Best Final Fantasy, take your pick

[smokehouse]

Ok, looking back, what is the best Final Fantasy (regular series, not Tactics, etc) to date and why.

So far, I have to say Final fantasy X. Not because it’s the newest (to me X-2 and XI don’t even exist) or because it’s the best looking, it’s the amazing story that sucked me in. I couldn’t get enough of it when it came out. I would have to say that II was a very close second.

[tritium]

Final Fantasy XI... it continues on and on and on.

[Zilla]

I voted for VII. I have only played the first one and VII and of course i can only vote between the two. VII was a great game and one of the first RPG's I decided to play. It allowed me to open my eyes to what RPG's were and have enjoyed some since.

[Ed Oscuro]

No Mystic Quest? LOL

[smokehouse]

No Mystic Quest? LOL



Ooooh, you got me on that one, I did forget it didnt I! Although lame it was a FF title….and I’m the kind of FF whore who played it back in the day too!!!!




Sad aint it?

[Snapple]

Tactics.

[drwily008]

I voted for Final Fantasy III (VI). To me it is a title that has so many little small sidequests (all enjoyable), the characters were very real, and it is the most nostalgic (for me).

I racked up hundreds of hours on it and even maxed out everyone magic, experience levels, and maximum amount of gil. I also took so many steps that it maxed out (mostly walking around in the dinosaur forest.

[davepesc]

I've played 5, 7-10 and about 2 hours of X-2 before poking my eyes out.

From those, I voted VII.
I have the PlayStation version of VI, but I haven't gotten around to playing it.

EDIT:
I'll rank the one's I've played:
7 - changed the genre, epic beyond anything I'd played before :eek 2:
9 - Fun story, classic gameplay :bday:
5 - Job system rules! :rocker:
10 - Too much soap opera. Couldn't care about whiney Tidus. :puppydogeyes:
8 - Punishes you for using magic = WRONG! :smash:
10-2 - :puke:

[Sebastian]

Flame me all you want but...

I played 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

and all of those I found FFVIII to be the most fun - i don't know why there are so many FFVIII haters out there! I'll take 8 over 7 or 9 (other PS1 titles) any day... FFX is my 2nd best... FF1 third (great fun back in the day...prob the first RPG i ever played, before I even knew that I was playing one)

[FantasiaWHT]

I enjoyed 8 as well :) MOreso than 7 actually, but not as much as 9. 4 is my favorite tho.

It's funny, do this poll anywhere else on the internet and VII will blow everything away and X will be 2nd.

[AMG]

I voted for FFVII. I loved the story and characters. The game sucked me in more than any other Final Fantasy I've ever played.

BTW, I've played and own FFI, FFII, FFV, FFVI, FFVII, FFVIII, FFIX, FFX, FFX-2, FF Tactics, FF MQ.

[DDCecil]

FFIV is still tops with me after all these years.

If you want to know, here's the rest in order from best to well, you know, 'decent':

FFVI
FFV
FFIIIj
FFIX
FFX-2
FFI
FF Mystic Quest
FFIIj
FFX
FFVIII
FFVII

Haven't played XI and no comment on the XII demo. I'll wait until the full game to judge.

[darknut101]

I voted for 4. That is and will always be my favorite game in the series. You should fix your poll option for FF4 (you spelled it FFIIV and not FFIV). 6 is a close second but 4 will always be my fav. I can't wait to play through it on the GBA next week.

I played the demo for FFXII and the combat system sucked.

[orangemage]

i'm going with VI, put around 150 hours into that one then my cart got erased :angry: then put around another 100 hours into it

[zerohero]

FF 2 (US)
2. FF7

[darknut101]

i'm going with VI, put around 150 hours into that one then my cart got erased :angry: then put around another 100 hours into it

DAMN. What did you spend all that time doing?

[orangemage]

i'm going with VI, put around 150 hours into that one then my cart got erased :angry: then put around another 100 hours into it

DAMN. What did you spend all that time doing?

i was on the veldt trying to get all the rages for gau and trying to steal rare stuff and of course getting economizers for everyone

[SlayerOfFurbies]

If you want epic play a dragon warrior game


I would vote Tactics Advanced

[Ed Oscuro]

No Mystic Quest? LOLOoooh, you got me on that one, I did forget it didnt I! Although lame it was a FF title….and I’m the kind of FF whore who played it back in the day too!!!!
Didn't expect you to put it in. It's really not too bad, though!

