Final Fantasy general

I did say any and all of us, didn't I?

Hopefully they'll release it on DVD and digital download for the rest of us later, then.

I just finished replaying Final Fantasy VI. Specifically the GBA remake. I wanted to finished more completely this time since I hadn't really been aiming for 100% completion last time, so I completed the bestiary among other things. And it was interesting playing it after FFV.

I think I must not have been paying enough attention the first time I played, since I noticed a lot more little things with the plot and characters I don't remember. It made me appreciate the plot even more. I played the game in Japanese, and some differences between it and the translation are interesting, mainly Kefka. The English translation adds a lot more puns and jokes from him, and it gives him more of that crazy Joker feel that many people describe him as. The Japanese version writes him more he's just been mentally broken in a way that causes him to act both erratic and like a developmentally stunted brat. Kefka also repeated a certain word so much it was almost his catchphrase, but the translation translates it to other things. Almost anytime Kefka finished laughing among other moments, he would scream out "Boring!". Considering what he says at the end, he might just be laughing so much to force himself to be happy.

Though playing the game after IV and V made me realize that the gameplay in VI isn't that great. There's generally little reason to change up you strategy against different enemies or bosses, it's really easy to make everyone stupidly powerful, and things are just generally too simple and samey. Of course, part of what leads to this is probably that they had so many playable characters, and you're always switching between them a lot. It's kind of a good thing they reeled back the number of party members in following games.

I would agreed except not having party members and I happen to enjoy ensemble cast of FFVI.

I often mock Final Fantasy VI for being so easy, but after playing through FFV, I appreciate its level of difficulty a lot more.

I really enjoy how pretty much every boss in V has some gimmick or another. It keeps things fresh, especially since there's a pretty significant number of them.

Meanwhile, I'm still very slowly (I can play about once or twice each week :S) going on with Final Fantasy 13. I just defeated Barthendelous for the second time and saw the beginning cutscene for Chapter 12 (I think...? The chapter that begins with the heroes crashing into a motorcycle race).

My opinion has more or less stabilized: the game isn't bad enough to get me to stop playing or to cry outrage, but it is mediocre enough to make me wonder how the hell they could produce so little result (both in terms of fun gameplay and emotional investment in the story) with an investment so big.

Moments like the motorcycle race cutscene, when the game just stops pretending and starts throwing budget at you, make me wonder what could have been if all that money had been in the hands of a lead writer who knew the basics of storytelling. :P

There ended up being far more problems with Crystal Tools than anticpated and development resulting had some start-stop issues. By the time they got the core working they basically had enough time to make some pretty tubes between setpieces.

Well, the game does make sense if the writers had a complete story and then somebody told them "Ok, now remove everything that doesn't take place in the dungeons or involves anybody who isn't a main character because we don't have time to create them".

Oh, and the ESRB rating spoiled that Ultros is in Wo FF.

edited 25th Jul '16 6:05:18 AM by LordofLore

How did ESRB spoil that?

A Perverted Tentacles joke probably.

'Murica!

edited 25th Jul '16 9:01:24 AM by MarkIV

Attempted to tackle the Pharos today.

Got through the 1st and 2nd Ascents without much incident.

About 10 minutes into the 3rd Ascent, I promptly Rage Quit. Next time, I'll have a guide ready-at-hand for it.

If it's any consolation, the Pharos is the last actual dungeon- The final location is more or less a straight line to the final boss.

I also noticed that apparently, the Pharos bosses are listed in the Bestiary as Marks rather than as bosses.

If I go chat with Montblanc now that they're dead, do I still get de facto bounties for them?

Yes you get rewards.

Final story dungeon, there are still like 5 more actual dungeons in the game.

edited 25th Jul '16 11:02:05 PM by Memers

AFAIK I've already finished the Lhusu Mines except for Diabolos, as well as pretty-much finished up Barheim Passage.

Although I don't plan on ever touching the Great Crystal again, if I can help it.

If you want the Danjuro or the fight with Omega, you're going back.

... What the fuck were they thinking with the Great Crystal? What a bad dungeon design, even if it was pretty impressive as a setpiece.

I don't.

I've come to the point where I can more-or-less enjoy XII and I'm set on beating it, but I don't care about it nearly enough to make a serious attempt to 100% it like I do 5~10, or X-2.

Just save yourself the frustration and use a memory editor.

I remember using a map/guide to navigate the Great Crystal. It's not too bad if you have one.

Being obtuse with its secrets is XII's M.O. though. I think it might even have Dark Souls beaten on that front.

Kain has totally raided the XIV Dragoons movepool like a carrion bird.

That's more or less in line with his MO in duodecim, too.

To be fair, it'd be hard to make a complete moveset out of nothing but Jump, and that's all he gets outside the DS/iOS versions of IV.