"Which Final Fantasy games are worth playing?"

[Raticus]

Originally Posted by SuperEclipse

FFX had a better plot..


The only good thing about FFXII was the characters..

So says the voice of unending wisdom.

[Tyler Durden]

I can't believe I saw 'best ones' up there without FFIV or FFVI in those lists.

[Steve]

Having a convoluted story about a dead civilization's dream mixed in with puppy love does not count as a deep or good plot.

Yeah, FFX's story sounds like shit on paper, but the way the characters drove and told the story was fairly in depth and kept me thoroughly entertained. Also, I give FFX props for having one of the least crappy love stories in the series (along with IX and IV).

I'll agree that Ivalice is a more interesting world than Spira and that the premise of FFXII's story is more interesting, I just didn't like the lack of interaction between the main cast. By the end of the story, I really didn't care what happened to the characters because they were just so two-dimensional to me.

[Relentless Blitz]

I'll agree that Ivalice is a more interesting world than Spira and that the premise of FFXII's story is more interesting, I just didn't like the lack of interaction between the main cast. By the end of the story, I really didn't care what happened to the characters because they were just so two-dimensional to me.

By two dimensional you mean that the characters have no stable importance in the plot or have no stable personality?

Well,the characters may not be that good,but the game,the game is supreme.

The gameplay,espers,music,etc. all good.

Final Fantasy XII may differ from the series,but that doesn't mean it's not a good ff,it is worth playing in so many ways.

[Raeneth]

Originally Posted by Raticus

Although FFXII's plot wasn't as character-driven as FFX's, I think the world of Ivalice and how it weaves it's own story is far greater than that of Spira's.

I enjoy a good romp through Ivalice as much as the next guy, that's for sure; but I won't say necessarily that Ivalice's is better on a whole than Spira's. They're different, and both excel at what they're trying to accomplish.

Originally Posted by SuperEclipse

FFX had a better plot..


The only good thing about FFXII was the characters..

Yeah, I love Balthier as much as the next guy, but I really really don't believe that 12's characters were developed nearly as nicely as 10's. Before Sham beats me up, I understand that XII did get nice character development, but it was more subtle and in a storyteller fashion, which I really liked. However, they still ended up rather flat in my opinion in comparison to a handful of other characters.

The strongest point of Final Fantasy XII in my opinion is that everything in the game was believeable in the context of the game itself. The characters acted normally to the going ons around them, and the gameplay for it was very deep. People who bitch about it being auto-play in battles just either want to micromanage their team's every move or they want to hack and slash and pull off 100 hit combos. XII falls right in the middle of that. I personally find the gameplay engaging and fun, and a breath of fresh air in the series. I hope to see it return in a more advanced form in later Fantasies, or at least in the next Ivalice adventure.

Originally Posted by Cursed

Yeah, FFX's story sounds like shit on paper, but the way the characters drove and told the story was fairly in depth and kept me thoroughly entertained. Also, I give FFX props for having one of the least crappy love stories in the series (along with IX and IV).

It doesn't really sound like shit on paper. It sounded horribly dumbed down and missed out on details that makes it an engaging storyline. You can do the same to any FF game and make it sound shitty.

Having a convoluted story about a spiky haired man with an identity crisis hunting down a silver haired man with a god complex doesn't count as a deep or good plot either, however many people seem to like it.

And yes, FFX had a good love story, but IX probably had the best love story of any Final Fantasy I can think of at the moment.

[fadin sun]

Originally Posted by Neo Ragnarok

I enjoy a good romp through Ivalice as much as the next guy, that's for sure; but I won't say necessarily that Ivalice's is better on a whole than Spira's. They're different, and both excel at what they're trying to accomplish.


Yeah, I love Balthier as much as the next guy, but I really really don't believe that 12's characters were developed nearly as nicely as 10's. Before Sham beats me up, I understand that XII did get nice character development, but it was more subtle and in a storyteller fashion, which I really liked. However, they still ended up rather flat in my opinion in comparison to a handful of other characters.

