What's your favorite Final Fantasy game? (Main series besides X-2 and XI)

Originally Posted by DrZaius1

At first I was just fighting against an evil empire, and now I'm being asked to go to another dimension. The plot's a little too strung out for me, and I don't find any of the characters particularly compelling, especially when compared to Final Fantasy VII.

That's actually rather common in Final Fantasy. At first you're fighting some force of evil, then you're forced to go to some other world/dimension. For example:

FFIV: The moon
FFV: Galuf's World and the Merged World
FFVI: World of Ruin
FFVII: Lifestream
FFIX: Terra
FFX: the Dream world inside Sin

Anyways, FFIX had some nice characters, particularily Vivi and Steiner (or Rusty as I like to call him).

Originally Posted by Dread

That's actually rather common in Final Fantasy. At first you're fighting some force of evil, then you're forced to go to some other world/dimension. For example:

FFIV: The moon
FFV: Galuf's World and the Merged World
FFVI: World of Ruin
FFVII: Lifestream
FFIX: Terra
FFX: the Dream world inside Sin

Anyways, FFIX had some nice characters, particularily Vivi and Steiner (or Rusty as I like to call him).

Indeed, it is a common element among the games; also, it usually makes sense regarding the plot and themes of the games (Well, at least FFVII's, FFIX's, FFVI's, and FFX's "chaos worlds" do).

I also enjoy how the apparent villains in FF games aren't the true threat, as there is usually something far more malevolent working behind the scenes.

However, I do admit, I hate the "final boss switch" junk that happened in FFIV and FFIX; in the case of Ultimecia of FFVIII, you at least got some build-up, but learning that some moon-man named Zemus was pulling the strings at the end of FFIV and fighting some dude who came out of nowhere at the end of FFIX was pretty annoying.

Could anyone give me some quick advice on which Final Fantasy game for DS is best? I don't have any on a handheld yet, but I'm considering getting FFIII, FFIV, Tactics A2, or Revenant Wings (not too concerned about Crystal Chronicles). I know about the general gameplay and style of each one, but I'm having a hard time deciding which one is best... And I've never played any version of III or IV.

Originally Posted by Dread

That's actually rather common in Final Fantasy. At first you're fighting some force of evil, then you're forced to go to some other world/dimension. For example:

FFIV: The moon
FFV: Galuf's World and the Merged World
FFVI: World of Ruin
FFVII: Lifestream
FFIX: Terra
FFX: the Dream world inside Sin

I wouldn't consider the World of Ruin or the sequence inside the Lifestream to be all that radically different from the setting from the rest of the game. If I were told that I had to go to Terra from what I had playing in the first two discs, I'm not sure I would believe whoever told me so. The first two areas in Terra had good music, however; it got wiped out by Kuja, so I guess I'm never going there again.

Anyways, FFIX had some nice characters, particularily Vivi and Steiner (or Rusty as I like to call him).

The characters aren't cliche or anything, but I just don't find them terribly interesting. I really found the characters from Final Fantasy VII much more compelling, and strangely the ones from Final Fantasy VI too.

On an unrelated note, I'm not a big fan of the class system. Yeah, so Garnet can use summons, but her White Magic is terrible compared to Eiko's, who can only really use one powerful summon. I find the Materia system much better, as I can equip any character with any magic I want.

On an unrelated note, I'm not a big fan of the class system. Yeah, so Garnet can use summons, but her White Magic is terrible compared to Eiko's, who can only really use one powerful summon. I find the Materia system much better, as I can equip any character with any magic I want.

I'll agree with that; although class systems can be done quite well (FFV, for example), I'd take highly customizable characters over a more conservative and traditional class system any day.

Originally Posted by Andross

I'll agree with that; although class systems can be done quite well (FFV, for example), I'd take highly customizable characters over a more conservative and traditional class system any day.

The problem with that kind of customization is that it makes the characters less unique. In VII and VIII you could basically use any character anyway you wanted, because materia and junctions could be switched around anytime you wanted. You'll basically use the same 3 characters you want because you don't need to use the other characters at all. When you're forced to use unique characters, you basically have to use everyone, and then the player can establish connections with the entire cast instead of 3 characters. Not to mention it's more challenging when you can't basically use anyone you want.

Originally Posted by Dread

When you're forced to use unique characters, you basically have to use everyone, and then the player can establish connections with the entire cast instead of 3 characters.

I established much better connections with the cast of Final Fantasy VII then Final Fantasy IX.

Not to mention it's more challenging when you can't basically use anyone you want.

So is a Resident Evil game with tank controls, but that doesn't mean it's better.

All Final Fantasy games ended up with you using your favorite 3 characters. That is, until FFX arrived.

YOU GUYS ALL SUCK, unless you love you love FFVII then you ROCK!

