Best Final Fantasy?
- Thread starter crouteru
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FFX hands-down, with FFVIII a close second.
Mine are IV, V, VI, and X. IX was pretty fun but nothing earth-shattering, and I never fully got into VII or VIII. Haven't played the NES ones nor any of their various remakes.
IV was my first FF back when it was the watered down II, and I really like its story and the various maps you get to check out. I mean, come on, you go to the moon! I think V is vastly underrated. The story isn't really groundbreaking by any means, but I LOVE how the job system works, and the world is really cool too. Plus "Exdeath" is just a ridiculously awesome name for a villain
. VI is a classic with an excellent story and some neat characters, but I actually wouldn't rank it above IV or V.
X is probably my overall favorite, but it's close to IV and V. The sphere grid freaking rules and makes "leveling up" soooo much more fun, and the characters are all really well fleshed out. The voice acting is...iffy...at best, but it's grown on me immensely, and some of its utter cheesiness is pretty endearing if you let it be, especially Tidus (who to me will always be "Wåjmér," the random letters my best friend picked when we first played through the game way back when it came out
.) Plus it features a great ending, great music, and the most creative and offbeat world an FF game has given us, too. One catch: I hate Blitzball. Cool idea, but as a minigame I just couldn't get into it. Nearly all of the "endgame" stuff with the INSANELY frustrating twitch challenges to get the ultimate weapons bring it down a notch as well.
IV was my first FF back when it was the watered down II, and I really like its story and the various maps you get to check out. I mean, come on, you go to the moon! I think V is vastly underrated. The story isn't really groundbreaking by any means, but I LOVE how the job system works, and the world is really cool too. Plus "Exdeath" is just a ridiculously awesome name for a villain
. VI is a classic with an excellent story and some neat characters, but I actually wouldn't rank it above IV or V. X is probably my overall favorite, but it's close to IV and V. The sphere grid freaking rules and makes "leveling up" soooo much more fun, and the characters are all really well fleshed out. The voice acting is...iffy...at best, but it's grown on me immensely, and some of its utter cheesiness is pretty endearing if you let it be, especially Tidus (who to me will always be "Wåjmér," the random letters my best friend picked when we first played through the game way back when it came out
.) Plus it features a great ending, great music, and the most creative and offbeat world an FF game has given us, too. One catch: I hate Blitzball. Cool idea, but as a minigame I just couldn't get into it. Nearly all of the "endgame" stuff with the INSANELY frustrating twitch challenges to get the ultimate weapons bring it down a notch as well.
*enters gush mode*
Without a doubt, Final Fantasy X. From the story and the characters to the gameplay, music, and graphics everything about this game worked and clicked. I can't say enough times how much I adore this game and to this day I hope for an RPG to come along that comes together like FFX did. Tales of Vesparia was close, but didn't make it
Second comes FFIX. That was a pretty fun game too
Without a doubt, Final Fantasy X. From the story and the characters to the gameplay, music, and graphics everything about this game worked and clicked. I can't say enough times how much I adore this game and to this day I hope for an RPG to come along that comes together like FFX did. Tales of Vesparia was close, but didn't make it
Second comes FFIX. That was a pretty fun game too
^ I only half-agree with you; VIII is, IMO, an incredibly underrated game; VII, though, is incredibly overrated. My top 5 favorite FF games are FFX, FFVIII, FFIX/FFVI (tied), FFIV, and FFXII.
You know, now that I think about it, I've only played 4 and 6... and even then 6 is like the SNES version of 7 in so much that it defines that generation of JRPG and everyone played it. But oh well.
For me it's between VII and VI, two fantastic games that swallowed my life whole and had me captivated for months on end. I'll always love those games, no matter how much shameless cash-ins Square Enix try to make off VII.
I also consider IX to be underrated gem. I love the humurous, whimsical nature of the characters and their environment, a nice contrast to the two that come before.
