What Final Fantasy game should I play first?

[Akwakwak]

Any iteration of Final Fantasy IV.

I'm gonna be totally biased and say its the best in the series.

 

[LilPrinnyDood]

Any iteration of Final Fantasy IV.

I'm gonna be totally biased and say its the best in the series.

lol well at least you are honest. That said it is defintally one of the better constructed ones. And probably one of the easiest to pick up and play not to mention one of the cheapest to get ahold of.

 

[Princess Raspberyl]

I most definitely recommend VI and IV first, both are amazing.

 

[SBaby]

I'll be honest with you, I haven't played many Final Fantasy games and the only ones I've played enough to have actually formed an opinion on are I, IV, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, and XIII. Whether I feel that any of the other ones I've played are worse than VIII or X isn't relevant, the fact is you carelessly presented your opinion as if it were fact then acted like the victim when people asked you to explain yourself.

He asked which FF game he should play first. I saw everyone praising FFVIII and FFX. So I said they were terrible games to start with and would possibly give the wrong impression about the series. Then people asked me to elaborate. So I did. And the thing is, nobody has had any argument against the reasons I gave, other than 'it's nitpicking'. Which is a terrible cop out argument, and could be said about any kind of criticism. They're only saying that because they have no real rebuttals to what I've said.

But if you really want me to further explain myself, I can do that... I've talked about FFX quite alot. Really, I've said enough about it for now. Let's switch it up and talk about FFVIII. So what don't I like about that game? How is it terrible?

Ok. Let me count the ways. This goes without saying, but SPOILER ALERT FOR THOSE THAT NEVER PLAYED FFVIII.

[spoil]
While I will admit that I don't think it REALLY started getting bad until FFX, this game is definitely where the series started to go downhill (at least for a little while; FFIX was pretty good).

Let's start by trying to explain the storyline. The key word here is 'try'. I say that, because to this day, I honestly don't think the people who came up with the plot of the game really had any clue what they wanted to happen in the game. I have no clue what they wanted to happen in the game. I've played the game four times and still can't figure it out. This is because the game constantly jumps from one plotline to another, and the transitions make no sense. One minute, you're a military cadet, the next thing you know, you're in space trying to find some sorceress named Adel, and then you decide that the ultimate key to defeating the final enemy of the game is to - wait for it - LET HER DO WHAT SHE IS PLANNING TO DO AND KILL HER AFTERWARDS. And then just HOPE THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP WILL FIX EVERYTHING. I'm not making that up. That is literally what you are told, almost word for word.

Mind you, I'm only briefly touching on the plot here. It makes no sense at all, and good luck trying to figure anything out, because all the game tells you, all it CAN tell you is what to do next. It never really elaborates on why you're told to kill Edea, or how things got to where they are. And then after you fail to kill Edea, you never attempt to do it again, instead focusing on something completely unrelated. And along the way, you discover that ALL THE MAIN CHARACTERS JUST SO HAPPENED TO BE LIVING IN THE SAME ORPHANAGE AS KIDS!!! I kid you not, this is never explained. You just have to accept it as being 'fate'. No, I'm not doing that. That's a cop-out if there ever was one. You could come up with the stupidest plot imaginable, tack 'fate' to it and people actually buy into it. For God's sake, they let the airhead take the controls of a nuclear missile silo, after you find the keys in a truck in the desert!

And just to let you know, there are people that have written entire REPORTS, trying to analyze FFVIII's contrived plot. I'm not making this up. You can actually read them on various FF-related sites. The story's so incomplete, that the fans had to step up and finish it. I think no less than half the second act of the game was excised, because there are ALOT of plot holes. Give FFX credit on this part. Because even though I hate that game, at least the storyline seems to be finished, and annoying as that game is, there are FAR fewer plot holes. *Cue FFX-2 flashback.* Yeah, I'm still in therapy...

Now that that's out of the way, let's get to the gameplay. But before that...

THE GUNBLADE!!! I really can't believe I'm talking about this, because I thought Spoony explained this problem well enough. He really did. Everything I'm going to say here is basically what he said. The Gunblade is never explained in the game. It's never mentioned outside of 'Oh, you can use a Gunblade! Welcome to SeeD!' I'm not kidding. That's really the name of their military organization, and like most things in this game, it is never explained. Furthermore, if there really was a 4-foot sword sottered to a pistol grip, people would break their wrists swinging it, when the recoil happens from the projectile deploying. And is this the chosen weapon of an elite class? Or is this just a weapon that's extremely rare? Because Cid mentions that Squall is a Gunblade Specialist, so it stands to reason that there is a class of soldier that uses it.

