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*Because there is no Final Fantasy series review page and it might not get noticed very much in the Game Forums, I decided to post it here so it would get more notice!*
Final Fantasy games are brilliant Role Playing Games. There have been 10 Final Fantasy games released in the main series, 3 of which have been released on the PS1(FF7, FF8 & FF9) and FF10 already out on the PS2 in Japan. There a few other games released as well e.g. Final Fantasy Tactics. These games have Role Playing Games to a new level of gaming.
Final Fantasy games normally have 1 main male character and 1 main female character which travel across the world with their compatriots to thwart the evil plans of the enemies that plan to destroy the world (or cause as much chaos as possible), these characters form a unique bond of trust and respect for each other and will fight together to the ends of the world to help with their cause.
The typical storyline is that the hero and the heroine meet fairly early on in the game and depending on their current relationship (wherever it’s a work relationship or a friendship) will have the relationship go through toil and trouble. They meet new friends which will fight with them and they make new enemies. The game progresses with tension rising between good and evil which eventually leads to a titanic battle between good and evil in which if you command your team to victory, you get a cool Full Motion Video cut scene and the privilege of completing one of the greatest RPG’s ever made.
What’s more, even after you defeat the final boss, there’s still plenty to do! There are plenty of mini-games which can help increase your characters abilities which will make them better in combat or collect rare items. There is a secret boss which is optional but defeating it is the best achievement in the game because it IS harder than any monster on the game!
Another unique factor in these epic games is the battles. On the main world map screen, the battles are encountered randomly, certain monsters only stay in certain areas so you won’t be facing a difficult Blue Dragon in your first fight! Battle sequences have there own soundtrack with the boss music which adds an excellent atmosphere to the battles.
One thing which can affect the outcome of battles dramatically is the weaponry. Some weapons are stronger than others but some are elementally charged. These elements are strong against other elements (e.g. fire is weak against water) so using a water based weapon against a monster which is a fire based monster then you will have an advantage.
If you are wondering wherever to get any Final Fantasy game, I hope this review has tempted you into getting any of them. These games are very enjoyable and are well worth adding to your collection, these games are of such high quality and I hope that you enjoy them as much as I have.
Seifer/Nick
Final Fantasy games are brilliant Role Playing Games. There have been 10 Final Fantasy games released in the main series, 3 of which have been released on the PS1(FF7, FF8 & FF9) and FF10 already out on the PS2 in Japan. There a few other games released as well e.g. Final Fantasy Tactics. These games have Role Playing Games to a new level of gaming.
Final Fantasy games normally have 1 main male character and 1 main female character which travel across the world with their compatriots to thwart the evil plans of the enemies that plan to destroy the world (or cause as much chaos as possible), these characters form a unique bond of trust and respect for each other and will fight together to the ends of the world to help with their cause.
The typical storyline is that the hero and the heroine meet fairly early on in the game and depending on their current relationship (wherever it’s a work relationship or a friendship) will have the relationship go through toil and trouble. They meet new friends which will fight with them and they make new enemies. The game progresses with tension rising between good and evil which eventually leads to a titanic battle between good and evil in which if you command your team to victory, you get a cool Full Motion Video cut scene and the privilege of completing one of the greatest RPG’s ever made.
What’s more, even after you defeat the final boss, there’s still plenty to do! There are plenty of mini-games which can help increase your characters abilities which will make them better in combat or collect rare items. There is a secret boss which is optional but defeating it is the best achievement in the game because it IS harder than any monster on the game!
Another unique factor in these epic games is the battles. On the main world map screen, the battles are encountered randomly, certain monsters only stay in certain areas so you won’t be facing a difficult Blue Dragon in your first fight! Battle sequences have there own soundtrack with the boss music which adds an excellent atmosphere to the battles.
One thing which can affect the outcome of battles dramatically is the weaponry. Some weapons are stronger than others but some are elementally charged. These elements are strong against other elements (e.g. fire is weak against water) so using a water based weapon against a monster which is a fire based monster then you will have an advantage.
If you are wondering wherever to get any Final Fantasy game, I hope this review has tempted you into getting any of them. These games are very enjoyable and are well worth adding to your collection, these games are of such high quality and I hope that you enjoy them as much as I have.
Seifer/Nick
Page:
I think that the final fantasy games rule, well at least i liked Final Fantasy 7. That is the only one i have played in the series but it left me feeling hungry for more RPG style adveture. I never bought any of its predocessors though mainly because i'm a little short on cash. I thought i had found the answer to my problems when i decided to grow a money tree but sadly when i planted the fiver in the garden it just made me a fiver short.
