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Hello, This is TheRandomGambler, and I'm new here.

I was just wondering, what are your favorite games from the Final Fantasy franchise?

My favorites are final fantasies 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 13.

My personal favorite of them is 10.

Great gameplay, awesome visuals, cool story and a memorable soundtrack.

This post has been edited by TheRandomGambler on 29th June 2011 06:25

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Oops! Had the silly thing in reverse.^_^"

"I'm afraid the mouse is SMACK...dab in the middle of enemy territory."

~Kefka -- Dissidia Final Fantasy

In terms of numbered FF's:

IX
VI
VII
VIII
X
IV
XII
V
I
III
II

My favorite is FFVI. The more FFs and RPGs I've played, the more I feel that it was the perfect storytelling effort in the series, and it's very stylized, melodramatic, theatrical.

Interestingly enough, having just come from watching a film at a classic theatre, I feel that best describes FFVI. The other games in the series, and other games in other franchises, have created great cinematic experiences and immersive interactive experiences. But FFVI is the only game I can think of that creates that feeling of actors on a stage.

Me and sweetdude have discussed this quite a bit. But I feel that the game delivers greatly in drama, but it's a different form of drama. the game is over-the-top melodramatic action. Shakespeare made many characters in the same way, and Shakespeare also mixed comedy and action. I personally think that the game does this well. The characters are colorful, humorous, and have a heightened sense of drama (like Terra wanting to know what love is).

Second and third favs are, in order, FFIX and FFVII. They're both the most cinematic of the games in the series, and each has memorable characters.

In FFIX, I love the way they made Vivi such a lovable character, and I love Zidane and Steiner's banter. Storywise, it's not as well told as FFVI's, not as intricate or deep, but it has high cinematic adventure that is very captivating, and it's one of the most beautiful games I've ever seen.

FFVII doesn't have the perfect design or storytelling of VI or IX, in my view, but it's still very memorable. It's hard to button down exactly what is so appealing about it, because for me it wasn't exactly nostalgia. What it is for me is this grand sense of imagination. There are so many creative scenes and concepts that it almost fabricates its own sense of nostalgia, even if you didn't play it when you were young.

After those, FFVIII, IV, and XII are in the second tier.

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Praise Be To Helix!

My TOP 3 would be FF9, FF7, FF8.
I do love FFT as well.

6, 7,9, 10, T, 12

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Chewbekah ^_^

Currently Playing: Final Fantasy XIV: ARR, Attack of the Firday Monsters, Animal Crossing: A New Leaf, Lego City Undercover, Kingdom Hearts 1.5 Remix

Recently Finished: Fire Emblem: Awakening

Favorite Game: Suikoden III

I can't really choose between VII and IX. Both are first and both are second for me. IX is the better game but VII is the one that has the most impact. XII is my third favourite.

Quote (BlitzSage)

My favorite is FFVI. The more FFs and RPGs I've played, the more I feel that it was the perfect storytelling effort in the series, and it's very stylized, melodramatic, theatrical.

Interestingly enough, having just come from watching a film at a classic theatre, I feel that best describes FFVI. The other games in the series, and other games in other franchises, have created great cinematic experiences and immersive interactive experiences. But FFVI is the only game I can think of that creates that feeling of actors on a stage.

I agree the game is fantastic for this. However I would say that IX is equally if not more theatrical, like actors on a stage, and yet still has more emotional power. It's overblown and dramatic but where I think IX exceeds VI is that the 'serious' scenes don't come out of the blue in the same way as VI. Kefka poisoning Doma, for example, kind of comes with a jump from some pretty funny Kefka chasing. And then children start dying... With IX the sadder elements of the story would come at a time when everyone would be pausing for reflection, and there would be a common theme running through the cast, giving it that extra impact. I do like VI but for the same reasons you prefer it, I prefer IX.

Speaking of VI and IX, there really needs to be more games with an ensemble of characters parting ways and seeing events from different perspectives.

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Scepticism, that dry rot of the intellect, had not left one entire idea in his mind.

