Final Fantasy Doesn’t Need A Phoenix Down, ‘Fans’ Do.

Hardcore Gamer: It’s getting tiring to hear so-called avid fans dictate how much life a certain video game franchise has left in it, or determine if it has any at all. Square-Enix is probably getting annoyed about hearing it too, because every time they release a new Final Fantasy installment, thousands of negative and offensive voices are sprawling out on social media and forums, and maybe some individuals within the development team are reluctant to go back to the drawing board and assess issues that will catapult them to make a better game.

[Mr_Pinky]

" because every time they release a new Final Fantasy installment, thousands of negative and offensive voices are sprawling out on social media and forums, "

Maybe it's because they never listen to us and everything they have produced lately has been terrible compared to past FF games.

What do you want us to do...just shut up and take it while they screw us over and over again. Every time they ignore something from us the list of things to do gets bigger and bigger

Final Fantasy Type-0 Localised
Final Fantasy 7 remake
Final Fantasy 8 remake
Final Fantasy 9 remake
Maybe a sequel to 7/8/9
A release date for FF15
A Dissidia game for the PS4
Stop shoving Lightning down our throats
Parasite Eve III

I could go on

[Snookies12]

I don't think the 3rd Birthday sold well enough to warrant them doing a Parasite Eve 3.

[Mr_Pinky]

I don't know whether is sold well or not, all I know is that I wasn't a fan of what they did to Aya during the end.

[HarryMasonHerpderp]

Parasite Eve.
Just another franchise ruined by trying to appeal to a "wider audience". No one asked for that kind of game. Parasite Eve was known for Survival horror and RPG elements. Then they wonder why these games don't sell and the franchise gets scrapped. Next up is the Legacy Of Kain series, fans have been asking for a next gen Kain game and instead of giving fans what they want they cancel what looked to be a decent game and release a freakin MMO.

http://www.contechstual.com...

I'll hold my judgement on FF15 but from what I've seen it looks like an action packed Kingdom Hearts game, which is not what I want in my story driven RPG franchise. I like Kingdom Hearts but I don't want the same gameplay in a FF game. Like I said though I'm willing to give Squeenix the benefit of the doubt....again.

[Snookies12]

@ the disagrees - Really? Did it sell well? I'd heard it hadn't. Though I may be mistaken.

I would love to see a true third entry though.

[HammadTheBeast]

I'm more tired of these new "fans" who haven't ever played a good final fantasy game, and think that some nice CG and graphics re what it's all about.

Last few FF games have had terrible stories, uninspired characters, and incredibly bad gameplay - in comparison to old FF games.

SE has been a big letdown.

[LordNikon]

Why do you care about the new fans? Whether they liked it or not, its completely subjective and you should respect their opinions. There's no reason for you to be so insulting to them.

[Snookies12]

@LordNikon - when did I insult new fans....? I was, in no way insulting to new fans. Not sure why you're saying I'm insulting to them... I never said one insulting thing to them. In fact, I encourage them to support Parasite Eve. there is absolutely no reason I'd discourage them from giving support to this series that I love. Please don't assume that I'm bashing a series that I really like.

[Bimkoblerutso]

@Hammad

While I don't disagree with you (the story and characters in XIII and XIII-2...ummm....let's just say "annoyed" me) it's sad to me that veteran fans seem so unwilling to do anything but relive the glory years over and over again, as if they are completely unable to enjoy anything that doesn't tweak their nostalgia switch.

Granted, I thought XIII and XIII-2 were genuinely poor games, but it was a situation in which they failed because they simply got things wrong, not because they didn't make it like the old games.

[LordNikon]

@Snookies12

I was talking to HammadTheBeast, not you.

[AntBoogy90]

Get over yourself. Idk why people want all of these remakes, the games were good enough as is. Seriously, you're not getting a remake, and you're DEFINITELY not getting an "HD REMASTER" for those particular games, since it wouldn't be possible. I honestly just think Squenix fans are too demanding, you guys cry too much.

What they've been releasing lately isn't bad to me, and that's a matter of opinion. The fanbase screams, clamors, and shouts when they don't get their way.. because their way isn't realistic. I'm sure Toriyama is sick of Lightning, but i personally don't mind it. I know a few people that started on Final Fantasy 13, loved it, and went back and played the other classics and loved them too. You're not entitled to anything, so just give it a rest already. You can't expect EVERY Final Fantasy released to topple Final Fantasy 7-10.. it's just not realistic to think that way. Just deal with it until the next good one comes along.

