Summary
- Final Fantasy has an opportunity to include a greater variety of player-influenced romances in FF17.
- The franchise has historically avoided player-driven romances, unlike other RPG series such as Dragon Age.
- Square can take inspiration from games like Persona for its romance options; conversely, it could stay focused on a more traditional narrative with little player-driven romance in FF17 to avoid alienating fans.
Square Enix's Final Fantasy remains one of the most popular and longest-lasting RPG series. For nearly forty years, Final Fantasy has taken players on incredible journeys through distinct and gorgeous worlds starring some of the most iconic characters in gaming. Throughout, Square has constantly reinvented FF's central components, culminating in the latest entry FF7 Rebirth's ongoing reimagining of the original.
As fans await the final part of the FF7 Remake trilogy, many are also looking at the franchise's future and wondering what the assumed seventeenth main entry will bring to the table after FF7 Remake and Rebirth's reworkings and FF16's more experimental elements. With this in mind, the question can be raised regarding whether the ostensible Final Fantasy 17 should feel the need to expand to include more player-influenced romance scenarios.
The Case For and Against Final Fantasy 17 Having Clear Character Archetypes
The next Final Fantasy game could either return to the series' roots by bringing back traditional Jobs or pivot towards something different.
Final Fantasy 17: Does it Need Romance Options?
Final Fantasy Has Only Previously Flirted With Player-Driven Romance
Final Fantasy has featured many romantic interactions and famous arcs throughout the entire series, among them Locke and Celeste's complicated relationship in FF6, and Squall and Rinoa in FF8. However, these were never tied to player-driven choice or mechanics, and the narrative rarely afforded fans a say in exactly how these evolved or developed. This remained the case in the most recent mainline entry, with FF16's Clive and Jill's friendship and feelings for each other essentially ingrained in their characters from the start and playing out as laid forth in the plot.
One exception to this is found in a memorable moment in FF7, which did offer at least something of a surface choice via Final Fantasy 7's Gold Saucer date. This section was a bit expanded and overhauled in FF7 Rebirth, with fans being able to let Cloud take any of the party, including Red 13, on a more intimate excursion. Largely, though, FF refrains from letting fans directly take the reins of romance.
How Final Fantasy 17 Could Spread the Love With More Romance Options
If Square wished to shake up its standard stance on romance in Final Fantasy 17, there are a couple of similar games it could take inspiration from in this area. One possible path would be to follow the direction of ones like the Persona series by offering a much more in-depth and granular romance and companion bonding system. The next FF could similarly contain a deeper roster of potential party members and hone in on building up relationships with them to offer different narrative content as well as gameplay benefits.
Another good choice might be a newer game that itself channels the spirit of Final Fantasy. FF17 could take cues from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's approach to romance, wherein fans could focus on one or another specific character as a love interest. Although this doesn't greatly impact the overall story, it does offer additional unlockable skills and gives players an (albeit smaller) degree of control over their preference of possible partners.
Final Fantasy 17 Might Forgo Player-Controlled Romance Again in Favor of a More Focused Story
On the other hand, Square has traditionally used romance strictly as a story dynamic, and may choose to continue minimizing player influence in order to maintain more narrative control. Although the series is no stranger to re-invention and breaking from prior traditions, introducing such a bigger change as multiple potential romances with related consequences, as seen in, for example, Dragon Age, may risk off-putting fans who would find it too far removed from how FF usually handles this aspect.
While it remains to be seen how, or if, Square Enix is considering implementing more robust romance options and mechanics for Final Fantasy 17, there are some designs in the games mentioned above, as well as likely a few others that it could use as good templates to do so if it wishes. Or it may very well carry on with the mentality of sticking closely to its previous designs to create a more cohesive tale.
Final Fantasy 16
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
- Released
- June 22, 2023
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
