Which version of FFV should I play?

[KentaRawr!]

The ones I'm choosing between here are the 1997 RPGe Fan Translation and the GBA version released in 2006. I've gotten very far in the PSX version, but I've never actually beaten the game, and I wasn't really very fond of Faris' pirate accent. (Arrr!) There were some INSANE glitches in that version though, I swear. Once, I was in ExDeath's castle, and the game glitched out like mad and my character was walking super slowly, and when I'd get in battles there was a fat pig with a halo and an angel would show up and carry it away into the sky. Seriously. It took me about 30 minutes to get to the stairs so I could switch rooms and everything went back to normal.

But anyway, between RPGe and GBA, which is better?

[Hollycat]

GBA, by a huge amount. Extra content, faster, smoother.

[KentaRawr!]

GBA, by a huge amount. Extra content, faster, smoother.

Besides the extra content, how does the translation itself compare? I know there are lots of neat references like Gilgamesh's "Morphin' Time!", but is it very faithful to the original script? o,o

[Hollycat]

It is the best available translation of the game. Clean and clear.

[KentaRawr!]

It is the best available translation of the game. Clean and clear.

Thanks! I'll play this version then. :D

[Hollycat]

Enjoy!

[Wolf Kanno]

Yeah, the GBA version is just better. While the four new classes are not exactly outstanding, the bonus dungeon is pretty badass and the translation of the game overall, is pretty incredible.

[King Edgar]

I am trying to pick between versions of FFV as well, but I don't have the GBA option available to me, so it's between the Greatest Hits version of FFV on PS1, or the RPGe fan translation.

In my limited experience, the load times for V aren't as bad as they were for VI or Chrono Trigger. However, I understand the translation leaves much to be desired. In addition, I'll be playing it on either PS2 or PS3, and I know there are various issues with both of them. The graphical menu glitch on PS2 doesn't bother me, but the freezing obviously would on PS3.

Then there's the possibility of using the PC and a fan translation. I understand the fan translation is far superior, but I'm not so sure about playing on the computer as opposed to playing it on a TV. (though, to be fair, the first (and only) time I've played the entire way through VII it was the PC version)

So the question is, do the translation and load times outweigh playing it on a TV? I've never played through a game on emu before, and in fact of all the FFs I've beaten I, IV, VI, VII-X...almost all of those were beaten on the same PS2 console, so nostalgia's sake might be in favor of Anthology as well...

[Mirage]

FFVA has the best script and the most content, but sadly, the audio quality is noticably reduced.

[Sephex]

I am trying to pick between versions of FFV as well, but I don't have the GBA option available to me, so it's between the Greatest Hits version of FFV on PS1, or the RPGe fan translation.

In my limited experience, the load times for V aren't as bad as they were for VI or Chrono Trigger. However, I understand the translation leaves much to be desired. In addition, I'll be playing it on either PS2 or PS3, and I know there are various issues with both of them. The graphical menu glitch on PS2 doesn't bother me, but the freezing obviously would on PS3.

Then there's the possibility of using the PC and a fan translation. I understand the fan translation is far superior, but I'm not so sure about playing on the computer as opposed to playing it on a TV. (though, to be fair, the first (and only) time I've played the entire way through VII it was the PC version)

So the question is, do the translation and load times outweigh playing it on a TV? I've never played through a game on emu before, and in fact of all the FFs I've beaten I, IV, VI, VII-X...almost all of those were beaten on the same PS2 console, so nostalgia's sake might be in favor of Anthology as well...

Just play the first hour or two between each version that you are thinking about. That way you can easily determine which version of the game you prefer and/or which environment you'll be deal with in real life (TV vs PC). Whichever wins after the hour or two is up, continue playing that version!

EDIT:


FFVA has the best script and the most content, but sadly, the audio quality is noticably reduced.

That bothers me as well, especially playing it on a TV.

[Mirage]

It's basically because the SNES had a god damned awesome sound chip, while the GBA just has some random trash

if you're feeling pro, you can download a modded ROM for use with a GBA emulator which will bump the audio quality up a bit again. You'll get better polyphony, but the quality of each channel is gonna be the same.