FF8 has the worst plot twist of any item of media ever.
FF6 is the best Final Fantasy and Chronotrigger is the best console RPG.
I don’t disagree with you about the characterization, but I feel like 8 tried some new stuff. Seifer was (to me, anyway) an interesting villain. I like that he tried so hard to be the good guy of his own personal narrative, failed so obviously that even he knew it, and stuck with it because he couldn’t see any way out of the pit he’s dug.
I like villains who aren’t evil for the sake of being evil.
Granted that I only know synopses for most Final Fantasy games, but has any main villain since VI (VII?) been in it for teh evulz? Sure, some of them had a motivation that can be described, at best, as “fucking retarded,” (like Barthandalus wanting to commit suicide and mass sacrifice everyone to bring back God), but at least X and XIII had villains that were doing things for a good-ish (if still stupid) reason.
FFX: Yu Yevon is never given a motivation that I remember. Evil god is evil.
FF7: sephiroth’s mom is evil, I think. I never beat this one.
FF8: Ultimecia hates time.
I’d say those dudes were evil for evil’s sake.
FFVIII is my second favorite FF game, first is (of course) FFVI. And Chrono Trigger is amazing.
Yes, gunblades are completely stupid. However, using swords as weapons when you have access to reliable and accurate firearms is also stupid, yet every FF game I’ve played has had swords or daggers used as primary weapons, not backup weapons. I certainly didn’t really care for the monsters leveling up when my characters did, either. And the whole orphanage backstory could have been a lot better.
I think, though, that there were a lot of things right about VIII. For one thing, Squall actually grew up somewhat, and so did Rinoa. Triple Triad was a gas, and I even liked being able to draw and refine spells. However, I kind of like grinding when I’m in the mood for it. For the most part, the game was challenging but not impossible. In FFIX and X, there were some mini-games that I just could NOT beat, which meant that I couldn’t get the best weapons for some characters, or the best items.
I didn’t like most of the characters in IX or X, and if I’m going to spend that much time with characters, I really do need to like them, or at least not actively dislike them.
I have to confess that I bought a (used) copy of X-II, and I’m currently playing it. Yuna is somewhat more tolerable in this game, as is Rikku, though Rikku still dogpaddles when she gets excited. Paine is interesting. However, the dress sphere/garment grid concept needs work. And I can already tell that I’m going to have a major problem in calibrating the towers, as my twitch reflexes are not what they used to be.
Well, I have finished FF4, FF6, FF7, FF8, FF9, and FF12. I have played (but not finished) FF5, FF10 and FF10-2.
FF7 is definitely my favorite Final Fantasy. I don’t know what it is; maybe it was a combination of the game, plus where I was at in my life. I just remember being blown away by the commercials for it. At that point, I’d never seen anything like it. I bought the game before I actually bought a PlayStation. 
I am the only one in my group of friends that finished FF8, let alone played very much of it. They actually took me to a mutual friend’s house and had me play through the final battle and ending (since they weren’t going to see it on their own) and recorded it on the VCR. 
I will say there were parts of FF8 that made me want to tear my hair out (what was it, that reactor place? Where you had a nasty “random” encounter every step you took forward? Ugh!). And the plot twist regarding the characters’ childhoods was just dumb. :rolleyes:
It took me forever to finish FF9, despite the fact I got a lot of enjoyment out of having a Dragoon Rat as a playable character. 
And before you knew what you were doing, the Black Waltz enemies were scary as hell!
I just keep losing interest in FF10 and FF10-2. I adore Yuna in the first game; not so much in the second. And the English VA for Lulu drives me up a wall; she just sounds constipated all the time. 
She gets points for using stuffed animals in battle, though. It’s what I would love to do if I could be a Black Mage in real life. 
I had to make a couple attempts at FF12 before I actually broke down and played it through. It wasn’t bad; it just seemed like there was so MUCH of it. I’m not a World of Warcraft type-player and having such a big story world was a bit overwhelming. I always get attached to the supporting characters, and I was terrified one in particular was going to bite it before the end. I actually had to ask someone who finished it before me if they made it all the way through the game; she was amused that I got so worked up about it. “But he’s so adorable!” Heh.
If/when I get a PS3 I am definitely getting FF13 and FF13-2, probably at the same time, since I have heard so many people were disappointed in FF13.
You had to time it so that you were walking when the reactor was not emitting light. You’d still have some set encounters with ruby dragons, but you wouldn’t get one with every step.
Seriously, Lynn! OMG, I never knew that! Thank you!
