Because Kinkajou told me to.

So yeah, anything about Final Fantasy! I guess this would make a good starting point: Which are your favorite games in the series and why?

My two all-time favorites are tied between Final Fantasy V and Final Fantasy IX. They're both very fun games that don't take themselves too seriously while still being legitimately emotional. On top of that, Zidane is my favorite Final Fantasy lead in the entire series. He's light-hearted, fun, and a generally nice guy to be around. FFV also has the advantage of having one of, if not the best, Job System in an FF game. Both FFV and FFIX make characters customizable while keeping them all unique in their own way. I'm also very fond of Final Fantasy I; it hasn't aged well, but it's classic, and like FFV, I played it tons as a kid.

I assume we'll drift around to various other FF-related discussions as the topic grows, right?

edited 3rd Nov '09 4:22:18 AM by Stark Maximum

My favourites are the games from V to VIII. I liked V because of the job system and VI to VIII because of the plot. I haven't tried III, IX or XI yet.

Heh. I see you've wasted no time using the password.

I like I, III, V, VI, VIII, IX, and from the looks of it I'd like XIII.

I also like all three Tactics games.

And in before fanboys killing each other over VII.

The only main series games I haven't played enough to have an opinion on are VIII (I got to Ifrit, that's it), X (I don't even remember where I got bored of this game but I want to give it another shot), XI (played a few levels of a Tarutaru White Mage on a friend's account, curious to try again), and XII (which I have never played at all). All of these games I want to give another honest try.

Oh, and I'm currently playing through the PSP remake of II, but haven't gotten very far and I haven't played in a while. I have...mixed feelings.

Oh, forgot about the Tactics. I liked both Tactics Advance and Tactics Advance 2. Haven't tried Tactics yet.

I actually find II's gameplay rather refreshing (if Nintendo Hard), but the fact that it's a glorified collection of Fetch Quests...

I think FFII is full of really cool ideas that I feel weren't executed as well as they could be. I'd love to see FFII's level-up system and the Keyword system in a modern RPG that can take advantage of them, because it makes for a unique and interesting RPG experience.

The Elder Scrolls as well as the Sa Ga games.

Yes, I want the keywords system back.

I'd love to see FFII's level-up system and the Keyword system in a modern RPG that can take advantage of them in a game I have played.

Let's talk about the Final Bosses.

If I recall correctly they have a tendency to go One Winged Angel...

Pretty much. It generally makes for a very exciting Final Fight final fight.

Now see, villains are an interesting thing for me, because given that I'm a Neutral Good idealistic nice guy, I tend to prefer heroes as characters over villains, and in fact, though I've always known what appeals to me in a hero, I've never known what appeals to me in a villain. Luckily, Final Fantasy has helped me learn that.

The main things I think a villain needs to be a "good villain" are scope, power, and threat. They need to have big plans, they need to be skilled in their craft, whether it be swordplay or sorcery, and they need to make you realize that they have what it takes to accomplish their crazy goals. Based on this criteria, my favorite villains from Final Fantasy are Exdeath, Kuja, and Kefka, although if I had to pick one as my overall "favorite", it might have to go to Exdeath. Forgive me for having not played very far into VI (I have my reasons), so my claims for Kefka may be a little "generic".

Scope is obvious; all three want nothing more than the complete and utter destruction of either an entire world or reality itself. You don't get much bigger than that. For power, it's pretty obvious all three are accomplished mages. Exdeath's power is the most obvious, and Kuja gets to strut his stuff in cutscenes and battle. Kefka's claim to power is obvious to anyone who's played VI. Finally, threat. Kuja's threat is clear, considering everything the party does is either finding Kuja, stopping Kuja, or staring in complete horror at the destruction he leaves in his wake. Exdeath's threat, however, is the main reason why I think he's the best villain in the series. Allow me to explain using some story points from the middle or so of V...

The party learns that the one person who can teach them how to defeat Exdeath is a hermetic sage named Ghido who lives in a cave on an island. The party makes their way there and heads into his cave. Exdeath's response? HE SINKS THE ISLAND WITH THE HEROES ON IT. On top of that, when the party finds their way into the Great Forest of Moore to learn of Exdeath's origins and work to stop him? He burns the forest to the ground. Let me reiterate, this is the forest wherein the tree housing the souls that created him rested. The Great Forest of Moore is essentially Exdeath's BIRTHPLACE. AND HE BURNS IT DOWN TO STOP THE HEROES. And this isn't even taking into account what preceded Galuf's most famous scene. Clearly, Exdeath's power is unlimited, and he will stop at nothing - NOTHING - to attain his goals.

