Final fantasy VI is my favourite among all the games, as it had an amazing storyline, characters, and world. I absolutely detest the random encounters in the final fantasy games though, and in some parts of VI the spawnrate was just out of control. Random encounters are the one thing that I can’t stand in JRPGs, as they are almost always monotonous, trivial to deal with, and boring. I should be able to take my time admiring the view and exploring places without having to fight a random battle every 10 seconds!
Most modern JRPGs have done away with the random encounter. At least, in the sense of “Lalala, I’m walking around…OOOH! Swirly! and a fight.” Generally nowadays, monsters are visible on the map, and you can fight them or not, though sometimes you’ll need to kill them to get by.
The funny thing is that, generally, you end up fighting 90% of them anyway.
I thought the aesthetic of VIII was really cool, but the story was way too confusing and poorly conceived. It lacked a good villain, and you didn’t feel anywhere near the sense of closeness to the characters as VII. They just didn’t have the same humanity. It amazes me that VII was able to do with blocky cartoonish characters what VIII failed to do with realistically-modeled ones.
VII was the first one I ever played and the only one besides VIII that I’ve ever played - it will always be my favorite and I highly doubt I’ll ever even try any of the others. I’ve seen bits and pieces of them and none of them seem to capture the quirky high-tech/low-tech/cyberpunk/retropunk/whatever feel of VII. They’re too “fantastical” and not gritty enough. The Blade Runner feel of Midgar and the incredible contrast of it with the rest of the outside world was the genius of that game - I don’t think that can be duplicated.
Seriously, play VI. It does even more with even less. Honestly.
It’s been a while since I’ve played all the way through any of the FF games but I think my ranking is:
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FF8. I liked how the characters looked and behaved realistically. I can’t remember much of the story because it’s been 10 years since I played it, but I remember thinking that the love story seemed genuine and, though I can’t remember the ending I think it tugged real heartstrings. I also liked the leveling system, though again I can’t remember it
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FF3 (USA). I loved the story and it was a great game to play. It was one of the first games to really have me wrapped up in a story and I was attached to characters that were dying. The DS remake was excellent too.
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FF1. This was the first game I got addicted to leveling my characters and grinding (which isn’t as fun anymore…). I really think this game was more fun because it let me choose my party with no restrictions. I went through that game a few times with wierd ass parties like all Kung-fu or all Black Magic etc… That was alot of fun. The story SEEMS weak now, but that’s only because they have reused it as the foundation of almost every other FF to date.
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FF7. Great game. Don’t remember alot of the story though.
Has a hard time getting into FF12 for some reason. Same for X, though the narrative was compelling there. I think the later FF games started to get a little TOO bogged down in long ass expository segments where you had to listen to some pretty ridiculous dialog. I actually dread starting a new FF game, even if I’ve never played it, only because I know I have around 4 hrs before I actually get control of my character and am allowed to explore.
Maybe I’m wrong, but I thought they remade Final Fantasy 3(j) for the DS, not 6.
Yep. Maybe Cubsfan meant the GBA version?
Shit. I don’t know. The one with Kain and Cecil. The pussy Bard and Golbez? 2nd one on the SNES.
That was FFII in the US, FFIV in Japan. I wonder if this one has the record for most re-releases/remakes of an FF game: PSX, GBA, DS, and WonderSwan Color/
Funny thing, I’ve been replaying the GBA remake since reading this thread. When I got Edward I solo leveled him to 16 in the antlion cave and he was kicking butt with the Lamia harp. It seems if I left him in the front row he’d do more damage… I always assumed the harp was a ranged weapon but maybe it’s not. What a spoony bard.
I think that’s the first one on the SNES, actually.
Makes me wonder how many people bought Final Fantasy 3 for the DS, expecting to replay the Locke & Terra adventure again?
The stupid numbering systems have me all messed up now.
XII is definitely my favorite, but that’s because I’m a total Ivalice whore. I wish Yazz was still at Square so that we could get a Director’s Cut, because you can just see every moment in that game where someone said ‘Wait! This isn’t following the formula of the Nomura games! We must change it!’. So much potential wasted…I really love the political games and sometimes forget how much I’m influenced by the Ivalice Alliance.
Anyway, list goes like this:
- XII
- IV
- VI
- IX
- X
- VII
And I hate VIII so much it doesn’t get to go on the list at all, even on the bottom. Gah, technology. If I wanted a techno RPG, I would have become a PC gamer. Also, whiny emo teenagers. Yes, let’s leave the teenagers to save the whole bloody world. XII and IV had the least pointless character angst. Cecil and Basch have their shit figured out (I refuse to acknowledge Vaan as the main male in XII).
VII was the first one I played and I love it.
I hate hate HATE X. Tidus is a whiny bitch and the leveling system sucks. I bought it for my PS2 and haven’t finished it.
I’ve just started playing Final Fantasy Tactics A2 and so far I like it a lot.
Really? I just think of them with their original numbering.
There are 12 main games, but 11 is a MMORPG, so it doesn’t count. It really should have been separate from the rest, as should XIV when it comes out.
Final Fantasy IV and VI were numbered differently here, but that’s it, really.
OK, so having finished Persona 4, I am now playing Final Fantasy X-2, one of the only games in the series I have not played.
It’s…weird…and the battles are too fast paced for an old man like me(I’m 31). I’m in these battles trying to think about what I want to do, and the enemies are attacking.
I set the ATB to Wait, but that only makes them wait while I use the menus. While I think about what to do or what “dress sphere” to use, the enemies can attack.
Weird.
I guess I’ll have to get use to it. Anyone else remember finding this weird?
I’ve tried twice to play through X-2 and failed. I do remember the battle system being really fast paced, though. You’ll get used to it. 4 and 6 were just as fast paced, it’s the same ATB system I think.
The battles are fast paced, but you’ll probably get used to it. In any case it isn’t a very hard game (compared with P4, at least) so you should be fine. It actually has one of my favorite battle systems. Just keep unlocking abilities for your dress spheres.
Also isn’t that how ATB always worked? At least that’s how it worked in Chrono Trigger. When I wanted to think I just navigated into a menu that paused the action.