Game question~

[candyland]

Okay...time for a little question to all the gamers out there on my f-list *crickets chirp*

I have been playing video games since my hands were big enough to hold a controller--and that's really not much of an exaggeration. We got our first game system (an original Nintendo) when I was in preschool or kindergarten. I've been playing games ever since.

But...there is a deep shame that hangs over my head regarding my supposed gamer status.

I...

Oh, I don't know if I can say it...

Okay...here goes...

...

I HAVE NEVER PLAYED A FINAL FANTASY GAME.

*hides face*

Why haven't I? I'm really hard-pressed to say so myself--if I had to put words to it, I guess the easiest way to explain it is that stat-based games make me nervous. Which probably makes no sense? xD I know, I'm weird.

But I was thinking that I want to give one of them a try. Trouble is that I don't know which one I should attempt. So I am turning to you, my darling f-list, for advice on this matter! I am in possession of a GameCube, a Playstation 2, and a Nintendo DS (which can also play GBA games).

So...which Final Fantasy games should I pick up and try? Thanks, guys!


Newest scene for 31_days: Feb. 12: "The sweet fruition of an earthly crown." [Peace Offering]

New on candyfics:
- Light Reading (for 30_evil_deeds)
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Comments

[ytak.livejournal.com]

Well, having never played them either (I am not a gamer, though) but I noticed that my roommate enjoyed FFX (final fantsy 10) and my friends really enjoy FF9.

[ehrenyu.livejournal.com]

You can play FF7, FF8, FF9, and Final Fantasy Anthology which contains V and VI, and then Final Fantasy Chronicles contain FF IV and Chrono Trigger. All are original PS one games but you can play them on PS2. I personally recommend 7, 8, VI, IV, and Chrono Trigger. All of them are awesome games! I'm not big into X or X-2, but 12's not so bad.

[ehrenyu.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, and I watched my brothers play the original FF on NES, and then FF2 and FF3 on SNES. I played FF2 and FF3, since I gave up on FF since I was so young and was having difficulties not dying. XD God, I love games, I just don't have much time to play them. The graphics for 6-under is SNES style, and 7 is obvious polygons with cool cut scenes. 8 is much better than polygons with alot more cut scenes (but 4 discs instead of 3!) and FF9 was meh for me after the awesomeness that was 7 & 8.

[rasgos-76.livejournal.com]

I played FFVIII, it was ok. I'm not really into FF :/ but I did enjoy FFIII for the DS X3!!!

[kaitodoushi.livejournal.com]

I haven't either! If I ever do pick up a PS2 I may look into one, though.

I've heard good things about 7, but a lot of my friends vouch for 9. Apparently 10 is pretty good, too.

[ulfstormbringer.livejournal.com]

*ninja drop* All right, here is the advice I have to give about Final Fantasy. Start off with FFIV on your DS(It's for the GBA, at least the version I played recently. I know they are also rereleasing it on the DS, but that's not here nor there) It's a fairly easy system, not a whole lot of customization you have to freak out about and it has a rock solid story and a cool Emo main character that get's better about 10 hours in.
My next advice would be grab FFVI on your DS(Again a GBA game) This is still my baby after all these years. Best characters ever, best villian ever (All you Long haired pretty-boy freaks who are googoo over FFVII can die in a fire), and some of the best redone lines I've ever seen. ("Weapons of Magiteck Destruction") It adds a bit more custamazation than FFIV, but still no where near as confusing as the later games get. If you can only play 2 games, I would say it would have to be these two. (/soapbox)
Now repeat after me... ONE OF US! ONE OF US! ONE OF US!

[ulfstormbringer.livejournal.com]

I will also say this. Don't get any of the Early games(In Anthology or Chronicles) for the Playstation. While Anthology would prolly be worth it for Chrono Trigger, the rest of them suffer from some pretty horrible load times. Get them from the GBA version, without load times and more content.

[clover-magic.livejournal.com]

I recommend FF7 and FF9. FF8 and it's horribly-contrived romance can bite me. I don't care for the older FFs, either, they're overrated - console-fanboys, you can bite me as well - and I don't like FF10 or it's sequel. FF12 looks interesting, however.

I recommend picking up Dawn of Souls on the GBA, though, which will give you 1 and 2 on one cartridge, and while 2 kind of sucks, 1 is fun to play, because whee, pick-and-choose team!

There are the FFs I like. XD Choose well, young Padawan.

[spirit-sage-333.livejournal.com]

Final fantasy VI is the best, IV is second best, go buy them....or find a sneaky friend that knows about emulation *whistles inocently* Other than that the rest are ok*and by ok i mean ok for final fantasy, GREAT for video games. They are right up there with Dragon Quest games. I can send yousome :)

[ehrenyu.livejournal.com]

Well damn. You're absolutely right about the load times on the PS1 games. XD I just refuse to buy GBA/DS because I don't want any other games but FF. :) Also, FFVI is my favorite out of all the games to play with FF7 as a 2nd and FFIV as a 3rd. I didn't like Sephiroth as a villain.. he was one of the lamest ones out there, but I loved fighting the Weapons and breeding chocobos (pretty much the sidequests ahah).

