GDC: Toriyama explains the themes of the Fabula Nova Crystallis trilogy

by Griffin McElroy on Mar 14th 2010 7:00PM

The creators of Final Fantasy XIII have been notoriously tight-lipped about the Fabula Nova Crystallis trilogy, a series comprised of FFXIII, Final Fantasy Versus XIII and the PSP-exclusive Final Fantasy Agito XIII. During a GDC panel titled "The Crystal Mythos," director Motomu Toriyama gave a few scant details about the other two branches of the trilogy, and the few similarities connecting the entries in the franchise's 13th series.

Toriyama's main point during his presentation is that Agito and Versus won't be sequels to the recently released Final Fantasy XIII -- they'll both have their own unique set of characters, gameplay systems and overarching stories. The only thing connecting them is the "Crystal Mythos" motif -- a theme where the fates of ordinary humans are controlled by omnipotent gods. Players of Final Fantasy XIII should already be acquainted with this storytelling device.

The other detail about the series Toriyama mentioned was that, like XIII, the rest of the series will continue to focus on story-driven gameplay rather than allowing the player to explore an open world. For better or worse, it sounds like Versus and Agito will possess the same linearity for which XIII was frequently criticized.

Tags: fabula-nova-crystallis, final-fantasy, final-fantasy-agito-xiii, final-fantasy-versus-xiii, final-fantasy-xiii, gdc-2010, Microsoft, panel, rpg, square-enix, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (95)

Joystiq, IP ban this asshole

The linearity doesn't bother me.

There, I said it.

Me neither.

WATCH OUT FOR SPOILERS BELOW, DEAR READER!

I enjoy both non-linearity and linearity.

Ah Apex_Predator, dang! Even thought I have a 360, I didn't want to play the game (not yet anyways) and you ruined it! You'd better hope I forgot that spoiler by the time I get to playing it or, or, I'll scream!!!!!

Doesn't bother me either. non-linearity gameplay isn't exactly the reason why I play jrpgs anyways. If the game is good, who cares?

Apex, seriously, f*ck you... I already had Heavy Rain ruined here on Joystiq. You guys need to delete these posts. Guess I should have listened to Wiizer...

Linearity in RPGs just causes me to get lost all the time. Especially in the first 6 Final Fantasies where the graphics aren't as good so everything on the maps kinda looks the same and the story is often vague. Being able to go wherever only confused the hell out of me and made it take twice as long to finish as it should have. The non-linearity of Final Fantasy X-2 was annoying because it meant that if you didn't do everything the right way then you would miss out on things and not be able to go back and not be able to achieve 100% of the story. I know this was doen largely to add replay value to it but FFX-2 is the last one that I'd want to play over again.

I can think of very few games that are truly non-linear. Most games do have a set overarching progression, even if you can perform individual tasks non-linearly.

Testing? When is Joystiq going to implement a working comment system?

WRE, that's irrelevant nonsense. So FFX and say, DQVIII have the same degree of linearity just because they lead to the same ending? Give me a break. There's always a few people saying something like that in a discussion like this, and it's a completely useless comment to make. Those games are NOT the same.

Testing, again. WHY does the comment system randomly give me the "You did it!" message on some comments, while it will simply go work on others?

Testing, again. WHY does the comment system randomly give me the "You did it!" message on some comments, while it will simply work on others?

Ok this is getting pretty ridiculous. I've made a whole bunch of comments now, but every time I try THIS one, the comment doesn't go through and I get the thing where it says it will send me an email, but then doesn't. Here's the original post:

@Sonos: "I prefer it. If I want sandbox I have dozens of games to choose from."

Ugh, not this again. Just because an RPG isn't an automated, one-dimensional, on-rails lineup of cutscenes, without any immersion or sense of adventure whatsoever (i.e. FFX, FFXIII), doesn't suddenly mean it's sandbox like Oblivion, with a huge soulless procedurally generated heightmap with a bunch of empty, meaningless, identical looking caves strewn about.

Until X, FF has always been a game that felt like wandering a vast world, yet every location was unique and had meaning unlike most "sandbox" games. If I want a barely interactive movie, I have dozens of games to choose from. Well, plus one, now.

bm,

First of all I want to thank you for contributing with all of your completely useful posts bitching about the comment system. Those really added to the discussion. Again, thank you.
Second of all, I'm not commenting on your personal definition of linearity, I'm going by the official definition. It's a completely valid point because a truly non-linear game would be something like GTA but with no set story or missions. It's true that there are degrees of linearity between say, the Uncharted and Mass Effect games, but that doesn't mean that Mass Effect's main narrative isn't composed of a sequential series of steps.

