Back to my list... ah, yes~.
6). Final Fantasy 6
Entries 6 and 7 honestly flip-flop for me depending on my mood. There is very little difference of favoritism between them but, as I am not going to discuss them at the same time, they will get their own spots on the ladder. So, I think FF6 is... okay. Pretty much just "okay", as lame as that may be of an opinion but I don't feel too strongly about it. It meets most of my criteria for a good JRPG experience--memorable characters (to some extents), with each having at least a slightly unique contribution to battles, the battles aren't too monotonous and it has a good atmosphere (music, the way characters speak and so on). However, there isn't much to do in this game, which is unfortunate. In addition, it has very likable characters (Celes, Sabin, Edgar, Cyan, to name the most in my opinion) with some very bland characters (Gau, Mog, (not in personality but he does almost nothing important after you get him) the two fully optional recruits)) which causes a bit of mood whiplash. I don't know how too feel about this game, but its not one I dislike playing so... its fine for what it is.
7). Final Fantasy 8
This was the very first Final Fantasy I had ever played. Some people feel that one's first introduction to a series will remain one of the highest regarded if the series itself earns high esteem in one's mind. Eh, maybe I'm just too objective then in my opinion of this game at times. Which is odd because I do have strong feelings about it. And... ultimately, its okay. I like the game but I don't enjoy it more than 9 or 4 or 10-2. If you put all four games (those three and FF8) in front of me, I would usually pick out any other to play before it. Unless I had spent an excessively long time without playing 8. Which isn't too likely, I usually visit it every year at least once. Anywho, the story is a bit... odd. Not the most boring but if you try to take things at face value, you may not really be happy with the way things play out. And the ending of the game is really, really dumb. Still, the characters aren't totally unlikable. They are teenagers and pretty much act like it. I think people who prefer more seasoned, insightful characters in fiction may be the most disappointed in 8's group of protagonists but I still prefer them over those in games lower on this list. Perhaps that is because they felt relevant to me when I first picked up this game at 13 years old. So, I guess playing a game featuring people in my age range just suits me. Somewhat. There's plenty to do in 8 though, not a ton, but the card game is pretty fun if downright frustrating if you advance deep into it. The game even rewards you for playing Triple Triad with tons of useful items you can create from the cards. And for those who don't like much linearity, the game does open completely by the time you're on the second disc, and moreso on the third. I can't deny that.
8). Final Fantasy
The first one, that is. Okay, this game is very simple. But that is why its fun (for me). There's very little story, so while you're playing you can make up your own. The characters are all nameless but strongly defined in their battle roles (as each is locked to its job class) with no two being completely similar. The game is probably the shortest (beating it within 20 hours is normal) but is it fun? Well, yeah. Relaxing is the best word because you can pretty much do whatever you want. Want to spend 5 hours grinding? Go ahead. Want to wander around and encounter monsters way too strong for your current level? Be my guest. I'm sure some may get lost on their first time playing (at least without a guide) and that's quite alright. I just can't say much negative about it besides the most obvious -- old, barely any story or reason to progress beyond personal interest but if you don't like to read a lot and just want to mow down lots of monsters, it might appeal to you.
9). Final Fantasy 7
FF7 is well, not a game I'm too crazy about. Maybe because to me, most of it is quite boring. And the largest reason for that is... the characters in battle. So, as any fan of this game or the series more-than-likely knows, 7 employs a materia system to bestow magic abilities on its characters, who are all just ordinary humans with no special powers (in general). Because of this, no character has anything unique they can do in a fight without materia, barring their Limit Breaks. Since those Limit Breaks can only be used after a while and only if you've been taking lots of damage, you never really know when you'll have one to use. More irritating is that when your Limit is available... you can't attack normally at all. What. The. Hell. It is so dumb and makes absolutely no sense! Now okay, most Limits ARE indeed attacks but lets assume a possible scenario where the character Aerith gets in a battle with her Limit just a smidge below ready and an enemy hits her and, perhaps because she wasn't in use for a while, she has no materia set. She then won't be able to actually harm an enemy without using up her Limit (which are all supportive in nature), in other words, she has to waste her turn because somehow she "forgot" how to bop something with her staff. This, and because I am not a fan of blank-slate characters in RPGs (regarding their magic/supplemental skills), is why I really don't care for playing 7. The game is also long... a bit too drawn out, though I don't dislike the story itself. I have a hard time finishing this game if I try to play it seriously and well... that's a pretty fair reason for not feeling too strongly for the experience.