[porkChop]

I don't really want any remakes. I just want them to go back to the older style of FF with big overworlds, airships, etc. And I want either proper turn-based combat, or fully real-time. This in-between style combat they've been doing just isn't very good and doesn't work. They need to pick 1 style of combat

So far FF XV seems to be exactly what I want, and the combat looks pretty sweet. If that's really the future of FF then I'm completely fine with it. But it's pretty obvious that the XIII style is not what most FF fans want. The fact that SE made 2 sequels to the FF game that the majority of players didn't like just pissed everyone off.

[Mr_Pinky]

Great way to start a comment where you want people to take it seriously

"Get over yourself"

<slow...clap>

[Elda]

@AB90...great comment...I love the FF franchise & some games were memorable than others but I enjoyed playing them all.My least enjoyable experience imo was FF-XIII-2 but I loved FF-XIII.I agree there is no need for any remakes it would be a waste of time.I wouldn't mind sequels of some of the past games to keep the stories going but I always welcome a new game & FFXV is looking great so far,the great thing about the FF franchise is that the productions always reinvents itself mechanic wise,new gameplay,battle system,story,characters & worlds,the battle system in FFXV is looking fast & furious not the old slow way from the 90's,which is what I liked about XIII.FF is never about being stuck in a rut which is a very good thing.

[AntBoogy90]

@elda

Agreed. They definitely have to keep it fresh. What was successful a long time ago can't be said today, those are old and long gone mechanics, albeit my favorite and most nostalgic mechanics. But the show must go on!

[titans9999]

True fans should listen to Mr. pinky, he knows what he is talking about. The peron who wrote the article must be retarded as all get out. You can make a true FF game with present sprites, etc. the problem is, Squenix has lost what made them great....true FF uniqueness....meaning they have lost what made them the "it" factor. Here's a tip Squenix, not that it will matter because you will still make crappy FF games.....

1 - make the game nonlinear, you can still do this with a good story, the alternative has been laziness!

2 - have mogs return

3 - return chocobos in a useful manner

4 - give us multi characters to use, not just in battle but around the world, ala FF10

5 - where are all the summons? Nuff said!

6 - create side quests, mini games, and other fun things to do

Lastly, return to your roots.....need I say more? Maybe Mr. pinky and I should make the next FF games ourselves! Since none of the developers seem to understand what a FF game should be!

[SnotyTheRocket]

Play FFXIV. It literally has everything on that list.

[TheLastVoiceOFsanity]

I honestly don't know what they could be thinking over at square enix. they make sequels&remakes to almost every other final fantasy game except the 2 most successful in the series(final fantasy VII&final fantasy VIII). the company might be called SQUARE-(1st) ENIX-(2nd), but from what i can tell the majority of the people running square enix are from enix, not squaresoft. before the 2 companies merged it seemed like the majority of the games they made were dragon quest games, and other rpgs that most people never heard of.

[Craigatorian]

I just -gets teary eyed-, I just want to see those fantastic Ps1 Final Fantasy games in HD so I can enjoy them again and maybe even spread the greatness with my friends

[That_Ninja_Gray_Fox]

Why should any developer have to listen to someone that has no idea of how to develop games? You ungrateful scum bag. All you who critic everything about anothers work are all scum bags. You have no idea how hard it is to please everyone when making games or movies and the hard work that goes into it.

[titans9999]

Because us gamers can poop better than what the developers are making!

[Oneirous]

Don't forget Chrono Trigger 2! (Yeah, I went there.)

[CrossingEden]

Um, maybe if final fantasy wasn't so successful in Japan they wouldn't want a trilogy and wouldn't need 13-3 to only sell 300,000 copies for the 13 subseries to be considered a complete success.
Lightning is the favourite female character in Japan and Europe. That's why they continued with this series
novacrystallis .com/2013/01/japan-ranks-their -favorite-female-characters-fro m-the-final-fantasy-series/
ffdream . com/news-14619.html
That's all. You can complain but still, there's a substantial majority of people happy with these games, so keep whining like a child.
#3

[Mr_Pinky]

whining like a child

Thats rich coming from you...oh by the way Japan only like Lightning now because they force it down peoples necks and because Japan like anything thats "in" at the minute. Once FF15 comes out Stella will be the most favourite female character.

