Why the hype with Final Fantasy?

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Criquefreak

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If the only one you're going to cite playing is 7, you likely missed the times when the series still had a good showing for itself. Story was pretty well a declining feature at that point and afterwards. Why Aeris's death was significant had to do with players becoming emotionally attached to the characters in the game, Aeris just happened to be the most tolerable/likeable one of the whole mix in 7 (at least from what I've seen in opinions).

Fact of the matter is, that's a major part of the enjoyment of any RPG, not just the final fantasy series. Story, characters, immersion, if these aren't motivations for you, as a player, then you really shouldn't expect to enjoy an RPG at all; if you can't get caught up in the story, get attached to a character, or to dismiss the game and just delve into the game's world, just find something else to play.

In my personal opinion, 7's one of the worst of the series, largely because it was too much innovation and too little character development. It did a lot of new things, most of which were nice. But being forced with Cloud, who tried to whole cloth steal someone else's identity because he couldn't come to terms with who he is and becoming a spineless pawn was too much to tolerate. Aeris, Barret, Tifa, Yuffie, Cid, Nanaki, even Cait Sith (cat sidhe) had more investment in the world than cloud, who gets to be the hero for the same deus ex machina that keeps Superman going.

The Final Fantasy series has been a major player in role playing games and particularly in the importing of the genre from Japan. They may not be an ideal candidate for being called the greatest games ever, but they were for the most part very well designed. Unlike a number of other RPGs, I've played all the way through nearly every one of the series without having to power level or farm gold, making it possible to head directly to every piece of plot advancement and story without wait and without getting overwhelmed by the combat I loathe so much in games. It's also a statement on the ease of introducing a game by an old monicker, they might not have been so well selling had every one of them featured a unique name (heaven knows there's very few in the series with the same world or characters).
 

Instant K4rma

StormFella
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I enjoy FF games because those are the kind of games I enjoy. Simple as that. If they don't impress you, don't play them. People have different tastes in music, movies, etc, and this includes games. If you didn't like it, then it's not your style of game. I dislike RTS, so I don't play Warcraft or StarCraft, but I don't think they are bad because they are a type of game I don't enjoy. Same applies here. You played it and didn't like it. Fair enough. Take the disk out and play something you like playing.
 

Et3rnalLegend64

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The stories are not the same. If you catch some similarities, then you caught some similarities. However, to say that they are the same is stretching it a bit and I'll have to shoot you down on that notion.

Now to the point. You are probably a victim of the series being overhyped. I haven't played FF7. If I did, it likely won't be the mind blowing experience everyone tells me it is. I played FF8 and enjoyed it. I played FFX and loved it. I played FF12 and enjoyed it (half the people you meet will tell you it's garbage, a quarter will say passable, and another quarter will say they love it).

I won't tell you it's the best thing ever and tell you to love it, and I won't tell you it's trash that you need to hate. I really dislike generalizing things and people who do generalize (my family is terrible in that regard and it's annoying to say the least). It's your opinion. If you hate it, fine. If you like it, fine. I judge games on an individual, I-have-seen/played-it-myself basis and almost never a series as a whole. If you do, you'll have to deal with the factions of fanboys who live and die by their selected games and will argue all day about if the games got better or worse after FF7
 

Akalistos

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LogicNProportion said:
Akalistos said:
LogicNProportion said:
Tactical Fugitive said:
Hello dear Escapists. Please explain why Final Fantasy are good games. Because, you see, I have played a few of the FF titles, I've even gone through the trouble of beating FF VII, which I was told, was oh so special, and you know what? I don't get it. The main character is almost always annoying and stupid, the dialogues are lame (ok, maybe bad translation on older games is to be blames), the story is always mostly the same and everything in general is ridiculously naive. I can only compliment the art style and the music, which are pretty good - but that ain't the main parts of an rpg.

And what the hell is the big deal with aeris's death? Good riddance!
Meh, for me the characters are too underdeveloped to care about them.

So tell me, why do you like Final Fantasy games? What's so special about them?
O_O Hahahahahahhahaha!

To get on topic. Why something is hyped and why it's good/enjoyed are different things.

