Final Fantasy Mega Thread

[Kaikou]

I know somewhere there is already a massive thread, but figured I'd start a fresh one. Obviously post anything from the old to the new in regards to Final Fantasy.

I got the itch yesterday to play FFVIII, so I popped the game into my PS3. I was astonished at how horrible the characters in the game looked. I couldn't even distinguish facial features and it overall was a blurry mess.

Naturally I started to think that the PS3 upconverting the game was causing issues, along with the fact I'm playing on an HDTV. So I head on over to google to look up some screenshots and come to the realization that that is how the actual game looks.

I haven't decided if I'll continue on with it or not, as I'm not too fond of the drawing from enemies to get magic and currently there isn't a Gameshark for the PS3, which in this special case I would use to prevent hours of my life drawing magic.

It's always great going back to the SNES Final Fantasy games, because I'm perfectly okay with the graphics and they never disappoint me, but the PS1 FF's just didn't hold up well at all. I wish Square-Enix would remake the PS1 FF's, instead of the SNES FF's.

I've been wanting to play FFVII again, but I'm still holding out for a possible remake on the PS3. :susel: (Any new news on that front?)

Anyone else playing any FF related games?

[Ty]

Oddly enough the poly count of the models in FFVII is so low that it holds up a little better on newer tvs than VIII and IX do. At least I think so. It seems to suffer the least on HDTV. PS1 and PS2 games in general just don't have the resolution and look pretty bad in hi-def. I was shocked at how bad FFXII looked on my 1080p set to the point where I haven't played it since.

This thread had good timing as I was thinking about playing FFVI again (III - SNES cart version). It used to be something of a Christmas time tradition but I always lose interest and quite part way in. Since FFVI is my favorite game of all time that doesn't say much about my commitment to gaming anymore. :( Just a few minutes of the music alone is enough to fill me with a mix of sadness and nostalgia for the rest of the night.

I think the save battery in the cart is dying though and it makes me nervous. I know replacement isn't that hard, but that won't help my 13 year old "ultimate" game save with characters at level 99 and everything collected. Strangely enough the other two save slots blanked out but that one is still there, so I took it as a sign that God loves me. :neko:

[Nosredna]

I'm not playing any Final Fantasy games right now, but how many Final Fantasy related threads have we had already :sd: .

Oh and to make some specific post towards Final Fantasy. Celes, Rydia and Rinoa are still my favorite girls :D .

[NickFalzarano]

Having just recently finished Final Fantasy III on the DS, I'm in the mood for more Final Fantasy. I should probably go back to V sometime, but I just have no interest in level grinding. Of course, I'm playing it on the PS. Was the GBA version of V made easier as the GBA versions of I&II were? Or maybe I should play VIII or XII. Those are the other two (aside from "XI online") that I've never played... :susel:

[Kaikou]

Having just recently finished Final Fantasy III on the DS, I'm in the mood for more Final Fantasy. I should probably go back to V sometime, but I just have no interest in level grinding. Of course, I'm playing it on the PS. Was the GBA version of V made easier as the GBA versions of I&II were? Or maybe I should play VIII or XII. Those are the other two (aside from "XI online") that I've never played... :susel:

I played the original SNES version of V and don't remember ever having to level grind. (Although I didn't take on any of the secret super hard bosses) As far as V on the GBA being easier, I hadn't heard of anything to that effect.

Speaking of V, as it'll probably be getting a remake, does anyone think that they'll still prefer the original games over the updated remakes of IV, V, and VI?

[Nosredna]

Speaking of V, as it'll probably be getting a remake, does anyone think that they'll still prefer the original games over the updated remakes of IV, V, and VI?


While I haven't played the GBA Advance remake of V, I enjoyed IV and VI's remakes. And I'm looking forward to the DS remake of IV. I don't really prefer the remakes or the originals except for some dialogue changes they made, so maybe I do like the originals better for sentimental reasons.

[Kaikou]

Speaking of V, as it'll probably be getting a remake, does anyone think that they'll still prefer the original games over the updated remakes of IV, V, and VI?


While I haven't played the GBA Advance remake of V, I enjoyed IV and VI's remakes. And I'm looking forward to the DS remake of IV. I don't really prefer the remakes or the originals except for some dialogue changes they made, so maybe I do like the originals better for sentimental reasons.

I was more referring to the graphically updated remakes, which I'm not fully decided on how I feel about them. Especially for VI, which I have no problems at all with the graphics and feel that if they look like IV's 3D graphics, it will be of a lower quality to me. :noodle:

[Kaikou]

Just goes to show that even if proper citation is used, plagiarism can still happen. :nahnah:

Ignoring the fact the company just stole the exact fight scene from Square-Enix, they did a pretty good job of it.

Article-QJ.net (http://ps3.qj.net/Korean-company-sued-for-plagiarizing-FF7-Advent-Children/pg/49/aid/109466)

[Mr. Spiffy-Pants]

I haven't decided if I'll continue on with it or not, as I'm not too fond of the drawing from enemies to get magic and currently there isn't a Gameshark for the PS3, which in this special case I would use to prevent hours of my life drawing magic.

I would assume that, if a PS3 GameShark ever does emerge, it will not handle PS1 and PS2 games. The PS2 GameSharks would not work with PS1 games, so I'm assuming the trend will continue.

Now that I've rained on your parade a bit, I will say this: My PS1 GameShark works perfectly in my 60GB PS3. :) Here's the version I have. (http://www.amazon.com/MADCATZ-GMCA80AAZ-Gameshark-Ps-One/dp/B000093LHI)

I've been wanting to play FFVII again, but I'm still holding out for a possible remake on the PS3. :susel: (Any new news on that front?)

I would consider very strongly stubbing the toe of my roommate if they'd remake Final Fantasy VII. I could care less about VIII or IX, but I want VII on my PS3. The last comment I heard was a few months ago and it was basically, "We have no plans at this time."

[Suwako Moriya]

Anyone else playing any FF related games?

Well the last FF that I played was a case of replaying Final Fantasy Tactics. The last FF I played as a first time play was Final Fantasy 3 DS. Which while of an older style was still rather nice for the type of game it's meant to be.

I still have Final Fantasy 12 to try, but I have yet to go beyond the maybe factor and move on to actually playing it. No access to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and well in the case of Final Fantasy X-2, I couldn't get into it. Right now 12 is my only realistic choice in terms of "new" FFs for me.

It will be interesting to see how long this FF thread lasts before it vanishes into the void and gets replaced by the next one. Still at least FF has enough of a fanbase to support a thread even if it's just for limited periods.

[NickFalzarano]

Having just recently finished Final Fantasy III on the DS, I'm in the mood for more Final Fantasy. I should probably go back to V sometime, but I just have no interest in level grinding. Of course, I'm playing it on the PS. Was the GBA version of V made easier as the GBA versions of I&II were? Or maybe I should play VIII or XII. Those are the other two (aside from "XI online") that I've never played... :susel:

I played the original SNES version of V and don't remember ever having to level grind. (Although I didn't take on any of the secret super hard bosses) As far as V on the GBA being easier, I hadn't heard of anything to that effect.


Not actually level-grind, but more job-level grind. I simply cannot beat this one boss I'm at with the current level of my party. (Whatever it may have been-- haven't tried it in over a year.)

[ADC]

I played the original SNES version of V and don't remember ever having to level grind. (Although I didn't take on any of the secret super hard bosses) As far as V on the GBA being easier, I hadn't heard of anything to that effect.
I recall doing less level-grinding in FF5 than I did in FF4, and that's saying something. Both of those games are paced very well, with your levels going up pretty much exactly when you need them.

Speaking of V, as it'll probably be getting a remake, does anyone think that they'll still prefer the original games over the updated remakes of IV, V, and VI?
It is true that FF6/snes has the "Son of a submariner" and "You licentious howler" lines, but in every other particular, it's a better game on the GBA. Indeed, even taking into account the battle system bugs in FF4A, the GBA versions of those games are the best versions. Now, when FF4DS drops sometime next year with expanded story and 3D graphics, I may change my mind. Not for the 3D graphics, though, as the DS is only about as capable as the PS One — which is to say, incapable of anything beyond the most basic, primitive 3D. The expanded story's what I'm about.

[Kaikou]

I would assume that, if a PS3 GameShark ever does emerge, it will not handle PS1 and PS2 games. The PS2 GameSharks would not work with PS1 games, so I'm assuming the trend will continue.

Now that I've rained on your parade a bit, I will say this: My PS1 GameShark works perfectly in my 60GB PS3. :) Here's the version I have. (http://www.amazon.com/MADCATZ-GMCA80AAZ-Gameshark-Ps-One/dp/B000093LHI)

Thanks for posting this information, as I got conflicting information on other forums, whether the older Gamesharks would work on the PS3 or not. I'll have to track this down before taking a stab at FFVIII, as I just don't want to deal with the draw system. I don't mind the junction system in and of itself, but drawing magic was just an idea that I'm surprised made it past the drawing board.

I would consider very strongly stubbing the toe of my roommate if they'd remake Final Fantasy VII. I could care less about VIII or IX, but I want VII on my PS3. The last comment I heard was a few months ago and it was basically, "We have no plans at this time."

I saw that interview as well; didn't he say that they aren't ruling out a remake? I'd like to think they are just being coy and that secretly they are very close to finishing up the remake. :crazy:

[Kaikou]

It is true that FF6/snes has the "Son of a submariner" and "You licentious howler" lines, but in every other particular, it's a better game on the GBA.

For me the FFVI GBA version is definitely the worse between it and the SNES version. There is slight lag in the battles of VI (using certain magic/summons), sprites and backgrounds have less detail, and the sound effects/music are of a lower quality/changed to meet the GBA's inferior sound processor.

I did enjoy some of the additional story elements and a bit more accurate translation (although I never had a problem with Woosley's translation), but the negatives far outweigh the positives. My pipedream is that Square-Enix releases FFVI SNES remake on the Wii. (effectively merging the pros of the SNES and GBA versions)

[Mr. Spiffy-Pants]

Thanks for posting this information, as I got conflicting information on other forums, whether the older Gamesharks would work on the PS3 or not.

No problem! When the PS3 first came out, most backwards-compatible cheat devices would not work. As they increased the compatibility with firmware updates, the cheat devices slowly began working. For the PS1, I have only tried the one listed above. For the PS2, I have tried:

Action Replay MAX - Still doesn't work.

Code Breaker V.10 - Works, but it's spotty. Sometimes it won't load - Just keep trying and it will eventually!

GameShark - This version (http://store.gameshark.com/viewItem.asp?idProduct=2427&idCategory=139) does function on my PS3, but again the mileage varies.

I saw that interview as well; didn't he say that they aren't ruling out a remake? I'd like to think they are just being coy and that secretly they are very close to finishing up the remake. :crazy:

Yeah, I'm holding out hope as well, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much. I also wish Sony would make a sequel to "The Legend of Dragoon"... HA!

[Kaikou]

No problem! When the PS3 first came out, most backwards-compatible cheat devices would not work. As they increased the compatibility with firmware updates, the cheat devices slowly began working. For the PS1, I have only tried the one listed above.


I don't think I'll be picking up the Gameshark, as after looking at the code lists for FFVIII, it doesn't appear to have one for "infinite draws". (unless "infinite item usage" would work for draws.)

[Ty]

I'm not playing any Final Fantasy games right now, but how many Final Fantasy related threads have we had already .

There can never be too many.

[Suwako Moriya]

I'm not playing any Final Fantasy games right now, but how many Final Fantasy related threads have we had already .
There can never be too many.

Which is quite fitting given Square Enix's current strategy of remakes, spin-offs, and compilations galore for Final Fantasy. :sd:

[Ty]

I'm not playing any Final Fantasy games right now, but how many Final Fantasy related threads have we had already .
There can never be too many.

Which is quite fitting given Square Enix's current strategy of remakes, spin-offs, and compilations galore for Final Fantasy. :sd:
I haven't touched any of them either. Nothing wrong with playing the originals, plus the technical aspects of the GBA versions are instant dealbreakers. the DS remakes make me curious but I don't own one and need more motive than that to get one knowing how little it would get used in the long run.

I'm in the "FFVII remake for current system" camp. I would die of happiness if they did a ground-up remake and went all out. The rumors just won't go away showing how much demand there is for it. The only thing in the world that would be better is if the same happened for VI, but I know the chances of that are incredibly low so I don't dare dream.

[ADC]

Which is quite fitting given Square Enix's current strategy of remakes, spin-offs, and compilations galore for Final Fantasy. :sd:
I haven't touched any of them either. Nothing wrong with playing the originals, plus the technical aspects of the GBA versions are instant dealbreakers. the DS remakes make me curious but I don't own one and need more motive than that to get one knowing how little it would get used in the long run.
You're just not looking at the right games, then. Maybe I'm the weird one, as I have no fewer than 38 games for my DS, but I've found that it's far and away the best of the Generation 7 games systems. Does the PS3 even have 38 games?

I'm in the "FFVII remake for current system" camp. I would die of happiness if they did a ground-up remake and went all out. The rumors just won't go away showing how much demand there is for it. The only thing in the world that would be better is if the same happened for VI, but I know the chances of that are incredibly low so I don't dare dream.
If it's going to happen, it won't be on the "muscle" consoles. They'd be paying as much to remake the game as they did to make it in the first place, if they put it on the PS3 or 360. When you consider that remakes rarely, if ever, sell as well as the originals, that's just throwing money away. Maybe FF7 will surface on the Wii. Maybe, now that card capacities are going up, it'll show up on the DS. Maybe they'll put it out on the PSP and throw in an ultra-high-capacity battery so you can actually play it. But if you're getting your knickers in a twist over the idea of FF7 on the PS3 or 360, you can probably un-twist them.

• I think there are about 70. They have a shite factor of 100 percent.

[Kaikou]

If it's going to happen, it won't be on the "muscle" consoles. They'd be paying as much to remake the game as they did to make it in the first place, if they put it on the PS3 or 360. When you consider that remakes rarely, if ever, sell as well as the originals, that's just throwing money away. Maybe FF7 will surface on the Wii. Maybe, now that card capacities are going up, it'll show up on the DS. Maybe they'll put it out on the PSP and throw in an ultra-high-capacity battery so you can actually play it. But if you're getting your knickers in a twist over the idea of FF7 on the PS3 or 360, you can probably un-twist them.


I think your mistaken, if they are going to do a remake of FFVII it will most likely appear on the PS3. The FF remakes that have occurred from what I have heard, have sold just as well as when the games first released. People in Japan are just eating up the FF remakes and re-releases, some are buying them over and over and over again. (Wonderswan, PSOne, GBA, DS, PSP, Cell Phone)

Square-Enix is well aware of the demand for a FFVII remake on the PS3 and it wouldn't take much at all to make it happen. Most likely they would use their existing game engine, White Engine, which would bring down their costs. I would venture that the technical demo of FFVII for the PS3, utilized an early build of the White Engine, which means they already know their way around creating the FFVII world and have a character model for Cloud.

[ADC]

I think your mistaken
Oh yeah? Well, I think you're grammar sucks! :>

In the end, FF7'll go where it'll make the most money for Square Enix. That's probably not the PS3, where development will probably be in the $25–30 million range if they actually do a job on it that makes full use of the PS3 hardware. Might cost $5–10 million on the Wii — which I recall reading was the expected cost of a high-end game on that hardware.

And make no mistake on this point: If FF7 does land on the PS3, I'll buy a PS3 just for FF7. I just doubt it'll shake out that way.

[Kaikou]

Oh yeah? Well, I think you're grammar sucks! :>

I'm going to start watching my use of "your" and "you're" from now on. :grin:


In the end, FF7'll go where it'll make the most money for Square Enix. That's probably not the PS3, where development will probably be in the $25–30 million range if they actually do a job on it that makes full use of the PS3 hardware. Might cost $5–10 million on the Wii — which I recall reading was the expected cost of a high-end game on that hardware.

I'm not even going to try and guess how much development costs would be. Let's just hold off and see how many units FFXIII manages to sell, which will probably be a pretty decent indicator on how many units a FFVII remake would garner. (as these remakes/re-releases of FF games have been doing extremely well sales wise, very much unlike other re-releases)


And make no mistake on this point: If FF7 does land on the PS3, I'll buy a PS3 just for FF7. I just doubt it'll shake out that way.

I think there are many people out there like you and Square-Enix is aware of this, along with Sony. I wouldn't be surprised if Sony paid Square-Enix a little money to secure the game on their system. (they, like me, are probably waiting to see how FFXIII performs) They already know how well the FFVII franchise performs in general with how successful Crisis Core has been and how many PSP systems it has moved.

You should go out right now and buy a PS3 anyways, time to move into the Blu-ray world. Unless you have no interest in HD releases, as my PS3 is mainly being used for movies, but the new year has quite a few games I'm interested in.

[ADC]

You should go out right now and buy a PS3 anyways, time to move into the Blu-ray world. Unless you have no interest in HD releases, as my PS3 is mainly being used for movies, but the new year has quite a few games I'm interested in.
I'm holding out until there are some games I want to buy. Right now there are a few games I am willing to drool over (Trusty Bell, FF13), but they don't exist until they're in stores as far as I'm concerned. So once those are out, I'll probably go for it. I am hoping, I admit, that by the time that happens, Sony will have pulled their heads out of their asses and priced the thing correctly. The 40-gigger should be no more than $300, especially in light of its glaring deficiency.

[jecca-neko]

I'm re-playing FFVI Advance on and off. That's the only FF game I'm currently playing since I officially stopped playing FFXII about halfway through a few months ago and I finished FFIII. I'm really looking forward to the FFIV DS remake, but for the most part I feel like the series is falling out of favor with me. I still really love some of the older games, but FF games no longer are super interesting to me. Heck, I'm not even sure FFXIII is a PS3 system seller for me.

I do agree with ADC though. If FFVII ends up remade on the PS3, that'd be a system seller for me. I really don't give a crap about Blu-Ray at the moment. I want this format war to end already, and at this point I don't see a point to upgrading. I'll buy Blu-Ray discs if I had a Blu-Ray player, sure, but at the moment I don't care. My standard DVDs are good enough.

[ADC]

FF's still my favorite series, and nothing else is really close. I say that despite the fact that FFs 8 and 10 are terrible, horrible, tortuous, despicable malarkeys for which I paid full price. Still, I'm the one who buys the remakes, the spinoffs, the sequels (both of which are better than the mains they sequel), so there you are.

Well, that's not true. I skipped Dirge of Cerberus because it sucked balls and won't pay more than $10 each for the PSP versions of FF1+2. I have standards. But when you factor in that my current most-anticipated game of 2008 is Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, I think I'm the fanboy here.

[Suwako Moriya]

I still really love some of the older games, but FF games no longer are super interesting to me.

