Review - Final Fantasy: All The Bravest
Final Fantasy: All The Bravest is by definition a tragedy. It is a shining example of what happens when a company decides against fleshing out a good idea, in favor of cashing in on gaming nostalgia. It is disappointing when a franchise built around some of the greatest RPG Battle Systems gaming has ever seen is reduced to fapping your smartphone.
There is very little to appreciate about FF: ATB, but the visual style and presentation is actually perfect for the platform. You have the overworld map with a little warrior of light, which you can navigate between battles. There are over 25 adorable job sprites and 35 premium characters from past games. The UI for the menu system is ripped right out of past Final Fantasy iterations and is easy to navigate.
The game really shines visually when you enter a battle and can send a party of up to 40 members out to steamroll enemies left and right. There really is nothing quite like it in the universe and seeing a gaggle of Sages casting Firaga is a sight to behold. This is especially true when you activate Fever mode and are swept up in a seizure-inducing background, complementing the unrelenting attacks you dump on your enemies.
The audio is what you’d expect from a Final Fantasy title with themes from a number of different games, each doing a good job of creating atmosphere. Attack animations are also accompanied with a corresponding audio cue. Navigating the UI has the same familiar bleeps and bloops fans of the franchise will enjoy, and the notification system features the lovable Chocobo coo.
All my appreciation for the universe aside, this game is total garbage. In fact, it isn’t even a game, let alone something that deserves the title of Final Fantasy. You basically navigate from battle to battle, rubbing your iPhone and hoping the enemies die before you. The ATB gauge dictates when each member can attack, with Fever mode allowing you unlimited attack for a short period of time. The core problem is that it is incredibly boring and puts absolutely zero confidence in the player. Your party is randomly generated. The grid pattern varies based on the game’s logic. You can’t choose which enemies you attack. You can’t see what your party members’ stats are. Each job class only has one ability -- and those aren’t even the worst parts…
The worst part comes from every aspect of the game having some sort of microtransaction. I spent more time playing the meta-game of trying to keep Square-Enix out of my wallet, more than anything else in FF: ATB. Since each character can only take a single hit, parties will be wiped out quickly by bosses despite being level 99 and having most weapons. This design choice seems geared towards two options: either you wait 3 minutes per character and after about 2 hours your party will revive, or go spend real money and revive your party instantly. You can navigate back out to the world map and grind more, but it won’t matter for some enemies. You cannot become strong enough without spending money--and now the spiral down goes even deeper.
Those 35 premium characters consist of fan favorites such as Terra, Cloud, Tidus, etc. They are more powerful than most jobs in my experience, but they cost a dollar a piece… They’re also awarded at random, so it might actually take you $35 real dollars to finally get the character you want. In the menagerie of 40 party members, that doesn’t incentivize me to go spend money. Also getting your party up to 40 requires you to utilize social media. Every 24 hours you can Tweet or Facebook message the game to increase your party size. I’ve done this five times and I am still three party members short after hitting the level cap of 99.
Eventually, you’ll fight all the enemies, collect all the gear, and be done. Then there are the expansions and they’re an even bigger rip-off. Of the three available, I chose Midgar. It costs just as much as the game, contains a quarter of the content, and the XP is less than what you receive from enemies in the end game overworld. Coupled with the fact that the expansion’s enemies felt more difficult, I am flabbergasted as to the point of its existence other than to suck more money out of your wallet.
If I were to review the entire experience, the “game” would cost in upwards of 50 or so dollars. This is completely insane when compared to a proper Final Fantasy installment. The visuals might appeal to fans of the franchise, but even $4 is too much for such a vapid experience. Square-Enix should feel ashamed for taking advantage of their fanbase by cashing in on their loyalties. It’s insulting they think we are stupid enough to find this entertaining. Now don’t get me wrong, I still look forward to future Square-Enix games, but believe me when I say... Fuck Final Fantasy: All The Bravest, I wouldn’t wish it on my own worst enemy.
1 - Garbage: 1s have no redeeming qualities. They are a complete waste of time to everybody.
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ScrewAttack's News Director Sean Hinz worked in logistics for over four years before decided it was time to switch industries. After a couple years spent getting an MBA and freelancing, he finally found a home at ScrewAttack.com. As far as games go, Sean likes to play anything he can get his hands on, but especially enjoys third-person action RPGs. Is that really a genre? |
» Tagged In: #FF: ATB, #Final Fantasy, #Final Fantasy: All The Bravest, #review, #sean hinz, #Square Enix
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Joriss
The concept of this game is one of the most awesome things ever and they totally flushed it down the toilet. You keep your dirty hands off of my FFVII copy you hear me Square Enix?!
The Street Fighter
Oh Final Fantasy oh have you fallen the last good one was 10 and that was 2001....
Black_Star
Sadly, this is the future of rpg gaming, even nintendo is gonna have some new IPs that incorporate these tactics, hell its even in Dead Space 3, A survival horror shooter....
