Final Fantasy?

[ryanisadouche]

So I've never played any of the final fantasy games and I'm curious what the big attraction is. Except theres like, a million in the series and I don't know where to start. Final Fantasy 1? Is there one massive storyline that runs through the whole series? Someone enlighten me..

oh and I don't have a playstation, so i guess I'd be playing emulators/PC versions. Thanks.

[tsugomaru]

There isn't. It's just another overrated franchise. There are a few story lines that spread through several games, but most games have their own story. I've only played FFI-FFVI and they each have their own story lines but other Final Fantasy games have some sequels.

The thing about the Final Fantasy series is that they tend to have better than average stories. They aren't anything amazing, but they aren't bad either. The battle system can be fun for some and terrible for others. My feelings on the battle system is mixed because although I hate the ATB system, I love how each character in the later game have some skill that makes them unique from another.

In short, the Final Fantasy series isn't the best thing you will ever see, but the games aren't bad either.

~Tsugomaru

[ryanisadouche]

So i might as well start from the first game then? From what i understand its been remade for PSP or something, has it been remade for PC too? Or should i just go with the nes emulator

[tsugomaru]

You don't have to start with the first one if you don't want to. As I said, they each have their own story line so no two games will be related with each other at all.

If you want to play the best of the six Final Fantasys, I recommend you try VI because that one was my favorite one. It's on the SNES. It was remade on the GBA, but I haven't played that one so I can't tell you if there are any differences or if it's any better or easier.

~Tsugomaru

[ryanisadouche]

alright thanks ill go ahead and get VI then

unless someone feels like arguing theres a better one to start with

[Kanako Yasaka]

VI is the best, no matter how many people say VII. (VII is SUPER overrated and it's not as good as VI anyway.)


So yes start with VI.

[Kinspin]

7 is the most popular, and it was the first for a lot of people in america though a few were release before it.
It also has a bunch of sequals and prequels but don't worry about those.

6 and 9 were also decent games that are worth trying out.

[plasmix]

6 is my personal favorite. Amazing story, amazing soundtrack, pretty good battle system. Don't get the GBA remake until you've played the original SNES version. The music was downgraded and much of the great dialogue messed around with. (So emulate!)

I've heard very good things of 4 and 5 as well.

[Squeek]

They're all pretty bad.

There are dozens of under-appreciated RPG franchises out there that far outclass Final Fantasy, and playing one Final Fantasy game next to any of these RPGs will prove that very quickly.

List of better franchises:

Chrono
Mother
Tales
Suikoden
Seiken Densetsu (Mana)
Lufia
Breath of Fire
Phantasy Star
Star Ocean
Shin Megami Tensei
Disgaea
Pokemon
Xeno
Wild Arms
Ogre

Hell, even Dragon Quest is better.

[tsugomaru]

You've only played FFX shush.

~Tsugomaru

[tsugomaru]

Also, I need new RPGs to play. Give me the names of some you liked that's not on the PS2.

~Tsugomaru

[FrozenAngel91]

Originally Posted by tsugomaru

Also, I need new RPGs to play. Give me the names of some you liked that's not on the PS2.

~Tsugomaru

Now this is easy.

Tales of symphonia was really fun, so you could try that
I found Lost Odyssey fun, storyline a little lacking but still fun

Now to list things that might not be what you mean by RPG, but still you should pick up

If you don't mind Action RPG's you could give The World Ends With You a shot, cause that was one of the best games I've played in a while

For Tactical RPG's try the original Final Fantasy Tactics, or even Final Fantasy tactics advance. Both were fun, and actually sort of lived up to the Final Fantasy name (You can find the orginal on the psp, so you don't need a ps2)
Also, you should pick up Mass Effect, it's not really a traditional RPG, but it's storyline was so great you might not care

Those are good ones in my opinion, but I'm weird so you might need a second opinion too.


Alright, now to go back on topic...

I like the final fantasies, but I just don't think they are quite as good as everyone says. Maybe good but not so great they blow me away. Only Final Fantasy I thought was that good was Final Fantasy Tactics, but that was sort of a spinoff so oh well.

[tsugomaru]

The World Ends with You is a good game, but only for its amazing battle system. The first time going through it, the story was simply amazing, but after playing it a second time, it seemed to only get in the way because you couldn't skip through any of the text.

FFTA had an okay story and the gameplay was decent. In FFTA2, it balanced a lot of things in FFTA that was easily abusable (but also introduced some imbalanced combos), but the story sucked terribly.

~Tsugomaru

[Nubzpwnzer]

My input is that 7 was excellent one of the best but due to me having 100+ hours of gameplay at certain points I was just ready to get the game over with. 6 was decent at best compared to 7. I beat 9 as well and that overall was the best one i've played the storyline kept my into the game because he combined modern final fantasy along with a medieval/pirate feeling it was really great. I don't care what anyone says the best one of the entire series is 10 the series started off great with kick ass Auron and the bond between Yuna really adds a dramatic feeling to the entire game. Along with enemies like Maestor Semor, and Sin the biggest damn thing I've ever seen in the video game is just great. The cut scenes for it's time were the best ever. Not only this Nobuo Uematsu really shined on songs like to zanarkand. Every time it played this song during something dramatic is almost brought me to tears. 10x2 was ok as far as the story line I invested a little over 30 hours in the game to get 99.67% that **** pissed me off alot so I decided to just watch the final cut scene on youtube. When tidus came back it's like I wasn't even mad anymore and my spirits were lifted. Between the final cutscene of 10x2 and the moment you kill Jenova Sephiroth were probably the two best moments in the entire series.

[ryanisadouche]

Originally Posted by Squeek

They're all pretty bad.

There are dozens of under-appreciated RPG franchises out there that far outclass Final Fantasy, and playing one Final Fantasy game next to any of these RPGs will prove that very quickly.

List of better franchises:

Chrono
Mother
Tales
Suikoden
Seiken Densetsu (Mana)
Lufia
Breath of Fire
Phantasy Star
Star Ocean
Shin Megami Tensei
Disgaea
Pokemon
Xeno
Wild Arms
Ogre

Hell, even Dragon Quest is better.

I've played phantasy star and i liked it a lot. Dont recognize any of the others. I guess I'm really just looking for a good game to play it doesn't have to be final fantasy. My all-time favorite is hands down (don't laugh) Super Mario RPG. Too me it's got the perfect balance of gameplay, storyline, graphics, and everything, but i've never found a similar game. Any suggestions?

[marioGP87]

Originally Posted by Squeek

They're all pretty bad.

There are dozens of under-appreciated RPG franchises out there that far outclass Final Fantasy, and playing one Final Fantasy game next to any of these RPGs will prove that very quickly.

List of better franchises:

Chrono
Mother
Tales
Suikoden
Seiken Densetsu (Mana)
Lufia
Breath of Fire
Phantasy Star
Star Ocean
Shin Megami Tensei
Disgaea
Pokemon
Xeno
Wild Arms
Ogre

Hell, even Dragon Quest is better.

For once, I agree with Squeek. Except for Pokemon

Though FF 6,7, 8, and 9 are my favorites. I played FF1 & 2 but, I had a WTF feeling on those two. FF3 (for the DS) was good. Pokemon is just "random enemy appeared!!!" kind. I haven't tried Breath of Fire or Lufia but, I'll play those on my bootlegged PS2 >=3. I have BoF 5 and Lufia. Other then that, I pretty much played all the games that Squeek mentioned.

As to recommending which FF game to start, it's your choice.

[MarukuAntoni]

Originally Posted by Squeek

They're all pretty bad.

There are dozens of under-appreciated RPG franchises out there that far outclass Final Fantasy, and playing one Final Fantasy game next to any of these RPGs will prove that very quickly.

List of better franchises:

Chrono
Mother
Tales
Suikoden
Seiken Densetsu (Mana)
Lufia
Breath of Fire
Phantasy Star
Star Ocean
Shin Megami Tensei
Disgaea
Pokemon
Xeno
Wild Arms
Ogre

Hell, even Dragon Quest is better.

They don't truly outclass Final Fantasy although they are very good games. They're all different. I don't want to say how because there's many differences. Chrono Trigger and Cross were great. I like Star Ocean 2, 3 sucked. Some of the Tales series were good and other sucked badly. Xenogears probably had the best storyline out of any. Some of Wild Arms was good. Dude, when you said Dragon Quest, I though of 8 and boy did that disappoint me. It's very slow battle and experience system made me want to commit suicide at times.

There were some great games in the Final Fantasy series, and others not as great. Play the old school ones because they were very interesting, especially 6. All you who say 7 sucked should jump off the bandwagon of 7 haters because it was a good game. You just don't want to admit it. 12 disappointed me to the extreme. They said it was going to be the darkest one in the FF series and there was nothing dark about it. I'm looking forward to 13.

[psychopete]

Originally Posted by MarukuAntoni

There were some great games in the Final Fantasy series, and others not as great. Play the old school ones because they were very interesting, especially 6. All you who say 7 sucked should jump off the bandwagon of 7 haters because it was a good game. You just don't want to admit it. 12 disappointed me to the extreme. They said it was going to be the darkest one in the FF series and there was nothing dark about it. I'm looking forward to 13.

If someone has an opinion, let them have it. The number of FF7 fanthings still far outnumber the number of FF7 haters (and the number of FF7 fanthings is about equal to the number of FF8 haters IMHO).

Also, I found a fair share of FF games to either be wonderful or just utter crap.
I - No hating on this one for me, it was the first game I ever played.
II - **** this ****. The experience system was screwy.
III - I never played the original (due to it being in Japanese and all), but I liked the DS remake.
IV- Hard as ****, but hey, Squeek, I gotta say, ATB needs some getting used to. Once you get used to it, you'll understand everything.
V - Eh, rather apathetic about this one.
VI - Now, I liked this one a bit, but I wouldn't call it my favourite.
VII - Overhyped garbage.
VIII - Honestly, I liked the junction system and the effed up story. One of my favourites.
IX - Another favourite numbered FF, I just found it fun, s'all.
X - Now, battle system, hit or miss. I liked the progression, but what the ****, the final boss was easy.
X-2 - I actually played this. This game got me sick of the ATB system. And of things that remind me of Charlie's Angels.
XI - A great MMO, to me.
XII - I was a fan. Come on, sure, they made Vaan the main character, but I liked the battle system.

Out of the numbered FF games, I liked VIII, IX, and XII the most. I still prefer Tactics, Tactics Advance, and Tactics A2.

[Nubzpwnzer]

Yeah basically if you've played one mmo, you have played them all. Enough said.

[MarukuAntoni]

Originally Posted by psychopete

If someone has an opinion, let them have it. The number of FF7 fanthings still far outnumber the number of FF7 haters (and the number of FF7 fanthings is about equal to the number of FF8 haters IMHO).

Sorry about that. It's just me being a hypocrite, again! Damn it, I have to stop that. I need to be open more and less one-sides, or no one will take statements seriously. Yes, you are probably right on there being the same number of ff7 and 8 haters. I just don't understand why people think it's garbage. There are the haters of FF7 due to the over hyping of fanboys, others who hate it for its graphics, and other reasons. Graphics didn't matter much to me at the time, but everything else about it, music, gameplay, plot, all grasped my attention. Not many games grab me like FF7.