Poll: Best Final Fantasy Game.

[A Weakgeek]

The first ones, the ones with no whiny girly dudes and pussified badguys that nobody should take seriously.

 

[SonOfMethuselah]

I voted for X. X was my first PS2 game, X sits firmly in the number 2 spot of my top five favourite games, and X is the only PS2 game I kept after my console died, just so I could use the disc to emulate it. I replay it at least once a year, sometimes more than that, to as near 100% completion as I can get. Since the game doesn't actually keep track of completion percentage, I just have to assume that I'm not missing anything.

Does that actually make it the best, though? I don't know. A man I very much respect once said that Final Fantasy VI is the pinnacle of the Final Fantasy series, and though I'm inclined to disagree, I think his reasons for saying that it is are a lot better than my reasons for arguing that it isn't.

So I'm going to say X, but remain well aware that very compelling arguments can be made for me being wrong.

 

[blazearmoru]

You need to separate tactics. Advanced and lion war are different brah.

 

[ImperialSunlight]

Out of the ones I have played, I enjoyed FFI the most, mostly because it's less linear than the other games. I admit that I haven't played many FFs, though. By the way, I first played it a couple of years ago, so I wouldn't say my opinion is based on nostalgia.

 

[mionic]

anyone who would've chosen FF 1-3 is acting only on retro nostalgia or hasn't played FF in 20 years yet still keeps up with gaming culture enough to be on this forum.

I would've picked three (Preferably specifically the ds remake, but not neh) and I'm not old enough to have played that game on a nostalgia level anyway.

Either way, 'S a bit redundant to have a poll if you're going to exclude options.

Also, American/other specifications could be useful.

 

[Flamezdudes]

Final Fantasy X is and will always be my favourite FF game. I have so many fond, nostalgic memories of the game and it's soundtrack and it's fun to play every now and again too.

After that... I am not sure. The only other FF games i've played completely are III (DS), VII, VIII and XIII which are all great but I still want to play more of them, which I have tried. However, VI for me was difficult for me to like due to it's age and I don't really like the art style and characters of IX.

 

[judgementbringer]

I started with the Playstation era, so my favorites are actually VIII and Tactics. I also really enjoyed XII so I'm kind of annoyed that it's not on the list. Maybe I'm weird, but I actually really enjoyed the Gambit system, and the story wasn't ridiculous at all. In fact, aside from Tactics, it's probably the most grounded and well written game in the series. Granted, it rips a lot of stuff off from Star Wars, but it's not the only JRPG that does that.

 

[Gearhead mk2]

I cast my vote as VI because I think that's the best of the main series, but if we're including spinoffs, I'd say Dissidia 012 is the best FF game. Great combat, good story, great characters, awesome music, and you get to punch Squall and Tidus in the face whenever you want!

 

[Odbarc]

Final Fantasy 6 is the best.
It's the last sprite based game in the series.
It's medieval themed. Magic > Technology (Any said technology is run off magic and is quite rare nonetheless).
The main antagonist is the best of the series.
Leo.

 

[RandV80]

Final Fantasy IX was always my favourite. I remember back in my internet novice days lurking on various vidya game sites such as Gamespot and GameFAQS, FFIX was universally (save for the regulars on the game's GameFAQS forum) reviled as the one of the most disappointing of the main series and FFVII was universally heralded as the epitome of vidya games. Fast foward about a decade (I'm old, I know!) and it's esentially reversed. FFIX is the bee's knees and FFVII is overrated. But if everyone thinks FFVII is overrated, then who actually over rates it?

Even though it took about a decade Australia finally got Final Fantasy Tactics...The War of The Lions. And I must say, outside of the main series it's hands down the best game Square has ever created. Hot damn, that is perfect game. Everything about it is perfect, the story, characters, atmosphere, gameplay. Genius. Yes, even Ramza's crotch piece armour is genius.

Maybe the very vocal people who think Square stands to make truck loads of money if they'd just devote the millions it would require into making a full modern HD FFVII remake?

FFVI is my favourite personally. First one was FFIV, though as far as JRPG's go my first games were actually the original Dragon Quest and Phantasy Star, somehow I missed FFI.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

My favorite of the numbered Final Fantasy games would be a toss-up between either IX or IV. When it comes to spin-offs and, non-numerical entries, my favorite entry is Mystic Quest followed by Crisis Core. my top five are probably something like...

Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
Final Fantasy X

 

[Kotaro]

Nice to see that VI and IX are the leaders in the poll here.
I'd say that VI is slightly better, but they're both absolute masterpieces.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Final Fantasy IX was always my favourite. I remember back in my internet novice days lurking on various vidya game sites such as Gamespot and GameFAQS, FFIX was universally (save for the regulars on the game's GameFAQS forum) reviled as the one of the most disappointing of the main series and FFVII was universally heralded as the epitome of vidya games. Fast foward about a decade (I'm old, I know!) and it's esentially reversed. FFIX is the bee's knees and FFVII is overrated. But if everyone thinks FFVII is overrated, then who actually over rates it?