First of all, everyone has different taste, and just because someone likes FF, doesn't mean they like ALL the FF's! I love 6 and 7, but 12 13 are disgusting to me! It's about the little things.

The one you played, 7, will always be a milestone and a big deal for 2 reasons. First, it was one of the first RPG's that were in 3D, which was pretty cool. Second, it was the FF that made the series mainstream.

Speaking of which, most fans of 7 were fans of it when it first came out. And just like it being 3D was a big deal back in the day, most of the stuff you saw as no biggie were as well, such as Aeris/Aerith's death, cut scenes, the story, etc.

Personally, I still love the environment and story of FF7. While a lot of them share similarities, it's no more than BioWare games do. If anything, FF7 is special because it probably has the most filled out environment. There's a LOT of background stuff they try and cram in there to explain how things work, from the planet to mako to engines. And while most people find it obnoxious, I'm a text-whore, so it's for me.

Not so much the characters, but they all helped me get through a crappy time in my life, and thus, I'm a proponent for competent remake, etc. As such, Cloud and Sephiroth will always have soft spots in my heart.

Glad you liked the art and music, that's always something that FF delivers on.

As for gameplay, again, it's all about taste. I wish I could see more turn-based stuff on today's market, but no such luck. But, I'm cool with it. I'm pretty vast in my tastes when it comes to gaming.

Overall, I love the older FF's, ironically til 8, where things got so convoluted, it disappeared up it's own ass. Though, 10 is an exception.

As far as hype goes, you should never follow hype. Be excited about it, but there's always hype about everything, and it you let it catch you, you will only become disappointed in the end...
3) Barret : He is the only character that have the motivation to attack Shinra. (Except for Yuffie but she doesn't do anything to correct Gongaga's situation in the end. Making her goal pointless.) His town, Wife, friends and neighbors (the midgar's one) have been killed. His best friend went on a murder spree and kill himself in a fit of madness before his eyes. He is the sole caretaker of his best friend's daughter, which she'll be in harm's way if he doesn't stop Sephiroth. Yet, the biggest problem is this: He never contribute to the plot in any way. In fact, i think that he should have been the main character but isn't du to xenophobia or something equally lame. We see for most of the game Barret doing the wallpaper in most scene. Not only does that make his backstory pointless but also make his character completely useless. People say Cath Sid or Yuffie is the most useless character but
Caith Sid: He use his robot body to fetch the Black material. Since he can't really die and all.
Yuffie: She's the best fighter in the game... if you know how to use her.

Barret is just a run of the mill Character that could have been easily been replace by Bigg or Wedge or even Jesse with no chance except the sprite. He's also the character that when through the least (if not at all) character development of them all. The whole saving the planet is just a facade as Barret use Avalanche just to get back at Shinra, his adoptive daughter be damn. In Midgar, who leave Marlene to a total stranger to care for while he goes to shinra tower? Who then ask same stranger to keep her and leave the city? City i might add surrounded by random encounter. A stranger that have absolutely no way in fighting in case the worst happen, by the way. Which lead to Marlene to be capture to force the party into blackmail by Shinra. All that lead to a unsatisfying destruction of Midgar by a weapon. Great googly mooglely, There's so much potential here that it hurt and they were too retard to use it. And I'll leave you with this question; What is worst, to try and fail or to fail to try?
Except that stuff DIDN'T happen to the others, it happened to Barret. While I agree with you (WOW) that Barret is in this mostly for self-gratification. I think the problem they did to Barret's side-plot (Dyne) is that they made it mandatory, and that they made it too early in the game. Would have been a good 'late into the middle part' side-plot.
I don't agree. They should have substituted Barret with Cloud and make him more involved. It's like in FF12 *shiver* when the main character has nothing to do with the plot at all.

LogicNProportion said:
Barret took the position of leader when Cloud vanished, before Cid was nominated. He otherwise was a big (literally and figuratively) cheerleader and 'action-man'. He was up for anything, which is good to have on a team.
I remember everyone arguing and he, not taking any leadership position.

