Exploring the design, architecture, and development of video games
In FFX, the Chocobo Eater is a boss in the early part of the game that exhibits great game design principles including planning for multiple player types, negative feedback, and flow control using challenge layering. The battle is on a cliff where if you do enough damage, you knock him over. If you deal enough …
In FFX, the sphere grid acts as a stat and ability tree of massive scale. Every character starts at a position in the sphere grid and as they gain experience (called SP) they can move around the grid collecting stats and abilities along the way. I’ve loved the idea of the sphere grid for a …
Final Fantasy X (FFX) is a turn-based RPG originally released by Squaresoft in 2001 for Playstation 2 and remastered on PS3, PS4, and PC. While not a perfect game, FFX follows several good game design practices that keep players enjoying the game even 16 years later. One good practice is the use of challenge layering …
With the remaster, The Zodiac Age, coming out this week, I want to remember some of the things Final Fantasy XII did right. Future JRPGS and WRPGs borrowed some of the revolutionary game design of FFXII, but it doesn’t get as much credit as it deserves (even from me). Judging by more recent Final Fantasies, …
Even though I love Final Fantasy XII now, when it came out, I was let down. I felt the story wasn’t up to the standard the series had set. The gameplay was entirely different than what I was used to. After a few years, I started appreciating FFXII more and more. With the remaster, The …