Important FF's

[Purin]

this is not about what you thought was the best/most enjoyable FF experience you've had, but about which you think developed the series the furthest. Which FF revolutionized the series - as well as the entire industry - the most.

While FF1 is the obvious choice, as it was the game that saved square from bankruptcy, I would like to consider some other significant games.

FF2 - introduced actual characters, not just anonymous light warriors saving anonymous "people in trouble", NPC, and a neat leveling up system. Ok, disregard the point on leveling up, I don't think any other FF's use that system (FF legends doesnt count). also, i think it introduced chocobos =) chocobos were in this game, right?
FF3 - introduced the job system. Apart from that, this game doesn't have much as far as revolutionary is concerned, although this is an important point, as many FF's have a job system, and the FF ability that's talked most about is, guess what, the job system. Also, I think this is the first game where there was more than one overworld. im also pretty sure this was the first to have summons
FF4 - this game seemed a bit standard game-play wise. same old crystal hunt, a battle system that resembled that of Dragon Quest 2 more than it did in the previous entries, but let's look closely at the details. the characters have become much more complex, this is the first game to implement the active time bar, and also i believe this was also the first game to use cut-scenes to tell the story (ie. the computer controlled fight, where tellah called edward/gilbert spoony. these computer controlled fights were quite an effective way to tell the story, i thought)

[darth vader wannabe]

Well, personally, I believe that FF7 revoulitionized the series/made the most "ripples" in the video game world. Not only because it was IMMENSLY popular (it still is), but what it managed to do with a system that was becoming rapidly outdated. Granted,the same thing can be said about Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2. Correct me if i'm wrong, but it was also the first FF to contain full FMV sequences that actually went away from the game itself.

Darth Vader Wannabe.

[Diesel]

FF5 for me was the most important, it had a lot of humor, a lot of character development for all main chars, it had a villian that was a fraidy cat and ran away all the time and had one of the best theme songs ever(gilgamesh) and anyone of the characters could do anything.

[TheRedCactuar]

FF3j. Gave way to onion kids.

FF5 is next, with the greater development of the job system, and, as stated, the Gilgamesh theme song

[transcend]

FF:VIII
FF:XI

Proved even Square makes mistakes.

[Capt. Badass]

FF 3- took the good parts of 2, made them better. It was the most enjoyable and therefore made FF go from popular to legacy in N. America.

[Strider]

FF:VIII
FF:XI

Proved even Square makes mistakes.

That's hilarious. I whole-heartedly agree.

But, in my humble opinion Final Fantasy III made the most change.
-Job system, multiple classes (it introduced many classes to the realm of Final Fantasy that we later take for granted, like the and summoners... well, I was going to say Dragoon, but there was that one guy in FFII.)
-As mentioned above: Summons. First game to have summoners, as well as Bahamut, Levithian, Shiva, Ifrit, and all them (Being able to be summoned. Bahamut was in FFI, we all know).
-it was also the first game to have the hair-ripping out, smash your head against the wall, rather eat live scoprions final dungeon. (I don't know about anyone else, but the last dungeon for FFIII was the hardest one by far.)
-Cid. This was the first game to repeat the character of Cid. From then on, he became a staple (Unless you name your Red Mage Cid, just to make him a character in every one of them).
-Different colours of chocobos, the Fat Chocobo
-and, the amount of damage you deal bouncing on the creature you hit, as well as removing that horrible battle system, where you had to plan who you attacked, or elce your attack would be "innefectual" (Although that really did make FFI and FFII have a very interesting strategic value to them. I admire, and in a way miss that old way of fighting).

I think thats all. But, thats my idea.

After Final Fantasy III, elements of the newer final fantasies began to be copied on the previous one. I think after FF left the NES, they borrowed alot from previous games.

[Jack of Spades]

I'd say FFVll was the most important. Without FFVll it would be a fairly obscure series in america and really opened sort of a pathway for RPG's that came to the US after it. The one thing I don't like about it is that it broght so many new people into the series that everyone who started with it compares everything FF related to Sephiroth and/or his slaying of Aeris (which I really enjoyed it's so rare for a charecter to be permanantly removed in the series like that)

[Solid Snake]

Regardless of your feelings as to whether or not Final Fantasy VII was a "good game", I think everyone would have to agree, when push comes to shove, that FF7 had the greatest impact on RPGs and video gaming in general. Without it, a lot of the other RPG series and games we talk about today either wouldn't exist period, or would only be available in Japan.

[KhanFusion]

Strider-

Cid was in FF 1. He was a dwarf.

[KeeperS]

Regardless of your feelings as to whether or not Final Fantasy VII was a "good game", I think everyone would have to agree, when push comes to shove, that FF7 had the greatest impact on RPGs and video gaming in general. Without it, a lot of the other RPG series and games we talk about today either wouldn't exist period, or would only be available in Japan.

