FF games from VII to whatever have FMV's...would it be really boring? I mean, just plain, scrolling text, like you're reading a book. I've had my share of SRW headaches, so...

[Dan XIII]

sometimes fmvs are bad like in final fantasy 9 when you want to rush through the game to get the excalibur 2.

[Kuja]

You can always open your playstation to skip them.

[Dan XIII]

one thing my friend did before is tap the top of the playstation to get it to skip the cinemas in final fantasy 7.

[Cerridwen]

Won't the Playstation bog down or something?