The Final Fantasy Series Thread

[Lith]

Ramble to our hearts content, huh?
I love, love, LOVE FF12. It's the beginning, middle, and end of all video games. The immersiveness of the world, it's detail, it's greater attention to what a world ought and ought NOT to look like, based on an actual understanding (for the most part) of climate and geography. I love the characters, the low annoyance factor, the low "groan-and-shake-the-head" factor. The gameplay.

For the record I've played: FF7,FF8,FF9,FF10,FF10-2,FF12, and FFT. I bogged down midway through FFT (each individual battle is too long), and am at (but have not beaten) the final boss in FF8.

I dont' normally collect/do everything; usually only enough to get by. I intend to play 12 through comprehensively though, which was supposed to happen this summer but is still waiting for free time. Otherwise, I tend to run through the game at the lowest level possible, since grinding is dull as heck. Which has the nice effect of making all the games harder. I'm consistently two or three levels UNDER those recommended by walkthroughs.

I've beaten more bosses than I can count with about 5HP left, no PDs, no extra elixirs/potions/MP,Ethers,MegaElixirs, etc. And a fair number with only one character left standing. Well, except the part about megalixirs- I will usually rather die than use them, since you only get one or two during the entire game and you'll need them for the final boss.

Memorable moments- running through the entire Sochen Cave Palace, beating the five little monsters, and two other bosses, in a three-hour run, with no save point (because I literally wore myself out fighting the one inside the cave and couldn't damage it a bit, meaning I had to fight the next boss, with no backup supplies), for a grand total of three boss fights in three hours, with no saves. Also, fighting Yunalesca in FF10, mostly for dying two or three times after forty minutes of continuous battle each time.

I've seen Advent Children and I LOVE it. I'm not a mindless FF7 fanatic (though I love it), and as long as you keep in mind that the movie's really more of a music video than an actual story, it'll be one of the most beautiful hour-and-a-half pieces of film out there (Yes, I know it isn't that good, as a movie.) It's probably the DVD in my collection that has gotten the most play.

I even love FFX-2. I've played it through very close to completion, trying to get the 100% ending. The NewGamePlus is a great feature, I have three Catnips now so I can crawl through the final boss of the Bevelle Dungeon, when I get around to it. Sucks though that the game guide left out one activity that I had to have for the perfect ending, and it's one I have to replay the entire thing through again to get. I didn't like it that well at first, but I've put twice as many hours into it as the original, and have found that hiding under the apparent shallowness are some interesting plot themes, and some disturbing undercurrents to the newfound peace of Spira. That and it's almost the only RPG out there that gives you not one, but THREE main characters that are women. Probably the only one that only gives you women. It's a refreshing change, even in its girlier moments.

Favorite baddie is Sephiroth, tied with Vayne from FF12. Vayne is actually a pretty interesting character.

I've tried other RPGs, but there's something Final Fantasy does consistently that keeps me busy as a gamer (well, as busy as I can be- don't have so much time for games anymore)- they have really intriguing stories, and they're just BETTER than other games, for whatever reason.

I tried to beat a Weapon once, and that was enough for me. Too time-consuming, and too much running around on tedious missions to get what I need to beat them. I also tried that underwater secret boss in 9, but he was also too hard for me.

I'm also mixed on an FF7 remake- can you imagine the Wall Market sequence having any of the charm in a newer version? And some of those mistranslations and bad bits of grammar were really funny. As much as I like AC, it takes itself too seriously sometimes, and I'm afraid that's how they'll revise FF7. I think it's only a matter of time before they remake the game. They have all these side-projects that look so much better than the original game (which I think looks terrible), and HUGE fan interest in seeing it remade.

I liked 8's draw system, but I don't think I understand the Junction system too well, even after playing most of the game.

FF12's story- it's been well hacked out on fansites by now, but I think it's great, and NOT lacking. It could be longer and more in-depth, and I would love it if it were, but I don't feel it was lacking in comparison with the other games. And I liked that it was more political and less personal, and for once there wasn't any romance, though that's something I like in the other games. Oh, and Fran's voicework in 12 was amazing. Never heard one quite like it.

Favorite spell is Curaga/Curaja. Otherwise I think the only other spells I've used are Flare and Holy in FF10 only (because they're the only ones that did more damage than a quick succession of hits from a sword).

I'd better end there before this gets any longer.

[Sephiroth]

What a post! Welcome to the discussion, Lith!

I did still enjoy playing FFXII, despite my many quibbles. I can't say what I really want to say about the end, as it would be a huge spoiler.

Playing VII, VIII and IX, I rushed through at low levels the first time, and beat them comprehensively the second. When I got to playing X, I couldn't do that, since I had no PS2 at the time. I borrowed one from my friend for a fortnight before they sold it, so I only had one crack at doing everything. The other problem was that I didn't have a memory card. I played just under fifty hours of the game without getting killed (leaving the game on all the time), before another friend lent me his memory card.

I totally agree about the Megalixirs - they're actually useless to me, since they're too precious to even use.

In the Sochen Cave Palace, was one of the things you beat the Hell Wyrm? Then I'll be impressed.....

The Yunalesca fight was a total pain, all that zombification was a hassle to keep undoing.......

It's nice to get a different opinion of FFX-2. And there's no doubt that the older games had a certain charm that is now lacking.