Even though it took about a decade Australia finally got Final Fantasy Tactics...The War of The Lions. And I must say, outside of the main series it's hands down the best game Square has ever created. Hot damn, that is perfect game. Everything about it is perfect, the story, characters, atmosphere, gameplay. Genius. Yes, even Ramza's crotch piece armour is genius.

Maybe the very vocal people who think Square stands to make truck loads of money if they'd just devote the millions it would require into making a full modern HD FFVII remake?

What you mean the people who never ever bring it up unless Square does first?

 

[kyogen]

The best in terms of what? Our personal favorites?

FF XII is my personal best FF. I like the characters and artwork, love the politics, and enjoy the license board and programmable AI.

And what if someone wants to argue that FF I is the best because it started it all? I'd have no problem with that even though I'd disagree.

 

[devotedsniper]

What do you like about 8 ? (really curious, it's rare to see someone who likes it)

I mean, the idea of being a from a school of mercenary is pretty good... but the setting and weaponry are weird. I like the time compression thing at the end, but the rest is so out there. There's missiles and explosive... so why not use them against the sorceress ? Why does Seiffer turns evil :S (I mean, he was a douche, but come on!) ? The GF causes amnesia is also pretty lame. The weapon creation system is bad and the magic drawing is a time killer (or an obligation to play cards OR to transform creature into cards OR to transform items into magic which is weird... why not sell magic while you're there ?).

But, still, I love the fact that they show us playable flashback (I know they're supposed to be "time travel experiment" by Elise, but I prefer to call them flash back ), I love the GFs (their design and their powers) and I find the sorceress character interesting. However, those little good points are not enough to make a good game (I think). Did I miss something ?

Can't really explain it to be honest, I've always loved it, it was the one which introduced me to the series. Guess you could say it's nostalgia but i still replay 8, 9 and 10 every now and then, sometimes i will attempt 7 but I've never truly got into that one (unlike just about everyone else). I would have voted for XI if it was on the poll as i spent a good few years on that game.

 

[michael87cn]

No FFXI?

That's my vote!

 

[Nalgas D. Lemur]

Damn whipper-snappers... I started with the first game in 1988...

But yeah, the series peaked at VI. The plots started losing cohesion in favor of pure spectacle in the PS1 era, and have only gone further in that direction since.

So I guess my rankings go
VI
IV
VII
V
I
IX
VIII
III
II
...the rest [http://gifninja.com/animatedgifs/255016/tidus-laugh.gif].

You. I like you. I also agree with your opinions on the series, as a fellow old fart. I might shift the exact rankings around a bit, but same general idea for the same reasons. I only finished X out of spite and because I'd already played all the other games in the house and my laptop was being repaired under warranty that week, and it was enough to turn me off from the series entirely ever since. It's a shame, because they used to be so much fun.

 

[Genocidicles]

I'll go with IX.

The only others I've played are:

XIII: Awful because of Hope, and the paradigm system.
XII: Why the hell is Vaan the main character?
X: Awful because of Tidus.
VIII: Awful because of the draw system. Also Squall is a whiny *****.

I liked VII, but not as much as VI or IX. I got V coming in the post, so I might end up with a new favourite.

 

[Orga777]

Why does XII continue to get a bad wrap? The story is actually well done with quite a bit of intrigue that kept me playing through many long hours. Vaan is not a traditional main character either, since he is not the focus of the story. He is just a normal person being dragged through unusual circumstances unintentionally. It would be like if one of us got thrown into such an insane adventure, and I can appreciate that since NOTHING would ever be explained if he wasn't their to ask questions on what everything is. If he wasn't there, details would be murky since everyone else already knows all the details. The story belongs to Ashe, Balthier, and Basch, all of which have demons they have to face across the adventure. Also, we had some of the most compelling villains in this game.

Anyway, the best one is VI. No questions asked. When you have the best story, characters, and game play, you win hands down. But I can order everything in my view from best to worst in the main series.

1. Final Fantasy VI
2. Final Fantasy VII
3. Final Fantasy IX (Better story than VII, but the game play is not as good IMO)
4. Final Fantasy XII (Sorry fan boys, the game is very good despite some game play flaws.)
5. Final Fantasy IV (The story has too many holes for me to get around)
6. Final Fantasy V
7. Final Fantasy II (The story is actually decent all things considered, but the game play... oh lord.)
8. Final Fantasy III
9. Final Fantasy I
10. Final Fantasy X (The only thing keeping this up this high is fun game play mechanics. Overrated as hell.)
11. Final Fantasy XIII (Did anything happen and should I give a damn? Oh, and Hope exists, who is THE worst character.)
12. Final Fantasy VIII (The worst story, game play, and some of the worst characters in the series.)

 

[CharrHearted]

TOP 5:

5: I
4: IV
3: X
2: IX
1: VI

YES, I PUT 1 on number 5! I LIKED THE FINAL BOSS THEME IN THE ANNIVERSARY!