Me on the Starcraft.

Mine have to be IV (the original and The After Years together), VII, VIII, and XII. I'm sure VI will be in there once I finish it, but I need to do that first.


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-FFIII FFIV FFV FFVII FFVIII FFX FFXII FFXIII FF:Dissidia FFVII:CC FFVII:DoC
--KHI KHII KH:COM KH:BbS
---SO:FD SO:TTEOT SO:TLH
----DQIII DQVIII
-----DA:O DAII
------VP:S

Quote (sweetdude @ 27th June 2011 00:01)

I can't really choose between VII and IX. Both are first and both are second for me. IX is the better game but VII is the one that has the most impact. XII is my third favourite.

Quote (BlitzSage)

My favorite is FFVI. The more FFs and RPGs I've played, the more I feel that it was the perfect storytelling effort in the series, and it's very stylized, melodramatic, theatrical.

Interestingly enough, having just come from watching a film at a classic theatre, I feel that best describes FFVI. The other games in the series, and other games in other franchises, have created great cinematic experiences and immersive interactive experiences. But FFVI is the only game I can think of that creates that feeling of actors on a stage.

I agree the game is fantastic for this. However I would say that IX is equally if not more theatrical, like actors on a stage, and yet still has more emotional power. It's overblown and dramatic but where I think IX exceeds VI is that the 'serious' scenes don't come out of the blue in the same way as VI. Kefka poisoning Doma, for example, kind of comes with a jump from some pretty funny Kefka chasing. And then children start dying... With IX the sadder elements of the story would come at a time when everyone would be pausing for reflection, and there would be a common theme running through the cast, giving it that extra impact. I do like VI but for the same reasons you prefer it, I prefer IX.

Speaking of VI and IX, there really needs to be more games with an ensemble of characters parting ways and seeing events from different perspectives.

I would say that IX is more akin to theatrics in terms of film rather than the stage. The story begins with a grand heist (which, granted, starts out on a stage).

But the initial crux of IX's story is basically set up like a film. The main conflict revolves around Steiner and Zidane butting heads. Zidane is supposed to deliver Garnet to Lindblum, and Steiner is stuck between what his duty is exactly supposed to be, serving the princess or bringing her back to the castle. What ensues between Zidane and Steiner is what amounts to a comedy routine that is very common in films. That's how most films are set up: create an interesting situation, and have the main characters conflict with each other.

FFVI and FFIX do have similarities, but I think that they're both overblown, but in different ways. While IX has the grand adventure feel, going from Indiana Jones-esque action scenes, VI is overblown for the very reason you used as an example. FFVI jumps from extremes, sometimes abruptly (though I don't think that particular scene is too abrupt in its change).

In fact, to analyze that scene. First, it goes from the extreme of Kefka's quirky dark humor.

Possible spoilers: highlight to view

We see that Kefka has an insane joy in what he's doing. Then there's a pause in the action when Sabin's held up, and he's able to poison the water, and there is a moment just before the Domans realize what has happened. Cyan rushes through the castle to his family and the king. And then in his rage he attacks the base.

Personally, I think the rush of the scene places a barrier between the extremes. And then his story continues through the Phantom Train into the Narshe battle with his reactions to Celes. By this time Kefka's comedy I feel has turned to anger against him. Not only do you see Cyan's despair, but you see Kefka's glee. The two extremes complement each other.

One one hand, you have the characters acting as real characters would, though with melodramatic fashion. Then, you have Kefka, who is treating the entire thing as if it were a game. The world is in despair, and he turns it into a sick joke for his own amusement. It's a bit off-putting, unrealistic, but I think that's the point. A lot of plays are structured in the same way, with actors projecting their voices, overacting, etc.

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Praise Be To Helix!