It's still the only FF I've played, though. :P

[smokehouse]

I voted for 4. That is and will always be my favorite game in the series. You should fix your poll option for FF4 (you spelled it FFIIV and not FFIV). 6 is a close second but 4 will always be my fav. I can't wait to play through it on the GBA next week.

I played the demo for FFXII and the combat system sucked.

CRAP! I did spell it wrong! I can’t go back and change it though. You know, I’ve always had a soft spot for II, it was the first real RPG that I ever played and owned. I landed up going back and playing Final Fantasy I on the NES AFTER playing II on the SNES. I am also a big fan of VII. I tried VIII but could never get into it and sadly enough, never played IX.

[darknut101]

No Mystic Quest? LOLOoooh, you got me on that one, I did forget it didnt I! Although lame it was a FF title….and I’m the kind of FF whore who played it back in the day too!!!!
Didn't expect you to put it in. It's really not too bad, though!

It's still the only FF I've played, though. :P

Most don't consider mystic quest part of the main FF series. It was made to be an easy FF game.

[Avatard]

Yea, I've easily spent 150+ hours on FF6. Getting everyone to max lvl while I equip certain level up bonus espers. Getting all the rages. And making a near complete list of what you can win in the colosieum.

[kainemaxwell]

I think a tossup on FF4, 6 and 9 for me.

[XxMe2NiKxX]

1, no contest.

[dreamcaster]

Final Fantasy VIII - such a memorable experience and very different from the other FF's I've played.

That said, I'm hearing great things about VI and would really like to have a go at it.

[smokehouse]

Oh trust me, VI is amazing, if you’ve never played it you have to….go out and get a copy NOW!!! Ok, not now but soon.

[starchildskiss78]

Of all the Final Fantasy games I've either played or seen in action I can't help but vote for the original on NES. I remember playing it for countless hours trying to level up and find every little thing and beat the game. It kept me company when I was sick and out of school for three days straight!!!

[allsport11]

Can I vote NONE? I absolutely hate every single one of the Final Fantasy games, never understood what the big deal was. O_O

[badinsults]

Final Fantasy IV is probably my favourite game of all time (after Yoshi's Island). I look forward to playing the GBA remake, with all new dungeons.

[drewbrim]

I love to vote for something other than VII since it's the most mainstream, but it was incredible. I enjoyed most of them except for the PS2 efforts

[AMG]

That said, I'm hearing great things about VI and would really like to have a go at it.


FFVI is a fantastic game. You owe it to yourself to own and play that masterpiece.

[smokehouse]

Can I vote NONE? I absolutely hate every single one of the Final Fantasy games, never understood what the big deal was. O_O

I’m not trying to be a jerk but why did you even post then? Looking for an easy +1?

[Amy Rose]

Until I had played VI, my favourite was IX. However, after I got my copy of VI (<3 Kamino), I was completely hooked. I can't get enough of this game, I've already finished it twice!

<3 Locke.

[Gemini-Phoenix]

Well firstly, FFX2 should not be viewed as a separate game. It is just another part of the same game as FFX. So if you are siding with FFX as being your favourite and disowning FFX2, then that's a bit naughty. That would be like saying you like Back To The Future I & II, but part three "Didn't really exist for you"

However, FFXI I do agree with. They should have dropped the "XI" suffix, and just called it FF Online.


