So if you never played a single Final Fantasy where would you start?

[Christopher]

I honestly played FF10 for like 10 minutes before I decided how boring it was.

[Van Cruncheon]

ff5 or ff8, the two only good ff titles

[abrader]

I honestly played FF10 for like 10 minutes before I decided how boring it was.

I like 12 alot and its the most advanced combat system - why not start there?

[Ichirou]

I agree with Prof. Prole. 5 and  8 are the only good ones (of the ones I've played).  Stay far away from everything else in the main series.  The only other one worth playing is Final Fantasy Tactics.

EDIT: I loved VI when I first played it but it has aged really badly.  VII was never very good, it just had the CG movies and pretty backgrounds that distracted people from its crappiness.

[Van Cruncheon]

yeah, 7 has gone from WOW AWESOME SUMMONS N FMV to incomprehensibly awful over the last 10 years. 6 is just kinda inane and meandering despite its EVIL KLOWN hijinx, and 9/X/X-2/12 are just overproduced garbage.

FFT is awesome. I WISH TO BE IN FFT.

[Ichirou]

WHAT DID YOU GET, RAMZA? WHAT DID YOU GET?

spoiler (click to show/hide)

lol, I just spoiled FFT's ending 

[close]

[Van Cruncheon]

AERIS DIES

[y2kev]

You can't play FFT as-is. Maybe the PSP rerelease.

The translation in FFT is so bad that it just becomes complete nonsense.

[Ichirou]

The PSP port of FFT is supposed to be really bad. :/

If it gets an honest-to-goodness retranslation I will probably pick it up anyway, though.  The PSX version had a character named Teta - as this is the spanish word for breastesses, it was difficult for me to take the game seriously after that.

[Van Cruncheon]

alexander o. smith is completely retranslating it, and the slowdown bug in the gafgarion fight is being fixed.

[Ichirou]

I didn't care about the slowdown so much as I heard that there were serious issues with the audio.  Great to hear about the retranslation - I got a good feeling!

[Himu]

FFIV, FFVI, and FFVIII are really good starts. FFVI and VIII in particular, are what I suggest for a Final Fantasy beginner.

VI because of its charming story, characters, unique character ensemble that keeps the game varied. FFVIII for rpg fans who want something different - in terms of character development, character customization, and overall setting/feel.

IV is a good place to start because it's a pretty basic FF, but not dumbed down like say, FFIX.

[Ichirou]

FFIV is shit, Himu.  If he's going to start with that, he should at least wait for the DS version.

[Himu]

FFIV is shit, Himu.  If he's going to start with that, he should at least wait for the DS version.

I refuse to believe that FFIV is shit.

[Ichirou]

Look in your heart.  You know it to be true.

[Himu]

No. It's really not true. AT ALL. Then again, I'm of the opinion that every FF is good, except I-III. I like some more than others, but overall, it's got (or rather, used to) have a great track record.

[y2kev]

FFIV is shit, Himu.  If he's going to start with that, he should at least wait for the DS version.

I refuse to believe that FFIV is shit.

I'm with you, Himu.

As far as your "casual," "mainstream" RPG, FF is a pretty solid series all around. I'd really only stress avoiding 1, 2, and 3...there's something valuable in all the other ones, even if they are flawed.

DQ is good too. Phantasy Star is good, but really...kinda shortlived. Thanx sega lol. Take Kodama out of the dungeon plz.

What bored you about 10, Chris? That would help me make you a recommendation.

[Ichirou]

No. It's really not true. AT ALL. Then again, I'm of the opinion that every FF is good, except I-III. I like some more than others, but overall, it's got (or rather, used to) have a great track record.

 

Your opinion on FF cannot be trusted, then, my friend.

[Himu]

No. It's really not true. AT ALL. Then again, I'm of the opinion that every FF is good, except I-III. I like some more than others, but overall, it's got (or rather, used to) have a great track record.

 

Your opinion on FF cannot be trusted, then, my friend.

Whatever. It used to be my favorite series ever, but whatever. I see nothing wrong in appreciating every FF, IV - XII for their own quirks.

[Junpei the Tracer!]

Final Fantasy IX is really good.You should try that one.

[Ichirou]

FF I, II, IV, VII, IX, X, X-2, and XI are all horrid.