Was the best and always will be! If they remade it with pretty pictures for your "graphic" lovers you would see that the plot and depth of the game rivals any other!

Originally Posted by Dread

The problem with that kind of customization is that it makes the characters less unique. In VII and VIII you could basically use any character anyway you wanted, because materia and junctions could be switched around anytime you wanted. You'll basically use the same 3 characters you want because you don't need to use the other characters at all. When you're forced to use unique characters, you basically have to use everyone, and then the player can establish connections with the entire cast instead of 3 characters. Not to mention it's more challenging when you can't basically use anyone you want.

FFIX didn't force you to switch out characters to overcome different challenges at all (In the older games, save for VI, you couldn't switch out characters). I pretty much used Zidane, Steiner, Vivi, and Garnet throughout the entire game, and had few problems overcoming challenges. Ironically, I tossed up my team far more when playing VII, VIII, X and XII than with IX.

In addition, there's only a limited amount of resources (Materia, GFs, Spheres, for instance, unless you decided to just spend hours and hours grinding, which is optional, so that doesn't matter), so it opens up layers of strategy; what should I assign to this guy? Should I give it to him or her? What is the best way to balance out my team?

Besides, I don't like the idea of being "forced" to use all of the characters, especially if there are certain characters you don't like; it limits the amount of freedom on the player's part.

Originally Posted by Radek

All Final Fantasy games ended up with you using your favorite 3 characters. That is, until FFX arrived.

Except VIII, which forced you to switch your same three setups around the entire cast of characters constantly. That's the pinnacle of what Dread was talking about-- your characters are blank slates in the gameplay department (although I WISH they were blank slates in the character department... well, Squall already is, but the others too).

Originally Posted by Dread

The problem with that kind of customization is that it makes the characters less unique. In VII and VIII you could basically use any character anyway you wanted, because materia and junctions could be switched around anytime you wanted.

I don't remember how the Materia thing worked since it's been so long since I played VII, but this was especially bad in VIII, when they just said "screw it" and gave you an "instantly switch all of this character's setup to that character" button.

I enjoyed the junction system, but whatever. =\

Originally Posted by Tonchiki

Except VIII, which forced you to switch your same three setups around the entire cast of characters constantly. That's the pinnacle of what Dread was talking about-- your characters are blank slates in the gameplay department (although I WISH they were blank slates in the character department... well, Squall already is, but the others too).

Not really. I had Squall, Rinoa and Zell and I never used anyone else. Ever. Sometimes I would have to use the other rejects, but only for a little while.

All the characters in FFVII and FFVIII were the same battle-wise with the exception of their weapons and Limit Breaks. Their stats were basically all well-rounded with unnoticeable differences between characters. FFIX's characters were basically all unique in battle, with specific roles they were assigned.

Originally Posted by Radek

Not really. I had Squall, Rinoa and Zell and I never used anyone else. Ever. Sometimes I would have to use the other rejects, but only for a little while.

No, there were quite a few times where the game forced you to split your party into different groups. You had to use them all.

Originally Posted by Dread

All the characters in FFVII and FFVIII were the same battle-wise with the exception of their weapons and Limit Breaks. Their stats were basically all well-rounded with unnoticeable differences between characters. FFIX's characters were basically all unique in battle, with specific roles they were assigned.

Those specific roles were forced upon you, though.

It boggles my mind how 8 is getting such bad reviews by you guys. The only other FF games that even come near it's awesome-ness are 6, 12, and 10.

Originally Posted by DrZaius1

Those specific roles were forced upon you, though.

That's the point. With those limits in place, you can't simply make everyone a powerhouse who has everything.

Originally Posted by Zachary C

It boggles my mind how 8 is getting such bad reviews by you guys. The only other FF games that even come near it's awesome-ness are 6, 12, and 10.

It boggles my mind how 8 is being so praised by some of you guys.

Originally Posted by DrZaius1

Those specific roles were forced upon you, though.

This reminds me of that whole "linear/non-linear" thing people ***** about. I think you need to have a balance-- somewhere between "here's how the game's flow goes" and "figure out everything yourself, we'll just dump you here and you can do whatever until you figure out what works and what doesn't".

Same with characters. You should be able to customize them, but not at the risk of them completely losing their identity as a character.

It boggles my mind how 8 is being so praised by some of you guys.

Because it's a damn good game.

Same with characters. You should be able to customize them, but not at the risk of them completely losing their identity as a character.

What if you don't like the particular character because that character is annoying personality-wise? You shouldn't be required to use that character because he/she plays an important combat role if you don't like him or her.

That's why FFVII and FFVIII's customization system allows one to work around that; you don't need to use Selphie, for example (Except for specific portions in the game where the group is split up, but even then, those portions are few and far between; the majority of the game allows you to choose what characters you want to use when you want to use them).