XCOM: Enemy Unknown won multiple game-of-the-year awards in 2012 for its turn-based tactical gameplay centered on a squad of combatants. The expansion, XCOM: Enemy Within, was similarly well received upon its release in 2013 and brought the franchise to the mobile market on both the iOS and Android platforms in 2014. The success of these XCOM games inspired many game developers to try their hand at the genre. In 2015 we got Deathwatch: Tyranid Invasion, set in the Warhammer 40K universe, and one of my personal favorites Templar Battleforce. Last year brought us Pocket Tactic’s RPG game-of-the-year Demon’s Rise 2 and tactics game-of-the-year Invisible, Inc. All of these games feature tactical turn-based action that can be favorably compared to the XCOM games.
Below is collection of great games that evoke that tactical gameplay that XCOM fans know and love. Some we’ve reviewed, many we haven’t. We’ve put some emphasis on games released in the last couple of years, but also aimed for a good cross-section of options out there. Naturally I can’t include every title with gameplay similar to XCOM and would love to see other options called out in the comments below.
Xenowar is a brilliant distillation of the razor-sharp tactical challenges of XCOM, though it does sacrifice some scale and endgame satisfaction in favor of presenting a clean-cut intense series of battles. In particular, the GEO mode is a smart compromise between a full-fledged life-consuming, planet-saving, alien-cleansing XCOM campaign and a single strategic arc that a dedicated gamer can accomplish in just a few sittings. It takes a lot of presence of mind to create games like this, which understand what’s great and reiterate it without becoming derivative or redundant in the process. Oh, and it’s open-source to boot.
Hydra’s best point is how creative and wide its customization options are, both in terms of squad composition and difficulty level. The plotting and theme are boilerplate, but in terms of mechanics, stats and abilities, the game is brimming with possibilities. Psionics and physics add some flair and unusual effects to the classes, and the enemies are weird bio-machine hybrids. All this wouldn’t matter a whit if the game’s buffet of options was paired with anything but an equally rich campaign. Here, Strike Team Hydra delivers again, ratcheting up the scenarios, objectives and enemy types just as generously as it doled out strategic tools. It strikes a great balance between question and answer; risk and reward; problem and solution.
Along with the top-down isometric perspective, Frozen Synapse made one other amazing change to the standard tactical shooter formula. Each side takes turns planning their actions in secrecy, mapping out the steps their units will take, the shots they will fire. Then the game will resolve everyone’s programmed actions creating a ‘simultaneous’ turn that was nonetheless meticulously choreographed by those tacticians. One good idea, perfectly rendered, is enough to make a good game. Frozen Synapse fulfills this crystal-clear ideal.
Space marines versus xenomorphs, loosely derived from the Ur-horrors of Alien. Templar Battleforce owes some thematic debts to Warhammer and others, but its rapid-fire pacing and generous respect system are wonderful tools for experimentation and strategy. There’s some light characterization and world-building, sure, but in lieu of story one has to respect Templar Battleforce’s varied scenarios and equally creative squads allow divergent thinking. To a man with a hammer, everything is a nail, but to a commander with endlessly variable squads, the mutating threat can be met with an equally sundry…battleforce.
Aliens versus Humans
Developer: Leisurerules Inc. Platforms: iOS | Android Price: $2.99
We’ll start with an option that predates Enemy Within on mobile. Aliens versus Humans is an old game. So old that if you buy it for iOS you’ll get the warning about it slowing down your device since the developer hasn’t updated the game to Apple’s standards. That warning is often meaningless and misleading and you should go ahead and ignore it in this case.
Aliens versus Humans is effectively a clone of the very first XCOM game from back in 1994.It features base management, research, manufacturing, and of course tactical combat against alien enemies. The graphics are retro and nothing to get excited about, but the gameplay is solid, combat is challenging, and there’s a whole lot of content for a couple bucks. You can bring a huge squad to battle which allows for more options to face threats than games that top out with a team of four or so. It also lets you play the attrition game to grind out victories. So while Aliens versus Humans is over three-years-old at this point, it is well worth considering if you’re looking for XCOM-like action.
The universe is under threat from the Empire of the Machines and an alliance between the League of Aliens and United Nations of Earth (U.N.E.) is all that stands in their way. Legions of Steel takes this war to the Machines’ underground production facilities. You direct squads of commandos through the machine’s dark metallic underworld.