10). Final Fantasy 2
Now, in my honest opinion. FF2 is almost a complete and unarguable improvement over its predecessor. Yet, still I don't care for it as much as the 1st entry and it is mostly because it has they same key flaws as FF7 while being a less interesting game overall (in regards to its plot). The problem, for me, is its characters are just barely memorable (but I do really like Joseph and Minwu) and the core team are almost totally devoid of character which is a major downer. All they have is their appearance and the occasional line of dialogue and well, when the guest party member is usually more involved in the circumstances than your heroes... yeah~. Being full blank slates in battle is also not a point in their favor. But, really, the game isn't a complete downer for me like the next entries may evoke feelings of being. I can actually finish 2 when I decide to play it which is more than I can usually say for 7 or those to follow, wow!
11). Final Fantasy 5
Hoo boy... FF5. Agh. The characters in this game are likable. Really! But why, Why, WHY do they have to be blank slates totally hamstrung to grinding out job classes just to do anything of worth in battle!? Why does Galuf, who is established as a seasoned adventurer, have no more talent to his name than the princess with next to no combat experience whatsoever and why is said princess so naturally gifted for sorcery? Now, don't get me wrong, I don't mind job class systems. Hell, when FF9 and FF4 ARE my favorites, I gotta like something about them, right!? And I love 10-2. But FF5 doesn't do anything to really make the classes matter to the characters besides minor stat differences which barely matter in the long run. Really, if the grind wasn't so boring and perhaps if a more open system like FFTactics, 10-2 and Bravely Default offered, I would enjoy this game so much more. As it stands though, its long, sloggy, and just frustrating that Faris is a far more interesting character than Bartz and isn't the main character. The truth comes out...
12). Final Fantasy 3
Everything I just said negative about 5 is present in 3. I'm sorry, but I don't care for this game and its really just FF5 with even less interesting characters. In part, because its an old game and didn't put the effort in because time, budget and technology restraints. So, I can forgive it for trying. And being the first game in the series to approach the open job leveling system separate from your character wasn't bad.
13). Final Fantasy 12
Firstly, I do not think 12 is a bad game. It merely disappoints me on a few fronts that are just borderline unforgivable. I am basing my opinion off the standard release, not the International version which improves on some aspects. But, as I cannot play that, 12 is burdened with the dishonor of being my least favorite Final Fantasy. FF12 has one of the Best worlds in the franchise. In fact, Ivalice is probably my third favorite world of all after Gaia (FF9) and Spira (FF10). Its so massive in scope (as the game shows so well, almost TOO well) and the multiple races found coexisting here is really nice and worth experiencing. But, most of the cast the player must follow are bland to borderline annoying. Again, the side characters are generally more interesting which, for an RPG, is not a good thing when you are expected to spend around 60 hours with them. Disliked, perhaps not all the time, but gosh do I just not care about Vaan when he does all of diddly squat after the party is united. And yet the game somehow wants me to care about him. I don't. Sorry. He's my least favorite character and you bet I'm steamed over Dissidia Duodecim including him in the game at all when Gabranth is a much, much better choice to represent the game. And I hate the license board, so... very... much. Not the idea but just the simple fact that the ONLY unique thing characters can get are Espers and several you have to go out of your way to find (good luck with that in the first place as the game does nothing to guide you towards the optional ones at all) and that the Quickening system is pointless for most of the game anyway as most enemies you're required to fight won't be much problem if you've enough licenses. Yeah... I'm miffed. Long, boring, characters that are blank slates, Quickenings using up MP (which is bad and also can make magic pretty pointless at times), and just... utterly disappointing to me (because I truly wanted to like this game more), is why FF12, though a perfectly reasonable game and RPG, is my least favorite Final Fantasy.
Woo-hoo, done! Happy holidays to whoever chooses to read this~. Buh-bye. ^~^
SH2
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Time to Liven Things Up
Really, I mope enough and all and I realize it has been too long since I start just sharing my feelings and opinions on things that aren't so depressing or equate to me whining or raving on about idiotic people, hah. So, I thought I'd take the time to discuss each major entry in a long time video game franchise that I genuinely enjoy for the most part -- Final Fantasy. No frou-frou analysis intended here, just my opinion. Take anything with a grain of salt as, after all, I am not you (whoever may read this) and thus I may vastly prefer or dislike things you very much don't.
In order of my personally most liked to my least liked, predominantly main-entry titles:
1). Final Fantasy 9
After much careful deliberation, this game is most definitely my favorite game in the series. Mind you, this comes from a person who first played this game as their third foray into FF, so the intended nostalgic motifs are not really important to me at all. The reason I truly like this game most is because it is the one I most enjoy replaying; as it feels packed to the brim of content possible for a game of its era of release, which was pretty much the tail-end of the Playstation 1's lifespan. Not only is there so much to do, I personally enjoy doing most of it all; and it doesn't hurt that the main story and game is quite enjoyable when I'm not entertaining myself with Chocobo Hot & Cold or the card game, Tetra Master. It amuses that the game also presents a reward for players looking to complete it as fast as possible (which I will never do, I dislike rushing) which seems completely against the design of the game itself, hah, but I feel that shows that the developers really did try to think of everyone when they were making this. This game has quite a lot of heart and so I'm always elated to admit FF9 as my very favorite Square game.
