Never the same again

[Xander]

I was just wondering how many people replay FF games, and actually complete them more than once.

I find that I can never quite enjoy an FF the same second time round, and I generally get bored after a little while of playing it. Even when I do wait ages maybe even a year or more to replay them. Example:

- Restarted FFVII, got bored after the Cosmo Canyon area.
- Restarted FFIX, got bored after the first town (Dali I think) xD
- Tried to replay FFX-2 to get Perfect Ending, got bored after sometime in Chapter 2.
- Restarted Kingdom Hearts, got bored at Wonderland xD
- Restarted FFX, am still playing so far, but doubt I'll carry on for long.

The thing is games like FFIX and KH are my favourite games and I really wanna enjoy playing them again, but I feel like I just can't get the same experience the second time round. I think that the games can never really be the same again when you know the whole story, what's going to happen, how they end.

Sometimes I just think, ooh I really feel like playing "FF whatever" again, and I like playing to reminisce on it, but just can't keep my interest second time round.

So does anyone else find this with replaying the games, and if you do enjoy replaying, which FFs have you replayed and actually completed more than once?

I've just come to the conclusion that the games can only be fully enjoyed and experienced first time through.

[robfinalfantasy]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I wish there was some way to wipe out my memory that way I could play the game as if it was the first time. :mad2:

I remember:
the first time I tried ATB (this was with FVI)
the motorcycle chase in FFVII
trying out the various jobs in FFIII & FFV
using general characters in FFII
not knowing you had to EQUIP the weapons/armor purchased in FFI :p


The good times. :cool:

[NM]

I've replayed every FF game i've completed at least once or more all the way through. Which is the following. FFI, VII, VIII, IX, X, X-2.

To me there like books. I remember the main part of the story like the beginning and end but tend to forget the bit's in the middle. If all you play are RPG's I can see how they would become boring to replay over and over. But if I havn't played a game in ages it's always nice to go back and play it all again.

[Necronopticous]

I've replayed almost every Final Fantasy that I've ever played with the exception of Final Fantasy V which I only recently finished. Although I do replay the games on a regular basis I know what you mean, this is because sometimes I do stop, sometimes I go all the way through, I find that if I stop playing the game for something else, I won't want to come back to it. For instance, if I replay Final Fantasy VII, everything will be fine and I'll be interested the whole time unless at some point I decide, "I feel like playing Final Fantasy IX" Even if I only play the other game for a day and then go back to VII I'll find myself totally uninterested and usually end up deleting the save game.

Although I've played through some Final Fantasies so many times I don't even know what to do with myself... (e.g. I think I've literally played through Final Fantasy VI over 10-12 times)

I'm a bad example though because I am utterly obsessed with Square games, anything I say is immediately biased and unrepresentative.

[Sefie1999AD]

I know what you mean, Xander. The story events, character development and powerful scenes just don't come to you with the same emotional impact during your second time through the game. But how much I have fun with my second game depends on how much I enjoyed the first time through, and how long it has been since I first played the game. For example, if it's a short time (like less than a year) since I last played through the game, playing the game again usually just doesn't have the magic it had on my last time. Everything's still quite fresh on my mind so the moments playing the game just don't have the same effect. And though I normally like having a good memory, this is where I wish I wouldn't remember the game's events so well when I'm replaying. :/

FFVII's the first FF I've replayed, and the first time through the game was great, and the second time was really outstanding, making FFVII one of my favorite games ever. :love: Chrono Trigger and FFIX were very fun on my first time, but they somehow lost the effect on the second time. Probably because I spent too much time on leveling up, and the story was still fresh in my mind. FFVI was pretty good at both playing times. I thought FFIIIj, FFV and FFVIII were quite good games, though my opinion on them improved on the second time because the stories made a lot more sense on the second time through. I've played FFIV three times, and the last time was the best. Probably because the first time was the easy type with a lousy translation, the second time with the hard type was an unfinished fan translation and the game felt too hard anyway, but the third time was fun. :)

I didn't have much fun with my first game of FFII, and so far all my attempts to replay the game have pretty much failed. I've finished FFI five times now, and the best moments where during my third game of it, playing a Fighter-Thief-Red Mage-White Mage game on WonderSwan Color. Oh, those fun times. :D FFX wasn't that fun on my first time, but I try to replay the game every now and then, and so far, it's been okay. Most of the time. FFX-2 was neat during the first time. I haven't really wanted to replay it yet. I loved Kingdom Hearts during my first game, but I haven't started a second game yet. I'm trying to play KH: Chain of Memories before starting a new game of KH.

As for other Square games that I've replayed, I've played Seiken Densetsu 3 loads of times. I'm currently playing it for the seventh time. The game has a pretty good story, which also changes according to which characters you pick, but after playing through it so many times, the story doesn't really matter. It's more about the cool battle system and the excellent replay value that the game has. Hard to say which time through was my favorite since I've had many fun times playing SD3.