[ehrenyu.livejournal.com]

That's the one thing that made FF8 a not so favorite. The romance was too forced, and I ended up ignoring it for everything else. I didn't like FF10 because the main character was a whiny, whiny person, and so lost interest in it right away, though the sequel is marginally better it just doesn't have very much depth to it.

FF12 if you haven't played it, is Freakin' Awesome. Go out and play it if you haven't yet. It's like playing an interactive novel, if you're into that kind of thing, and the side-quests aren't half-bad!

D: But.. Terra and Celes on FFVI (FF3) :S ... and the MOOGLES!.. They're.. they're so cool. DDD: The graphics aren't so great and the music is so much better after an orchestra had performed it, but the plot sucked me in especially since they split the parties up at one point and you had three different plotlines to follow. XD

[meimi.livejournal.com]

;) We've already have this conversation so I won't dredge up the particulars again. However, I will say that if you want to try the original FF or 4, 5, or 6, then get then as GBA games. Best ports for them imo. The original one is in a two for one in Dawn of Souls and the others all have Advance tacked on at the end of their titles.

[jewelsybear1017.livejournal.com]

I'll ask my boy which FF is a good one to start with and get back to you. PS. Kingdom Hearts is sorta like FF. ;)

[bishonen-girl.livejournal.com]

FF7 is the best! well to me it is!

[chakrus.livejournal.com]

DONT DO IT SQUARESOFT IS THE DEVIIIIIIL

really though, I would advise if you havn't played them because there entirely -stat based- and all decided by numbers, play a game like Tales of symphonia/whatever the PS2 ones are first. Stats have an effect and it has alot of RPG elements but the combat and stuff is more real-time and dodging/guarding is all up to your skill so it will get you into the -harder- part (of going into a game so dependant on play and stats) without submitting yourself up for anything too hard (it is admitidly easy on the easier settings)

that and I think tales-of games have much better plots than final fantasy

[alena_s_anigor.livejournal.com]

Well, I haven't played it either, but I watched the FFVII: Advent Children movie and I really liked it, so... *shrugs* Try FF VII? It has Sephiroth in it! And Cloud...And Vincent... *swoons* XD

I'm lucky I managed to get my hands on Tomb Raider series...I'd feel ashamed if I had never played that. :D

[sazuki-reda.livejournal.com]

VII VII VII VII

SEVEN

SEVEN SEVEN SEVEN SEVEN

It's the only one I've finished ~

And I've played a bit of 8 (hate magic system gahhhh)

Played through most of 10 - about halfway through 10-2 (which I love 'em both)

I bought 12 and haven't gotten around to playing through anymore than like the first stuffz haha ~ but I hear it is awesome

Erm. I played through 6 until right after the opera scene (which is worth playing it for - and the moogles are liek kick ass in that game)

I love the fantasy story in 9 but I'm stuck near the end (I think - can never seem to tell where the end is in FF)

Played through a lot of 4... it was good fun but not my favorite. (Has one of my favorite insult quotes "You spoony bard!")

-

But 7 is still my fav. Because it has VINCENT FAAAAH ~
And it's still the only one I've finished :)

[randomaicoholic.livejournal.com]

"And I've played a bit of 8 (hate magic system gahhhh)"
Tell me about it, the magic system in this one SUCKS!
Where are the good old times when I could laminate random monsters with ridiculously powerfull spell which could be used on boss only, if you want fair fight?

But NO, with those damn limited numbers of spell, you couldn't play to God. ARGH!-_-;

(cough)

Ah well, Candy's question... Personnaly, I've just played to FFVII and FFVIII.
For plot, characters and magic system, the VII is the better of the two without a single doubt.

And I've seen few token romance which could match with the sapyness of the FFVIII's main couple.>_>;
So... Try the VII?

[yume-no-kage.livejournal.com]

I'm staying out of the FF debate (at least the 'which is better' part), but I've played FFI/II, FFIII, FFV, FFVII, FFVIII, FFX, and FFXII. Each of them has their own positives and negatives, but the easiest game all around to pick up among them (at least on the PS2 end) is FFX.

FFI-V are easiest to find on GBA or DS. Simple turn based systems, not too bad on the stat building, and decent stories. I'm still working my way through FFV, and am enjoying it so far.

FFVII (orig PS1)- Shitty camera angles, polygonic characters, great storyline and a magic system that's fairly easy to get used to. Load time's a bitch.

FFVIII (orig PS1)- Nicer graphics...but the junctioning system and the draw magic system will take some getting used to. First one I ever played and I remember being so confused in the beginning, but eventually you get it. I enjoy the storyline and the characters, but I'm sure everyone's mentioned to you already about the shitty romance.

