Final Fantasy has become one of the most popular franchises in all of gaming, so rumors about a new spin-off have gained a lot of attention. It's rumored that a new action-focused game will be revealed at E3 2021 called Final Fantasy Origin. The title is reportedly being developed by members of the Dissidia NT and Nioh teams, which hints that the game may be a Soulslike game in the vein of Nioh. The possibility of a reimagining of the original Final Fantasy game is pretty intriguing for fans.
Final Fantasy is likely going to have an exciting presence at this year's E3 2021. Square Enix is confirmed for the show and will likely provide updates to the biggest releases already on fans' radar like Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 and Final Fantasy 16. Rumors about a new Final Fantasy spin-off for PS5 at E3 2021 point toward the Team Ninja developed Final Fantasy Origin. Reports from multiple sources have suggested the game will either take place in the same world or be a kind of reboot to the original Final Fantasy, and if the game does indeed end up being a Soulslike title, that could have some interesting implications for a reboot.
Final Fantasy Origin Could Be a Reboot With Soulslike DNA
If the rumors prove true about Final Fantasy Origin, it opens up a series of interesting questions about how the game would look. As Square Enix continues bringing older Final Fantasy titles to new platforms, while keeping new ones PS5 exclusive, a reboot of the original could be interesting. The first game is more than thirty years old now, so seeing the original given new life might end up being a great way to both satisfy veteran fans, while bringing in new ones. Piggybacking on the success of the Soulslike genre could also help give a fresh twist on the series, and could fit well with the way the first Final Fantasy told its story.
In the original Final Fantasy, there are no defined protagonists. Players built a party of four heroes choosing from now-iconic classes like Fighter, Monk, Black Mage and others that were built from the game's roots in Dungeons and Dragons. While later properties like Dissidia have created a named hero to represent the first game with Hero of Light, a voiceless protagonist that allows for character customization could fit well. If Final Fantasy Origin is really a Dark Souls-inspired game, then being able to choose a class from the outset and customize the character would fit well into that archetype.
Mixing up the gameplay between styles that emphasize physical attack power, magical prowess, or a mix of both have been a hallmark of both Final Fantasy and Dark Souls. The different classes from Final Fantasy could be developed into Soulslike adaptations pretty easily. The obvious Fighter or Thief archetypes are already fairly prevalent in the genre, but a well-designed Red Mage could be an engaging mix of magic and weapon attacks; an aesthetic that is now reminiscent of the Good Hunter from Bloodborne. A lot of new action RPGs are on the way in 2021, and if Final Fantasy Origin is well executed, it might be as engaging as its supposed inspiration.
Final Fantasy has already adapted some inspiration from Bloodborne and Dark Souls into its games. With Final Fantasy Origin, some of the gameplay mechanics of the Soulslike genre could be incorporated pretty easily. If the game is a full re-telling of the original game, the party literally dies in the beginning of the game, something Dark Souls fans are very familiar with. Adapting some sort of bonfire/lamp mechanic could be designed around that idea, and character death isn't something new to Final Fantasy fans either. While it's still just a rumor, Final Fantasy Origin has some interesting possibilities already. Hopefully, the game will make an appearance at E3.
Final Fantasy Origin is rumored to be in development for the PlayStation 5.