What do you get when you cross a Final Fantasy character with, apparently, Lara Croft, and add a Western look for fun? This, apparently:

http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~nanko/ev/tgs/990-yuna.jpg

Not that this is altogether a bad thing. It's merely the plans for FFX-2, which is a direct sequence to the popular game FFX for PS2. With new functions, giving some of the game a more of a Xenogears feel according to the preview, and an updated outlook on the world clearly from the impact of the ending of the last game, this should be quite the interesting sequel. Here's another picture of Yuna, totting guns and looking nifty. (Check out the long hair.)

http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~nanko/im5/821.jpg

Release dates are still unclear, but hopefully Japan doesn't try to keep this all to itself. (Link to News Article below)

http://www.gamesarefun.com/cgi-bin....,15879,

Here's another picture, too:
http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~nanko/im5/820.jpg



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Please tell me someone can debunk this as a joke.

I sat here for ten minutes trying to come up with something else to say about it, and I just couldn't.

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This is quite wrong. What the hell? Yuna with a gun? Blaaaaaah, she had enough trouble with killing people by summoning and they give her a gun? Naaah, it's gotta be fake.

In further news for FFX-2, we now have a release date:

Japan - Early next Spring
US - Unknown, but confirmed

http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2895293,00.html

Beleive it...it's real ;-)

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I'm all for it to be honest.  I like the new look.  Yuna looks sexier and a lot more confident which is a plus in my book.  Who knows, it could turn out okay...then again, I just realized a way in which it could "suck so hard, its lips will have friction burn"....

Oh what am I worrying about?!  What's life w/o risks eh?

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I find it extremely annoying that Square has abandoned its FF series principles (NOT directly sequelising games that don't have the scope for it), but this really takes some fairly major cakes.  I haven't played a lot of FF10 yet, I'll grant you, but thus far, as far as I'm concerned, there have been much more interesting, less linear-feeling worlds in the series which could have sustained more development.  But then, I wouldn't want to see them suffer the injustice of a cheap cash-in sequel, which everyone will no doubt think is the best thing ever anyway because gosh, aren't they well animated!  It doesn't really matter that you have to press probably 3 buttons or so to finish the game, discounting the number of times you might press X to advance dialogue.

Bah.  Bring back 2D and sprites, and a Square that cared more about artistic imtegrity and less about graphics and recovering cash from its embarrassing movie debacle.

It seems intriguing, I'll grant you that.  Yuna's outfit is nicer, but the guns seem like a rather near-sighted development.  I agree with Tiddles, though; I can think of many other, less linear Final Fantasies which deserve a sequel, as opposed to the open-and-close ending of FFX, and I think Square might do well just to develop another game, as opposed to piggybacking on the success of their first FF PS2 venture.  Still, I really did like FFX.

My only problem is that I'm afraid the plot and characters might not do too well.  I don't think Yuna really has the charisma to carry a leading role, unless they give her character a serious overhaul.

SPOILER ALERT!  Highlight to view:

Plus, with Auron gone, there's a gaping void in the "coolness factor" of the game.

I think my main problem is that I really loved the FFX ending, and I don't want them to screw it all up with a poorly-done sequel.  Still, one must hope for the best.

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I hope they don't ruin FFX. That's about all I can say. FFX was great, but a FF sequel has never been done before.

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Yuna in hot pants...Yuna in hot pants...

Ya know, when you think about it, it sorta sticks in your head for a while afterwards.

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Wow, I never saw that coming. Yuna looks great, yes. But with guns? I agree with Tiddles in that it looks like Square is just trying to throw something out that appeals to a "it has to be good" audience so they can make some quick cash. Everyone knows the kind of success Tomb Raider had, so why not put some pistols into Yuna's hands and make her into the next one?

Personally, I thought that FF10's ending was much too open to possibilities and didn't seem like much thought was put into it. So it is probably more deserving of a sequel than the other FF's.

Heh, I also don't think the game will feel complete with Yuna as the main role...
Nevertheless, you gotta hope for the best.

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I'm sorry to say this but, after seeing the Promo shot, this looks like a good Idea, wish Square would do this with FF6.

Mmmm Yuna.... hmmm I don't know if this will pan out so well... I remember after playing some rpgs that I felt sad because they were over. I've felt the same way after reading books too. I just didn't want them to end. I wanted to know what happened afterwards... Perhaps Square is trying to apeal to the gamer who doesn't want to quite let go of the FFX characters. However, it just seems wrong to slap the final fantasy name onto a sequl... ack!

