Final Fantasy

:This article is about the Final Fantasy series as a whole. For the video game Final Fantasy, see Final Fantasy (video game)

Criticism

Although the series is extremely popular, it is not without critics. Some cite a lack of interactivity (overuse of full motion video), rigid and often linear story structure, and unoriginality. More recent installments of the series (following its premiere on the PlayStation in 1997) are especially attacked by critics within the video game community. Fans of these games often argue that the nostalgia factor plays a significant role in many of the negative responses to post-Final Fantasy VII installments.

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Many long time fans of the series have also criticized character designer Yoshitaka Amano's departure from the series after Final Fantasy VI. Tetsuya Nomura, who has handled character design for the majority of the post-Final Fantasy VII series, has been criticized by many Amano fans, especially by those who feel that Nomura's designs look too juvenile in comparision to Amano's work. Similar complaints have begun to surface surrounding the departure of long-time series music composer Nobuo Uematsu.

Related Topics:
Yoshitaka Amano - Tetsuya Nomura

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Of the more recent installments in the series, Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy X-2 have been most frequently singled out for criticism. A number of diehard fans have accused Final Fantasy XI for neglecting the traditions of the series by switching to a MMORPG format. On the other hand, the single-player Final Fantasy X-2 has attracted negative attention for its status as the first direct sequel to a previous Final Fantasy game, and, as some would say, its overreliance on fan service.

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Another major criticism of Square, relating to the Final Fantasy series, is the apparent lack of support for games predating Final Fantasy VII, the game that brought the franchise to its current popularity. Though all of Final Fantasy I through VI (with the exception of III) have been rereleased in one form or another, nearly all spinoffs and inspired games primarily use material from VII and onward. As such, while hardcore fans of the franchise have played most games in one form or another, most newer fans aren't even aware of Final Fantasy games predating the seventh installment.

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