Playing FFIX at the moment, and every time I do, I'm always reminded of just how fantastic the game looks. Of course the game is pre-rendered, and that helps it to hold up even today as one of the best-looking FFs, and certainly one of the best-looking PS1 games.
But the actual character models and backgrounds went hand-in-hand with each other - they complimented each other. Imagine FFIX's backgrounds with FFVIII's character models - wouldn't have worked.
So that chibi style, then. That's one of the things that defines FFIX. It allowed for a huge degree of character, personality and expression. Of course, some people don't like it, but I think the majority universally agree it worked, and it was wonderful, helping to bring FF to life in ways previous art styles couldn't.
As we all know, home console FFs after IX went the realism route in terms of actual character definition. Different species and races were still around, in particular with XII, where you had the viera, bangaa and seeq (that Ivalice setting), but IX took it to a new level with anthropomorphic fish, birds, hippos, rats and more. And again, it was the chibi style that perhaps let it get away with it much more than the realistic design of later FFs may have done.
Ignoring portable games, where it seems games on those systems can get away with the chibi style better (see 4 Heroes of Light, Bravely Default, Crystal Chronicles), do you think a home console Final Fantasy game in FFIX's chibi art style could work today? So, could FFXVI on PS4 make that style work? Would it be suitable? Or do you think we are simply confined to properly defined character models with realistic proportions for all of FF's home console future? Is that the way it should be? Or do you think FF should try to deliver varied graphics styles more often? Would you want to see the style come back in a console FF? Or are you content with getting the more realistic style and happy with the disfigured style staying consigned to handhelds? Do you want to see more anthropomorphic characters, and which art style do you think works better or allows for more/better variety of said characters?
Share your thoughts.
But the actual character models and backgrounds went hand-in-hand with each other - they complimented each other. Imagine FFIX's backgrounds with FFVIII's character models - wouldn't have worked.
So that chibi style, then. That's one of the things that defines FFIX. It allowed for a huge degree of character, personality and expression. Of course, some people don't like it, but I think the majority universally agree it worked, and it was wonderful, helping to bring FF to life in ways previous art styles couldn't.
As we all know, home console FFs after IX went the realism route in terms of actual character definition. Different species and races were still around, in particular with XII, where you had the viera, bangaa and seeq (that Ivalice setting), but IX took it to a new level with anthropomorphic fish, birds, hippos, rats and more. And again, it was the chibi style that perhaps let it get away with it much more than the realistic design of later FFs may have done.
Ignoring portable games, where it seems games on those systems can get away with the chibi style better (see 4 Heroes of Light, Bravely Default, Crystal Chronicles), do you think a home console Final Fantasy game in FFIX's chibi art style could work today? So, could FFXVI on PS4 make that style work? Would it be suitable? Or do you think we are simply confined to properly defined character models with realistic proportions for all of FF's home console future? Is that the way it should be? Or do you think FF should try to deliver varied graphics styles more often? Would you want to see the style come back in a console FF? Or are you content with getting the more realistic style and happy with the disfigured style staying consigned to handhelds? Do you want to see more anthropomorphic characters, and which art style do you think works better or allows for more/better variety of said characters?
Share your thoughts.
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