Sorry. Gushing about a character I love. Plus, a lot of people don't take Exdeath seriously, when I think he's one of the most powerful and intimidating villains the series has seen.

I'm playing Tactics A2 at the moment, and I must say...it is without a doubt the most addicting game I've ever played. And I normally don't even like turn-based strategy games! O_O

I'm pretty sure I've succumbed to "just one more round before I go to bed" syndrome. It's gotta be customization.

As for the main games, VI is my personal favorite. AMAZING SOUNDTRACK I'm also a big fan of X. AMAZING SOUNDTRACK I really enjoyed XII as well. AMAZ...you can see where I'm going with this.

The Tetris Effect hits us all, Electi.

And yes, Exdeath is hammy awesome.

"Time for your viscera to see the light of day! Now die!"

"Peons! Tremble before my might!"

Sadly, that's also what makes him taken less serious;y.

I dunno, ExDeath just seemed like a rather boring Card Carrying Villain to me. Nothing really special about him, besides the fact that he's basically an evil anthropomorphic tree. Actually that sounds kinda cool when I say it out loud.

In any case, I still loved V. Especially the GBA translation. Dear god, that version is hilarious.

edited 3rd Nov '09 5:32:51 AM by Electivirus

That and the whole "HE'S A TREE" thing, which honestly is almost a Berserk Button for me when it comes to people who say they can't take him seriously based solely on that. First of all, I think the tree thing is cool. Secondly, he's not just "an evil tree", he is the combined essence of every evil soul in the world. The tree was their prison, and he only goes tree-form at the end of the game. Thirdly, did these people have their eyes closed while Exdeath was rending reality at a whim? Fourthly, NEO FUCKING EXDEATH. To look upon that THING is MADNESS.

Does all that count as spoilers? I'm not sure if I want to assume any FF fan reading this thread has beaten FFV, which isn't exactly the most popular of games.

" I didn't spend seven hundred years munching on pizza!"

Yeah.

And Gilgamesh's best line:

"And now we fight like men. And ladies. And ladies who dress like men. For Gilgamesh, IT'S MORPHING TIME!"

Anybody have Final Fantasy IV Theafter Years?

edited 3rd Nov '09 5:35:17 AM by Kinkajou

"Perhaps you should have, for you will have no such tasty diversions in the afterlife!"

YESSSSSS.

Also, After Years. No, I've never gotten a chance to download it. Although when I get a chance, it's my number one priority, because I really did like FFIV. Hoping I'll like After Years just as much as IV.

edited 3rd Nov '09 5:38:11 AM by Stark Maximum

Gameplay's a lot like IV, except for the introduction of Combination Attacks.

And they gov away with calling a Band Attack done by four whip-wielding ladies "Call Me Queen".

I thus want a Wii.

Oh good lord, IV. As much as I disliked the whole Death Is Cheap thing it had going for it, I freaking loved it. What's that? A romance done well? In MY Final Fantasy? It's more likely than you think!

Not to mention the fact that Cecil pretty much ended up banging a white-hot white mage if The After Years is any indication.

I love Combination Attacks! The fact that if Vivi and Steiner were in your part in FFIX, Steiner could use Sword Magic was like the coolest thing ever to me. I really should look into After Years. Isn't it like, a bunch of chapters that you buy seperately? And if you have to, how much does it cost to get the whole thing?

And I have to agree, IV is great, but the two things holding it back are A. no one stays dead, and 2. the endgame, the last, oh, 10% of the game just completely goes off the rails. The only way I can imagine the endgame of FFIV working is an overstressed, overworked writer sitting at his computer typing furiously going "AHHHHHHH".

edited 3rd Nov '09 5:46:11 AM by Stark Maximum

Unfortunately, I've never played either IX or The After Years, so I can't really help on that front.

Psst Stark Maximum: It's on the page for it. The first part costs 800 points IIRC.

And yes, Cecil/Rosa is definitely canon. Heck they're the only pairing (except for Wakka/Lulu) to have a child.

And Ceodore had his art changed for the US version. I wonder why.

Well don't I feel silly now. Thanks Kinkajou.

You're welcome.

We got Light!Kain, and hints about the Meta Origin of the Crystals. Apparently some alien race used them to monitor life...

Man, I feel bad having started this thread so early in the morning, because there's only like three people discussing things, including myself.

Speaking of direct sequels to main series games, has anyone actually played Final Fantasy X 2? I don't know why but lately I've been really considering giving that game a shot, probably just to have an honest opinion on all the main-series games, and I'd like to have an opinion on all of the Final Fantasy games.

edited 3rd Nov '09 5:54:21 AM by Stark Maximum