First of all, this is completely real. FF Insider wouldn't put up with rumor. There is a confirmation for this, as well as screenshots being developed from the game. To check them out, look at www.ffinsider.com

Meanwhile...uh...just a look at Yuna's new attire...

http://www.gamepapers.com/image_b....y%20X-2

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I think that the picture is actually really cool and it's a good look.  I just have two issues with it.

1)  That look doesn't fit Yuna at all.  She always seemed a bit conservative, especially with her clothes, and she was always so innocent.  This is not an innocent look at all.  It almost reminds me of the look that Christina Aguilera is trying to give herself now...she's trying way too hard.

2)  FF girls are becoming more and more about looks than they are about character.  Although I think FFX dealt with it pretty well (i.e. the scandalous Rikku-wetsuit-stripping-FMV that opened my eyes quite a bit...she wasn't naked, but for awhile I thought she was going to be), since all the characters were developed well, I don't want games to turn into High School, meaning people are more concerned with their looks than they are with themselves.  This is a quote from one of my yearbooks from the girl who won Best Dressed...AN ACTUAL QUOTE.  "If you look good and dress well, you don't need a purpose in life."  I don't want that to be FF.

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Definitely. Characters such as Terra were remembered for their character, not their looks. The new Yuna looks like...Lara Croft...lol.

EDIT1 (hopefully there won't be a EDIT2): Also, Rikku supposedly "boasts a new attire", according to a source which I forgot what it was, so yes...uh...the girls are in the big picture (Yuna, Rikku, Lulu), and I'm afraid...uh...they will look...yeah...(boy, I always have problems talking opposite gender, digitalized or not).

BTW, another picture...artwork this time. http://www.ffinsider.net/image.php?loc=/ffx2/art/5.jpg

BTW2, just checked out FFinsider. From what it looks like, I think Rikku wears something like a bikini...I'm not even sure if that's Rikku, but looks like it. http://www.ffinsider.net/image.php?loc=/ffx2/ss/1.jpg

Off topic, but speaking of sequels, there seems to be a FFVII sequel on strings...(Source: FFInsider) http://www.ffinsider.net/news....c93b1bf



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Well, if FF6 hadn't closed so tightly, then I'd be awaiting a sequel for that, but, alas, there wouldn't be any point unless you magic is somehow revived. Gosh, darn it...

As long as they Square makes the stories good, I don't have too much of a problem with having sequels... Then again, with Square having made FFXI, I don't have as much confidence in that anymore.

Is it just me, or is this going against the grain of the series itself? The name is "*Final* Fantasy" - the omega of each separate world Square chooses to create and develop.
Has our entire world become a pack of cash-mongers harping sequels out of any available material?

Forget about reviving magic in an FFVI sequel, we'll just plant a Desert Eagle in Terra's hands.

Quote (Phoenix @ 8 Nov. 2002, 20:12)

Is it just me, or is this going against the grain of the series itself? The name is "*Final* Fantasy" - the omega of each separate world Square chooses to create and develop. Has our entire world become a pack of cash-mongers harping sequels out of any available material? Forget about reviving magic in an FFVI sequel, we'll just plant a Desert Eagle in Terra's hands.

You have to admit that the competition in the video game industry is getting very competitive, even for a company such as Squaresoft. Squaresoft even teamed up with Disney to develop Kingdom Hearts (which was actually kind of good). But, heh, a Desert Eagle would look good in ANYONE's hand.

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My, competition getting competitive?  I never would have imagined!  

I personally had hoped that Square had enough grip on artistic integrity left to make decent, non cash-in titles. It's been looking doubtful, for me, with the teen-drama feel of FF8 and FF10 - but since noone bought FF9, who can blame them?  And this is their problem.  There's a whole deep-pocketed PS1/PS2 generation of gamers who are much more interested in graphics and setting than playing good games.  You only need look at how many identikit racing games are pumped out and how they all manage to do reasonably well, in spite of being generic and unintereristing as soon as you own more than one.

The suggestion of an FF7 sequel does interest me (though I'd prefer a prequel), but only if it retains its original style and charm (and ditches its original translators).  But if it's going to be such a sham as FF10-2 appears to be* from the current images available, I'd rather you not ruin my favourite game, thanks.
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* Of course I reserve judgement until I play it.  I'm just not hopeful.