Summary
- Final Fantasy 17 can potentially feature a version of FF7’s Gold Saucer theme park.
- FF7’s Gold Saucer offered engrossing mini-games, including rewards, and contained memorable story moments.
- Square Enix is known for reinventing the series; FF17 could see the return of Queen’s Blood along with a whole new mini-game hub.
Square Enix’s Final Fantasy franchise continues to chug along. After last year’s widely acclaimed Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the second chapter of the planned trilogy in the modern remake of the beloved original, fans are now eagerly awaiting the third and final installment. Beyond that, there is assuredly more Final Fantasy coming down the line, with the next mainline entry, presumably Final Fantasy 17, to follow.
One of the highlights of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth that many longtime fans were looking forward to seeing in the remake version was the Gold Saucer casino/amusement park. A famously vibrant and dazzling location, the Saucer serves as a bit of a breather, bringing some much-needed downtime and levity to the party’s journey while also having its own share of secrets and emotionally charged character moments. Prior to that, the latest numbered entry, 2023’s Final Fantasy 16, was a turn down a darker road, and lacked mini-games entirely. But Final Fantasy 17 has good potential to feature a version of the Gold Saucer to provide another range of diverse mini-games along with whatever new elements it will bring to the table.
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Final Fantasy 17 Should Have its Own Version of FF7’s Gold Saucer
Final Fantasy 7’s Gold Saucer’s Plethora of Mini-Games
Many RPGs have included mini-games sprinkled in their epic adventures; for example, The Witcher 3‘s popular Gwent CCG. Final Fantasy 7, however, went all-out in this regard. Within The Gold Saucer’s Wonder Square and adjacent themed areas, along with the Dustbowl below the Saucer proper, there is an array of engrossing and in cases quite challenging mini-games on offer:
- Queen’s Blood
- Chocobo Racing
- 3D Brawler
- G-Bike
- Colosseum/Battleground
- Galactic Saviors
- Desert Rush
With the exception of Queen’s Blood, all were in the original 1997 title. Conversely, the snowboarding game is absent from Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, though it may return in an updated form in the third chapter.
While some fans felt there was an overindulgence in the number of these in Rebirth, still, they do provide a good deal of distracting entertainment along with tangible benefits. Though most of the above activities are optional, many of the rewards granted from the Gold Saucer’s games can be substantial and helpful, providing weapons and upgrades sometimes unavailable elsewhere. With FF16 forgoing mini-games completely, Square has good reasons to consider including a hub like the Saucer in the next entry.
How Final Fantasy 17 Could Have a Mini-Game Hub Like the Gold Saucer
Few other Final Fantasy titles have had a location like FF7‘s Gold Saucer. Not only does it fit incredibly well within the setting, the games themselves are diverse and largely enjoyable. The Saucer also happens to be where some important character and story beats occur, like Cloud’s choice of whom to take on a date during the group’s stay there. Final Fantasy 17 could play off these and other aspects by having something like it that doubles as an iconic location and a treasure trove of mini-games.
Rumors have been suggesting that Square is developing a Final Fantasy 9 remake, though it has not confirmed this as of now. FF9‘s Tetra Master, though, could provide another good basis for Final Fantasy 17 to draw inspiration from for its possible mini-games.
Though hardly anything is known about what direction Final Fantasy 17 may be going in at this point, Square is known for experimenting with, iterating on, and reinventing the series with each release. Developers have already hinted that fans might see Queen’s Blood come back, which could set it up to appear in Final Fantasy 17. But the studio going the extra mile with a place like the Gold Saucer that houses multiple new mini-games and features prominently in the tale could show off more of its creativity. FF17 invoking the Saucer’s unique vibes while putting its own spin on them could make for the best of both worlds in the next entry.
- Released
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February 29, 2024
- ESRB
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T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence