No one other than Square Enix currently knows which direction Final Fantasy is heading for Final Fantasy 16although it may seem to some that some parts are already guaranteed. Following Clair Obscur: Expedition 33s success, for example, it would be natural to assume that Final Fantasy 17 – what will likely be the next main installment in the series – will bring back turn-based combat to the franchise. After all, with Square Enix publicly acknowledging the success of Clair Obscur and acknowledging turn-based RPGs as its roots earlier this year, Final Fantasy 17 would probably follow.
But that might not be the best approach for Square Enix to bring next Final Fantasyespecially when you consider what the fans actually want. Right now, the call to Final Fantasy to go back to its roots seems loud, as praise of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 continues, but while fans seem to want the next game in the series to step back in some way, there are other elements they'd rather Square Enix leave behind. There's even a whole Reddit thread for Final Fantasy 17 It's already dedicated to fans voicing what they want to see in the next game – and the expectations are high. It's an older thread, but it's checking out.
Reddit's Early FF17 Post Favors FF7 Remake Style of Combat
Despite Clair Obscur: Expedition 33s ability to achieve such success with a turn-based battle system, most fans on the r/FFXVII thread prefer Final Fantasy 7 Remakes battle over turn-based. In a post about a year ago, earlier Clair Obscur: Expedition 33Reddit user Enough_Food_3377 held a poll where fans could vote on which battle system they would like to see in the next release. Final Fantasy. Among the choices were ATB, Turn-Based, Action and FFVIIRaction/ATB Hybrid.
Here's how the vote went:
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ATB (3 votes)
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Turn Based (4 votes)
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Action (4 votes)
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FFVIIR style action/ATB Hybrid (12 voices)
Of course, there are a couple of factors to consider here. First, there were only 23 total votes cast in this poll, and if there were many more, the tide might have tipped in favor of a different combat system than Final Fantasy 7 Remakepp. That said, considering the FFVIIR-style action/ATB Hybrid option still got three times as many votes as Turn-Based and Action, and even slightly more than ATB alone, the probability of fan preference Final Fantasy 7 Remakes combat system over turn-based seems superior.
Second, this survey was done before Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is launched, which means the expectations of Final Fantasy fans may have shifted since then. However, other posts were made after Clair Obscurs release which seemed to indicate that fans would still prefer something other than turn-based combat in the Final Fantasy 17. But the consensus is also that the next entry wouldn't bring back the real-time action combat Final Fantasy 16 and instead try to land somewhere in the middle. Another Reddit user praised Clair Obscurs battle, state their hopes that Final Fantasy would note that, but many of the comments in the thread either disagreed or argued that Square Enix was unlikely to go in that direction.
Many fans have said throughout Final Fantasy 17 Reddit thread that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33s combat is not strictly turn-based, as it uses real-time tactics giving it a more hybrid feel. Still, technically, Clair Obscur is a turn-based RPG, while a game that Final Fantasy 7 Remake leans more towards the action side of combat while still offering turn-based strategy to some degree. Judging by what fans have said Final Fantasy 17 Reddit thread, it seems they expect the next big entry to go the way of Final Fantasy 7 Remake more than Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Final Fantasy 17's protagonist meets certain expectations
One of the more popular requests for Final Fantasy 17 (according to r/FFXVII Reddit anyway) is that it has a female protagonist who Final Fantasy 13's Lightning or Final Fantasy 6s Terra. In fact, some fans on the Reddit thread seem to think it's a female lead Final Fantasy 17 is the “most obvious choice at this point,” given the male-dominated entries the series has seen of late. Expectations are not necessarily as simple as “Final Fantasy 17 should have a female protagonist,” however, and are instead more explicit in nature.
On a Reddit thread specifically dedicated to conversations about Final Fantasy 17s protagonist, fans note clear traits they want the protagonist to have. “I want her to have tons of personality,” said one user, while another added along similar lines, “I want a cheerful main character who is happy and happy.” One user even went so far as to say they'd like to see a “female anti-hero who comes closer to the edge and blurs the lines of anti-hero and villain,” but there were still others in the thread who didn't necessarily express interest in a female lead. Instead, they said they hope Square Enix just has a happier, less moody protagonist than the series is known for.
Speculation has been circulating about Final Fantasy 17's setting
The fans have also set expectations on Final Fantasy 17s setting, even though the game doesn't exist yet. A Reddit post by user SalamiSalamander invites other fans to speculate on the next main post's setting, and some pretty interesting ideas were added to the thread.
Here are the main settings Final Fantasy the series has already explored:
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High fantasy
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Modern fantasy
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Technical fantasy
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Dark high fantasy
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Steampunk
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Sci-fantasy
During the post, fans expressed a number of requests for Final Fantasy 17s setting. Among the settings mentioned were post-apocalyptic, wild west, cyberpunk and space opera. It seems like most of the comments lean more towards post-apocalyptic, which Final Fantasy 10 appeared to some extent.
Fans have requests for Final Fantasy 17's lead artist
Finally, another popular expectation fans have already tuned in to Final Fantasy 17 is its main artist. A Reddit post by user JustinCredible1991 listed Tetsuya Nomura as a popular choice, though just as many fans seemed opposed to the idea. Nomura has contributed to the art of many Final Fantasy game, but he has led the character and visual design in posts like Final Fantasy 7, Final Fantasy 8, Final Fantasy 10 and 10-2and Final Fantasy 13.
Other comments on the same post say they would prefer Akihiko Yoshida (Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy 12, Final Fantasy 14) did the art for Final Fantasy 17. The OP also mentioned Yusuke Mogi as the potential lead artist for Final Fantasy 17and another comment on the post mentioned Osamu Kamikokuryo, who has been the art director for several Final Fantasy games in the late 2000s and 2010s.
- Released
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June 22, 2023
- ESRB
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M for mature 17+ due to blood and gore, partial nudity, sexual themes, strong language, violence