As much as it pains me to admit it perhaps part of the reason I'm hesitant to play FF12 is because in a sense the magic hold the series had over me has weakened. This is not to say the older games were flawless and the newer games had no good points. Just as there were things I liked and disliked about Final Fantasy 4 there are things I like and dislike about Final Fantasy 10.

However having recently taken a major break from the series and trying out other RPG series part of me is having trouble jumping back into the world FF. Sure I can play the older stuff, but that's because I have oh let's just call it the nostalgia factor.

I'm just not sure what to think anymore. I can't bring myself to hate the series, but at the same time I'm trying to and failing tobring the spark back in the relationship. Yeah I'm confused myself now...

[EmperorBrandon]

Which is quite fitting given Square Enix's current strategy of remakes, spin-offs, and compilations galore for Final Fantasy. :sd:

All of them for the Final Fantasy games, and yet there's nothing for Seiken Densetsu 2 & 3. :( I probably should get out Secret of Mana again soon. I haven't played it in a while.

I'm curious about how the FFIV DS remake will turn out, but I don't have a DS (not sure if I want to spend on one yet either). I enjoyed the GBA remakes, though. The updated translation and extra features were worth trying out. I still have older versions if I want to play them anyway (three different ones for FFIV and FFVI - having them on SNES, PS, and GBA :P ).

[Phil]

I'm just getting back into FF after finishing III on the DS about a month ago. It's funny, but despite being luke-warm about most other games, I just get all obsessive when I get into a new FF. At the moment I''m working through FF VI, havign just finished the Opera last night.

[ADC]

All of them for the Final Fantasy games, and yet there's nothing for Seiken Densetsu 2 & 3. :( I probably should get out Secret of Mana again soon. I haven't played it in a while.
Secret of Mana sold 1.5 million units worldwide; most of the others didn't top 1 million, if I recall. It's no surprise to me that Square Enix don't do much in the way of Mana remakes. What does surprise me is that they keep bringing out new Mana games. What really surprises me is that they're usually so lousy.

And there's the problem.

[HitokiriShadow]

I've been wanting to play FFVII again, but I'm still holding out for a possible remake on the PS3. :susel: (Any new news on that front?)

It's been 10 years and I think there is enough of an upgrade over the PS1, nostalgia, and new fans that may want to play it to justify a remake. I wouldn't be surprised if they've been working on it and it just haven't announced it. When they will get around to actually announcing and then releasing it is anybody's guess. But with their penchant for remakes and FF7's popularity, it would be stupid not to. Between working on the remake of IV (and hopefully V and VI after that) for the DS and umpteen FFXIII games and spin-offs, they have their hands and upcoming release slate for FF titles pretty full, so I don't expect to hear about a FF7 remake for a while.

Anyone else playing any FF related games?

I've been playing FFIII which I bought this past Friday. I also recently bought FF5A and FF6A and started playing 6 last week but haven't played it since starting III. FFIII is going to be my game of choice for a while, with some occasional Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones.

I'm planning on getting a PSP and the FFT remake this upcoming Friday, but I'm not going to start that until I finish FFIII.

[HitokiriShadow]

Speaking of V, as it'll probably be getting a remake, does anyone think that they'll still prefer the original games over the updated remakes of IV, V, and VI?
It is true that FF6/snes has the "Son of a submariner" and "You licentious howler" lines, but in every other particular, it's a better game on the GBA. Indeed, even taking into account the battle system bugs in FF4A, the GBA versions of those games are the best versions. Now, when FF4DS drops sometime next year with expanded story and 3D graphics, I may change my mind. Not for the 3D graphics, though, as the DS is only about as capable as the PS One — which is to say, incapable of anything beyond the most basic, primitive 3D. The expanded story's what I'm about.

I'm mildly annoyed that the alteration the Celes scene, but otherwise I'd rather play this version over any of the others. I no longer have a SNES or the SNES cart (sold it for $25 at Gamestop... yes, Gamestop actually paid that much for a game, yes, I still regret it) and the PS1 version, while it had nice cutscenes and some extras, was nearly unplayable due to the load times. I actually do have a version of the original I can play via... less legal methods, but I'd still rather play the newer version.

And I really, really hope V and especially VI eventually gets the treatment IV is getting for the DS. Speaking of IV, I've decided not to bother with the GBA verions and just wait for the eventual DS remake. I like V and VI well enough to own and play both versions (though I still need to get around to actually beating V), I just didn't care for IV that much. Rydia was awesome but the rest of the game was so-so. Oh, and it was also the most unintentionally hilarious with all that melodrama and oh, look, yet another one of our party members bravely sacrificed themselves.

[HitokiriShadow]

I'm holding out until there are some games I want to buy. Right now there are a few games I am willing to drool over (Trusty Bell, FF13), but they don't exist until they're in stores as far as I'm concerned. So once those are out, I'll probably go for it. I am hoping, I admit, that by the time that happens, Sony will have pulled their heads out of their asses and priced the thing correctly. The 40-gigger should be no more than $300, especially in light of its glaring deficiency.

I wonder if I can hold out that long. I play RPGs almost exlusively, but one of the big exceptions is the Metal Gear Solid series and MGS4 should be coming out sometime in '08 (currently set for "Spring" but who knows if it will get pushed back again). I'd like to hold out until there are more games I care about, but I think I'm going to need to play MGS4 ASAP.

But speaking of FF13... as a huge FF fan, I'm going to get it. But from what little I've seen, I'm not too excited about it. I couldn't find where I saw it, but I'm certain I saw and read that it has a Shiva-cycle. :sd:

[ADC]

Of course, my preference for DS remakes of the FFs would be for them to knock it off with this 3D nonsense and make the graphics more along the lines of Revenant Wings, which itself drew from the style of FFT to a degree. But that's more because the DS is a substandard 3D platform than because of any anti-3D angst on my part. FF3DS was a decent game, but it sure wasn't pretty. The screenshots I've seen of FF4DS suggest that it'll be about as not pretty as FF3DS was.

I guess, though, that it's actually easier these days to program 3D graphics. The APIs are geared for 3D, or something like that. I guess, also, that one reason the DS is lame for 3D is that Nintendo throttled the 3D hardware to extend battery longevity. I have no proof of that, but if it's true, I'm glad they did. Better to get 10 hours of mediocre 3D than two hours of awesome 3D and eight hours of dead weight.

[ADC]

But speaking of FF13... as a huge FF fan, I'm going to get it. But from what little I've seen, I'm not too excited about it. I couldn't find where I saw it, but I'm certain I saw and read that it has a Shiva-cycle. :sd:
I think I recall that, too. Something about how summoned creatures would have more uses and interaction than in past FFs, including how they'd be used outside of battle. And that's fine by me. I'd love to take Shiva for a ride. FF-Shiva, that is.

[DeadlyMessiah]

THERE IS NO PS3 REMAKE!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, I've played all 12, and my top favorites are XII, VI, IX, VII, and IV. XII (my favorite) is just an amazing game all round with a great story, awesome characters like the Judges, and excellent music. Kefka rules in VI, and the game is fun overall, IX had a fantastic story, VII was convuluted but fun with great summons, while IV was just a masterpiece in every aspect.

The worst in the series is XI, which I played for an hour and quit, followed by V, which was boring, III, and then X. X had the worst designs I have ever seen, and Wakka is just, well, I don't want to offend anyone. Well, the only thing I really like about V and III is the Dragoon class, I love the jump attack.

[HitokiriShadow]

The screenshots I've seen of FF4DS suggest that it'll be about as not pretty as FF3DS was.

I'd love it if it was better, but I'm fine with FF3 level graphics on the DS. But as much as I love being able to play these games at work, I would prefer for them to do a complete graphics overhaul (while still remaining 2D) and do a console remake. Oh, and they would be sure that the load times are non-existent. Even with nice HD graphics, there's really no excuse for any load times whatsoever on a PS3 re-release of a SNES game. I'm okay with the small screen (it works better than I had thought it would) but TV screens are preferred.


I guess, though, that it's actually easier these days to program 3D graphics. The APIs are geared for 3D, or something like that. I guess, also, that one reason the DS is lame for 3D is that Nintendo throttled the 3D hardware to extend battery longevity. I have no proof of that, but if it's true, I'm glad they did. Better to get 10 hours of mediocre 3D than two hours of awesome 3D and eight hours of dead weight.

Yeah, sadly, battery technology doesn't seem to be evolving with the video game related technology.

[HitokiriShadow]

But speaking of FF13... as a huge FF fan, I'm going to get it. But from what little I've seen, I'm not too excited about it. I couldn't find where I saw it, but I'm certain I saw and read that it has a Shiva-cycle. :sd:
I think I recall that, too. Something about how summoned creatures would have more uses and interaction than in past FFs, including how they'd be used outside of battle. And that's fine by me. I'd love to take Shiva for a ride. FF-Shiva, that is.

I think being able to make use of summons outside of battle is a nice idea. Turning Shiva into a motorcycle... there are plenty of worse ideas and maybe it will work out okay, but I'm not feeling it.

Aside from seeing the Shiva-cycle, I haven't really kept up with the few FF13 updates that have come out, but the initial screenshots/trailer released didn't wow me. I mean graphically it was great, but... what little I could grasp of the battle system looked... very different. Now, not knowing anything about it doesn't help, but I can't help but be wary of significant changes.

On the positive side, Lightning is hot. Then again, so were Ashe and Fran, but that didn't keep me interested in FF12.

[ADC]

On the positive side, Lightning is hot. Then again, so were Ashe and Fran, but that didn't keep me interested in FF12.
Try adjusting the camera to look at them from a lower angle. :D (Unfortunately, it is possible to see that Ashelia's wearing a skort.)

[HitokiriShadow]

Try adjusting the camera to look at them from a lower angle. :D (Unfortunately, it is possible to see that Ashelia's wearing a skort.)

Oh, believe me, I did, at least for Fran. It's quite easy with a nice slope. But I still lost interest and finishing FF12 is very low on my priority list.

[ADC]

Fair enough. But don't you get the feeling that Square's graphics designers knew that FF12's story was lackluster and figured they'd do their best to keep the gamers interested? Maybe that's why it was delayed so much: "The story isn't good enough. We have to make the story better." "Wait, this might work." And all of a sudden, Fran's skirt disappears. "That's good work, Tetsuya."

[Ty]

As much as it pains me to admit it perhaps part of the reason I'm hesitant to play FF12 is because in a sense the magic hold the series had over me has weakened.
Actually XII will restore your faith somewhat. It seems at first glance like it's alien and doesn't have the "feel" of the old games but once you play it you find pretty fast that it does. It was a hugely pleasant surprise to me. Switching teams was a great call and just what the series needed to feel fresh again. The FFT team did a wonderful job of making it feel like Final Fantasy. I am at a complete and total lost to explain why I didn't finish it. I like the game and enjoyed playing it. I just stopped one day for no reason and haven't picked it up since. It shows how badly my love of games has left me really. It kills me but it's true.

[Nosredna]

I honestly thought XII got rid of all the good feelings I had back after playing X. Be to each their own.

[Ty]

You're just not looking at the right games, then. Maybe I'm the weird one, as I have no fewer than 38 games for my DS, but I've found that it's far and away the best of the Generation 7 games systems. Does the PS3 even have 38 games?

To be fair I've never been a portable gamer. Part of it is my eyes, they have some trouble keeping focus so I don't get along well with really small screens. Plus I've just never seen the appeal. I'm not in the mood to play unless I'm in front of my tv. It's not that there aren't good games for the DS, I'm sure there are, it's that there is so little left that I know I would really play because I'm just not that person anymore. FFVI and VII is where my heart is and that's what it would take to bring me back.

About the remakes I agree if you're talking about VI. It's only real chance of a full remake is on the DS and honestly that's not what would interest me. What I want to see is a game that takes the best possible advantage of modern rendering and resolution but still presents the game in the original isometric 2/3 overhead perspective. Basically it still looks the same but has been reborn with greater detail and color with more animations. Add to that an expansion to the story and lots of cool new spell and battle effects with a complete symphonic re-scoring of the music and you have a nostalgic fanboy's dream come true. Chances of this happening: 0. I know it but I can't help but dream.

FFVII on the other hand has a real chance of landing on a non-portable system in total remake form. It was 3D to begin with and ushered in the grand storytelling style for the series. It also expanded the series to new fans like no other FF has before or since. It's actually the most logical choice to redo it on the PS3 or Xbox360 because it honors the spirit of the original in the sense that it the standard that defines what a grand presentation of an PRG can be on the current generation of hardware.

[Kaikou]

I honestly thought XII got rid of all the good feelings I had back after playing X. Be to each their own.

I didn't have too good of feelings about either of the games. I think it had something to do with the male lead characters, both seemed whiny to me.

I did finish XII and I would have finished X, but a good friend of mine accidentally overwrote my save with his. (I was at the end of the game) Although it wasn't a huge deal, being that I hadn't played the game for a year. (don't ask me why I didn't just finish it. :noodle: )

[Ty]

I honestly thought XII got rid of all the good feelings I had back after playing X. Be to each their own.
Are opinions on the matter are completely opposite then. :sd: I hated X with prejudice and thought the game felt alien with no trace the "soul" that FF games always had. Just goes to show how we all define what's presented differently in our minds.

[ADC]

I honestly thought XII got rid of all the good feelings I had back after playing X. Be to each their own.
FF10 gave me no good feelings to lose. I only bought FFX-2 because I'm a fanboy — but oh! that my faith should have been restored so completely by a game that draws so much on the awfulness of FF10.

[Nosredna]

I honestly thought XII got rid of all the good feelings I had back after playing X. Be to each their own.
FF10 gave me no good feelings to lose. I only bought FFX-2 because I'm a fanboy — but oh! that my faith should have been restored so completely by a game that draws so much on the awfulness of FF10.

You and I disagree, all is right in the world :) .

[Suwako Moriya]

Actually XII will restore your faith somewhat. It seems at first glance like it's alien and doesn't have the "feel" of the old games but once you play it you find pretty fast that it does.

Perhaps it will restore my faith, but the hard part is getting the motivation to try it in the first place. If I can get past then maybe just maybe...

[Suwako Moriya]

I honestly thought XII got rid of all the good feelings I had back after playing X. Be to each their own.

I have mixed feelings on FF10. The battle system was interesting and I liked Rikku. However something about the way the game progressed just felt wrong to me. Then again maybe it's because it felt like it was too straight forward.... I think it's part of the reason I never got into FF10-2.

[Nosredna]

I honestly thought XII got rid of all the good feelings I had back after playing X. Be to each their own.
Are opinions on the matter are completely opposite then. :sd: I hated X with prejudice and thought the game felt alien with no trance the "soul" that FF games always had. Just goes to show how we all define what's presented differently in our minds.

Well I really disliked IX, so I was happy to see the direction they went with in X. But I didn't like XII's characters at all, that's the main reason I didn't like the game.

[HitokiriShadow]

I honestly thought XII got rid of all the good feelings I had back after playing X. Be to each their own.

I have mixed feelings on FF10. The battle system was interesting and I liked Rikku. However something about the way the game progressed just felt wrong to me. Then again maybe it's because it felt like it was too straight forward.... I think it's part of the reason I never got into FF10-2.

FF10-2 is the most non-linear FF game ever.

[HitokiriShadow]

Fair enough. But don't you get the feeling that Square's graphics designers knew that FF12's story was lackluster and figured they'd do their best to keep the gamers interested? Maybe that's why it was delayed so much: "The story isn't good enough. We have to make the story better." "Wait, this might work." And all of a sudden, Fran's skirt disappears. "That's good work, Tetsuya."

That, or they spent too much time on the graphics and new battle system and then they suddenly remembered they needed a story to go with their characters. Then after they hashed out a story, they realized they three times the number of main characters they actually needed and the one they had been billing as the main character for years wasn't one of them. So then they had to figure out how to justify the existence of these characters.

[HitokiriShadow]

I liked 9 (while it had a final boss out of nowhere it was great otherwise and it was a huge improvement over 8) and I thought 10 was great. I can see why some people may have had issues with 10 (that laughing scene was retarded, and the "my story" stuff was annoying) though I really didn't see Tidus as whiny. As far as I'm concerned, SquEnix forgot about 11. 12... a good concept but failed in execution, the biggest disappointment since the last two discs of FF8 except it was the whole game this time.

[Suwako Moriya]

Well I really disliked IX, so I was happy to see the direction they went with in X. But I didn't like XII's characters at all, that's the main reason I didn't like the game.

Ah yes Final Fantasy 9. On the positive side I like some of the characters and the nostalgic feel it had for a newer FF. On the negative side it felt rather well slow....

[Kaikou]

I liked 9 (while it had a final boss out of nowhere it was great otherwise and it was a huge improvement over 8) and I thought 10 was great. I can see why some people may have had issues with 10 (that laughing scene was retarded, and the "my story" stuff was annoying) though I really didn't see Tidus as whiny. As far as I'm concerned, SquEnix forgot about 11. 12... a good concept but failed in execution, the biggest disappointment since the last two discs of FF8 except it was the whole game this time.

I liked VIII quite a bit more than IX. I didn't like how IX veered away from the realistic characters of VII and VIII. I remember being extremely bored during the middle to end of IX as well. I did enjoy IX more than X and possibly XII.

Can't be any more specific of my likes or dislikes of IX, because I just can't remember much of the game; didn't make an impression on me at all.

[Suwako Moriya]

FF10-2 is the most non-linear FF game ever.

So I've heard, but stuff like the focus on mini-games (apparently) and the whole headache to get 100% kind of doesn't sit well with me. Too bad because the none-linear aspect did interest me.

[HitokiriShadow]

Well, if you want to get 100%, then yes, you need to do a lot of mini-games of varying degrees of fun. The shooting game was a blast, the numbergame was so-so. I don't remember the others. But if you hate mini-games, then that would be a problem, even if you aren't going for 100%.

[Suwako Moriya]

But if you hate mini-games, then that would be a problem, even if you aren't going for 100%.

I often don't care for them when they're forced and feel like they are based on pure luck. Oh yeah I forgot I need to use the Giga Slave on the Gorons from Zelda: Oracle of Ages....

[ADC]

So I've heard, but stuff like the focus on mini-games (apparently) and the whole headache to get 100% kind of doesn't sit well with me. Too bad because the none-linear aspect did interest me.
It's the most SaGarific FF since FF2, so it'll suit you. The mini-games aren't Mario Party fodder and aren't required, so you're clear on that one. And believe me on this point: You don't want to get 100 percent completion. The world's a much better place as long as Tidus is dead, dead, dead.

[HitokiriShadow]

But if you hate mini-games, then that would be a problem, even if you aren't going for 100%.

I often don't care for them when they're forced and feel like they are based on pure luck. Oh yeah I forgot I need to use the Giga Slave on the Gorons from Zelda: Oracle of Ages....

If any of them were based on luck or even felt like it, there were very, very few.

