What's the deal with FF6?

[Arqus_Zed]

It's like comparing Shadow Hearts with Lucifer's Call.
[/spoiler]

Shin Megami Tensei: Lucifers Call (Nocturne in some regions) had a much better recruitment drive (Hi, random enemy, do you want to live? Join me ! )
Saying that Shadow Hearts took a lot of the 'mash attack' out of gringing low-level areas with the judgement ring (which was improved in Shadow Hearts: Covenant by the simple act of allowing you to customise it)

The magic is pretty much the same in both games. (in SH everyone but Yuri got them by Lvl up, and he got them by Lvling his Demons (Transformations) and in SMT:LC everyone but Protaganist got them by level up, and he got them by Lvling his Demons (parasites))

Sorry couldn't help it.

On topic, however, I prefered the Charicters from 10, the Open-World exploration/size of 6, the 'Enemies gain levels at the same rate as you' from 8 The story from 4, Magic system of 7 and Combat Flow of 10-2. Overall though, 6 is, in my opinion, marginilly better than the other games in the series.
Suprising no-one mentioned the RPG dungeon on the Playstation port of Ehrgeiz yet.

On the point of Villains, In 6 Kefka was mad, In 7 Sephiroth was Sadistic, In 4 they pull the same thing as they would later do in 8 Just the Edea/Ultamecia being replaced by Golbez/(cant remember the name) which was shocking in 4, but by the time 8 came round we were just dissapointed in Square for the blatant copy-paste. Necron (FF9) came out of nowhere too (literally) but I saw him more as a tool used by Kuja than as a villain. 10 and 10-2 aren't even worth mentioning, beyond the fact that in both cases 1000 years is way to long to hold a grudge. Ultimacia had the grandest plan (destroy the world AND destroy time so I can destroy the world again in the past and beat myself to it!) but Kefka losses points for taking so long. (Most FF villains have wanted to destroy the world, right the way from Garland in FF1, but Kefka had a whole year with no opposition and STILL failed. Ooooh, godlike power + want to destroy . . . why does he even wait for an excuse to blow people/towns up?)

Incidentilly, My first RPG was FF7. My favorite RPG is Star Ocean:TTEOT, then SMT:Lucifers Call, followed by Digital Devil Saga, then Tales of Symphonia, then Shadow Hearts: Covenant THEN FF6.
Another good one that hovers at about the same level as FF6 and Shadow Hearts: Covenant is Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter (BoF5).

Okay, so you 'compared' them, but you couldn't possibly justifyingly say which one is the better, could you? Admit it, they are two completely different games. (and I actually should have said SH Covenant versus SMT Lucifer's Call, would've been more fair.)

-Atmosphere's very different - alternative past of a WW I (or pre-WW I, for SH) Europe versus a present day post-apocalypse Tokyo (in an extremely abstract occult syle) inherited only by human souls and demons.
-Graphics as well - realism with slight anime-features (and for the original Shadow Hearts: pre-rendered bakgrounds) versus Kazuma Kaneko style stoic art in a clair-obscure environment that utilizes cell shaded style shadows.
-Music - Yoshitaka Hirota versus Shoji Meguro, modern Japanese percussion with mad violin skills or some neo-hardrock meets jazz stuff?
-Story - A clear, fantastic, literally interpretabel adventure versus a spiritual quest which is built up by a string of philosophical tendencies.
-Gameplay - Well, judgement ring, party member system, turn-based versus press turn system, the influence of elements, SP-points, recruiting, limitation of move knowledge, skill set differences, evolution, fusion, sacrifice, the graveyard/malice system from the original Shadow Hearts... Magic seems to be the only thing that even (remotely) seems the same. Even so, there's a difference in limitation if learning new abilities, as also the strictness of levels at which new moves are learned. And even though the 'Magatama versus Fusions' is een clever touch, I stiil think there's two much difference. The protagonists learn their moves differently from the rest of the group, but there the equallity stops. Magatama teach you new moves as you level up, no more space and you have to removes skills. But the skills you have ar always usable. Fusions simply come in three stages of each element (not counting Amon, Seraphic,...), in which each times some moves are upgraded/added (Shadow Hearts/Shadow Hearts: Covenant). Either way, you must always fuse (and watse SP) before being able to use a set of skills. And they can never be lost.

/wallOfText

And, come on, they just PLAY differently. No honest man man could advise one over the other to every random person.