2). Final Fantasy 4
Final Fantasy 4 could tie with 9, as they are both very simplistic RPGs with similar styles in several aspects. But, that would be disregarding the fact that 4 just doesn't have nearly as much to do in the game as 9 does. Still, it ranks highly for me because of one simple fact. The characters are each memorable and distinct. No two major characters are exactly alike in their play-styles even if they share several abilities, and that is truly wonderful because it strengthens their overall identity. Which is sometimes forgotten in console-style RPGs, professional or not, these days. I appreciate this facet very strongly, and it is one key factor in why the Final Fantasies that are at the bottom of this are there. Their characters just aren't as well-defined nor worth repeated visits (in my opinion).
3). Final Fantasy 10-2
This is the only spin-off entry I shall be including on my list because it probably will prove the most interesting to talk about. Well, if anyone did want to seriously discuss with me, "why DO you like 10-2 more than... so many other FFs?" I am not ashamed about this... I like this game quite a bit and yes, more than its prequel. The primary reason is precisely why 9 appeals to me just a hair more than FF4 -- there is simply quite a lot to do in X-2, even more if you own the HD remaster. That's nothing to say of its combat, which I feel is among, if not THE best combat experience in the Final Fantasy series. It is not too slow nor too hectic and is just plain fun, frankly. Yes the game is full of fan-service, you will pretty much get that from the first three minutes of it being on, but really, it does not detract from the joy of playing this game so much that I can truly say I never want to not be able to play it again. I do not yet own a PS3 but when I do, I fully intend to play this game for several more years before I truly feel ready to close this chapter of "my story".
4). Final Fantasy 10
It was the first game I owned on my PS2, the second FF title I ever experienced and the first that I would complete in full. Needless to say, I am still a fan of 10. I can't even play it right now and I just still appreciate seeing others enjoy (or critique, if desired) the game. This game represents, to me, the quintessential FF and all-round RPG experience to me. An emotional, yet compelling character-driven story where the eventual destination means so much after the arduous journey to get there. This was the first game to give me tears when experiencing the ending because I really felt what the characters themselves were feeling after becoming invested in their lives. Why is it not my favorite FF? Because there is very little replayability, as it is very much a "once and done" sort of game. There's also not really a great deal of variety to do in this game as it can summarized by three things: battles, blitzball or chocobo racing. That's literally it. Mind you, two of those things aren't unique to this game and the one that is, is just... super repetitive and just not as addictive as the mini-games in 9, nor 10-2, are. Although I do enjoy 10's blitzball more than 10-2, 10-2 just has Sphere Break which wins me over (I like math, sue me).
5). Final Fantasy 13
Well, here you have it. I am not a person who strongly dislikes 13. Prepare your shotguns, but do be careful, you could shoot your eye out. This game is honestly not that bad. I suppose its biggest problems, at least when compared to other RPGs, is that its story is not cohesive at all, its presentation reflects the disorganization (mostly in terms of set/environmental design aspects) and (most egregious for me) there is just very little to do in the game. You do, primarily, one thing ever -- fight battles. If you're not in a battle or a cut-scene, you're facilitating things that either lead to more cut-scenes or affect your performance in battle. Granted, there is a lot to be said about 13's battles. I feel that the positives usually out-weigh the cons for the majority of the battles. Only a few bosses or optional encounters are really worth groaning over and when you seriously sit down and think about how few of those aches there truly are, the game is still an experience that can be enjoyed. Instead of making you solve puzzles in the field, 13 has you solve them for each unique enemy group and honestly, that's a pretty interesting thing that few games ever attempt and many never succeed at. Finally, although a lot of abilities are shared, the game does ensure that each character's role progression is fully unique to them and only a few characters truly handle their roles the same. Even more, it is important to note that the availability of some abilities means than some characters are just better suited to being in a certain role than their competition, so (to me), the characters have just enough of a touch of uniqueness to care about in the long run.
(I am tired right now and will continue in a future, hopefully soon, post. Take care.)
