At the age of 26, and what I would like to consider, being quite a respectable young woman, there’s not much in this world with the ability to make me pout like a child. Starbucks hot chocolate that scolds me when I’m too damn eager to drink it, my mp3 player batteries dying on me when I’m travelling through London at rush hour or still, after nearly two years of trying, being embarrassingly incapable of pulling out Alucard’s super jump move on the Xbox Live Arcade version of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (it’s the D pad I tell you).
So imagine my horror when on a casual stroll through Play.com’s games section on a recent lunch break from work, that under one of my gaming events of the year, Final Fantasy XIII, I discover the words ‘date to be confirmed‘.
I, along with many, have gotten somewhat used to the tell tale signs of a game bound to have a release date pushed back. No box artwork, lack of trailers or in-game footage; hype in the market is far more valuable than accurate release information. I should have been more open to the fact that it was incredibly likely after the extreme lack all round of any solid information regarding the in depth qualities of the game. The recent trailer although firmly making my jaw drop in its stunning visual beauty, showed little more than a collection of FMV sequences around a small example of the latest battle system. The clincher of course being the ‘In production for Playstation 3 and Xbox 360’ on the end credits. But there’s always a fools hope that a game will be released sooner rather than later.
So what does an RPG lover in pain do to ease the disappointment of having to wait? Scour the internet for any possible information, the slightest hint, or hope of finding some unheard of but very well connected fan page that says don’t worry, it won’t be long! Well, unfortunately that wasn’t completely the case as the actual release date seems very dependant on already scheduled releases from Square-Enix, and could very well be as late as April 2010!
However, there was a little light at the end of my tunnel. Announcement of a Final Fantasy: Advent Children bundle containing a themed Playstation 3 and a two hour demo for the latest title, has reignited the old rumors of a potential Final Fantasy 7 remake for the future. Square-Enix have always remained tight lipped, and sometimes openly dismissed the possibility of such a game being in production. And yet, it seems that every time people are about ready to hang up their hopes of having one of the most successful RPGs of all time remade for a next gen console, a spokesperson will always hint at the possibility. In the most recent case: it’s a matter of timing.
Given the current financial climate, and the fact that PS3 is somewhat trailing in sales next to the Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360, it’s very likely that the announcement of a revamped Final Fantasy 7 could be just what the Sony doctor ordered, especially if exclusive. It’s enough to keep my hope alive, for now!
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