Fabulous Final Fantasy Franchise Discussion Catch-all

Farscry wrote:

I guess it depends on how much time you have to play. I got through most of the core story and hit level 50, and it took me about three months. I thoroughly enjoyed most of it, and I don't have a problem with paying a sub, so I'm not trying to talk Cces out of it. Just being anal retentive and noting that it may not be a $20 once-and-done playthrough. :)

Two years later and I still haven't hit level 50, because I've been trying out all the classes. That, and toddler eats into my PC time. Oh, and my disliking having to deal with other people.

That second disc ending to FF IX... It's like the ending to a good second novel in a fantasy series. It totally shakes things up and puts the heroes in a new position with new challenges.

I continue to be so impressed with the storytelling in this one.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

That second disc ending to FF IX... It's like the ending to a good second novel in a fantasy series. It totally shakes things up and puts the heroes in a new position with new challenges.

I continue to be so impressed with the storytelling in this one.

It's why IX is my 2nd favorite FF game. I'm jealous you're getting to experience it for the first time now, I wish I could go back and do that.

ahrezmendi wrote:
ClockworkHouse wrote:

That second disc ending to FF IX... It's like the ending to a good second novel in a fantasy series. It totally shakes things up and puts the heroes in a new position with new challenges.

I continue to be so impressed with the storytelling in this one.

It's why IX is my 2nd favorite FF game. I'm jealous you're getting to experience it for the first time now, I wish I could go back and do that.

I've actually played it before all the way to Memoria, but I've apparently forgotten all the major story beats.

ClockworkHouse wrote:
ahrezmendi wrote:
ClockworkHouse wrote:

That second disc ending to FF IX... It's like the ending to a good second novel in a fantasy series. It totally shakes things up and puts the heroes in a new position with new challenges.

I continue to be so impressed with the storytelling in this one.

It's why IX is my 2nd favorite FF game. I'm jealous you're getting to experience it for the first time now, I wish I could go back and do that.

I've actually played it before all the way to Memoria, but I've apparently forgotten all the major story beats.

Ah, the memories... every time I read you guys' comments on this game I hear the overworld tune in my head. So damn catchy and soothing... aaaand off to listen to the soundtrack!

ClockworkHouse wrote:

That second disc ending to FF IX... It's like the ending to a good second novel in a fantasy series. It totally shakes things up and puts the heroes in a new position with new challenges.

I continue to be so impressed with the storytelling in this one.

IMAGE(http://i.stack.imgur.com/jA0H0.jpg)

Close. I almost made that comparison, but the characters in IX don't wind up scattered and beaten (yet) in the same way as the characters at the end of Empire Strikes Back.

At the end of the second disc in IX, the false villain is defeated, the true villain is revealed, and the heroes are victorious but mournful about the consequences of that victory. They have new power and authority but also a now clearer idea of what the adversary they face.

I'm having trouble thinking of an equivalent in Western fantasy and sci-fi, although I'm sure there are plenty.

Edit: Come to think of it, Age of Ultron comes close in some ways.

IX is the only one I know virtually nothing about (completely skipped it at the time because it didn't come to PC the same way 7 and 8 did and I didn't have a PS2 at the time). Sounds like it's something to look forward to.

IX is also the one I've known the least about going in. It seems like in the last few years I've seen more people comment positively on it, but I didn't know who any of the characters were or what the story was about. It seems to be the forgotten one of the PS1 era (from my limited perspective). I'm really glad I'm experiencing it now. It's not perfect, but the setting and tone are wonderful, and I'll be sad when I'm done with it.

IX released about one month after the PS2 debuted, when the hype over new graphics was in full swing and consumers weren't as interested in PSOne games. It was viewed at the time as a nostalgic step backwards for the series as it moved away from the more realistic art style and futuristic settings of the last three games and toward something more cartoony and more like traditional fantasy worlds. After the mixed reception of VIII (which I remember seeming more generally positive at the time than it's seen now), fans expected something more like VII's groundbreaking scope and presentation, and they expected something on the PS2. They got neither of those things, and as a result I think IX ended up being not necessarily scorned or disliked but simply overlooked by a lot of players.

I played through IX when it was first released, and remember loving almost everything about the game... but I can't for the life of me remember one bit about the story now. I keep hoping for a HD/Remastered version to come out (on Steam, ideally) so I can run through it again.

merphle wrote:

I played through IX when it was first released, and remember loving almost everything about the game... but I can't for the life of me remember one bit about the story now. I keep hoping for a HD/Remastered version to come out (on Steam, ideally) so I can run through it again.

If they release IX and XII on Steam I will sell them my soul. Well, except for the 'not sure about having a soul in the first place' part and the 'ok, it's hyperbole' part. But I would be seriously excited if they did, and buy them as soon as they were announced.

I... never finished XII. It didn't hook me... it felt too MMO'ey, at a time that I wasn't interested in an MMO. That's the one traditional Final Fantasy that I haven't finished at this point. Well, that and Lightning Returns, but since that's still the most recent, I think I have some wiggle room in my interpretation.

I do want to go back at some point and try XII again, though. I suspect I'll enjoy it far more now. There was a recent S-E survey that I filled out, in which I specifically requested that IX and XII be HD remastered for Steam. I hope they listen.

Spoiler:

I also never finished FF Tactics... but I apparently suck at all tactical strategy games that aren't named "Jeanne d'Arc".

I love IX, but I don't see much need for an HD/Remaster version. It has great art that lasts long past the point where it doesn't have great graphics. The only things I'd want to see added would be some modern niceties like destination markers, auto-battle, and encounter rate controls.