[LAWSON72]

You people need to stop wanting a remake of previous titles when the old ones are perfectly fine and are still enjoyable even for those who did not play it in the 90s. I don't know how people trust square with such a task anyway. It would not be hard to make a new FF with good characters, story, world with towns and minigames, and everything else that belongs in a FF. Oh and I forgot they apparently like to get rid of all these items they need to stop doing that

[wishingW3L]

and here we have yet another article from an apologist fanboy in denial. -__-

[Anthotis]

I think they are listening to fans, just not the fans outside of Japan.

[HarryMasonHerpderp]

Sick of these articles, Final Fantasy sucks now.
Some people like it still and good for them but the quality of the franchise has taken a big hit. The company that created some of the best RPG's of all time are dragging the brand through the dirt and only seem to care about money and nothing else.

[HarryMasonHerpderp]

Hey guys that are disagreeing look no further than
Motomu Toriyama the director of the new final fantasy game. Bigging up how awesome it is to jiggle Lightning's boobs around and get sneaky shots of side boob. That's what Final Fantasy has become now? it's pathetic. These games used to take me away on an epic journey and made me forget bad times I was having in my life. They meant something. Now though we're talking about pervy costumes and boob jiggling.

[EdoubleD]

Motomu Toriyama is the director of a FFXIII sequel.You act like he holds the future to the FF series, really? I hate that game as well, it is clearly not a FF game. But I am looking forward to 15.

[Salooh]

What do you think of FF15 ?. I think it's interesting in every aspect. I always respected the final fantasy games but never like the gameplay so i never played it but 15 is my type of games so it's one of my top if not the first day one list. ^^

Just the trailer makes me feel like i will be a fan of it.

[TheLastVoiceOFsanity]

when final fantasy 13 bombs on a epic scale, and it will, i hope this forces yoshinori kitase out of his managerial role, and brings him back as a director&writer for maybe final fantasy XVI. yoshinori kitase is known for directing&writing final fantasy VI, chrono trigger, final fanasty VII, final fantasy VIII,final fantasy X. he pretty much retired from writing and directing after final fantasy x (11yrs ago), and the craziest thing about that is he's not even that old, he's only 46.

[WhateverBlah]

@TheLastVoiceOFsanity Agree with u on that one Kitase haven't direct or write scenario for any game after FFX, & coincidence that the last good FF we get was FFX? this guy direct & write the scenario for FFVII, FFVIII & FFX & after FFX his only role in SE is that of a producer & that's it, this guy must help the situation because things r pitch black atm he must sit in the lead chair once again & direct the next FF also write the scenario because as it seems that's his forte, why they don't use him at SE to revitalize the franchise is beyond me..

[HarryMasonHerpderp]

@EdoubleD

True.
It's still depressing to hear the developers talking about and clearly getting excited about such lame things in a Final Fantasy game.
I just don't trust Square Enix to make a good Final Fantasy game anymore, I am holding judgement on FF15 though and I hope it's a great game.
I just want the series to get back to where it was.
I want Final Fantasy to get back to being the series that people look up to and square enix/soft raising the bar again.
I'm not just blindly hating on the new games, I am genuinely heart broken to see where the series has gone.

[LAWSON72]

FFXIII is far from the best FF, but it is a quality title.

[MaideninBlack]

Absolutely. The "fans" who continue to buy these games based on name brand alone are the problem.

[EXVirtual]

Well... I think the fans are being stupid and unreasonable criticising FFXV for having a real time battle system. FF Type-0 localising is almost pointless as the PSP is dead in the west. Sometimes they have good points, but they need to be less offensive and more effective. All they really do is complain on sites like IGN, where western games rule. Quite frankly FFXV and KH3 should shut them up if only for a while.

[LordNikon]

I actually like FFXV more because of its real-time battle system. I do like turn-based battle systems as well, but... i just prefer having total control over the character in the battle (like KH) rather than issuing commands to the party. Just my preference.

[EdoubleD]

Wait till it's time for FF16, a never-ending cycle.

[ZHZ90]

I agree with you, but about the Type-0 localization can be for PS Vita instead of PSP

[Chard]

I'm excited about the battle system being real time. The first RPG I ever played was Secret Of Mana, which had a similar concept, so I'm all for it.