The strongest point of Final Fantasy XII in my opinion is that everything in the game was believeable in the context of the game itself. The characters acted normally to the going ons around them, and the gameplay for it was very deep. People who bitch about it being auto-play in battles just either want to micromanage their team's every move or they want to hack and slash and pull off 100 hit combos. XII falls right in the middle of that. I personally find the gameplay engaging and fun, and a breath of fresh air in the series. I hope to see it return in a more advanced form in later Fantasies, or at least in the next Ivalice adventure.


It doesn't really sound like shit on paper. It sounded horribly dumbed down and missed out on details that makes it an engaging storyline. You can do the same to any FF game and make it sound shitty.

Having a convoluted story about a spiky haired man with an identity crisis hunting down a silver haired man with a god complex doesn't count as a deep or good plot either, however many people seem to like it.

And yes, FFX had a good love story, but IX probably had the best love story of any Final Fantasy I can think of at the moment.

You sir just won some free interwabs. Congrats.

Characters (Reddas, Basch, Ashe, and Bathier) were awesome. All of the other characters were kinda... meh, but Reddas was so Gar.

As for FFX having a good storyline, this is what I believed until maybe six months ago when I watched actual drama. FFX's storyline is taken from every other drama anime/video game ever. Most FF games follow the exact same pattern (Main characters fall in love, one main character dies, the other one is left alone).

After a while the pattern gets really awful. FFXII story was the only FF I know of that didn't have a plot driven story and I liked square for doing that. I think it was neat to see something totally new.

[Raticus]

Final Fantasy has always been a series of evolution in all of it's aspects, so expecting each title to be the same would be the most "un-Final Fantasy" thing there is.

People are bound to have different tastes in which of the games they think are superior and inferior, but in order to appreciate the series as a whole you have to learn to be malleable in your expectations and appreciations of what each game brings.

[Koji]

^I guess thats why different people favor different FFs. Some might like the more magical/mystical style, others might like the medievil theme, and others would like the futuristic/technologic theme (like me), or pehaps a dark theme.

[Roxas13579]

Hmm...

FFIV, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X (the best in the series, IMO).

They're my favourites.

I'll probably be lynched for saying this, but FF XII is (taking into account that it is a FF game) one of the worst games I have ever played. Not because of the battle system, but because of the sheer inadequacy of the characters and the storyline. It's supposedly a tale of "political intrigue", but in reality it's just a really suckish Star Wars ripoff, with some Lord of the Rings ideas thrown in as well, as if it wasn't bad enough already. Blah, blah, blah. And don't get me wrong, I actually like political dramas, Star Wars and LOTR, but FF XII simply has one of the worst storylines in the entire series. It's not "rich" or "deep", as many have claimed it to be, just dull and flimsy. And throwing in more anachronistic phrases than you can shake an enchanted stone at can't change that. (Take for example, some words 'n' phrases like "I would that...", "skein", "lecherous cur" and the like.) I actually liked the battle system, especially the lack of random encounters, but unfortunately over 95% of the game is not actually enjoyable at all. Just when I thought endless level grinding and hackneyed dungeons were being phased out of modern RPGs, Square Enix saw fit to revive them all again. And the game's pacing is just atrocious. I remember a strech for about 6 hours in the middle of the game with no cutscenes at all. None. The characters may look good, but they have pretty much zero personality, as the designers didn't seem to care about developing them at all. And to top it all off, the music sucks. And I mean really sucks. The only good tracks I heard in the game were the Prelude, the Main Theme of Final Fantasy, and Kiss me Goodbye, none of which were penned by the new composer.

Sorry for my rant, just had to get that off my chest!

[Kawaiikousuke]

Originally Posted by Neo Ragnarok

However, they still ended up rather flat in my opinion in comparison to a handful of other characters.