[HitokiriShadow]

So I've heard, but stuff like the focus on mini-games (apparently) and the whole headache to get 100% kind of doesn't sit well with me. Too bad because the none-linear aspect did interest me.
It's the most SaGarific FF since FF2, so it'll suit you. The mini-games aren't Mario Party fodder and aren't required, so you're clear on that one. And believe me on this point: You don't want to get 100 percent completion. The world's a much better place as long as Tidus is dead, dead, dead.

I never got 100% completion, but I thought he didn't actually come back, he just appeared briefly and said something to Yuna or something like that.

[Suwako Moriya]

It's the most SaGarific FF since FF2, so it'll suit you. The mini-games aren't Mario Party fodder and aren't required, so you're clear on that one.

SaGarific is certainly an interesting term to use. Also I can never forget that ultimately FF2 is responsible for the birth of my favorite series. Now if only a SaGa thread would last more than five seconds..

And believe me on this point: You don't want to get 100 percent completion. The world's a much better place as long as Tidus is dead, dead, dead.

*Actually reads hidden part* Hmm I'll just say that I continue to hate Tidus for his stupid "It's my story" line and the whole center of the universe crap.

[Suwako Moriya]

If any of them were based on luck or even felt like it, there were very, very few.

Ah that's nice to hear. On a side note I have to wonder if maybe I've become partially afraid of trying "new" stuff where I can't hide behind familiarity. Or maybe not since it didn't prevent me from some of the more recent stuff I played like Tales of Abyss, but then again that was awhile ago.

[ADC]

SaGarific is certainly an interesting term to use. Also I can never forget that ultimately FF2 is responsible for the birth of my favorite series. Now if only a SaGa thread would last more than five seconds..
The problem with the SaGa threads is that most of the SaGa games that made it out in the States are mediocre. FFL2 was awesome; SGF was quite good; the rest are kind of whatever. Now, we've been down this road before, but when Square Enix do a remastered compilation of the FFLs on a DS card, I'll be first in line to pick that up. In the meantime, there's not a lot to discuss. :shrug:

[Suwako Moriya]

Now, we've been down this road before, but when Square Enix do a remastered compilation of the FFLs on a DS card, I'll be first in line to pick that up.

This part I'll respond to for now by saying if they were to remake the FFLs, I'd hope for them to be more fleshed out. Also I want it so if I have four mutant females they actually look different from each other. At least different hair colors would be good.

[Ty]

FFL2 was awesome
Best GB game ever. I still have a Polaroid lying around somewhere showing 65,314 damage being done to Echigoya by a punch attack from one of his own lackies. Back in the day that was cool stuff. :neko:

[Kouji Tamino]

Just beat the Undying in Final Fantasy XII and loved the game through and through, thinking about getting FFXII: Revenant Wings, getting III for Christmas, looking forward to IV for DS, and getting a PS3 for XIII (among other things).

I was introduced to the franchise by my friend, watched him play VII and X, played X-2 myself and have been hooked ever since.

I loved the characters and story in XII. It was nice for once to not have the plot spoon fed to you with countless unskippable FMVs and contrived plot twists. Although I do enjoy melodrama, not every game can be the same. I liked the more subtle plot and the ensemble cast involving a bunch of ragtag misfits joining up to save a kingdom. This was the first 'main' Final Fantasy in the series that I played through myself, and I'm looking forward to playing some of the others.

[DeadlyMessiah]

Just beat the Undying in Final Fantasy XII and loved the game through and through, thinking about getting FFXII: Revenant Wings, getting III for Christmas, looking forward to IV for DS, and getting a PS3 for XIII (among other things).

Don't waste your time with Revenant Wings. I made the mistake of buying it, played it for about 2 hours the day it came out, and haven't touched it since. It is just too friggin chaotic, like Tactics chaotic. Heck, the only difference I see between this and Tactics is that you can move everyone at once.

You definitely played the best one first, as the new battle system, story, Gambits, Quickenings, all make this one awesome game, and my top favorite for 2006.

[Mr. Spiffy-Pants]

Really? I had trouble getting into Final Fantasy XII personally. I found myself more interested in the supporting characters than Vaan, the main character. Personally, I could care less if Vaan became a washed-up bus driver dreaming of sky piracy or not. He was dull to me. The combat system was ok, but the story was so-so in my opinion.

[Nosredna]

It seems to me we are having the same argument, just with different people now.

[Suwako Moriya]

It seems to me we are having the same argument, just with different people now.

Think of it as practice for when we prepare to get into a debate over FF17-2.7893: The Crystal Era vs FF19-5.727447: The Elements. :sd:

[Mr. Spiffy-Pants]

The same argument? That FFXII had an interesting overall environment, I'm assuming. I think the environment in general had potential, but it just didn't really click for me. Of course, neither did FFVIII for me. I really liked the ending for FFVIII, but the overall game just didn't attract me as well as FFVII had a few years prior.

Don't get me started on FFIX...

[Ty]

Don't waste your time with Revenant Wings. I made the mistake of buying it, played it for about 2 hours the day it came out, and haven't touched it since. It is just too friggin chaotic, like Tactics chaotic. Heck, the only difference I see between this and Tactics is that you can move everyone at once.
Different strokes. Some people love that gameplay style for exactly the reasons you just listed. Tactics is made of awesomeness and win as far as I'm concerned.

[Nosredna]

It seems to me we are having the same argument, just with different people now.

Think of it as practice for when we prepare to get into a debate over FF17-2.7893: The Crystal Era vs FF19-5.727447: The Elements. :sd:

Good point, maybe we should just make a list of all the games and put who likes and who hates each of them, it would save some time :P .

[Kaikou]

It seems to me we are having the same argument, just with different people now.

Think of it as practice for when we prepare to get into a debate over FF17-2.7893: The Crystal Era vs FF19-5.727447: The Elements. :sd:

Good point, maybe we should just make a list of all the games and put who likes and who hates each of them, it would save some time :P .

If you're referring to all the FF games, then being that you suggested it, why don't you start by listing the one's you like or don't like, along with reasons why?

[ADC]

Don't waste your time with Revenant Wings. I made the mistake of buying it, played it for about 2 hours the day it came out, and haven't touched it since. It is just too friggin chaotic, like Tactics chaotic. Heck, the only difference I see between this and Tactics is that you can move everyone at once.
Different strokes. Some people love that gameplay style for exactly the reasons you just listed. Tactics is made of awesomeness and win as far as I'm concerned.
I concur when DM says don't waste your time, but only because it's not a waste of time. RW is a very good game that just doesn't work for DM, and that's his problem, not anybody else's. :> Indeed, I found the chaos-in-a-box style of RW to be quite a lot of fun.

Of course, I put in about 50 hours on that game, so I was able to find almost all of the awesome in it.

[Kaikou]

Don't waste your time with Revenant Wings. I made the mistake of buying it, played it for about 2 hours the day it came out, and haven't touched it since. It is just too friggin chaotic, like Tactics chaotic. Heck, the only difference I see between this and Tactics is that you can move everyone at once.
Different strokes. Some people love that gameplay style for exactly the reasons you just listed. Tactics is made of awesomeness and win as far as I'm concerned.
I concur when DM says don't waste your time, but only because it's not a waste of time. RW is a very good game that just doesn't work for DM, and that's his problem, not anybody else's. :> Indeed, I found the chaos-in-a-box style of RW to be quite a lot of fun.

Of course, I put in about 50 hours on that game, so I was able to find almost all of the awesome in it.

You got 50 hours out of RW? Damn I might have to seriously look into the game, as I heard it was a bit "too easy". (although I think the US version they upped the difficulty a bit)

[Ty]

It seems to me we are having the same argument, just with different people now.

Think of it as practice for when we prepare to get into a debate over FF17-2.7893: The Crystal Era vs FF19-5.727447: The Elements. :sd:

Good point, maybe we should just make a list of all the games and put who likes and who hates each of them, it would save some time :P .
It's a shame it always becomes argumentative that way, but I think it only goes to show how much certain entries in the series touch people and in different ways. The fact that we're discussing all the FF games certainly opens up the field to "X is better than Y" discussion too.

[DeadlyMessiah]

Really? I had trouble getting into Final Fantasy XII personally. I found myself more interested in the supporting characters than Vaan, the main character. Personally, I could care less if Vaan became a washed-up bus driver dreaming of sky piracy or not. He was dull to me. The combat system was ok, but the story was so-so in my opinion.

Well for starters, I love the designs in XII, especially for the Judges. The voice acting was top notch, and the gameplay was very addicting. I hardly like turn based, I play FF because I like the stories and designs (most of the time), but I hate running towards a chest, have to battle, win, move two more steps, battle, another step, battle, and finally, 10 minutes later, I reach that chest, just to find out it has a monster in it. Then there is the fact that when you want to level up, you have to hope you get monsters that will give you great EXP. For XII, I spent most of my time fighting Zanghal's on the Ozmond Plain since they gave the best EXP, LP, to the point that I had everyone's License Board cleared at 50 hours. I fought the final boss at Level 67, with Basch being my lowest at 58. The Gambit system made the game fun so I could just run up to a monster with everthing preset to win every time, only needing to change tactics once in a while. The monster hunts were fun, I still have 6 more to do, and I currently have 121 hours put into the game. XII is the first game I have ever put more than 70 hours into it, and the only reason I finished the story when I did last year was because it was Xmas eve.

[ADC]

You got 50 hours out of RW? Damn I might have to seriously look into the game, as I heard it was a bit "too easy". (although I think the US version they upped the difficulty a bit)
They really ramped up the difficulty in Chapters 8–10. I looked in the strategy guide when I was at B&N (after I finished the game, of course), and while they don't say how the US version is harder, it does look like most of the enemies you fight later in the game have level advantage of 5–15 levels. You make up the difference by playing fast and playing smart. If you can't do the former, you might still be okay because the player AI is pretty good. But if you can't do the latter … sorry, chum.

And that's something about FF12 that, in retrospect, I didn't really like. In some of the battles, the only thing was to whittle down the boss's HP to 20 percent, then hit it with a round of Quickenings, then swap out this group of player pawns for that group, then hit it with another round of Quickenings. Strategy? Not so much. There's a little bit more strategy to RW, though the bosses aren't as über.

[Nosredna]

If you're referring to all the FF games, then being that you suggested it, why don't you start by listing the one's you like or don't like, along with reasons why?

I hate them all, because they suck ;) . No seriously, I'm not really going to make a list nor do I really want people to make a list, I was only joking. We've just had discussions before about which games we liked and which ones we didn't. Like Ty said, "it only goes to show how much certain entries in the series touch people and in different ways." And that's how we should leave it.

[Kaikou]

If you're referring to all the FF games, then being that you suggested it, why don't you start by listing the one's you like or don't like, along with reasons why?

I hate them all, because they suck ;) . No seriously, I'm not really going to make a list nor do I really want people to make a list, I was only joking. We've just had discussions before about which games we liked and which ones we didn't. Like Ty said, "it only goes to show how much certain entries in the series touch people and in different ways." And that's how we should leave it.

I was actually interested in reading your thoughts on each game. :laugh:

[Ty]

I was actually interested in reading your thoughts on each game. :laugh:
I'd like to see any FF fan summarize their feelings on every single one without it turning into a bona fide book. It would take me at least an hour to write my own response to such a question. :noodle:

[Kaikou]

I was actually interested in reading your thoughts on each game. :laugh:
I'd like to see any FF fan summarize their feelings on every single one without it turning into a bona fide book. It would take me at least an hour to write my own response to such a question. :noodle:

Yes I know, that's why if you actually did it, it'd make for a very interesting read. :noodle: Can't blame you for not wanting to give it a go or me for wanting you to give it a go. :sd:

[Ty]

Yes I know, that's why if you actually did it, it'd make for a very interesting read. :noodle: Can't blame you for not wanting to give it a go or me for wanting you to give it a go. :sd:
I think what I wrote would depend on my mood. Plus I tend to ramble on at length about the music, which I have always shared an inexplicably deep connection with. Especially FFVI.

Not this late at night though. I'm getting too old for that. :P

[Suwako Moriya]

I'd like to see any FF fan summarize their feelings on every single one without it turning into a bona fide book.

I'm chaotic when it comes to opinions. Either mine are short and thus lack any weight to them or they are long winded and give people headaches. One thing I can say is this. While I can give good and bad points for multiple games in a series, I'm not that good at deciding from best to worse sometimes. Heck part of me doesn't want to...

[ADC]

I'm going to try it. If AOD's down tomorrow morning, sorry. ;)

Final Fantasy. It took three versions and over a decade before I could get anywhere in this game. Back in the day, they made games hard, man. I knew from the first that I liked it, but it was always too much of a pain to get anywhere in it because of the lack of accessible save points, the huge numbers of enemies — and it was harder because I believed the lie. The Black Mage sucks balls in the NES/PS1 versions of the game. Not enough ATK, not enough spell castings — he's basically useless by the time you get to the boss! (Which boss? All of them.) Once it dropped on the GBA, it was much more playable, thanks to a move to MP instead of spell castings, but as I look back, I kind of like the harder limit that castings placed on you. I just needed to adjust my tactics. Warrior, Monk, Red Mage, White Mage instead of Warrior, Monk, White Mage, Black Mage, and off I go. If I really cared to play it again on the PS1, that's how I'd do it … Clearly, it's primitive, more a proof of concept than a great game. But that's fine. The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.

Final Fantasy II. I still haven't finished it, and I may never. I respect it for being different from its predecessor, and for basically starting the SaGa series in its own right. But the fact is, the story's not that good, the game doesn't provide enough feedback for you to tell how well your characters are developing, and the cleanup spot in your team order is a revolving door of whomevers. They tried to make a game with an expanded cast, and that's fine. It just didn't work. Maybe I'll try it again one of these days?

Final Fantasy III. I never played the original beyond a Japanese-language ROM on iNES, in which I never reached the exit from the first cave. I did finish the DS game, and I think the job class system was not particularly well implemented here. There are 2x classes in the game, which is awesome — or it would be, if the game didn't give you stats bonuses for staying in a job, then take them away (and temporarily nerf you) when you switched. As with its two predecessors, this game is better when taken as proof of concept than as its own game. The groundwork laid on the job class system would make a whole bunch of games better down the road, but it didn't do anything here. And this game helped cement the perception that odd-numbered FFs had no story. There might be less here than in the original — and you notice that I didn't mention the story of that game at all in its capsule.

Final Fantasy IV. If I were cool, I'd say I bought a SNES just for this game. I'm not cool, and I had SMW and LoZ3 long before this hit the States. But while I don't consider it one of my favorites in the series, I do love it whenever I play it. Active Time Battle is the best thing to happen to RPG battle systems ever. The story's amazing, and that's even though the creators only fit about 25 percent of the scenario on the cart. The music's excellent for the first time in the series. It's fun. The characters are mostly awesome. But it has its flaws. Everybody's locked into his or her own job class. Learning spells is tied to character level, absent a few summoned creatures. The party is determined by the game with no input from the gamer (until very late in FF4A). And that means you're stuck with Edge, the pantywaist ninja who can take a hit for 1500 damage while in the back row on something that does 1 damage to Rose in the front. I haaaaaaaaate Edge. If it were possible to somehow skip Eblan altogether and go straight to the Giant of Bab-il, I would. Yes, even if it meant running with four instead of five. Seriously, this guy's up there with Marach (FFT) on the suckage scale. (The only ninja in the whole series who's worth the time and effort is Yuffie. Sad commentary.)

Final Fantasy V. They did the job classes right this time. Giving some bonus to the character who masters a class, whether in terms of stats or abilities, makes playing a job-class FF a lot more fun. And even more surprisingly, there's a story in this game! They did a good job on that. The style of the game is a bit more light-hearted than FF4 was, owing to the use of rudimentary emoticons during "dramatic" moments, but the story was just as big and the world might have been a bit larger. Also, the GBA version is gorgeous. They did an outstanding job on the graphics remaster. And most importantly, there's Lenna in a China dress and Krile in a cat-ear hood. Earlier FFs didn't have cute characters. Rydia fanboys are going to flame me for that.

Final Fantasy VI. Every time I play this game, my feeling that this is more sacred cow than RPG God gets stronger. I don't mind there being an ensemble cast, but this one's too big by about five. I don't mind the way they try to give each character some useful skills, but some of them … aren't! What I do mind, however, is the same thing I minded back in the day: Espers. Every character can have every spell, and every character can use every spell to roughly the same effect. The graphics are ugly, to be blunt, especially on the Mode 7 world map. They tried to fit too many details into not enough pixels, and it ends up being a busy, confused mess. But the music is deservedly considered among the best in the series, and none's better than the haunting pipe organ and wind that greets you when you get your first look at the World of Ruin. If it weren't for "Aeris' Theme," that might be my favorite musical cue in the entire series. Of course, there is no villain in all of RPGs who can top the Clown Prince of Darkness, Kefka. I still get gooseflesh when I hear that laugh, and then I get a big grin of my own.

Final Fantasy VII. If I were cool, I'd say that I already had a PS1 when this came out, and it was an impulse buy. I'm not cool, and FF7 was the game that swung me all the way from Nintendo to Sony. And that's okay. It's the best game in the series. The move to 3D was undercooked, owing to the fact that the PS1 wasn't capable of good 3D, but the full-motion video was amazing. Still, I can't say that I played it straight through from the first shot of Aeris in Sector 8 to the hero shot of Red XIII and his kids on the cliff, and that's because this is the first (and still only) game to actually make me cry. I saved my game after that and didn't play it again for a month. The thing is, while games had been unfair from a standpoint of ridiculous difficulty or awful design, none had ever been "life's unfair, kid." I noticed that the next time I played FF7 all the way through, I was unusually nice to Aeris throughout disc 1, to the point that she was my date at the Gold Saucer. Prior to that, I'd been more friendly with Tifa … Wouldn't it be awesome if they did a DS version in the original 2D? I'd buy it even if they charged $40. Just leave that FMV in, is all.

Final Fantasy VIII. Once upon a time, I made it to the third disc of this game. Problem is, there are four discs, and I was done with it. I found exactly zero of the nine heroes to be sympathetic or likeable, and while I could tolerate Quistis and Selphie (and that's only because they're HAWT), I always had a tough time picking my third character from that rogues' gallery. (I liked having Edea in the group — again, HAWT.) I've learned to accept that FF is a 3D series now, but I do not like the realistic look of the modern games. I've said before, when did it become Final Reality? The Draw/Junction magic system was annoying, the Guardian Forces took far too long to just use, the weapons upgrading was obtuse and needlessly difficult. Basically, everything they did to make FF8 different from FF7 served also to make it worse. Add a convoluted and broken story to the mix and you've got a recipe for disaster.