FFX (PS2)- Auron is the most badass badass to ever badass down badass street. Now that I've said that, let's talk about the gameplay. I like how the turnbased system works, since you can tell how doing different moves affects your turn in battle. Tidus is a bit of an idiot, but I don't mind him too much, and the romance in this one is almost heartbreaking. Some of the sidequest challenges are a bitch (blitzball auuuuugh, and the ultimate weapons), but overall I had a lot of fun with this one.

FFXII- I think I'll steal a line someone said earlier. This game plays like an interactive novel. Gorgeous graphics, fun (believeable) characters, no forced romance, etc. Buuuuuut. The battle system, while absolutely fantastic for an obsessive strategy nut like myself, it may not be everyone's cup of tea. It's neither hack'n'slash, nor is it quite turn-based...You get what's called a gambit system, which allows you to pre-set character actions (ie: If character's HP falls below 50%, cast cure) before (or even during, when new strategies are needed) battle. Also, prepare to spend a LOT of time levelling and selling loot. At least the license board is fairly easy to understand.

...That's my two cents. If you want a hack'n'slash game, might I recommend .hack?

[axtar.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed FFX quite a bit really and like someone previously said, it's probably amongst the easier FFs to play. ^^ Currently finishing FF12 mself (ARRGGGH SO.MAN7. SIDEQUESTS~!!!!!!); it's a BLAST, though I know quite a number of people who aren't too happy with the plot. Me, I think it's all fine and good. >DDD

[soc_puppet]

I vote seven? Or any you want to try out at my place. I've got... six, seven, eight, nine, ten, ten-two, twelve, and eleven which is no longer hooked up so it's a no-go. Oh, and also Tactics. Yes, the Bad Translation Edition. (I kinda love my cousin sometimes.)

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Seph is better as a good guy. **hugs him.** Much love for Crisis Core and sane Sephiroth!

[sazuki-reda.livejournal.com]

"Auron is the most badass badass to ever badass down badass street."

He is very badass - I must admit - and for a long time he was my favorite. Then I played FFVII - and omg I luff Vincent even moar...

"If you want a hack'n'slash game, might I recommend .hack?"

oooo .hack games are AWESOME ~ I love the idea of your character playing a game and answering email and stuff. I remember when I first got it, I was like "wth? I have email? On a game? And I get desktop wallpapers and different music backgrounds for my computer? On the game? Sweeeeet." Not to mention the story just pulls me along so well.

[kuririnchan.livejournal.com]

My vote is for FF6. Engaging story, interesting characters, music is AMAZING, and the graphics are top-notch for SNES time. It's available on GBA. :)

Oh, yes, and I wouldn't start with I, II, V, VIII, or X; though they do have plenty of fans, the gameplay suffers for various reasons. I would recommend VI, IV or VII (in that order) though VII is kind of overhyped...

*FFVI avatar go~!*

[anrean.livejournal.com]

I have only played Final Fantasy 10 (not finished). It wasn't a bad game till I got to a boss near the end and realized I screwed my stats up from the beginning and can't go back and fix it. So I quit playing. My brother liked FF7 but that is about the extent of my knowledge.

[ehrenyu.livejournal.com]

Vincent is a 'side-character', like Yuffie. You have to really work to get him. XD Just for perks. He stays in a coffin in a basement, but he isn't a vampire. ^.~

[ehrenyu.livejournal.com]

YES. XD I meant lame as in 'he went crazy, but he isn't hard to beat if you can beat the Emerald, Ruby, and Ultimate Weapons'. XDD I sure like his character though. :D

[ehrenyu.livejournal.com]

My only qualms with the gambit system is you can be really lazy with it if you want to be. XD Set it and Gooo~ At the same time it's wonderfully flexible. Since I like to do (and am a complete control freak about) every particular thing my characters do in a fight, my gambit system is rather on the light side to accommodate my non-ability to omni-task. XD

[alena_s_anigor.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I confused him in a game with Vincent in the movie. In the movie, he shows up as moral support to Cloud... :)

[ehrenyu.livejournal.com]

Yeah I know. I watched Advent Children and played Dirge of Cerebrus. If you aren't good at 1st person shooters (and I'm not) it's a fun game to play. XD

[alena_s_anigor.livejournal.com]

I have yet to try that out. XD

So far, Tomb Raider and Alone in the Dark have been the games I've tried out although I'd like to try FF, just to see if it's that good as its name. :D

[whitetigergp.livejournal.com]

*looks up* Looks like everyone else has it covered. Heh;; Though if you still want another opinion, start with either 4 or 6 since they are easy to play for first timers. A lot of the others deal with assigning skills to players in a way that can seem complicated. Moderate ones would probably be 7, 8, and 9. If your up for a real challenge, try tactics or tactics advanced :) Just kidding. But whichever you chose, they mostly come with a manual or an in-game tutorial, so it's really up to you to decide. Hope this was helpful.

[ehrenyu.livejournal.com]

I don't know about Alone in the Dark, but Dirge of Cerebrus is more like Tomb Raider except less puzzles and more shoot-em-up stuff and cut scenes. FF7 has a great plotline and characters but it's polygons and of course you have a world map and all that stuff. XD