Secondly, FF I and FF II were also on the WSC as well as GBA. But, to be honest, I think the PSone games should not be classed as the same as the NES versions. Likewise, the GBA versions are completely superior, and totally new games in their own right, albeit the same. (Like how the War Of The Worlds film is the same story as the original, even though it's a completely different reworking) ~ So, I would always choose the PSone versions over the NES ones, and teh GBA ones over the PSone ones (Even though the PSone versions had some nice FMV scenes)


My favourite has got to be FFVII. There's something about the depth and storyline that has me fixed. FFVIII was Ok, but didn't really have me as emotionally involved as FFVII did. And I can think of at least two instances in FFVII where I cried ~ Once through sadness (End of disc one) and once with happiness (The return of Cloud from the Mako)

FFIX would perhaps be my second choice. Again, this game had me emotionally involved in the same way as FFVII did. To me, this game has the potential to be as great as, if not greater than, FFVII. I just can't bring myself to condemn FFVII to second place though. Besides, I didn't quite like the surprise ending to FFIX, and there are a few parts of that game which I did not like, and thought were there simply to fill the space. THere were also some parts which were just damn right hard, and put me off playing it through again.


FFVIII I didn't like very much. Don't get me wrong, I liked certain parts of it, but the whole system felt completely wrong after being used to the same system for seven games. Saying that, it took me a while to finally get to grips with FFVII's Materia system, and I only mastered it on my second time through the game.

FFVIII had some nice parts to it, but the game seemed too short. There were also some bastard hard sections, and there were also some parts which I just really hated doing, which like FFIX, puts me off playing through again. But, bizarrely, it's actually a great game and a great story. Perhaps one of the stronger stories of the series, and has it's moments. It is also a lot deeper than the others, as it has a firmer "History" as far as the storyline goes. FFVII and FFIX had a small part of "History" built into the storyline (Cloud & Zak & Hojo, or Garnet's true origins), but FFVIII had much more history in the storyline all the way through, which affected almost every character (The continuous flashbacks to Laguna's past, as well as Squall & co's ones very early on in the game, as well as Cid & Edea's past's)


FFX and FFX2 were alright in my opinion. Not really as grand as the previous three, but were Ok for what they were. I prefer the old skool isometric RPG though (Alundra / Soliel / Zelda) and to me, this was just too much like a linear movie ~ Forced to go in one set direction whilst watching nothing but a load of cut scenes. I prefer to read the text as well, opposed to having to listen to teh people talking. To me, this drags the game on too long (As I can read faster) and the information doesn't sink in as well as it does if I had read the info.

Part of what I liked about the other games is that I could sit in bed when I came home from work, with the lights off and the sound turned off, and just plow my way through the game for a few hours before going to sleep. With FFX and FFX2, I can't do that, as they are games that you really need the sound turned up on. And as the game is so drawn out, they tend to cause me to fall asleep...


FFVI lacked substance to me. It was short, and didn't offer much of a challenge. I did, however, play it circa 2000, after the PSone games. THere were parts that impressed me, but as a general whole, I wouldn't class it as the best of the series. I preferred FFIV and FFV better. Out of the first six games, I would perhaps say that FFV, FFIV, and FFVI were my favourites, in that order, and would come behind the more recent volumes in the series.

[darknut101]

However, FFXI I do agree with. They should have dropped the "XI" suffix, and just called it FF Online.


YES! I've been saying that since the game came out.

[Chainsaw_Charlie]

FF6 hands down is my fav with 4 and 9 not far behind

[Kamino]

FF 3 (US) is the only FF i can manage to play without dying of BOREDOM
KEFKA FOREVER

[Sebastian]

just bumping this thread up... to see if more people vote - seems like an interesting topic, that's all

[smokehouse]

I think that part of Final Fantasy is being there when the game is new. To play Final Fantasy on the NES in 2005 is kind of boring, to play it in 1991 is another story entirely. Impact wise, FF II (SNES), FF III (SNES), FF VII (PS1) and FF X all stood out to me. For their time, they all were amazing titles. FF III was like no other when it came out. Not only did it have an amazing soundtrack when it came out, it also pushed the SNES to its limits in terms of colors on screen and graphic output. For it’s time it was amazing to play. The same goes for FF VII, when it came out it was like no other RPG, nothing made at that point was even close. To me VIII and IX did not impress me all that much. I’m not saying that they weren’t good games, I’m saying that they did not stand out to me at the time. FF X was amazing to me. The opening sequence game me chills. At the time I had my first 5.1 surround system and I can say it was quite an experience. To me, no other RPG came close. III and VII wowed me but X blew me away, I guess that’s why it got my vote.

