Freaky abs aside though. My suggestion would be to hold off on FFâs IX & XII as those two games try to score big with references to previous FF titles. Otherwise go for it, pick which ever game you want.:hint: If you want old-skool challenge go with FFs I-III, if you want to play some of the classics go with FFs IV-VI, if you want a new-skool romance try FFs VII-X, if you want an MMO experience try FF XI, if you just want the MMO feel without all of the complexities try FF XII, if you want a tatically oriented game try FFT & FFTA and if you really want to start at the begining take Mystic Quest for a spin.
Actually, I enjoy the cyberpunk elements just as much as the swords-and-sorcery; my favorite game for 2006 was probably Kingdom Hearts 2. I hated FF4.
FF12âs story wasnât necessarily bad - but the emphasis was less on character and more on politics. I found it made for a surprisingly deep story, in fact. But you have to pay close attention to whatâs happening to really get a feel and an appreciation for the myriad back-and-forth intrigues that go on. Talking to NPCs and reading a few of the Clan Primer entries also help give you a better understanding of the world it takes place in. I really felt that the world was far more real in a way than any other game in the series. There are actual countries, histories, races, and the regions and cities have their own sort of personality. So no, not really character-driven, but thereâs a lot to be said for it.
On a side point, Wil, why did you link to the bare-bones site? I havenât even taken a look at that version in years.
Ok so ill buy FFIX than play all of them in order from there, hows that?
Thatâs probably the best idea. You could even start at X. Most of the advice in this thread is straight-up bullshit, especially VEâs and DRâs. The people here think youâll enjoy ancient sub-par shit because theyâre sentimentally attached to it. The older games will just frustrate you. Donât touch anything below VII, no matter how good they were for their time; youâll just be wasting yours.
If you play nothing else, play VII. Thatâs the one everyone always talks about and makes references to, and itâs what the vast majority of fanart and fics are based on. It gets a lot of trash talk for a variety of reasons that have to do with peoplesâ insecurities about itâs popularity and the fact that it stole the spotlight from older, less relevant FFs, but anyone who is actually in-the-know would tell you itâs one of the greatest games ever made.
And yes, that includes people who werenât introduced to Final Fantasy through VII. Like me.
Absolutely. Donât listen to anyone besides Hades; weâre all stupid and nostalgic and canât see past the ends of our noses. Thereâs no possible reason we might actually like older games other than the fact that we played them earlier in our lives; weâre just blinded to reality. Hades, on the other hand, is smart. Very smart. Much smarter than anyone else. So listen to every word he says, mark you, and donât you dare even bother trying out anything he doesnât like.
They need to invent a word for when people tell the truth with a sarcastic tone because theyâre afraid someone elseâs words might not be a lie. So I can call you it.
If you want to argue, Iâm up for it. Arguing comprises more than just ad hominem attacks though. Iâm not sure youâre up to the task.
Heh, dig that Hades. DR recommended VII and X, which you also did and VE explained what she liked in V. âFun mechanics, donât expect charactersâ. That seems to me better arguing than âeveryone talks about FFVIIâ.Btw FFVII is also ancient nowadays, except for us, old geezers. Deal with it.
[QUOTE=]
If you play nothing else, play VII. Thatâs the one everyone always talks about and makes references to, and itâs what the vast majority of fanart and fics are based on. It gets a lot of trash talk for a variety of reasons that have to do with peoplesâ insecurities about itâs popularity and the fact that it stole the spotlight from older, less relevant FFs, but anyone who is actually in-the-know would tell you itâs one of the greatest games ever made.
And yes, that includes people who werenât introduced to Final Fantasy through VII. Like me.[/QUOTE]
Isnât the âinsecuritiesâ bit ad hominem or do I fail my Latin and English again?
On a side point, Wil, why did you link to the bare-bones site? I havenât even taken a look at that version in years.
Oh, no particular reason- itâs just the link I use most frequently. The full-res site is much prettier, I just donât enjoy reading white letters on dark backgrounds.