You are right, I think that this is one of Square's finer points. They have a tendency to create a part of the game which is challenging and tough, but it is fun and mysterious!
These games also are unique, there are no other games released which perform on the same level of play as the FF series (Zelda for me is a different type of RPG). I find the Final Fantasy series challengin, yet great fun and a pleasure to play on. These types of games are the only type of games that make you think that you are picking up a real bargin, I would be willing to pay much more than what most shops charge for these addictive games (but I'm thankful because it means that I have more money to spend on other games!)
These games also are unique, there are no other games released which perform on the same level of play as the FF series (Zelda for me is a different type of RPG). I find the Final Fantasy series challengin, yet great fun and a pleasure to play on. These types of games are the only type of games that make you think that you are picking up a real bargin, I would be willing to pay much more than what most shops charge for these addictive games (but I'm thankful because it means that I have more money to spend on other games!)
But shouldn't games be fun? I don't think they should be a test of stamina or patience. If sections of games are going to take a while to do, and are taxing or difficult, then a bit of variety here and there wouldn't go amiss. Game developers should make sure that gamers always enjoy what they are doing, and that hard work in a game should not feel like work, but rather an enjoyable test of skill. I don't think the gamer should ever think "thank god that bit's over - i don't want do that again", but instead "that was tough but i enjoyed that" and look forward to the challenge again.
I don't feel that FF8 was a bad game, I think that it was a complicated game which many people didn't quite catch on to. All the Final Fantasy games are decent, it's just that occasionally some parts of the game a tendency to be a bit repetitive but this is Square's strong point. I think that these games are a test of stamina, these games test to see wherever you can last going through an ancient temple against fierce monsters before fighting a tough boss. Some people are turned away by this and I think it is due to a lack of RPG stamina. It could also be that some of these gamers have no patience!
Nice post Seifer -
For all those people who think "RPG's aren't my thing" or think "That game looks boring", they just shut up, sit down, and start playing a Final Fantasy game.
My favourite FF games have been the last 3 on the Playstation (hey, i'm a sucker for nice graphics). Of these, FF7 is my favourite, and i'm also a big fan of the gorgeous-looking FF9. Now, i may be in the minority here, but i wasn't as impressed with FF8: yes it may have been technically superior and have great longetivity, but i didn't find it as FUN as 7 and 9.
I could quite happily sit down and play 7 or 9 all day without getting tired of them. The great plots, character development and the quests and sub-quests are marvellously developed to keep the gamer coming back for more.
FF8, however, tried my patience occasionaly on over-long and ultimately pointless set-pieces and quests, and in some points became more trial and error than logical. Parts in games that are only reached when all other possibilities are exhausted do not appeal to me: i much prefer the choice of whether i WANT to explore all the possibilities OR not bother and carry on straight away with the storyline. Now this pet hate is not specific to FF8 but a lot of games in general, but i thought FF7 and FF9 did not suffer from this and created a much smoother game.
So, if i were to choose a Final Fantasy game as a new player to the series or even the genre itself, Final Fantasy 9 is probably the easiest in the series - it does suffer from shortness and poor character development, but is great fun to play. But for pure enjoyment and satisfaction, plus the BEST weapon system in all RPG's then FF7 is the choice.
Then try FF8 - it's a great game, there is no doubt about that, but after you've finished it you may find yourself disagreeing with what i've said; but then again you may find that you were as disappointed as i was.
Just don't ever dismiss the series. Just try it. You might just like it.
For all those people who think "RPG's aren't my thing" or think "That game looks boring", they just shut up, sit down, and start playing a Final Fantasy game.
My favourite FF games have been the last 3 on the Playstation (hey, i'm a sucker for nice graphics). Of these, FF7 is my favourite, and i'm also a big fan of the gorgeous-looking FF9. Now, i may be in the minority here, but i wasn't as impressed with FF8: yes it may have been technically superior and have great longetivity, but i didn't find it as FUN as 7 and 9.
I could quite happily sit down and play 7 or 9 all day without getting tired of them. The great plots, character development and the quests and sub-quests are marvellously developed to keep the gamer coming back for more.
FF8, however, tried my patience occasionaly on over-long and ultimately pointless set-pieces and quests, and in some points became more trial and error than logical. Parts in games that are only reached when all other possibilities are exhausted do not appeal to me: i much prefer the choice of whether i WANT to explore all the possibilities OR not bother and carry on straight away with the storyline. Now this pet hate is not specific to FF8 but a lot of games in general, but i thought FF7 and FF9 did not suffer from this and created a much smoother game.