That's all I can say about replaying FFs. Just for your information, Xander, there are occasionally times when you won't feel like playing video games at all. When that happens, don't try to force yourself to get back to playing games because that won't help. It can make you even more tired of playing games. So at those times, take a break from gaming. Or try some other genres. I made a long speech about this in this thread (http://www.eyesonff.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52096), I'm not going to quote all that here, but go read it if you can be bothered to read anymore after this long post of mine. :p

[YunaGirl05]

I know how you feel it just is not as meaningful. its still good. but not as magical as the first time you play it.

[DJZen]

I've replayed FFVI more times than I care to remember, and I get caught up in it every time. This is also true for the older games (especially FFI). I really get into 'em every time. FFVII I can't imagine wanting to play more than once every few years, if that. I think it's because of the different stylistic direction. FFVII is more like a movie while FFI is more like a tabletop RPG. I think that's why I enjoy some of those games more. They have more lasting power with me because they're not strictly plot driven.

[The Man]

It depends on the game for me. I actually enjoyed FFV more the second time around, but FFIV bored me when I tried to replay it. FFVI will alawys be enjoyable to me, though.

[Chris]

Yeah.

But I never get tired of playing Final Fantasy VII, I mean... I finish the game at least 5 times a year.

Final Fantasy VIII however is my favorite... but... ya' know... it's so friggin' long.

Final Fantasy IX I finish up to three times a year... it's starting to get a little repetitious.

Final Fantasy V I complete three times a year... so easy.

The rest I play whenever I feel like it...

[Xander]

I read your whole post Sephy. ^_^ And yeah I remember what you said before... the thing is now I think I *do* feel like playing an FF again. I'm just not sure which. I'm considering playing one of the older ones (I own them all but haven't played 1-5 yet) but I can't get back in FFVI after leaving it for a while. It's annoying if I leave a game for a while I just can't go back and pick up where I left off. But I've already restarted FFVI twice from doing that and I don't really wanna restart again xD Although I was enjoying it...but now I've totally forgotten what's going on and why I'm where I am and where am I. Darn it.

[Cless]

I guess the lesson here is to REALLY make the most of your first playthrough and savour it while it lasts, because no amount of repeated play is going to rekindle the feeling you had about a game on its first playthrough.

[Sefie1999AD]

I've restarted FF2 and FF3j loads of times when I've stopped playing them for so long. However, that actually wasn't a good idea for me since I usually didn't play them even that much as I did before restarting. So I'd suggest just continue playing the game, no matter how long you've stayed away from that game. :) I think there were times when I had unfinished games of FF3j, FF7 and FF8 that I hadn't played for almost a year (over a year and a half with FF7's case), but when I continued playing again, catching up what I had missed wasn't all that hard, and I was still able to enjoy the game a lot. :D

Restarting the game every time after a break is a bad idea also in a way that you'll soon see the opening intro so many times that you'll remember it too well, and the opening has pretty much no effect on you. Then it's very hard to get into the game and enjoy it if you can't even get any excitement about the opening parts of the game.

[Old Manus]

I have replayed IX, X, and V.

IX: At Ipsen's castle, gave up.

X: Trying to get those last Al Bhed primers. Stopped at Macalania temple.

V: Just before going to ExDeath's castle, world 2. Bored.

My memory card is cluttered with unfinished games which "I'm going to play, but not now."

[theundeadhero]

I've beaten most of them at least twice.

[Rusty]

I like replaying them at least once, you found out things you didn't know when you first played it and you can choose to do things a different way. I find it fun :)

[SeeDRankLou]

I have replayed all the Final Fantasy games at least once to completion. There are little things that can be done to make the gameplay more interesting even though the story stays the same, not to mention that with several of them you can do different things to make the story slightly different in some places. Otherwise, it would just be like watching a movie repeatedly, which gets old no matter how good the movie is.

But I do understand what you are saying about the good scenes that will always happen when you play the game, seeing them for the first time is always the most remembering experience. In FFVI, the opera scene was very touching the first time I saw it, but any subsequent time, while the scene is still good, it just didn't do it for me like it did the first time. I remember playing FFVIII and watching Rinoa float through space on the verge of death, thinking that she was going to die. That scene was set up very very well, with the horribly sad music that was playing in the background, the juxtaposition of the several things happening at once in that scene, and actually not knowing what was about to happen, that scene brought me to tears the first time I saw it thinking that she was about to die. Honestly, I have played FFVIII a good ten or twelve times and have not gotten bored of it yet, but some of the scenes just aren't the same after the first time. Although the scene with Laguana at the end still gets me sometimes. The end of FFX was one of the sadest things I've ever scene in my life, very very well done. I remember I beat FFX with my friend Michelle, and we both ended up using about half of the box of tissues, it was just sad. I have beat FFX a few more times since then, and while it was still a very sad and touching scene, it just didn't affect me like it did the first time. I have more examples, but I think that will do.