I also consider IX to be underrated gem. I love the humurous, whimsical nature of the characters and their environment, a nice contrast to the two that come before.
VII has been pimped out in the last few years to a distasteful degree, but the original game is still the most engrossing and entertaining RPG I've ever played. The seemingly broad and archetypical characters are surprisingly layered once you look closer, and the story just can't be beat. Add in the added fun of the golden saucer and all that goes with it, the incredible aesthetic and setting in general, side quests that were actually worth doing, (added characters, limit breaks, summons) and for me the best magic system FF has ever seen and you get a game that over a decade later I just can't seem to get over and has a fanbase constantly clamoring for more.
With some updated graphics and a few tweaks here and there I suspect the game could come out tomorrow and still be considered the revolutionary title it was a decade ago.
Plus, Cid is a badass.
Seriously, I think I might have a slight fixation:
With some updated graphics and a few tweaks here and there I suspect the game could come out tomorrow and still be considered the revolutionary title it was a decade ago.
Plus, Cid is a badass.
Seriously, I think I might have a slight fixation:
As an addendum (for some reason my post isn't showing up as I look at the thread now): XI and X are also amazing games with most of the rest in the range of good to playable. I, II, VIII and XII were the only ones I simply couldn't bring myself to finish(and I and II have the excuse of being made before I ever picked up a controller). After playing XII I suspect VIII and IX would probably have more appeal than on my initial plays through them though. Draw/Junction is still annoyingly complicated and time consuming though.
Ditto for me. That one and the original are my favs.
While it may not be the best RPG ever, I do personally think Final Fantasy VII is the best of the Final Fantasy's (VI+).
VII - The only Final Fantasy I could be considered a fan of. It had a reasonably decent cast of characters, none of them annoying (possible exception of Yuffie). Some of them were even *gasp* multilayered as opposed to psuedo-multilayered (which disappeared in the sequels). Excellent story with plenty of "shocks" and twists. It's a shame that the later Final Fantasy's felt like their plots were just chucked together.
I'd love for it to be remade, however it's never going to happen. On the one hand it's a shame, on the otherhand I'm sure they'd just screw it up if they did. Also there's the question of the art direction, which while FF7 was rather more mature in areas, it still had some very stylised moments which probably wouldn't work all that well in a more realistic approach.
VI - Mostly decent with a likable cast (especially Celes and Loki) and a very good villian.
FFVIII - Had a poor story with an okay cast. Battle system didn't really do much for me.
FFIX - While the battle system was good, the stylistic choice put me off.
FFX - I found the story to be really rather dull and boring, to the point I just decided to cheat to get it over with. Couldn't find myself remotely interested in either of the two leads.
FFXII - Good battle system, rubbish story, godawful characters (except Balthier). While it wouldn't fix the issues I have with the story, leaving out Vaan and Penelo would have made it that bit more tolerable.
VII - The only Final Fantasy I could be considered a fan of. It had a reasonably decent cast of characters, none of them annoying (possible exception of Yuffie). Some of them were even *gasp* multilayered as opposed to psuedo-multilayered (which disappeared in the sequels). Excellent story with plenty of "shocks" and twists. It's a shame that the later Final Fantasy's felt like their plots were just chucked together.
I'd love for it to be remade, however it's never going to happen. On the one hand it's a shame, on the otherhand I'm sure they'd just screw it up if they did. Also there's the question of the art direction, which while FF7 was rather more mature in areas, it still had some very stylised moments which probably wouldn't work all that well in a more realistic approach.
VI - Mostly decent with a likable cast (especially Celes and Loki) and a very good villian.
FFVIII - Had a poor story with an okay cast. Battle system didn't really do much for me.
FFIX - While the battle system was good, the stylistic choice put me off.
FFX - I found the story to be really rather dull and boring, to the point I just decided to cheat to get it over with. Couldn't find myself remotely interested in either of the two leads.
