Final Fantasy

[chaser[phoenix]]

] *snip* I just couldn't get into XII.. MMO battle system is fine for an MMO but it got sickening when I'm playing alone.

Isn't that the best part? You get the MMO "experience" without the whiny four-year-olds?

Plus, it's not as grind-tastic as an actual MMO, and you're actually working towards something rather than endless grinding so you can end up grinding something else so that you can, in turn, be strong enough to grind something even different.

Personally, I think it was great.

I don't know; I've always considered (most) MMO combat (especially FFXI's) to be relatively sub-par while playing alone. The fun in it was having competent teammates to perform and successfully level in the shortest amount of time. And I guess getting gear and things.

As for four year olds or any youngsters; or anyone immature of any age, I see where you're coming from. I stuck mostly to a linkshell (guild) in FFXI or managed to find relatively mature players. At times I'd get hit a snag and get some idiot in my party who either didn't have any clue how to play (this being at level 70) or was just immature. One way or another, I've always liked the social aspect; the teamwork involved in MMORPGs (when I used to actually play them).

Either way, I digress. MMO combat has never been the greatest fun to me solo and I thought that held true in 12...
And I just never could get into the characters.
Except Balthier. He was awesome.

 

[Al X and Ur]

i am gonna get fuckin hazed and stoned to death for this, but ff mystic quest. ok you can hate me now.

 

[Raptoricus]

Well I have mixed feelings about Final Fantasy games, FF7 was the first RPG that I ever really played, and to this day that game holds a special place in my heart, I thought the materia system was great, I thought that the story was absolutely amazing and kept you on your seat till the very last part of the game. My second favourite would have to be 6 (3 if your american) I really enjoyed that game but I do wish that they'd remake it with modern graphics, as with RPG's you need some kind of eye candy to really keep you entertained (especially with random encounters!) but the plot was reason enough to play this game. In my opinion though after 8 it all started to go down hill, I really didn't like the way that the characters looked in 9 and that always put me off playing it, but I do have a concept art book which confusingly is really good. After that I lost interest in FF games, it seems like the problem was that I could never be bothered with the constant grind any more, and the story's where starting to get weaker all the time (from what I read from reviews and synopsis's) so I never really picked one up again, and have never felt the need to.

Oh and I feel like the first Tactics needs an honourable mention as that game was very good, and I suppose since I mentioned that I should also say that the one's preceding 6 where also okay, but in my opinion 6, 7, and 8 where the pinnacles of the series, and I don't think that they'll ever top it.

 

[shadowdark]

Personally, I loved FF Tactics and the not-at-all-like-Final-Fantasy, FF: Mystic Quest.

 

[Theophenes]

I've only played VIII and later. So I'll ramble.

VIII was my first JRPG. It was good. Admittedly, looking back, there were too many villians. They could have just stopped at Edea, and it all would have worked out easier. However, the characters were mostly likable ('cept Squall,) and they actually had reasons to be awesome: They were freaking Mercs. GFs had good writing, side quests were fun, weapon upgrading was a pain. It took forever to do some things.

IX was also fun. Again, one final villain with no purpose. (Necron? Who the hell is this guy, and why couldn't Kuja just turn into a mutant or something?). Cast was one of the best. This was one time where I Didn't want to pummel the main character in the head with a shovel half of the time, mainly because Zidane had a personality. Most of the other characters were brilliant, save for Amaranth (too cliche) and Eiko (just...gah).

X was decent at best. Tidus irritated me, but you could ignore him for most of it, and this was by far one of the prettiest games on the PS2, period. It was fun to watch, and fun to play. Sidequests were too few, and almost all but impossible. Summons outclassed everythign else in game, which woudl be okay if more than one character could do it.

XI was a MMORPG, which is not my thing. So I avoided it.

X-2 was all about the chicks from X, which struck me as interesting, but then I saw footage. Aparrently, it's all about dancing or transforming into half-naked popstars. So I didn't pick that up, either.

XII was fun. Lots of old-schoolers hate it for not playing like other FF games. I admit the plot is pure cheese, but once you start making Star Wars comparisons, it's pretty funny. Do it. I'm serious.

As for gameplay, because of how different this game is form the others, I don't think it's fair to compare them. And yes, it does borrow from MMOs in certain fashions. However, it's still player-centered, not community centered, so you don't feel puny form day one, you feel useful which is refreshing.

 

[magicmuffinman]

Tactics. It seemed to have the most original story in my opinion. Plus it has the best Job System I've ever seen. Every Job had an use. Except the Mathematician.

Who brings a Mathematician to a battle-field?!?