By the way, glad to see another person who played both the Shadow Hearts games and the Shin Megami Tensei series.

(Incidentilly, my first RPG was Legend of Legaia. Breath of Fire 5 had major cojones for the refreshing changes, but somehow... I don't think it'll end up in my personal list of fav RPG's.)

 

[michiehoward]

LMAO I started the series with FF8 so essentiely it became my favorite, my husband loved 7 and 9
I loved 8,9,10,10-2,and 12. (oh and Tactics for the PS1) I never had such an amazing gaming experenience thenn i have playing those titles, but 6 i have not attempted apparently the titles get harder the older the game is, so soon I'm gonna try 6 and 5

 

[OmicronFayt]

Okay, so you 'compared' them, but you couldn't possibly justifyingly say which one is the better, could you? Admit it, they are two completely different games.

nope, I couldn't say one was better, just which I prefered. And yes they are completely different gameswith only passing similarities (both being RPG's for example, or both having a male protaganist) But as I said, I just couldn't resist the attempt.

Oddly enough, FF6 and FF7 are the only FF games to make it in my top 10 rpgs list. (i havent played 13, Tactics, A2 or any of the CC sequels yet, so that may change) My top 10 is the 7 games mentioned in my first post (including FF6), Suikoden, FF7 and Koudelka. I haven't played Legend of Lagaia yet, though I did enjoy Legend of Legaia 2 . . . . NO FF game has mad it into my top 10 games list though, that has the first 5 from the earlier post (Star Ocean:TTEOT, SMT:Lucifers Call, Digital Devil Saga, Tales of Symphonia, Shadow Hearts: Covenant) Road Trip Adventure, Sonic 3 and Knuckles, Dynasty Warriors: Gundam, Spyro 3 and Call of Duty 4. Again though, this is subject to change, as I haven't played every game ever made, so I might find better games somewhere . . .though looking at recent game releases, I'm definatly better off looking retro than new if I want a good game as most new(ish) games are just disappointing *cough* DMC4 *cough* (lets make half a game then play it twice! . . . stupid idea)

 

[crazyjay321]

Seriously. I started playing FFs at 7, like a lot of people. Actually, my first reaction upon seeing the box at a local retailer was "blegh, looks a crappy ass brawler or fighter". Then a friend showed it to me, and proceeded to bash my head against the wall.

Now, I'm not one of those "OMG FF7 IS DA BEST RPG EVAH!!1!!!1!111!!", I certainly like the game, but nowhere near such levels of devotion, but almost every time I see on the net an argument about FF7 being or not the best RPG, there's always a group that comes out with FF6 as being much much better.

Is it REALLY that good? I've no SNES, and I don't think it was actually ever released here (Spain), so I'd probably have to resort to emulation. Is it worth truly worth it?

People on the escapist have only been raving about FF6 since yahtzee said it was the last FF he liked in the FF13 review.

People ont his site rave about FF6 for the same reason they rave about valve. Because of Yahtzee.

I've loved FF6 ever since I played it not since Yahtzee likes it(I did'nt even though he liked it, It is the best FF that's why people like it not because some guy said it's good.

 

[Arawn.Chernobog]

/thread

 

[Johnny Cain]

It's eerie to realise that pixelated chibi characters are so much more emotive and likeable than the modern final fantasy lineups from FF7 onwards.
Six being the last of the SNES 16-Bit titles is the most well known for it's slapstick humour, delicious synthesised soundtrack, and by a long way the best villain and plot progression the franchise has ever seen.
Even if you have to resort to emulation (you'll probably find it under 'Final Fantasy III' due to the original US release chart missing some titles) you won't regret giving this title some time.

Number 4 is pretty awesome too.

 

[michiehoward]

LMAO I started the series with FF8 so essentiely it became my favorite, my husband loved 7 and 9
I loved 8,9,10,10-2,and 12. (oh and Tactics for the PS1) I never had such an amazing gaming experenience thenn i have playing those titles, but 6 i have not attempted apparently the titles get harder the older the game is, so soon I'm gonna try 6 and 5

5 is one of the harder titles, but 6 is the easiest game in the series.

8 had potential, as can be seen by the setting, but the story is just plain becomes terrible once the Sorceresses get involved. If Rinoa and the Sorceresses had been taken out and they'd stuck with the political stuff, 8 would have been awesome. Instead it's a bad love story with plot holes that 18-wheelers can drive through.

