Trance was underused.

[MJN SEIFER]

One of thhe few problems I had with this excelent game is Trance.

I liked it and it was usefull, but I was always dissapointing that the only character who actually got unique attacks for Trance was Zidane (and Kuja if he counts) - all the others just got "updated" versions of their own skills - I think it would have been better to have Trance Skills for all characters - it would have been more fun that way, like how you get Limit Breaks and Overdrives.

[asukaevaunit02]

I liked it and it was usefull, but I was always dissapointing that the only character who actually got unique attacks for Trance was Zidane (and Kuja if he counts) - all the others just got "updated" versions of their own skills - I think it would have been better to have Trance Skills for all characters

I guess you can sy that Zidane had unique trance attacks, and is the most noticabley different. But I didn't mind what they did with trance, I can't think of what else they could have done for most of the other characters, mainly Vivi, Garnet, Eiko because they are casters. But I guess they could have improved Steiner somehow.


it would have been more fun that way, like how you get Limit Breaks and Overdrives.

But limit breaks were what defined the characters inparticular in VII since the characters were pretty much blank slates and could be made into anything, so having varying limit breaks I feel was a way of making them less identical, and it seemed to work in VII.
I don't know if I could see that working in IX due to the defined character classes... well Steiner could have had something more noticable something like a set of sword moves like Cloud had I guess. But I think they worked well enough because they stuck to their class and didn't have ridiculous attacks (Well Zidane's we a little out there) keeping them believable.

I think some could have been a bit more obvious/noticable, I remember my first playthrough I didn't realise any difference in Steiner's or Garnet's trances from their normal attacks or summons...

Interesting point though, from the title I was expecting another " I hate trance because it doesn't last etc"

Cheers!

[arcanedude34]

I would've liked more story-induced Trances. There are tons of points in the story that could've started with a character going berserk and unleshing TEH POWAH, but there are only four story-induced Trances, and only two of them for your PCs.

[Vermachtnis]

I liked the Trance for the characters, I just wish there was a Trance reserve tank or someway to save it. I can't count the time I got Trance during a weak random encounter.

[Depression Moon]

Yep weak random character was annoying especially annoying if it was triggered before you could even use it.

[Quindiana Jones]

I would've liked more story-induced Trances. There are tons of points in the story that could've started with a character going berserk and unleshing TEH POWAH, but there are only four story-induced Trances, and only two of them for your PCs.

Huh. I only just thought about this when you pointed it out. Zidane and Vivi in Disc 1, yeah? When you realise it, it kinda seems like they put a ton of effort and thought into the first disc that fizzled out throughout the game. I'm willing to bet they were planning on having a few more story based Trances later on in the game but just couldn't be arsed.

[arcanedude34]

I would've liked more story-induced Trances. There are tons of points in the story that could've started with a character going berserk and unleshing TEH POWAH, but there are only four story-induced Trances, and only two of them for your PCs.

Huh. I only just thought about this when you pointed it out. Zidane and Vivi in Disc 1, yeah? When you realise it, it kinda seems like they put a ton of effort and thought into the first disc that fizzled out throughout the game. I'm willing to bet they were planning on having a few more story based Trances later on in the game but just couldn't be arsed.
That's pretty much what I always figured

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

I would've liked more story-induced Trances. There are tons of points in the story that could've started with a character going berserk and unleshing TEH POWAH, but there are only four story-induced Trances, and only two of them for your PCs.

Huh. I only just thought about this when you pointed it out. Zidane and Vivi in Disc 1, yeah? When you realise it, it kinda seems like they put a ton of effort and thought into the first disc that fizzled out throughout the game. I'm willing to bet they were planning on having a few more story based Trances later on in the game but just couldn't be arsed.

Steiner also Trances when he's paired up with Beatrix in Disc 3.

[arcanedude34]

I would've liked more story-induced Trances. There are tons of points in the story that could've started with a character going berserk and unleshing TEH POWAH, but there are only four story-induced Trances, and only two of them for your PCs.

Huh. I only just thought about this when you pointed it out. Zidane and Vivi in Disc 1, yeah? When you realise it, it kinda seems like they put a ton of effort and thought into the first disc that fizzled out throughout the game. I'm willing to bet they were planning on having a few more story based Trances later on in the game but just couldn't be arsed.

Steiner also Trances when he's paired up with Beatrix in Disc 3.
Does he? I always just assumed it was because by that point, the monsters are way higher leveled than him so he gets knocked into trance every other battle =P

[Tokimadoushi]

I was just rather disturbed by the fact that Zidane turns bright pink and furry, and that Garnet turns into a blonde wearing almost nothing. So much for the virginal princess :p
Eiko's trance appearance is also rather dodgy, if I remember correctly.

[blackmage_nuke]

I actually got annoyed when I tranced on bosses as I wanted to steal the best items

[G13]

It always happens when I have like one hit left on an enemy, and it's usually a random encounter. Argh! :mad2:

[Trumpet Thief]

I would've liked more story-induced Trances. There are tons of points in the story that could've started with a character going berserk and unleshing TEH POWAH, but there are only four story-induced Trances, and only two of them for your PCs.