[EXVirtual]

Exactly. Turn based on consoles are the past FFXV is a huge movement. I've always wanted FF to go real time.

[DEATHxTHExKIDx]

Im pretty much fine i dont feel any of the burn from recent Final fantastys. The only one I dislike is XII cause of its battle system.

[Hicken]

I even liked XII, though I thought the Gambit system made it too easy to not even play the game.

Had no problems with XIII, though I can see why some might have an issue or two with it.

[r3f1cul]

really... yea lets blame the fans,because its totally the fans fault that what square has produced this gen has been absolutely horrid... doesnt matter either way because fans dictate the sales of the games and the fans dont like this new FF PERIOD! square isnt making profit and they are bleeding fans... only a matter of time til they cave on what fans really want or... die.

[TheLastVoiceOFsanity]

all the people who disagreed with you must be idiots who's first final fantasy game was XIII. the only reason alot people bought final fantasy XIII-1 was because it was the first final fantasy of the next gen, and the sharp drop in sales of final fantasy XIII-2 compare to final fantasy XIII shows you just how many people hated the first game, and they think that some how people are going to be interested in final fantasy XIII:lightning returns. when that game bombs they will have no one to blame but themselves. THE LAST TIME I CHECKED FINAL FANTASY XIII & XIII-2 COMBINED STILL HASN'T SURPASSED THE TOTAL SALES OF FINAL FANTASY VII, but maybe they'll finally do it with lightning returns (LOL).

[Hicken]

Not very convincing when you claim to be the last voice of sanity, then immediately jumps to an irrational stance like that first line.

I disagreed, and I've been a fan since VII. Actually, since Mystic Quest, despite that title's reputation.

Where do I fit in your assumption?

[Elda]

Half of the people that bought FF-XIII disliked the game because FF-XIII-2 only sold half of what FF-XIII sold.IMO opinion it seems that the only people that make it known on these forums that FF-XIII sucked are the half that bought FF-XIII.I'm the other half that enjoyed the game it seems the people who liked FF-XIII don't feel the need to voice their opinion because all I see is hate for the game.

[xXxSeTTriPxXx]

He had to write something to go with this clever title lol.

In all seriousness se has lost touch of what made them a huge success in the west and going after cod and gta numbers ain't one of them.

The fundamentals of a jrpg make it a niche genre and ff in that niche genre was selling 5 to 8 million units, yet it wasn't enough so they started to make games the fanbase didn't recognize amymore.

[WhateverBlah]

The retard write both the names of Hironobu Sakaguchi & Nobuo Uematsu wrong those wannabe game journalist is for laugh seriously, & Chris Kohler know what hes writing compare to this clueless guy here.

Kohler write what almost all hardcore/old-school FF fans believe, that FF is dead for many years now, every FF SE release was garbage from X-2 till now & even the new Parasite Eve game which would be better if SE never decide to mess with it & ruin it like they did.

So for idiots like the author of this sh1ty article who is in denial & don't want to accept how things really is & prefer to believe in fairy tails that someday SE would bring back FF to the glorious days, keep on dreaming FF is dead for good for the past 10+ years now, & no not even FFXV (Versus) can do something to change that FFXV is just a more dark KH not what fans expect to see from an FF.

[EdoubleD]

I was with you until your last point.
Shut the fuck up with this 'Dark KH' nonsense.
You lose all credibility once you throw away something that could be great.
'Real-Time for unintelligent COD fanboys, gimme the Turn-Based herp derp'
Seriously..
FFXV has a world map, playable party members, beautiful world with actual exploration etc. Everything you would expect from a FF.

[WhateverBlah]

I think u r the one who must STFU because your opinion doesn't represent the 100% of every FF fan out there & for sure u r not represent not even half of the old FF fans, & no FFXV doesn't have everything I want from an FF because the most important thing I want other than amazing Story/Characters is strategic combat & full control of all the characters in my party, & FFXV can't give me that with that KH/DMC battle system.

Fans ask SE for years now to return to turn-based battles because that's the only way to create a battle system with depth that require thinking & the only way to control all our characters at the same time, the way things r right now FFXV is going to be a button-mashing/hack n slash type of game if that is acceptable for u for me it's hideous & tragic for the franchise as a whole.

[EdoubleD]

Only way to create a battle system with depth and thinking? I never claimed to represent the whole fanbase, old or new.
However I find it ridiculous for you to state that only turn-based battle systems require depth. Preferences aside, I agree with everything you've stated apart from your apprehension towards FFXV.

I have my fair share of questions as well and I have hated the direction the games were going with and wanted it to change back to TBS. However, I still want to give XV a chance.

I apologize for my profanity earlier as it was uncalled for. I am as much of a fan of FF as anyone else who grew up with the series.

[SilentHeaven109]

"You don't like the new games, which is your fault, somehow."

This is the exact same argument that keeps coming up with Silent Hill. Final Fantasy fans aren't terminally unpleasable and hateful because they enjoy being like that. They express dissatisfaction with the new games because, wait for it, the new games aren't as good as the older ones.

If you want people to enjoy your games, the best thing to do is usually to make better games. Final Fantasy fans, again like SH fans, hold the series to a higher standard because the old games were just that good.

Contrary to what some people believe, it's *not fun* to talk shit about your favourite series, but it's the only way to get across the fact that these new games just aren't good enough. It occasionally works, actually. People spoke up about XIII, so changes were made to XIII-2 which people applauded. If people had just shrugged and said "It's Final Fantasy so I won't complain," nothing would have changed.

[EdoubleD]

Square Enix shouldn't have let us fans down then.
Failure after failure was the cause of all this dissatisfaction. Especially when you're looking at how they're handling the Lightning series. Come on, Dressing up Lightning? Why you would call that an FF is beyond me.

If 15 fails to impress (Although I am hoping for it to succeed my expectations it is very possible that it could fail) then that nails the coffin in my opinion.
If Versus was something they came up with now, I would have been much more sceptical however, they've been working on this for a very long time and I am still intrigued.

[WhateverBlah]

Yep I was "intrigued" too although the game is in development for 7 years & counting... until they change the name to FFXV & decide that this game is going to be the next main FF, "this" game with "this" battle system is going to be FFXV, that was the moment when I couldn't suppress my anger anymore after SE change the battle system in FF games (FFXII,FFXIII) in such lvl's that we didn't need to do anything anymore just sit & watch as battles unfold in front of us, now they decide to go 1 step further & turn the series to DMC & Bayonetta.

Although Versus was one of my most anticipated games I have something else to anticipate even more than Versus, the next main FF game because I wanted to see if they plan to bring back turn-based battle system, now I don't have anything to anticipate from SE no1 knows when SE will bring FFXVI but it will be in many years from now for sure & ofc they could start making sequels of FFXV as I read left & right so yeas SE & FF is dead for me & nothing can change that, except an FFVII remake ofc if they do it right, but until then...

[Elda]

I like the turned based battle system also from the 90's but now it's become slow stale & boring which I do like the battle system in X-2,XII & XIII because they were faster.My friends used to watch me play FF games & they never understood why I liked playing them & their apprehension from playing them was the turned based battle system,they wanted to control the character which is something I'm starting to like to do also,it seems though FF battle system is evolving some may agree it's for the better & some may not.I still have faith in the FF franchise.

[magus]

I just want this game to be enjoyable story wise and visually. I want the characters to be enjoyable as well. For example ff6 I cant say much bad about the characters in that game they all just made the game shine. Even Bannon the old man that disappears.

[ignicaeli]

That's quite a reasonable demand you have there, and one that I second myself. An enjoyable story and likable characters where once the backbone of the FF series.
Previous installments of the series had convoluted (with many loose ends) and sometimes silly histories, but they where always somewhat interesting to go through.

[DEREKTROTTER]

need to bring back turn based battle systems
final fantasys up to 10 we're awesome, then it got silly

that is all

[MoneyMeng]

All you little babies just need to stfu and let them make the game! I'm tired of hearing all of you cry about how the combat should be like it used to be, complaining on how 15 will have real time combat! Damn idiots, if you didn't notice, FF13 played like the originals and it was fucking horrible! JRPGs are dying genre and it's because they lack innovation and evolution! They may still have decent and at times, memorable stories but their gameplay just doesn't add up. The majority of turn based jrpgs nowadays are bland and boring with only a very few that deliver. Still Jrpgs like FF need to convert their combat to a more real time combat system or a more complex turn based combat if they want to survive. Nobody wants just press up ,down, and "x" throughout a whole game anymore! (FF13)

[ignicaeli]