[Mondain]

Whatever you do, if you play PSOne Final Fantasies, play them on your PS3 with the upscaling and the smoothing option enabled. It makes these old games with crappy resolutions look VERY good on the most modern of HDTVs.

[BamYouHaveAids]

FF I, II, IV, VII, IX, X, X-2, and XI are all horrid.

I liked 9 and why is III missing from your list?

[Van Cruncheon]

3 is pretty horrid, too -- and there's no point in playing it with 5 around!

[Himu]

FF I, II, IV, VII, IX, X, X-2, and XI are all horrid.

FFI-III, I'll give you that.

IV is not horrid, its unique characters are somethingI have a hard on for and it has YOU SPOONY BARD.
VII is overrated to hell and back but it's hardly horrid. It's got many flaws, but still a good game.
IX is basically FF-lite. It can be summed up as Final Fantasy's greatest hits, it's so uncreative. But because of that very reason of playing it safe, it remains as a fun game, even it people may end up playing it only once.
X is the second best FF. No, I do not care that you hate Tidus and Yuna, the battle system rocks and you're stupid if you hate it.
X-2 has the best gameplay in an FF period, who's name is not Final Fantasy Tactics.

Suck on that.

[Van Cruncheon]

they made the perfect ff for you, himumu: it's called xenosaga

[Himu]

they made the perfect ff for you, himumu: it's called xenosaga

Oh screw you, dude. That's totally insulting. I already played Xenosaga out of my duty to support all that is Xenogears and it sucks.

[Junpei the Tracer!]

Why don't some of you like Final Fantasy III?

[y2kev]

X is not "horrid" by any stretch. It has some problems, but it's largely not too bad. Plus, with the optional end-game stuff, the game can provide some challenge-- though that's basically true for all the Final Fantasies.

IV is really breezy. You can beat it without much challenge. It's got good music and a fairly straightforward (though reallllly underdeveloped) story with some amusing archetypal characters. AVOID ALL TOSE PORTS

[Himu]

If you got bored of FFX so quickly, it sounds like you shouldn't start with an FF that has a slow intro. FFVII / FFXII may be the best choices for you. FFVIII has a great intro movie, but the game just falls asleep for a few hours from that point - love it overall though. FFIX and FFX-2 are just dull from start to finish. Can't comment on the SNES era games, not played any, and anything earlier than that is guaranteed to send you into a coma if you didn't like FFX.

I dunno dude. FFVIII's first disc is absolute sex. Actually, all of it is. How does FFVIII have a slow start if the second thing you do is invade Dollet?

Best FF. FFVIII

[youtube=425,350]U_HxjU8TolU[/youtube]

[Ichirou]

III introduced the job system so I must give it some points for that.  As such, I don't find it horrid, simply mediocre.

IV's storyline, setting, and characters have aged so, so badly - they are cheesy to the extreme.  The gameplay is also sleep-inducing.  It has nothing going for it.

VII is an awful, awful game.  When it was released, it coasted on the fact that it had snazzy visuals, but as time has gone by, the silk screen has rotted away to reveal the monstrous cadaver underneath.

IX is trite, pseudo-nostalgic trash, with a plot as deep as your average Dragon Ball Z episode.  The only good thing to come out of that game is Steiner, and that's just because of the resulting Morgan Webb comparisons/photoshops.

X is trash.  The battle system is trash.  The overworld is trash.  The encounter rate is trash.  The ridiculous tasks you have to undertake to get the ultimate weapons are so badly designed that they make me want to find the designers and beat the shit out of them.

X-2, lol.  Titties.

I'd suck on your wang, Himu, but not on FF games.  

[Glescoes]

Skip 1-3
Play 4.
Play 5.
Play 6.
Play 7 and see how awesome materia is. Excellent Battle system.
Play 8. Laugh at the horrible "summon" or "aeon" shit.
Play 9 if you liked old school FF.
Play 10 if you like cheesy voice acting and a great battle system. Laugh at the horribly broken charged aeon mechanics.
Play 11 if you want to play a "decent" MMORPG. Could be boring.
Play 12, or let it play for you.

Tactics is good. Tactics advance is LOL. Maybe try FFX2? I dunno.

[Wobedraggled]

I'd probably just thank myself.

