Final Fantasy Questions

[JWRosser]

I have never played any of the games in the series, but have always wanted to. Luckily for me, I now have the opportunity to play the series from I to IX. As a complete and total newb to the series, I have a few (lot) of questions: Which, from Final Fantasy I up to IX your favorite? Which is best to a new player to the series? From what I have found out, the stories of the games are pretty independent, or am I mistaken?

Final Fantasy IX is my personal favourite. Not entirely sure why...but I find it amazing. What I quite like is that each character has their own personal, unique skills and attributes, meaning you have to really be considerate in who you choose for your team (hint, not Quina).

Then I'd say X (I know you aren't going up to these ones but I'm going to include them). It get's a lot of hate for some reason but I really liked it. The story is good, and it's pretty emotional. Yes, there's the awkward laughing scene, but get over it people - it's a great game.

FFVII is next. Generally the fan favourite, but with good reason. Although people seem to wank over it a little too much... Very good story, compelling characters, plot twists and whatnot.

Then FFXII. Again, suffered a lot of hate, but I really enjoyed it. The story (although a little clichéd [but aren't they all?] and Star Wars-y) was pretty good. It has very good voice acting, and some magnificent cutscenes. The downside is the main character is a waste and it should have gone to one of the other lead males...you'll know what I mean when you play. Man I might have to dig the PS2 out and play this again soon - it's been so long.

FFVIII is up there but...something about it puts me off. It's still a great game, but I would say the worst of the best. I don't think I liked the whole GF thing. And then the

Spoiler: possible plot spoiler

Whole Squall is just dreaming and he's dead

theory kind of...ruins in, albeit it is quite cool.

Then there is a slight gap.

Then we find FFXIII. It's still worth playing, I think. Decent story, alright characters, beautiful setting, but it's just so linear, and I see little replay value.

Also X-2. Whilst it is fun, and the battle system is good (I don't mean dressphere -WTF- I mean how dynamic it is), that's about it. The voice acting is quite bad, the antagonists are shit, and it just seems very kiddy and - at the risk of sounding sexist - girly. The only real good thing about is is Gippal - he's awesome.

I haven't actually played I - VI, which I am embarrassed about. I had VI at home but I never really got into it. I'll endeavour to find a copy...somewhere.

 

[MightyRabbit]

If I may OP, asking a good deal

I have never played any of the games in the series, but have always wanted to. Luckily for me, I now have the opportunity to play the series from I to IX. As a complete and total newb to the series, I have a few (lot) of questions: Which, from Final Fantasy I up to IX your favorite? Which is best to a new player to the series? From what I have found out, the stories of the games are pretty independent, or am I mistaken?

If I may OP, if you ask three Final Fantasy fans about a single character you'll get twenty answers and half the series will be declared an abomination unto mankind. I recommend IX as it's the easiest of the bunch. Please ignore the various peoples writing off games because of their personal gripes.

And if this brief flirtation with the FF fandom has made you want to dig out your eyes with spoons rather than join an FF forum again, that just means you're still sane.

 

[j1m2s]

Settle down, this might be lengthy.

I've been a Final Fantasy fan now for more years than I conveniently count. The series has its high and low points, and your own individual tastes will count for a lot with regards to which games you particularly enjoy.

Personally, my favourites are VII and VI. I've poured hours, days, weeks... years into these. I still play them today, and I'm reasonably certain that I'll still be playing them another 10 years down the line. Characters, story, music, villains - I'm just absorbed by these worlds. The combat mechanics are quick to pick up and enjoyable to tinker with. Though as a fair warning, you'll be able to go make and eat dinner by the time Knights of the Round has finished a quadra magic summon in VII. Maybe I'm one of those rabid fangirls, I don't know, but this game was my reason for buying a PS1 in the first place, back in 1997.

IX is a lot more light-hearted than some of its predecessors, and also fun to play. It felt a little shorter than VII and VIII to me, but I'm sure it wasn't - it's still 3 or 4 discs long. It also has Vivi the black mage in, who is possibly the most adorable thing ever.

VIII is one that seems to divide people, with a lot of gamers citing it as being way down on their lists, Squall being 'too emo' and a whole load of other things. I enjoyed it once I got my head round the fact that it wasn't the same as VII. I still don't like the Draw system though. Spoony has the right of that - it can get very tedious. This is why I'd recommend trying it after some of the others - you might be more likely to forgive it some things and persevere. It's a good story if you do.

X and X-2 should probably be played sequentially. X is certainly quite linear, but then if you consider the story of Yuna's pilgramage, it's understandable so I'm not to bothered by it. X-2 uses the same world but a lot more open. Tidus... Hmm. He's not one of my favourite protagonists (that honour belongs to Vincent Valentine - man, Turk, God), but he'll see you through. Just try to close your ears through the infamous laughing scene.