In order of my personally most liked to my least liked, predominantly main-entry titles:
1). Final Fantasy 9
After much careful deliberation, this game is most definitely my favorite game in the series. Mind you, this comes from a person who first played this game as their third foray into FF, so the intended nostalgic motifs are not really important to me at all. The reason I truly like this game most is because it is the one I most enjoy replaying; as it feels packed to the brim of content possible for a game of its era of release, which was pretty much the tail-end of the Playstation 1's lifespan. Not only is there so much to do, I personally enjoy doing most of it all; and it doesn't hurt that the main story and game is quite enjoyable when I'm not entertaining myself with Chocobo Hot & Cold or the card game, Tetra Master. It amuses that the game also presents a reward for players looking to complete it as fast as possible (which I will never do, I dislike rushing) which seems completely against the design of the game itself, hah, but I feel that shows that the developers really did try to think of everyone when they were making this. This game has quite a lot of heart and so I'm always elated to admit FF9 as my very favorite Square game.
2). Final Fantasy 4
Final Fantasy 4 could tie with 9, as they are both very simplistic RPGs with similar styles in several aspects. But, that would be disregarding the fact that 4 just doesn't have nearly as much to do in the game as 9 does. Still, it ranks highly for me because of one simple fact. The characters are each memorable and distinct. No two major characters are exactly alike in their play-styles even if they share several abilities, and that is truly wonderful because it strengthens their overall identity. Which is sometimes forgotten in console-style RPGs, professional or not, these days. I appreciate this facet very strongly, and it is one key factor in why the Final Fantasies that are at the bottom of this are there. Their characters just aren't as well-defined nor worth repeated visits (in my opinion).
3). Final Fantasy 10-2
This is the only spin-off entry I shall be including on my list because it probably will prove the most interesting to talk about. Well, if anyone did want to seriously discuss with me, "why DO you like 10-2 more than... so many other FFs?" I am not ashamed about this... I like this game quite a bit and yes, more than its prequel. The primary reason is precisely why 9 appeals to me just a hair more than FF4 -- there is simply quite a lot to do in X-2, even more if you own the HD remaster. That's nothing to say of its combat, which I feel is among, if not THE best combat experience in the Final Fantasy series. It is not too slow nor too hectic and is just plain fun, frankly. Yes the game is full of fan-service, you will pretty much get that from the first three minutes of it being on, but really, it does not detract from the joy of playing this game so much that I can truly say I never want to not be able to play it again. I do not yet own a PS3 but when I do, I fully intend to play this game for several more years before I truly feel ready to close this chapter of "my story".
4). Final Fantasy 10
It was the first game I owned on my PS2, the second FF title I ever experienced and the first that I would complete in full. Needless to say, I am still a fan of 10. I can't even play it right now and I just still appreciate seeing others enjoy (or critique, if desired) the game. This game represents, to me, the quintessential FF and all-round RPG experience to me. An emotional, yet compelling character-driven story where the eventual destination means so much after the arduous journey to get there. This was the first game to give me tears when experiencing the ending because I really felt what the characters themselves were feeling after becoming invested in their lives. Why is it not my favorite FF? Because there is very little replayability, as it is very much a "once and done" sort of game. There's also not really a great deal of variety to do in this game as it can summarized by three things: battles, blitzball or chocobo racing. That's literally it. Mind you, two of those things aren't unique to this game and the one that is, is just... super repetitive and just not as addictive as the mini-games in 9, nor 10-2, are. Although I do enjoy 10's blitzball more than 10-2, 10-2 just has Sphere Break which wins me over (I like math, sue me).
5). Final Fantasy 13
Well, here you have it. I am not a person who strongly dislikes 13. Prepare your shotguns, but do be careful, you could shoot your eye out. This game is honestly not that bad. I suppose its biggest problems, at least when compared to other RPGs, is that its story is not cohesive at all, its presentation reflects the disorganization (mostly in terms of set/environmental design aspects) and (most egregious for me) there is just very little to do in the game. You do, primarily, one thing ever -- fight battles. If you're not in a battle or a cut-scene, you're facilitating things that either lead to more cut-scenes or affect your performance in battle. Granted, there is a lot to be said about 13's battles. I feel that the positives usually out-weigh the cons for the majority of the battles. Only a few bosses or optional encounters are really worth groaning over and when you seriously sit down and think about how few of those aches there truly are, the game is still an experience that can be enjoyed. Instead of making you solve puzzles in the field, 13 has you solve them for each unique enemy group and honestly, that's a pretty interesting thing that few games ever attempt and many never succeed at. Finally, although a lot of abilities are shared, the game does ensure that each character's role progression is fully unique to them and only a few characters truly handle their roles the same. Even more, it is important to note that the availability of some abilities means than some characters are just better suited to being in a certain role than their competition, so (to me), the characters have just enough of a touch of uniqueness to care about in the long run.
(I am tired right now and will continue in a future, hopefully soon, post. Take care.)
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