Well, it's certainly got the best art style!
http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/...20120706190747
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Well, it's certainly got the best art style!
http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/...20120706190747
Got to the end of Eureka, woohoo! Level 8 white magic, Masamune and Ragnarok are definitely the highlights. Ooh, and I got a Ribbon and put it on Arc because it feels appropriate, what with me dying if anything happens to him
You're going to want ribbons for everyone actually.
I'm still partial to the original graphics of FFIV, they were especially impressive coming off my playthrough of the NES FFs a few years ago.
Well, to each their own. For me, the DS version is the definitive version of FFIV
As usual, PAL regions get a better cover artwork. :p
In any case, we're still on FFIII! Im level 48 and now going to Bahamut's Lair to grind! Hopefully level 60 and above!
Don't over-level, she's not that hard in this version. Just grind some HP and go beat her.
Idk, I'd rather spend some time in a cave than risk failing after a six-tier boss rush and two full dungeons
You get to save between the two dungeons.
Are you sure? Because from the two times I played this version, I don't think that's the case
It might help if you referred to it as the Crystal Tower and World of Darkness, yes you can't save between those two without leaving the dungeon, but it is possible to actually beat all of the bosses except CoD, leave, save, and come back.
I think I've tried to do that but failed.
But you're saying I can actually teleport out? Because that would be a game changer
So guess what happened
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/.../image_28.jpeg
(Sorry the pic is blurry - the Cloud of Darkness dying animation was surprisingly short, so I had one take)
Also, Wolf, you lied. Teleport stopped working after defeating Xande :stare:
Some final thoughts on FFIII:
- the encounter rate was actually great? People keep complaining about the encounter rate in this, but really, it's not that bad, and I think it might actually be better than FFII's. Also, don't know if this is a mechanic or just a coincidence, but it seemed like the higher my level was, the lower the chance of encountering enemies.
- end game grinding took no effort at all and I had no problem going from level 48 to 55 in a relatively short time. Due to my job combination, I also got to grind a few levels on my way up the Crystal Tower, as I wasted no MP and Terrain skills usually one-hit-KO'd the enemies.
- really, with the right job combination, this game isn't that bad. It's just a matter of knowing which jobs to use, which you basically need a guide for that, because the way the game is structured it actually discourages experimentation, which is like the last thing you would want in a game with a job system.
- the ending sequence was actually really short compared to FFI and II, which surprised me!
- overall, I actually really enjoyed this playthrough of FFIII. Be it because of the interesting job combination or just my sheer determination to finish it quickly, I came out of this liking III more than I did before!
So, starting FFIV today! I am so excited! This game is love! :love:
Porom and Rosa da best
So far, wow, the direction of the cutscenes is just stellar. It's like, there's actual cinematography that plays a role in the storytelling, especially in the scene where Rosa talks to Cecil in his tower with the way the light is used to reflect Cecil's inner conflict. Amazing.
Also, I love how Cecil and Rosa are a couple from the beginning. There's no "will they or won't they" or "meet cute" - they're just a couple, they love each other, and they're adorable. Incredible how THAT's refreshing nowadays.
So anyways; just started. King is mad that we're not happy with how we steal stuff from innocent oppressed nations, so of course we're demoted and have to carry the Carnelian Signet to the remote village of Mist. Luckily, Cecil's buddy Kain is there to lend a helping hand!
The US gets more games.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolf Kanno
In terms of FF3 I only ever played the DS version. FF4, 5 and 6 were PS1 SNES Hijacks. I'm still planning on getting a PSP to play 1 and who knows? Maybe I shall attempt 3 again, so long as I take to heart every word you and Fynn have posted.
Wait...youre on 4 now Fynn? You work fast. (i really should read everything before i post)
PROGRESS REPORT!
- So I left Baron for the Mist Cave. The town didn't really have any interesting things, but what the hey. With the washed palette and rocky architecture, it all makes me think of Spain and the heat I encountered in Barcelona. So I'm gonna go with that. Baron is Spain.
- I forgot about Namingway's adventures! So turns out he can't change my name, so he has an existential crisis and starts doing other things. As Mappingway, he gave me the magic minimap for dungeons which is just super swell!