It has to be Final Fantasy IX, VI, IV, V, VII, II, VIII. Final Fantasy IX just has beautiful music, and a wonderful storyline with a great cast of characters, and Final Fantasy VI is the same, just amazing in every single way. While Final Fantasy IV was well designed for it's age, and Final Fantasy V is a great parody and is much lighter and softer than it's cousins before and after it.
Final Fantasy VII is a great RPG, though it has quite alot of flaws, and not much of the characters are really that impressive, well in this opinion. And Final Fantasy II has the challenge of no world map, tough bosses and dungeons, and a strong female hero, unless you watch the PlayStation opening, and you'll see that they turned Maria into a typical damsel in distress.
And Final Fantasy VIII is alight, it's not terrible. But it has more flaws than VII and some of the characters verge on annoying and frustrating. Also it doesn't explain itself very well, and it has massive plot holes.

I'm not very huge on Final Fantasy III though I'm thinking on picking it up again and giving it a second chance. I've lost my copy of XII and only had a few hours of playtime into it, so I can't judge that, and I thought that XIII was truly dreadful and the worse of the whole entire series. X and X- 2, depend on my mood these days, I used to downright hate and dislike FF X, but I've started to notice some redeeming qualities of the game, and maybe it's so bad after all. And the original Final Fantasy 1, I got bored and stopped playing, but I guess I could give it a second try, like FF3 one day.

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Currently playing Chrono Trigger !!
Currently looking forward to Don't Know.

I haven't played past FFX. I don't believe I am missing much, but then again, I wouldn't know, would I? That said:

FFVI is my very favourite of them all. I feel like it got certain things right that the rest of the series have not been able to duplicate, like the ensemble cast and the non-linear second part of the game. I know it's a bit buggy at times, but that only adds to the fun! The music is awesome too, but really it is just as good in several other games.

I suppose after that it's FFIV (or Tactics if we're counting it), and FFX. I hated FFX my first time through it. I quit right before the end of the game, actually, and when I returned a few years later to play it again I had forgotten certain details of the plot. I thought it was great the second time. I'm not sure what changed.

FF games I REALLY like:

IV
VI
VII
Tactics

FF games I like:

I
III
V
IX
X
XII

FF games I don't like:

II
VIII
Tactics Advance
Crystal Chronicle
(a bunch of others)

All-time favorite? Dead heat between VI and Tactics.

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
END SPOILER

In order of preference and what stands out for each game:

No. 7 (for the graphics; materia system; storyline; minigames)

No. 6 (cast of characters; storyline; music)

No. 12 (gameplay/battle system; graphics)

No. 10 (storyline; graphics)

No. 5 ( job system)

No. 9 (graphics; characters; music)

No. 4 (storyline)

No. 8 (graphics)

These are all the FF games I've played. No. 8 is my least favourite, but a game I still enjoy greatly, while nos. 6 and 7 are pretty much my joint favourites.

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"Smoking's bad, mm'kay?"

-Mr Mackey-

I don't want to make a list, because the individual games can slide up and down depending on what mood I'm in, so instead, I'll break them up into groups.

All time Favorite FF: IV
To me, IV has the best combination of all features. Other games may beat IV in individual aspects (art style, story, battle system, etc), but will fall much shorter in the other aspects. If FFIV is #2 in everything, and all the #1s are different, then FFIV wins out for being the most "greater than the sum of its parts." It has the best overall playing experience for me.
This one isn't just my favorite FF, it's my favorite game of all time.

Great FFs: I, III, V, IX
These are what would be the contenders for #1 if IV wasn't it. These are the FF games I can play repeatedly.

Good FFs: II, VI, Tactics, Crystal Chronicles
These are the games that were good, but don't stand out all that well to me. These ones gave an overall good experience and I remember fondly.

Okay FFs: VII, VIII, Legends I
These were good games that were worth playing, but not something I feel the need or desire to go back to. Ever.

"Bad" FFs: X, X-2, Tactics Advance
These games aren't "bad" in the sense that they were unpleasant for me. It's just that when I played them, there was a sense that I wanted to get through them just to get through them, rather than genuinely being interested in finishing them out.
Except X-2. That game can go to hell.

