How would you rate the numbered final fantasies?

[EmuMaster2002]

FF7 ruined the series because it took the concept of Final Fantasy and essentially raped it. Look at the first five (We'll cut out six here because it was borderline-steampunk). What do they all have in common? Fantasy setting, low-tech where the highest technological item is the airship(s). Even in six the most they have besides the airship is plumbing and those magitech things.

Final Fantasy 7 is not a fantasy setting with low technology. It's sci-fi with shit we don't even have yet. The main character stops having to be believable (as was the case with the casts of FF4, 5, and especially 6.) What we're left with is some kid that is so bipolar to himself that his very existence should be diagnosed as a mental disorder. He carries a sword that defies every law of physics that I know of.

The biggest problem? It was popular. Why was it popular? It was the first on a new system, the Playstation. Every previous Final Fantasy was on a Nintendo system first. Not only that, but there was something of a new breed of gamer. New gamers, with little experience in RPGs (Playstation sorely lacked them until FF7) flocked to this new concept. Because it was the first real exposure to RPGs they saw, or at least the first "decent" exposure, they took to it immediately, the same way I took to the games Dragon Warrior and Mystic Quest: Both fairly substandard, but they were the first two RPGs I ever played, and nostalgia sets in every time someone brings them up.

Because Final Fantasy 7 was popular, Squaresoft decided to use a similar technique in the next: Final Fantasy 8. One of the biggest catastrophes of RPG gaming. FF8 was also popular. Then, a small flicker of hope appeared: They made FF9 their special "Tenth anniversary" RPG, going back to the series' roots, using older, better concepts, realistic character designs (leaving out a few characters who were honestly only there for comic relief), and making the entire experience a hearken back to the first six while simultaneously mixing Shakespearian concepts with their own and creating one of the best RPGs of all time.

The problem was that, with most of the Playstation RPG gamers stuck on FFs 7 and 8, it didn't stick. It was a foreign concept. FF9, this giant of a classic, was shot down all because of timing. Because of the events Squaresoft set in place by making one fatal mistake. Then we got ten; it's okay, but only because the majority of the technology was destroyed early in the game. Then 11, a travesty in its own right, and finally 12, which looks an awful lot like 10.

THAT is why FF7 ruined the series. And yes, damnit, the stupid offshoots are getting on my nerves, because with better timing, they could at least be offshoots of a good game.

 

[Culex]

1. Final Fantasy IV
2. Final Fantasy
3. Final Fantasy VI
4. Final Fantasy II
5. Final Fantasy VII (it was higher on my list until sequel mania)
6. Final Fantasy VIII
7. Final Fantasy III

Never played the other ones and I didn't like XI much.

 

[Andy6000]

I like how people let a game's effect on the market polarize their feelings towards it completely. Asinine. Does the fact that VII had technology, and it's popularity meaning more technology for final fantasy have ANY FUCKING BEARING on the quality of the game? Or how about how many shitty sequels it has latched onto the end of it? Dirge of Cerberus was mediocre, does that effect Final Fantasy VII's quality?

NO GODAMNIT. So tired of this stupid debate.

Oh and I forgot to put IX and XI on my list. I haven't played XI, and didn't find IX to be very good. I'd say IX would find it's way in right under V on my list, enjoyable, but didn't keep my attention for even the first disc's length.

 

[arcthemonkey]

FFX-2
FFVII
FFIV
FFX
FFVI
FFXII
FFV
FFII
FFIII
FFI

That's right, FFX-2 is my damned frikkin favorite Final Fantasy game. It had the best combat system concocted to date, and never took itself too seriously. Good clean fun.

Emu, what you said about personality disorders in reference to Cloud, you are aware that Cloud actually did have a personality disorder, and that was a very important part of not only Cloud himself, but the storyline as a whole.

If the setting ruined it for you, I think you're playing for the wrong reasons.

 

[Prexus]

1. Final Fantasy VI

A classic. Realistic, relatable characters. Suitable graphics, great effects, and a powerful soundtrack. It even offered some very captivating and interesting dungeon design and side-quests that still hold up against most of what is done today.

2. Final Fantasy 12[/i]

Final Fantasy 12 has fixed the series. There was more that should have been done with it, but there are tons of side quests, customizable and INTERESTING characters, no clear-cut lead (Final Fantasy VI was the last game to do this effectively.) and was damn fun to play. It lacked because the game was just a bit too easy. There were challenges outside of the primary storyline that were very difficult, but to get from Start to Finish through the storyline was a breeze. There was also pretty much no interesting dungeon design. The Crystal was pretty neat, and the Mimics eating the power charge in the mines after Nalbina Dungeon.

Final Fantasy Tactics would go here but this is only for numbered FF games.

3. Final Fantasy V

Fun, fun, fun. Not much else to say. This game was just so much fun. The storyline was quirky, and entertaining. Offered plenty of twists and turns. The Job System was top notch, letting you come up with interesting combinations. (Damn the 2Hand + 4xAttack + DblLance combination bug not giving you 16 attacks!)

[edit]4. Final Fantasy X-2

Thanks for reminding me Arc. Yes, awesome combat system. This game amazed me. I dislike that people knock it because it has three females as the heroes (what are you? gay?) and because of it being the first true Final Fantasy sequel. SquareEnix released it as a Final Fantasy X sequel because FFX had storyline that needed to be extended, and because it was a bit risky for Square to release a game with such a unique non-linear mission based gameplay. By gluing it to the Final Fantasy franchise, it sold better. Good job SquareEnix, you made more money. (not being sarcastic)

5 and onwards: The rest. Slight favor for Final Fantasy 4 because of it's dungeon design and character deaths.