- Mist Cave was quite easy though I'm quite surprised at how many potions I have to use. Also, having Darkness instead of the usual Souleater is a noticeable nerf for Cecil. The big groups of enemies that can slow and blind you are just a big nuisance when you can't just spam that one attack that deals damage to all.
- So the Carnelian Signet did the thing and the whole village got torched. Welp. So we try to take Rydia but she's like "nuh-uh, you killed my mom, you're gonna get squished by Titan" and she causes a big continental shift that moves the mountain range. Kain is nowhere to be found.
- Have I already mentioned how adorable baby Rydia is in this version?
http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/...20150817085216
- Other than that, went to Kaipo, found Rosa unconscious, she gave me the Auto-Potion augment, then I went to get the sand pearl. Passed the Underground Waterway with the help of Tellah, Damcyan got attacked by Golbez, You Spoony Bard!, yadda yadda yadda.
- So now I'm exploring the Antlion's Den. Edward is actually very useful with all those songs of his and I'm so glad they made him so because I always liked him as a character. Also, hello Sam Riegek, my voice twin!
aw you cant change the names :( guess Cecil wont be Johnny then...
Also, guys, there's this weird optical illusion going around the Internet that people just can't agree on regarding Cecil's outfit.
Is it white and gold, or black and blue?
http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/...20120706124543
It's a Monday! And you know what that means
A WEEKEND MIRACLE-GRADE UPDATE!!
So yeah, I got as far as getting Edge and actually beating Rubicante. I won't be doing a full recap of events because pretty much everyone here remembers this game's plot, so I'll just go over some highlights.
- The game is much easier than I remember. This might be because I came in straight after III and not after a different version of IV, so I'm more used to just fighting every battle, so I didn't even have to grind to teach Float and Reflect to Rosa. It might also be because I'm using a lot of Augments.
- Speaking of Augments, Kain using Cry is hilarious. He just starts the battle by moping and that lowers the defense of enemies. "You guys, Rosa doesn't love me, sob sob." Gets me every time.
- While Rydia with Fast Talker and MP+50% is a beast. Rosa has Dualcast, but it's really Pray that makes her stand out because Rydia barely loses any MP thanks to her. I just love how they boosted Pray in this game because it was near useless in the original.
- I also had Tellah use Tsunami in the Magus Sister battle a lot. That really helped the battle go down faster.
- The voiced cutscenes are actually all really well done! It's really amazing how a little bit of body language and good voice work can really have some scenes carry so much more weight than the original's presentation.
- That said, the scenes outside of cutscenes can be pretty awkward. The goblins just go to set up the cannon and disappear, despite the fact you've already beaten them in battle. And it's kinda weird that it's no longer Golbez's disembodied hand that grabs the Crystal. But then again, perhaps that's a change for the better.
- Oh dear Lord, are the fake-out deaths corny. But then again, the voiced scene where Tellah dies is actually all the more powerful thanks to the comparison.
- I'm also having no problem buying stuff. Seriously, was I having problems before because I just wasn't battling enough? And I'm still not fighting as many battles as in FFIII!
- Speaking of that, I forgot how well-paced this game is. In FFIII everything was just going from dungeon to dungeon, stopping for a bit in each one to grind some levels. Here, you go from story event to story event, each of which matters, and you really don't need to grind in-between because the levels just come naturally.
Overall, this is super fun and story-wise, I'm now supposed to go get the last crystal, but first I wanna visit the Sylph Cave and the Feymarch. If all goes well, I'll be done with this in a couple of days!
What you're saying bears no resemblence to my playthrough. I found it hard to level up and learn the necessary spells. And I don't remember augments. I suppose this could all be because I played the PS1 version.
Augments are additions made in the 3D Remake of the game, they allow you to gain abilities from other party members and even bosses. So for instance, you can keep Twincast and teach it to two other characters so you have it for the whole game.
The fun thing about twincast is that giving it to two other characters than Palom and Porom gives you access to additional, very powerful spell. For instance, having it on Kain and Cecil gives you access to Bubble, while Cecil and Rosa will be capable of casting Ultima!