Why am I bringing this up here, when in FFVII the character had a buster sword that probably weighed more than he did? Well, because not only does it look ridiculous, but FFVIII was a game, THE game, that was supposed to change everything. The characters were looking more realistic, and the settings were becoming more modernized. So of course, I was expecting the characters to at least use realistic weaponry. Instead, we get a guy that can shoot bullets out of a sword, a villain who can shoot bullets out of another sword, and who has the personality of Gary Oak/Blue from Pokemon Red. Bear in mind, these are supposed to be GROWN MEN here, and Seifer's best insult is calling someone a 'chicken-wuss'; yeah, that's actually the way he says it, it wasn't edited in Kingdom Hearts II. And the guy that it's directed at (again, a GROWN MAN), actually LOSES HIS TEMPER! You've got an 18-year-old teacher that uses a whip, you've got an airhead girl with weird hair-wings (just look up 'Selphie, and you'll see what I mean) that talks about trains all the time, you've got a sniper who actually has a rifle, but loses his ---- when he has to kill someone (SeeD! The FUTURE of military discipline!), a guy who can punch THE DEVIL into submission, and a female lead who fires a dog like a missile. And that's not mentioning the 'other three guys'. Two words: BOAT ANCHOR! Give Laguna credit though. Despite having a selective leg cramp, at least he uses a machine gun.

And on top of that, the main character is an Emo wreck. When the emo character is the least of a story's problems, you KNOW you're in trouble.

So what about the gameplay? Well, the battles still use the ATB bar, and I did find the idea of Summons having their own HP meters to be interesting. And contrary to what some people think, I did indeed enjoy the timed hits from Squall, and the button mashing for the summons (even if it makes NO sense and is - you guessed it - never explained).

But the Junction System is just so artificial and really seems so pointless. All it does is artificially force you to not use many spells (if any), because every spell you cast is going to reduce your character's stats, until you go and restock the spell, if it's Junctioned. If it isn't Junctioned, then you won't reap the benefits of the increased stats or resistances you get from Junctioning the spell. And you're NOT going to go all the way out of a dungeon to restock your spells when you're in the middle of it. You just aren't.

Drawing magic is also a chore. You will spend hours on end drawing magic from enemies, while allowing them to mercilessly wail on you in the process. Later in the game, you do get alternate ways to stock spells, but it's just substituting one type of busywork for another that is worse (Triple Triad; please don't make me explain why I don't like this minigame). And by the way, you'll get to the point where once you get the right spells, your characters are virtually invincible. So it's not exactly balanced. In fact, I'd go so far as to call FFVIII the most unbalanced game in the series, from a mechanical perspective.

I do have to say one thing though. They did try to balance it. They really tried. They made the enemies level up with your characters. But the problem with this is, your characters will usually be FAR beyond the skill level of the enemy at any given point, so this increase is a slight upgrade at best.

I did like the crafting for the weapons though. I just wish there was a better way to get money in the game.
[/spoil]


Back to the topic at hand now, get FFIV, FFVI or FFVII first. Those are great Final Fantasy games.

 

[Archsage]

Well, this is not what I was expecting. I recently found out my PS2 is not an option (dumb thing breaking just when I want it..) The problem with fakes mentioned also worries me, so I'm beginning to think maybe downloading FFVI from the Wii Shop. Thanks, everyone. I hope my question didn't irritate anyone when it turned into arguing about which game is best.

 

[SBaby]

Well, this is not what I was expecting. I recently found out my PS2 is not an option (dumb thing breaking just when I want it..) The problem with fakes mentioned also worries me, so I'm beginning to think maybe downloading FFVI from the Wii Shop. Thanks, everyone. I hope my question didn't irritate anyone when it turned into arguing about which game is best.

Don't worry about it. It really wasn't much of an argument. This is actually tame, compared to what usually happens when someone mentions why they don't like FFX or FFVIII (especially FFX; the fanboys REALLY get on peoples' cases when they have problems with that game).