LogicNProportion said:
Also, Marlene is never captured by Shinra. Each time she is safely hidden away by Aerith, lastly, in Kalm.
Yes, she was. At one point, you return into gold saucer to get the key to the Ancient temple. After Dio handed it over, you went to rest in the hotel. Then there's the dating plot (usually end up with Tifa... alto it's said that it's easier to get Aeris.) and went you go back with the female character (Barret included since... you know) you spot Caith Sith running with your key. The chase end up in front of the Arena in which he stop and throw the key to Tseng. They fire him until he pull his receiver and Marlene start speaking through it. Caith said he didn't want to do it but now he doesn't have the choice. He promise Marlene safety if they do like he wasn't a spy.

LogicNProportion said:
And I believe (if you mean worse = failure), that not trying at all is. You should always try. Never compromise in the face of adversity. This is how nature's dictation of the survival of the strongest and fittest, and how it makes those fittest.
What i meant was they didn't try with the rest of the gang but failed when they put their effort into Barret. And that's a point i agree with you... and that's why Barret had his own section.

LogicNProportion said:
Now, while I think that Cait Sith should have been left as an NPC, I agree with you on Yuffie. I rather liked her, and she IS damn good if you know how to use her. She can do the most damage, too.
 

Akalistos

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Jaranja said:
Akalistos said:
Jaranja said:
Akalistos said:
Jak The Great said:
you don't get it. End of story. stop making us justify why we like it.
Maybe there's nothing to get. Have you ever thought about this one.
So you're saying there's no reason why thousands of people like Final Fantasy?

Right. Okay.

I still call Final Fantasy X my favourite game for many reasons.
Yeah, there is. It's the first RPG most player played. Think about it, it's like their first love. Or maybe it's bad in a cheesy way to them. There's many reasons, but when you think about it, the game isn't really good.

Edit (to myself): many reasons... reason take a S you dumbass. LOL
Okay...

When I think about it, I still think it's an awesome game. I replay it on occasion because of the quirky characters with nicely developing storylines (I admit the protagonist is annoying). The story itself is amazing and really feels epic. The combat is good, in that it functions perfectly. Also, the sphere grid is a great way to learn abilities and upgrade stats. What didn't you like about it?
I'M making a list about it. Just look at my profile and check the post. I'm at part 4 now.
 

Akalistos

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LogicNProportion said:
Tactical Fugitive said:
Hello dear Escapists. Please explain why Final Fantasy are good games. Because, you see, I have played a few of the FF titles, I've even gone through the trouble of beating FF VII, which I was told, was oh so special, and you know what? I don't get it. The main character is almost always annoying and stupid, the dialogues are lame (ok, maybe bad translation on older games is to be blames), the story is always mostly the same and everything in general is ridiculously naive. I can only compliment the art style and the music, which are pretty good - but that ain't the main parts of an rpg.

And what the hell is the big deal with aeris's death? Good riddance!
Meh, for me the characters are too underdeveloped to care about them.

So tell me, why do you like Final Fantasy games? What's so special about them?
O_O Hahahahahahhahaha!

To get on topic. Why something is hyped and why it's good/enjoyed are different things.

First of all, everyone has different taste, and just because someone likes FF, doesn't mean they like ALL the FF's! I love 6 and 7, but 12 13 are disgusting to me! It's about the little things.

The one you played, 7, will always be a milestone and a big deal for 2 reasons. First, it was one of the first RPG's that were in 3D, which was pretty cool. Second, it was the FF that made the series mainstream.

Speaking of which, most fans of 7 were fans of it when it first came out. And just like it being 3D was a big deal back in the day, most of the stuff you saw as no biggie were as well, such as Aeris/Aerith's death, cut scenes, the story, etc.

Personally, I still love the environment and story of FF7. While a lot of them share similarities, it's no more than BioWare games do. If anything, FF7 is special because it probably has the most filled out environment. There's a LOT of background stuff they try and cram in there to explain how things work, from the planet to mako to engines. And while most people find it obnoxious, I'm a text-whore, so it's for me.

Not so much the characters, but they all helped me get through a crappy time in my life, and thus, I'm a proponent for competent remake, etc. As such, Cloud and Sephiroth will always have soft spots in my heart.

