Obi Chris Kenobi
Personal Text goes here, Venkman
I don't mind the story, but some of the areas are just boring and there's a hell of a lot of running, more so then I remember.
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The Final Fantasy Series
- Thread starter Smues
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Sabre
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Yeah theres ALOT of running around especially from town to town. The highwind really does make the game easier to get around in.
Kahran Ramsus
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Sabre said:
I actually found it to be the opposite. The first part when it is Avalanche vs. Shinra and the whole thing is more goofy, I thought was quite fun. It was also unique having a Final Fantasy game take place in one futuristic city. It is after that when Sephiroth shows up and everything becomes following him around to the next town for the next 20 hours only to find out that 'your princess is in another castle' that the story lost me. By the time things starting getting interesting again in Disk 2, I didn't really care anymore.
Just bought it. Can't complain for 9.99. Although since it was a 3 disc game it certainly took a lot of the free space on my PSP memory stick.
vivisectvi
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Is it jaggy as hell?
Obi Chris Kenobi
Personal Text goes here, Venkman
I actually really enjoyed FFVIII - I think that means I'm going to hell.
You and me both. Hopefully our rooms in hell are near each other so we can play Triple Triad!
Obi Chris Kenobi
Personal Text goes here, Venkman
Hell doesn't sound so bad after all!
Sabre
Integral Poster
Dammit im tempted to get FFVII just because of the lifestream which seems to set the game off nicely. grrrrr
Obi Chris Kenobi
Personal Text goes here, Venkman
I bet FFVII is one of the highest selling games on the 'PS3' this year, which will be quiet sad if true.
Sabre
Integral Poster
Should also impact its ebay price. The non platinum version still goes for near £20 at times.
Psycho Penguin
Integral Poster
I can't say I hated FF8 (only FF I really can't stand is 2), but it's not a very good game. I'm not saying that as a FF7 fanboy, either, it's just FF8 was way too convoluted in both storyline and gameplay decisions. FF9 was a wonderful step in the right direction, and FFX was near the pinnacle of the series.
If anyone got FF4: The After Years and can post impressions, that would be wonderful. GameFAQs isn't much help in this instance.
If anyone got FF4: The After Years and can post impressions, that would be wonderful. GameFAQs isn't much help in this instance.
Black Lushus
Integral Poster
I'm too Old School RPG to really get in to the whole drawing, junctioning and enemies levelling up along with you thing to get in to FF8.
What's odd is that I liked FFX's sphere grid system just fine...
What's odd is that I liked FFX's sphere grid system just fine...
Obi Chris Kenobi
Personal Text goes here, Venkman
Yeah FFX's sphere system was really nice once you worked out just what the hell you should/could do with it. Even that watersports mini game was semi decent, if a little ropey. My mate had be believing for a year they were going to release it as a standalone game... twat.
Black Lushus
Integral Poster
I'm sure if they had put out a Blitzball game, there would be enough fanboys/girls out buying it up to make it worth while for Square.
vivisectvi
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Well, graphically, FF7 certainly hasn't aged well - but I expected that. I got through the initial sequence last night before I had to get to bed. I'm not sure, but I feel like this is one of those games that I'll play a few days of and then never touch again. That could change, though, depending on whether or not it hooks me. We'll see. Either way, $10 is a great price.
Thoth
Curleh Mustache~
THe new Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles on Wii looks goddamn amazing, from what I saw at E3. Definitely keep your eyes on it, but for a while, I thought that game was FF13 or something. It looked that good.
Kahran Ramsus
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Smues said:
Which doesn't make the ending any less lame.
Obi Chris Kenobi
Personal Text goes here, Venkman
Final Fantasy XIV Beta Sign Ups are open for Japan, North America and Europe: http://www.finalfantasyxiv.com/ could be interested!
FF8 is also due to be released on the PSN for download, so I'll probably pick that up with FF7 next month.
FF8 is also due to be released on the PSN for download, so I'll probably pick that up with FF7 next month.
Thoth said:
That would be Crystal Bearers, which we mentioned, too. Yup, that's one of the few games I wish I had a Wii for at the moment. It's actually going to be released at the end of the month, it seems, which surprised me a bit.
