I-VI ....... or VII-XIV?

[nickness89]

Okay, so I have stated before that I have been playing Final Fantasy since VII first came out, which was 14 years ago. These have been my favourite games out of any game, in fact i don't really buy any other games apart from Final Fantasy, and I have only ever mastered VII up to XIII, haven't played XIV yet though.

So the other day i got hold of Final Fantasy I + II, and although they are in an ancient "Zelda-esque" format, i love them!!

I was just wondering, did anyone else start off from the more 3D games, then go back to the 2D games and actually think they were just as good, if not just as awesome as the rest of the games?

I think that this shows Final Fantasy for what it is ... it isn't a game that is loved purely for it's special effects and graphical achievements ... it's purely the characters, storyline, places and features of the game that make it so enjoyable, anyone else agree with all of the above?



Peace out

[Locke4God]

Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrr,

I loved 7 & 8, and 10 is in my top 4 as well, but WOW, 2, 4, & 6 are really good and I love the stories overall there. Plus 9, 12, & 13 aren't my faves, and the very idea of the online games being in the main numbered series really bugs me. So do sequels, most of which exist in the latter series.

I'll go with 1-6. Seriously, if I had to say which were made with better overall quality, there's too much overthinking going on in later games, and the early ones felt more adventurous and genuine.

[nickness89]

The earlier games, after only two days of playing, are definitely more adventurous i feel.

The latter games, X and XIII in particular, are too linear, and not much world-travelling and discovering secret places.

But yeah, so far i'm loving the storyline and game features, and battle systems far more entertaining in the first games.

[HUNK]

As for "Adventuring" This was for me the real point behind FF I. They just litterally, toss you on to a world map with no objectives and at first nothing to do. I loved it! I could level up my people, get some equipment and then talk to the king at my leisure. Yeah, it's unrealistic in the sence that the king would have an URGENT NEED and would require me at a more imediate time but still, I like doing what I want, then getting into the story.

I side with the original 8-bit heros of the olden days. I didn't get any chances to play these until I had already played FF VIII, VII, IX, X (In that order ) so I would say I've had a good chance of being pulled into the psx side but still, the originals are my favorites!

I don't think FFXII is too linear, sometimes, I would just wander off into the westersands to see what I could find and low and behold, as Esper attacked me! This kinda crap happens when you wander off... It did have it's moments though...

[Padraic]

I was but a child when I-VI came out, so I didn't really know what I was doing when I played them, but later on, when VII came out, my brother got into it and I loved watching him play it. Later on, when I really got into JRPGs I tried VII and the later games, but had difficulty getting into them, but then playing IV, I got so hooked, the light of day never hit my face for the span of a week.

I love the characters of the older games, and the stories. The simple 2D gameplay was great as well. I honestly prefer the older games tenfold.

[Dan558]

It's hard to say my favorite of the main series are 6, 7 and 9. So by that logic alone it would seem I prefer the middle to late games. My most hated games of the series are 12 and 8 so that seems to knock it back down. Considering 11 and 14 are mmo's (and I know 11 was not a very fun one) that also brings down the later series.

So overall I-VI were more consistently good but VI-XIV have the stronger in the series (good and bad). If, say, I had to banish half the series out of existence VII would be the deciding factor on what side to keep (whatever it's considered, "old" or "new" I would choose to keep). If Tactics is considered as one of the newer games then I would have to say adios to the older part of the series.

[Xanatos]

I was just wondering, did anyone else start off from the more 3D games, then go back to the 2D games and actually think they were just as good, if not just as awesome as the rest of the games?

I reached a point where I had to play the older ones if I were to play Final Fantasy at all, my PSOne was dead, and I didn't own PS2 back then, those remakes for GBA sure looked appealing. However, I had worst possible start leaving me to wonder should I continue my march on older titles.

Playing Final Fantasy IV was like going through mexican soap opera, bad one while I'm at it, Final Fantasy V was just an overall bad game, luckily other titles were surprisingly good, Final Fantasy II, and VI in particular. I still prefer newer ones, as they have more developed story, and characters, I do however think highly of older ones, I think I would appreciate them even more if I played them in their respective time.