Well it's because of what you said, the subtleness of it all. These characters do not just scream "I HAS ISSUES!" and then later on they get closure and learn something about themselves thus making them a round character. XII is just uses the more realistic approach when it comes to that development, and since it isn't screamed at people's faces they think it isn't great when compared to others.

Originally Posted by Cursed

I'll agree that Ivalice is a more interesting world than Spira and that the premise of FFXII's story is more interesting, I just didn't like the lack of interaction between the main cast. By the end of the story, I really didn't care what happened to the characters because they were just so two-dimensional to me.

XII is not about chosen heroes destined to save the world and fall in love, XII instead takes a bigger approach and instead uses the idea that saving the world or whatever doesn't have to be done by 6 chosen heroes. Basically XII is saying " YOU PEOPLE ARE NOT THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING, THE WORLD DOES NOT REVOLVE AROUND YOU OR YOUR PETTY FRIENDS."

The characters don't drive the story because the story itself is driven on it's own due to many other people besides just them, that may cause people to not feel anything for them and that's fine but just because the characters aren't trying to be the center of the universe doesn't mean they don't matter. To each his own though.

Originally Posted by Roxas13579

FF XII simply has one of the worst storylines in the entire series. It's not "rich" or "deep", as many have claimed it to be, just dull and flimsy

Any FF can be that when written in someone's own perspective. I love FFIX, adore it really but I can make it sound like half ass'd medieval shit with ease same goes for the others.

throwing in more anachronistic phrases than you can shake an enchanted stone at can't change that. (Take for example, some words 'n' phrases like "I would that...", "skein", "lecherous cur" and the like.)

What do you want? Would you rather them speak as if they were from our world? "Dude we so seriously gots to get that empire. RWAR"

Just when I thought endless level grinding and hackneyed dungeons were being phased out of modern RPGs, Square Enix saw fit to revive them all again. And the game's pacing is just atrocious. I remember a strech for about 6 hours in the middle of the game with no cutscenes at all. None.

So there were no pretty cut scenes to keep your attention span occupied, boo hoo.

The characters may look good, but they have pretty much zero personality, as the designers didn't seem to care about developing them at all.

Refer to the top.

And to top it all off, the music sucks. And I mean really sucks. The only good tracks I heard in the game were the Prelude, the Main Theme of Final Fantasy, and Kiss me Goodbye, none of which were penned by the new composer.

I will admit that the games music is nothing compared to that of past FF's and I honestly for once did not find myself humming tunes from it but the game's music fit each environment well, they just aren't memorable like Uematsu's works.

This is why there is so much variety in the FF series. Though I think because of this FF fans will never unite correctly with each other. Whatever, it better that way.

Originally Posted by fadin sun

but Reddas was so Gar.

How so? Reddas was just another runaway who became a pirate and tried to act all epic because of it, he isn't on the same level as say Kamina-sama when it comes to "Gar" though. I not saying I don't like Reddas but he didn't do much for me.

[cporky1992]

so to me it would have to be X, VII, Crisis Core. I have only playde 4 FF games and these are the best the fourth was V and i dident care for it much.

[fadin sun]

Originally Posted by Roxas13579

Hmm...

FFIV, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X (the best in the series, IMO).

They're my favourites.

I'll probably be lynched for saying this, but FF XII is (taking into account that it is a FF game) one of the worst games I have ever played. Not because of the battle system, but because of the sheer inadequacy of the characters and the storyline. It's supposedly a tale of "political intrigue", but in reality it's just a really suckish Star Wars ripoff, with some Lord of the Rings ideas thrown in as well, as if it wasn't bad enough already. Blah, blah, blah. And don't get me wrong, I actually like political dramas, Star Wars and LOTR, but FF XII simply has one of the worst storylines in the entire series. It's not "rich" or "deep", as many have claimed it to be, just dull and flimsy. And throwing in more anachronistic phrases than you can shake an enchanted stone at can't change that. (Take for example, some words 'n' phrases like "I would that...", "skein", "lecherous cur" and the like.) I actually liked the battle system, especially the lack of random encounters, but unfortunately over 95% of the game is not actually enjoyable at all. Just when I thought endless level grinding and hackneyed dungeons were being phased out of modern RPGs, Square Enix saw fit to revive them all again. And the game's pacing is just atrocious. I remember a strech for about 6 hours in the middle of the game with no cutscenes at all. None. The characters may look good, but they have pretty much zero personality, as the designers didn't seem to care about developing them at all. And to top it all off, the music sucks. And I mean really sucks. The only good tracks I heard in the game were the Prelude, the Main Theme of Final Fantasy, and Kiss me Goodbye, none of which were penned by the new composer.