Kahran Ramsus said:
Fixed. ;D
KOAB
KOAB
Over the last two weeks I've been playing over the Final Fantasy PS1 games... man, my old favorite FFVII doesn't hold up at all, VIII was alright, I like the junction system more than anyone else apparently, and the way I could get money quickly in that game by going through tests is still humorous to me. Going through that prison in the dessert is always fun but fuck the game once it hits the we all were in an orphanage stage. I remember hating IX when I first got it, never playing it much... fuck, it's my favorite one now. So fun.
A Happy Medium
Integral Poster
I played X not too long ago. I over-leveled and wound up having no problem with Sin, really.
XII plays a bit like Knights of the Old Republic, and I've been kind of working on that. It's a much more difficult game.
XII plays a bit like Knights of the Old Republic, and I've been kind of working on that. It's a much more difficult game.
Obi Chris Kenobi
Personal Text goes here, Venkman
KOAB said:
I'm hoping they'll release the rest, well FFIX, on the PSN soon as I missed out on that one when it was released.
luke-o
www.thecollectorsroom.co.uk
I was a fan of 9 and I think I'm in the minority. But sit quite happily in the majority that didn't like 8.
Mik
Lightswitch Rave!
VIII is the only one I ever quit without finishing. I haven't played one since then.
I think Final Fantasy Tactics was probably one of my favorites overall. That was fun.
I think Final Fantasy Tactics was probably one of my favorites overall. That was fun.
vivisectvi
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Mik said:
This sounds exactly like my experience. Including the love for Tactics.
IX is one I keep hearing folks say is secretly perhaps the best-aging of the PS1 games. However, at the time it was tainted heavily by that PlayOnline garbage.
Although I feel I could probably play it today and not really worry too much about it. There are guides to inform of you stuff you really don't want to miss, and they're available online for free now.
Although I feel I could probably play it today and not really worry too much about it. There are guides to inform of you stuff you really don't want to miss, and they're available online for free now.
Conspiracy_Victim
Integral Poster
luke-o said:
I didn't mind 8 (mostly because of Quistis) and even got into the abrupt plot switches, but good God the junctioning and Triad parts were terrible. I hated both.
A blitzball stand alone game would be pretty sweet if they made it a full blown sports sim like Madden.
Kageho
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Of the PS1 games, the only one of the Final Fantasy series that holds up over time is actually the spin off. Why do I say that? Because the only thing they touched about the game was the translation. The rest of the game held up over time. Sure the graphics could've been rehauled over (the spells were at least), but I think it would've lost its charm and uniqueness. Though if it had gone to a graphical style of say Vagrant Story (which apparently is in the world as FFT) then I wouldn't've complained.
Final Fantasy VII's biggest problem is that its probably the game in the whole series that deserves a remake. You could play it back then and forgive it for a lot of its flaws. Being the first RPG with 3D graphics on a console, a storyline that unless you went after the little nuggets didn't make all that much sense, character development that is sorely lacking for some characters (Yuffie, Cait Sith), and more. I played it emulator style (that was before it got released on the PSN) and I really do think that SquareEnix should've taken that PS3 demo and blow it up into a full game. There's many glaring faults with the game and I think that if it was polished up, it truly would be one of the best RPGs possible.
Final Fantasy VIII's problems are very deep actually. If you forget that its a Final Fantasy game and say its called "SeeD", you would notice its actually a very good game. The draw system was actually a cunningly good idea. Sort of like collecting components to make the spells you wanted. The problem that broke it was that it was directly tied into your stats and therefore you pretty much couldn't use it unless you set up your stats accordingly so that you it wouldn't hurt you if you had used them. Another problem was the balance of the game, because this is all you needed to do to successfully get through the game: Disc 1 - Weapons, Disc 2 - Summons, Disc 3 - Magic, Disc 4 - Weapons. If you knew where to collect the Weapons in Disc 1, the Summons in Disc 2, the Magic in Disc 3, and the Weapons in Disc 4, the game took 20 hours to beat. No lie. Because my first game run through was that long.
The character development of the main characters could also be polished up. Squall's nature was perfectly fine, but by the time you realize why you are quite far into the game and he's already being to soften up so you lose being able to understand his character so well. Rinoa on the other hand comes off a little too much as a kid who's off playing rebel, instead of being the cunning person you get to know her as, again, later in the game. When the way you want characters to go don't happen until later in the game and you also have these two being the main theme of the game, love, you have a few issues that drive some people away from the storyline.