Now I’ll know if I ever decide to give it a try again.
I did figure out that you could walk out without getting encounters though. I won’t tell you how long that took. :smack:
Despite my screen name, I vastly preferred 8 to 7, although I found them both really great games. I loved Triple Triad, and the story line really resonated with me, as I was an angsty whiny teen girl when I played the game myself.
I also really like stories about time travel and time collapsing on itself, and thought the story made just enough sense to be plausible, while still being confusing enough to have arguments with friends.
I can see why people hate it, especially with the junctioning system and the heavy romance aspect (which my brother absolutely DETESTED), but for me it was perfect, and is probably my favorite game ever.
I liked 8 just fine. I couldn’t be bothered to finish 9. Final Fantasy Tactics was the best Final Fantasy.
FF 8 was the first one I ever played, and I wish my son had told me that you are supposed to run away from the gigantic X-ATMO92 near the beginning of the game. You should have seen his jaw drop when I told him that it took me a few hours to build my strength up but I finally killed that robotic rat bastard.
Killing it was satisfying, but watching Quistis do it was even better, I think.
As much as I like 7, I have to go with X as my favorite if we are considering the original games only. If we are allowed to include each game’s “expanded universe” then 7 takes the lead. Crisis Core was a really nifty game and had the most likable lead that I can remember in a FF game. Honestly, the FF characters seem to be at their best when they are doing guest shots in Kingdom Hearts installments. Except for Auron. He is always so totally awesome that nothing he does could be said to be the best. Or everything he does is the best because he is just that totally awesome. If Dos Equis beer was sold in Spira, Auron would be the guy in the commercials.
Final Fantasy is one of those series where the first one you played is likely your favorite. (Not saying this is true for everyone - but it’s pretty common). FF7 was my first one, and the only one I’ve ever completed. Love that game.
FF8? I played it a bit, but absolutely could not stand the characters. And I’ve read a Let’s Play of it, so I know the plot, and boy does the plot sound terrible. Still, the junction system is pretty awesome. One of these days I’ll get around to finishing it.
A lot of people like FF9. I just started playing this one and I think I finally got past the “okay, I know what I’m doing and can have fun now” point.
FF10 is another good one (and I almost would’ve finished it, except I couldn’t get past the boss at the end you have to defeat in 15 turns or you auto-die).
FF12 was disappointing. The plot is spread out between huge chunks of MMORPG-lite adventuring, and that’s not a good thing. Going through that desert almost stopped me playing. (Being unable to get past the aero dragons in the snow temple, despite level grinding, did). One of these days I’ll give it another shot though…
I can’t remember if you’re talking about Jecht or YuYevon. If its YuYevon, one Phoenix down kills him instantly. Silliest final boss ever.
I think I had Yuna hit it with a stick, which killed it instantly. At least, that’s what happened to every other boss in the end-game.
It’s possible that I min-maxed a bit on the sphere grid.
I have beat FFVII several times and it was very enjoyable game. Great story, characters, and gameplay. I do agree that game mechanics were flawed when looking back on it. For example, everyone could do everything and do the same amount of damage at high levels.
FFVIII is a so-so game. It is enjoyable but very difficult to get into with the drawing and junctioning magic system. But once you play the game several times, you find ways of getting magic without constant battles.
I do believe that FFVIII had more flaws in game design and story. One way to avoid battles I found was to keep walking on the road. You never get attacked :).
Also I heard that if you open the CD cover of the PS1 with Selphie’s Limit Break, the game will not crash and you will be able to select some of Selphie’s powerful moves without getting attacked.
Do agree that all present party characters expect Rinoa all being orphans at the same orphanage and forgot all their memories of each other was a farfetch.
I also noticed that FFVIII’s party characters resemble the cast of Beverly Hills 90210. Squall is Bradon, Rinoa is Brenda, Zell is the blond guy, Irvine is Luke Perry, Quistis is Tori Spelling, and Selphie is Andrea.
Both FFs are excellent games but I think FFVII was the best out of the two.
By the way, I think FF series went down hill with XI. Online play and automatic commands do not make FF games.:D.
I suspect it was part of a plot line they abandoned and forgot to completely write out of the script. Early on, they mention that junctioning GFs affects your memory, destroying your ability to remember things long-term. This is played off as a necessary sacrifice for the added power they would give you.
Of course, what’s odd is that Squall, Zell, Seifer, and Selphie never junctioned a GF prior to their final exam at the beginning of the game, where you capture Ifrit. There’s no real reason why they wouldn’t remember each other. And the memory thing is never mentioned again.
