Ok, so,Final Fantasy Gaiden: it’s a 2D RPG throwback to the very firstFinal Fantasygame. Instead of saving Princess Sara from Garland, these four warriors must save Princess Horun from the Witch of the North. Producer Tomoya Asanohas called the game“a classic fantasy RPG using today’s technology,” suggesting a bare-bones retro feel: turn-based battles, magic points, generic storyline.
While that’s certainly true,Final Fantasy Gaidendoesn’t seem to be a slapdash re-tread of the original game. Enter the “Crown system,”as detailed by Game|Life. In a brilliantOMGcutemoment befitting the game’s visuals, characters inGaidenwill change classes by putting tiny little hats on their huge chibi heads. As far as I know, changing classes seems as simple as drag-and-dropping a different hat onto your character, although I’m sure there’s some sort of penalty — Matrix can’t let players switch jobs all willy-nilly, after all.
I’ve always been a big fan of job systems like the ones inFinal FantasiesIII, V,and hell,evenX-2, so I’m considering this to be good news. Besides, while I love the originalFinal Fantasy, it’s nice to know that developer Matrix Software (responsible for the DS remakes ofFF IIIandIV) are spicing things up a bit.
Besides the fact that Square Enix refuses to give up theFinal Fantasymoniker (dead horse), I can’t see any reason not to be excited aboutGaiden. I mean, look at that little guy up there! He has an adorable tophat! Check out the gallery for a bevy of screenshots (they’re a little stretched, right-click and “View image” for better results). On a side note, I’mreallydigging the bright color palette and impressionistic style.
[Screens viaGamekyoandTheNintendo]