Anyhoo, just made it to the Moon! Got my knife and my Leviathan and everything too!
Also, I'll be taking a little break from this after IV for a couple of reasons.
1) I have to buy FFV on Steam, and I kinda have to conserve the money for now. Will probably buy it next month.
2) I don't want to get burnt out by FF before I reach the end of it, so I kinda wanna give myself some air.
3) There's another game I want to focus on now.
So I hope to continue this soon! In the meantime, feel free to discuss the FFs here! Which game are you looking forward to me playing? Perhaps you'd also like to share some of your own experiences?
That sounds like an easier version.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolf Kanno
Awww, and Fynn I thought you had access to everything already. I am looking forward to your playthrough of 5 when you're ready, and true you don't wanna get burnt out. Plus, I end up with loads of stuff I wanna play sometimes as well.
When you're ready to play 5 I'm looking forward to seeing how it differs from the PS1 version. I never minded the way it was translated but you could perhaps show me examples of how the Steam translation is better.
As for my own experiences well, this is your marathon, wouldn't want to share too many of my own but, I may think of a few things.
It may sound easier, but augments are actually added for balance because the overall difficulty of the game was significantly boosted with bosses having brutal counters and improved AI, spells being learned at later levels, and so on
I'm always astonished how people can play games so quickly. It takes me a minimum of about a week to play one average-length game.
And that's if I'm on break or otherwise got nothing better to do.
All it takes is dedication ;)
Also, remember I've played all of these games to the end at least ones. Around seven times for FFIV, actually
Me and Mr. Carny were both playing through the Mass Effect trilogy. I was only halfway through 2 by the time he finished 3.
What's the other game?
Probably Soil Hackers, though I'm still thinking. The key thing is I just want like a week or two long break from FF before jumping into V, because I want to be as eager to play it as I was to play IV
That's fair enough.
As for the issue of speed, while I'm not an FF completionist I am an obsessive grinder so it takes me at least 2 weeks. I don't keep exact count though.
You're so modest Fynn, its cause you happen to be that good :-)
So! The Giant of Babil happened and I thought I was gonna throw my DS at the wall because of that damn CPU fight. For those of you that haven't played the DS version, it's been changed significantly. Fusoya is just outright lying about killing the Defense Node first because the healing it provides is negligible. The Attack Node, however, no longer takes away 10% of the target's max health with its laser barrage, but attacks everyone in the party for, oh, I don't know, around 3000 points of damage, leaving only Cecil alive and at critical health. The battle was entirely luck-based - if it opens up the battle with laser barrage, which it loves to do, I'm left with just Cecil. And it also likes to immediately follow that up with another. The only way to beat it was to somehow kill it before it uses laser barrage, which I barely did after slowing him down and hasting Edge. Pretty sure this is the most unfair fight in the entire game.
But anyway, got the Excalibur, and all that I have left to do before the final dungeon is getting Odin and Bahamut.
And it's done!
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/.../image_29.jpeg
Had no problems throughout the final dungeon and battle whatsoever. The pacing in this game is truly excellent and I really didn't even need to grind once.
Playing this yet again has only cemented it as one of my all-time favorites. It has a very cool battle system, despite limited customization, as I loved controlling five party members and the difference in the action execution time, which is something that hasn't been used in the series up until XII (and we still haven't received another game with five party members). I also love the story and the presentation of the DS version really makes it all the more gripping. Definitely the best game of the marathon so far!
So yeah, hope you guys enjoyed IV as much as I did ;) I'll be seeing you soon with FFV! I need a little bit of a breather, like I said, but I will be back with the next game for sure!
Well, I'm back again, kiddos. I guess it's hard to call this a marathon anymore, but what the hell.
Just started FFV, AKA FFIII again but actually fun this time. Playing the Steam version this time, which is kind of blurry and with occasional graphical bugs, but overall, I like the way the game looks. I love the little touches to the interface.
So anyway, just got to the Shipwreck, Bart's is a Knight, Lenna's a White Mage, Galuf a Black Mage and Faris a Thief. Everything's been a breeze so far!