FFXII - Good battle system, rubbish story, godawful characters (except Balthier). While it wouldn't fix the issues I have with the story, leaving out Vaan and Penelo would have made it that bit more tolerable.
I find this poll's lack of FFT disturbing.
FF Tactics and FF4 are ultimately tied for my favorite of the series.
I really can't gush enough about Tactics. The only things I really dislike about it are how some characters stop developing once you get control of them (Agrias and Mustadio mainly) and that Altima is crazy-easy.
FF4 is way more simple, but is insane amounts of fun, and the entire cast is extremely engaging, something that no other numbered FF can claim for me. And, while relatively simple, I found the story interesting and enjoyed watching Cecil triumph over despair. The battles were also really enjoyable. Sometimes I would go out and grind for awhile just because I liked the fights.
FF6 is fantastic overall, but the World of Ruin really drags the game down. It was going so well, and then the story just...STOPS until you beat down Kefka, and then the ending. I mean, I really enjoyed some of the character parts, especially for Tina, but a game that had been very engaging and dynamic really started to drag, which is unfortunate. I still think it's great, but if the WoR had been handled differently, it would probably be my unequivocal favorite.
The rest.....
FF1: Tried, couldn't get into it
FF2/3: Haven't played
FF5: I had a lot of fun with it. More lighthearted and story-light than FF4, but the gameplay was great fun and I did LIKE what characters it had in it.
FF7: I think it's good, but I don't agree with the consensus that it's the best (which IS a common viewpoint), not by a longshot to be frank. I don't think there's much point to listing flaws in it at the moment, though.
FF8: I always loved it. There are some contrivances and plot holes that bug me, but the characters and battle system are very enjoyable to me.
FF9: If FF4-FF8 are The Good, then FF9 is The Bad and the Ugly.
FFX: Good, but I have to admit it was a bit jarring having no real exploration through the game.
FFXI: Haven't played, no interest.
FFXII: ...decent. What bothers me is that it could've been so much better, and I think that it would've been if Matsuno had been able to see the project to completion.
FF Tactics and FF4 are ultimately tied for my favorite of the series.
I really can't gush enough about Tactics. The only things I really dislike about it are how some characters stop developing once you get control of them (Agrias and Mustadio mainly) and that Altima is crazy-easy.
FF4 is way more simple, but is insane amounts of fun, and the entire cast is extremely engaging, something that no other numbered FF can claim for me. And, while relatively simple, I found the story interesting and enjoyed watching Cecil triumph over despair. The battles were also really enjoyable. Sometimes I would go out and grind for awhile just because I liked the fights.
FF6 is fantastic overall, but the World of Ruin really drags the game down. It was going so well, and then the story just...STOPS until you beat down Kefka, and then the ending. I mean, I really enjoyed some of the character parts, especially for Tina, but a game that had been very engaging and dynamic really started to drag, which is unfortunate. I still think it's great, but if the WoR had been handled differently, it would probably be my unequivocal favorite.
The rest.....
FF1: Tried, couldn't get into it
FF2/3: Haven't played
FF5: I had a lot of fun with it. More lighthearted and story-light than FF4, but the gameplay was great fun and I did LIKE what characters it had in it.
FF7: I think it's good, but I don't agree with the consensus that it's the best (which IS a common viewpoint), not by a longshot to be frank. I don't think there's much point to listing flaws in it at the moment, though.
FF8: I always loved it. There are some contrivances and plot holes that bug me, but the characters and battle system are very enjoyable to me.
FF9: If FF4-FF8 are The Good, then FF9 is The Bad and the Ugly.
FFX: Good, but I have to admit it was a bit jarring having no real exploration through the game.
FFXI: Haven't played, no interest.
FFXII: ...decent. What bothers me is that it could've been so much better, and I think that it would've been if Matsuno had been able to see the project to completion.
Tactics is a spin-off. I was looking for the best of the main series.