So, if i were to choose a Final Fantasy game as a new player to the series or even the genre itself, Final Fantasy 9 is probably the easiest in the series - it does suffer from shortness and poor character development, but is great fun to play. But for pure enjoyment and satisfaction, plus the BEST weapon system in all RPG's then FF7 is the choice.
Then try FF8 - it's a great game, there is no doubt about that, but after you've finished it you may find yourself disagreeing with what i've said; but then again you may find that you were as disappointed as i was.
Just don't ever dismiss the series. Just try it. You might just like it.
*Because there is no Final Fantasy series review page and it might not get noticed very much in the Game Forums, I decided to post it here so it would get more notice!*
Final Fantasy games are brilliant Role Playing Games. There have been 10 Final Fantasy games released in the main series, 3 of which have been released on the PS1(FF7, FF8 & FF9) and FF10 already out on the PS2 in Japan. There a few other games released as well e.g. Final Fantasy Tactics. These games have Role Playing Games to a new level of gaming.
Final Fantasy games normally have 1 main male character and 1 main female character which travel across the world with their compatriots to thwart the evil plans of the enemies that plan to destroy the world (or cause as much chaos as possible), these characters form a unique bond of trust and respect for each other and will fight together to the ends of the world to help with their cause.
The typical storyline is that the hero and the heroine meet fairly early on in the game and depending on their current relationship (wherever it’s a work relationship or a friendship) will have the relationship go through toil and trouble. They meet new friends which will fight with them and they make new enemies. The game progresses with tension rising between good and evil which eventually leads to a titanic battle between good and evil in which if you command your team to victory, you get a cool Full Motion Video cut scene and the privilege of completing one of the greatest RPG’s ever made.
What’s more, even after you defeat the final boss, there’s still plenty to do! There are plenty of mini-games which can help increase your characters abilities which will make them better in combat or collect rare items. There is a secret boss which is optional but defeating it is the best achievement in the game because it IS harder than any monster on the game!
Another unique factor in these epic games is the battles. On the main world map screen, the battles are encountered randomly, certain monsters only stay in certain areas so you won’t be facing a difficult Blue Dragon in your first fight! Battle sequences have there own soundtrack with the boss music which adds an excellent atmosphere to the battles.
One thing which can affect the outcome of battles dramatically is the weaponry. Some weapons are stronger than others but some are elementally charged. These elements are strong against other elements (e.g. fire is weak against water) so using a water based weapon against a monster which is a fire based monster then you will have an advantage.
If you are wondering wherever to get any Final Fantasy game, I hope this review has tempted you into getting any of them. These games are very enjoyable and are well worth adding to your collection, these games are of such high quality and I hope that you enjoy them as much as I have.
Seifer/Nick
Final Fantasy games are brilliant Role Playing Games. There have been 10 Final Fantasy games released in the main series, 3 of which have been released on the PS1(FF7, FF8 & FF9) and FF10 already out on the PS2 in Japan. There a few other games released as well e.g. Final Fantasy Tactics. These games have Role Playing Games to a new level of gaming.
Final Fantasy games normally have 1 main male character and 1 main female character which travel across the world with their compatriots to thwart the evil plans of the enemies that plan to destroy the world (or cause as much chaos as possible), these characters form a unique bond of trust and respect for each other and will fight together to the ends of the world to help with their cause.
The typical storyline is that the hero and the heroine meet fairly early on in the game and depending on their current relationship (wherever it’s a work relationship or a friendship) will have the relationship go through toil and trouble. They meet new friends which will fight with them and they make new enemies. The game progresses with tension rising between good and evil which eventually leads to a titanic battle between good and evil in which if you command your team to victory, you get a cool Full Motion Video cut scene and the privilege of completing one of the greatest RPG’s ever made.
What’s more, even after you defeat the final boss, there’s still plenty to do! There are plenty of mini-games which can help increase your characters abilities which will make them better in combat or collect rare items. There is a secret boss which is optional but defeating it is the best achievement in the game because it IS harder than any monster on the game!
Another unique factor in these epic games is the battles. On the main world map screen, the battles are encountered randomly, certain monsters only stay in certain areas so you won’t be facing a difficult Blue Dragon in your first fight! Battle sequences have there own soundtrack with the boss music which adds an excellent atmosphere to the battles.
One thing which can affect the outcome of battles dramatically is the weaponry. Some weapons are stronger than others but some are elementally charged. These elements are strong against other elements (e.g. fire is weak against water) so using a water based weapon against a monster which is a fire based monster then you will have an advantage.
If you are wondering wherever to get any Final Fantasy game, I hope this review has tempted you into getting any of them. These games are very enjoyable and are well worth adding to your collection, these games are of such high quality and I hope that you enjoy them as much as I have.
Seifer/Nick
Page: