The problem with cutscenes

[Laraul]

Yes, I know that everyone thinks they oogle the in game cutscenes in awe. But in reality before prime/boss fights people always encourage you to skip these cinematically. If you don't they do and many times when a player emerges from a cinematic the fight is already well in play. If a cutscene is skippable then it probably doesn't belong. People aren't interested in the cutscenes so much. They just want to win.

The biggest problem with cutscenes though is they disrupt the "flow" of the game. It. Regardless how cool they may look they act as an interruption with the gameplay. It doesn't help that cinematic often feel disjointed since they aren't often viewed in linear sequence. Ultimately many of the cutscenes feel like an interruption to the gameplay rather than an addition.

I should also add many of the cutscenes are long-winded. Other cutscenes are poorly placed (like the one that plays every time you use the lift) or the cutscenes at the start of some of the instanced dungeons.

I want to point out while I do enjoy the cutscenes, they are often too intrusive and often have little connection with the overall plot. Often they feel included for the sake of simply including a cinematic. This is a multiplayer game, and viewing a cutscene means you are forcing others to wait on you. In my opinion, cutscenes should be far and few in-between. The shouldn't exceed three to five minutes at most.

[Gramul]

Good thing we have the records book in the inn then.

[rina_inverse]

Good thing we can skip it then

[Dhalmel]

Cutscenes should be far and few in-between.

I disagree.

I do believe this is a Final Fantasy Title. Cutscenes are part of what makes Final Fantasy well, Final Fantasy. It's like taking away cutscenes from MGS. It wouldn't feel right.

[Teakwood]

So a cutscene should be unskippably skippy-doo-dah awesometastic every single time you do a fight you've done a million times, or else it shouldn't be in the game at all? Or, you know, you can watch the cutscene the first time you do the fight and skip thereafter. (And as for cutscenes that don't precede fights? Who needs plot, anyways. Waste of dev time.)

Good to know, thanks for sharing!

[Ruisu]

There should be a vote thing similar to what Left 4 Dead has. If everyone votes to skip it, then we can skip it. Otherwise, we watch the cutscene. That way I can watch the cutscene and people can deal with it.

Or you know, SE can have some common sense and have the cutscene play before entering the instance.

[Rau]

I disagree.

I do believe this is a Final Fantasy Title. Cutscenes are part of what makes Final Fantasy well, Final Fantasy. It's like taking away cutscenes from MGS. It wouldn't feel right.

I think OP really just means for dungeons/raids.

Seriously, wasting an entire minute to load a cutscene, then skipping, it to actually load the dungeon is annoying, especially when trying 17min runs.

[Nakiamiie]

This is a multiplayer game, not Mystery Science Theater 3000. Cutscenes should be far and few in-between.

No.
The more the better. It brings the story to life and this is a Final Fantasy game.
There is already the option to skip for people like you, let the rest of us enjoy them.

Also, as you said, this is a multiplayer game. If you need everyone to skip or watch a cutscene, speak up! Talk to your party members before starting to clear things up. Sooooo easy.

[Nuru]

If anything, the cutscenes should show only on the first time.

[Gokulo]

If anything, the cutscenes should show only on the first time.

^ Agreed with this one for sure.