Final Fantasy IX. If they'd been wise, Sakaguchi and Co. would have held this one back and upgraded it for the PS2. The graphics engine pushes the Playstation past its effective limits, and at times it shows. There are frame-drops. There are visible seams in the environments. The textures are blocky. The light and particle effects just make the picture look really grainy and dirty. But they did a lot right on this game, too. It breaks away from the steam/electric/atomic punk stylings of its recent predecessors and takes the game back to its mediæval roots, while adding a lot of fun references to past FFs. The story has a sense of humor that was mostly absent in the previous two games. The whimsical character designs got one last chance before the series descended again into realistic whatever. After two games with no job classes of any kind, this game brought back the jobs, and the characters and battle strategies improved as a result. Plus, most importantly, it has Princess Garnet til Alexandros XVII. Yuna? Fran? Pffth.

Final Fantasy X. I haaaaaaaate Tidus. If they'd deleted him and made Yuna the star, it still wouldn't be my favorite of the bunch, but it wouldn't be dead last, either. Which it is, all because of Tidus. It's a gorgeous game, and they did a lot right with the Conditional Turn Based battle system, the Aeons, and the Sphere Grid. But when you factor in the story that drags you by the nose in a straight line from start to finish with almost no breaks for side quests, the abominable malarkey of blitzball, and … Tidus … it very quickly overshadows all that's good about the game. There's a lot to like, but there's just too much to hate. And I do. It's Yuna's story, you stupid nancy boy! Put a shirt on!

Final Fantasy X-2. If the SaGa games were like this, with the amount of freedom allowed balanced by a good signposting system, it might be my favorite Square Enix series. After the über-linear FF10, X-2 breaks it up into missions and lets you move through the story at your own pace, only very gently nudging you in the right direction. They did a great job on the job-class system, and I really liked the return to a small cast of player characters. There were times when the J-poppiness of the game made it, well, disasterrific, but the story was actually quite good, and it was just a lot of fun to play. FF10 felt more like work. I don't have a problem with the recycling of location graphics, and I enjoyed having another chance to play in Spira, especially with no Tidus to ruin it all.

Final Fantasy XII. Just as X-2 seems to have aged well when looked at critically, FF12 seems to age rather poorly. The main character is a cipher, just there because he's the first guy you get to control. The Gambit system does automate the battles very effectively, but it often boils down, in the boss battles, to letting the game play itself for a while, then breaking out the Quickenings when it's time to get down to shit and brass tacks. The world is huge, which adds to the realism (Final Reality again), but it also breaks the story up so badly that sometimes it's hard to care whether you reach the next town or not. The economy is broken, with loot being so poor of value that it takes forever to afford what you want to buy — but that's okay! because you need to spend that time level-grinding to survive the next dungeon. Graphically, the game is absolutely beautiful, and while it pushes the PS2 to the limit of its capabilities, the result isn't as uneven as FF9 was on the PS1 or FF6 on the SNES. The story is underwhelming, the characters are underwhelming, the gameplay is underwhelming … yet I put in over 100 hours on it. And that's what happens when the side quests are that good. I loved the Mark hunts, even though they often ended up just like the boss battles: Let the game play itself for a while, then break out the Quickenings. It was just more interesting doing this work for the Clan rather than going out there to save the world. And Hitoshi Sakimoto's score, with its cues familiar to fans of FFT, is gorgeous.

…
I think I'll discuss the side stories, gaidens, and spins-off some other time. This might be the longest post I've ever made on AOD. :nervous:

[Ty]

You thought Final Fantasy VI was ugly....ugly!? I'm never speaking to you again. :P

More seriously, while I can see what you mean by busy that very same trait is what impressed me so much. Instead of a grey floor with squiggly lines for wood when you go to the docks in a town in FFVI you see little cobblestones inset on the steps, and drainage pipes emptying out in the bay, baskets of food and cargo and ropes tying the wood planking together. I could go on and on. This game defines how detailed and beautiful a 16-bit graphics engine could become. Sure the Mode 7 world map doesn't hold up by today's standards but it was plenty awesome for it's time. I always liked it. Plus the game made such incredible use of color and had some pretty fantastic backgrounds in some areas (such as the mountains for example when you reach the peaks you can see the scrolling background behind).

Of course I am biased since it is my all time fav, but you are the very first person I've ever heard describe FFVI as ugly my friend. :)

[Nosredna]

I was actually interested in reading your thoughts on each game. :laugh:

Well for the most part, if I liked the characters, then I liked the game. So if the game had generic characters I wasn't a big fan, I'll leave that up to your imagination which characters I liked and didn't ;) .

[Nosredna]

Interesting thoughts ADC. Of course I disagree with you on more than half the games, but that's okay, if we agree too much, bad things happen :D .

[ADC]

Interesting thoughts ADC. Of course I disagree with you on more than half the games, but that's okay, if we agree too much, bad things happen :D .
If we agree on everything, it accelerates the heat death of the universe. Fortunately, that's still some number of billions of years away, so it'll just suck for the rest of humanity.

In our next installment of As the FF World Turns, Ty Goetz an eye exam. :> Yes, FF6 is not a pretty game. I know this, having played it from start to finish no fewer than five times. It's one of those instances in which ugly does not necessarily equal bad.

[Kaikou]

Interesting thoughts ADC. Of course I disagree with you on more than half the games, but that's okay, if we agree too much, bad things happen :D .
If we agree on everything, it accelerates the heat death of the universe. Fortunately, that's still some number of billions of years away, so it'll just suck for the rest of humanity.

In our next installment of As the FF World Turns, Ty Goetz an eye exam. :> Yes, FF6 is not a pretty game. I know this, having played it from start to finish no fewer than five times. It's one of those instances in which ugly does not necessarily equal bad.

I have to say your the first person who ever said that FFVI looked ugly. (ignoring the mode 7) It did a fantastic job and to this day is considered by many to be one of the top graphical representations of what the SNES was capable of.

Do you consider the previous FF's graphically superior to VI or is it just a matter of how the end product turned out aesthetically for you?

For me I think all the Final Fantasy SNES games look great and see artistic merit in them all. I'd rather see 2D remakes of the games, rather than 3D.

[ADC]

Do you consider the previous FF's graphically superior to VI or is it just a matter of how the end product turned out aesthetically for you?
Æsthetics and structure. Previous FFs were in no way technically superior (though the king of them all is the GBA version of FF5, which appears to have had the most work done on it), but the amount of minute detail in FF6 is just too much. The game ran at something like 256x224, with sprites sized at 16x16, and that's just not enough resolution to put in that much detail and not have it look messy. Some of the environments that used the Mode 7 multiple-backgrounds feature looked neat specifically because of the multiple backgrounds, but that's pretty much it.

As for structure, it's that they made a lot of environments with little corners and crannies that look accessible but can't be accessed; the use of two-sprite characters didn't result in changes to the way areas were built, which meant in many dungeon areas that you'd have to run behind a wall down a path you couldn't actually see; in many areas, objects such as treasure chests blended into the scenery. It's just bad design. Less really is more, especially when working in the realm of 2D graphic design. It doesn't need to be realistic; it needs to be representative. At least, that's what I think.

[Ty]

In our next installment of As the FF World Turns, Ty Goetz an eye exam. :> Yes, FF6 is not a pretty game. I know this, having played it from start to finish no fewer than five times. It's one of those instances in which ugly does not necessarily equal bad.
For me it was at least 7. I've already got Smashingblue backing me up. Seriously, I've talked to a lot of people over the years and I will re-state you are the very first person to ever say that FFVI is ugly looking. There's nothing wrong with that, since I can see how a person could see it that way. However it's hard to argue that there are more people who will agree with me than with you. It's commonly held up as one of the best looking games of the 16-bit era.

So, rather than go back and forth when we each know where we stand; which SNES games do you think are tops in the graphics department? I need to know more about this logic that tells you FFVI is ugly. :noodle:

Oh, and while I'll admit I don't have the best eyes I do consider myself to have an eye for both color and detail. I'm a pretty analytical person. :) No game uses color as effectively as FFVI does in all the 16-bit realm IMO.

[dunno001]

I'd like to see any FF fan summarize their feelings on every single one without it turning into a bona fide book.

I'll give that a shot. Let's see here...

FF1: Okay, admittingly, nostalgia clouds my mind a bit on this one, but for its time, this was a really good and long game. I loved the freedom it granted you, yet it still controlled you enough that you couldn't get yourself COMPLETELY slaughtered by going to the wrong island. However, it wasn't without faults, in that you really needed to money grind to buy some of those things, especially level 8 magic. These days, I'll put it in the middle of the pack.

FF2: This seemed to fix some of the small problems that I had with 1, but then added a few other things I didn't care for. Otherwise, it did feel like 1 redone, and didn't bring enough new to the table. Of course, given what I'll be saying about later ones, this may've been a good thing...

FF3: Ah, classes. Great idea, but not greatly implemented. It annoyed me to no end that those classes I spent so long on trying to level were outdated by a very late set. (I love my healers; seeing my white mage being told he can't do Life 2 really irked me.) But like the prior 2, it was still excellent for sprawl and wandering around.

FF4: Finally, a story that feels fleshed out and makes me care for some of the characters. Yes, I think Kain's a bastard. But the sheer exploration of this game, coupled with its difficulty and the little extras make it one of the better ones in the series.

FF5: I know it's not that popular, but this is my favorite one. They did the classes right! And they also allow for more flexibility without being broken. Challenge is still well up there, although it was a tad easier than 4. Other than the story seeming a bit weaker, I can't fault them for this one.

FF6: I can see why this one is many people's favorite- it's right behind 5 for me. The story is strong and really makes me feel for the characters, even moreso than 4. (But sorry, Locke, you are my thief...) However, it is continuing to get easier, and the magic system really is broken. Plus, things like Gem Box + Economizer or Genji Glove + Offering really take from the challenge...

FF7: What the hell happened here? We go to 3D, and everything else goes to shit? Dungeon exploration is long gone, and by the time you can browse the world map, you've been everywhere! The story severely pales to the awesomeness that was 6. And the materia system is even more broken. Then... their new idea of challenge is adding optional bosses with lots of HP? The game itself was disappointly easy. I thought the plane crashed and burned, until...

FF8: ...ooh... this is where the survivors die, isn't it? Who thought drawing was a good idea? And... there's no check on the summons; in fact, you SHOULD use them to make them stronger? What the hell?? No, summons should be for special occasions. Then you have whats-his-name that you can't take out of your party, and all the enemies levels are tied to him, meaning if you like to rotate people, they all become useless. This is, without a doubt, the worst one in the series.

FF9: Nice to see they went back to some of what they did right way back when. Unfortunately, this game is still too easy. Opening up the map was a nice thing to do again, even by adding some completely optional places. It's definitely the best of the PSX era, but that's not saying much...

FFX: I like this leveling up system, actually. It's different, and makes it easier to customize. Unfortunately, it's also easy to abuse. Plus... the world map? Where? But like all the ones since 6, I remember nothing of the story. Oh, and it's still too easy...

FFX-2: Right... bring in fanservice. No thanks, this game got passed right on by to me.

FFXI: Online only? Hell no, I stay away from those. Therefore, this game doesn't exist.

FF12: At this point, I'm getting bored of the series. It's nice to see that they revamped the battle system, but it also seems clunky. Not to mention all the running around quests, coupled with one of the worst ways of getting around means I couldn't really enjoy this game... I'll go back to DQ now, thanks...

FFT: I'll put in my 2 cents on this also. This game is just frustrating, not because it's hard, but because it's cheap. By the time you have enough points to get just 1 person throw rock, every single enemy has it. And it stays like that for the entire amount of the game I've played. No thanks, Fire Emblem does that right. Even Saiyuki for the PSX does it better. (And how many people have even heard of that one?) So this is just overhyped mediocricy to me...

[Suwako Moriya]

Note: I'm trying to do some of this from memory and thinking more deeply about things. Take from this what you will about which games I like more or less.
--------------------------------------------------
Final Fantasy 1

I will admit I never really finished the original version. Lack of saves being a problem when you're not the only one in a house. Also I played the Origins version on easy. Granted maybe it gave mages too much MP, but I also felt the lack of MP in normal mode made the game very biased against mages.

Maybe it's the effect of the graphical style and music of the Origins version as well as knowing it's place in history. However the game does have this nostalgia feel to it. I'm glad to have played it, but I'm not exactly worshiping it.

Final Fantasy 2

Yes for giving birth to the SaGa series it has a special place in my heart. However at the same I did like how the leveling up system was based on how I played and not just kill stuff until the game let me win.

Still at the same time the whole rotating fourth member thing got silly and sometimes encounters got a bit much. The cast wasn't exactly memorable either. Fun and interesting, but not epic.

Final Fantasy 3

My first experience was with the "Famicom" version and I found it on one hand to be rather simple. However something about it was addictive. I rather liked changing classes and it had a feel similar to FF1, but easier to get into.

That being said playing the DS version shows how flawed the original one. As in the case of the DS version many classes that were once there to fill space are now actually useful. Classes I had to dump earlier in the Famicom version, I can use later in the original.

Final Fantasy 3 isn't a masterpiece or anything epic. However I found it to be a solid experience. At the very least the DS version anyway. I can't really touch the famicom version anymore.

Final Fantasy 4

This is credited as the game that got me into the FF series. Rydia was also my first crush. Plus at least the first time I had a definite interest in what happened next in the story. Although obviously over time the excitement level dies down.

On the other hand I felt the game was too straight forward and strict. A linear path, a preset party, etc. Plus certain story elements got repetitive over time. Like for example the false sacrifices Also due to the strict system the only strategy was either use what I have or level up to get stronger.

Final Fantasy 5

Ah yes finally the ability to mix and match class abilities. Also while the story isn't exactly deep it had that down to earth flair to it. Plus it's got Krile in it that has to count for something right?

Yet the class system was also a mess and seemed rather unorganized with choose between things like more MP or black magic. Like wise the leveling up classes felt tedious and uneven sometimes. I think better organization would have helped a bit.

Final Fantasy 6

Where as FF4 got me into the series, FF6 confirmed my liking for the series. I had a liking for some of the characters and the idea of there being no center of the universe. Plus the battle system was kind of fun to mess around. Also yeah I was a sucker for the graphics.

That being said I'm one of the few who has grown to not care much for Kefka as a villain. The second half was both interesting in terms of a bit of freedom and repetitive in terms of things like therapy battles. Plus perhaps some characters could have been fleshed out a bit more.

Final Fantasy 7

When the experience was new there was certainly a wow factor to it. A change of pace and it could be rather fun. Plus I rather like Yuffie and the final battle tune(s) are kind of addictive. Plus materia was flexible which made things interesting.

However the game hasn't aged that well if you ask me. Also while materia may be flexible, it has the problem of putting more value into the item itself than the actual character. Simply because you could swap materia around. You did have individual skills, but those were on occasion limits as it were. It's the type of game where the limitations come later.

Final Fantasy 8

Truth be told I never found drawing to be too tedious. Then again I also tended to refine items. Plus I made use of spells and never burdened myself with constantly filling everything to 100. I found the idea of using spells as stat boosts to be interesting. Plus the magic system allowed more use of magic. Since everything had its own separate stock rather than share the same MP meter.

However I didn't care for the fact characters were virtually helpless without GFs. Sometimes I'd joke and wonder if they needed GFs just to breathe or wash the dishes. It also doesn't help that no one has to earn their own power. Heck they apparently don't have to earn their own limit breaks either. The concept of the battle system wasn't so bad, but some things irked me about on a certain level.

Final Fantasy 9

I'll admit I welcomed the return to the older graphical style. I liked the music and the way it reminded me of FF4 except less restrictive. However at the same time the game did feel a bit slow not just in terms of loading, but in general. Not really much I can say on this one.

Final Fantasy 10

I like the battle system as it was fun to switch between characters. The sphere grid was an interesting way to level up. Plus on occasion there were interesting moments.

That being said I did not care for the whole "Go North Young Tidus!" crap or the "It's my story, I'm the center of the universe, blah blah" stuff. It really annoyed. FF10 is a game I've glad to have played and facing the final boss on occasion is fun, but it's not one I'd want to replay because it's just too straight forward.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

I will put it very simply. It's not deep, it's not anything amazing, but it works as a time killer. Which is not such a bad thing in the long run. I wouldn't consider it a favorite, but I did enjoy it for some odd reason. Note I played alone for the record.

Final Fantasy Tactics

The level up system is the type I prefer. Customization with reasonable restriction. I loved messing around and setting up party members. The music was awesome and I rather enjoyed the story over all. Plus remember which game has Saint Ajora. What?

To be fair I do wish the enemies made more use out of the battle system sometimes. Gang up on the leader battles did get silly. Also sometimes it felt like the enemy could succeed better with 3% than you could with 97%. Plus I think some story elements were recycled. Such as having yet another sibling pair.
--------------------------------------------------

That concludes everything. Still need to play more of and/or try other FFs in the first place. Okay there is Final Fantasy Legends, but since those are really SaGa this thread is not worthy enough. Yeah I did find a way to give blatant fanboy praise. *Goes to worship Meythia* :beat:

[ADC]

So, rather than go back and forth when we each know where we stand; which SNES games do you think are tops in the graphics department? I need to know more about this logic that tells you FFVI is ugly. :noodle:
From a technology standpoint, I'd point to either Super Mario World — yes, the first SNES game — and its follow-up, Yoshi's Island, as better uses of the SNES graphics hardware. I might suggest Chrono Trigger and Super Mario RPG as having better style. In terms of the overall presentation, I'd point to Super Metroid and the Megaman X games. And in terms fo the 'less is more' approach that I mentioned and prefer, I present The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

When you add to it that the GBA is basically a portable SNES from a graphics standpoint, we may throw in the likes of Metroid Fusion and Metroid Zero Mission, the Super Mario Advance ports of SMB2 and SMB3, the Megaman Zero games, and (as I mentioned earlier) Final Fantasy V Advance.

I'm all stoked that I dropped a bomb in the middle of the FF thread. :> But at the end of the day, FF6 is ugly to me. It's an art style that I find unappealing, and that's true regardless of how much of the SNES hardware it uses.

On a related note, you'll notice that Super Mario Kart is not one of the games I'd point to as great-looking, but it's still the best SNES game ever.

[Ty]

Chrono Trigger certainly is a pretty looking game. I can see why you would prefer it since it manages to look lush without using lots of micro detail. Another favorite of mine as well.

I wouldn't disagree with you on SMW either. Nintendo knows how to produce pleasing styles, textures and colors. I love all the backgrounds in the game and the smoothness of everything.

I always felt the "sharp edged" look of the details in FFVI complemented the mostly dark story and presentation well. I guess it never occurred to met that somebody would find the look ugly, but I do see your view of it.

[Ty]

Wow, after this many people taking the plunge I guess I have to face my own words and post my own summary. I think I'll be doing that tomorrow though at this point. :)

[ADC]

Of course, if they dropped that girlie from your avatar into FF6 as a bonus character, it might become the best-looking game in the series. :bignosebleed:

[Nosredna]

Of course, if they dropped that girlie from your avatar into FF6 as a bonus character, it might become the best-looking game in the series. :bignosebleed:


Ahem, CELES!

[Kaikou]

Does anyone know if Final Fantasy IV DS will have the option between English and Japanese vocals?

[Nosredna]

Has it been determined that they have voices the whole game? Because I think it's ADC that said the DS cartridge (or what ever it's called) won't have enough room for full dialogue. And even if it does, I doubt they'll have duel languages, so if you're in America, you're probably stuck with English as the only option.

[Suwako Moriya]

I would be shocked and I mean extra-shocked if Square Enix actually kept the Japanese voices in a game instead of removing them. So yeah people shouldn't hold their breath in terms of FF4.

[Kaikou]

Has it been determined that they have voices the whole game? Because I think it's ADC that said the DS cartridge (or what ever it's called) won't have enough room for full dialogue. And even if it does, I doubt they'll have duel languages, so if you're in America, you're probably stuck with English as the only option.

I'm pretty sure the whole game isn't voiced, but the DS carts can hold a decent amount of information on them. (largest I believe is 1024 megabits, which is 128 megabytes)

[ADC]

I had figured that they wouldn't be able to fit a full course of dialog on a DS card, but the card capacities are getting larger, so it's not impossible. My best guess at this point is still that they'd only have some dialog during the most important scenes, but even then, given Square Enix's preference for putting the sweet sweet FMV in their games, it's more likely that we'll forego voices and get FMV instead. FF3DS is silent. FF12RW is silent. Jokémon is silent.

The other thing is, Square Enix makes its games for Japanese gamers first. Generally speaking, they're not as big on voices in their games as we are. (I suspect it has to do with the fact that American schools do not require their students to be literate as a prerequisite for high school graduation. Especially if they play football.) Given that Square's priorities are as they are — and they're the right priorities, as Square makes its money on Japan, then banks what it gets from the States — I would bet on FF4DS being tailored for Japan first. If Square feels that the space on the DS card is better spent on expanding the game story, or on the sweet sweet FMV, or on blisteringly awesome battle graphics, then you can rest assured that the space will be spent on those things.

And to be honest, even after taking into account that Square Enix does a better job than most on its voice-acting, I'd rather have a silent game with the sweet sweet FMV, particularly if the new character model for grown-up Rydia is all sexied up.

[ADC]

I think, by the way, that I saw that the current cap on DS card capacity is 2048 megabits (256 MB). Unfortunately, that's enough space for Capcom to put the worst voice-acting in the history of video games into Megaman ZX Advent. Fuckers.

[EmperorBrandon]

Well, time to give my thoughts

Final Fantasy - Pretty challenging game for sure. I have fond memories of struggling to get through the Volcano board and then just barely beat Marilith at the end with a weakened team and few items left (one game where you really do need the MAX number :sd: ). Honestly it's not much for story or characters, so doesn't stick out much besides that.

Final Fantasy II - I struggled to get into this game at first, due to the unusual leveling up system. I got around to it and actually finished it with the Final Fantasy Origins version. With the pre-GBA versions though it's really easy to cheat the system. I had my characters vastly overpowered early on and could kill everyone with Maria casting Banish 16. The enemies in the last few stages could be really tough either way, though.

Final Fantasy III - I played a fan-translated version of the Famicom release and got a decent ways through it. It was decently fun. I never completed it, though, and I don't have a DS so I haven't played the remake.

Final Fantasy IV - One of my all-time favorites, and I've bought it three times (used copy for the SNES which I later sold, then PS as part of FF Chronicles, and then GBA). I love the characters and story. It's decently challenging - at least not as easy as some of the later games. The additions for the GBA version were cool. All in all, one of my favorite FF's.

Final Fantasy V - I like this one quite a bit, but not as much so as the other 16-bit era FF's. The Job system is pretty neat, though, and of course like seeing Lenna and Krile in various cute costumes. I bought this one twice, but I have not finished the GBA version yet and accessed the extras there (beat it a few times with the PS version). But maybe I'll do this since I play a lot of portable games around Christmas time for various reasons.

Final Fantasy VI - This is one is the first I played out of the FF games and still likely my favorite out of the numbered games at least. Like FFIV I've bought it three times (SNES, PS, GBA) though I still own all three versions in its case. I credit this one for starting my long obsession with Japanese RPG's (which in some respects would lead to my love of anime). It has a fairly large playable cast for a FF game, but all of them manage to be pretty interesting and it's got a great story. I may have struggled with some parts of the game first time I played (I was around 8 years old after all), but of course after having played it multiple times, I can see it being really easy now. It was still fun to play even up to my latest game, though - the GBA upgrade was nice to check out and worth it.

Final Fantasy VII - I haven't really owned this game, and played through it not too far (I think to the point you get to the World Map) over at my friend's house once. I do want to play through it at one point. There's nothing I particularly dislike about it, I think, just that I've never gotten around to it.

Final Fantasy VIII - I've never owned this one. I played a little of it from the start before but couldn't really get into the battle system that much. I may give it another chance at some point.

Final Fantasy IX - I own this one and I enjoyed it quite a bit. It's more reminiscent of 16-bit era FF's in some respects which may have attracted me to it at first. It was a pretty fun game to play through, and I liked the story and characters. I haven't replayed it too much, though, or have been tempted to do so.

Final Fantasy X - I have never owned this one. I've seen a friend play it before, and it looked interesting (had a neat system of powering up I thought). It was a while before I ever got a PS2, though, and never really had much of an interest in checking it out.

Final Fantasy X-2 - I've never even seen it (obviously would want to play through FFX first anyway)

Final Fantasy XI - I don't want to get into online games.

Final Fantasy XII - I've never even seen it. I would be interested in checking it out at some point.

Final Fantasy Tactics - Since others are mentioning it, might as well. This is likely one of my highest favorites out of all FF (if not my favorite, though). I really liked the story on this one and the tactical RPG style (my first time playing through one). There's a lot of interesting things you can do with this game which allows for a lot of fun and replay value.

[Ty]

Of course, if they dropped that girlie from your avatar into FF6 as a bonus character, it might become the best-looking game in the series. :bignosebleed:


Ahem, CELES!
Seconded. She was the closest thing that ever came to a videogame character crush for me.

[Suwako Moriya]

Ahem, CELES!
Seconded. She was the closest thing that ever came to a videogame character crush for me.

Celes was awesome, but let's not forget about Relm. Err remember I'm the same one that brought up Rydia. I shall activate the *I was younger* excuse.

[EmperorBrandon]

Seconded. She was the closest thing that ever came to a videogame character crush for me.

I think I may have had a crush of sorts on Terra, and I like Rydia in FFIV as do others (the great green-haired FF girls). Celes and Relm are great characters too, though - I liked all of the female playable cast there. As far as video game girls go, though, Riesz from Seiken Densetsu 3 has been my absolute favorite for a while. :)

[Ty]

Ahem, CELES!
Seconded. She was the closest thing that ever came to a videogame character crush for me.

Celes was awesome, but let's not forget about Relm. Err remember I'm the same one that brought up Rydia. I shall activate the *I was younger* excuse.
It's okay, we understand. ;)

I actually never took much of a liking to Relm, mostly because of that goofy hat of hers and the fact that she looked like she was about 2 feet tall. There's also the matter of her skill being broken in the earlier versions of the cart, but having never used her much I didn't mind that so much.

[HitokiriShadow]

Final Fantasy I
I only played the Dawn of Souls version, which sounds like it had a good deal changed (like the MP system). It was okay. It was worth playing to see how (sort of) things started and how far its come. It's also the only RPG I've ever maxed out my levels on without even really trying (though it was in the bonus dungeons).

Final Fantasy II
Again, I only played the Dawn of Souls version. The level up system was okay. I like the concept but the implementation left something to be desired. I stopped playing out of boredom after the ]hide]pirate girl[/hide] joined.

Final Fantasy III
I'm currently playing the DS version, I have no prior experience. It's nice to see early attempts at a system that allows class change, but it also shows how much they improved in FFV and FFT. It's frustrating to put effort into a class knowing that later on its going to be useless or that I'll be forced to downgrade just to get through a dungeon. The MP system (which is apparently the one that the first two originally used) is interesting, but I'm glad they changed it for subsequent games. Also, the lack of saves in dungeons is retarded. I can also safely say that I will beat this once and never play it again.

Final Fantasy IV
I've only played the PS1 version, and I didn't quite beat it. I got to the final dungeon and moved on to something else. This is the first FF game that actually had characters and a plot worth mentioning. I liked Rydia, but I didn't really care about any of the other characters and the story was pretty weak (though it was downright brilliant compared to what came before). The melodrama became a bit ridiculous though.

Final Fantasy V
I've only played the PS1 version so far, and like FF4, I got to the final dungeon and moved on to something else. This is the job class system done right. It's not perfect and FFT's is leagues better, but it's fun to use. The story and characters were decent, if nothing special.

Final Fantasy VI
I first played this on the SNES and it was my first FF game and one of the first RPGs I'd ever played. It is easily my favorite of the main FF games. I loved the story and the characters (or the core ones, anyway). <3 Terra and Celes. I liked having a huge cast, too. My only real complaint is the Espers making virtually everyone a good mage. That aspect should have been reigned in a bit. I like being able to make my fighters a bit more versatile, but they shouldn't be nearly as good as the natural magic users. Oh, and the music was beautiful. One of the best scores of the franchise.

Final Fantasy VII
The story wasn't perfect, but it was pretty damn good. And it had a great cast. While the materia system was a blast and I loved the customization, it also means that the characters are all basically the same aside from Limit Breaks. I think this could have mostly been fixed if they just removed the stat modifications that instantly turned someone loaded with green or red materia into an ubermage. This is also the first video game to make me cry. On the whole, it was great game with some flaws that weren't hard to overlook.

Final Fantasy VIII
Oh boy. Well, it had some nice music. I seem to be in the tiny minority in that I didn't despise the draw system. And I really liked the concept behind the final dungeon. That's about all the good I have to say about FF8.

The junction/GF system is a decent concept, but like usual, it was unrestrained. Like FF7, the only differences between characters that mattered was their Limit Breaks. I didn't mind the concept of tying skills to the GFs, but characters not even being able to use the Item command without GFs is retarded. The Junction system was broken and while I don't like the enemy level being tied to the character levels, it was necessary to provide even the slightest challenge in this game due to the stat Junctions.

The characters were all pretty bad. They were either annoying or bland. The story was decent for the first two discs but then came disc three and it crashed and burned. It had the most retarded revelation/plot device (Oh, we all totally forgot that we all knew each other because we were using GFs, except Irvine who just never felt like saying anything about it) and the ultimate villain was stupid and her motives, identity, and character were only hinted at. One of the worst numbered FF games.

Final Fantasy IX
I really liked the return to fantasy, job classes, and characters that actually differed from each other in battle. I liked learning skills from the equipment, even if it doesn't make much sense outside of learning "Fire" from a Fire Rod. I thought it was a great looking game and I liked the unrealistic style. It had a solid, if not particularly outstanding, cast and good story. The final boss came out of nowhere and had jack shit to do with anything else, but it didn't really hurt the story either, so it wasn't a big deal

Final Fantasy X
Overall, I really liked the cast and the story. I appear to be one of the few people who wasn't annoyed by Tidus' voice or find him to be "whiny." However, the "my story" crap was really annoying and that laughing scene at the Blitzball stadium was retarded. Speaking of Blitzball, I really didn't like that "mini-game." It was tedious and it was largely unfair. Your initial team is horrible and the opposing teams always had good skills and good luck. Oh, and the chocobo minigame necessary to get Tidus' ultimate weapon was stupidly hard and unfair. Completing depended almost entirely on luck. And the lighting one was just tedious. I never finished that one.

I liked the Sphere Grid system. Yes, everyone could eventually become as identical as in 7 and 8, but it required a lot of effort and there were still some limitations. I think they could have done a little more work to prevent everyone from being able to do almost everything but it was alright the way it was.

I have mixed feelings about the lack of a world map, but I think it turned out okay without it. My main problem was that it was exceedingly linear, especially in the early stages. Even without a world map, it should have allowed for more exploration and leeway. But the first few hours of gameplay give you almost no options at all.

Despite my complaints about it, its still one of my favorites.

Final Fantasy X-2
I liked the job/dress sphere system, the battle system, the very open-ended structure of the game, and 1000 Words. But the plot sucked donkey balls, the new character was uninteresting, and I didn't like Yuna and Riku as much in this game as I did in 10. Oh, and the airship looked stupid. And boy, there were a lot of mini-games. On the positive side, I don't recall any of them being tedious or unfair, and I liked the shooting game. On the downside, many of them were lame, like passing out flyers. Worst of all, the hot springs scene was lacking any lesbian antics.

Final Fantasy XI
As far as I'm concerned, SquarEnix forgot to make XI.

Final Fantasy XII
Ugh. I liked the idea of dropping the random battles and the license board was decent, though I hated having to guess what possible weapons or skills I was working towards. Being able to basically program the AI was nice, but I shouldn't have to unlock the ability to add more commands. While I liked those ideas, the actual gameplay was lackluster and dull. And it was frustrating to see enemies attack me through rocks and not be able to make use of the environment and very little of distance.

Even more frustrating was the randomization of everything. It was particularly infuriating when I beat a somewhat difficult option boss, but getting the reward requires running and fighting through enemies for five minutes for a chest that has a 1 in 10 chance of appearing and, if its there, has a 1 in 10 chance of having the good item. Otherwise, its a piece of crap. And every single chest in the game is like this.

The Quickenings were incredibly overpowered. Most boss fights could be easily won by spamming Quickenings. From what I hear, summonings are pretty useless. I never actually used them myself since Quickenings were so damn strong. Though at times, they would suddenly do very little damage. At first I thought it may have been due to elemental resistance, but when I would hit enemies with 4-5 Quickenings and it only did about 100 damage... that seems a little odd.

Oh. Right. The characters and the plot. Well, Balthier was pretty cool and Fran was hot. The rest were uninteresting at best. Vaan and Penelo were bland and seemed to only exist so that you had six characters. The story was disappointing as well. Part of this was my detachment from the characters, but even accounting for that, the story wasn't very compelling, or at least what I saw of it. I lost interest and quit playing right after Balthier's relation to... Cid, I think, was revealed.

Final Fantasy Tactics
I first played this when it first came out and I just bought the remake (though I still need an actual PSP...) It is one of my favorites in the franchise, if not the favorite. This is the job class system at its absolute best. Outside of story character's special job classes, everyone can learn everything, but it can't all be used at once and is properly limited. I don't think any job class was completely useless, though one or two may have been close. The job system is very deep and complex and I love it like that.

I loved the story and the characters. There were plenty of optional things to do, which is always a big plus. The original had translation issues, but that's been fixed in the remake (and replaced with loading issues :sigh: ). The only downsides I can think of is that the end, if I recall correctly, still comes down to a typical "horrible evil (and not one with much personality or character, in this case) thing wants to destroy the world" and that despite being able to recruit monsters, none of them are really worth putting in your party aside from the special ones.

[HitokiriShadow]

I actually never took much of a liking to Relm, mostly because of that goofy hat of hers and the fact that she looked like she was about 2 feet tall. There's also the matter of her skill being broken in the earlier versions of the cart, but having never used her much I didn't mind that so much.

I didn't have anything against the character, I just never really used her. I guess here ability had its uses, but I preferred more direct and reliable methods, like Edgar's drill, Sabin's blitzes, and Terra and Cele's magic (or physical attacks, as they were good attackers as well).

[DeadlyMessiah]

Hey, if the dub is as fantastic as XII's, I don't care if they have a Jp track on it. Golbez sounds cool in Jp, but I want him to sound like a judge since he wears a helmet.

Of course, I have yet to decide if I want IV for the DS. I just do not like the changes they made to a lot of Amano's designs. Rosa is my biggest gripe. She looked awesome in Amano's design, but they changed her around, especially her cape.

As for Relm, I never liked her or her grandfather. They seemed rather pointless as by the time you got them, you had no time to level them up since it was time for the first act of the game to close. My main favorites in VI were Celes, Sabin (love the Blitz attacks), Edgar, and Mog. Having Mog and Dragoon Boots equals total awesomeness. Sadly, I never saved Shadow and never got Umaro, so I have no idea how they would have ended up.

[Merr]

Given Square Enix's preference for putting the sweet sweet FMV in their games, it's more likely that we'll forego voices and get FMV instead. FF3DS is silent. FF12RW is silent. Jokémon is silent.
It's already been confirmed that there will be voice acting (plus a vocal song) for at least some scenes in FFIV DS. They're also putting in an FMV though, so how much VO there will be in total is still kind of a mystery.

[Suwako Moriya]

I didn't have anything against the character, I just never really used her. I guess here ability had its uses, but I preferred more direct and reliable methods, like Edgar's drill, Sabin's blitzes, and Terra and Cele's magic (or physical attacks, as they were good attackers as well).

Depending on how "good" one was at doing blitzes I'm not sure how reliable I'd consider Sabin. Still Edgar's tools were nice and yeah between the two I prefer to use Edgar over Sabin. Since magic can easily become universal both Celes and Terra lose that special edge.

In any case with Relm when I did not feel like Sketching, I'd just use magic mostly. So yeah I'd treat her more like a mage than a fighter. What I found nice is Sketch actually worked on bosses and not just normal enemies. There's something funny about using the final boss' attacks against him.

Still let's face it my logic was along the lines of "Wow I like her so I'll use her." and anything beyond that wasn't important. It just mattered that Relm was on screen and yeah Celes being there too is certainly good as well.

[HitokiriShadow]

Depending on how "good" one was at doing blitzes I'm not sure how reliable I'd consider Sabin.

Actually, I tended to suck with Blitzes back when I played it originally. Come to think of it, I think I just used him as an attacker with occasional magic and didn't bother with his Blitzes much as a result. I think it may be easier on the DS, but I only have is first one at the moment.

Still Edgar's tools were nice and yeah between the two I prefer to use Edgar over Sabin.

Edgar is one of my favorites and I tend to have him in the party whenever possible.

Since magic can easily become universal both Celes and Terra lose that special edge.

But they should still have better magic and maybe MP than others that are not magically inclined. Though I never actually checked, I just kind of assumed that they would be better magic users than, say, Gau.

In any case with Relm when I did not feel like Sketching, I'd just use magic mostly. So yeah I'd treat her more like a mage than a fighter. What I found nice is Sketch actually worked on bosses and not just normal enemies. There's something funny about using the final boss' attacks against him.

For some reason or another, I just never really tried using her and her ability after her required use in the mansion. Maybe I'll try using her this time.

Still let's face it my logic was along the lines of "Wow I like her so I'll use her." and anything beyond that wasn't important. It just mattered that Relm was on screen and yeah Celes being there too is certainly good as well.

That was the main reason I used Terra and Celes over others. Even if they didn't have any particularly useful special commands or advantages, I liked them. And they were hot, at least in my imagination (you can't really tell much with those tiny sprites).

[ADC]

It's already been confirmed that there will be voice acting (plus a vocal song) for at least some scenes in FFIV DS. They're also putting in an FMV though, so how much VO there will be in total is still kind of a mystery.
Source or it didn't happen.

[EmperorBrandon]

never got Umaro, so I have no idea how they would have ended up.

You don't miss much with Umaro. He's not that great, and you can't even control him either. :sd:

As far as Sabin's blitzes go, once I found that you don't have to hit the diagonals on the D-Pad to pull them off (this goes for any version of the game), they've been really easy to do ever since. I haven't had much of a problem pulling them off.

[EmperorBrandon]

Though I never actually checked, I just kind of assumed that they would be better magic users than, say, Gau.

Actually Gau is pretty high in Magic Power, and that helps him with other things since he uses it for a lot of his special attacks with Rages. Generally Terra and Celes start off a good bit higher that others like Locke, Cyan, Edgar, Sabin, etc. (though you can still get them higher by having Espers equipped at level up).

[Kaikou]

It's already been confirmed that there will be voice acting (plus a vocal song) for at least some scenes in FFIV DS. They're also putting in an FMV though, so how much VO there will be in total is still kind of a mystery.
Source or it didn't happen.

Sample of Voice Acting (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/28954.html)

I've been seeing the clips for more than a few months now with various scenes and the voice acting of the characters.

[EmperorBrandon]

Source or it didn't happen.

Well, here you go (http://www.animeondvd.com/forum/showtopic.php?tid/24739/). This has been known for a little while now.

[Suwako Moriya]

Source or it didn't happen.

Well, here you go (http://www.animeondvd.com/forum/showtopic.php?tid/24739/). This has been known for a little while now.

Given the past conversations involving FF4 DS, voice acting, etc.... I have a feeling ADC is dead set on denying the fact the game is supposed to have voice acting. I'm sorry, but it's reaching the point he may as well be denying the existence of Cecil in FF4 despite him being in the party all the time... Sooner or later reality has to be accepted. Sure things could change and heck the entire game could be canceled. However the current reality is the game will have voice acting.

In any case people wanting to deny the existence of voice acting may want to mute the volume when watching this video (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/28953.html) and this other one (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/28969.html). In other words there is voice acting in those short clip. You even get to hear Rydia in one of them.

[Merr]

Source or it didn't happen.
If you're looking for all three (VO, song, and FMV), they're all in this trailer (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/113449.html).

[Suwako Moriya]

Sample of Voice Acting (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/28954.html)

Interesting and I can't believe I failed to notice your post. May as well check out more of the videos soon. Wish the player volume would remember what I set it at sometimes..

[ADC]

Well, here you go (http://www.animeondvd.com/forum/showtopic.php?tid/24739/). This has been known for a little while now.
How'd I miss that? I'm here every day! On a related note, it's fine if they include it so long as there's an OFF switch. And it's better if that OFF switch actually works. Some of the cutscenes in DQ8 had voices whether you wanted them or not, and I definitely did NOT want them in that game. Bad enough that it looked like Dragonball. I didn't need for it to sound that way, too. The best voice acting in that game was all done by Hero.

[jecca-neko]

Well, here you go (http://www.animeondvd.com/forum/showtopic.php?tid/24739/). This has been known for a little while now.
How'd I miss that? I'm here every day! On a related note, it's fine if they include it so long as there's an OFF switch.

They do. It's called turning the volume down all the way on your DS.

Okay, I'll stop being a smart ass now. :grin:

[TheGreenMan]

FFXIII:

DROOOL! (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/29007.html)

XIII Versus

That's one badass dude. (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/29006.html)

[Kaikou]

FFXIII:

DROOOL! (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/29007.html)

XIII Versus

That's one badass dude. (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/29006.html)



Very impressive trailers and I'm a little excited to play in a world similar to that of VII and VIII's again.

Anyone know if there is an estimated release date for XIII? (even if it means moot, as SE never keeps to release dates)

[Merr]

FFXIII:

DROOOL! (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/29007.html)
Whoa! The entire thing looks awesome, and I'm definitely digging the violin battle music.

[Nosredna]

Looks cool, but so did XII. I need a good story and characters ;) . I guess I'll have to plan on buying a PS3 some time next year (hopefully, but 2009 is probably more likely :P ).

[Suwako Moriya]

They certainly look "pretty" that's for certain. However I'm the type that needs a bit more. Not like it matters since it will be years before I get around to playing these. Plus I suppose I should be more focused on getting around to FF12 first anyway...

[ADC]

Hmm. They're all right. And it's back to the steam/cyber/atomic punk motif that ran from 6–8, and I guess that suits me. I'd rather have the mediæval motif, of course, but at least this should be better than the more recent hero-with-head-up-own-ass motif.

[HitokiriShadow]

FFXIII:

DROOOL! (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/29007.html)

XIII Versus

That's one badass dude. (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/29006.html)



That's the first trailer I've seen for XIII (I've only seen the screenshots up to this point) and it certainly looks nice.

The Versus trailer is similar to the trailer I saw before but this one looks even more awesome.

But what I really want is some info on the story and the battle systems. At this point, I'm interested but not particularly excited about either title.

[untoldsorrow]

FFXIII:

DROOOL! (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/29007.html)

XIII Versus

That's one badass dude. (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/29006.html)



That's the first trailer I've seen for XIII (I've only seen the screenshots up to this point) and it certainly looks nice.

The Versus trailer is similar to the trailer I saw before but this one looks even more awesome.

But what I really want is some info on the story and the battle systems. At this point, I'm interested but not particularly excited about either title.

There's not ENOUGH info on them to be excited about.

[Johnny]

Hmm. They're all right. And it's back to the steam/cyber/atomic punk motif that ran from 6–8, and I guess that suits me.

Agreed. My Final Fantasy preferences are easy to establish (loved VII, VIII & X, was sorely disappointed with XII) but no matter how non-traditional the battle system is in XIII, I'll be there on day one with a Japanese copy because it all just looks so fucking cool. Mages and Knights and all that jazz are cool to an extent but the futuristic look and feel of XIII really has me excited.

Squenix's constant milking of the FF universe annoys me a little, but fuck it when the trailer for Versus XIII looks that cool!

[Mr. Spiffy-Pants]

Well for starters, I love the designs in XII, especially for the Judges. The voice acting was top notch, and the gameplay was very addicting. I hardly like turn based, I play FF because I like the stories and designs (most of the time), but I hate running towards a chest, have to battle, win, move two more steps, battle, another step, battle, and finally, 10 minutes later, I reach that chest, just to find out it has a monster in it. Then there is the fact that when you want to level up, you have to hope you get monsters that will give you great EXP.

So, you basically hate the gameplay elements of FFI-X. I didn't mind it for the most part, so that might be another reason why I did not enjoy FFXII. My main gripe was that I just couldn't get involved/didn't care about the "main" character, Vaan. He was too dull for me.

As for my rankings of all of the FF games I've played, see ADC's rankings. Why? Well, for one, I'm lazy. Second, I agree with everything he said except for FFX. I disliked the linear nature of it, but I don't think it was the worst FF game I have played. That honor goes to FFXII, I guess. I have never been disgusted with an FF game, but I was just bored while playing FFXII. Thankfully, I had a working cheat device that I used to make the bad things go away quicker... :D

As for FFXIII, I am definitely drooling with the reset of you. I won't be there on day 1 (I refuse to pay $60 for a video game ever again - Thank "Lair" for that.), but I will eventually purchase it.

[Suwako Moriya]

There's not ENOUGH info on them to be excited about.

More or less that's what it boils down to. Plus as pretty as the graphics are they are well in some ways the standard type of pretty.

[ADC]

Squenix's constant milking of the FF universe annoys me a little, but fuck it when the trailer for Versus XIII looks that cool!
Actually, part 1: I wasn't as thrilled for FFvs13 as I was for the main game. I'm sure I'll end up buying both, but if they both came out on the same day, I'd buy my PS3 and FF13, then come back in a month for FFvs13. Unless I buy my PS3 at some point before that so I can play Trusty Bell without violating my tech principles, that is.

Actually, part 2: I might mind Square Enix making their sequels, spins-off, and gaidens if they didn't turn out to (usually) be good games. I just pretend that Vincent game doesn't exist.

[untoldsorrow]

There's not ENOUGH info on them to be excited about.

More or less that's what it boils down to. Plus as pretty as the graphics are they are well in some ways the standard type of pretty.

As pretty as the graphics are its expected from SquareEnix.

[DeadlyMessiah]

FFXIII:

DROOOL! (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/29007.html)

XIII Versus

That's one badass dude. (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/29006.html)



um... what was the point of this trailer? It showed us absolutely NOTHING we didn't see almost 2 years ago. Has Square even done anything else other than work on that same scene? By the way it looks, the game cannot be anything beyond 13% completed.

I have no interest in Versus whatsoever, as all it is is a way to make some quick cash with ideas that will only sell because it has Final Fantasy on it. This is why X-2, Dirge of Cerberus, Tactics, and Revenant Wings sell. Hell, the only reason I bought Tactics was because it took place in Ivalice, and after 5 hours with the game, I regretted wasting my money on that crap. It is still sitting on my shelf collecting dust.

[Kaikou]

This is why X-2, Dirge of Cerberus, Tactics, and Revenant Wings sell. Hell, the only reason I bought Tactics was because it took place in Ivalice, and after 5 hours with the game, I regretted wasting my money on that crap. It is still sitting on my shelf collecting dust.


All of those games you just mentioned (minus DoC) have a pretty sizable fan base. I'm surprised that you would consider Tactics to be crap, as the gaming developers have been taking pieces of it for years in their respective strategy RPG games. Maybe you should have said you don't like strategy RPGs, as I've never, ever heard someone say that FFTactics is crap.

I'm not even a huge fan of FFTactics, mostly because I've yet to put more than a few hours into it, but I'm still interested in hearing why exactly you thought it was crap.

[ADC]

I have no interest in Versus whatsoever, as all it is is a way to make some quick cash with ideas that will only sell because it has Final Fantasy on it. This is why X-2, Dirge of Cerberus, Tactics, and Revenant Wings sell. Hell, the only reason I bought Tactics was because it took place in Ivalice, and after 5 hours with the game, I regretted wasting my money on that crap. It is still sitting on my shelf collecting dust.
Did Yôichi Wada run over your dog? ;)

As for why those games sell, it almost certainly has to do with the FF brand, but factor in this: X-2 was a good game. RW was a good game. FFT was a great game. (On the other hand, the Vincent game was a pig with lipstick.) X-2 was actually a good traditional FF. The others are not traditional FFs, but that doesn't make them bad games.

[Kaikou]

Square-Enix is going to be releasing Final Fantasy IV-2, which is titled "Final Fantasy IV the After: Return to the Moon". Apparently it will take place quite a few years after the end of IV and feature a descendant of Cecil, named Theodore. The game will only be available on specific cell phones with the DoCoMo service.

Source (http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/urltrurl?url=http://www.jeux-france.com/news23168.html&lp=fr_en&tt=url)

Shonen Jump Article (http://aeana.vgmix.com/up/ff4.jpg)

[Suwako Moriya]

So much for the idea that only the "newer" games in the series would get things like sequels, spin-offs, etc. Still a Cellphone game? That's evil for anyone that lacks a fancy enough cellphone. Still maybe if there was a girl who had Rydia's awesome genes in her...

[Kaikou]

So much for the idea that only the "newer" games in the series would get things like sequels, spin-offs, etc. Still a Cellphone game? That's evil for anyone that lacks a fancy enough cellphone. Still maybe if there was a girl who had Rydia's awesome genes in her...

It's all about the money. I can easily understand that, but being that the US market doesn't have a gaming "cash cow" for cell phones, I really hope they bring the game over here for the DS. Otherwise we'll never see this game, much like the other FFVII cell phone game. (which I think at one point in time was going to come here)

[ADC]

They should port it to the iPhone. :>

(Actually, that's not a bad idea. There are millions of those things out there, and I mean to increase that number by one after MWSF.)

[Kaikou]

They should port it to the iPhone. :>

(Actually, that's not a bad idea. There are millions of those things out there, and I mean to increase that number by one after MWSF.)

If this was released for the iPhone and the iPhone could work on Sprint, then I'd be purchasing one. I really only need a phone that can support my clinical software. (reason I have a Sprint Mogul right now) Even if Apple wanted to try such a thing, I doubt the iPhone is even capable of running the game.

[ADC]

They should port it to the iPhone. :>

(Actually, that's not a bad idea. There are millions of those things out there, and I mean to increase that number by one after MWSF.)
If this was released for the iPhone and the iPhone could work on Sprint, then I'd be purchasing one. I really only need a phone that can support my clinical software. (reason I have a Sprint Mogul right now) Even if Apple wanted to try such a thing, I doubt the iPhone is even capable of running the game.
If it'll work on the iPhone, it'll work on the iPod touch. You're golden. Now, I don't know cellphones from a hole in the wall, but I think the 620-MHz ARM chip would give the iPhone and touch enough grunt for games. It's kind of an apples-and-oranges comparison, but the DS has an ARM at 67 and an ARM at 33, and the PSP has something-or-other at up to 333.

[Suwako Moriya]

Porting it to the DS would be nice and even better if the game is actually good or would turn out to be good to me. Still I have to wonder just how much of a game these cellphones are really capable of handling.

[Kaikou]

Porting it to the DS would be nice and even better if the game is actually good or would turn out to be good to me. Still I have to wonder just how much of a game these cellphones are really capable of handling.

The games that these cell phones are capable of are just short of amazing. They just recently ported RE4 to cell phone and Final Fantasy VII: Before Crisis, which was released in September of 2004, looked pretty good for it's time.

A lot of these new cell phones coming out in Japan are more than capable of DS and close to PSP level graphics. (totally different than what US cell phones are capable of)

RE4 Cell Phone Screenshot (http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20070919/ctgs17.jpg)

[Suwako Moriya]

A lot of these new cell phones coming out in Japan are more than capable of DS and close to PSP level graphics. (totally different than what US cell phones are capable of)

Ah sounds like they're more capable than I would have guessed they'd be. Still not like I'd ever get one of these cellphones.

[Kaikou]

A lot of these new cell phones coming out in Japan are more than capable of DS and close to PSP level graphics. (totally different than what US cell phones are capable of)

Ah sounds like they're more capable than I would have guessed they'd be. Still not like I'd ever get one of these cellphones.

Of course not, unless you plan on moving to Japan soon, then you would have no choice. Japan operates on a totally different type of network than the US's CDMA and GSM networks, so their phones are useless in the US and any US phone is useless in Japan.

It really is a hindrance when traveling there, as I have to rent a phone, instead of having the convenience of just bringing mine along. (like you can do for most countries which utilize a GSM network)

If their phones worked in the US, I'd probably own one of them, as they are some of the most high tech phones I've ever seen. The variety is insane.

[HitokiriShadow]

Well that's interesting... oh, its another cell phone game. Well, I guess I won't be playing that one.

[Ty]

Square-Enix is going to be releasing Final Fantasy IV-2, which is titled "Final Fantasy IV the After: Return to the Moon". Apparently it will take place quite a few years after the end of IV and feature a descendant of Cecil, named Theodore. The game will only be available on specific cell phones with the DoCoMo service.

Source (http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/urltrurl?url=http://www.jeux-france.com/news23168.html&lp=fr_en&tt=url)

Shonen Jump Article (http://aeana.vgmix.com/up/ff4.jpg)

What wasted potential. This just shows they don't have the balls to attempt a real sequel to any of the classic titles because they are afraid to getting it wrong and taking the backlash. When it's only a cellphone game people can just go "meh, it was only a cellphone game" if it's terrible.

They better not waste a FFVI or VII remake/continuation opportunity on crap like this.

[Ty]

FFXIII:

DROOOL! (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/29007.html)

XIII Versus

That's one badass dude. (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/29006.html)


Ugh. If this is the direction the series is taking then I think I'll just consider myself left behind in the 16/32-bit era for good. Way to be original with the stormtroopers there too Square/Enix.

[rainking187]

This is why X-2, Dirge of Cerberus, Tactics, and Revenant Wings sell. Hell, the only reason I bought Tactics was because it took place in Ivalice, and after 5 hours with the game, I regretted wasting my money on that crap. It is still sitting on my shelf collecting dust.


I have to disagree with you, but only on the part where you imply Dirge of Cerebus was bought by someone. They could start making bargin bins out of those things and still have way more then they'll ever sell.

[ADC]

Crisis Core hits the States on March 25. Johnny's probably already imported it, so maybe he'll tell us if it's any good.

[Kaikou]

Crisis Core hits the States on March 25. Johnny's probably already imported it, so maybe he'll tell us if it's any good.

The general consensus seems to be that it's average, but I'll be getting it no matter what reviews it receives, because it has Final Fantasy in the title. :grin: :crazy:

[ADC]

I kind of wonder about that. I mean, I've already admitted that I'm a Final Fanboy, but I still passed on that Vincent game. (Part of that is, I never really liked Vincent when playing FF7.) So I'm waiting on reviews before checking this one out.

[Kaikou]

I kind of wonder about that. I mean, I've already admitted that I'm a Final Fanboy, but I still passed on that Vincent game. (Part of that is, I never really liked Vincent when playing FF7.) So I'm waiting on reviews before checking this one out.

I skipped on the Vincent game because it's a horrible game IMO. Crisis Core I'm getting just based on the reviews that are out there, as it sounds like it'll be a fun game. (there are some reviews that are giving it a 9/10)

[HitokiriShadow]

Average would still be better than Dirge of Cerberus and Advent Children. I'll be playing it since my brother is getting it and I won't have to pay for it. So even if its not very good, I won't loose any money on it.

[Kaikou]

Here's a couple Final Fantasy history articles, much in the same vein as those who posted their impressions of all the FF games.

1up Final Fantasy Retro Roundup (http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3164719)

Racket Boy Final Fantasy: Twenty Years and a Massive Universe Later (http://www.racketboy.com/retro/nintendo/nes/2007/12/final-fantasy-20-years-history-of-landmark-series.html)

[Phil]

The very best 'History of FF' I've ever seen was this thirteen part series of retrospective vids on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6db2eYp7630)

[Ty]

I still intend to write my thoughts. I just want to be in the mood to write it. :)

I always liked that EGM voted FFIII (VI) in the top 10 of it's top 100 video games of all time features. Back when they were the only print magazine doing it and it was a bigger deal it was the ONLY RPG in the top 10. Not even FFVII which was new and incredibly hyped made it there (was in the teens though).

[Johnny]

Crisis Core hits the States on March 25. Johnny's probably already imported it, so maybe he'll tell us if it's any good.

Played it, but didn't buy it myself. I'll be all over the US one though. The game itself looks absolutely gorgeous.

[DeadlyMessiah]

I have to disagree with you, but only on the part where you imply Dirge of Cerebus was bought by someone. They could start making bargin bins out of those things and still have way more then they'll ever sell.


My friend bought 2 copies. Yes, you heard me right, TWO!!! He loves the game that much.

[Mr. Spiffy-Pants]

My friend bought 2 copies. Yes, you heard me right, TWO!!! He loves the game that much.


Ugh...

I kept my copy, but only because I'm obsessive and I know I'll buy Crisis Core and any of the other games from the FFVII saga that they release here in the U.S.

[untoldsorrow]

I have to disagree with you, but only on the part where you imply Dirge of Cerebus was bought by someone. They could start making bargin bins out of those things and still have way more then they'll ever sell.


My friend bought 2 copies. Yes, you heard me right, TWO!!! He loves the game that much.



I would buy it for the cover. The artwork on the front and back is sick.

[Mr. Spiffy-Pants]

I'll give you that. They did a good job with the packaging.

[kaiyouske]

I can't wait for my copy of FFIV DS to arrive. It's my favorite FF. I still remember playing this for the first time on my SNES.... the mode 7 graphics and the sound was just absolutely amazing. I haven't been this excited for a DS release in a while.

[Kaikou]

I can't wait for my copy of FFIV DS to arrive. It's my favorite FF. I still remember playing this for the first time on my SNES.... the mode 7 graphics and the sound was just absolutely amazing. I haven't been this excited for a DS release in a while.

Are you importing the game?

[kaiyouske]

Are you importing the game?

Yes, I'm importing the game.

[untoldsorrow]

I can't wait for my copy of FFIV DS to arrive. It's my favorite FF. I still remember playing this for the first time on my SNES.... the mode 7 graphics and the sound was just absolutely amazing. I haven't been this excited for a DS release in a while.


I was thinking of picking it up myself since its my fav per say. I cant decide if I love FF 4 or FF 6 more... The art cover is outstanding. I could play it without knowing japanese since I know the game so well. I cant wait for the US release.

[kaiyouske]

Not sure if anyone posted this yet, but you can check out the MTV of the Final Fantasy IV Theme here. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5UMohX62kw)

[Nosredna]

That's pretty cool. One of my favorite Final Fantasy songs now has words, it might take a while to get used to that, but I like what I hear.

[kaiyouske]

So I got my copy of FFIV DS today and I've been playing the hell out of it. So far I'm liking it a lot. I have to admit that I was skeptical about it at first, but since this is my FAVORITE FF, I still kept my hopes up.

The graphical powers for the DS never ceases to amaze me and this game included. Granted that it does seem pretty pixelated just like FF3DS, it does the job. The long and breath taking opening cut-scene is amazing although the compression of the video is quite noticeable(with almost all DS game videos). I'm also really loving the new 3D child Rydia model... she's so adorable!

The music and sound effects in the game stays mostly unchanged(which I'm happy to report). There are some minor additions to the pieces here and there but they are still pretty much the way you would remember them from the SNES days. The voice overs are very impressive and are abundant throughout the game. The quality of them are excellent although hardcores will probably notice the compression at work against them.

I'm currently on my way to brave the Ant Lion and it's been a blast. I can't wait to play more of this game during my winter break. Hopefully we'll hear a US announcement of its release soon. I can't wait to pick that copy up as well.

Overall the quality of this remake seems to be top notch. In fact, it's so good that it made me wonder why they didn't do a flat out remake on a next generation console. It could even work out as a downloadable game. Perhaps FFVI DS will follow after IV's imminent success? ;)

[untoldsorrow]

Perhaps FFVI DS will follow after IV's imminent success? ;)

Would better prefer FF VI DS.

[Suwako Moriya]

Perhaps FFVI DS will follow after IV's imminent success? ;)

Shouldn't FFV DS come first? After all Relm is nice, but Krile needs attention as well.

[ADC]

Perhaps FFVI DS will follow after IV's imminent success? ;)
Shouldn't FFV DS come first? After all Relm is nice, but Krile needs attention as well.
Sukat, his eyes uncovered! … er, absolutely right. Let's not make it like the old days where we're skipping FFs for no good reason.

[HitokiriShadow]

Perhaps FFVI DS will follow after IV's imminent success? ;)

I would be horribly disappointed if Square didn't give this same treatment to FFV and FFVI.

[Nosredna]

Let's not make it like the old days where we're skipping FFs for no good reason.

After playing III and V, I see why Square skipped those two and didn't bring them out in America until later.

[EmperorBrandon]

Well, I do care about FFVI more, but I think if they are going to remake it, then they should certainly do FFV along the way too. I guess we will have to see.

[HitokiriShadow]

Let's not make it like the old days where we're skipping FFs for no good reason.

After playing III and V, I see why Square skipped those two and didn't bring them out in America until later.

I can kind of see why they skipped III, but not V.

[ADC]

Let's not make it like the old days where we're skipping FFs for no good reason.
After playing III and V, I see why Square skipped those two and didn't bring them out in America until later.
I can kind of see why they skipped III, but not V.
I guess FF5 was too hard for Mister Anderson. He can only be relied upon to take out his landlady's garbage.

Of course, I place FF5 in my top 5 FFs, so there you are.

[Mr. Spiffy-Pants]

Sukat, his eyes uncovered!

Star Trek: The Next Generation - "Darmok"

I've watched too much Star Trek...

[EmperorBrandon]

I haven't really found FFV to be that difficult. Master the good abilities and then most of the game is pretty easy.

[ADC]

Sukat, his eyes uncovered!
Star Trek: The Next Generation - "Darmok"

I've watched too much Star Trek...
You think you're the one who watched too much? I'm the one who threw in such an obscure quote. ;)

[Suwako Moriya]

I haven't really found FFV to be that difficult. Master the good abilities and then most of the game is pretty easy.

Actually that's probably why some find FFV to be hard. Instead of simply killing stuff until the game lets them win, they have to actually *gasp* plan and set up their party.

[Nosredna]

I guess FF5 was too hard for Mister Anderson. He can only be relied upon to take out his landlady's garbage.

Nope I didn't think FF V was difficult at all. Of course the only version I played was the PS1 remake of it, so maybe the GBA version or the original was more difficult. I just found the game to be dull.

[Ty]

Sukat, his eyes uncovered! … er, absolutely right. Let's not make it like the old days where we're skipping FFs for no good reason.
I literally laughed out loud the moment I saw that. It was wonderfully random. :)

[Mr. Spiffy-Pants]

Sukat, his eyes uncovered!
Star Trek: The Next Generation - "Darmok"

I've watched too much Star Trek...
You think you're the one who watched too much? I'm the one who threw in such an obscure quote. ;)

Shaka, when the walls fell. ;)

[ADC]

Sukat, his eyes uncovered!
Star Trek: The Next Generation - "Darmok"

I've watched too much Star Trek...
You think you're the one who watched too much? I'm the one who threw in such an obscure quote. ;)
Shaka, when the walls fell. ;)
Tabok! … The river, Tabok. In winter! :susel:

[Mr. Spiffy-Pants]

Sukat, his eyes uncovered!
Star Trek: The Next Generation - "Darmok"

I've watched too much Star Trek...
You think you're the one who watched too much? I'm the one who threw in such an obscure quote. ;)
Shaka, when the walls fell. ;)
Tabok! … The river, Tabok. In winter! :susel:

Timber! His arms open! :horse:




(Definitely not showing this one to the gf... Actually, she already knows how nerdy I am and, sadly for her, she supports it. ;) )

[rainking187]

I have to disagree with you, but only on the part where you imply Dirge of Cerebus was bought by someone. They could start making bargin bins out of those things and still have way more then they'll ever sell.


My friend bought 2 copies. Yes, you heard me right, TWO!!! He loves the game that much.


Felt it necessary to mention that I went into Circuit City yesterday and was stunned to discover Dirge of Cerebus is now a greatest hits title.

[Suwako Moriya]

Felt it necessary to mention that I went into Circuit City yesterday and was stunned to discover Dirge of Cerebus is now a greatest hits title.

It's a spin-off or whatever of a massively popular game from an ultra popular series. No matter how bad the game may be (Never played it and don't want to), I'd be shocked if it had never reach greatest hits status. So I'm not sure about being stunned about this.

[EmperorBrandon]

Well, I had a lot of money to spend for Christmas, and since I have Disgaea to try out too, I went ahead and caved on getting a PSP and the Final Fantasy Tactics remake. I'm pretty pleased with the graphics and music on the PSP version so far and looking forward to the extra scenes. Seems like the controls were a bit backwards from the PS version (or seemed that way at least), but I'll get used to that. The new translation is interesting for sure.

[untoldsorrow]

Well, I had a lot of money to spend for Christmas, and since I have Disgaea to try out too, I went ahead and caved on getting a PSP and the Final Fantasy Tactics remake. I'm pretty pleased with the graphics and music on the PSP version so far and looking forward to the extra scenes. Seems like the controls were a bit backwards from the PS version (or seemed that way at least), but I'll get used to that. The new translation is interesting for sure.


I actually just played it myself on the psp for the first time today. I picked up FFT and FF 1 for PSP at gamestop since they had them for $10 off and I had a gift card. The controls take a little time to get use to but overall, its been great so far.

[ADC]

I think you can un-flop the controls, so that up goes to the right instead of to the left (or vice versa). It's in the options. Something like "Battle movement type" or something to that effect.

[Kaikou]

I actually just played it myself on the psp for the first time today. I picked up FFT and FF 1 for PSP at gamestop since they had them for $10 off and I had a gift card. The controls take a little time to get use to but overall, its been great so far.

I tried to get into FFT, but the game just hasn't clicked for me yet. I'll have to give it another go sometime in the future, but for now I've been playing a lot of PS3 and FFVIII on and off.

[DeadlyMessiah]

I can't get into Tactics. I have no idea what I'm doing, and I got my arse whooped 5 times straight when I tried to fight the 4th mission that has the Black Mages. I attack them, but they don't lose any HP. Then I tried to level up, and after spending an hour and barely getting anything increased, I got into a battle tih 6 Chocobos, and all they kept doing was healing each other. That is when I said f it and got rid of it.

[Ty]

lol.... Tactics has a bit of a curve to it. btw the all Chocobo battles always suck no matter what. You have to plan your movements and corner and kill them one at a time or you're in trouble especially with weaker units. You think what you saw was bad? You should see the Chocobos at later levels. They have long range magic that is devastating and combined with their heaing and long range there is no place to hide from them. It sucks hard.

[ADC]

lol.... Tactics has a bit of a curve to it. btw the all Chocobo battles always suck no matter what. You have to plan your movements and corner and kill them one at a time or you're in trouble especially with weaker units. You think what you saw was bad? You should see the Chocobos at later levels. They have long range magic that is devastating and combined with their heaing and long range there is no place to hide from them. It sucks hard.
But for all that, the Chocobattles are fun! And when you win, you win the hardest non-boss battles in the game. And if your team has some survival capability, Chocobattles can be tremendous fonts of EXP and JP. Can't go wrong.

[Suwako Moriya]

And if your team has some survival capability, Chocobattles can be tremendous fonts of EXP and JP. Can't go wrong.

The key of course being to remember it's the yellow chocobos are the ones to keep alive. Other wise it doesn't work as well. Still one eventually becomes used to the birds. Too bad there's no option to make dishes out of the monsters you beat.

[EmperorBrandon]

Heh, it's kind of funny that one of the best monster types in the game is the first you come across. Come across too many Chocobo's (especially Red ones), and it sometimes leaves you with no choice but to scramble for the reset button.

By the way, how many have fought the "Super Monster Battle" at Bariaus Hill in Chapter 4? I came across that one by accident (and no Orlandu with me... :sd: ) and it was one of the coolest battles I've fought in FFT. I think I'm going to try to bring it about when I get there in the PSP version.

[Ty]

I flip between loving and hating them myself. Once it's down to 2 or so you can use support style abilities and gain JP like crazy while they heal themselves to stay alive, but I get really tired of eating Choco Meteor later on. That one story map battle where you have to fight all Chocobos on the river map.... I think it was the one on the way to the Zeltennia capital. I made the mistake of leveling up just a little bit too much when I reached that once. Every single Chocobo on the map was a red one because their levels were so high, when normally they are yellow or black. I literally had to abandon that game, it just was not possible to beat. Generally either only 1 or 2 people on the team even survive the first round after being Meteored 8 times in a row for damage that nearly equaled their HP. This happens before a single unit on my side can even approach within range, be it physical or magical due to the enourmous combined movement and attack range of the red chocobo. It was just impossible pure and simple. Come to think of it I haven't seriously played the game since.

[ADC]

You're doing it wrong.

Which is to say, you're not adjusting your tactics correctly. You need more range? Fine. Get some Dragoons. Get some Monks. Get some Chemists. Get some Arithmeticians — or, better still, some White Mages (faster than BMs) with Arithmeticks. You can rip through those Red Chocobos like they were wet rice paper. Don't give up at the Finnath River! You're almost home!

[DeadlyMessiah]

You're doing it wrong.

Which is to say, you're not adjusting your tactics correctly. You need more range? Fine. Get some Dragoons. Get some Monks. Get some Chemists. Get some Arithmeticians — or, better still, some White Mages (faster than BMs) with Arithmeticks. You can rip through those Red Chocobos like they were wet rice paper. Don't give up at the Finnath River! You're almost home!

Except I can't even get anything beyond Knight, Squire, Chemist, and Archer. And the JP are so minimal that it seems like you have to go throuhg 1000 battles just to leve them up.

[EmperorBrandon]

Get some Arithmeticians — or, better still, some White Mages (faster than BMs) with Arithmeticks.

Hmm... interesting. I never realized White Mages were a bit faster than the other magic classes. Still it would seem to me that Black Mages are better arithmeticians because their magic power level is a good bit higher than White Mages (even a few extra magic power points can make a pretty big difference - something I keep in mind with equipment too)

[HitokiriShadow]

You're doing it wrong.

Which is to say, you're not adjusting your tactics correctly. You need more range? Fine. Get some Dragoons. Get some Monks. Get some Chemists. Get some Arithmeticians — or, better still, some White Mages (faster than BMs) with Arithmeticks. You can rip through those Red Chocobos like they were wet rice paper. Don't give up at the Finnath River! You're almost home!

Except I can't even get anything beyond Knight, Squire, Chemist, and Archer. And the JP are so minimal that it seems like you have to go throuhg 1000 battles just to leve them up.

Keep in mind that you get JP for any action and regardless of who you do it on. So you can have an unarmed chemist wailing on your own heavily armored knight and get JP for it. And then more JP for healing him. Kill all but one enemy on the map and then do something like this and the JP rolls in. Once you get Monk, get the Chakra ability immediately. It heals everyone around him/her for no MP cost. It makes JP farming like this really easily.

[EmperorBrandon]

Kill all but one enemy on the map and then do something like this and the JP rolls in.

Heh, and you can also make things easier by making that final enemy impotent and unable to bother you, with Speed Break, Power Break, Frog, etc. And after that, do some of the same things to your own characters so you do less damage to yourself. Lots of little tricks you can do. I've never found getting JP to be that difficult.

Speaking of JP, it looks like the Squire's JP-raising support skill costs a bit more in the PSP version?

[Suwako Moriya]

Once you get Monk, get the Chakra ability immediately. It heals everyone around him/her for no MP cost. It makes JP farming like this really easily.

Also combine this with the awesomeness of a Mediator. In other words threaten that enemy into submission and it will spend mosts of its time hiding from you. Even when it comes out of chicken status it will still be weakened due to brave only being able go back up to 10 naturally. It's just fun to have a Mediator chase the chicken while threatening and negotiating for money. I so love that class.

[untoldsorrow]

Get some Arithmeticians — or, better still, some White Mages (faster than BMs) with Arithmeticks.

Hmm... interesting. I never realized White Mages were a bit faster than the other magic classes. Still it would seem to me that Black Mages are better arithmeticians because their magic power level is a good bit higher than White Mages (even a few extra magic power points can make a pretty big difference - something I keep in mind with equipment too)

I found Black mages were faster than white mages, thats the reason why all my calc classes were black with calc skills and magic attack up support skill. I would love to use a summoner as the first class but they were downright too slow.

Also, I just started the PSP version and I don't remember the Mystic class. did they change the name from something else?

[HitokiriShadow]

Kill all but one enemy on the map and then do something like this and the JP rolls in.

Heh, and you can also make things easier by making that final enemy impotent and unable to bother you, with Speed Break, Power Break, Frog, etc.


Or you can just get them low on HP and they may spend all their time trying to stay away from you rather than attacking you. Most enemies in this game are not suicidal and have some degree of self-preservation.


And after that, do some of the same things to your own characters so you do less damage to yourself. Lots of little tricks you can do. I've never found getting JP to be that difficult.

Another good idea. Casting support magic is another good way to get easy exp. Also, it should be noted that the Chakra ability also restores a bit of MP so it helps here too.

Speaking of JP, it looks like the Squire's JP-raising support skill costs a bit more in the PSP version?

According the player's guides, its 250 JP in both.

[Ty]

You're doing it wrong.

Which is to say, you're not adjusting your tactics correctly. You need more range? Fine. Get some Dragoons. Get some Monks. Get some Chemists. Get some Arithmeticians — or, better still, some White Mages (faster than BMs) with Arithmeticks. You can rip through those Red Chocobos like they were wet rice paper. Don't give up at the Finnath River! You're almost home!
Dude, they have a single turn attack range of 15 spaces! Only a calculator can stand against that and I didn't have one in progress yet. I sort of wanted to start over anyway, which I did but then I quit playing quite a while back. Right after I found out how hideous PS1/2 games looked on my new tv. I've certainly beaten the level before but not when ALL of the chocobos were red ones. It just torqued me off.

[Ty]

Get some Arithmeticians — or, better still, some White Mages (faster than BMs) with Arithmeticks.

Hmm... interesting. I never realized White Mages were a bit faster than the other magic classes. Still it would seem to me that Black Mages are better arithmeticians because their magic power level is a good bit higher than White Mages (even a few extra magic power points can make a pretty big difference - something I keep in mind with equipment too)

I found Black mages were faster than white mages, thats the reason why all my calc classes were black with calc skills and magic attack up support skill. I would love to use a summoner as the first class but they were downright too slow.

Also, I just started the PSP version and I don't remember the Mystic class. did they change the name from something else?
If you're willing to accept the somewhat reduced damage they do a great trick is to turn your calculator/mage into a ninja and then use the calculator skill set as secondary once he/she's all trained up. This way they ALWAYS get to go first and you can often cripple half or more of the enemy with status effect magic like slow or stop before the battle even starts.

[Ty]

My classic JP trick is to set everybody's secondary skillset to the basic/squire set and just have the whole team throw stones at each other whenever they don't have anything else to do. If you have a character like Ramza who is a bit higher level this works better than using support abilities because they'll gain more XP for the hit than the usual 10 so you're helping out there too. If you can keep a single enemy alive on the board an hour of this with all characters using the Gained JP UP support skill produces enough points to make good progress.