Well, it's more so it doesn't have voxel-sized pixels on a 1080p+ screen. But yeah, the art definitely looks fine on its own.

A pc version that fixes the battle load time would be great. Does the version on psn have horrible load times, cause that was bearable back in the day butia oh so tough to deal with now.

Farscry wrote:

I guess it depends on how much time you have to play. I got through most of the core story and hit level 50, and it took me about three months.

It took me a little less than 2 weeks... I may have had a bit too much free time on my hands this past month

Yoreel wrote:

A pc version that fixes the battle load time would be great. Does the version on psn have horrible load times, cause that was bearable back in the day butia oh so tough to deal with now.

They're longer than I'd maybe expect but not infuriating. The frame rate frequently takes a dive during battles, though, which is a bummer. Not a dealbreaker for me though.

merphle wrote:

Well, it's more so it doesn't have voxel-sized pixels on a 1080p+ screen. But yeah, the art definitely looks fine on its own.

Interesting! Do you feel the same about the SNES Final Fantasy games or something like Super Mario Bros.?

Almost done with FF3 I think - just sitting at the foot of the crystal tower. Should be done with it tomorrow? Probably? It's been pretty good overall I think - very basic compared to more modern JRPG (obviously) but it hasn't needed a whole lot of grinding (probably an update in the DS version) and hasn't overstayed it's welcome so far.

pyxistyx wrote:

Almost done with FF3 I think - just sitting at the foot of the crystal tower. Should be done with it tomorrow? Probably? It's been pretty good overall I think - very basic compared to more modern JRPG (obviously) but it hasn't needed a whole lot of grinding (probably an update in the DS version) and hasn't overstayed it's welcome so far.

I'm going to take this opportunity to say that I really enjoy your screenshots + captions. I always look for Steam activity from you because they always make me smile.

Thanks, I try

ClockworkHouse wrote:
merphle wrote:

Well, it's more so it doesn't have voxel-sized pixels on a 1080p+ screen. But yeah, the art definitely looks fine on its own.

Interesting! Do you feel the same about the SNES Final Fantasy games or something like Super Mario Bros.?

Actually, no. I feel that the pure sprite-based games generally look fine at 1080p. But once the games started in with the 3d polygonal graphics, that's when they started looking REALLY dated. I'm sure I'd enjoy playing FF9 as-is, but I'm equally sure that S-E will end up re-releasing it in the near future with all of the modern amenities included... and given that I currently don't own a copy of FF9 on any platform, I might as well wait and buy that hypothetical new version.

merphle wrote:
ClockworkHouse wrote:
merphle wrote:

Well, it's more so it doesn't have voxel-sized pixels on a 1080p+ screen. But yeah, the art definitely looks fine on its own.

Interesting! Do you feel the same about the SNES Final Fantasy games or something like Super Mario Bros.?

Actually, no. I feel that the pure sprite-based games generally look fine at 1080p. But once the games started in with the 3d polygonal graphics, that's when they started looking REALLY dated. I'm sure I'd enjoy playing FF9 as-is, but I'm equally sure that S-E will end up re-releasing it in the near future with all of the modern amenities included... and given that I currently don't own a copy of FF9 on any platform, I might as well wait and buy that hypothetical new version. :)

I'm not surprised. For some reason, people tend to see 2D sprites as an art style that still holds value while low poly/low resolution 3D graphics are poor or dated no matter how artfully done. Why is that?

ClockworkHouse wrote:

I'm not surprised. For some reason, people tend to see 2D sprites as an art style that still holds value while low poly/low resolution 3D graphics are poor or dated no matter how artfully done. Why is that?

Because most sprite art people are nostalgic for is usually either reminscent of 8-bit or 16-bit era systems. I don't think I've seen anyone nostalgic for art dating back to the 2600 or Colecovision. The stuff people are nostalgic for came after the early and more primitive looking sprite art. You don't see many people asking for games in the graphical style of say Pitfall! or Adventure (unless it's outside of the Homestar Runner community).

Likewise, low-res/low-poly 3D graphics aren't really all that appealing for the same reason sprites from systems predating the NES really aren't that appealing either. The textures are muddy, there's not a lot of definition to the models (ie. bricks for hands), etc.

That said, there's been some indie games that are going for that early 90's 3D vibe. Here's one of them:

OMG. FF3 update...

Excruciating long in-game cut-scene (pretty much the only one in the game) before fighting the "not actually final boss", and then immediately entering an area with at least four more duplicate boss fights prior to the FINAL, final boss...and at no point have I been able to save the game 0_o

Which would mean re-doing all of that again (including all the random battles to reach that point in the crystal tower again, which took ages) if and when I wipe.

Well....time for some out of the box thinkin'

*searches for the folder containing the FF3 quicksave file and makes a backup*

You brought this on yourself, game.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

I can't figure out if I'm like, "shut up and take my money" or, "it's okay, I'm already playing that game".

My boat as well.

Maybe? I'm not getting my hopes up yet though.

Final Fantasy XII remake?

ok, so if I didn't have the forethought to back up the quick-save file, I would now have to replay about two hours worth of gameplay to run around the crystal tower AND dark world in order to collect all the necessary loot, kill all the side bosses and then get another chance at the final boss of FF3.

That...is bullsh*t.

No wonder I never seem to finish these games -_-

walterqchocobo wrote:

Maybe? I'm not getting my hopes up yet though.

Final Fantasy XII remake?

I do not remember Ashe's skirt showing buttcheek. WTF?