Final Fantasy

[youandwhosearmy]

Ahh, Final Fantasy, the real ones.


Back when Nobuo Uematso used to rip off Pink Floyd, Airships weren't jet powered, and mode7 wasn't just a clever name for the shooting genre's worst, Cotton-avatared nightmare.

I would say Part VI is the most nostalgic, Part II the most emotional, and part IX the most charming. All three were done right.

Final Fantasy was a series that I never thought would turn out like this.

For ever good one, there is one someone dislikes due to either their own personal tastes (like VII, or X), or the one that just downright sucks (VIII).

I cannot wait for the Nintendo Crystal series, because for some reason I believe those will feel a tad more natural to me...

Or at least I hope.

[MechDeus]

Speaking of VIII, I'd like to play that one again, but then I remember how much work it took to get my characters to "godly" status [...]

All of ten minutes? I mean, once you actually get control of your characters on the overworld map. It's called, "Abusable!"

[TK]

Originally posted by MechDeus
Bad choices IMO, as those are both insanely simplistic and derivitive stories. The main difference is that I felt FFIX also had some great characters, very good writing and environments, much better character interaction, and a better soundtrack. Which all lead to it being my favorite FF.

First off, simple is not always a bad thing. In the case of FF9, it was charming, fun, and full of style, and that is all FF is expected to be. The series does not blaze trails on either the gameplay or the storytelling front, it just keeps doing the same thing over again and that is why I and so many other people like it. If you don't, I can certainly understand that. But a simple story can be the most enjoyable kind.

FF7, on the other hand (which I personally consider to be one of the great triumphs of storytelling in the world's history) is an extremely complex story. How you could call it simplistic is beyond my comprehension. You pretty much have to play through it at least twice to even begin to take in all the things going on in that story. It is not one of those things where it just acts as wierd and psychedelic as it can in the hopes that people will regard it as "deep" when in fact it does not even make sense, it's actually got a very real, tangible plot line that careful attention can understand. It's really quite a mind-blowing story, one that ultimately has a very good point to make. I am still waiting for Square to make another game like it, but I doubt it will ever happen.

And as for FF8, is it even possible to get your characters to god-like status? You just use the GFs, but you don't ever get the characters themselves powerful because the monsters level up with your characters, defeating the point of leveling up at all. That's probably the worst flaw that game has. Worst of a great shitload.

[OmegaFlareX]

Originally posted by MechDeus
All of ten minutes? I mean, once you actually get control of your characters on the overworld map. It's called, "Abusable!"

Um... you're exaggerating just a teensy bit. It did take a lot of patience and effort to: 1) get all my characters to level 100, 2) get all my GFs to level 100, 2) find/refine the neccessary items for each character's best weapon, 3) win enough card games to acquire a rather good collection, and 4) draw enough spells to allow for optimum junctioning of stats.

I think my FF8 save rests at 86 hours. Not 10 minutes... 86 hours.

Originally posted by TK
And as for FF8, is it even possible to get your characters to god-like status? You just use the GFs, but you don't ever get the characters themselves powerful because the monsters level up with your characters, defeating the point of leveling up at all.

See, that's where the junction system comes into play. If you plan carefully and arrange all your abilities to assume various roles (fighter, magic user, etc.) the enemies will melt before you, regardless of the fact they're the same level as you. It all boils down to strategy and logic.

[Josh]

Originally posted by TK
FF7, on the other hand *snip* is an extremely complex story. How you could call it simplistic is beyond my comprehension. You pretty much have to play through it at least twice to even begin to take in all the things going on in that story. It is not one of those things where it just acts as wierd and psychedelic as it can in the hopes that people will regard it as "deep" when in fact it does not even make sense, it's actually got a very real, tangible plot line that careful attention can understand. It's really quite a mind-blowing story, one that ultimately has a very good point to make. I am still waiting for Square to make another game like it, but I doubt it will ever happen.

Hooray! You are correct.

[TK]

Hah. I'd bitch at you for the snip, 88, but you're forgiven since you're a Ramones fan.

See, that's where the junction system comes into play. If you plan carefully and arrange all your abilities to assume various roles (fighter, magic user, etc.) the enemies will melt before you, regardless of the fact they're the same level as you. It all boils down to strategy and logic.

I know how it works. It's lame as hell. It is really not that much of a strategy thing, you just junction what you need to and any sense of difficulty melts away. You are not supposed to be able to just junction what you need and become all powerful, you're supposed to build up the strength of your characters over a long period of time.

But forget that. FF8 just sucked in every way except graphically.

[MechDeus]

It is not one of those things where it just acts as wierd and psychedelic as it can in the hopes that people will regard it as "deep" when in fact it does not even make sense, it's actually got a very real, tangible plot line that careful attention can understand.

You're right, anyone could understand the plot. Matter of fact, I don't see how one could not understand it, seeing as how they took careful time to spell everything out in basic terms. 99% of which was basic to begin with. Combine that with all of the characters being basic archtypes, it lead to a pretty unsurprising and unmoving story in every aspect.

And when did it really act wierd or psychadelic?

Um... you're exaggerating just a teensy bit.

Not in the slightest, actually. And if you're levelling everyone to 100, you're not God-like status, although you did defeat the purpose of such.

First and foremost, as soon as you begin make sure Squall does not get healed. This is difficult to do early on since everyone has such low hit points, but it gets easier as the game progresses. Basically, leave him in the red and continuously hit the recheck button until you get his Limit Break. Have the other two characters perform nothing but healing and resurrection to keep Squall alive but on the edge on death, and nothing in the entire game (aside from two enemies) stands a chance.

As for drawing spells, head on over the island of Heaven and Hell, equip no-encounter, and draw Ultima to your hearts delight.

Originally posted by TK
You are not supposed to be able to just junction what you need and become all powerful, you're supposed to build up the strength of your characters over a long period of time.

Wrong, so very wrong. Juction is strength; time and levels mean nothing in that game.

[Josh]

Originally posted by TK
Hah. I'd bitch at you for the snip, 88, but you're forgiven since you're a Ramones fan.

I can't in good concience agree that FFVII is one of the "great triumphs of storytelling in the world's history".

We all know damn well that Army Men: Sarges Heroes 2 holds that honor.

[youandwhosearmy]

Originally posted by TK
(which I personally consider to be one of the great triumphs of storytelling in the world's history)

I agree

Because we all know a really good story comes together in the end and nothing quite came together like fin.....


No wait, I'm sorry I mistook you for being right.

[StriderKyo]

Originally posted by MechDeus
FFX is FFVIII, no matter how much some of the fans of FFX will try to argue otherwise.

Yeah, but they took out the one thing that really dragged VII down, the draw system.

Bad choices IMO, as those are both insanely simplistic and derivitive stories. The main difference is that I felt FFIX also had some great characters, very good writing and environments, much better character interaction, and a better soundtrack. Which all lead to it being my favorite FF.

Simplistic? Dude, FF VII's story is alot of things, but simplistic it ain't, especially for a videogame.