As with XCOM games, there’s a lot of tactical decision making in Legions of Steel. You can make use of movement stances, strafing, covering fire to take things out on your opponent’s turn, firing options like auto-fire and suppressing fire, and ambush tactics. There are also a ton of different weapons with which to equip your squad to fit any strategy and I particularly like that you can shoot no matter how far you’ve moved, with modifiers of course. There are two different campaigns in Legions of Steel and the story is told through attractive comic-book panels between missions. There’s also a “Skirmish” mode for quick fights and asynchronous multiplayer if you prefer a human opponent.
The first of a couple free options in this article is a little game called Alien Star Menace. Aliens have attacked the starship Paladin and it’s up to you to save the day. Alien Star Menace is light-hearted and looks pretty basic at first glance but it actually packs a good tactical punch. You pick a five-person squad from a variety of special units with different pros and cons and take them into missions on different levels of the Paladin.
The mission objectives are things like “Kill Everything” and “Reach the Stairs” and the game rewards smart decisions like making good use of choke points and ranged attackers. Missions are very quick and perfect for bite-sized play sessions on your phone, which is often a big plus for gamers these days. Alien Star Menace is also free-to-play with no IAP. There are ads, which can be annoying, but the frequency is very low and I didn’t find them to be overly obtrusive. I’m happy to recommend this one as a free gaming option for XCOM fans.
World of Warriors: Quest
Developer: Mind Candy Ltd. Platforms: iOS | Android Price: Free
World of Warriors: Quest is a light turn-based tactical game where you play as a team of warriors from across the ages—Roman centurions, Viking berserkers, and stealthy ninjas for example. The characters fill your standard RPG roles. The Roman, Brutus, is a tank and taunts enemies with his attacks to keep their attention. Gunnar, the Viking warrior, is a decent balance of damage and survivability. The ninja is named Kuro and he’s the glass cannon—big area-of-effect damage but very low health. Those are the starting characters but you encounter more as the game goes on.
You choose three warriors to take on a number of quests that lead you across the Wildlands on a mission to discover what the local bad guys are up to. Each quest has several waves of fights and it can be a challenge to keep your team upright and alive so you don’t succumb to attrition. Each warrior has special attacks to make use of and there are also consumables֫ that recover health, enable big attacks, or provide extra movement speed. World of Warriors: Quest is not a particularly deep game, but good for those interested in light squad-based tactics. You also can’t beat the price—this one is free with no IAPs or ads.
The Last Warlock
Developer: Sonic Sloth Platforms: iOS | Android Price: $3.99
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The Last Warlock is a turn-based tactical game with a somewhat unique almost-anything-goes approach. You play as a warlock capable of summoning deadly creatures, casting magical spells, and crafting weapons, armour, and other equipment. You embark on a series of quests to find and defeat enemy warlocks, all vying to discover the secrets of the famed last warlock. To defeat these rivals you must first best their monsters, traps, and puzzles before taking them down.
The Last Warlock provides an extraordinary amount of freedom for a tactical game to decide exactly how to do so. You can go straight for your foe or explore a little and take the road less travelled. This provides a great deal of replay value because you can play the same quest multiple times and use a different strategy. Your squad in this game are the creatures you’ve summoned and you can end up with quite a crew as you grow in power and a quest wears on. The single-player campaign is quite extensive and will provide many hours of play for one premium price. There’s also an asynchronous online option for those looking for multiplayer action.
Star Chindy (2016)
Developer: MAST Games Platforms: iOS | Android Price: $1.99
Star Chindy mixes in elements of both FTL and XCOM. You warp around the galaxy in your ship, the Star Chindy, in a hunt to take on and take out a big bad alien race that very nearly wiped out earth. You’ll maintain and upgrade your ship, and others you pick up along the way, and decide where to go and what risks are worth taking in your travels.
You’ll take a squad on various away missions and engage the enemy in turn-based tactical warfare. The missions are a good challenge and get better and better as you train up your squad. The space-based combat is less interesting, however. It plays out in real time, rather than being turn based, and your weapons auto-fire on enemy ships in range. Your job is to frantically maneuver your ships to avoid enemy fire. Luckily the fun of the squad combat more than makes up for this and despite this odd dichotomy, Star Chindy is definitely worth a go for fans of XCOM.