[Talysia]

I had mixed feelings about FFX-2, but I did complete it eventually. Getting 100% of the storyline is rather difficult, and the Bevelle extra dungeon was a nightmare most of the time, so goodness only knows how I was able to defeat Trema (it didn't even occur to me to play through three times to get three catnips - I only had one. *embarrassed blush*). The blitzball wasn't as good in X-2, though, in my opinion. It was nice to see a female lead in an RPG, though. I've only ever seen it in two games: Otherwise the main characters are either angsty teenage boys or young men with dark pasts.

I hated the Yunlesca fight, too. Half of the time, I left two characters zombified and just healed one. I think. It's been a while since I played it. Oh, and I'll add my welcome to the discussion, too, Lith.

[thaddeus6th]

I hated the Megadeath attack of Yunalesca. Instant death attacks are rubbish.

Yeah, there's definitely scope for more female leads. However, the dark past male can work. Yuri Hyuga from Shadow hearts and SH: Covenant is a great lead (for example, in SH he punches an orphan in the face. Typical goody goody he is not).

The problem is that FFX-2 had all 3 characters being female and also quite weak. There's no Cecil-like sense of depth, or Cloud-type confusion. They're all happy, go-lucky (Paine's about as foreboding as a kitten playing with wool). What I'd love to see would be a female lead with a real character, not some stereotype (see Rikku or Lulu).

[Overread]

Just to jump back in with another rumor - but it is possible that FFXIII will be makeing a return to the PC as well as the ps3 - if so then sony will have to pull its socks up to get me back as a fan - and pay for that monster rig.

[Talysia]

It's been a while, but I remember Terra Branford from FFVI being quite a strong female lead. Celes Cher was a good character, too.

Overread, I know what you mean. If FFXIII comes out on pc as well as PS3, then I'd definitely go for the pc version.

[Lenny]

Originally Posted by Overread

Just to jump back in with another rumor - but it is possible that FFXIII will be makeing a return to the PC as well as the ps3 - if so then sony will have to pull its socks up to get me back as a fan - and pay for that monster rig.

Rumour debunked already, I'm afraid, many times.

At the end of EVERY video of FFXIII and Versus XIII that Squenix has released, it shows the PLAYSTATION 3 logo. At the end of the TGS videos they even went as far as to put "Exclusive to the PLAYSTATION 3".

If an FF does make it to the PC, then it'll have to be an MMO like FFXI.

[Sephiroth]

Interesting that there was something in Bevelle in X-2 that you had only one chance to get, because that was the case with the Knight Lance in Bevelle in the original game.

I'm all for female leads, it just seemed to me that X-2 was all round very girly, and it seemed a bit unfair, since I wouldn't say the normal FF games are in any way geared more towards men than women (although I see your point about the lead characters, Talysia ).

Terra was great. Strangely, most of my favourite playable characters have been women. Terra, Celes, Aeris, Tifa, Yuffie, Rinoa, Quistis, Garnet, Yuna and Rikku (and Ashe, I suppose).

But thaddeus, what you say about a female lead needing a convincing (and engaging ) back-story is also true. From what I have seen of the clips of FFXIII, one of the main characters is a woman, but I don't know if she's the lead.......and we are still in the dark about storylines......

Going back to the Yunalesca fight, I did what you did, Talysia, although occasionally I had to keep de-zombifying and curing all three.

[Overread]

Well it was a nice dream - - FFVII and FFVIII were once on the PC - though I have never seen them for sale in any computer shops - though this is the UK so chances are that it did not get shipped all the way across the ocean,

[Talysia]

If I remember correctly, my sister had FFVII on the pc. I remember seeing it in the shops when it first came out, too (well, FFVIII, at least). Might be able to get a copy second hand.

Kind of disappointing about FFXIII, though. Looks like I may have to get a ps3 after all.

[Sephiroth]

Yes, I'm going to need one, too. They'll have to half the price, first, though!

You're right, btw, there was a PC version of FFVII.

[Talysia]

All this talk of FFVII prompted me to get Advent Children out again. I never realised how well the music from the game fitted in the "reminiscences of Final Fantasy VII" section. I love that music, so it's great to hear it again.

And I know what you mean about waiting for the price to come down. Well, come down by half.

[Sephiroth]

Ah yes, some of the knowing references in Advent Children are delightful!

You know what bit I really loved? After Cloud and (one of the clones, I forget which) fight in Aeris' Church, his mobile phone rings (or is it the other guy's?), and it plays the battle fanfare from VII, as if you've just won a fight!

I liked the modified J-E-N-O-V-A, as well. I had to point out to my friend (who should have known better) what it was.

[Talysia]

Lol, I loved the reference to the battle fanfare in Advent Children!

There's only about four pieces of music in the "Reminiscences of Final Fantasy VII section" (one of the dvd extras, with clips from the game to illustrate the story for those who haven't played it) but they definitely picked the best. And I hadn't heard that particular version of One Winged Angel, either, so a double treat. It's making me want to play the game again.

In fact, I think I might.

[Sephiroth]

Ah, nostalgia!

I have been thinking about playing FFVII again for a while. I should probably play one of the other ones again, since I've played it far too many times already, but there's always the temptation to try and recapture that magical feeling of the first play-through, once again.

Which, unfortunately, is impossible, but we still try...

I haven't seen the dvd extras, but I'd like to see how they illustrate the game's storyline.

Have fun if you decide to play it again! If you're going to Midgar, my advice is to stay away from the slums, it's dangerous down there!