which FF had the best setting??

[reinward]

i think its a tie between X and IX. IX is so charming and magical, while X is very different. it almost has a Hindu-like feel to it, but its really works well in the game

VII to me was just good. nothing special, but good.

XII had potential. i liked the art direction they were going for, but it seemed very uninspired

VIII-didnt like it.

XIII- even worse than VIII

[Xanthia]

Hmm... for me it would be either VIII or X. Although IX is in the running too O_O;; Oh GOD <_<

VIII reason being because I loved it all... Love triangle... sorceresses... Squall... :D I know its a poor excuse, but so what ^~.

X was pretty cool. Layers to the story... Main male has a father issue... Main female has to save the world even though she accepts she may die in doing so...

IX was fantastic - just like you said reinward, it was so charming and magical... Kawaii! =^^=

[Del Murder]

I think IX had a pretty cool setting. Airships everywhere!

But nothing beats FFXI. Vanadiel has a more rich history and development then any other FF world. In it are all varieties of area, from harsh snow fields to beautiful forests to floating paradise islands.

[Chris]

I freakin' love Spira. Even though it is relatively small, it's had such a diverse environment. To me, Spira is quite possible the best Final Fantasy world.

So much beauty:

http://i48.:bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou:/wgswl.png http://i48.:bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou:/20qndxg.png http://i45.:bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou:/20a9n49.png

:love:

[Clo]

This is such a hard pick. I've always liked FFVIII's cities. I loved Balamb and Dollet and Esthar and the gardens, though the overworld was more desolute than usual. The palette of the game was nice too, those soft blues and whatnot.

[Flying Arrow]

VII, hands down.

[Rocket Edge]

I thought VIII's setting had some very lovely cities & town's, but X's landscape was just beautiful. Macalania woods is the most magical setting I've seen in a video game to date.

[xXsarahXx]

I freakin' love Spira. Even though it is relatively small, it's had such a diverse environment. To me, Spira is quite possible the best Final Fantasy world.

So much beauty:

http://i48.:bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou:/wgswl.png http://i48.:bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou:/20qndxg.png http://i45.:bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou:/20a9n49.png

:love:

This!
I couldnt put it into words better myself so will go with what you said :d
I adore Spira.

[Rostum]

i think its a tie between X and IX. IX is so charming and magical, while X is very different. it almost has a Hindu-like feel to it, but its really works well in the game

Agree 100%.

[P4ine]

I freakin' love Spira. Even though it is relatively small, it's had such a diverse environment. To me, Spira is quite possible the best Final Fantasy world.

So much beauty:

http://i48.:bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou:/wgswl.png http://i48.:bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou:/20qndxg.png http://i45.:bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou:/20a9n49.png

:love:

This!
I couldnt put it into words better myself so will go with what you said :d
I adore Spira.
I go with this. Spira is BEAUTIFUL.

But IX is right on the second place.. for my share, that is.

[The Last Oath]

Setting wise, IX.

XII had potential to be the best i think, but it didnt get there.

IX really was good, especially the first continent (name is lost somewhere in my head)
-Alexandra castle
-ice cavern and evil forest
-then theres the little town of deli
-Lindublum is awesome with airships
-The gates that connect everything

Could go on.

[silentenigma]

VI.... I think the industrial revolution kind of setting is quite unique and charming.

[Greatermaximus]

Difficult to justify. If they didn't have the best then by no means did any have the worst.

[Christmas]

Final Fantasy VII, they have the honeybee inn~~~ :kaoclove:

[Depression Moon]

I think most of these opinions will just be biasedly based on our favorite FFs, mine included so I'm unsurprisingly going to say IX. I'm not sure about the second though.

[vinnie's mini's]

Spira is also my favorite. I'm in love with the farplane :love:

I'd say Final fantasy 12 would be second, I always like the village that Fran comes from; despite being small.

[Hot Shot]

Setting wise, IX.

XII had potential to be the best i think, but it didnt get there.

IX really was good, especially the first continent (name is lost somewhere in my head)
-Alexandra castle
-ice cavern and evil forest
-then theres the little town of deli
-Lindublum is awesome with airships
-The gates that connect everything

Could go on.
That is exactly what I think.

[Greatermaximus]

This topic falls under -Satisfying a fanbase- limit of fiction. In other words, like a previous poster said, our bias towards the game we like.

Otherwise its the day the game comes out until the next one is released.

[Clo]

The old games don't stand a chance do they?

[champagne supernova]

I think that every single Final Fantasy had its own charms. VII did the whole steampunk thing, and some of the areas are really beautiful. I loved Cosmo Canyon for example.