[Himu]

IV's storyline, setting, and characters have aged so, so badly - they are cheesy to the extreme.  The gameplay is also sleep-inducing.  It has nothing going for it. It's got a fun adventure. Story, setting, and characters have aged? Bullshit. For being released when it was, FFIV has aged pretty well. I played the game for the first time in 2000, and I still loved it.

VII is an awful, awful game.  When it was released, it coasted on the fact that it had snazzy visuals, but as time has gone by, the silk screen has rotted away to reveal the monstrous cadaver underneath. I agree with you somewhat, but I guess I have a soft spot for the game despite the fact it's aged horribly. No I would not recommend it to any person who has not played it in this day and age, but for it's time it was a pretty good game.

IX is trite, pseudo-nostalgic trash, with a plot as deep as your average Dragon Ball Z episode.  The only good thing to come out of that game is Steiner, and that's just because of the resulting Morgan Webb comparisons/photoshops. Plot as deep as DBZ? You complaining about plot for video games? Who gives a shit. It has Vivi. That's enough. Yes, the game is flawed as hell, I even said this, but compared to other rpgs on the market like Tales of Homocockuality, it's pretty decent and still worth playing.

X is trash.  The battle system is trash.  The overworld is trash.  The encounter rate is trash.  The ridiculous tasks you have to undertake to get the ultimate weapons are so badly designed that they make me want to find the designers and beat the shit out of them. X's battle system and encounter rate is trash to  you? I never noticed that the encounter rate was so retardedly high like you say it is. Getting the ultimate weapons was really gay, but it didn't ruin the game. I simply didn't bother getting them.

X-2, lol.  Titties. Sakura Taisen. Loli's.

[Junpei the Tracer!]

Why don't some of you like Final Fantasy III?

A-hem.Answer,I see unjustified hate for this.

[Himu]

Why don't some of you like Final Fantasy III?

A-hem.Answer,I see unjustified hate for this.

All NES FF's suck ass.

[Van Cruncheon]

because, tracer, it has some truly awful scenario design where you are required to know a certain spell to pass certain plot areas/points; it gives a false sense of nonlinearity; it has a shallow, tedious take on the job system that will eventually make V the greatest FF; it's ugly as fuck, even on the DS; and it has the worst dungeon design in the series. it and 2 are easily the worst FF titles.

[Glescoes]

If you must play 1-3, play a remade version.

Or better yet, say "Fuck this final fagstasy bullshit, time to play Chrono Trigger!"

[Ichirou]

IV's storyline, setting, and characters have aged so, so badly - they are cheesy to the extreme.  The gameplay is also sleep-inducing.  It has nothing going for it. It's got a fun adventure. Story, setting, and characters have aged? Bullshit. For being released when it was, FFIV has aged pretty well. I played the game for the first time in 2000, and I still loved it.

How old were you when you played it?  'Cuz if you were older than 15 and enjoyed it, you were either deep in the throes of homojapuality or you may be developmentally disabled.

VII is an awful, awful game.  When it was released, it coasted on the fact that it had snazzy visuals, but as time has gone by, the silk screen has rotted away to reveal the monstrous cadaver underneath. I agree with you somewhat, but I guess I have a soft spot for the game despite the fact it's aged horribly. No I would not recommend it to any person who has not played it in this day and age, but for it's time it was a pretty good game.

Can't wait for the PS3 remake.

IX is trite, pseudo-nostalgic trash, with a plot as deep as your average Dragon Ball Z episode.  The only good thing to come out of that game is Steiner, and that's just because of the resulting Morgan Webb comparisons/photoshops. Plot as deep as DBZ? You complaining about plot for video games? Who gives a shit. It has Vivi. That's enough. Yes, the game is flawed as hell, I even said this, but compared to other rpgs on the market like Tales of Homocockuality, it's pretty decent and still worth playing.

All the Tales games have better battle systems and gameplay than FFIX, man.  Even the wackiest, homojapualitiest Tales game has more depth than FFIX.

X is trash.  The battle system is trash.  The overworld is trash.  The encounter rate is trash.  The ridiculous tasks you have to undertake to get the ultimate weapons are so badly designed that they make me want to find the designers and beat the shit out of them. X's battle system and encounter rate is trash to  you? I never noticed that the encounter rate was so retardedly high like you say it is. Getting the ultimate weapons was really gay, but it didn't ruin the game. I simply didn't bother getting them.]