Glad you liked the art and music, that's always something that FF delivers on.

As for gameplay, again, it's all about taste. I wish I could see more turn-based stuff on today's market, but no such luck. But, I'm cool with it. I'm pretty vast in my tastes when it comes to gaming.

Overall, I love the older FF's, ironically til 8, where things got so convoluted, it disappeared up it's own ass. Though, 10 is an exception.

As far as hype goes, you should never follow hype. Be excited about it, but there's always hype about everything, and it you let it catch you, you will only become disappointed in the end...
Part 4) Aeris's (???) death.

She's the one I can't understand. She join the party for no other reason that they told her Sephiroth is evil. Ok, she does see the body of the president impaled but she knew he deserved it. By the way, i can't understand why she's so eager to believe Cloud...except the obvious reason to see if the Sword hide anything. There's no point where she doubt anything. She just follow along. Well, i supposed they needed her down the line to find the promised land... What? THere's not a promised land but and they refer to returning to the planet. Well, doesn't that mean they never really needed her?

The only usefull thing she does is sacrificed herself to cast holy. During the whole game, they make a point of telling that any soul go back to the planet. Then, in a shocking twist that i saw coming since I met her, the only way to cast holy his to bring that plea to the planet. That make Sephiroth the one that did himself and not Cloud. Imagine a Bond villain that would cuff himself up when he see him at the door of his forteress filled with 5000 guards armed to the teeth. That's how i feel about the whole premise. What happen during what gamer call the saddest moment in gaming history, when you look at it closely, make that scene look like a dark sketch by the 3 stooges. She get impale through the chest... at a Inch below the chest. Meaning, He just punctured her stomach. She then fall unconscious (death by any description of the game) Afterward she is taken outside where Cloud put her Unconscious (death Yadi,yadi,yada) In the water. I'm not a doctor but doesn't a ruptured stomach can be heal. I could listen to that scene without hearing Sonic's Drowing bit. Why not hit her actual heart? In that regard, isn't Cloud the real murderer?
 

Akalistos

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WazzuWarrior said:
Akalistos said:
I'M making a list about it. Just look at my profile and check the post. I'm at part 4 now.
Dont forget to mention the androgynous effeminate emo characters and the half man half monkeyboys and pink marshmellow catfrogs who accompany you on your quest to defeat the evil power oh! ^_^
What!?!?! Man, i don't know what drug induce trip you took to make that reply but BY GOD would I wish to try.
 

willofbob

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the turn base battle system is crap. I could respect the turn based system if it were an indy game, or was particularly well done (Greed Corp is a good example) but, frankly, I'm glad they gave up on that, now if they can just fix the battle system they have now...

in short, Final Fantasy, (especially in the later installments) seems to have gotten some bizzare mental disease that makes it think that it's a movie.
 

Tsaba

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Akalistos said:
WazzuWarrior said:
Akalistos said:
I'M making a list about it. Just look at my profile and check the post. I'm at part 4 now.
Dont forget to mention the androgynous effeminate emo characters and the half man half monkeyboys and pink marshmellow catfrogs who accompany you on your quest to defeat the evil power oh! ^_^
What!?!?! Man, i don't know what drug induce trip you took to make that reply but BY GOD would I wish to try.
think he's talking about FFIX.
 

Tsaba

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Akalistos said:
Tsaba said:
Akalistos said:
Tsaba said:
Akalistos said:
Jak The Great said:
Akalistos said:
Jak The Great said:
you don't get it. End of story. stop making us justify why we like it.
Maybe there's nothing to get. Have you ever thought about this one.
my post applies to you too.
Why? Why is it a problem that people doesn't like it? Why can't you see that maybe you are wrong and still love it? It's a possibility and you can't really call bullshit on it.
Dude, chill, it's a game, and it's less about right and wrong and more about taste in games. That's what he's saying, now don't be a troll, and take a breather.
*read your first post*
There's absolutly no mention of taste. For that matter, you just imply there's only one answer (aka: making your "no right and wrong" argument moot.) and it's to love it. END OF STORY (if i can stole that from your very first post)

BTW: Sarcasm is all in the tone of voice... it doesn't work with just word on a forum post. Well at least if you don't blow it out of proportion. Which you didn't.
Jak The Great said:
you don't get it. End of story. stop making us justify why we like it.
It doesn't have to be spelled out, it's pretty much summed up here in the meanest way possible, but, hey, your the one ranting like a moron who didn't play the game. BTW you forgot to describe Barret's character flaws.
Fanboy Fan-Rage activated.