Gemini-Phoenix mentioned my distain for X-2 as not being fair to the series. In my mind X-2 is a separate game. It could have been something amazing but to me, Square blew it. They took what was FF X and turned it into some cutesy Japanese girly hip hop MTV special. I was so disgusted by this game that I could not even finish it. That’s not FF, it’s a pile of shit, in my opinion the worst Square has made. So, to me, it doesn’t count as it was not even a stand alone FF title in the first place.

By the way, although hard as hell, I've been playing FF IV on the GBA and can say it's translation is great. It's the best port of IV yet.

[WanganRunner]

I picked FFVII, but if you actually put that and VI in front of me and told me I could only own one, I'm not sure I could choose.

I still like VII's materia system better than any other in the series though.

[DTJAAAAMJSLM]

Final Fantasy VIII has my vote. I loved the storyline, cast, and music.

[Sylentwulf]

I've always been partial to the posts listing from your best to worse.
For me, FF7 is my fav. FFX is by far my least fav.. I thought FFX-2 was a pretty damn decent game honestly.

7,6,4,8,X-2,9,2,5,X,1

There's my best to worse list. That's not being fair to FF1 at ALL though since it's so dated, and I was fairly young when it came out (12? 13?) And I've never played 3 or XI

[exit]

I'll have to go with FF6, mainly because it was the first RPG I really got into (besides Earthbound) and really boosted my interest in RPGs.

Runner up would be FF7.

[ghostangelofcky]

US release of Final Fanyasy 3 is still my fav best story and plot.

[hezeuschrist]

I don't really think I need to justify my answer ;)

[-hellvin-]

FF II - SNES / FFIV - SFC

That's one of the quickest polls I've ever done I think!

[prismra]

Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy 6
Then 4

I voted for 6 though because I feel I have to. That game was one of my favorites in high school (until Chrono Trigger that is). The characters were awesome but I felt the story was inferior to number 4. The gameplay was (and still is) fantastic. I couldn't believe all the extra hidden characters and relics you could get. It is also the 2nd best soundtrack on the SNES (CT is the best).

Final fantasy IV is on there because it was the most amazing game I could think of when I first got my SNES (ok, super mario world too!) I love the story and Cecils redemtion and transformation were great.

Final Fantasy X however, TOTALLY BLEW MY MIND. The graphics, the PERFECT combat system, the unique sphere system, created amazing and fun gameplay. The graphics are among the best on the PS2. But the music, my god it is amazing. Arguably the best soundtrack in the series. This game is the pinnacle of Final Fantasy. Some of the cutscenes were cheesy and annoying but you have to admit that the journey was incredible.

Final Fantasy XI is horrible. The music is terrible, the gamplay is boring and punishes the player way too much. The music, setting and design does little to evoke the feeling that one is playing a final fantasy. It seems to me that the final fantasy 'stuff' was added on to market the game. Horrible.

I have played the Final Fantasy XII game and I hate the combat system. It is horrible. It is, however, how the Final Fantasy Online battle system should have been. I don't know why they even changed the system from Final Fantasy X since it was the best evolution so far. If you don't believe me, play Final Fantasy X for a while and then try that demo again. I will give FFXII a chance when it comes out though as I imagine a great deal of depth will be added to it when the game is finally released and I like the bunny-girls.

[hezeuschrist]

Reading back through this thread with nothing better to do at work, I'm amazed how many people haven't even played FFIV.

The remake is now available for the GBA as well, no excuses! ;)

[smokehouse]

Don’t look at me, I bought it the day it came out. In my opinion it’s the best version of FF IV ever made. I enjoyed the great translation, the new graphics and the added super dungeon on the moon.

I spent the majority of my week off between Christmas and New Years off playing it. (boy was my wife pissed!)

[petewhitley]

I put in the lone vote for FF X-2. I've never been able to get into the series (not a real big RPG fan), but the chicks pulled me into this one. There needs to be a RPG series that contains only hot, underdressed female characters. I'd get into that.

[X SMF X]

I went old school and picked the original game, I put a lot of hours into that game, played it with a four warrior party, ah those were the days

[keiblerfan69]

I vote for X. The story is amazing and it was the one that I got the closes to beating.