You know, this thread has made me realize that the Compendium could use a new section- one that gives brief descriptions of all the games (without spoilers) for people like Barak who have little to no idea what theyâre about, to help them decide which to play and/or read about. (And before you ask, âAre YOU willing to write it up?â the answer is Yes, I would. Just let me know if you decide itâs worth it.
You know, Iâm not feeling like seriously getting into an argument, so this is absolutely all Iâm going to say in this thread. I usually get into arguments out of boredom, and since Iâm having plenty of fun right now, Iâve no interest to. So Iâm just going to drop this comment here and go away. Here it goes:
Dude, what the HELL is wrong with you!? Every time you need to express an opinion you simply can not do so without insulting everyone around you at the same time!? Do you lack any recognizable form of respect for anything that differs from your line of thought, or do you just lack the verbal skill to say things without senslessly right out bashing other people? Are you really that much of a jackass or do you do it subconsciously? Either learn some human conversational skills or JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP ALREADY!
To the Mods:
I suppose this might actually fit into the definition of trolling and am ready to face any consequences, itâs just something I needed to get out.
Most of the game is extremely linear (not sure which had a stronger exploration aspect. FFX or the original Super Mario Bros.). Not until itâs almost over do you get a chance to go back to previous areas and hunt for treasure, etc.
But I do like how the tag-team battle system, where all characters play an equal part. Better than how you have 10 people youâll probably never use past their plot-required scenes in FF6.
Iâd say itâs a matter of opinion really. FF7 was my first RPG, but I fell in love with FF5 when I first played it in Anthology. FF3 is fun, and you shouldnât have any trouble ecxcept for the couple of times you pretty much have to use job X to get past a certain point. FF1 (at least the NES version; I donât remember if the PSX remake was as bad and I havenât played the GBA or, now, PSP) requires a fair amount of level grinding to actually stand a chance. Iâve yet to beat FF2, so I canât say much other than if you liked the SaGa games, you probably will like FF2. FF4 was okay, not the greatest, but good. FF6 annoys the hell out of me. FF9 was old meets new, I thought. FF10 has the best story, imo, so itâs probably a good start if youâre wanting to break in for the story.
In conclusion, do a couple searches online, scope out a couple screenshots, and read a few reviews and then grab whichever you think looks interesting.
You have this strange approach to arguing where, knowing that your own opinions have varied dramatically over the years, you <i>still declare your opinions as though they were obvious</i>.
Normally I would defend FF4-6 vehemently. I could point to the hard-edged beauty of FF4âs conversion story, or the intermingled lightheartedness and sleepy wistfulness of FF5, or the sweeping melancholy and tenderness of FF6, but I donât think it would accomplish anything: unless <i>at that very moment</i> you were feeling the same way, you would laugh it off and provide a stream of invectives about anyone who was not enlightened enough to be in tune with your disposition-of-the-moment. I could point out that many of FF7âs themes, characters, and even songs derive from ones in FF6, but this would no doubt provoke some offhand invalidation of FF6âs merits and confirmation of FF7âs. I could point out that Nobuo Uematsu, for instance, considers FF6 his most successful overall project and the one into which he put the most effort, and that he believes heâs seen no real improvement in his work since then, but perhaps Uematsu suffers the same misguided sentimentality that nearly <i>all</i> of us do. In any event, I donât think pointing out anything would accomplish much.
Therefore, Iâll instead recommend that Barak be guided for now by the majority opinion, and reach a judgment about the series for himself.
No, I meant more like a short summary of each game, with no spoilers, but with comments on graphics and gameplay. The kind of stuff a possible player might want to know. And put together in a single section for reference/comparison.
:mwahaha: if you have a DS i say start with 3 and work your way up
I was one of the ones to get brainwashed by 7 but thats not a bad thing so start with that if you want
No,a review offers opinions. What I propose is sticking to the facts. Short example: âFF7 takes place on a cyberpunk-type setting. A crooked megacorporation called Shin-Ra rules the world, and a group of ecoterrorists called AVALANCHE -the PCs- oppose them. Then, a super-being created by Shinra resurfaces, threatening both groups. Features some controversial material, including the death of a major character.â Itâs more like copywriting, really.
I hated FF4.
Oh, and Wil? 16 bit graphics were the golden age of gaming.