He got a special segment... don't you worry.
At least you have some humor about it, there are some, errors in the way your describing the game (Aeris didn't cast Holy to be sacrificed, she cast it to stop it and she failed(she was the last of her kind and she was the only threat at that time to Sephiroth)), but, hey I think you are on one hell of cafe late. For the most part, you are some where in the ball park I just can't figure out if you played too many games in between and forgot the story exactly or just skimmed the text.
 

theSovietConnection

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Akalistos said:
Jak The Great said:
Akalistos said:
Jak The Great said:
you don't get it. End of story. stop making us justify why we like it.
Maybe there's nothing to get. Have you ever thought about this one.
my post applies to you too.
Why? Why is it a problem that people doesn't like it? Why can't you see that maybe you are wrong and still love it? It's a possibility and you can't really call bullshit on it.
Maybe there is no right and wrong between people. Maybe some people just like it, and some people don't, and that's really all there is to it. Not everything is so black and white, sometimes we just have to deal with those shades of fucking grey.
 

Erja_Perttu

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Yikes, looks like some people are really having problems with the whole individuality thing. Go figure.

I likes me the final fantasy because it has in the past been enjoyable to play. That, and you don't have to aim. I'm no good at aiming.
 

Racthoh

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Tactical Fugitive said:
And what the hell is the big deal with aeris's death?
Probably because it was CG. Prior games in the series had killed off a character quite a few times actually, I think just the way it was handled this time was more dramatic as a result of improved technology.

Meh, for me the characters are too underdeveloped to care about them.
This I really can't understand. Did you not pay attention during the long flashback scene of Nibelheim, or when you're seeing how those events actually unfolded near the start of disk 2? Just two instances off the top of my head that really brought some of the character's out for me.
 

Manji187

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Anybody ever play the 1998 PSX title "Apocalypse" starring Bruce Willis?

"Can't we all just get along? ...NO WE CAN'T!"
 

Bourne Endeavor

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Onyx Oblivion said:
No...convince ME why I should like Mass Effect 2? The shooter that calls itself an RPG.

See. Two can play the "impossible question" game.

We've both made up our minds already.

[sub]But seriously, try and convince me to believe this bullshit about "RPGs are about role-playing". It'll be fun.[/sub]
Ninja'd and I have frequently debated this with other Mass Effect fans as the fanbase is divided between the two games. Nonetheless, it is exceptionally irritating how only nowadays have some gamers embraced this senseless dribble that JRPGs are not actual RPGs. It is ironic due to the fact Roleplaying Games in their entirety owe tribute to the very franchise numerous fans would presently condemn. Whether or not you fancy Final Fantasy VII, you cannot deny it is largely responsible for garnering interest in RPGs to the western audience.

JRPGs are simply a different medium in the RPG genre, why it is we as the fanbase of this aforementioned game type have to constantly endure ridicule is bewildering. It is as though the WRPG fans are insecure they may lose their self proclaimed title. Please note I am obviously generalize to those in particular who completely disregard JRPGs for trivial reasons. I have no qualms with people having preference, I do however derives annoyance when they thrust this opinion upon me.

And for those curious, I am a mixed fan. I adore JRPGs such as Lunar and FFX, yet equally adore Mass Effect, Halo, NHL, Monster Ranchers and so forth. I play games for the sole purpose of personal entertainment, not to follow some misguided elite group.
 

Judgement101

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Psychosocial said:
Judgement101 said:
Nothing. Nothing at all. Compared to Persona, Final Fantasy is crap. The only thing is FF is one of the few JRPG franchises still alive.
Did you just call FFIV, FFVI and FFT crap? Because I might have to kill you if you did.
I meant the newer FFs like FFXIII and the MMO ones and FFI-III.