The encounter rate was incredibly high.  Getting the ultimate weapons was in some ways a necessity if you didn't want the final battles to last an eternity with the 9,999 damage cap.

X-2, lol.  Titties. Sakura Taisen. Loli's.

Countering truth with truth?  Not much of a rebuttal.  

[y2kev]

Why don't some of you like Final Fantasy III?

A-hem.Answer,I see unjustified hate for this.

III is just really old in design. Like, really, really old. It needed way more than a new coat of paint for the DS, imo, but it was still interesting to see from where the series has evolved.

It's unacceptable to me to be fucked over in a particular dungeon because you don't have enough "mini" spells left. At least give me a way to fix that shit.

[Himu]

Chrono Trigger is better than any Final Fantasy. Chris, play that instead.

[ananus]

are you interested in ffs because you want to get into rpgs? if so, i'd suggest trying chrono trigger instead. it's still a good game, and it isn't too complicated. you don't have to buy it either, so it's not like you have much to lose.

edit - dammit himuro

[Ichirou]

Chrono Trigger is better than any Final Fantasy. Chris, play that instead.

I agree with this statement.

[demi]

Start with the first one, obviously. It's piss easy.

[Himu]

How old were you when you played it?  'Cuz if you were older than 15 and enjoyed it, you were either deep in the throes of homojapuality or you may be developmentally disabled. I was 15 when the game came out on the psx.

Can't wait for the PS3 remake. I can. They have basically raped my memories thus far of my first rpg, so I don't want to have them do it even more.

All the Tales games have better battle systems and gameplay than FFIX, man.  Even the wackiest, homojapualitiest Tales game has more depth than FFIX. But FFIX has Vivi.

The encounter rate was incredibly high.  Getting the ultimate weapons was in some ways a necessity if you didn't want the final battles to last an eternity with the 9,999 damage cap. I got ultimate weapons, but the only one I powered up was Yuna's. Fighting the final boss with normal weapons was really tough because Jecht is a bitch. I felt like I accomplished something when I raped his ass.

Countering truth with truth?  Not much of a rebuttal.  I'm saying that it's a weak ass argument and you're going to have to try better than that. If you're only argument against FFX-2 is that it's got titties (ones that are always hidden at all times) then you might as well get in to the Shadow Hearts series because you're obviously a taco. If the thing stopping you from playing FFX-2 are the female characters, then you might as well not play things like Sakura Taisen.

[Van Cruncheon]

ffx-2's girl power dialogue and j-pop aesthetic are intolerable to the XY chromosome set, himumu hina.

[Himu]

[youtube=425,350]MmeQtbS6Wr8[/youtube]

Tsk tsk tsk.

Just play Chrono Trigger, Chris.

[Glescoes]

I certainly hope Crisis Core is good. Dirge was shit.

Anyway in FFX, the last bosses (sin?  havent played in a while) we're piss easy. Like a distinguished mentally-challenged Lavos or some shit. I just spammed Holy and used that cheap ass bumble sisters summon.

[Himu]

ffx-2's girl power dialogue and j-pop aesthetic are intolerable to the XY chromosome set, himumu hina.

See, I would agree if the game didn't have awesome gameplay.

[y2kev]

X-2 has the ultimate evolution of the ATB. It's really good. And can be a little tough even.

[Himu]

X-2 has the ultimate evolution of the ATB. It's really good. And can be a little tough even.

This.

I certainly hope Crisis Core is good. Dirge was shit.

Anyway in FFX, the last bosses (sin?  havent played in a while) we're piss easy. Like a distinguished mentally-challenged Lavos or some shit. I just spammed Holy and used that cheap ass bumble sisters summon.

FFX's last boss was not Sin. How can anyone count him as the last boss? The game gives you auto life by default and even if you die, you have auto life again. It's like saying that the final battle between Cloud and Sephiroth when Cloud does the Omnislash is FFVII's final boss.

[Glescoes]

X-2 has the ultimate evolution of the ATB. It's really good. And can be a little tough even.

BUT DRESS SPHERES MAN

[Van Cruncheon]

ffx-2's girl power dialogue and j-pop aesthetic are intolerable to the XY chromosome set, himumu hina.

See, I would agree if the game didn't have awesome gameplay.

when have you ever cared about gameplay, captain shenmue x xenogears!