DragonMastrNova
Well damn, I really would like companies to learn this lesson but of course more than a few people are gonna jump on the bandwagon for this piece of sh*t marketing system because MONEYMONEYMONEYMONEMONEY. Anyone who think that FF: ATB's nickel-and-diming tactic is a good idea should be sacrificed to Satan.
Hyperthrough
I see this rated four and a half stars in the app store...
DemonGladius
It's amazing to see that this shit could have been rated so high, even with employees of Square Enix rating high to entice you to buy it. And to think, this micro-transaction crap is what future gamers will think is normal. They wont know what it is like to buy a game and get to play through it without wading through a mountain of money-sucking in-game advertisements or self-promotions.
darkhyrulelord
While I gave it a 1.5 due to an OK presentation, it still sounds like a cruel joke and a real contender for a SAGY.
On Being Human
Saddest thing ever purchased... wish we could have read this prior to. :*(
CrazyDuck
Sounds like a horrible horrible quick cash-in ...
Sad part is quite a few people will probably be fooled and actually buy it
Electronic Arts Sucks
This game sucks.
JinjaBredMan
I think what JonTron said about Final Fantasy XIII-2 applies here, "You get this. Why? 'Cuz fuck you that's why!"
Fish_Outta_Hell
Square Enix delivers another horrible game... not surprised. It is a trend now.
Alester Reeves
Need a game designer? why not Zoidberg? fuckin enix scewin up everything
AngelicSven
Lol, It doesn't have much to do with Enix. It has to do with all the good people have left Square a long time ago. The reason the merger is roughly around the time when they started producing less than quality games is because they merged with Enix to make up for the people that left.
mortalslayer
It's sad to see that square bringing some of the best RPGs reduced to just selling the name of the game, there's no joy in that if the game is not fun.
OmegaWeapon
No Cloud ?!!! For real what jackasses
KurzWeber75
He's in there, you just have to pay and get lucky. And then pay again, and again, and again...
Saxcat20
This makes me want to fly to japan and punch the CEO of Square Enix in the dick
TheSwedishGamer
Nice to see a game earning a score of 1/10.
Flapperdoodle
Woof... definitely gonna avoid this one.
Mcgunn
Think about the amazing potential of an iOS FF game.......Just incredible possibilities.....and then look at this garbage......wtf
There has to be some kind of saving grace in the near future for the FF series....maybe they should tell the lead designer that he's fired if the game fails, like the first FF.
JRokujuushi
An iOS (and Android) FF game already exists. Take a look into Final Fantasy Dimensions. I haven't played it myself, but I've heard lots of good things about it, especially for fans of the pre-PS1 FF games.
Envy_Dub
Wow. Final Fantasy XIII is Chrono Trigger compared to this garbage. Heck, I like Final Fantasy X-2 a lot more now after having read this review.
Johnny Chase
"YOUR GAME IS BAD AND YOU SHOULD FEEL BAD"!
hypercombo64
wow.... well i'm glad i waited for the review!
Screwy1
Yeah no kidding >.<. Heck, I'm disappointed & I can't even PLAY the game!
gact
doctor!
Ultra SuperNova
The only possibility of this game getting a 10 is if this is a 100-point grading scale
southsing
Wow. Just, wow.
Ferret75
One out of ten, yikes. Judging from your review though, it really seems like they were trying a much more greedy approach without much of a particularly engaging game at all.
werdman24
Wow, I'd rather play Final Fantasy XIII all over again than this.
Kaibaman41
Did a O-o Final Fantasy game make a Star Wars reference!?
KurzWeber75
I can't tell if you are surprised or being sarcastic at that.
LeoSmashRoyale
Ok, this game has ONE redeeming feature and thats the cool sprite artwork of the characters from past final fantasies. They actually look really cool. BUT THATS ALL. I found the sprite artwork online. Saved my money by doing so. You want my money square enix? Give me 3DS remakes of 5 and 6 like you did for 4, and PS3 remasterings of 7, 8, and 9 with the graphics of Crisis Core. For the time being, I'll take the PS3 HD remake of 10 when it comes out. Squareenix, you need to get your act together.
They Call Me The Fizz
So this is what happens when you apply FF13 gameplay design to the classic Final Fantasy's... *shudder*
At least we know who's a early frontrunner for this year's Mobile Gaming SAGY...
Shiro_Shishi
At least in FF13 you didn't die in one hit
This game sounds hella horrible.
Kaibaman41
This isn't even FF13 gameplay were dealing with....this is Rock Man XOver bad with the acception of you can actually play Over with some skill and difficulty involved......this game dare I say may be worse then XOver's piece of trash
Scy
SE pls
MagnumMagnus
At this point, is there any reason I should consider Square Enix a proper game company anymore?
Animeking1108
Kingdom Hearts? TWEWY? SE makes other games, you know.