Speaking of the theme, that's another problem, the theme is called love, yet for Squall and Rinoa, it never really seemed good enough. I'm not sure exactly what could've been done better from a professional level, but personally I think what should've happened is that Squall should've been aloof still but I think he should have been rejecting her by chaining himself to the idea that she's only a client and slowly coming to terms that he likes her (all this via monologue). I think it would've made for more impact concerning his relationship with him. I think Rinoa also should've been more coy and devilish as a character, trying to jokingly tempt Squall at every turn, making him even more confused if she meant it or not.
The biggest downfall of the game is the story and plot. There's no way to say it was mistranslated like other FFs, because I honestly don't think all that could've been mistranslated. The story goes fine until you find out everyone of the SeeD people is from the same place when they were kids and the lamest excuse is given called "Summon Memory Loss". If it wasn't the fact I was already so far into the game, I would've broken every single disc and chucked it into the garbage. At least if you are going to use an excuse like that, have somewhere in the game where this actually occurs. Doesn't need to be anything major, hell it could just be like Squall forgetting that his watch or something five minutes after he put it down. Give us some hint about it before you drop that.
The plot takes a "oh sorry, the bad guy you have been after has been brainwashed and the real baddie is in another dimension/planet/time zone/etc." and lord I wanted to shoot the game. Final Fantasy IV should've been the first and last game to pull that shit out of its hat without any introduction to said baddie. This game didn't need to introduce it as well. What's even more confusing is that everything that occurs with said bad guy indicates that Rinoa would turn into said real baddie. But why? Could this event that occurs be changed? Or was she always meant to become the big bad? Did she do it simply to meet Squall one more time? To see the last bits of her love once more? The game doesn't explain any of this at all! If any of this was indicated, it would've brought about the whole love theme, and it also would've been awesome if the only person who figured it out was Squall! It would've made the reunion between him and Rinoa right after the big bad fight all that more powerful I think.
Moving along from there, I think the biggest success of the game though was the concept that enemies got stronger as you did. It was really ground breaking and monsters as they grew in levels slightly had more aggressive or defensive based on what level they were. Though, I only got up to the low 40s with my highest character when I beat the game (30ish for my second, everyone else high to mid 20s), so I can't say how sadistic they were on the really high levels. It also eliminated the need to grind through the game, because you didn't need to worry about how strong a baddie was. They were as strong as you were, so you could actually enjoy the experience.
As you can tell, I really do like this game. However, I think it would've been quite the achievement from SquareEnix if it had been done correctly. Its one of the games that I look back at and go "if only they had done it justice". I rank it as my worst Final Fantasy simply because the game's potential and realization fall dramatically short of where it should've. Especially since it came after Final Fantasy VII.
Final Fantasy IX is a game that was supposed to go back to its roots, but unfortunately it didn't get those roots right. The characters didn't really feel well developed, even though they were given a well enough plot and background. I think honestly the story wasn't really all that great. None of it really made any sense. Like, you get an early idea of that the land is supposed to be vast with all the airships flying around and stuff, yet there's only one city that really uses airships. Nor did any of the dialogue feel geniune or unique. I was honestly bored of it, but not because of the characters and plot, but because its probably the weakest story of all Final Fantasy (main, otherwise you could toss Mystic Quest on that list and that's not fair). Also Princess Garnet goes by the name Dagger for the entire game, even though her real name is Garnet and everyone and their mother knows that she is Princess Garnet. Like, I mean if it was a nickname, sure I could understand why it remains that way the entire game, but come on now. There was no need to continue with it after she was exposed like 5 hours into the game. Or less than that, its been awhile since I played it.
It has the worst final boss fight because you beat the end boss, or the person who should for all sakes be the end boss, then you get this really stupid boss after that for no other reason than because second last boss goes down like a bitch begging for sex. Really, the second to end boss is a cake walk, then you get to the true final boss and he will make you his bitch if you aren't like uber ready because he's got the cheapest thing ever in like multiply hits per round plus an attack that drained all your HP to 1. Yeah... Have FUN!