Hey I guess this way you might be able to top off your marathon with FFXV =P
I'm pretty sure I'll be able to top it off with The Zodiac Age, really :p
Well, just got the airship. I have to say, I'm going pretty damn fast!
I never noticed that you can actually sequence break a lot once you get the fire-powered ship and later the black chocobo. That way I visited all the towns and got all the available summons even before I got the airships, which is pretty rad. At this point, all that's left is taking on the flying fortress and we're moving on to the second world!
Glad this is back!
Ah I see. Capitalizing on my confused pause period.
well I tell you it... yeah idk.
hi
Pure coincidence, my dear Galuf!
Also, that reminds me, it is so weird seeing the name Galuf in-game now, since I've started associating that name with you so much that you're the first person that comes to mind when I see it, so it's kind of like "oh hey, that character has my friend's name!" now :exdee:
Lol. Its weird for me too. Just cos its like I named him Galuf. But I never name after myself.
Yeah idk. What aboot ff9 with freya. Lol
I haven't played IX since we became friends, but I guess I'll get there eventually and we'll see how that goes haha :exdee:
Just got to Galuf's world. I forgot how exciting this beginning sequence is what with escaping Exdeath's castle and the Big Bridge chase! That was really epic.
Also, never noticed that Dragoons are left-handed in this game! Nice bod to IV.
Dragoons are king and ill prove it to those fools in xiv
Managed to grind a bit this morning, changed around some classes. Faris is still a Berserker since I really want Equip Axes on her when she becomes a Ninja, and Bartz is still a Dragoon, but I made Lenna into a Bard and Galuf into a Dancer, but even though the latter is pretty hilarious, I'll probably change him soon since the effects of Dance turn out to be random. And I don't really like that.
Got to the Moogle Village. The Tyrannosaurus almost killed me, but then I tried casting raise on it and poof!
Changed Lenna and Galuf into a Geomancer and Ranger respectively. These are two more jobs that I've rarely used before, and so far I love them so much!
I'm in the barrier tower. Damn, those dragons in the chest were really hard but I got a blood sword for them! And it's almost twice as powerful as my previous sword!
Ugh, Catoblepas was a bitch and a half to beat
I'm just outside the forest of Moore. Kinda dreading entering because of you-know-what :(
I know whatQuote:
Originally Posted by Fynn
Stopped to grind a bit to get all the things from the shops at Moore. And then the friggin crystals in the tree killed me. Think I'm gonna need to apply shell for the first time in this game.
And I was really close to beating them, too! Only the wind and earth one were left.
I'll comment more when you get to the next three games as I'm trying to avoid spoilers. Keep up the good grind!
Ah yes... the crystal that suddenly get insanely strong when they get to low HP. They were my first Game Over too as I recall.
Hardest boss imo. Most runs I just spammed gil toss. But not this last time I didnt
Can't really go with that, though. I currently have Bartz as a Knight with Spellblade, Lenna as a White Mage with Summon, Galuf as a Ranger with Time Magic, and Faris as a Ninja without an extra battle skill. Maybe I should give her one? In any case, I think I 'll just use the Shell this time around and it should go down. Once I get the earth one I'll just keep spamming Titan. Also, need to make sure Slow is put on all of them this time around.
You could try just focusing single targets all the time. I know it's tempting to use AoE against four enemies but if they do just get stronger when they're weak it's better to take them one at a time.
You may be right
But I get this urge, man. To just wail on 'em. No matter how inefficient :p
Aaaaaand there he goes.
Damn it :G
Boy, for the most lighthearted FF, this game sure knows how to punch you in the gut :whimper:
Welp, got to world three. I forgot how cute Bartz's interactions with Krile are - they sneak out together and tease each other, like an adorable little pair od siblings!
Anyway, Faris is also back on my team now and I am on my way to unseal the twelve sealed weapons! Parked right outside the Pyramid of Moore! Too bad my healer is gone! Hehe ^^;
Maybe it's just me but I always felt like the Masamune was hilariously strong compared to the other legendary weapons. High crit rate, First Strike and the ability to cast Haste for free whenever you feel like it. It's a damage + speed powerhouse.