Do you know of any more games that would fit the topic of today’s guide? Let us know about them in the comments below!
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 10-10-2018, 10:44 AM - Forum: Lounge
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Microsoft's New xCloud Game Streaming Service Revealed
Numerous game companies believe that streaming technology is the future. Now, Microsoft has announced its own approach to streaming video games: Project xCloud. The project aims to bring console-quality games to PC, consoles, and smart phone devices, and it will be rolling out public trials starting in 2019.
As detailed in the announcement, players will be able to use an Xbox One controller connected to supported devices. Smart phones can be used via Bluetooth, and a small attachment connects the controller to the phone for ease of use. If you don't have an Xbox One controller, touch controls are also available.
The service uses Microsoft's Azure as a backbone to set up new datacenters, with customized hardware that uses the parts of multiple Xbox One consoles. Azure has datacenters in 140 countries, so Microsoft feels it is already in a strong position to roll out the service wide-scale. It's also developing ways to combat latency, with current tests running at 10 megabits per second. The ultimate goal is to make streaming available on 4G networks. Microsoft also notes the intention is for developers to be able to make their games available through xCloud without requiring any additional work from them (not unlike how it handles backwards compatibility on Xbox One).
Similarly, last week Google announced its own Project Stream, using Assassin's Creed Odyssey to issue a technical test. PlayStation Now, meanwhile, has offered streaming games for quite a while, but recently began offering the option of downloading instead.
Microsoft axes Minecraft for Apple TV, no one notices
By Andrew O’Hara Tuesday, October 09, 2018, 09:33 pm PT (12:33 am ET)
Microsoft is throwing in the towel on the Apple TV permutation of Minecraft due to low user numbers, according to a splash screen that — ironically — has been displayed in-game for weeks without mention from mainstream media.
Microsoft ceased support for Minecraft on the Apple TV on Sept. 24, though users are still able to play the game for the foreseeable future. Users can continue to explore the virtual world and use in-app purchases, Microsoft said.
“We’re grateful to the Apple TV community for their support, but we need to reallocate resources to the platforms that our players use the most,” the splash screen reads.
That Minecraft lacked a vibrant player base shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. The pop-up alert presumably appeared weeks ago, yet news of the game’s discontinuation is only now making its way to media outlets.
Minecraft’s demise is another nail in the coffin for Apple TV’s gaming potential. That one of the world’s most popular titles was unable to gain traction on Apple TV speaks volumes about the platform and its user base.
Some have criticized Apple for its inability to successfully market Apple TV as a casual gaming console.
When the fourth-generation Apple TV initially launched, Apple required all games support the Siri Remote as well as optional MFi controllers. This policy made it exceedingly difficult for developers to bring more complex games to tvOS, as the Siri Remote is severely limiting and even a bit slow.
Apple changed course and dropped the Siri Remote requirement in 2016, but AAA developers continue to shy away from the platform.
Gaming was never a major selling point for Apple TV, and Apple is seemingly content to let those prospects wither as it shifts focus back to video apps and a rumored first-party streaming service.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 10-10-2018, 04:33 AM - Forum: Lounge
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Best Buy Game Deals This Week: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Best Buy's current weekly sale kicked off on October 7 and runs through October 13. That means the window of time is open for you to hit the retailer either online or in-store to pick up this week's selection of video game deals. What kinds of deals are we talking? Let's take a look.
If you buy Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (available October 12), you can save $10 on a 12-month subscription to PlayStation Plus. Ubisoft's toys-to-life game Starlink: Battle for Atlas comes out October 16. If you buy the starter pack, Best Buy will throw in an extra pilot figure for free (see our Starlink pre-order guide for more information). And while this one won't apply to everyone, if you purchase an Xbox One along with an eligible Samsung TV, you'll get a $100 gift card for free.
All Xbox One controller chargers are on sale this week. And if you buy an Xbox One, you can save $20 on an extra controller. Speaking of controllers, some models of PS4's DualShock 4 controllers are on sale for a few bucks off, and some of the new color designs, like Berry Blue and Sunset Orange, are in stock.
In addition to sales, a bunch of video games are getting permanent price drops at Best Buy this week. You can see the full list of video game price drops and weekly discounts here.