Agreed. While I personally think that a few of the FFs are better, it's impossible to deny FF7's impact on the world of video games. It drew in a lot of people who had never even heard of RPGs before. Heck, it even had a pretty big impact on the console wars... FF7 sold a lot of Playstations.

[Chr0n0s End]

I think the only thing that really turned people off too final fantasy viii, was the fact it was a love story.. It wasent square's greatest work, but they were just trying something new by dipping there feet into a new body of water..

[clary_69]

I Stand by FF VIII, It has a deep storyline and great graphics, I'll keep playing that one moreso than VII

[stFalcon5]

Six. Sweet bajeezus, I love Six. Six gives me fanboy willies.

And then it was hacked, and the people were amused.

[joe]

I think my favorite overall was FF4, though I have to say that the only FF I really couldn't get into was FF8. (bland) I do have to say I'm not looking forward to FFXI though.

[Creamsteak]

Really? I thought Cid was Dr. Unne. Dr. Cid Unne seems to make sense to me.

[Strider]

I think the only thing that really turned people off too final fantasy viii, was the fact it was a love story.. It wasent square's greatest work, but they were just trying something new by dipping there feet into a new body of water..

I liked the love story of FF VIII. I played the whole game because of the story.

What really pissed me off about Final Fantasy VIII was the game play, and the obvious storyline holes.

Junctioning is stupid. It is TOO complicated. The GF were a good idea, yes, but also, too complicated.
The customization of the characters abilities became a math problem.

The story line had holes. Like when no one remembered they were all from the same day care because they junction with GF's. I'm sorry, thats really sad. And the three characters escaping from that explosion in the jail without an explanation of how.

The overall story was good. I really liked the whole Deltia story and how it turned out. Its actually my favoruite part. I really like the storyline. Sometimes I want to play the game through again, just to experience the world again.
But... Junctioning turns me off.

[Chr0n0s End]

I liked the love story of FF VIII. I played the whole game because of the story.

What really pissed me off about Final Fantasy VIII was the game play, and the obvious storyline holes.

Junctioning is stupid. It is TOO complicated. The GF were a good idea, yes, but also, too complicated.
The customization of the characters abilities became a math problem.

The story line had holes. Like when no one remembered they were all from the same day care because they junction with GF's. I'm sorry, thats really sad. And the three characters escaping from that explosion in the jail without an explanation of how.

The overall story was good. I really liked the whole Deltia story and how it turned out. Its actually my favoruite part. I really like the storyline. Sometimes I want to play the game through again, just to experience the world again.
But... Junctioning turns me off.
Absolutely, i enjoyed the game as well. As for the junctioning it made it too easy to make your character godly, on top of that by using your magic your character went down in stats.. Also gathering the magic from the monsters was a boring task.. Great story, baddddd junctioning :)

[Ufai_Rebellion]

I quite liked the junction system in 8. It only took a little while to get junctions for three characters in all the major areas. Plus with junction there was a lot of costumabizability (? Okay even I'm not happy with that word) Made you think about when to use magic and which abilities you needed rather than nines here have them all approach

[Shadow]

as far as sales go, I think that FF VII brought the playstation into the light as much as it did RPGs in general. It was a time where if you wanted to play goldeneye, you bought an N64, and if you wanted to play FFVII, you bought a playstation. I know allot of people that had never really known much about the playstation before FFVII.

[boarder]

FF7 I think took a lot of people by suprise with it's 3d battle lay out but what I liked the most was the materia combinations. You could do so much with the right materia and any character could be whatever you wanted them to be. Rather have Barret be the WHM instead of Aeris? And the storyline although confusing as far as Cloud goes, really was great. I know when I saw Aeris die the first time I was pissed.

FF8 wasn't too bad but I didn't like that enemies went up in level too. Although my friend sat forever fighting until he was able to draw Firage and etc. from the endless stream of soldiers near the beginning of the game. I think the draw system sucked balls, the story background was weak, but I also liked that you could get extra damage with the gunblade if you're paying attention.

FF9 was just gay I'm sorry. Love the Black Mages, hate what they did to them.

FF10 was excellent although too linear for my taste. Without an overworld to explore it really kinda forced me to rush along skipping a couple things that probably were important. And Blitzball is gayer than how they ruined the card game with FF9.

FF11 Online I'm addicted to this game, the only thing I don't like is how hard it is to get money or experience. Unlike previous games where monsters give you more experience compared to their difficulty in the game, they give you more exp compared to your character. A very hard creature gives you 120-140, a hard creature gives you 100, even matches are 70ish, decent challenges are 50, and everything less than that really isn't worth your effort since it could take a few thousand exp just to go up in level. But what is fun is joining groups and going on quests. I have a Red Mage/Monk and I enjoy the ability to use all kinds of spells and the ability to fight solo. Plus at level 30 there are advance jobs so there's goals to shoot for. The only thing I hated was when I first loaded the game, there's an hour worth of downloading for updates. Plus if you're on late at night the world is full of japanese only speaking players who are 40 times as powerful as you.