My point is that its useless to to even argue about the definition of linearity. What matters is what the game feels and plays like in practice. Call it linear, call it whatever. Just saying "oh but by this technical definition you should have nothing to complain about" which is something a few people always come up with in a discussion like this, is just silly. Doesn't change a thing.

There is a vast difference between "linearity" and "run down tunnel in the scenery, mash auto-battle".

I totally agree with you, I'm not sure why people complains about linearity in this game, since I picked up my copy I've been totally enjoying the game.

The story is pretty cool, superb graphics and pretty enjoyable battle system; My only complain for Square-Enix is the frigging Hope character, I really hate this guy =P ...

What bothers me isnt the linearity. It is the fact it isnt a remake of the NES game Crystalis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystalis

the linearity hasn't bothered me yet either. im like 5 chapters in and yea it's pretty linear but you can easily miss stuff if you don't watch the map. im hoping i meet up with Cid later and get an airship though but it'd be fine either way. the battle system is fricken amazing!

"will possess the same linearity for which XIII was frequently criticized."

And yet, Uncharted 2 and Mass Effect 2 can escape this same criticism.

I'm all for criticism, but at least make it a valid critique. FFXIII's music, design (no install and the best graphics in any game this year), and story make it much more than a 5/10.

True dat.

I like FF13 and the linear play doesn't both me, but to call ME2 anything like that is doing it a disservice. There's plenty of side questing going on in that game, there's a lot you don't even need to play through to get to the end.

As for Uncharted 2, it's not a roleplaying game. It's not even part of a franchise built on sandbox style game play, so of course it's not going to be criticized.

"but to call ME2 anything like that is doing it a disservice."

I'm not sure what you mean... FFXIII has sidequests, too. But, you have to get from Point A to Point B.

Is that not how Mass Effect 2 plays?

@Wiizer: Never did the city assignments and n7 quests huh?

@ Urza

Could you get to the ending without having done them?

My point exactly.

I don't know if I'd called ME2 linear. You can take on any of the quests in almost any order, not to mention you can travel to any system at any time and do any sidequest on that system.

U2 I completely agree with you on though.

I think edge has systematically this round of consoles managed to completely destroy any reputation it had. I think they have shown themselves to be just purely biased.

Sony exclusives this year:

mag -- 6/10
heavy rain -- 7/10
yakuza 3 -- 6/10
white knight chronicles -- 5/10

basically any ps3 exclusive check the bottom of the list and you will see edge magazine with their shitty review scores..

They gave god of war 3 an 8/10 and bayonetta a 10/10 .. Go figure , main criticism its been done before.. no really ?

ff13 happened to be a multi-plat that plays much better on the ps3 therefore it must be punished.

I think they have managed to throw any integrity they had out of the window.

What remains to be seen is how many actually still read the magazine and can take them seriously ?

@McDuck

*SUPERSECRETOMGSPOILERS*

some people have different opinions than others, a bad game is a bad regardless of what platform its on, and Darth Vader was Keyser Soze's sled from when he was a kid

also Wiizer

I didn't have to spend days of my life that I'll never get back snowboarding or breeding Chocobos to beat FFVII but I'm damn glad I had the option to

My God, Moptimus...

If I only could have made pelts out of all the ones I aborted just to get that pristine, beautiful, black chocobo.

Well, I could've paid for all my weapons in FFXIII.

Wiizer: No, just no. That's like saying nobody should complain if they made FF into a kart racer, just because Mario Kart escapes this same criticism.

"I don't know if I'd called ME2 linear. You can take on any of the quests in almost any order, not to mention you can travel to any system at any time and do any sidequest on that system."

It's linear still, that just makes it modular. You can mix up the order, but you can't venture outside the direction the game sends you. "Go recruit characters", "wrap up loyalty missions".

Non-linearity (to me at least) means the game has branching paths that you can't just go back and retrace. The game is designed in a way that each time you play is a unique play through, not just a rearranged order of scripted bits. Good examples being Oblivion (never having to do any quests), Final Fantasy XII (you can just do hunts for hours, master your game board, do sidequests), Skate 2 (free roam, make vids, play online, etc). Final Fantasy XIII and ME2 will probably be 100% the same game every time I play them. I won't find anything different on sequential play throughs.

@moptimus, edge just sucks, seriously the readers on there think they are leet the reviewers dont even seem to like video games, the reviews are all so pretentious and snobby with a whiff of arrogance..

We are the edge our review system is just teh 1337 if you disagree tehn you are just a silly fanboy. Its just a website and magazine full of elitist ps move suckers .. (Work that one out for yourself)..

Linearity is perfectly acceptable unless it's a JRPG.

Then it's worth 5/10.