Regardless, in my opinion it has the best story, characters, and sound-track out of the FFs. Yes, I said characters, because they actually seem human, not "IM TOTALLY PURE GOOD AND HAPPY AND YES". Take Delita for example- he was neither good nor evil, but pure gray. And that one douche archer from the first act, who you THOUGHT was a hero.

The only thing that angered me was that in Act 4, Ramza was wearing ass-less pants.

Why was Ramza wearing ass-less pants?

 

[PersianLlama]

I've always enjoyed final fantasy, but I still hate some of them.

The Ones I Hate - 8,10,10-2, Tactics Advanced and Tactics Advanced 2
My Favorites - Tactics,6
I've pretty much enjoy the rest, except 11 which I've never tried.

 

[magicmuffinman]

I've always enjoyed final fantasy, but I still hate some of them.

The Ones I Hate - 8,10,10-2, Tactics Advanced and Tactics Advanced 2
My Favorites - Tactics,6
I've pretty much enjoy the rest, except 11 which I've never tried.

"I loved Tactics. I'm sure Tactics Advanced will be a hand-held version that's just as good right?"

WRONG. The PSP got the port. Bastards. I'm stuck with Mogs, Cat-girls, Sheep...things, and Crocodile People.

They didn't even port the FUN enemies (Squidfaces, Skeletons, Demons)

 

[PersianLlama]

I've always enjoyed final fantasy, but I still hate some of them.

The Ones I Hate - 8,10,10-2, Tactics Advanced and Tactics Advanced 2
My Favorites - Tactics,6
I've pretty much enjoy the rest, except 11 which I've never tried.

"I loved Tactics. I'm sure Tactics Advanced will be a hand-held version that's just as good right?"

WRONG. The PSP got the port. Bastards. I'm stuck with Mogs, Cat-girls, Sheep...things, and Crocodile People.

They didn't even port the FUN enemies (Squidfaces, Skeletons, Demons)

I thought the same thing. I'm considering a PSP just because of the port.

 

[magicmuffinman]

I've always enjoyed final fantasy, but I still hate some of them.

The Ones I Hate - 8,10,10-2, Tactics Advanced and Tactics Advanced 2
My Favorites - Tactics,6
I've pretty much enjoy the rest, except 11 which I've never tried.

"I loved Tactics. I'm sure Tactics Advanced will be a hand-held version that's just as good right?"

WRONG. The PSP got the port. Bastards. I'm stuck with Mogs, Cat-girls, Sheep...things, and Crocodile People.

They didn't even port the FUN enemies (Squidfaces, Skeletons, Demons)

I thought the same thing. I'm considering a PSP just because of the port.

The only thing I disliked about that game was the level 99 knights you'd encounter later.

(Weapon Break hits Excalibur)

YOU SON OF A *****!

 

[Josdeb]

Loved: X, X-2 (Go to hell, I liked it), VII

Good: I, Dirge of Cerberus, Does Advent Children count?

Boring: Tactics Advance or whatever that one for the GBA was. Too slow for me. (Wow. An RPG-lover complaining about how slow it was? The irony HURTS.)

I did mean to play IX at one point cause it looked interesting, but couldn't be stuffed

 

[Calax]

I played X VII VIII a little of IX and XII

VII is probably my favorite, it just feels so Epic.
X is next, it's the second one I've actually completed. And probably the only one where I didn't feel I was underpowered the entire way through (where most people grind levels out to keep up with monsters I just bum rush through the game, usually leading to me throwing in the towel because a certain boss just demolishes my team with a wave of its hand)
VIII I was somewhat frustrated with. Between flashbacks into another persons body, selective amnesia, and "Hey that' wasn't the real boss!" it just seemed like it couldn't figure out its own storyline.
X-2 I played and other than a few moments that interested me it felt like Square was having a self wank to the fans discontent.
XII I just didn't like the system of combat. I could see where it could be good (if you spent the time to figure everything out about how to program your AI) but it just seemed like from the moment I left Dalmasca I was underpowered because I hadn't done the sidequests offered.

On a side note, I played a bit of Lost Oddessy, it's claim to fame was that it was made by the crew that did previous final fantasy's and I have to say, it was a let down. I only got as far as the first boss, but when you hit him it felt like I was hitting a wall made out of four brick shithouses and a Left 4 Dead tank. I talked to a friend and he said that in order to get past said boss he had to grind xp for something like an hour and a half. Now I don't know about you but generally were I a developer, I'd set it up so that the player would be the proper level for encounters if he was just doing the storyline. (there were no opportunities for me to side quest anyway in Lost Oddessy).

 

[Enigmers]

You know what was a lot of fun? Thunder God Cid. Sure, he made the end of the game a joke, but still, it felt so awesome having him in your party.

