Look, I will lay it on you straight. I genuinely suppose 2001’s Ultimate Fantasy: The Spirits Inside is one among the very best online game films ever made.
Now, is that basically the best bar to clear? In all probability not. I imply, in a world the place I feel the primary Sonic the Hedgehog film continues to be the very best online game ever made (till the Elden Ring film comes alongside, that’s), the medium nonetheless has a protracted method to go earlier than we will begin arising with a actual high ten record of genuinely glorious online game flicks.
Be that as it might, ever since 2023, I feel online game films and TV exhibits have gotten actually good, which is why I feel that now could be the very best time to attempt to make one other Ultimate Fantasy movie. Nevertheless, despite the fact that I like The Spirits Inside, this is how I might do issues otherwise this time round in the event that they had been to ever make a brand new one.
They Ought to Adapt A Common Sport In The Sequence This Time Round
Although I beloved The Spirits Inside again when it got here out, even I – a loyal Ultimate Fantasy fan by that time – was confused with why they went with an authentic story. When the movie was launched in July 2001, Ultimate Fantasy X was proper across the nook!
Positive, adapting X to the large display screen would primarily smash the story for an upcoming title, however I did not perceive why they had been introducing all new characters and a narrative that had actually nothing to do with the video games.
Sure, a part of the fantastic thing about every recreation entry (other than X-2, and the Ultimate Fantasy XIII trilogy) is that we get new tales, characters, and recreation mechanics every time, however that is in online game type. Did they should attempt that with the film?
In the event that they ever made one other flick, I feel they need to adapt the story of one of many extra common entries. There was a time once I would have mentioned Ultimate Fantasy VII, however there’s already an animated film from 2005 titled Creation Kids, and given the lower than stellar gross sales of VII Rebirth, the ship might need sailed on that story.
Personally, I would like to see VI, IX, or X tailored for the large or small display screen, however given how these are (gulp) “previous” titles now, I feel the following very best candidate could be the wildly common MMORPG, Ultimate Fantasy XIV, as individuals actually prefer it. So, that is ONE factor that they need to do otherwise this time round. This is one other…
They Might Additionally Do It Stay Motion This Time
Look, kudos to Ultimate Fantasy creator and The Spirits Inside director, Hironobu Sakaguchi, for desirous to make the film as photorealistic as potential, since I distinctly bear in mind what a wonderful movie it was upon launch. A number of care went into making it look not like every other movie again in 2001, and it was the most costly online game film ever made as much as that time at $137 million.
So, yeah. A part of the explanation anyone nonetheless even talks about it nowadays is due to the way it regarded. That mentioned, if a brand new FF film was ever made, I don’t suppose it must be animated. Much like the upcoming The Legend of Zelda film, I feel a hypothetical FF film must be stay motion this time round.
As a result of right here’s the factor. Although The Tremendous Mario Bros. Film, which is now the best grossing online game film of all time, was animated, I feel we’ve come a good distance from the unique Mario film (which I nonetheless love), and may do so much higher with adapting a online game into stay motion.
I imply, simply take a look at the second highest grossing online game film of all time, A Minecraft Film. It was a cultural phenomenon, however I bear in mind individuals previous to the film questioning why it needed to function actors like Jack Black and Jason Momoa. After all, after it launched, it made excellent sense, however on the time, hardcore followers of the collection had been cautious.
The factor is, I don’t essentially suppose a FF film ought to be made for the hardcore followers, however reasonably, for a extra normal viewers the place recognizable celebrities may carry in additional individuals, which brings me to my subsequent level.
A Lot Of Youthful Folks Who May Be In Ultimate Fantasy Have Doubtless By no means Even Heard Of The Spirits Inside
The opposite day, I used to be stunned {that a} child in my youngsters’s Jiu-Jitsu class hummed the Ultimate Fantasy victory fanfare, as I truthfully didn’t know 9 and 10-year-olds nowadays nonetheless performed the video games.
However, that simply made me notice that despite the fact that it appears likes children now solely actually play Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite , there are nonetheless those that may very well be concerned with video games like Ultimate Fantasy, and if that’s the case, then a brand new film would possibly simply be the factor for them, in addition to those that may probably grow to be new followers.
That phase of the inhabitants most likely has no concept that there even was a FF film. They merely weren’t alive again then, and it wasn’t large or infamous sufficient for youthful audiences to presumably discover it on the web like they could struggle the atrociously unhealthy Double Dragon, or one of many Uwe Boll “masterpieces” like Home of the Useless, or Alone within the Darkish, that are nonetheless mentioned as a result of they’re so unhealthy.
No, for these younger individuals who know nothing about The Spirits Inside, this is able to be an excellent time to present them a brand new film. And, I’m not essentially saying that it needs to be within the theaters. Resident Evil: Loss of life Island was out there on Netflix, and there are quite a lot of video game-related films and TV exhibits that discover a house on the streaming platform. So, if a brand new, live-action Ultimate Fantasy film appeared there, I feel it may go a good distance.
There’s one final cause why I feel there must be one other try at a FF movie.
Video Sport Films Are Really Common, So Now Is The Time
Lastly, online game films are large enterprise now. This isn’t the early 2000s when studios actually had been taking a large gamble by placing out a online game film. Nowadays, if the franchise is common sufficient (Mario, Minecraft, Sonic, and many others) individuals will possible flip up.
Now, I notice that the sport franchise isn’t almost as common in the present day because it was when The Spirits Inside launched, however I truly suppose that works in its favor. Let me clarify. Each respective gamer has heard of Ultimate Fantasy, because it simply has such an necessary lineage in the case of gaming historical past.
That mentioned, despite the fact that it’s not as common in the present day because it was again within the day, it nonetheless has identify worth, which could intrigue individuals who need to take a look at what it is all about. That is necessary, as a result of the more moderen video games, like XVI, haven’t actually bought in addition to Sq. Enix might need hoped, so the video games could be working out of steam.
Nevertheless, they haven’t tried to essentially department out like they did again in 2001 by going into films, and releasing a movie could be the shot within the arm that the collection so desperately wants.
Simply take a look at how Nintendo is increasing their model by making films and theme parks now. Online game films are in, and it could be the time for Sq. Enix to strike whereas the iron is sizzling. As a result of this most likely is not going to final eternally.
What do you suppose? Would you see a brand new Ultimate Fantasy film? I’d love to listen to your ideas.