When they get into the Laguna crap and Ellone totally muck up they story IMO they make it overly complimcated to cover up plot holes lmao

 

[armaina]

FF6 had FAR better developed characters than FF7 did, which is awesome considering that it had much more characters than FF7. Also, it is one of the few games where the villain technically has already won, and you have to take the world back from their control. Also, the localization is hilarious and is one of the things that really has drawn fans in.

Just play it if you get the chance.

 

[Erja_Perttu]

I've played just about every FF in the main series now, and VI is definitely my favourite. The villain is cruel, malevolent and just plain nasty, because he can be. It's an interesting dynamic that doesn't occur too much these days.

Also, all the characters had stories, even the optional ones, and characters could develop loads, or not at all depending on how you played it.

ANd, it's got one thing no Final fantasy before or since has ever had; the glory that is - Ultros!

 

[Gwen Hall]

FF 6 has always been my favorite. But maybe it's because it's the first one I played. Usually people like the first one they played. And the FF Anthology is a great deal, because I like FF 5 too.

 

[Misterian]

It's been a while since I played FF6, but I still think it's better than most JRPG's.

Think Mass Effect crossed with, maybe, FF4. but it's been a while since I played FF4, So that might be a bad description.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

FF6 has the best story. And gameplay mechanics.

It was so good they changed the characters, gave it 3D graphics, and re-released it as FFVII.

Seriously, take an element from FFVII and there will be a counterpart in FFVI.

Heck, even the final bosses are the same: A toppling mound composed of various creatures resembling the main antagonist (The Dancing Mad Tower, Bizarro Sephiroth) followed by an angelic merging with demonic form (Godly Kefka, One-Winged Angel Sephiroth.)

 

[Veldt Falsetto]

My first Final Fantasy was X and people say your first is usually your favourite. I've now played every main title and VI is my favourite, why?

12 main characters all with a deep and significant backstory if you search for it all.
2 secret characters (a mimic and a...yeti) and extra allies such as Banon, a bunch of moogles and ghosts.
Kefka, the most evil villain of all time.
An amazing mix of tear-jearking drama and comedy that is actually funny.
The best support villain of all time (Ultros)
A perfected ATB system and original levelling system.
Huge worlds.
Character unique battle commands.
and lots more...

If that doesn't appeal to you then maybe you won't like it but I love it

 

[OmicronFayt]

LMAO I started the series with FF8 so essentiely it became my favorite, my husband loved 7 and 9
I loved 8,9,10,10-2,and 12. (oh and Tactics for the PS1) I never had such an amazing gaming experenience thenn i have playing those titles, but 6 i have not attempted apparently the titles get harder the older the game is, so soon I'm gonna try 6 and 5

5 is one of the harder titles, but 6 is the easiest game in the series.

8 had potential, as can be seen by the setting, but the story is just plain becomes terrible once the Sorceresses get involved. If Rinoa and the Sorceresses had been taken out and they'd stuck with the political stuff, 8 would have been awesome. Instead it's a bad love story with plot holes that 18-wheelers can drive through.

When they get into the Laguna crap and Ellone totally muck up they story IMO they make it overly complimcated to cover up plot holes lmao

I think the infinate loop caused by power transfer of the sorceresses was kinda funny

Spoiler

ultamecia gives power to edea, who gives it to rinoa (who then gaines abel's power too) then a few generations later that power (rinoa's) gets passed to ultimacia. meaning if abel had 1MP worth of power, that goes hrough rinoa eventually to ultimacia and back to edea. edea gives it to rinoa, meaning she has 2MP (1 from edea, 1 from abel. though her having 2 means ultamecia has 2, means edea has 2, means rinoa has 3 . . .etc until edea, rinoa and ultimacia have infinate power.

 

[QuantumWalker]

For the record I have only played Final Fantasy 1, 3, 4, 6, 10, and parts of 12. But to me FF6 has the best balance between story and gameplay mechanics.
Unlike FF8 where you have the junction system that seems to negate any character individuality, FF6 allows you to teach any player any set of magic spells over a period of time. This however does not make any character less useful than the others because they retain their own fighting style and damage range.
The story in FF6 is also one of the most intricate plots I have seen in any RPG because you get different elements depending on which characters you bring.
Overall I find that FF6 is the best in the FF series, or at least the main contender for the number one spot within the series(FF4 was pretty good as well).