How many smurfing times do I have to die
At least you got the most memorable, emotional, and awesome death in the series :D I legitimately tested up, and I knew it was coming!Quote:
Originally Posted by Galuf
Can't really remember that about the Masamune, but that's still awesome, even if it makes the others seem lame in comparison :p By the way, I think it's awesome that at this point in the game everything is optional, kinda like in WoR. I'll try to get everything and max all the jobs, though! I plan for my party to be Bartz and Faris as Freelancers with physical skills, while Lenna and Krile will be Mimes with magic. Original, I know.
It is so good death that it made me name myself after him
So I just mastered the piano. Is that in any way meaningful?
I think you can get a Bard song for that.
Yes, you get a special Bard song by talking to a musician after mastering the piano. I can't remember what it was called but I'm pretty sure it's the one that increases your party's level every round.
I thought so. Anyone know where the guy is?
Crescent
Thank
Sadly, I think I missed some songs. Still, no biggie considering I'm probably gonna use Sing much this time around, but my inner completionist is throwing a fit
Welp, almost done with the game. I'm at the last screen with a save point grinding jobs because Neo Exdeath murdered me once already, so I'd like to prepare better.
For the first time ever I noticed the Minotaur brothers, which was pretty neat. Also, this game is pretty shocking when it comes to the number of bosses vulnerable to instant death and petrification. In general, I think this game has the fastest boss battles so far, since not only are a surprising number of them vulnerable to instant death, but they also don't have too much HP - but they can also kill you faster. Reminds me of SMTIV in that regard.
Well, just beat it. FFV is still awesome after all this time. It's a really amazing game and I really don't get why people (used to) think it's weak. Aside from being much more tongue-in-cheek, it's not really much goofier than FFIV.
Also, the music is, up to this point in the series, the best, no contest. All these amazing themes! Much better that IV's or, heck, I - III's as well.
Off to start VI now! I'll try to play a bit differently this time. I'll try to do it fast and not teach everyone every spell.
Agreed. I ended up enjoying FFV so much more than I expected to. Such a great soundtrack, such a fun story, such a good gameplay system. Definitely my favorite of the SNES era.
And like I said earlier, for such a lighthearted game it has some really, genuinely devastating moments
Stumbling upon Lix was still one of the most unexplicably emotional moments of any 16-bit games for me. It's that soundtrack, man.
Also GILGAMESH NOOOOO
And Galuf I guess.
OK, FFVI started! I can already see this port is much better optimized for PC than FFV's! Everything scrolls so smoothly, and the UI, while still incredibly big, is at least much more sharp and clean.
Always loved this game's opening. It's just oozing atmosphere, what with the magitek armors walking in the snow
There's a reason this is one of my all-time favs :excited:
Ugh, the button configuration is slightly different from FFV. Don't you just hate when that happens
I love the intro too! Sets a great mood for the game.
Welp, Kefka's here! Oh boy, this'll be fun!
By the way, the portraits in this version are just gorgeous!
Right, just got through the mountains and got Sabin, the bear.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...383feb518b.jpg
It's a real shame they didn;t use the bearded artwork for him in-game
Also, The Split is coming up. Which route do I go first?
I usually go Locke, Sabin, Terra/ Edgar- though sometimes Sabin's adventure first can be good, since he has the longest story. :jess:
I was actually thinking of going that order!
I can't remember what I did on the split! I do remember it though. I guess that's what happens when you've only played the game once.
Okay, went with Locke's route first, escaping South Figaro with Celes now. This place has a lot of annoying hidden passages :eep:
You know what was annoying? Tunnel armor. I had to use Runic all the time and Locke could not steal anything, so I just had to keep attaching.
Also, for the first time ever when trying to Steal clothes from a Cadet, I got the Couldn't Steal message. And I got it three times in a row.
Maybe the cadet was poor and didn't have anything to steal. Maybe they give everything they have to support their spouse and five kids in their run-down, two-bedroomed apartment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fynn
Did you ever think about that? No. You only think about yourself.
I literally just wanted to see him naked, Bubba. God, way to blow this WAY out of proportion!Quote:
Originally Posted by BubbaMaybe the cadet was poor and didn't have anything to steal. Maybe they give everything they have to support their spouse and five kids in their run-down, two-bedroomed apartment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fynn
Did you ever think about that? No. You only think about yourself.