Absolutely agree. I was actually expecting that to happen after Zidane's first Trance in the forest. However, Vivi and Kuja's epic story induced Trances make up for the lack of a lot of them through the gamge :p

[No.78]

I just didn't like how you couldn't control when Trance triggered. It always felt like a waste if I got Trance against a Wyerd or whatever.

I didn't mind that Zidane was the only one with new abilities. Not at all.

[Goldenboko]

FFVII and VIII characters where clean slates, they would've been virtually the same character if Limits were not unique abilities in those games. In IX each character was unique due to their specific skills so Unique abilities weren't necessary (although I agree with Zidane getting new Trance abilities merely because it would've sucked so much had his Trance been better stealing or his crappy Thief techniques).

Also I felt that Trance was built up early on, specifically for it's use with Kuja later on, I fail to see how they said "Meh, screw it" when so much of disk 3 and 4 was built on the idea of Kuja needing to absorb hateful souls to attain his own trance.

[Freya]

I feel they introduced it well but then at points they could have done more with it. A few characters could have used the trance at some of their story arches. But I feel the end result of Kuja trance was good but it seemed a large chunk of story where they could have used it more, was missing.

[Quindiana Jones]

I don't think Zidane's Trance was awesome merely for the sake of getting rid of crappy Skills. Remember, he is the new angel of death? The destroyer of Gaia? Kuja was badass enough, but when he went Trance he destroyed one world and nearly destroyed another. It makes sense that his replacement would be equally, if not more awesome (don't see Kuja hitting any 9999s! Sucka!).

[Jiro]

There must be a connection between them (Kuja and Zidane) being Genomes and their more badass Trance techniques.

[Clo]

Zidane's trance is the best. I hate Vivi's -- oooh, double black magic.... whatever. I don't think anyone else's is that amazing either.

I'm playing IX now, and for the past two weeks every trance I've had has been at the end of a random encounter. :mad2: Useless! I wish they turned over into the next battle.

Even the graphics were kinda lame. They change slightly... turn pink... why? Zidane I can understand, but everyone else?

[Goldenboko]

You'll love Vivi's double black magic when you have his better attacks. Double Doomsday wrecks.

[No.78]

Freya's Trance makes me laugh. Is she levitating just off the camera or what?

[Goldenboko]

Freya's Trance makes me laugh. Is she levitating just off the camera or what?

No, she's still jumping HIGHER. :colbert:

[ChickenHeart]

I never got Amarant's trance...did he go nude o.o?

[Brennan]

If they could of made it to where you could select to trance, then it would made it a whole lot more useful (of course, you would have to fill the gauge, not do it at will)

[Rantz]

Freya's Trance makes me laugh. Is she levitating just off the camera or what?

No, she's still jumping HIGHER. :colbert:

She stays suspended in air, out of screen, launching spear attacks until her Trance runs out. The attacks can be very powerful sometimes, weak sometimes. She can't be targeted by enemy or allies while she's in the air.

[Mercen-X]

One of thhe few problems I had with this excelent game is Trance.

I liked it and it was usefull, but I was always dissapointing that the only character who actually got unique attacks for Trance was Zidane (and Kuja if he counts)

Overdrives were an unnecessary addition to Final Fantasy X. It was simply an homage to the Limit Breaks of VII and VIII wherein (in battle) the characters were only separated by the weapons they used in battle and by their Limit techniques. In X, all of the characters already had unique abilities.

I agree that most Limit and Overdrive skills are flashy and seem effective, but they are still unnecessary unless they are differentiating characters (like the Quickenings on XII... the Concurrences, not so much although they were highly effective. I used them to acquire Exodus which I thought was a tough battle until I managed to chain together a long tether of Quickenings.) In any case, I'll agree that Zidane is the only character to whom altered attacks are given. This is because he is, like Kuja, a Terran and naturally has unique abilities. I don't much care about the others and I believe Freya's Dragoon skill is fine, but I will concede that Steiner at least, could have been given a new moveset perhaps inspired by heroes of past Fantasies.

[ReloadPsi]

Epic Super Saiyan rip-off #4,062 Trance sucked. I never relied on it in any way whatsoever. I, too, always had it activate during a random encounter. Hell, there was one character, Quina, who counted on it activating during random encounters! I don't recall ever learning a single Blue spell via Cook.

[Hot Shot]

As much as I love IX, trance sucks big time. Most of the trance techniques were somewhat useful, but none of them (save Zidane) gave them any new special techniques, they just enhanced all of their old techniques. And Steiner, who is my fave char, had the worst trance as he only got 3 times his normal strength, which became obsolete once you get to a certain point in the game.

[Beowulf]

Yeah, I'm going to have to agree that trance was mostly useless. I do have to say Vivi's Double Black ability was pretty epic when you had the right spells...

[Crossblades]

I liked the Trance for the characters, I just wish there was a Trance reserve tank or someway to save it. I can't count the time I got Trance during a weak random encounter.

This.