 

[EmuMaster2002]

Like I originally said, the game ruined the series. I never directly said I thought it was a bad game. I've certainly played worse.

Fool.

 

[Prexus]

You do realize that every Final Fantasy game since Final Fantasy 2 has been Steampunk, correct?

 

[EmuMaster2002]

Err... no they haven't really. They had steampunk, but it was sort of the focus of FF6.

And FF7 wasn't steampunk. It was a mix of high-tech and post-apocalyptic, as was FF8.

 

[Prexus]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk

By hybriding the high-technology of Airships, Mako Cannons, Castles that burrow under ground, Gunblades, etc. with Swords, Dragons, and Knights you are now using the Steampunk or High-Fantasy genres. Final Fantasy 2 and higher all apply to this.

 

[Andy6000]

I don't even know what you're talking about any more really... The setting is steampunk, but it's not the focus? Or somesuch... I don't know. I just find it silly that you let the fact that you apparently dislike technology in games that you think should be about fantasy make you think a game is the worst piece of garbage in existence or somesuch. Your claim of VII ruining the series is substantiated with evidence of... you not liking technology.

Oh also I forgot about X-2. The battlesystem in that game was ingenius. It's too bad I really just did not like the... I suppose the feel of the game. It felt like they were trying to shove spice-girls down my throat, which angered me because the game was good, it was about a story that interested me (I liked X...), and those characters weren't so... bubbly in X. Yuna goes from making a serious speech at the end of X to being Freaky Spice all the sudden with her gang of go-get-em girls? It just didn't sit right with me. I didn't get as far as that game deserved, but hey I still have it so I might just try to bear it and try again.

Tactics wasn't numbered but would land right at the top of my list (If I thought it'd go in here), because it had the job system similar to V (which was amazing, V just fell low on my list because the game seemed to grow rather dull after I reached decently far into it) and fun tactical nonsense - bla bla bla you know what I'm talking about.

From what everyone says, I might try VI again, I don't have the fondest memories of when I tried playing it, but that was a long time ago so hey, my tastes have changed, maybe it'll look better on a second playthrough.

 

[Buster]

Man, I can't believe I forgot that RPGs can't be fun unless they're medieval and/or undeveloped. Thanks for clearing that one up for me, Emu. What was I thinking? I should know by now that games aren't about how fun they are, they're about how unoriginal and uninspired they are. I mean, if a game decides to change settings, that's just downright blasphemous!

 

[KhaoticErase]

Thank you, BS777, really mean that.

Seriously though, can't ANYONE make a thread on this whole freakin' site without there being a least ONE blasphemer?!

Wow, I really am beginning to hate freedom of speech. Opinions just hurt peoples' feelings.

And EmuMaster, you must REALLY hate Xenosaga, then. MY game takes place in 1950. Are you going to hate that, too?

 

[Rye]

There's nothing wrong with Emu hating/disliking FF7, you know. @_@ Don't attack them.

 

[Crystalgate]

1. FFX
2. FFV
3. FFVI
4. FFIX
5. FFVII
6. FFIV
7. FFII (Only played the GBA remake though)
8. FFI (Only played the GBA remake though)
9. FFX-2
10. FFVIII

I haven't finished any other FF.

 

[Wogann]

And yet I still have the feeling they'd easily beat 8, just because 8's story was the most godawful piece of garbage I've seen in many a year.

You'll probably disagree, but I don't see how FF8's story is worst than FF7's (for example).

My list :

1) VIII
2) VI
3) IX
4) III
5) X
6) VII
7) XII
8) I
9) II
10) IV
11) V

I never played XI, I don't see why I would though. There are plenty good -free- MMORPGs out there.

Also, in my list I'm talking about the original ones, not the remakes...

 

[Andy6000]

I dunno, I'm probably having worse memories than it actually was, but I remember the

Spoiler

WE ALL GREW UP TOGETHER

thing really just fucking destroyed the story for me. And Squall was a terrible character as well, but since I can't exactly recall any specifics at all I can't argue much for it. VII just had a... Weird, badly explained story. Again, VII wasn't all that great of a game all in all. I still liked it though. Which is odd, but whatever.

Also let's you know, not get too heated about FFVII you know. People argue about it enough since everyone seems to be absolutely polarized over the thing.

 

[EmuMaster2002]

I never said RPGs can't be sci-fi. Hell, I thought Fallout was pretty good, as was Phantasy Star. But it doesn't belong in Final Fantasy.

For the last fucking time:

Final Fantasy 7 was not a bad game. It just ruined that particular series. It should never have carried the label of Final Fantasy. It did not fit with the previous games.

Also, BS, I find it *cute* that you're insulting me directly rather than actually addressing the issue.

 

[Rye]

I believe that is up to SquareSoft/SquareEnix to decide what is Final Fantasy or not or where the series is headed. And I hate to break it to ya, but I think they like the sci-fi aspect as that seems to be where they keep heading. They wanted to go that way, so they did. You may not agree with that, and there is no reason to have freaking huge text to get a silly opinion across. We can read just fine, even if people choose to ignore it.

 

[EmuMaster2002]

I've said the same thing three times now. Yes there is.

Anyway, the sales decided what direction they took the series. FF7 sold. A lot. So they went that direction.

 

[Rye]

Nothing wrong with them making what sells. They are a company after all.

Personally, I like the sci-fi steampunk aspect way better than just fantasy. And no, you did not have to make your text super-huge. You could have just pasted your opinion again, and if they still didn't get it, ignore them.