Alright, gonna try to blitz through Sabin's chapter now!
(hehe, get it? Blitz through? You know, because he can... No? OK)
Entering Zozo.
Jesus, take the wheel
Made it to the Magitek research lab and oh boy, do I like the Chainsaw!
For some reason, I remember that part being so frustrating!Quote:
Originally Posted by Fynn
The Chainsaw was so good! :D Edward was really OP in that partQuote:
Made it to the Magitek research lab and oh boy, do I like the Chainsaw!
Okay, so yesterday I made it all the way to the Gate, so I'm going pretty fast. Terra got her Ultimate Weapon so all is right in the world :D
Except now the airship's crashed and we need to walk to Vector...
When it comes to building characters, I've been focusing on stats instead of spells, aside from Terra and Celes, who get to learn as many spells as they can. Will probably do the same for Relm. So I have a question - does it pay off in any way to leave escorts on characters not in your active party? Will they still get the stat boosts on level up?
Also, I've been using Gau more that ever this time around. I never really liked him but decided to give him a shot, especially since I'm doing a kind of limited-magic run. Any tips on how to get him good and which rages are worth it? So far Zaghrem and Belmodar seem cool
Got to the World of Ruin. Was worried Ultimate Weapon would be difficult with limited magic, but no. I beat him easily.
Ultima Weapon is only a beast if you haven't been leveling or if you go into the fight half ass.
I wish I could give you some tips on what to do but I've only played it through once! I do remember Zozo though. Yeeeeah. Not pleasant.
Damn I've just realized I've confused Edgar with Edward lol. ^^;Quote:
Originally Posted by Yubel-Lover
Sorry this has slowed down, guys. Some stuff has happened, and combined with me taking part in NaNoWriMo for the first time and replaying FFTA on the side, I didn't really have time to play FFVI this week, but I'll try to make some progress this weekend!
So I saved Cid for the first time ever. All this time I thought everyone on the internet was trolling me but no, you can actually do it!
That said, the scene is much more powerful if he dies, so I kind of regret it now :p
That scene with Celes... :crying::crying::crying:Quote:
Originally Posted by Fynn
That and the Opera scene are two of the most powerful moments in this game.
Yeah, I agree. So I'm kinda pissed that I missed it :mad2: Why the hell even let people save Cid?
So anyway, playing very very slowly right now (sorry :p) but I managed to recruit Sabin! I'd never noticed the person who warned you about the petrifying monsters at the house, so that was mighty helpful! I managed to get the kid and all the treasures, so that's cool!
Went to Mobliz and met Terra. I always liked this part and how fulfilled she seemed with those kids. There was always something incredibly touching how in this ruined world this woman managed to find the purpose and love she so longed for before.
AND THERE'S A FRIGGIN' CHOCOBO STABLE SOUTH OF MOBLIZ! HOW IN THE SEVEN HELLS DID I NOT KNOW THIS FOR SO MANY YEARS!!!
Just out of curiosity, how much time did it take to catch the right fish to save Cid? Cause I remember it not being that easy... I agree about Terra. I really like the way they chose to develop her need for love, instead of just making her a love interest for someone else. Plus the Celes-Locke relationship is already predominant, so another one would have been redundant imo.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fynn
Can't remember exactly how long, but yeah, it took a while. It definitely helps that in the steam version the fish are much larger and clearly visible, so it's easier to see the fast ones.
Didn't know that, that's pretty useful actually.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fynn
Okay, made some progress yesterday.
That tentacle fight was one huge trainwreck. I literally survived by sheer dumb luck since Sabin was the only one left alive and for some reason the tentacles hurt themselves whenever they took him hostage and had no one else to hit. Still, got it on my second try. So I got Edgar back, saw the Figaro flashback, and went on to grab Setzer and made quick work of Darill's tomb. With the airship I went to grab Terra, so nowI have five people. I'm thinking of grabbing Mog and Umaro first, but Narsge turns out to be a pretty big deal when it comes to difficulty.
So who do you guys think I should pick up next?