Sorry for my rant, just had to get that off my chest!

The only things that Star Wars and FFXII have in common is that they both have flying things in them. As for "deep story," please explain how FFX has a deep story. Sure the main character dies. If you haven't noticed the main character dies in nearly every single "dramatic" video game. It's not dramatic, it's just shit.

The only decent character was Auron.

Reddas was pretty gar for a video game character. I don't think anybody (okay maybe Alucard) surpases Kamina in the garness level though.

The characters may look good, but they have pretty much zero personality

So then you are saying that the characters in FFX have a good personality? Tidus is the most annoying character ever and Yuna barely even talks.

I remember a strech for about 6 hours in the middle of the game with no cutscenes at all

Even though there might have been very little cutscenes, the storyline in FFXII was still better than X's.

This is how simple X is. Character gets lost in an unknown world --> character meets a beautiful woman who he instantly falls in love with--> about half way in the game character learns girl is going to die --> character tries to comfort girl and then they kiss --> main character eventually dies and BAWWWING is followed.

You sound like a dramafag to me who can't tell that this plotline is in countless animes, video games, and books. Every person who likes FFX is the same I guess.

[Steve]

This is how simple X is. Character gets lost in an unknown world --> character meets a beautiful woman who he instantly falls in love with--> about half way in the game character learns girl is going to die --> character tries to comfort girl and then they kiss --> main character eventually dies and BAWWWING is followed.

Alright, yeah, the game sounds bad if you word it like that. Same could be done to any game's plot. If you condense the plot of FFXII to "lol I'm gonna go get the empire because they took everything from me", that also sounds shitty. But the point is, the plots of FFX and FFXII are told in different ways, with the former being a character-driven plot and the latter being a world-driven plot. Neither of which are bad, but it just depends on what you enjoy more. I loved both, but in different ways. I didn't think FFXII's plot was bad, in fact I found it rather well done, but I just didn't care for the lack of interaction between the main characters.

[fadin sun]

I still think FFX story sucked :<

But I do agree that FFXII did not have a character-driven story much and in fact I liked it like that. I think it was something new. I liked balthier, ashe, basch, and reddas personally, but I can see why you wouldn't like it.

I think that FFX is truly incomparable to XII.

[Raeneth]

Originally Posted by Kawaiikousuke

Well it's because of what you said, the subtleness of it all. These characters do not just scream "I HAS ISSUES!" and then later on they get closure and learn something about themselves thus making them a round character. XII is just uses the more realistic approach when it comes to that development, and since it isn't screamed at people's faces they think it isn't great when compared to others.

Oh I know, and I love it for that. I'm a defendant that the characters do get developed, but they do it in a very human way. I love it. When 12 came out people bitched that there was no development, and I was someone who was actually trying to say otherwise. I enjoy the development of ff12's characters.

Originally Posted by fadin sun

I still think FFX story sucked :<

But I do agree that FFXII did not have a character-driven story much and in fact I liked it like that. I think it was something new. I liked balthier, ashe, basch, and reddas personally, but I can see why you wouldn't like it.

I think that FFX is truly incomparable to XII.

You don't have to like FFX >_> if it's not for you, it's not for you. There are plenty of final fantasies that come in various flavors :3