Gameplay on GBA vs NES

[hhr1dluv]

So, I now have Dawn of Souls, and I look forward to playing FF at some point in the future. I've been reading about some strategies in the FFI section on the front site and I've been wondering if all those strategies apply to all incarnations of FFI?

Overall, how different is Dawn of Souls's FFI from the original FF on NES in terms of gameplay? Is there anything I should keep in mind?

[Markus. D]

Just know it's alot easier than the original.

[hhr1dluv]

Okay, so I played for a little while and I died fighting Garland...well, everyone died but my white mage. So, I imagine that the only way to revive myself is with phoenix downs, which are hella expensive. Am I missing something obvious, or is that really the only way to revive yourself? Expensive phoenix downs?

I know I suck. Nobody has to tell me. :P I've just been spoiled by games that fill your HP and MP with a simple touch of a save sphere.

[Markus. D]

You'll have to depart and grind at alot of points in-game.

It's all really having the statistics and arsenal to trial over a foe.

[dream ending sword]

Where do i start with how the original is harder than super-easy mode dawn of souls?



fewer mp thats also in a unforgiving format
much more restricted magic
almost half the spells dont work properly/at all
the intelligence stat is useless
items,spells weapons etc are 2-3 times more expensive
EXTREMELY limited equipment space
elemental weapons dont work properly (armour does though)
no phoenix downs (i seem to remember DoS having phoenix downs could be mistaken though)
no reviving/ unpetrifying in battle
more exp needed per level/ max lvl 50
sorcerors
cockatrices
sorcerors
warmech
sorcerors

[KoShiatar]

Some strategies could still be effective in DoS, especially in relation to how the classes work with each other. But a lot of enemies are much weaker and most you will really need to do is to level grind.
That, however, doesn't apply to the optional bosses added from other FF games to this version in the bonus dungeon. Shinryu and Omega, especially, are b*tches, and require some strategy.

[Crimson]

I know they say nothing beats the original, but I really enjoyed DoS

[hhr1dluv]

I am sad that no one replied to my second comment to tell me,

"YOU CAN REVIVE YOURSELF IN THE CHURCH, DAMMIT."

Oh well, I did eventually realize it myself. :P

[Brandless Goods]

Wait so, I should play the GBA version and NOT the nes version?

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

You should play the PlayStation version. It retains the original gameplay of the NES version while including some modern conveniences like not targeting dead enemies and allowing you to revive party members mid-battle. The GBA version is overly simplified to the extent that you'd wonder why they even bothered.

[eestlinc]

I am sad that no one replied to my second comment to tell me,

"YOU CAN REVIVE YOURSELF IN THE CHURCH, DAMMIT."

Oh well, I did eventually realize it myself. :P

Sorry, got here a month late. But you can revive in the sanctuary. :moose:

[vaanhalen]

on GBA they really beefed up the attack and hit rate of a lot of your chars. so another big difference you're gonna find b/t the two versions is that on the NES, everyone is going to miss a lot at the beginning, except for fighter and theif. so like BBelt will suck for a while, but after a few levels he will pull his own weight, and by the end he'll be super strong. They only ones who permenantly have terrible hit rate/damage is BM/WM. Also: everyone has terrible armor but fighter. If you find you're getting smacked around a little too much, and you don't want to spend all day "leveling up," try putting two fighters in your party, or a fighter and a red mage, to absorb a majority of the damage, while still keeping it fun.

[Wolfen]

What about the PSP versions? Are those versions easier or harder?

[Fynn]

I think they're pretty much identical to DoS...

[Wolfen]

So PSP is the same as GBA, just with aesthetic improvements?

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

I wouldn't call them improvements; they went high-res at the cost of making everything look gaudy and off-model. The best-looking version of FFI is the PlayStation remake.

[KentaRawr!]

I found the extra dungeons to be quite fun, but it's pretty hard to lose in the GBA version. It'll make a neat first run through with all the extra thing-a-majigs put into the game, but I like to think of the PSX version as being definitive.

[RitzyRitz]

It is a LOT easier in DoS . For example, I (not having played the Original in YEARS) Got stuck.. So what did I wind up doing? Looking at this site for the Walkthrough. It said I should be level 15-17 for a certain dungeon, By the time I got there, I was Lvl 38 straight across the board Lol.

[Tokimadoushi]

The GBA version is too ridiculously easy, coupled with the insane encounter rate (a battle every 2-3 squares) makes it rather frustrating, even though it's so simple.
I've yet to complete the Soul of Chaos dungeons (because of the above-mentioned encounter rate), but I plan to try and complete them on my current playthrough.

I didn't realise the PS version of FF1 was worth trying out...II, Chronicles and Anthology were such abortions I assumed 1 would be the same.