Could Final Fantasy 13 be the Last Chance for the PlayStation 3?Written By Roy
Final Fantasy 13 launched yesterday in Japan and many analysts have been predicting that in terms of sales figures and rescuing the PS3 in the region, the game could prove the last chance for the system to really push forward this generation. The game is being released in the UK later next year and will be available for the 360 and PS3 at the same time, but has stayed as a PS3 Exclusive in the games native region.
The game is the latest in a long line of JRPG games that have had a mixed history, with many people considering FF7 one of the best games ever made – ourselves included – and others criticising later games in the series such as FF9, 10-2 and 11 which was a MMORPG rather than a standard single player RPG game.
It’s something that’s popular over here but fans go completely mad for it in its domestic market, and analysts are predicting that as many as a half a million families might rush out to buy a new PlayStation 3 simply to play the game. The PlayStation 2 was hugely popular in Japan but the high cost of the PS3 coupled with the huge success of Nintendo and a growing market for the 360 has lead Sony to lose ground in the region.
However, with the price now cut the PS3 slim has finally become an enticing purchase, especially for families that don’t already have a blu-ray player in their home. It’s also built itself up a range of impressive exclusive titles that arguably rival massive name games like Halo and Mass Effect that remain exclusive to the 360 in the UK.
The problem is that while the PS3 is finally in a good market position, both Microsoft and Nintendo have aces up their sleeves with Sony is lacking. Microsoft’s Natal will be about later in 2010 exploiting the crazy in motion sensing which Sony’s weak motion controller has failed to live up to. Meanwhile, Nintendo may well be considering further price cuts on the Wii and are looking to the future with a release of a HD version of the Wii with improved graphics which will certainly make the system more appealing to many gamers.
Early reports of Final Fantasy 13 in Japan haven’t been overly positive with many sites reporting the game being overly linear with game mechanics quite heavily based on the older title, Final Fantasy 10.
Whether or not that will stop the JRPG crowd from rushing out and buying it is another matter entirely, of course.
The News Release was written by: Roy who produces professional