Oh, did we also mention this is somehow related to the original game? Yeah, its supposed to... Somehow... You know, it never really made that clear at all and I wanted to strangle people when they did that one.
There were good things about the game though, don't get me wrong. The characterization was probably one of the better games, Vivi being the best example. The battle system itself was pretty good in overall balance, as everyone had their uses. The talents needing to have weapons equipped to gain them wasn't a bad concept but was horribly flawed by the fact that there were a couple of weapons you could end up missing and losing out on a particular skill for a character. Not many, but there were a few.
The plot was totally fine until it jumps the shark with the connections to the original game, and more plot stuff with clones! Before that the plot was just fine and dandy.
It might not be helping that I had a few cups of Bailey's when writing this up. The games are pretty good for their time, but the flaws just start becoming drastically apparent when you notice them. And its really sad that the only game that aged well of the whole PS1 games, was the spin off, Final Fantasy Tactics. Next would be VIII, IX, and then finally VII.
When I played all three games originally, I liked VII, IX, then VIII. After doing a run recently, I'd say VIII, IX, VII. Though VII being at the bottom is more due to how much glaringly needs to be polished up via a remake.
BTW, to answer your question AndrewTS, I'd only recommend it if you needed an RPG to play that you haven't gotten around to doing so.
Final Fantasy VII's biggest problem is that its probably the game in the whole series that deserves a remake. You could play it back then and forgive it for a lot of its flaws. Being the first RPG with 3D graphics on a console, a storyline that unless you went after the little nuggets didn't make all that much sense, character development that is sorely lacking for some characters (Yuffie, Cait Sith), and more. I played it emulator style (that was before it got released on the PSN) and I really do think that SquareEnix should've taken that PS3 demo and blow it up into a full game. There's many glaring faults with the game and I think that if it was polished up, it truly would be one of the best RPGs possible.
Final Fantasy VIII's problems are very deep actually. If you forget that its a Final Fantasy game and say its called "SeeD", you would notice its actually a very good game. The draw system was actually a cunningly good idea. Sort of like collecting components to make the spells you wanted. The problem that broke it was that it was directly tied into your stats and therefore you pretty much couldn't use it unless you set up your stats accordingly so that you it wouldn't hurt you if you had used them. Another problem was the balance of the game, because this is all you needed to do to successfully get through the game: Disc 1 - Weapons, Disc 2 - Summons, Disc 3 - Magic, Disc 4 - Weapons. If you knew where to collect the Weapons in Disc 1, the Summons in Disc 2, the Magic in Disc 3, and the Weapons in Disc 4, the game took 20 hours to beat. No lie. Because my first game run through was that long.
The character development of the main characters could also be polished up. Squall's nature was perfectly fine, but by the time you realize why you are quite far into the game and he's already being to soften up so you lose being able to understand his character so well. Rinoa on the other hand comes off a little too much as a kid who's off playing rebel, instead of being the cunning person you get to know her as, again, later in the game. When the way you want characters to go don't happen until later in the game and you also have these two being the main theme of the game, love, you have a few issues that drive some people away from the storyline.
Speaking of the theme, that's another problem, the theme is called love, yet for Squall and Rinoa, it never really seemed good enough. I'm not sure exactly what could've been done better from a professional level, but personally I think what should've happened is that Squall should've been aloof still but I think he should have been rejecting her by chaining himself to the idea that she's only a client and slowly coming to terms that he likes her (all this via monologue). I think it would've made for more impact concerning his relationship with him. I think Rinoa also should've been more coy and devilish as a character, trying to jokingly tempt Squall at every turn, making him even more confused if she meant it or not.
The biggest downfall of the game is the story and plot. There's no way to say it was mistranslated like other FFs, because I honestly don't think all that could've been mistranslated. The story goes fine until you find out everyone of the SeeD people is from the same place when they were kids and the lamest excuse is given called "Summon Memory Loss". If it wasn't the fact I was already so far into the game, I would've broken every single disc and chucked it into the garbage. At least if you are going to use an excuse like that, have somewhere in the game where this actually occurs. Doesn't need to be anything major, hell it could just be like Squall forgetting that his watch or something five minutes after he put it down. Give us some hint about it before you drop that.