The major events (except in FFX-2) will always happen the same, but there are a lot of minor events in all of these games that you can manipulate to make the story slightly different, and in FFX-2 you can actually manipulate some of the major events. Playing the game through again, knowing the story, allows one to see things that they didn't see the first time, which is reason enough to play most of these games over. That and different styles of doing the battle portion of these games. In FFX-2 you can actually have a different story to the game. No matter what road you take it will end up in one of three places, but you can take a different road each time, which I liked. So while the major events are lessened and spoiled after your initial playthrough, there are enough in these games to keep my attention through at least one more playthrough, if not several.

[m4tt]

Yes! I have such a hard time replaying FF games these days.

FFIV: Got to the magenetic cave on hard type, gave up when I died 5 times in a row.

FFV: I got to the second crystal I think.. it's been a while.

FFVI: Eventhough it's my favorite one, I get to the WoR and just stop.

FFVII: Got to Rocket town then quit.

FFVIII: Got to the load screen, then quit. :rolleyes2

FFIX: Last time I replayed this game I actually went all the way to Memoria, then stopped.

FFX: All three times I've played this game I've gone all the way through. Dunno why.

FFX-2: Never even finished my first playthrough :\ Got to Act 5 and stopped.

Kingdom Hearts: Got through Destiny Island on Expert mode than stopped when Leon beat me up.

I don't think I have the paitences to finish RPGs anymore. Unless it's a NEW game.

[Del Murder]

I've played through them all multiple times, with the exception of V, X (working on it now though), X-2 (I'll get to that eventually) and II. I've beaten IV, VI, and VII countless times. I play them again because I enjoy them so much, they are my favorite games all time. Even though I know where to go and what's going to happen, I still enjoy it the same. It's like watching a rerun of your favorite show or eating your favorite meal.

[Sepho]

I understand what you mean about that "first time" experience missing during subsequent play-throughs. It's much different when you know what's going to happen.

But I enjoy second playthroughs just as much, only in a different way. The first time through offers a fresh story of which you know nothing about, and it's so enjoyable because the story is unfolding before you. However, I enjoy second (and third, and fourth...) playthroughs for the same reason. What I mean is, because I know how to do everything already, I can play without the stress of not knowing which way to take in a dungeon, and additionally, my characters are always better developed after my first game. I spend more time on them, and it's more fun in that regard.

So far, I've played through FF7 five times, FF8 four times, FF9 three times, and FF10 twice. I've only played through FFs 1, 2, 4, 6, and 10-2 once each, but I can see myself playing through 4 and 6 again.

[mitchellmeek]

i'll admit, that it is never quite the same as the first time. the first FF game i played was VII, and i'll never get the same thrill in taking down the MAKO reactor, or never be shocked in the same way i was when aeris died. I still love the game, and have replayed all the FF games i possess. not all the way sumtimes, it is usually a particular scene of plot twist that makes me go again. Its never quite the same, but still an awesome experiance every time.

[Lon611]

i've replayed ffix a couple times, because i got stuck a couple times and one time i used gameshark. so i decided to replay that one. but ever since i've beaten it, i haven't, cuz i don't have the time.

ffx i replayed twice, cuz i love ffx. the first time i just sorta went through it, and the second time i did everything, and did the nemesis side quest.

usually a game isn't as fun the second time around, unless u didn't do nething special the first time through and just rushed through it. but i definitely recommend replaying ff's because u can pick up foreshadow's and make more sense of the plot

[Ultima Shadow]

Yes, replaying a game is never as fun as the first you play it. But there's some games that I feel is easy to replay. FFVIII and FFI has GREAT replay value. While they're not my absolute favs... they are still both enjoyable and easy to play more than once. Also... almost every time I replay a game, I play it in a different way. Replaying in a harder and more challanging way make it feel much easier to replay. :)

[rubah]

FFX and FFX-2 are the only ones I've completely finished a second time. I have third games in both of them I think. I'm almost done with a second game in FF8 (although I haven't had it as long as I've had x and x-2) and I have one going fairly good in ff5.

I dont' think I'll ever replay ff4 or 9. well, perhaps 4 because I can not remember a single thing that happened in the ending. I mean, literally. mental block I guess:) heh, you guys said that knowing what would happen would ruin the story. I guess on those terms I could play ff4 again with almost the exact same reactions:D except I don't want to, because I didn't like it all that much. Go figure

The thing about having beaten x and x-2 twice now, is that the first time I relied heavily on walkthroughs and faqs-- I'm just not the explorey type. I like to play the games for the story^^ *ducks and runs* But because, playing the ps1 games was so much easier because I knew how to look for stuff@.@ especially with 7 (because I played 8 and 9 first). practice does make perfect. and replays are definitely worth it, if only because now I dont' have to worry about missing events in x-2:D (And I had the chance to side with new yevon and baralai^_^)