[BDub2277]

I would definitely say that the psx generation were my favorite, however since they have been lumped in with the likes of 12, 13, and 14, I am gunna have to side with the classics. There is just way too much bad in the recent ones to go with them. I love everything about the classic ones, and can't think of anything I really dislike about any of them.

[nickness89]

I think it's unanimous that I should have asked "I-X or XI-XIV" :lolol:

I really liked XII, and i have loved all the main numbered series, except XI and XIV, because I wouldn't pay monthly to play a game. But, in all honesty, if number III-VI are as good as I and II, then i definitely side with the classics, however, VII-X are epic,and I loved XII and XIII.

I've got I and II now as I mentioned, but now i've order IV, V and VI, just need III now and that's me got the whole shebang

[BDub2277]

except XI and XIV, because I wouldn't pay monthly to play a game.

technically XIV still isn't charging per month b/c it is a cluster----

[Locke4God]

ehhhhhhhhh wow really, so XIV, kinda sucks?

let me ask, I haven't nor will I play the online games, but what is the game play like? I mean does it feel like more of a console FF, or is it more completely like WOW. Is there a big epic story, or just an ongoing thingamabob. I don't really have a concept for what these games are all about.

[FeyLenne13]

I started with FF6 on the Supernintendo but didn't complete it before it was temporaily lost and FF7 came into the household. So I completed 7,8,9, and X before returning to 6. I do think that 6 is just as good as the rest even though it's graphics are poorer. It kinda gives more room for a storyline that way in my opinion. And I wholeheartedly agree that the games are loved for their characters, storyline, places and features. They are my favorite games to play over and over again.

[Locke4God]

I think it may be overlooked that the newer games leaves less to the imagination. We know what the characters look like, we know what the cities look like, we know more and more and more of the NPC's as well.

BUT in the older games, we had to wonder what they really looked like, imagine what was in the building we couldn't get to and how far the city extended beyond what they showed us, and certainly we didn't get to speak with NPC's beyond more than maybe one sentence.

[Zargabaath]

I did play Final Fantasy on the NES at my friend's house quite a few times, never did beat it though. The first Final Fantasy I beat was Final Fantasy X. Then I got FFVII & FFVIII in the Detroit area when I was visiting my aunt one summer. Got FFIX in NY after leaving my aunt's house in Michigan returning to my other aunt's house who I also was visiting for the summer. So I would say I started with the 3-D games and went back.

However, I feel that the newer games have been better, especially compared to the NES era because the formers' story, characters, gameplay are simply better. This is not to take away from the NES era as I do like them very much they just don't have as much substance.

I think it may be overlooked that the newer games leaves less to the imagination.

I feel that this is one reason why a lot of the characters in the first 2 generations get a pass on how old they are because sprites don't show age well. Terra and Celes are 18 yet by looking at their sprites a person could easily say that they are 25+. In the newer generations the graphics were able to better display characters to their age. As a note one reason why people may have started to get irritated by the age of the characters is because they got older. When younger they did not care as much or just thought of them as older.

[Dan558]

ehhhhhhhhh wow really, so XIV, kinda sucks?

let me ask, I haven't nor will I play the online games, but what is the game play like? I mean does it feel like more of a console FF, or is it more completely like WOW. Is there a big epic story, or just an ongoing thingamabob. I don't really have a concept for what these games are all about.

From my experience in FFXI, you need to look hard to find a clear story, even when found it's not the most coheasive one. It is a lot like WoW before Cataclysm expansion, goals are temporary and don't merit much interest. Every once and awhile a quest of more importance appears but because it's an MMO nothing major ever changes.
WoW actually has the major edge over FFXI with story now since Cataclysm has been introduced. Leveling bacame more linear (and way faster) but even at level 10 the world makes changes (A major sway in a war happens in Silverpine if that means anything to anyone). I can't say how story-oriented FFXIV is.

[nickness89]

See i agreewith the online gaming, i won't play the online Final Fantasies and probably never will,it just defeats the purpose of buying a game, and being able to play it at your own leisure.

Talking of XI and XIV, i really feel they shouldn't be in the main numbered series. They should be a sequel/spin-off or just a plain Final Fantasy, without a number ... like "Final Fantasy: (funky name goes here) instead of a numbered game.