Also, methinks Final Fantasy Tactics would work great on the DS, what with the stylus and all. Oh well.

 

[magicmuffinman]

You know what was a lot of fun? Thunder God Cid. Sure, he made the end of the game a joke, but still, it felt so awesome having him in your party.

I think it's best not to mention what game I'm talking about; that way, you know "Thunder God Cid" is brick-shittingly powerful, but you still don't know when to expect him.

Lightning Stab EATS WORLDS.

 

[runtheplacered]

Final Fantasy 2 US (FFVI Japan) was the first to engage me like that

Pssst.. FF 2 US is FF IV in Japan, and 3 US is Japanese VI. Ok, that's all I wanted to say. Back at it.

 

[TundraWolf]

I don't think there is anyone who likes final fantasy but doesn't like 7 unless they just want to be different or hop on the flame wagon.

I do enjoy a good Final Fantasy game from time to time, but, for whatever reason, I simply did not enjoy Final Fantasy VII. I can't really explain why, to be honest; the first one I ever played was VIII, and I fell in love with it right away. But I played VII right after, and it just seemed to pale in comparison. I'm not sure why, but I just couldn't get into it the same way.

I absolutely adored IX, and X is a beast (in the best way possible), but VIII has always been my favorite. XII... was interesting. I started playing it for a friend of mine, who had never played an FF game before (silly boy didn't know Esuna cures all status ailments!), and ended up beating it, but it was a trial in patience.

But yeah. To me, VIII > VII. Please feel free to beat me to a pulp for saying such obvious blasphemy, but VII just wasn't my thing.

 

[magicmuffinman]

I don't think there is anyone who likes final fantasy but doesn't like 7 unless they just want to be different or hop on the flame wagon.

I do enjoy a good Final Fantasy game from time to time, but, for whatever reason, I simply did not enjoy Final Fantasy VII. I can't really explain why, to be honest; the first one I ever played was VIII, and I fell in love with it right away. But I played VII right after, and it just seemed to pale in comparison. I'm not sure why, but I just couldn't get into it the same way.

I absolutely adored IX, and X is a beast (in the best way possible), but VIII has always been my favorite. XII... was interesting. I started playing it for a friend of mine, who had never played an FF game before (silly boy didn't know Esuna cures all status ailments!), and ended up beating it, but it was a trial in patience.

But yeah. To me, VIII > VII. Please feel free to beat me to a pulp for saying such obvious blasphemy, but VII just wasn't my thing.

Don't worry, your not alone. I played 7 first, and I really don't like it that much. Cloud is and Vincent have about as much character development as a Brick, and Sephiroth... was un-inspiring. His music was fantastic, but the Sephiroth himself was a rather dull villain. Hojo was better than Seph. And Barret probably had more character than Cloud.

 

[TundraWolf]

I don't think there is anyone who likes final fantasy but doesn't like 7 unless they just want to be different or hop on the flame wagon.

I do enjoy a good Final Fantasy game from time to time, but, for whatever reason, I simply did not enjoy Final Fantasy VII. I can't really explain why, to be honest; the first one I ever played was VIII, and I fell in love with it right away. But I played VII right after, and it just seemed to pale in comparison. I'm not sure why, but I just couldn't get into it the same way.

I absolutely adored IX, and X is a beast (in the best way possible), but VIII has always been my favorite. XII... was interesting. I started playing it for a friend of mine, who had never played an FF game before (silly boy didn't know Esuna cures all status ailments!), and ended up beating it, but it was a trial in patience.

But yeah. To me, VIII > VII. Please feel free to beat me to a pulp for saying such obvious blasphemy, but VII just wasn't my thing.

Don't worry, your not alone. I played 7 first, and I really don't like it that much. Cloud is and Vincent have about as much character development as a Brick, and Sephiroth... was un-inspiring. His music was fantastic, but the Sephiroth himself was a rather dull villain. Hojo was better than Seph. And Barret probably had more character than Cloud.

It was probably the feel that they were going for, but I always felt that "One Winged Angel" was just a rip off of "O Fortuna". They are very, very similar compositions, and while I cannot say that I could compose anything near Nobuo Uematsu's level of music mastery, as a fellow musician, I was expecting just a teensy bit more. But, again, that was probably the feel they were aiming for, and "O Fortuna" is amazing, so, really, I guess I have no grounds to complain.

 

[geldonyetich]

Final Fantasy 2 US (FFVI Japan) was the first to engage me like that

Pssst.. FF 2 US is FF IV in Japan, and 3 US is Japanese VI. Ok, that's all I wanted to say. Back at it.

Whoops, I knew that. Transposed my roman characters