Also, is it just me, or does the Decisive Battle take more than a subtle cue from the Overture to the Phantom of the Opera?
I'd pick up Locke (if you haven't done that already) or Cyan. The scenes involving these two characters are also very good: the moment when Rachel tells Locke to let her go and to love Celes with all his heart, and when Cyan was trying to comfort that widow (was it a widow right?) were particularly sweet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fynn
I was actually thinking of saving Locke for last, considering you need to beat a three-party (or was it two-partu) dungeon to get to him. Just got Mog and am going to get Umaro, but I will get Cyan right after that, though!
Okay, just got Umaro!
Man, this game is suddenly tough when I don't grind spells on everyone!
Also, how do I get Shadow?
You do the Cave in the Veldt quest and then afterwards bet the dagger you get late in that dungeon in the coliseum. Provided you saved him on the Flying Continent, of course.
Of course I did
I'm not a monster
Oh right, forgot about the dangeon to get Phoenix. Do you plan on getting Gogo?Quote:
Originally Posted by Fynn
I never found Umaro on my playthrough! I do remember saving Shadow though.
I will get Gogo! Probably won't use him much, as I think I'll make more use of Relm this time around, but I still want him.
My goal before entering Kefka's Tower is gathering all party members and Espers. Not really sure if I'll be doing Crusader, though, considering I need to beat all 8 dragons to do that, and Deathgaze is a pretty frustrating hurdle to get through just to get Bahamut, but I'll try.
Got Cyan! Woohoo!
"Bushido in the Bedroom", eh? :jokey:
Also, is Gau just hanging out in the Veldt? Because I swear to God I've had like ten battles already and he's nowhere to be seen
Actually I've never found mysel using Relm that much, my main party was mostly Celes, Terra and Locke/Cyan/Gogo depending on the situations. Though admittedly I did use Edgar and Sabin a lot as well. Deathgaze was so annoying... I remember flying around with the airship for a loooooooong time before killing it for good.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fynn
lmao :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Fynn
You need to have an open space for him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fynn
OOOOooooooooooooh
Its a 2 party dungeon
Still gonna leave him for last
That dude needs a super time-out for all thestealingtreasure hunting
- got Shadow
- got Relm
- got Strago
- got the auction espers
- got Lakshmi
- beat Hidon
We're almost done with this game.
Money's really scarce when you don't grind.
Got Locke, Ragnarok, Phoenix, and the Cursed Shield, which is currently equipped on Terra, with the hope that I can make it nice later.
Also, accidentally killed the Red and Ice Dragons, lol
So, as I finish up some last business in this game, you guys can come up with how I should play FFVII ;) I'm thinking of attempting a job setup for each character. Any ideas?
And done! Final party was Terra, Shadow, Strago, and Umaro. Really relied heavily on Terra's Dualcasting with Quick :p Call me cheap, but the battle was pretty hard otherwise. Definitely more challenging than how I usually do it.
On to VII!
Nice job!
As for VII, I'd say get all Enemy Skills as soon as you can (including Beta =P), but restrict yourself to never using any of them. Give them Green Materia some love ^^
Just started it. Blew up a reactor.
All I have to say that, had this game been released post-9/11, it would have been a hella different game.
Nice job man! ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Fynn
You guys know what the hardest part was? The final dungeon. When you don't grind, not all of your party members are properly leveled with decent skills. And while two parties were very well prepared, one (consisting of Celes, Relm, Setzer and Cyan) was incredibly squishy for some reason (I blame Setzer), and the game expects all of them to be good because each of them has to battle a member of the Warring Triad on their own.
Really, Kefka was a piece of cake in comparison. Not to mention I didn't battle the Ultima Buster because it just so happened that it was in the way of that one weak party :eep:
Kefka's Tower was such an mazing dungeon. Even the music was so fitting.... And... Wait a sec. How dare you putting Celes in a weak party!? May the Light of Judgement banish your savefile :D
Last time I played, she was one of my best party members. But this time she got kinda neglected. I don;t even really know why, it just happened :gator:
Yeah I think I know the feeling. Sometimes it just happens that, after playing a certain game many times, I want to try playing it with different characters. And this is true especially for games like the old FFs, where you can recruit so many characters and then end up using only a few.
