(REALLY) In-depth look at True Fantasy Online

narcotic-ice · 03-11-2004, 05:45 PM

There are two main reasons that people give for not owning an Xbox. Many give the excuse that the console is large, ugly and heavy, making it any eye sore in any home cinema setup. Others site the fact that the Xbox doesn't have any decent exclusive games, and anyway, they "already own a PC" (usually accompanied by a geeky guffaw). Although Microsoft can't yet address the fact that they've produced the console equivalent of the Elephant man, they can and are overcoming the games issue. That is where True Fantasy Live Online comes in, as it will be the first MMORPG designed specifically with Xbox Live in mind.

At the moment, the service is starved of online RPGs, SEGA's pay per play Phantasy Star Online is a technically undernourished, and overpriced solution to the gap in the Xbox's catalogue. True Fantasy Live Online will be a great solution to this problem, as it is set to be a state of the art Manga style RPG. In addition to looking like a million dollars, TFLO has plenty of tricks up its sleeve, which could see the game rivalling projects such as Fable and BC for creative innovation.

As you'd expect from an MMORPG there is plenty of detail, and a massive amount of things you can actually get to grips with in the game. For the uninitiated, MMORPG means Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game, and in the case of TFLO the meaning has never been more relevant. Each player can choose from a massive amount of character types, from Knights and Adventurers, down to simple blacksmiths and cooks. The career type is only one step in the decision making process, as naturally the player will then be able to choose stats, and customise the physical appearance of their character to the smallest detail, much like the character create in most recent sports games. However, not many people are aware that the innovative character development planned for Fable will also be evident (to a lesser degree) in True Fantasy Live Online. Roughly translated, that means that your character will change according to how they behave in the game. Level-5 gives the example of the blacksmith character, who will grow greater strength, and gain more defined muscle tone as the player spends more time in the game. Unfortunately, to compensate for this that character will become slower and more cumbersome as their bulk increases.

This is essential for the individual element of the MMORPG, as players are often keen to show off their individuality to a world of other gamers. However, online RPGs are a double-edged sword of personal and group identity. True Fantasy Live Online encourages the co-operative nature of the genre in a number of ways, the most obvious of these being the combat situations. Players will encounter creatures and evils that they will be unable to overcome on their own, so forming alliances with other gamers will be essential. An example of this might be that a certain beast that can't be defeated with a sword may succumb to the simplest of magic, so all a warrior would have to do is find themselves a friendly Witch. However, if the warrior is not registered with a Guild, he or she might find it difficult to gain the trust of a Witch, and may have to resort to some sort of cash bribery. All of a sudden, TFLO is making Fable look like child's play.

So far, True Fantasy Live Online has already slipped by several months from its original release date, but it's almost certain that this is because the game is becoming huge. If TFLO wants to deliver on its promise of being an enormous online experience, then the game itself is going to be on a scale unseen on the Xbox . There are already plans for players to use camels, horses, wagons, broomsticks and even small dragons for moving large distances. There will be small Inns and pubs for players to stay in overnight if they are far from home, or attending the magic academies in any of the game's bustling cities. The reasons for delay become more and more clear in light of all the details the developers are having to think of.

The world is already set to be as varied as possible, and XBM expects there to be all types of terrain and climate included. Labyrinths, Ancient tombs, forests and cities are all confirmed, but there are undoubtedly many more waiting to be revealed to the careful explorer. Additional tools, monsters, weapons and environments are all planned to appear via download after the game's release to keep players on their toes, but XBM suspects it'll take months to discover even half of the planned items and monsters that will appear with the original game. Our advice is to clear your schedules for the next year, because this game may steal your life indefinitely...

GeN · 03-11-2004, 06:19 PM

Looks good, don't really care for the totally cel shaded graphics in a MMORPG, but we'll see when it comes out. In the end if it ends up being another FFXI, I may have to think long and hard about it.

everreadyeverwil · 03-11-2004, 06:47 PM

well this looks like a nicely Cel Shaded game unlike XII that game looked like s**t
But i wanna know how much the monthly fee will be...

GeN · 03-11-2004, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by everreadyeverwil

well this looks like a nicely Cel Shaded game unlike XII that game looked like s**t

JSRF was a nicely cel-shaded game....can't say much about this one, and I don't know what computer you seen FFXI running on but obviously it sucked bad cause FFXI is one of the best looking MMORPG's on the PC. That was one of the things that stood out, how good it looks, even if your hardware isn't up to par. But it all depends on what kind of hardware you have.

everreadyeverwil · 03-29-2004, 11:26 PM

No i Mean XIII (12) the Cel-Shaded game where u assasinate the Preident (I think)

narcotic-ice · 03-30-2004, 03:02 AM

Looks like it could be a FF beater to me...

GeN · 03-30-2004, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by everreadyeverwil

No i Mean XIII (12) the Cel-Shaded game where u assasinate the Preident (I think)

I'm pretty sure you mean XIII (13)

Quote:

Originally Posted by narcotic-ice

Looks like it could be a FF beater to me...

Well with the type of job system they have in that game, I not so sure of that. From what I know the jobs have nothing to do with how you fight or what spells or techniquse you can learn...and if you ask me that sounds like a lame attempt at trying to be like FF and not at the same time. I love how you can get around all types of ways for example camels, and broomsticks, and wagons and stuff, unlike FFXI where you have to be at least Lv. 20 to ride a Chocobo. From the movies I seen it seems like the game is kinda boring. Even though they're speaking Japanese they don't sound like they're having loads of fun. But we can't make a final judegement until the game is released, but from what I seen so far TFLO is gonna need a lot of work to even be on the same level as FFXI.

Cactusman · 03-30-2004, 12:10 PM

See thats the good thing the the job system is actually jobs and not class you can do any job you want like cook but your fighting skills are in a seperate category, so you could be a talor mage or what ever.
Although some jobs can help you train like smithing makes you strong.
But you could just screw the whole job thing and be a free-lance warrior.

Oh yeah in my opinion TFLO has already surpassed FF's level.

Kracker · 03-30-2004, 12:29 PM

Lets take a look
FF-history
-community
-massive
-no way of PVP
-not cell shaded
-for PS2

TFLO-community
-complete customalization
-massive
-PVP PVP PVP
-cell shaded
-for X-box

if someone had no knowlege of how long final fantasy has been around i have to say that 4 of 5 people would pick TRLO. (assuming the person has both an xbox and ps2 and is not biased.)

GeN · 03-30-2004, 02:23 PM

Let me help you since there are some mistakes in your "FF History." First there is PVP, just not in America yet, and finally there is a FF game on the PC

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cactusman

Oh yeah in my opinion TFLO has already surpassed FF's level.

In what ways?