Why No Final Fantasy VII Remake?
Sony E3 2018: Questions We Still Have
When the Square Enix conference came and went without even a fleeting reference made to this highly-anticipated remake, many assumed that it was being saved for the Sony presentation, perhaps as a way to cap off the proceedings. Let the masses revel in their Kingdom Hearts, while we – the crusty veterans whose hearts still lurk somewhere in the 1990s – would save our worship for the one true lord and savior, Cait Sith.
Do you remember the unbridled ecstasy when Cloud was revealed via Nintendo Direct as the newest addition to the Smash Bros. roster? Is it not a little bit unsettling that Sony is failing to recapture that same hype with the property that they made famous? Like, what’s up with that?!
In all honesty, the lack of FFVII Remake at E3 is disappointing, but not altogether surprising; rumors had been bouncing around that it hadn’t been progressing as they’d hoped, and content was being restructured as necessary. This is what should happen, as it is a much better option than a rushed hodgepodge insult to one of gaming’s most treasured stories, however that doesn’t make it any easier to swallow.
Hopefully, this means that they’ll actually decide to make it a turn-based RPG, after all. It’s a lonely hill, and I’m happy to die up here.
What’s Up With Dreams?
Sony E3 2018: Questions We Still Have
I have an amusing story about Chris Tucker’s first encounter with Prince, if you’ll allow me to digress for a moment. Purportedly, Prince was impressed by Tucker’s performance as Ruby Rhod in The Fifth Element, a role that was originally intended for the pop superstar, and one that Tucker based heavily upon him. The story goes that Prince invited Tucker to his mansion as a result, and upon his arrival, Tucker was advised that Prince would be with him shortly, and that he could walk around the grounds freely until then.
About an hour had passed, with Chris Tucker roaming aimlessly around the property until he had spotted Prince peering at him through a window, presumably observing his every step the whole time. Tucker left immediately after.
Dreams is the manifestation of Prince at E3 2018, always watching, but never engaging. I can’t find any proof that this Chris Tucker story even actually happened, but I heard it once, and it was excellent – so dammit, I’m sticking with it.
Though not quite as sinister as Prince surreptitiously creepin’ on you, the integration of Dreams into Sony’s presentation was bizarre, to say the least. It had little segments interspersed between, in order to show off the versatility of its creation suite, without playing a featured role at any point. This contradictory message left us pondering what state the game is really in. If it was supposed to be our ‘host’ for Sony’s event, it was not a very present one – so why lay the claim that it would be so significant in the first place?
What Do We Know About Spidey’s Combat?
Sony E3 2018: Questions We Still Have
Spider-Man represents one of the many ways in which Sony is at the top of the class, with a coveted exclusive that looks absolutely gorgeous. Spidey seamlessly scales walls and swings around with the kind of ease you’d expect from the web-slinger, and it all appears perfectly suitable to the subject matter. Reports are that he does whatever a spider can.
One aspect that we will want to keep a closer eye on, however, is the combat system, which seems to feel a touch on the quick time event side. It all looks badass when it’s in motion, but it could end up being somewhat simplistic if it feels more like we’re following a series of cues and watching the action unfold, amidst a bevy of pithy comments spewed from the mouth of Peter Parker.
It feels a bit like comfort food, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, per se – just something worth considering as we move forward. Ultimately, we do want to feel as though our efforts are rewarding, not just gratifying.
Does VR Remain an Afterthought?
Sony E3 2018: Questions We Still Have
Though really, that should be phrased as a statement, because that’s the simple truth of the matter. The major reveal for the PlayStation VR was Trover Saves the Universe, from the mind of Rick and Morty co-creator, Justin Roiland. It was an appropriately bizarre trailer that showcased some colorful graphics and vibrant locations, as narrated by an unfortunate fellow in a bathtub who ended up electrocuted before long. It was… well, it was there, no doubt.
Some may get a bigger kick out of it than I did, but if this is intended to be the heralding of a new era for Sony’s expensive kit that, over a year and a half after its launch, remains little more than a catalog of tech demos – color us unenthused.
FromSoftware’s Deracine is a much more intriguing prospect, but we still don’t know much about this mysterious game, so we can’t really glean much at this early juncture. Undoubtedly, PSVR is still awaiting its killer app that will prevent it from joining the Xbox’s Kinect as an alternative gameplay tool that never quite panned out.
Where Were the OMFGs?
Sony E3 2018: Questions We Still Have
Though Sony’s library of content shown at E3 was strong overall, many of the highlights were focused on titles we already knew about. Kingdom Hearts III, Ghost of Tsushima, Spider-Man and Death Stranding are all heavy hitters, but none of them caught us by surprise. We kept waiting for the shock that never came, and in the end, that perhaps ended up being the greatest shock of them all.
One wouldn’t go so far as to suggest that Sony coasted a little at the event, falling back on its position as the industry leader and letting that reputation do the heavy lifting, but a matter of perspective can unveil some truths. Had this been Microsoft’s presentation, would we have been so forgiving? The titles unveiled for the Xbox One arguably took more gambles and allowed themselves to be more daring. Hell, arguably the biggest reaction of the day came from the revelation that Fox McCloud would be appearing in the Switch version of Ubisoft’s Starlink, allowing Nintendo to snatch valuable gasps before they were even due to officially hit the stage.
We gamers are a greedy breed, no doubt, and we adore the landmark moments above all else. In Sony’s presentation, you can point to a level of consistency, but no particular peaks that pushed the needle. This year’s effort won’t really stick in our heads in the years to come, and we can’t help but feel besmirched. Go ahead, call the ‘waambulance,’ or whatever glib remark you’d prefer; we’ve been spoiled over the last few years, and our ice cream of expectation has hit the pavement with a disheartening splat.
Published: Jun 12, 2018 02:28 pm