If I was in charge, I would focus on the story and the battle system. I would also like to preserve tradition. ATB is very traditional but I want to tweak ATB so it is different with a feeling of security because you are accustomed to it. Also I like a black mage in our party.
Blah,i'de focus on the story.. Battle system doesn't really matter to me as much as the story itself because..you get used to it after a while anyways.The story is the whole reason why everyone actually plays right? Oo"
Ehmmm, maybe for you. Do I play it for the story? Not really, If you don't enjoy your battles because that is a main component of RPG then you would be in hell for 45 minutes then 15 minutes of heaven, over and over. I would also use a Fantasy Setting rather than a Sci-Fi in FF7 and FF8. That is one of the reasons why i was turned off by FF8. I played it though. It's gotta have fantasy elements with dragons, swords, and lions oh my.
Well, she is 98.6 degrees, but I would hardly define her hot. I think Rikku is cuter than Yuna, but a little airheady. Rinoa is prettiest of them all I think.
I would put in voice acting once in a while like Kingdom Hearts. If it is too often, then it becomes a drag. Also more FMVs, FFIX was loaded with them. Also don't make the characters appearence different in the FMVs from regular. FFX does that and they look too different.
If I were in charge, I would focus on character pasts, cliffhangers and unexplainables, the story, and the battle system. It is important to have some of the cliffhangers and unexplainables to keep the player interested and want him or her to find out what the heck is going on. The character pasts are also important for player interest, the battles to keep the player entertained and have him or her make effort to not just leveling up, but having to add/remove abilities, choose what to level up in, etc., and the story to it gives the player a sense of "being in the game", in other words, interacting with the characters and having a feeling that you succeeded in doing something in the game,