O God... Where to begin with...
1.) FFXIII combat did not play like any FF before it. It was a mess, the combat retrieved any real control from the player's hands.
2.) "Inovation" and "evolution" are the names of the poisons that killed FFXIII. SE tried to inovate and well... we got what we got.
3.) There are quite some turn based games that do deliver a satisfying gameplay, but not all are localized (figures... they're not "fresh enough"). Disgaea 3 and 4, Mugen Souls, Agarest Senki 1, 2 and Zero come to mind though, and are decent games.
4.) I do want a turn based game, as many other people around the globe must do too. The market is just like that, there are consumers for all kinds of games.
============================= ========================
That said, I have no qualms with a real time battle system at all. There are great games that pulled that out quite well, like games of the Tales franchise or Kingdom Hearts to name a few. If FF goes towards KH style gameplay, that could even be interesting.

[MoneyMeng]

1.) Are you serious? It played like ff7,8,9, and 10 with only the exception that you couldn't control all pt members and that there was a paragram shift.

2.) innovation is what the jrpg genre needs to survive! Ff13 combat was not innovative. If anything it was the opposite, limiting and simplistic, letting you only control the main pt member. It even hard a auto combat tab for gods sake!

3. Those game are mediocre at bestt but have done very little for the jrpg genre. You do notice that this generation, there is very little talk if ever any upon great jrpgs?!?

4.You cant always have what you want

[Hicken]

Your first point is the only one I'll address, and only because it's so off the mark.

XII took the battle completely out of the player's hands with its Gambit system. At least, it COULD, if you set your Gambits up that way.

XIII is no different. Except that you can't just let the battles happen, themselves. Auto-battle isn't mandatory, and you can't just go running into battle without making use of Paradigm Shifts, or you'd die even in regular encounters.

This argument- such a mainstay of the detractors of XIII- is a massive indicator that people didn't even play the game.

Which makes it hard to accept any of their other complaints as valid.

[Elda]

@Hicken...good point....I loved FF-XIII & it had it's flaws because it wasn't your traditional FF which at first bothered me untill I really got into the game & read interviews from the developing team at Square why it went that direction.FF-XIII was the only game in the series where I got frustrated & died multiple times until I got my strategy right using the paradigm shift & I loved the fact that it was fast & furious & you had to be fast & have your timing right or you would die,at times frustating but rewarding when you got it right.

[ignicaeli]

The fact that FF versus XIII had a real time battle system is a well known fact for how long? Three years maybe? When the first gameplay video surfaced...
And no one cared. On the contrary, there was many that voiced their opinions on it being interesting. Yet only now that it was renamed FFXV some "diehard fans" got upset.
============================= ==============================
Lets face facts here though.
- There will be no remake of VII, VIII or IX. (I'd buy the FFVIII remake though... or even a Seifer's side story...)
- Even though recent games from SE sold well, they did not meet their quota (Which was absurdly high anyway).
- SE did some dumb business decisions in the past years, and now it's coming to bite them.

[MoneyMeng]

Hickens:

In FF12 combat was taken out of the players hands but its not like he or she had no say in it. Auto combat in ff12 goes accordingly to only how the player sets up his or her gambits giving the player choice! Battles are won through trial and error depending on the set up of gambits. In ff13 the ai automatically chooses the best option for you and most battles are won easily with the exception of bosses. This is similar to playing ff12 with all gambits already set up by the game beforehand to deal with each encounter thus allowing you to win all battles with ease. Ff13 is like final fantasy for casuals, simple and limiting!

[ignicaeli]

- I see where you're coming from in comparing FFXIII and previous entries, though I still think it's a disservice to the other games. FFXIII have by far the worst battle mechanics, and in that we seem to agree.
- Agreed that FFXIII ain't innovative, though SE claimed they tried to be.
- Claiming the games I said before are mediocre is harsh, but as it's your personal opinion, I'll have to respect you on that. I still think they are decent games (Not great, but good enough).
============================= ========================
About Hickens post:
"This argument- such a mainstay of the detractors of XIII- is a massive indicator that people didn't even play the game."
Really? I bought FFXIII day one while I was in a business trip in Spain. Played it from May 21/2010 till August 08, 2010 more or less (From first to last trophy I got). And in all these months my opinion remained the same, that it is the worst FF I played.
Mind you, I played FF I till X-2 (Never cared to play online or XII).