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"I had to write four novels before they let me write comic books."
-Brad Meltzer

1. III (DS)
2. IV (DS)
3. I (PSP/GBA)

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~ Waflix

I can't say I've ever disliked a Final Fantasy game I've played, but I definitely like some more than others. Here are my top 3 in ascending order:

3. FF5 - The job system was awesome. Great gameplay, and I love the characters. The story wasn't on the same level as that of 4 or 6, but then again, those are some really hard acts to be sandwiched between. And the story was still very enjoyable because it could make me laugh, it could make me cry, and when all is said and done, I truly cared about the quest and what would happen to the characters and the worlds in which they lived.

2. FF4 - The first Final Fantasy game I ever played. Up until then, my only experience with video game RPGs had been silent protagonist type games and very simple DOS-era games. Seeing an RPG with fully-developed characters and an epic, cinematic plot completely blew me away, and 20 years later, I still love everything about it.

1. FF6 - After playing FF4, I honestly didn't think it could get any better. But Square proved me wrong and topped themselves in a big way with FF6. This is the game with my favorite characters, my favorite villain, my favorite story, my favorite music, and my favorite setting. I always liked how FF6 had a steampunk setting, rather than a traditional quasi-Medieval high fantasy setting, or a cyberpunk/sci-fi setting. I think the old-timey/vaguely modern setting is a big part of what gives the game the feeling of watching actors on a stage, as BlitzSage mentioned. One of my non-gamer friends once watched me play through part of FF6 (the opera through the flashback about Terra's parents), and she said it felt like watching a silent movie. It's the sort of experience I'd never seen in a game before and haven't seen since. For me, it doesn't get any better!

Yes, I'm an SNES era fangirl. Is it that obvious?

Quote (Psiren @ 21st July 2011 15:24)

I think the old-timey/vaguely modern setting is a big part of what gives the game the feeling of watching actors on a stage, as BlitzSage mentioned. One of my non-gamer friends once watched me play through part of FF6 (the opera through the flashback about Terra's parents), and she said it felt like watching a silent movie. It's the sort of experience I'd never seen in a game before and haven't seen since. For me, it doesn't get any better!

I haven't thought of it that way before, but it is like that, a lot, actually. In a silent movie, the characters will act, often in an exaggerated manner, and then the caption will come up on screen. It's also a great analogy for where the game will be considered in gaming history. I think that FFVI may be considered gaming's Birth of a Nation (minus the racism..yeaah...). That film is the first epic motion picture. FFVI (and FFIV, of course) ought to be seen as the game(s) that paved the way for the modern Action RPGs which are telling great stories, such as Bioshock and Fallout 3 (Here's a great video about video game storytelling, and they mention FF's importance.)

And to me, it remains a unique experience, though as time has passed I've become more of a PSX FF fanboy!

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Praise Be To Helix!

Mine is.
1.FFX
2.FFIV CC
3.Dissidia 012 Duodicim
4.FFVII
5.FFXII
6.FFI
7.FFT
8.FFXIII
9.FFX/2

My personal favourite FF is VIII.
I love the music, the atmosphere, Triple Triad, and how quickly one can become overpowered.
VII and Tactics also rank highly for me, but I can honestly say I've enjoyed all the ones I've played.


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FF games completed: I (psp), II (psp), III (DS), IV (psp), V (GBA), VI (GBA), VII, VIII, IX, X, XI: Nations-Rhapsodies of Vana'diel, XII, XIII, XIV, XV.
Spin-offs: FFIV: Interlude & The After Years, Crisis Core: FFVII, X-2, XIII-2, Lightning Returns, Type-0 HD, Dissidia, Dissidia 012, and Tactics (original & WotL).
Enjoyed them all.

I've only ever played 10-13

7 is on its way atm

but out of those, I've gotta say 10, 12, and 13.

x-2 was the straight up worst. can't believe it exists within FF. what a joke

X was incredible. unforgettable. it holds a special place in my heart. plus, auron is sexy as all hell, I don't even care. Balthier is next after him, but yea. just addin this in

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looks like you finally got yourself a nice pair of DDs. wanna m8?