[Ichirou]

How old were you when you played it?  'Cuz if you were older than 15 and enjoyed it, you were either deep in the throes of homojapuality or you may be developmentally disabled. I was 15 when the game came out on the psx.

Well, that explains everything.  If you were to play it now for the first time, you would be horrified by its crappiness.  Unfortunately, you have probably been tainted by the nostalgia monster and now, when you play FFIV, you probably think back to your high school dayz: hangin' with Mupepe, the girl with the NICE TITS, etc. Ah, rose-colored memories...

Can't wait for the PS3 remake. I can. They have basically raped my memories thus far of my first rpg, so I don't want to have them do it even more.

But just think, man.  They'll add a Gackt theme song and make Cloud and Sephiroth even MORE effeminate-looking.  It will be...AWESOME.

All the Tales games have better battle systems and gameplay than FFIX, man.  Even the wackiest, homojapualitiest Tales game has more depth than FFIX. But FFIX has Vivi.

Lots of FF games have black mages.  Play FFT and you can have whole groups of black mages.  Who cares about Vivi?  He was only one character out of many...and all the others sucked ass.

The encounter rate was incredibly high.  Getting the ultimate weapons was in some ways a necessity if you didn't want the final battles to last an eternity with the 9,999 damage cap. I got ultimate weapons, but the only one I powered up was Yuna's. Fighting the final boss with normal weapons was really tough because Jecht is a bitch. I felt like I accomplished something when I raped his ass.

Frustrating and annoying does not lead me to have a sense of accomplishment.  Just makes me angry at the designers.  

Countering truth with truth?  Not much of a rebuttal.  I'm saying that it's a weak ass argument and you're going to have to try better than that. If you're only argument against FFX-2 is that it's got titties (ones that are always hidden at all times) then you might as well get in to the Shadow Hearts series because you're obviously a taco.

ST's titties are also always hidden at all times.

Why is Shadow Hearts for homosexuals, btw?  I've only played the first and didn't notice much gay subtext.

[Glescoes]

X-2 has the ultimate evolution of the ATB. It's really good. And can be a little tough even.

This.

I certainly hope Crisis Core is good. Dirge was shit.

Anyway in FFX, the last bosses (sin?  havent played in a while) we're piss easy. Like a distinguished mentally-challenged Lavos or some shit. I just spammed Holy and used that cheap ass bumble sisters summon.

FFX's last boss was not Sin. How can anyone count him as the last boss? The game gives you auto life by default and even if you die, you have auto life again. It's like saying that the final battle between Cloud and Sephiroth when Cloud does the Omnislash is FFVII's final boss.

I remember fighting the summons as well. I cant remember it too much

[Van Cruncheon]

is there a ps3 remake of ff7 planned?

[Ichirou]

is there a ps3 remake of ff7 planned?

No, I was just kidding.  Nothing could make me want to play FFVII again, not even full-on HD CG FMVs of Cloud and Sephiroth sucking each other off.

[Himu]

ffx-2's girl power dialogue and j-pop aesthetic are intolerable to the XY chromosome set, himumu hina.

See, I would agree if the game didn't have awesome gameplay.

when have you ever cared about gameplay, captain shenmue x xenogears!

We all have our quirks, sweetness!

X-2 has the ultimate evolution of the ATB. It's really good. And can be a little tough even.

This.

I certainly hope Crisis Core is good. Dirge was shit.

Anyway in FFX, the last bosses (sin?  havent played in a while) we're piss easy. Like a distinguished mentally-challenged Lavos or some shit. I just spammed Holy and used that cheap ass bumble sisters summon.

FFX's last boss was not Sin. How can anyone count him as the last boss? The game gives you auto life by default and even if you die, you have auto life again. It's like saying that the final battle between Cloud and Sephiroth when Cloud does the Omnislash is FFVII's final boss.

I remember fighting the summons as well. I cant remember it too much

You had auto life then too.

[Van Cruncheon]

oh. hell, i wouldn't know! i don't keep up with fuckin' ff games!

[BamYouHaveAids]

ffx-2's girl power dialogue and j-pop aesthetic are intolerable to the XY chromosome set, himumu hina.

See, I would agree if the game didn't have awesome gameplay.

when have you ever cared about gameplay, captain shenmue x xenogears!

Is that a Xenogears dig?