Timespinner is a story-driven adventure, inspired by classic 90s action-platformers. Timekeeper Lunais is on a quest to avenge her slain family, using time-bending powers to explore an interconnected world.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 10-09-2018, 11:28 PM - Forum: Windows
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Introducing the Xbox One S ‘Minecraft’ Creators Bundle
Create your ultimate Minecraft adventure and be a part of the global phenomenon with the Xbox One S Minecraft Creators Bundle, available soon at select retailers globally for $299 USD / £249 GBP.
The Xbox One S Minecraft Creators Bundle includes:
Xbox One S with 1TB hard drive, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player and 4K video streaming
Creators Pack: Adventurer’s Dream Mash-up and Winter Mini-Games Festival by Noxcrew, Relics of the Privateers by Imagiverse, PureBDcraft Texture Pack by BDcraft, Pastel Skin Pack by Eneija, and Wildlife Savanna by PixelHeads
1-month Xbox Game Pass trial so you can play 100 great games out of the box
Also included in the Xbox One S Minecraft Creators Bundle is a 14-day Xbox Live Gold trial, so you can experience adventures in the community of 91 million Minecraft players each month across Windows 10 PC, mobile, VR, Xbox One or Nintendo Switch.
Whether you’re playing Minecraft, watching movies or streaming gameplay, Xbox One S delivers brilliant graphics with HDR technology, premium audio and the best community of gamers. Games play best on Xbox One and as part of the Xbox One family, you can enjoy more than 1,300 games, including exclusives like Forza Horizon 4 and Sea of Thieves.
SoulCalibur 6's Release Date And US Pre-Order Guide
SoulCalibur VI is the next installment of Bandai Namco's long-running fighting game series, and it's set to launch on October 19 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Like the previous games, this one pits weapon-wielding combatants against each other and sees the inclusion of many familiar faces for anyone who's played the previous games--or anyone who's played The Witcher, for that matter.
If you're ready to go all-in on SoulCalibur VI, you'll probably want to know about any pre-order bonuses, what comes with each edition of the game, and where you can get it. Below, we've gathered all of the information you need to make an informed pre-order decision. Let's get to it.
SoulCalibur VI Pre-Order Bonus
A few retailer-exclusive pre-order bonuses are available for the game. If you pre-order SoulCalibur VI from Best Buy, you'll receive a free 3.5-inch-tall mini figure of Talim (while supplies last). GameStop, meanwhile, is giving away the Ivy Valentine Figpin seen above. Finally, pre-ordering from the PlayStation Store gets you a free SoulCalibur VI PS4 theme.
Standard Edition
The standard edition contains the game itself, plus any applicable pre-order bonuses. The best deal at the time of this writing is at Newegg, where you'll save $10.
Physical versions of the deluxe edition come with the season pass, the soundtrack on CD, and a metal case with a built-in soundbox that can play four voiceover snippets. Digital versions cost $10 less but only contain the game and season pass.
The $150 collector's edition comes with even more items. You'll get everything included in the deluxe edition, plus a 120-page art book and a 12-inch collectible Sophitia figure, all packaged in a long collector's edition box.
Don’t Miss: 6 ways that the Final Fantasy series continues to influence devs
When the first Final Fantasy game was released in 1987, no one could have realized what a misnomer that “final” in the title was, or what a profound effect the title would have on game developers all over the world.
Final Fantasy is one of the longest-running franchises of all time, and the latest entry in the series is one of the longest-awaited titles in games. With Final Fantasy XV finally, finally arriving today, it’s a good time to take stock of several key ways that Square (Enix)’s preeminent role-playing series has introduced innovations to gaming and influenced other designers.
We reached out to several developers and afficionados for whom the franchise has been a touchstone, and got their input on what makes FF games so unique. Thanks to Bill Steirnberg, Andrew Allanson, Alexa Ray Correia, and Greg Kasavin for their input.
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There’s a saying that only a few thousand people bought the first Velvet Underground album, but everyone who did went out and started their own band. Millions of people played the early FF titles, and many of them were so inspired by their mechanics and storylines and characters and presentation that they paid homage to the franchise in their own work.
Korean developer Yang Bing is the latest example. He was so enthralled by the trailer for Final Fantasy XV that he single-handedly made a prototype for an entirely new game, Lost Soul Aside. After two years of work, he released his own trailer, which prompted a massive response; publishers such as Sony and Epic have even reached out, hoping to help make the game a reality.