For me, VIII would be the most diverse. You have the European based cities of Dollet, Deling and Balamb, the towny feel of Winhill and Timber, the techno capital of Esthar, and then Shumi Village. And you've got to love the Shumis. And the Ragnarok, in my opinion, is the best looking airship in the entire series (Invincible comes close, mind you).

IX was very cute, and there was a certain charm to the world. The design of the world gave it a softness and Disney-ness which was different. My issue is that they continuously blow up cities, but whatever. And Cleyra must be one of the more awesome places in the world.

X was very pretty. The world was small, but it really did look amazing in some places. I liked the relaxed coastal village of Besaid and Kilika. I digged Luca as well. Bevelle was alright too. And the design of the temples and some of the world was really something else.

XII just gave me the Vagrant Story look. Some of the towns looked just as good as X, and unlike X, it had this massive feel of space. Square really pushed the boundaries of the PS2 in making such large spaces so detailed. Honestly, sometimes I ran around the world just admiring it.

I thought XIII had a setting just as good as any Final Fantasy. Gran Pulse has some pretty places and there is that Sunscape that Sazh and Vanille walk on which is really beautiful. But, although you were very limited in where you could go, the cities were utterly massive. And Bodhum must be my favourite village in all Final Fantasies.

So, it really does come down to personal preference. I'm going with VIII as my first pick. I can't choose a 2nd though. They are too tight.

[Rase]

IV. :luca::yamete::onnanoko:

[black orb]

>>> FF10 hands down, followed by FF9..:luca:
FF7 had some interesting paces like Midgar and the Gold Saucer but everything else was pretty generic..

[Wolf Kanno]

I'm a sucker for steampunk so VI and VII's worlds hold a special place in my heart.

http://www.blogodisea.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/final-fantasy-6-advance.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2002/supernintendo/finalfantasy3/ff3_screen008.jpg

http://ohflux.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/8-259_1.jpg

http://media.animevice.com/uploads/0/572/67664-aeuronautics89052_aerith_super_super.jpg

In terms of high fantasy, FFIV and IX are my favorites cause they embody more of what I want out of a fantasy setting.

http://www.leftmousebutton.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Final-Fantasy-9-_-4.jpg


http://www.ffwa.org/ff9/images/wallpaper/lindblum-1024.jpg

http://www.square-enix.co.jp/ff4ds/swf/dl_images/illust_1s.jpg

http://www.thatvideogameblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/final_fantasy_iv.jpg

XII is also a very rich and well designed world which definetly does an odd balancing act in terms of making locations that look like something close to the old school games but throwing in some heavy sci-fi looking elements (Archades, the Occurians home in orbit, airships in general...)

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/7222/finalfantasy12ln6.jpg

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0spZUp4WVCA/0.jpg

I've yet to like any of Square/Squenix's attempts at making something more sci-fi like. I still feel that some of the mechanical designs in VIII, X, and XIII are so overtly gaudy in design that its hard to take some of the games elements seriously. This applies more to VIII and XIII though...

http://thelifestream.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/EstharLandscape.jpg

http://qirien.icecavern.net/final_fantasy/ffx/airship.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2687/4176228544_93fa813809_o.jpg

[Raistlin]

I really like FFVII's world in general, but I had the most fun exploring FFXII's world. Those two are definitely among the best for me.

[Laddy]

FFVII and FFX's world were great, but FFIX's storybook-esque setting did it for me.

[Chris]

Had to post this:

http://browardvirtualschool.net/hollyguerrio/proj2/images/farplane.jpg

:jess:

[Omni-Odin]

I got to go with Spira. VII's my favorite game, I'll go with X as the best world, followed by VIII, VII, and finally by IX.

I really didn't mean for it to be only PS1 and PS2, but they're worlds were gorgeous.

[Bolivar]

I think most of these opinions will just be biasedly based on our favorite FFs, mine included so I'm unsurprisingly going to say IX. I'm not sure about the second though.

That's okay, though, I feel its exactly this kind of thing which influences which game is our favorites, because setting provides a lot of that subconscious stimulus to our sensory pleasures and such.

So I probably go with VII, it was a very complicated place holding the battle between nature and technology, its geological systems were explained in detail, and most of all, they actually found a way for the music to fit in with such an unusual setting.

[Loony BoB]

It's very difficult to say, for me. I think it would be between any of the latest four additions to the main series.

FFX has some absolutely gorgeous settings. The pictures supplied by Chris do well to show just some of the many beautiful locations you saw in the story.

FFXI has variety galore, although I think it suffers slightly from having any stunning cutscenes with dramatic colouring/lighting which could have pushed it to the levels of the other three games mentioned in this post. I think single player games have an advantage in this area, however it remains to be seen if FFXIV can bridge that gap - I think it may just do it.

