FFXV Trailer Ramble

Why the *TRAILER* for Final Fantasy XV is an RPG I can get behind, and also how it applies to MMOs.

I will preface this by saying, I don't have huge hopes for FFXV. I liked everything in the trailer, but I'm betting the stuff we DIDN'T see that doesn't GO with the trailer is not going to be as cool. HOWEVER, the concepts in the trailer are what I like, and watching it kinda inspired me to write this.

Basically, far too many stories, particularly MMOs and RPGs, fall into playing to a Hero Fantasy. They all tend to be about "Hey you, the player, are the only one(s) who can deliver this package, collect these items, beat up these foes, take down these bosses, save the world." Now, there's nothing wrong with that sort of escapism, I'm certainly not going to say that games or things that use this pattern are bad. Just that it's done more often. Ya got Final Fantasies I-XIV, and then all the SIDE Final Fantasy games, and how many of them place the world's responsibilities on the player?

Then we have the Final Fantasy XV trailer. Same FF character designs, same FF monsters wandering about the overworld, same FF giant weapons and magic blended with technology, but does it look like people in an airship out to save the world? Nah, it looks like bros on a road trip. What do you do on a bro road trip in a fantasy world? Why not...what you usually do in an RPG or MMO? Beat up giant monsters or evil soldiers, raid dungeons, collect artifacts, visit cities, observe beautiful settings, take down bosses, all that stuff...without people requesting you do it because you're the only one who can. Heck, why not take down a world ending big bad, but with no destiny to fulfill, no requests from humanity to do it, just doing it because you know you have the power to and you're in the area, and you just like people? You don't need to be a hero or on a quest to apply your skills and help people. You can just be a guy in a fantasy universe and do so much with that, without the pressure or melodramatic storylines that most games already give you. I just want the plot of FFXV to be guys on a road trip. You could pick up other party members, because why not bring new friends along? You don't need to reluctantly rope in pirates or criminals or royal knights to save the world, you can just have them join a friendly group for fun and do whatever. I am so rambling AND I DON'T CARE, I CAN RAMBLE IF I WISH, I'M ON A ROAD TRIP.