I think an earlier version of the script played up the memory loss angle, but got changed for whatever reason.
I’m pretty sure that the students at Balamb Garden temporarily junctioned GFs in training, but the students didn’t have access to these GFs at all times, like SeeDs do. I’m pretty sure that this was explained in the orphanage flashback scene, but frankly it’s been years since I’ve paid any attention to that scene. I just knit between expository lumps, and hit continue as soon as I can.
Squall was actually based on a popular Japanese singer, Gackt, who is famous for being beautiful as well as talented.
This is one of the big complaints about the FF game series…in most games, random encounters can completely screw you up if you’re low on healing spells and items. Avoiding random encounters can be a lifesaver. So I think that having the option to get random encounters or avoid them is a good thing.
If anyone is thinking of digging out VIII and replaying it (or playing it for the first time), my advice is to get the ability Card at the very beginning. Have Squall and Quistis junction one GF each (because you only have two available) and go down to Balamb beach. The fish thingies give the most AP per encounter at this stage of the game. Set the Q GF to learn Card, and Shiva to learn Ice Refine. Once you learn Card, set that as a battle ability, and use it to finish off as many encounters as you can. Some monsters won’t card at all, while others will take several attempts to card. At any rate, Carding to finish monsters will allow the GFs to earn AP, while NOT giving XP to the characters. So your GFs will learn new abiilities, while the monsters will stay at relatively low levels (and you want them at low levels, for the most part). I usually junction Q to Squall, and have Quistis hit the fish thingies with her whip once or twice, and then draw the Ice (Blizzard) spells that the fish have, while Squall attempts to card them. Transfer most of the Ice spells to Squall after the battle, so Quistis will have room for more. When both characters are full of Ice, then draw the Sleep spells, which are good for junctioning at this point in the game. There’s also Glacial Eyes on the plains, which have Cure spells, and both characters should stock up on these AFTER getting the Card ability. Glacial Eyes sometimes will turn into Jumbo Cactuar cards, which are about as good as you’re gonna get at this point in the game. Q can also learn the Refine Magic Mid ability, which allows you to refine second level magic (Cura, Blizzarda) from first level magic (Cure, Blizzard). This is incredibly useful, but you have to learn Thunder magic refine first. It’s really, really worth it, though. Second level magic gives you that edge in battle, plus it junctions so much better. Card Mod is great, too, but it’s not as vital at the very beginning. You do want to learn it fairly early in the game, though, as you will be able to get many, many things from it.
After you get Ifrit, spend a little time in the Fire Cavern and Card the bombs. Those cards are strong at this point, as most people won’t have cards that can turn them if you place them in the right corners, and when you get better cards you can refine the bomb cards.
It’s possible to teach other GFs the Card ability with Gambler Spirit, which you get from Modding 5 Shumi Tribe cards. The Shumi Tribe cards are boss cards, though, and you might not want to mod them right away. Plus you have to card Grats or T-Rexs and hope that you’ll get the rare boss card in order to get the Shumi cards.
Geezards are hard to card, because if you sneeze at them, they die. However, if you have plenty of Demi spells, hit them with one or two of those, and you can Card them with ease. By the time you can refine Demi spells, though, you mostly don’t need the aggravation of fighting geezards, unless you need to stock up on Cure/Cura spells. Buels (those six winged critters in Fire Cavern) are also hard to wound without killing.
I hate Zell. I’m not really fond of Selphie, either, but at least she’s useful most of the time. Zell is a royal pain, except in the prison. I just want to slap him most of the time.
I try to upgrade the weapons very carefully. Sometimes I don’t want a character to have a powerful weapon, I want him/her to be able to wound but not kill most monsters so that I can Card the monsters.
Be careful not to spread card rules, except Open. This involves a lot of resetting in some cases. If you want to really use Triple Triad to your advantage, see Sister’s excellent Card FAQ/Walkthrough on Gamefaqs.
I love Doomtrain, even if the animation is long, long, long. So very many status ailments to inflict! Also, hit Adamontoises (sp?) with Doomtrain when you want to abuse Angelo Search, and you’re golden for about as many hours as you want to leave the PS running. Those turtles are immune to the poison, but otherwise they are helpless, and you can let the characters twiddle their thumbs while waiting for the dog to dig up something.
i have a dislike for seven, mostly because of how my friends figured out to “break” the game. Plenty of the bosses loaded their attacks off the cd on the psx. Open the cd tray = never attacked. you could also use the regen spell the same way, open it when you start, and don’t close till your parties life is full.