[Suwako Moriya]

I've certainly beaten the level before but not when ALL of the chocobos were red ones.

So you're mad because you were seeing too much red? In all seriousness, if I remember right one can simply reset and retry the battle to get an easier or harder pattern. Granted I may be remembering wrong. Then again the nature of random means the same pattern can come up multiple times in a row.

[EmperorBrandon]

Also, I just started the PSP version and I don't remember the Mystic class. did they change the name from something else?

They were called Oracles. They're actually a really powerful all-purpose class if you have access to sticks (which go by magic power in damage calculation), since you can do good physical and magic damage with them. There are a few of their magic skills that are pretty useful as well, such as the paralyzing, petrifying, and brave-lowering ones (all of which makes Beowulf very good, since he has the same skills with no charge time). In one of my last FFT games, I had Rue (Princess Tutu themed characters) as an Oracle with Mantle+Abandon, and she was very useful.

[EmperorBrandon]

Or you can just get them low on HP and they may spend all their time trying to stay away from you rather than attacking you. Most enemies in this game are not suicidal and have some degree of self-preservation.

Yeah, this is true, though if you're not too careful, they come back over and try to get attacks in after they've run away for one round. Gets on my nerves. An enemy that is speed-broken (or "Rend" as it is in the PSP version) and frogged barely gets a turn and never bothers you. Comes in really handy when I have massive leveling to do (like with Cloud)


According the player's guides, its 250 JP in both.

Hmm... I looked through some of the FAQ's, and it says 200, and I'm sure they're right (never remembered it being 250). I've noticed some other things have higher JP costs as well. The Time Mage's Short Charge ability (name was changed to something else, but still the same thing) is one of them -- costs 1000 in the PSP version, while it was 800 in the PS version. I guess they did that to make the game more balanced, since these are some useful abilities.

[Ty]

I've certainly beaten the level before but not when ALL of the chocobos were red ones.

So you're mad because you were seeing too much red? In all seriousness, if I remember right one can simply reset and retry the battle to get an easier or harder pattern. Granted I may be remembering wrong. Then again the nature of random means the same pattern can come up multiple times in a row.
My levels were just too high so I was getting the tough ones. I had never leveled up so much in a Tactics game before that point so it was an unpleasant surprise.

[ADC]

I found Black mages were faster than white mages, thats the reason why all my calc classes were black with calc skills and magic attack up support skill. I would love to use a summoner as the first class but they were downright too slow.
It's a case of perception trumping reality for you. White Mages have a +1 Speed over most classes including Black Mage. In a battle against Chocobos, that +1 Speed means you can keep up with them, especially if you're willing to stand there and take it to get the +20 CT after each turn.

Here, I'll give you an example. If you have a White Mage with Arithmeticks during the battle against Elmdore and his girlies at Riovanes Castle, that White Mage will always go before Elmdore and his girlies get their turns. A Black Mage will always go after them. (This assumes the Black Mage has no auto-Haste equipment.)

I don't remember for sure, but I think that Ninja, Thieves, and Monks also have a +1 Speed over other classes, or perhaps a +2.

As for building up JP, it's all about Fundaments. You want the Focus action skill and the JP Boost support ability. You keep pumping the Focus and get a +1 Attack per turn. You don't move, so you get the +20 CT after each turn. You wait for the enemy to arrive, keeping your ranged characters behind your melee characters. Then you open up on them with your extra attack power and Bob's your uncle.

The alternative is to get Bards and Dancers, get the Dancer's Mincing Minuet action skill and the Bard's Battle Song action skill, then just have your characters sing and dance (regardless of class). The songs and dances charge very quickly, and all you have to do is keep moving away from the enemy while the Battle Songs add +1 Attack per turn (hopefully) to the Mincing Minuets. Because every action culminates in you telling your people to wait instead of conduct a new action (Songs and Dances are persistent), you always get a +20 CT after each turn, so you can always stay a step ahead of the enemy.

[ADC]

Hmm... I looked through some of the FAQ's, and it says 200, and I'm sure they're right (never remembered it being 250). I've noticed some other things have higher JP costs as well. The Time Mage's Short Charge ability (name was changed to something else, but still the same thing) is one of them -- costs 1000 in the PSP version, while it was 800 in the PS version. I guess they did that to make the game more balanced, since these are some useful abilities.
Square reduced the JP requirements in the US release of the PSX version of the game, thinking that American gamers would get bored with the level-grinding when the rewards took so long to attain. The PSP version has the original JP requirements from the Japanese release of the PSX game. They also restored the job level up totals to their original levels. That's an important change, too, because characters with higher job levels get more JP.

[EmperorBrandon]

Square reduced the JP requirements in the US release of the PSX version of the game, thinking that American gamers would get bored with the level-grinding when the rewards took so long to attain. The PSP version has the original JP requirements from the Japanese release of the PSX game. They also restored the job level up totals to their original levels. That's an important change, too, because characters with higher job levels get more JP.

Ah, I see... so actually just restoring them to what they should be. Didn't know that.

[EmperorBrandon]

I don't remember for sure, but I think that Ninja, Thieves, and Monks also have a +1 Speed over other classes, or perhaps a +2.

Looking it up, Ninja and Mime have 120% Speed. Priest, Monk, and Thief have 110% Speed. Summoner has 90% Speed. Calculator has 50% Speed. The rest of the regular classes are normal. Keep in mind as far as permanent stat growth goes, Thief and Ninja are the only classes that will grow faster in Speed (Ninja being the superior class as far as stat growth though).

[Suwako Moriya]

My levels were just too high so I was getting the tough ones. I had never leveled up so much in a Tactics game before that point so it was an unpleasant surprise.

Ah okay then. Speaking of which that's one thing that bothered me. Enemies would level up with you in random battles, but only in a few select stories battles such as Finath River did that hold true. The reason it would bothered me is having it so your level 80 Ramza deals with a level 83 Chocobo and then later facing a level 40 Knight just felt wrong for some reason.

I wouldn't want every story enemy to match/surpass the party's level, but for enemies that are supposed to be dangerous like the bosses with special music that should hold true. Especially of the final boss who should be a much higher level than the party even if that means the final boss can go past level 99.

Granted in my case I'm less interested in how high my levels are in games like Tactics and more interested in what skills I have access to. Heck sometimes I'm tempted to use the level down trap early on before officially moving forward in a play through. Chapter 1 tends to be where I set things up more or less.

[EmperorBrandon]

I think it's more of the case in story battles that humans always have a fixed level (and I think this holds true for humanoid monster types like Zodiac monster, Workers, Apandas, Demons, etc.), but the monsters will always be determined by your party's levels (story battle or not). One of the cases where it's apparent is the battle with Zalera. If you've leveled up a lot, then those skeletons in the back end up being pretty tough (and too much for Meliadoul to handle on her own).

[ADC]

I don't remember for sure, but I think that Ninja, Thieves, and Monks also have a +1 Speed over other classes, or perhaps a +2.
Looking it up, Ninja and Mime have 120% Speed. Priest, Monk, and Thief have 110% Speed. Summoner has 90% Speed. Calculator has 50% Speed. The rest of the regular classes are normal. Keep in mind as far as permanent stat growth goes, Thief and Ninja are the only classes that will grow faster in Speed (Ninja being the superior class as far as stat growth though).
And I think you've proven that I've played this game way too much! :D I actually remembered all the faster classes except the one I never bothered to use, and that's a bit scary. Not, of course, as scary as putting in the legwork of figuring out all the stats and writing a FAQ about it, but there you are.

[untoldsorrow]

Also, I just started the PSP version and I don't remember the Mystic class. did they change the name from something else?

They were called Oracles. They're actually a really powerful all-purpose class if you have access to sticks (which go by magic power in damage calculation), since you can do good physical and magic damage with them. There are a few of their magic skills that are pretty useful as well, such as the paralyzing, petrifying, and brave-lowering ones (all of which makes Beowulf very good, since he has the same skills with no charge time). In one of my last FFT games, I had Rue (Princess Tutu themed characters) as an Oracle with Mantle+Abandon, and she was very useful.

Ah... Thats why I dont recognize it. I dont use them at all except to get to a certain level for another job requirement.

[HitokiriShadow]

Since I finally got a PSP, I started playing War of the Lions today. I knew that first (real) battle could be tough, but I forgot how much I hated that Chemist and how much of a dunce Delita was. The chemist has at least a dozen potions and Delita spend 3-4 rounds wandering around near the starting point and defending. While he had nearly full HP. I stopped after one of my characters turned into a crystal.

[EmperorBrandon]

Never bothered with Mimes? But they're so much fun to use. :D If you plan thing out right, their ability to attack, heal, and do a lot of different things continually makes them a force to be reckoned with. They also have some of the best stats and stat growth out of any of the classes your human characters can become and inherent Concentrate, Martial Arts, Monster Skill. Not being able to equip anything is a bothersome handicap, but doesn't stop me from using them.

[EmperorBrandon]

I knew that first (real) battle could be tough, but I forgot how much I hated that Chemist and how much of a dunce Delita was. The chemist has at least a dozen potions and Delita spend 3-4 rounds wandering around near the starting point and defending. While he had nearly full HP. I stopped after one of my characters turned into a crystal.

Argh... yeah, Delita was acting really stupid in my game. He had Defend, and he kept running to the back and using it and not doing anything to help. I forgot to remove it for Mandalia Plains, and he was doing the same thing yet again @_@ (AI obviously doesn't know how to use it right) That Chemist was really annoying again too. I managed to beat it without any character crystallizing. FFT is one game where the first real battle is not a cakewalk by any means.

[ADC]

I knew that first (real) battle could be tough, but I forgot how much I hated that Chemist and how much of a dunce Delita was. The chemist has at least a dozen potions and Delita spend 3-4 rounds wandering around near the starting point and defending. While he had nearly full HP. I stopped after one of my characters turned into a crystal.
Argh... yeah, Delita was acting really stupid in my game. He had Defend, and he kept running to the back and using it and not doing anything to help. I forgot to remove it for Mandalia Plains, and he was doing the same thing yet again @_@ (AI obviously doesn't know how to use it right) That Chemist was really annoying again too. I managed to beat it without any character crystallizing. FFT is one game where the first real battle is not a cakewalk by any means.
Yeah, it isn't. If you're a moron! First off, who the fuck cares about Delita? If he does attack anybody, that's EXP and JP out the window for you! I'd teach him Defend on purpose prior to the Mandalia Plains battle, just so he gets that wild hair up his ass and starts happy-assholing around Defending himself all the live-long day. Let him be a retard! I say. And second, there's no science to it at all. You gang up on one enemy with your scrubs. You send Ramza after another enemy. Delita picks his ass. Your Chemist — you are bringing a Chemist with you, right? — hangs back in the buckwheat, waiting for that gang of tortured thieves to actually do some damage to somebody. As David Lee Roth says, it ain't rocket surgery. :sigh: What, did you all grow up playing some pantywaist absence-of-strategy RPG like Disgaea?

;) I'm just playing. But I stand by what I say when I say that the first FFT battle is a cakewalk.

[EmperorBrandon]

Not saying the battle is extremely difficult or even hard - I don't really think that. Just saying that compared to early game battles in other RPG's, it doesn't seem so easy.

Heh, sometimes I even bring both Chemists with me to that battle. I just brought my female one into it this game. After Gariland, I ditched all males except for one. Need to start Ramza out with a harem. :)

As far as Delita and Alg...er... Argath go, I tend to let them be involved in story battles and let them level up. I've got plenty of random battles to level up my regulars with.

[HitokiriShadow]

I knew that first (real) battle could be tough, but I forgot how much I hated that Chemist and how much of a dunce Delita was. The chemist has at least a dozen potions and Delita spend 3-4 rounds wandering around near the starting point and defending. While he had nearly full HP. I stopped after one of my characters turned into a crystal.
Argh... yeah, Delita was acting really stupid in my game. He had Defend, and he kept running to the back and using it and not doing anything to help. I forgot to remove it for Mandalia Plains, and he was doing the same thing yet again @_@ (AI obviously doesn't know how to use it right) That Chemist was really annoying again too. I managed to beat it without any character crystallizing. FFT is one game where the first real battle is not a cakewalk by any means.
Yeah, it isn't. If you're a moron! First off, who the fuck cares about Delita? If he does attack anybody, that's EXP and JP out the window for you! I'd teach him Defend on purpose prior to the Mandalia Plains battle, just so he gets that wild hair up his ass and starts happy-assholing around Defending himself all the live-long day. Let him be a retard! I say. And second, there's no science to it at all. You gang up on one enemy with your scrubs. You send Ramza after another enemy. Delita picks his ass. Your Chemist — you are bringing a Chemist with you, right? — hangs back in the buckwheat, waiting for that gang of tortured thieves to actually do some damage to somebody. As David Lee Roth says, it ain't rocket surgery. :sigh: What, did you all grow up playing some pantywaist absence-of-strategy RPG like Disgaea?

;) I'm just playing. But I stand by what I say when I say that the first FFT battle is a cakewalk.

Typically, I split my part up and send 2-3 after the two near the main party and the rest after the group Delita goes after. This usually works. This time it didn't and I ended up using both phoenix downs and all my potions and I still lost someone. I've never done that badly before. Next time I'll let Delita get his ass killed and go after the two near my party from the get go.

[HitokiriShadow]

On another note, my brother was just telling me and showing me how far he was in the game. Now, it's been a long time since I played the PS1 version, but I'm quite certain that "Argath"/Algus didn't get brought back from the dead in the last chapter in the original. That's certainly an interesting change. Now you can kill the bastard twice!

[Ty]

A worthy change IMO if true. Man I hated his guts. My first battle usually goes far worse than yours did, except on purpose. I deliberately let them die then go to the recruiter and replace the six nobodys with 4-5 characters that I actually got to name, plus I'd keep revisiting until I got units with decent brave and faith stats. Less work to raise them later. Not until after I'd done this the last time did I stop dead in my tracks one day and realize I could have dismissed them without letting them die. I felt like such a cold-hearted asshole after that, but oh well. My game statistics for casualties never looked so good because of my little antics at the beginning, but I liked picking my own character names.

[HitokiriShadow]

A worthy change IMO if true. Man I hated his guts. My first battle usually goes far worse than yours did, except on purpose. I deliberately let them die then go to the recruiter and replace the six nobodys with 4-5 characters that I actually got to name, plus I'd keep revisiting until I got units with decent brave and faith stats. Less work to raise them later. Not until after I'd done this the last time did I stop dead in my tracks one day and realize I could have dismissed them without letting them die. I felt like such a cold-hearted asshole after that, but oh well. My game statistics for casualties never looked so good because of my little antics at the beginning, but I liked picking my own character names.

I'm tempted to do that on my file. One or two of the names are okay, the rest I don't care for. I already dismissed two characters simply because I didn't need 6 non-story characters. The main reason I'm not doing that yet is that money is so limited early on.

[ADC]

I might do that. I want to try a concerted effort at getting Dark Knights, and the requirements are so stiff that you just about have to start working toward it in Chapter 1. And if my girlies have names I like, it'll be easier to put in the time.

[EmperorBrandon]

I might do that. I want to try a concerted effort at getting Dark Knights, and the requirements are so stiff that you just about have to start working toward it in Chapter 1. And if my girlies have names I like, it'll be easier to put in the time.

Heh? So there's more to getting the new classes than getting jobs to certain levels? Guess I better look up on it, as I know nothing about it at the moment.

[HitokiriShadow]

According to my friend, in addition to high job levels for a number of classes, it requires the character to crystallize 20 enemies.

[EmperorBrandon]

Ah, Ok, I tend to hang around on the battlefield for a while and let enemies turn into chests and crystals anyway.

[ADC]

I might do that. I want to try a concerted effort at getting Dark Knights, and the requirements are so stiff that you just about have to start working toward it in Chapter 1. And if my girlies have names I like, it'll be easier to put in the time.
Heh? So there's more to getting the new classes than getting jobs to certain levels? Guess I better look up on it, as I know nothing about it at the moment.
Per this intriguing job class map (http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/psp/file/937312/50312), it demands that you master Knight and Black Mage, reach job level 8 for Samurai, Dragoon, Geomancer, and Ninja, and yes, crystallize 20 enemies for each Dark Knight. That's tall requirements.

[HitokiriShadow]

I've decided to go ahead and make a team of new hires, all girls. I have four, so I just need one more to be able to make an entire team of non-story characters but I may wait until later for that last one since I can only use four (at best) in the story battles anyway.

I've named them Touka (Utwarareumono but influenced by the fact that I'm currently watching Touka Gettan), Kikyo (named after a Touka Gettan character), Tomoyo (Clannad), and Celes (I shouldn't have to explain this one).

I love the PSP multiplayer modes. Any JP you get in those, you get to keep. Nothing else is affected, you don't get XP, you don't lose items you use, characters can't die. Plus, you get rewards and can get equipment you don't have access to until much later. My whole party is in the 2-4 range and I just finished the woods battle in Chapter 1. My white mage and archer have over 100 HP thanks to the equipment I've gotten.

But I mainly like it because you can get JP without becoming overleveled and making the story battles too easy just because you are 20 levels higher than everyone else. I've been using Melee to farm JP with my brother (who is currently in chapter 4 and in the 40s levelwise). We don't kill each other until we are ready to quite the battle and we trade off on who gets to win (winners get three items, losers get one).

[EmperorBrandon]

I wish I could do the multiplayer mode, but I know no one with a PSP or Final Fantasy Tactics TWotL. Hopefully I will get to try it out at some point, though.

[Ty]

I favored the girls too. They're just so cute in the right classes. I can't remember if I did 4 or 5 but it was important my last play through that I reduce the numbers because I wanted to recruit and try some story characters that I never had room for before towards the end. I had to have 2 guys and 3 girls though (just remembered I guess) because I traditionally have a pair of male monks or lancers depending upon where I am in the game for the levels that are fun to hit with brute force. I also turned down Agrias's flunkies when that chance came too for the first time. I never did anything special with them, and you only really need 4-5 generics by the end of the game otherwise none have developed enough specialties without excessive level grinding.

[ADC]

You can get a special item (some kind of lipstick accessory) if you enter a town on 1 Cancer with $500,000, but only if Mustadio, Agrias, Alicia, and Lavian are all in your party. It's a birthday present from our nebbish little engineer to his goddess.

[HitokiriShadow]

Perhaps I'll keep Alicia and Lavian around then. I like their names anyway. I don't know if the accessory is particularly useful or worth it, but I do want to see the scene.

Edit: It casts Protect and Shell. I guess its nice, but I think there are better things out there and I'm not sure its worth the cost.

On another note, I looked up the hat I got by playing Melee with my brother. I'm in the first chapter and I have the third best hat in the game.