But yeah. FFVI is one of the best games to start with. If it's any reassurance, it's the game I started with, and it easily got me into the series.

 

[LilPrinnyDood]

Don't worry about it. It really wasn't much of an argument. This is actually tame, compared to what usually happens when someone mentions why they don't like FFX or FFVIII (especially FFX; the fanboys REALLY get on peoples' cases when they have problems with that game).

But yeah. FFVI is one of the best games to start with. If it's any reassurance, it's the game I started with, and it easily got me into the series.

lol... fanboys or people with normal comprehension levels? Tbh ff6 is a great game yes but very hard to start with if you have no experience with series.

 

[SBaby]

lol... fanboys or people with normal comprehension levels? Tbh ff6 is a great game yes but very hard to start with if you have no experience with series.

The average argument I got from fans of FFX is that I was nitpicking (which isn't really a good argument, because anything could be considered to be nitpicking). And even when they did give real arguments, they brought up things like the blitzballs 'not being regulation balls' and Seymour wanting to kill everyone, so he's a good villain. These are the arguments they're bringing up.

I mean, people are seriously arguing that a guy with big blue hair antlers is the perfect antagonist.

And let's not forget the point where the plot stops for 10+ hours, as you go from shrine to shrine. Normally, I'd be alright with that, but if you're going to make your game story-driven, you have to keep telling the story. You can't just stop for 10 hours and expect people to just... be ok with it.

 

[LilPrinnyDood]

The average argument I got from fans of FFX is that I was nitpicking (which isn't really a good argument, because anything could be considered to be nitpicking). And even when they did give real arguments, they brought up things like the blitzballs 'not being regulation balls' and Seymour wanting to kill everyone, so he's a good villain. These are the arguments they're bringing up.

I mean, people are seriously arguing that a guy with big blue hair antlers is the perfect antagonist.

And let's not forget the point where the plot stops for 10+ hours, as you go from shrine to shrine. Normally, I'd be alright with that, but if you're going to make your game story-driven, you have to keep telling the story. You can't just stop for 10 hours and expect people to just... be ok with it.

Again with statements like that you make it seem like you have not even played the game... lol

 

[SBaby]

Again with statements like that you make it seem like you have not even played the game... lol

Oh, believe me. I wish I hadn't played the game.

 

[The Admiral]

Why am I bringing this up here, when in FFVII the character had a buster sword that probably weighed more than he did? Well, because not only does it look ridiculous, but FFVIII was a game, THE game, that was supposed to change everything. The characters were looking more realistic, and the settings were becoming more modernized. So of course, I was expecting the characters to at least use realistic weaponry.

Swords with small flintlock pistols in them did actually exist. They were, however, installed perpendicular to the blade, along the cross guard or equivalent. Not along the blade. Also flintlock pistols. Nothing more has ever been tried, to my knowledge -- probably because it's a bad idea, and the kick from a gun attached to a sword could probably hurt you.

The gunblade is kind of ridiculous, mostly because it's blatantly designed as more gun than sword. In theory, the basic shape -- i.e. the blade, at its end, is not parallel to the grip -- is something that exists, e.g. the kukri. However, that bends along the length of the blade instead of featuring an obviously handgun-shaped grip. It probably also would be extremely heavy for something meant to be wielded in one hand, and holding it with two hands would probably also be difficult. It couldn't really be used as a normal long arm, lacking a stock and, honestly, anywhere to hold it safely and sanely. Unless you installed a tripod. Which would look hilarious, but would be impractical.

Yeah, the gunblade design is clearly based on someone going "You know what would be cool?" -- much like many, many weapon designs in Kingdom Hearts and all of the 3D FFs that look like they should break fairly easily or just generally not be operable.

 

[SBaby]

Swords with small flintlock pistols in them did actually exist. They were, however, installed perpendicular to the blade, along the cross guard or equivalent. Not along the blade. Also flintlock pistols. Nothing more has ever been tried, to my knowledge -- probably because it's a bad idea, and the kick from a gun attached to a sword could probably hurt you.

That's my point. They wouldn't have designed the weapon like that. It wouldn't have been possible to deploy the rounds. If anything, the blade would've been by the pistol, instead of over it. But if you swing it and fire it at the same time - which is what the game implies is happening every time you time the hit - you'd probably injure yourself, or possibly even break your wrist, depending on which direction the recoil comes from. Or at the very least, the weapon would fly out of your hand.