God forbid a game be linear. I have never seen a linear game before, why would they make it linear?

oh oh oh! I know the answer... to tell a story. :)

Linear is wonderful for some games, and terrible for others. It all comes down to what kind of story you have, in most cases.

Err... Sorry. That was meant for Apex but right when I submitted my comment they banned him or something and somehow it ended up here.

I'm enjoying Final Fantasy 13's story. If I want pointless sandboxing well.. I've got MMOs for that.

This argument about not going into towns... well have you played the story?

I'll throw an example out there for you..

You're jew-like in Nazi germany-like setting. Not only are the nazi-like police hunting you, but civilians fear you the same way Americans today fear terrorists. Is it really smart to go into a town if you're considered hunted terrorist... but you're really just an ordinary dude. Of course not!

Anyway, if Final fantasy 13 had been sandboxy like 12... you know empty map after empty map, I'd have traded it into gamestop by now.

haha, no they don't, idiot

wait, why are you feared by the townsfolk? Are you a murderous jew? Are they afraid that if they are seen with you they'll also get deported to a labor camp (or worse)?

@ Moptimus: Actually, that is exactly the case.

So if it's not a non-interactive lineup of cutscenes, suddenly it has to be a meaningless MMO-like sandbox? That's kind black-and-white. You think the same way most game developers do these days, unfortunately. FF used to be the best of both worlds, before the abortion of a game called FFX. Then they went the other extreme with FFXII. And now way back again with XIII.

FFX was an amazing game. Great cinematics, lots of shit to do (Spent 186 hours on one save file). Not sure how you can say it was an abortion of a game. It's probably the best FF after 7.

As for the OP...
"This argument about not going into towns... well have you played the story?"

You do know that they WROTE THE F***ING STORY, right? Meaning it was a fancy way of shoehorning in the gameplay so you feel it makes sense. I've played RPGs where you're branded a terrorist or a threat to everyone and I still use towns to shop in. Hell, most of them were square RPGs. Just because they give you a reason why, doesn't make it a good thing. They could make a game where you have some wicked disease and need to run back to a doctor for 2 hours at a time just to survive. Sure, it'd make sense story wise - but that'd make horrible f***ing gameplay.

Bob, you're complaining about a lack of towns, but you're defending FFX? As I remember that game had like 2 real, "fully functional" towns in it. :P A -huge- step down from FFIX, and one of the reasons it was such a disappointment to me.

I still fail to understand how an RPG can be THAT linear, unless your judging that upon the combat, which I've always loved in the FF series, I don't think I'm alone in that opinion. Linearity is going to happen in any action game at some point, and in some cases, it actually might be for the better. Not every game can act like Fallout 3 or Heavy Rain, and as much as I love non-linear games, if the market was filled with only non-linear titles, the game industry would be...well...linear.

However, I wish they would bring more exploration to the FF series, it could be like LoZ, which had superb RPG elements to it. Dare I say it, but wouldn't it be interesting to see a western-RPG style to Final Fantasy? I know I keep making this comparison (Sorry I love this game), but what if we had a Fallout 3-styled FF? wouldn't have to be part of the main series. I just think that would be an interesting experiment, and I'm sure it would cure the complaints about linearity. Sorry, but I'm partially one of the complainers.

Here's the thing about Final Fantasy fans:

There's SO many of them, and they've all grown up with it, you can't please them all.

I think part of the reason it gets so heated when it comes to Final Fantasy is because half the time fans of the individual sequels in the franchise are fighting with the others about which direction the series should be going.

I hear a lot of diehard fans say no good Final Fantasy has been made since FF7... How can people say that when the very basic gameplay factors have been improved upon since the pre 16-bit era?

I personally didn't like 10 or 11, I thought those two had good intentions but didn't do the job, X-2 isn't worth talking about, I don't know anyone who liked that, lol

But I loved 12, it was superb, I loved 9, 8 and 7, I loved 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 because they all had interesting aspects to offer. Beats me why I didn't take to 10 and 11, maybe I'm just indifferent, but I think people who said nothing was good after 7 are on crack, 7 while good, was quite flawed, to this day, I'm still not entirely sure why Sephiroth is so mad, okay, hes a monster, but thats not enough justification for destrying the whole world, and even if he did, what then, create a new race of monsters? I'm still confused with his intentions, even after playing Crisis Core and watching advent, but yet still, I can't deny I enjoyed 7.

Saying that, people prefered the traditional knights etc concept that 9 had, others prefer cgi fights and massive swords, and others prefer 13s style, thats why the FF series can appeal to anyone.

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GDC: Toriyama explains the themes of the Fabula Nova Crystallis trilogy

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Posted: Mar 14th 2010 8:39PM TraceurRyuk Prepping for LBP2 said

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