As for the rest... I'm actually one of those weirdos who found XII a lot of fun, at least once I was able to move Vaan out of the party and pop Balthier in there instead. And the early games of I to V give you a great insight into how the series has progressed. The only thing I can't comment on yet is XIII, since I haven't really started that yet (too many other games, work, blah blah blah).

In all honesty, play the first one you can get your hands on (aside from XIII I think) and see how you get on with it. Don't be put off by old graphics or sprites. They aren't perfect games, don't expect them to be. But let them tell you their stories and Uematsu's music take you along for the ride.

Well said.

I loved VII but wouldn't recommend it first. I think X would a good starter. Mainly because of the battle system. It's not continuous like the others. It will give you the chance to take your time and figure out a battle strategy as you go along. I agree that VIII (while a good game, and I hate that so many people didn't like it because Squall is whiny) is not one to start with. Lots of moving parts. Junctioning is a bit confusing and weapon upgrades are irritating. If you want to continue and enjoy the series, do NOT start with X-2 (mainly because it's a direct sequel, but also just.... well, learn the sense of humor a bit before starting it) or anything after it. They just aren't games to start with.

Btw, any possibility of getting your hands on FF Tactics? Amazing game, especially if you enjoy RTS style games

 

[Nightmare-Child]

Final Fantasy VI was my favorite by far.

 

[BanicRhys]

Oh boy, an opportunity to make a list of my favourite Final Fantasys!

Least to most favourite (main titles).

FF12 - forced Elizabethan dialogue and crappy voice acting ruins it. Balthier fanboys crap on those ruins.
FF5 - plot is generic, there's nothing you can get out of playing this game that you can't get from 1, 4, 6.
FF2 - plot is generic, there's nothing you can get out of playing this game that you can't get from 1, 4, 6.
FF4 - decent plot, other than that, it's pretty much a worse version of 1 and 6.
FF1 - it lacks a great plot and characters but it has a great charm to it.
FF6 - best of the Final Fantasys that you can play on GBA. Best characters and plot of the GBA titles.
FF8 - Basically 7 but with a slightly worse plot, score, combat, character customisation and characters.
FF10 - Great plot, gameplay, character customisation and score. Crappy voice acting and thus, crappy characters.
FF13 - Pretty graphics, pretty women. Final Fantasy 13 is like a really good whore. You know she doesn't care about you and never will, but you'll still have a great time.
FF9 - Great story, score, gameplay and some of the best characters in Final Fantasy.
FF7 - Everything except for the characters are the best of the Final Fantasy series.

 

[Pyramid Head]

Stick to the earlier titles before Square Soft's dev team started drugs. Final Fantasy VI and IV seem to be the more interesting ones, but i'm honestly not an expert on any title prior to VII. Maybe VII really was the best title and the earlier ones were shit since VII was shit, but like i said, i haven't played all the Final Fantasy titles.
And after finding out the big plot twist in Final Fantasy X, i am not planning to start. HE USED TO BE A WHALE?!

 

[Lionsfan1986]

Number one you not mistaken they are stories on to themselves each in the I-XIII do not depend on the one that perceeds. Of course I'm not counting the sequals like X-2. My favorite one is IV (Jap) or II(USA). I think that IV is also good for a new player. The best is that if you still have a PS2 you can play it because it comes in a set with Crono Trigger.

 

[Rabish Bini]

VI

VI is the best, do yourself a favour, play it now.

 

[Mr. 47]

@ MightyRabbit - Yeah, the fandom debates were what kept me at bay for this long.
Kind of surprised though, I thought that there were a few definitive 'holy shit this is this great' titles in the series.

Thank you all for your help with this. It seems that VI got the most recommendations for best game, as well as easiest for a newb, so I'll think I'll start with that.

@ Pyramid Head - Spoiler tags please. I've never played any of the games in the series! >.>

 

[NotSoLoneWanderer]

I tried playing i think FF4 and i got stuck in the middle of a high level dungeon and that file is broken. I played 1 and 2 on my friends DS and didn't have that amazing of a time. The only final fantasy I put 100 plus hours into was 12 because if there was a monster i didn't want to fight i just didn't fight it. My PS2 memory card wont read anymore so it really sucks since i had a few more marks to hunt and a store to find but i guess FF12 would be a good place to start in my opinion also 13 i guess but it feels like the game hold your hand to much. the only challenge comes from BS status ailments BS amounts of damage and BS enemies with 3million+ health. People say that FF7 was errrmazing but i just cant stand random encounters. i wouldn't even mind if i got health back after each battle but to be reduced to a broken party and having to use all of your items to attempt to escape a dungeon really sucks. Its not a main FF game but i like tactics a lot.