The merger between Square and Enix in 2003 was profoundly affected by the financial failure of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, a landmark film that simultaneously became the catalyst for a series of internal problems within Square. Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of the acclaimed Final Fantasy saga, left the company in 2001, a decision that, according to composer Nobuo Uematsu, had devastating consequences for Square’s organizational structure. Without Sakaguchi, Square Enix has not been the same for 20 years. In a recent episode of his podcast Together with NOBIYO, […]
The merger between Square and Enix in 2003 was profoundly affected by the financial failure of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, a landmark film that simultaneously became the catalyst for a series of internal problems within Square. Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of the acclaimed Final Fantasy saga, left the company in 2001, a decision that, according to composer Nobuo Uematsu, had devastating consequences for Square’s organizational structure.
Without Sakaguchi Square Enix has not been the same for 20 years
In a recent episode of his podcast Together with NOBIYO, Uematsu, who has been a collaborator of Sakaguchi since the 80s, recalled the profound influence that the latter had on the company. “The organization simply collapsed after he left,” Uematsu stated, adding that the lack of strong leadership was immediately noticeable. “He has always been the great boss,” he concluded, reflecting the admiration that his followers and colleagues feel towards him.
The premiere of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within in 2001 turned out to be a financial fiasco, which not only eroded confidence in Sakaguchi’s management but also delayed the planned merger with Enix. This marked a critical moment in Square’s history, which was experiencing its worst times just before the merger.
After his departure, Sakaguchi continued to be credited as an executive producer on several Final Fantasy games until 2003. Uematsu, for his part, left Square Enix in 2004 and, although he has worked as a freelancer, his musical legacy remains alive in projects developed by the studio Mistwalker, founded by Sakaguchi, where he has contributed to titles such as Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey.
These events have left an indelible mark on the company’s history, signaling a significant change in its direction and future in the video game industry.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is triumphing in an amazing way. With over a million copies sold, it is proving that turn-based role-playing games are far from failing to spark interest among the public. Now, if you think the game is unique, you are very mistaken. That particular mix of turn-based gameplay and action gameplay is something that JRPGs have been doing for years. And we are going to prove it to you with X games that have done it just as well as Expedition 33 itself. The Legend of Dragoon If there is a classic JRPG […]
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is achieving remarkable success. With over a million copies sold, it is proving that turn-based role-playing games are far from losing interest among the public. Now, if you think the game is unique, you are very mistaken. That particular blend of turn-based gameplay and action gameplay is something that JRPGs have been doing for years. And we are going to demonstrate this with X games that have done it just as well as Expedition 33 itself.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a premium role-playing game that immerses you in a quest to stop the threatening Painter from wreaking havoc with her deadly art. Set in a beautifully designed world, you will explore captivating locations such as the Island of Faces and the Forgotten Battlefield.
If there is a classic JRPG that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 draws from, it is The Legend of Dragoon. The tone is equally dark and apocalyptic, and moreover, its combat system is just as unique. To deal more damage with each attack, we must perform combos by following specific button patterns on screen at the right moment. This makes it a beloved classic from the original PlayStation, not far from what that French game you mentioned does.
Speaking of hitting at the right moment, that’s exactly what we had to do in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. All our attacks dealt more damage if we pressed the button at the exact moment we hit the enemy, and the damage we received from our enemies was reduced if we pressed it at the exact moment they hit us. Basically what Expedition 33 does, just with less existential angst and more turtle races.
The Last Remnant is surely the most complex and least played game on this list. It is also likely the best in terms of pure mechanical design. With a morality system that defines all actions, a list of when each of the characters we can manipulate will act based on our actions, and the ability to increase the damage of our attacks by pressing the right button at the right moment, we haven’t even touched on how all this affects skills and equipment. But you should play The Last Remnant.
Probably the most famous JRPG for the peculiarity of its combat system, also the most imitated. Each battle in Earthbound has its own song, and if we want to maximize the damage we deal, we must press the attack button to the rhythm of the song. If we don’t, we won’t perform combos, and the battle will be much longer and more brutal. This adds to the originality of an exceptional game that is a cult title for very good reasons.
One of the most special JRPGs on the Xbox 360 is also one that shares a lot with Clair OBscur: Expedition 33. Both have a dark and melancholic tone and both feature a dynamic turn-based combat system. In the case of Lost Odyssey, we had to overlap rings to maximize the damage of our attacks, forcing us to stay alert to make our attacks as powerful as possible. This shows that there is much to draw from in this regard.
If we haven’t been blunt when talking about The Last Remnant, it’s because Resonance of Fate exists. A turn-based JRPG where the position of each character in combat, how we move, and the actions we take during movement will radically change every turn of combat. Not to mention the absurd level of equipment customization or the specialization of the skills. Because Expedition 33 not only hasn’t invented anything, but it also isn’t even remotely the most complex game of its kind.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a premium role-playing game that immerses you in a quest to stop the threatening Painter from wreaking havoc with her deadly art. Set in a beautifully designed world, you will explore captivating locations such as the Island of Faces and the Forgotten Battlefield.