 

[GrizzlyB]

Just an FYI for you guys, gunblades in Final Fantasy VIII don't shoot bullets. The trigger makes the sword vibrate to cause the extra damage. That aside, are people seriously nitpicking on a gunblade in a series that has, in various iterations, featured paintbrushes, megaphones, and forks as weapons?

 

[LilPrinnyDood]

Just an FYI for you guys, gunblades in Final Fantasy VIII don't shoot bullets. The trigger makes the sword vibrate to cause the extra damage. That aside, are people seriously nitpicking on a gunblade in a series that has, in various iterations, featured paintbrushes, megaphones, and forks as weapons?

Um they use gunpowder its got nothing to do with vibration its like a close range mini magnum. Just saying. And no only sbaby is as far as i can tell lol

 

[SBaby]

Just an FYI for you guys, gunblades in Final Fantasy VIII don't shoot bullets. The trigger makes the sword vibrate to cause the extra damage. That aside, are people seriously nitpicking on a gunblade in a series that has, in various iterations, featured paintbrushes, megaphones, and forks as weapons?

I already outlined the reason why I take an issue with the gunblade as opposed to those other weapons. And your other point. If the Gunblade didn't shoot bullets, then why is it called a Gunblade? And why does it have the pistol grip and chambers for said bullets? And why does it clearly look like the weapon is firing when you hit the trigger button?

 

[LilPrinnyDood]

I already outlined the reason why I take an issue with the gunblade as opposed to those other weapons. And your other point. If the Gunblade didn't shoot bullets, then why is it called a Gunblade? And why does it have the pistol grip and chambers for said bullets? And why does it clearly look like the weapon is firing when you hit the trigger button?

Um they use gunpowder its got nothing to do with vibration its like a close range mini magnum. (chew)

 

[Mr Dragon]

I already outlined the reason why I take an issue with the gunblade as opposed to those other weapons. And your other point. If the Gunblade didn't shoot bullets, then why is it called a Gunblade? And why does it have the pistol grip and chambers for said bullets? And why does it clearly look like the weapon is firing when you hit the trigger button?

Those are the questions that should be asked.

Answer = Rule of cool.

 

[The Admiral]

I already outlined the reason why I take an issue with the gunblade as opposed to those other weapons. And your other point. If the Gunblade didn't shoot bullets, then why is it called a Gunblade? And why does it have the pistol grip and chambers for said bullets? And why does it clearly look like the weapon is firing when you hit the trigger button?

Those are the questions that should be asked.

Answer = Rule of cool.

Basically, what this guy said. They just thought of things that sounded cool and put them together. Which -- let's be fair here -- has been the series MO for a while now.

 

[SBaby]

Basically, what this guy said. They just thought of things that sounded cool and put them together. Which -- let's be fair here -- has been the series MO for a while now.

I understand the idea. I really do. But I think the 'coolness factor' of the Gunblade is really overestimated.

Spoony said it best here. 'Really big swords are cool. Guns are cool. But when you put the two together, you're not always gonna end up with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.'

And this isn't really me raging against FFVIII or anything. It's a fundamental fact that combining two things, doesn't guarantee they'll be cool. For instance, Yu Gi Oh! combined card games and motorcycles, yet nobody plays the game like that. It's just silly.

And one other thing. It's bullets that go into the Gunblade, not gunpowder. It's not going to have a six-shooter chamber if you're meant to use gunpowder.

 

[KrayzieBuddha]

I understand the idea. I really do. But I think the 'coolness factor' of the Gunblade is really overestimated.

Spoony said it best here. 'Really big swords are cool. Guns are cool. But when you put the two together, you're not always gonna end up with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.'

And this isn't really me raging against FFVIII or anything. It's a fundamental fact that combining two things, doesn't guarantee they'll be cool. For instance, Yu Gi Oh! combined card games and motorcycles, yet nobody plays the game like that. It's just silly.

And one other thing. It's bullets that go into the Gunblade, not gunpowder. It's not going to have a six-shooter chamber if you're meant to use gunpowder.

Card games on motorcycles. I would love to see someone do that in reality lol.