FFXII has the best of X & XI moulded together. The style of movement and battling coming and going in real time meant that it had to be expanded a lot which limited things, however there were some moments where I was blown away by the brilliance of what they'd put together. I thoroughly enjoyed the Giza Plains and how they changed over the seasons, something I think that should happen in all future FF games. There were deep jungles which were lovely, but the one thing that really won my heart was near the end of the game - the "edge of the world" where an entire ocean turned to a fantastic waterfall, and the tower at the top... it was just amazing. I have yet to see a location make me simply think "Wow." as much as that.

FFXIII's graphics meant that it was always going to be ahead of the rest when it comes to detail, but I think there was also an added bonus in having two contrasting worlds. Some of the scenery was beautiful, particularly on Pulse. I actually wish there were more cutscenes on Pulse, if only to show off the scenery like FFX did so well.

All things told, the individual location award for me goes to FFXII while the overall world award goes to FFX. Even though I didn't like the game so much, I adored the scenery.

[Vivisteiner]

I'm biased to FFIX, so that's where I'd throw in my hat. FFX and FFXII also had beautiful environments thanks to the graphical upgrades. I thought FFXIII could've done better (too many drab, boring dungeons) but of course it looked beautiful, especially the icy areas.


Other than IX, I'd give it to X.

[Dreddz]

FFIX is my pick. Only game to fully realize the medievil setting from the old FF titles.

I also liked FFVII but its a little all over the place. Midgar is one of the most inspired places in all of the FF games and I really would have liked to have seen more places like that throughout the game. Instead we get Tudor style towns like Nibelheim and modern looking places like Costa Del Sol. I would have liked to have seen more consistency as the game went along.

[Breine]

Probably FFIX - it was just so damn charming and colourful, and it had a real fantasy feel to it, which I dig. FFXII was also beautiful, and FFX was very pretty too. I don't know where you get that "hindu feel" from, though? It's obviously very southeast asian inspired.

But yeah, overall FFIX or FFXII.

EDIT: Also, I agree with Dreddz that FFVII was a little too all over the place.

[Christmas]

VI. It kinda accounts for every characters. The other one being IX. :bigsmile:

[Mr Gashtacular]

In terms of having places I'd actually enjoy living in or visiting, I think VIII for me. Most of the towns felt like complete communities to me, unlike the locations in later games that are implied to be massive, but don't really feel like a lot of people are there (looking at you XIII). The towns in IX do not have the level of comfort and tech I prefer, and VII has the tech but almost everywhere feels deprived or dirty.

However, I would agree that IX has the best setting for it's world, plot and characters. I wouldn't want to live in Madain Sari or Lindblum but they fit Eiko and Zidane perfectly.

[Tigmafuzz]

unlike the locations in later games that are implied to be massive, but don't really feel like a lot of people are there (looking at you XIII)

I think this might be one of my biggest problems with modern open-world rpgs. Think of earlier games you played that were heavily populated and compare them to what you play now, where they make the city look like it has more people, and then supply even fewer. For example, I see fewer people walking around on the street in CyberPunk than I did in GTA San Andreas, despite the city's population density being several times higher. I see fewer people in the most populated cities of Horizon Forbidden West than I saw in some of the deserts of Final Fantasy XII, even if they weren't all able to be fully interacted with. But you know what? Do games really need to make every person capable of extended interaction? Does every NPC need to be fully fleshed out with unique dialogue and their own backstory? In the very examples I just mentioned, people were either set up for only general interaction (GTA) or just as props (XII) and you never felt like you were missing out, or like you weren't getting what you were promised.

Maybe the huge promises themselves are what I have more of the problem with, when companies are more concerned with a selling point than with the inherent promise of buying a game whose setting matches with the actual execution of those selling points. Which I guess is why IX is most people's favorite in this thread, because the entire world was made with nothing out of place for its setting.


However, I would agree that IX has the best setting for it's world, plot and characters. I wouldn't want to live in Madain Sari or Lindblum but they fit Eiko and Zidane perfectly.

:beer:

[Quindiana Jones]

I honestly think the obsession with graphics is massively harmful to gaming in general but also to RPGs especially. Art direction is far, far more important to focus on; Okami, Paper Mario, Dishonored, etc. will always look good and always be playable, whereas the shallow and generic AAA titles of the past decade are already forgotten with no long term replayability.

This ties into how these cities feel. Because NPCs are so graphically demanding, you can't have very many. It just feels wrong. I am glad to see the rising enthusiasm for "immersive RPGs/sims" however, and hope it spearheads a substantial change in the industry.

I'm also looking forward to the improvements to AI voice over work (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1765720/xVASynth_v2/). It's still a little robotic, but it won't be long until you can smooth it all out. I would hope game developers would take this to better leverage VAs for greater coverage for broader and more immersive dialogue systems.