The plot takes a "oh sorry, the bad guy you have been after has been brainwashed and the real baddie is in another dimension/planet/time zone/etc." and lord I wanted to shoot the game. Final Fantasy IV should've been the first and last game to pull that shit out of its hat without any introduction to said baddie. This game didn't need to introduce it as well. What's even more confusing is that everything that occurs with said bad guy indicates that Rinoa would turn into said real baddie. But why? Could this event that occurs be changed? Or was she always meant to become the big bad? Did she do it simply to meet Squall one more time? To see the last bits of her love once more? The game doesn't explain any of this at all! If any of this was indicated, it would've brought about the whole love theme, and it also would've been awesome if the only person who figured it out was Squall! It would've made the reunion between him and Rinoa right after the big bad fight all that more powerful I think.
Moving along from there, I think the biggest success of the game though was the concept that enemies got stronger as you did. It was really ground breaking and monsters as they grew in levels slightly had more aggressive or defensive based on what level they were. Though, I only got up to the low 40s with my highest character when I beat the game (30ish for my second, everyone else high to mid 20s), so I can't say how sadistic they were on the really high levels. It also eliminated the need to grind through the game, because you didn't need to worry about how strong a baddie was. They were as strong as you were, so you could actually enjoy the experience.
As you can tell, I really do like this game. However, I think it would've been quite the achievement from SquareEnix if it had been done correctly. Its one of the games that I look back at and go "if only they had done it justice". I rank it as my worst Final Fantasy simply because the game's potential and realization fall dramatically short of where it should've. Especially since it came after Final Fantasy VII.
Final Fantasy IX is a game that was supposed to go back to its roots, but unfortunately it didn't get those roots right. The characters didn't really feel well developed, even though they were given a well enough plot and background. I think honestly the story wasn't really all that great. None of it really made any sense. Like, you get an early idea of that the land is supposed to be vast with all the airships flying around and stuff, yet there's only one city that really uses airships. Nor did any of the dialogue feel geniune or unique. I was honestly bored of it, but not because of the characters and plot, but because its probably the weakest story of all Final Fantasy (main, otherwise you could toss Mystic Quest on that list and that's not fair). Also Princess Garnet goes by the name Dagger for the entire game, even though her real name is Garnet and everyone and their mother knows that she is Princess Garnet. Like, I mean if it was a nickname, sure I could understand why it remains that way the entire game, but come on now. There was no need to continue with it after she was exposed like 5 hours into the game. Or less than that, its been awhile since I played it.
It has the worst final boss fight because you beat the end boss, or the person who should for all sakes be the end boss, then you get this really stupid boss after that for no other reason than because second last boss goes down like a bitch begging for sex. Really, the second to end boss is a cake walk, then you get to the true final boss and he will make you his bitch if you aren't like uber ready because he's got the cheapest thing ever in like multiply hits per round plus an attack that drained all your HP to 1. Yeah... Have FUN!
Oh, did we also mention this is somehow related to the original game? Yeah, its supposed to... Somehow... You know, it never really made that clear at all and I wanted to strangle people when they did that one.
There were good things about the game though, don't get me wrong. The characterization was probably one of the better games, Vivi being the best example. The battle system itself was pretty good in overall balance, as everyone had their uses. The talents needing to have weapons equipped to gain them wasn't a bad concept but was horribly flawed by the fact that there were a couple of weapons you could end up missing and losing out on a particular skill for a character. Not many, but there were a few.
The plot was totally fine until it jumps the shark with the connections to the original game, and more plot stuff with clones! Before that the plot was just fine and dandy.
It might not be helping that I had a few cups of Bailey's when writing this up. The games are pretty good for their time, but the flaws just start becoming drastically apparent when you notice them. And its really sad that the only game that aged well of the whole PS1 games, was the spin off, Final Fantasy Tactics. Next would be VIII, IX, and then finally VII.
When I played all three games originally, I liked VII, IX, then VIII. After doing a run recently, I'd say VIII, IX, VII. Though VII being at the bottom is more due to how much glaringly needs to be polished up via a remake.
BTW, to answer your question AndrewTS, I'd only recommend it if you needed an RPG to play that you haven't gotten around to doing so.