[Genesis_787]

I gotta admit, the early final fantasy's were great back in the days. But the newer generation games like 12 and 13 got me into final fantasy in the first place so i'd have to go with VII-XIV

[nickness89]

I gotta admit, the early final fantasy's were great back in the days. But the newer generation games like 12 and 13 got me into final fantasy in the first place so i'd have to go with VII-XIV

Same, i started off with the later games, and they got me into the franchise, but now i am in love with the earliers

[Zidane77]

I played VII-IX first when they came out, then latere i was playing IV-VI and X (all 4 at similar time period).
After those i played I-II, and the rest of the games after that.

[mineteaser]

I was too young to get into the early final fantasies when they came out, but I didn't have a Playstation either when the later ones came out (and I still don't, besides a PSP). However, when I got older, I got to play Final Fantasy: Dawn of Souls. I loved 'em so much, I decided to play the rest of the series in order ('cause I'm like that). I like the classics a lot, but the later games were really impressive when I got to them (but I'd still go with the classics).

[Michael Swayne]

Like most of the people before me, I too started playing the PlayStation games first. My brother's friend brought IX to our house one weekend, and that's when I fell in love with the story, the characters, the environment. After that I bought Dawn of Souls and realized that I and II were just as good as IX. Since then, I have bought V, DoC, VIII, X, X-2, and XII; and rented XIII. Both generations have their good points.

I like the older generation for their stories and simplicity. I like the newer games for the characters and battle systems. But if I must choose, then I would have to choose the newer games. Only because I have played more of them. My decision might change once I play the rest of them.

[nickness89]

Yeah, the classics are officially (according to this thread anyway xP) the most favoured out of the series and i received my FFV and FFVI in the post yesterday ... thats a few weeks extra time taken up on obsessing

[IdiotWithHair]

I can't play I-VI because the graphics in those old games offend my sensibilities. I think the newer games are far superior to the older ones because Square Enix put so much emphasis on making their games look amazing. So what if the characters in 13 were shitty and your only option for proceeding through the game was one long hallway? That hallway was AMAZING to look at.

FF7 didn't have the greatest graphics in the world, but it made up for it with bad ass swords and a large black man with a gun for an arm who looked like Mr. T. Also, a chain-smoking dragoon who wants you to drink his god-damned tea.

[Superjord]

I was just wondering, did anyone else start off from the more 3D games, then go back to the 2D games and actually think they were just as good, if not just as awesome as the rest of the games?

Yup, that's exactly how it worked for me. I'd never really heard of Final Fantasy before IX (I know, crazy right?!) and that blew me away, I then played VII & VIII and then I knew I just had to get hold of the older ones. Thank yevon they were released for the psx otherwise I may never have played those jewels. I have yet still to play and complete III due to not owning a NES or a DS but as much as I love the new ones, nothing will beat the fantasy-feel of the original 8-bits IMO

Although we'd all love to see remakes...

[Superjord]

Yeah, the classics are officially (according to this thread anyway xP) the most favoured out of the series and i received my FFV and FFVI in the post yesterday ... thats a few weeks extra time taken up on obsessing

Enjoy!

[nickness89]

I can't play I-VI because the graphics in those old games offend my sensibilities. I think the newer games are far superior to the older ones because Square Enix put so much emphasis on making their games look amazing. So what if the characters in 13 were shitty and your only option for proceeding through the game was one long hallway? That hallway was AMAZING to look at.

FF7 didn't have the greatest graphics in the world, but it made up for it with bad ass swords and a large black man with a gun for an arm who looked like Mr. T. Also, a chain-smoking dragoon who wants you to drink his god-damned tea.

This can be answered with:

Although we'd all love to see remakes...

The majority of Fantasy players don't play because of the graphics, in fact most players are chastising Square for sacrificing decent storylies and characters for the "amazing hallway."

I'd love to see Final Fantasy I-IX re-made, so that the stories and graphics can all be integrated for an awesome experience.

[IdiotWithHair]

Really, I think it's all a matter of opinion. And my opinion is more important. Those games are old. And as we all know, everything that is made later is better. Just ask the Japanese! Although technically, I guess remaking those games would make them new again, giving them a more equal footing with their newer counterparts... but the battle systems would still be old and dated! Ha!

[nickness89]

Yeah it is a matter of opinion, and the majority of the opinions say that the olders are better, and that graphics are a minor reason for liking a game

I'm sure everyone will agree.