In an interview with 4Gamer (as reported on by Kotaku ) Final Fantasy XV director Hajime Tabata discussed the conflict he has with fans and his own team about his vision for the game. According to Tabata, he described the conflicting views of fans and team members alike as Final Fantasy Disease. In his description, he speaks mostly of his team, but for some his words might hit close to home.
“[The disease] refers to people within the company who can’t imagine anything other than their own view of Final Fantasy ,” he explained. “Since the root is a strong self-affirmation, one’s own view of Final Fantasy takes more priority than the team’s success. If that view of Final Fantasy isn’t fulfilled, then they’re convinced that it’s bad for Final Fantasy . They think, ‘Since Final Fantasy is a special team, then we are also special because we are making it. When the new Final Fantasy comes out, everybody is going to be so into it.’ But that’s not the reality of the situation, is it?”
I have the utmost respect for Hajime Tabata’s resolve, although Final Fantasy Disease is a cheesy yet carefully constructed insult. To me his coinage implies a problem that he’s happy to have. Adding “Disease” at the end of Final Fantasy could also double as a selling point. The term reminds me of March Madness. If Final Fantasy were truly a disease, then it’s at least a manageable one. Tabata is the boss, after all.
Tabata’s description for Final Fantasy Disease is also applicable to the fan base. Everyone has their own idea of what makes Final Fantasy great. Fans constantly bicker about which Final Fantasy is the best, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Where it gets ridiculous is when the discussion turns into arguments, and comments turn into diatribes. If you’re a fan, then you’ve likely seen the arguments that the modern games – even starting as far back as VII – just no longer feel like Final Fantasy . Everyone has an idea of their ideal Final Fantasy , but no one can agree.
I can no longer find the article or the name of the writer, but someone brought up an excellent point about the series that I believe is worth remembering: Final Fantasy has always been a vehicle for experimentation. Certain styles, themes, and characters carry over from entry to entry. Prior to Final Fantasy X , each Final Fantasy had its own distinct look and feel. You might have hated the leveling system of Final Fantasy II or the modern look of Final Fantasy VII – let alone the freakishly long summoning animations – but there’s just enough familiarity that warrants each one’s place in the series.
Fans can continue to argue all they want without causing harm to the series – if anything, they keep it relevant through conversation. What concerns me, however, is Tabata’s team’s attitude. Final Fantasy XV already looks even more different from usual, considering the complete conversion to action combat and the most modern style to date. If the series’ vets were able to put aside their differences to work with the newcomers, and if Tabata, who is known primarily for working on the series’ portable, action-oriented titles like Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII , can learn from the vets, then my worries might be misplaced. If, however, the team was never able to get along, then maybe what Tabata should be less worried about a Final Fantasy Disease as much as a Final Fantasy Identity Crisis.
Despite the worrying conflict that can occur between team members and creators alike, I think it’s interesting to see so many different perspectives on what makes a Final Fantasy game great. On the professional level, however, this determines the quality of the game. The original creator, Sakaguchi, departed Square Enix a long time ago, so I have a feeling that the conflict amongst team members – an eternal debate of the perfect balance between the old and the new and how fans respond to it – is what makes the series so interesting.