FFX2 makes me sad that they gave in to popular demand and created a sequel. You'd think they'd create a sequel for FF7 first instead of just the movie Advent Children. It might be a good game though, but sequels are never as good as the original.

[Griever]

I think FFVII really brough the series out into the open, although I did play the ones before that... Later though.
The graphics were decent at the time, the storyline was well thought out (mostly), and I liked the materia and battle system... The extra challenges you could do were also cool. Ruby weapon, anyone?

However! FFVIII had one of the best storylines in my opinion, although it leaned toeards the "teen drama" more than I liked at points.. But they were nice to be a part of, and one could get attached to the characters.

I don't see why people don't seem to like FFIX... Alright, call me a hopeless fan, but I liked it. There. I said it. Nothing overly ground breaking, but once again I liked the characters... The Black Mages in particular. (Go Vivi! ;))
The only thing I found odd was the ending... I mean, anyone who played this will agree with this.. It just didn't make any darned sense. :D
(But I still like it, laugh if you want to.)

[Ayan]

I just started FFXI Online..too bad I'm already addicted..The game is awesome, but its very hard to level up .......-_-...I thik I delevel more than I level up..but onlly because the "check" feature lies and tells me a cerain ra-rab is a decent match...-_- *Valefor rules*

FF X-2 isn't bad, I liked the changing of costumes it was fun to see it all. Girls that are comlainig about that need to stop being a stupid prude =P

[l33tm4st3r]

I think FFVII really brough the series out into the open, although I did play the ones before that... Later though.
The graphics were decent at the time, the storyline was well thought out (mostly), and I liked the materia and battle system... The extra challenges you could do were also cool. Ruby weapon, anyone?

However! FFVIII had one of the best storylines in my opinion, although it leaned toeards the "teen drama" more than I liked at points.. But they were nice to be a part of, and one could get attached to the characters.

I don't see why people don't seem to like FFIX... Alright, call me a hopeless fan, but I liked it. There. I said it. Nothing overly ground breaking, but once again I liked the characters... The Black Mages in particular. (Go Vivi! ;))
The only thing I found odd was the ending... I mean, anyone who played this will agree with this.. It just didn't make any darned sense. :D
(But I still like it, laugh if you want to.)

FFIX was awesome. It had sweet graphics, and the cutscenes were even better. I liked the moogles and black mages in the game, and also the villagers of Conde Petie, whom I like to call the Scottish Midgets.

[Ayan]

Anyone else on the Valefor server on FFXI? I just started in this server yesterday so all my friends are level 30 already and I am a mere level 11...kind of sad no? :rmage:

i love my Elvaan kingdom to death but I'm sick of al the secrets and lies! Secrets and lies!!! :D

[boarder]

Sorry, I'm on the Leviathan server and I know what you mean. Most people in my Linkshell group are way ahead of me. I was just happy when I got my sub quest done. Took a few days to finally get something to drop the Magicked Skull.

I just realized that some people probably have no idea what I'm talking about.

[Gerad]

Technically, my first exposure to the FF series was FFI, and then...

Final Fantasy III
(6 if you're Japanese)

I think it is the best one of all the games. There was a good balance of everything. Battles, an epic story line, character development, new places to go and see, more and more powerful attacks and enemies...

And then you get to a whole other world, where there are so many more opportunities for adventure! I think it is the cornerstone of the series because it was balanced in about every way. Some people argue that it was too easy, but you can still put some long hours on that game if you are new to RPG's.

I've only beaten 4 of the FF games (1, 6, 7, 10), but I've played all of the streamline series except 9 and 11 and still find 6 to be the most complete and balanced game. All the others are unbalanced in some way that just makes them less interesting.

Maybe you can tell from my name that it's my favorite game.

[MageOfIndiscriminateEvil]

7 for me. First FF i experienced and has been my favourite game ever since. Since then ive picked up every PS FF and have started going back and playing the old school FF's too. Although right now ive been sidetracked by chronotrigger. When i played it everything about FF7 impressed me the complexity of the story with Clouds memory and other stuff. And i think Sepiroth was great no matter what all you Sepiroth haters have to say about his girly hair. My only real problem with 7 was that by the end you could become basically unbeatable if you got all the good stuff. Final attack+phoenix, Hp absorb+KotRT, 3 master materia with mp asorb on summon, master enemy skill and 4X cut. mmmm memories...

[tubamasterj]

ff7 is definitly the most important, it brought many more fans to the ff series, switched ff to a superior system, and company. seriously, what woudl ff be like today on a gamecube or n64? they would have been lame because neither has the capability that sony does. ff7 is also the first ff to incoperate fmvs.

[Tark]

FF4, because it was the one that was first mass marketed in north america (FF1 was really just an afterthought, and done really half assed.)