[embedded content] Lost Soul Aside
Final Fantasy has inspired generations of creators to make their own games.
“I have this distinct memory of getting home from Blockbuster and trying out Final Fantasy IV [FF2 in the west],” says Bill Steirnberg, programmer, Zeboyd Games. “I remember thinking, ‘Man this isn’t like Legend of Zelda at all.’ At first I was put off because I was a kid and it wasn’t what I was expecting. But then I got sucked in.”
“I loved how the creators were courageous enough to create new worlds each time, and to make characters who were empathetic and nuanced… In short, I want to make games that can make people feel the way the classic Final Fantasy games made me feel.”
“I have a very fond memory of getting Final Fantasy IX,” says Andrew Allanson, co-founder, Ackk Studios. “I didn’t get games very often so I always made sure when I got a game it was the longest game available. So the idea of a game that was four discs really excited me. After I beat it, I quickly bought FF7 and FF8. And I bought a Super Nintendo to get FF6. And so on and so on. Within two years, I’d beaten every Final Fantasy game available aside from Final Fantasy Tactics. I was 13 at the time.”
Supergiant’s first two games, Bastionand Transistor, transported players to new worlds steeped in lore and an idiosyncratic energy familiar to fans of Square’s famed series.
“I distinctly remember playing the original Final Fantasy for the Nintendo Entertainment System as a kid,” says Greg Kasavin, creative director, Supergiant. “Even when I wasn’t playing it I would be theory-crafting new ways to play it: ‘What if I create a part with four Black Belts, or two Black Mages, a Red Mage, and a White Mage?’ This sounds silly now, but at the time it was incredibly refreshing to have a game that afforded me this level of freedom.”
“Final Fantasy is a huge inspiration to me personally, as those games helped open my eyes as to what could be achieved with interactive storytelling in games,” adds Kasavin. “I cared so deeply for those characters and their stories, and I loved how the creators were courageous enough to create new worlds and casts of characters each time, and to make characters who were empathetic and nuanced…In short, I want to make games that can make people feel the way the classic Final Fantasy games made me feel.”
In a genre where you’ll spend upwards of 80 hours with certain party members, it’s important that they make for good company. The designers and localization teams who have worked on the Final Fantasy series have created innumerable memorable teammates throughout the years. Like any celebrity worth their salt, we know them by a single name: Cloud. Squall. Lightning. Aeris. Vivi. Zidane.
The series has presented players with memorable characters ever since Garland first threatened to knock us all down.
As a developer or writer, you’re lucky if you create any one character that stands the test of time. Final Fantasy’s cast is rich enough to support multiple Best Of lists, with different publications and fan sites naming their top 20, 25, and even 100 greatest characters.
“I think a lot of people gravitate toward the Final Fantasy series because of the characters,” says Steirnberg. “Some of them you root for and some of them are kind of goofy and some of them are annoying to be honest. But the diversity of personalities in the cast stick out for me.”
“There’s a scene in Final Fantasy IV (originally released as II in North America) where a vengeful old man called Tellah sacrifices himself in a desperate attempt to avenge his daughter,” says Kasavin. “While this wasn’t the first time in an RPG where a playable character dies as part of the story, that his quest ends in failure made it very impactful, and served as an important point in a memorable story.”
Final Fantasy XV is not a continuation of Final Fantasy XIV, just as Final Fantasy II did not pick up where the original left off. Each main title in the series is its own self-contained story with a new world to explore. A game succeeds if the player wants to spend time there. In most every case, Final Fantasy creates a world worth discovering.
“When I think of Final Fantasy, I think of these grand experiences: long, epic journeys and pilgrimages with new faces and places at every turn,” says Alexa Ray Corriea, who is working on an upcoming book-length examination of Square Enix’s Kingdom Hearts II. “I turned to the series as a means of escape. I was that nerdy girl in school that was always bullied, always the outcast because I didn’t follow what was popular and didn’t fit the mold, and I still think of the series that way. It’s my safe space…the place I go to hear a beautiful story and to challenge myself.”
“Final Fantasy, for me, was the first game that really made you feel something, in terms of feeling for characters and feeling that the world meant something,” says Allanson. “When you play Final Fantasy VII, you feel compelled to save the world because you enjoy being in it so much. Between the art direction and the characters and the music, there’s something very inviting about it.”
“I loved how the Final Fantasy games used music to deliberate effect,” says Kasavin. “They had musical scores, not just soundtracks.”
Composer Nobuo Uematsu enriched this simple role-playing game with a sound that lingers decades on; his themes have been played at concert halls (and fans’ wedding ceremonies).
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The series’ lasting impact and its music are inextricably linked. Even when the two are separated, success follows. Few game franchises could get away with releasing a game based entirely around its signature sounds. But that’s exactly what Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy for Nintendo 3DS (and later iOS) is.
“They did a reorchestration of [the famous Opera Scene in Final Fantasy VI] for one of the Distant Worlds CDs (an official album compilation of FF songs) and if you listen to the music and compare it to something like Wagner, which is real opera, the music is just as sophisticated,” says Allanson. “There’s just as many complex moving lines and intricate harmonies. In a way, video games have moved away from this now. Everyone seems to be going toward a film score direction–it’s all just so harmless now. Uncharted 4 plays it so safe with [music] you feel could be playing in the background of a ‘Law & Order’ episode. Whereas Final Fantasy really always has been scored like an opera.”
Beyond this winter’s 15th mainline game, the Final Fantasy franchise has expanded beyond the traditional role-playing with dalliances in other genres. In addition to the rhythm games and the Chocobo handheld spin offs, there’s Final Fantasy Tactics (a strategy game from the folks behind Tactics Ogre) and Dissidia Final Fantasy, a 3D fighting game, among many others. With what was supposed to be a one-off adventure, Square succeeded in building the ultimate renewable resource: a Brand Name in its own right, able to be grafted onto new, tangential ideas.
Perhaps the best example of the series’ malleability is in Kingdom Hearts, which enmeshes two unlikely universes–Final Fantasy and Disney–together. Whether this is smart evolution or cynical capitalism depends on how much you value survival in an increasingly hostile marketplace.
“Kingdom Hearts works because it looks like it shouldn’t,” says Corriea. “Disney is sweet and cuddly and Final Fantasy is dark and complex. But both of these properties offer a depth of storytelling and emotional power seen so little in other media. Final Fantasy has always been an idea: heroes on an epic journey with a few repeating elements, like cactuars and moogles and crystals and Phoenix Downs. You can build anything in any which way from that idea. Maybe that was the intention of its creators. Or maybe it was just a happy accident.”
The upcoming Final Fantasy XV is a quest 10 years and untold millions of dollars in the making. It has a lot to live up to–the franchise has long sought to dazzle players with game experiences that are more detailed and grand than anything they’ve seen before.
“I think the reason FF took off compared to Dragon Quest is that, even though DQ did well, Squaresoft were able to push not just the story but get ahead of everybody else in the scope of production values and [get] into people’s minds just what this genre is and how big it can be and how beautiful it can be,” says Steirnberg. “FF6 is probably a lot of people’s most memorable favorite in the series. Once that took off, they just cranked it up to 11 with FF7, and everyone else was left playing catch up. Once you have a franchise that can sell millions of copies, you can afford to spend millions of dollars making everything bigger and better and more impressive.”
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It‘s difficult to convey how revolutionary this commercial seemed in 1997 if you weren’t around then
With Final Fantasy VII on the Sony PlayStation, Square found a receptive audience in the west enamored by the grandiose visuals and storytelling rarely attempted elsewhere.
“Ever since Final Fantasy VII, I’d say the series has exemplified big-budget gaming from Japan: lots of imagination, lots of production value, all with a specific point-of-view,” says Kasavin. “I think it’s always represented a certain type of blockbuster game, one more focused on world-building and storytelling than straight-up action.”
And yet in the decades-long wait, other franchises have taken the mantle of Event Games that promise spectacle never yet seen. In Japan, Dragon Quest became the de facto mega-release that people cut class and took sick days to buy and play. Some question whether creating the most ambitious spectacle possible is still a valuable goal for the franchise.
Can Final Fantasy still overwhelm players with its spectacle? Should it try to?
“I’m not sure that just going bigger, bigger, bigger with each installment is that important in the grand scheme of things,” adds Kasavin. “I would love to see new games in the spirit of Final Fantasy VI or Final Fantasy Tactics. I admit I’m likely not in the majority on this but I care more about the tone and quality of the storytelling, and the underlying game systems, than the fidelity of the presentation.”