Back to FFVII, I never realized you could go to the Train Graveyard early!
Got Aerith (yes, I named her Aerith, sue me) and am on my way to the Walmart. I mean, the Wall Market. This should be fun.
Welp, got all the way to the Shinra building. I was thinking of barging in for once, but it just feels so stupid. I just had to take the stairs again. What sane person would just charge in, guns blazing, when there's a clearly safer, less-disruptive option?
So far, I can say that FFVII has definitely one of the strongest beginnings in the series. Though linear and story-heavy, the Midgar section of the game is incredibly gripping and memorable. Considering how Midgar is what I mostly remember fondly when I think back on this game, I'm kind of worried this is as good as it gets.
But I guess this is as good a place as any to devote to talking about this stuff - but what was it really that made FFVII so successful? Just today I saw the extended version of the FFXV legacy videos, which are basically interviews with random fans about their experience with the series. It included actual game directors of other games, like Bioshock, and they were all talking about how revolutionary VII was when it comes to proving what games could be.
And fair enough, the game is very cinematic, and as I said, it grips you from the very beginning, but honestly, it kind of has everything people seem to hate about JRPGs now? And it wasn't really the first to do a lot of these things. VI started the whole "involved storytelling" business, the battles are pretty much identical to VI only even easier, and the story has a very solid start, but becomes what many people describe it, "convoluted anime nonsense". I mean, you start as a group of eco-terrorists against an evil corporation, oh but there's actually this evil hero dude who is even worse. Oh, and he thinks he's an alien baby and wants to... sail through space... by blasting the planet with a... meteor?
Don't get me wrong. I like the story of FFVII, I love the tone and the atmosphere, especially in Midgar, but these twists (that IMO kept things fresh and interesting, as you can't really say you expected what would happen by the end judging just by the Midgar section) and people's reaction to them doesn't really make sense. So FFVII gets a pass for being non-sensical on paper, but things like any Kingdom Hearts after I, Xenoblade, or any other modern JRPG get categorized as unplayable, overwrought nonsense?
I get why XIII got treated like this, since it really deserved it due to putting half of the relevant story in datalogs, but most of these criticisms nowadays seem to be based purely on prejudice, while Final Fantasy VII gets a pass because of all the nostalgia. And as much as I like FFVII, I think this is incredibly unfair.
Of course, there are many gamers out there who are JRPG fans and accept the genre for everything it stand for, but Final Fantasy VII isn't just accepted by JRPG fans, but by gamers as a whole, as an important piece of gaming history that revolutionized not only the genre, but the entire medium.
So I just wonder, do the people who loved FFVII back then and think JRPGs are trash nowadays actually remember the plot of FFVII? And I don't just mean the Midgar slum dystopia. I mean the planet-surfing, the Sephiroth clones, the cackling Shinra employees, the crossdressing, the remote-controlled cat-robot riding an overweight moogle-bot, the &@#% room, President Shinra acting out some weird fetish with his employees. All the times that require you to suspend your disbelief so hard your eyes roll so far back your skull that you can see your brain. Because those are all the things people hate about JRPGs today, and FFVII had them all.
I imagine that those people considered all the dumb and stupid tropes dumb and stupid at the time, but it was probably more endearing at the time due to the novel nature of it all. After all, FFVII was the first FF to hit the home consoles of many, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was their first JRPG too. So after trying out more JRPGs they found the dumb and stupid tropes becoming less endearing because, well, they were always dumb and stupid, and without the shine of something being new and unusual...
There are so many things to say about FFVII. For once, I've only played it recently (like, 2 years ago at most) and just before starting FFXIII, so the nostalgia factor didn't really matter in my case. I agree that the beginning is probably the best part of the story: from blowing up the first reactor to Cloud vs Rufus it was really compelling and interesting. The culmination for me was the Jenova escape, right after you saw "her" decapitated. And that music was horrorific af. After that it changes perspective as becomes clear that the real problem is Jenova.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fynn
Here I kindly disagree. To me the real main antagonist was Jenova, while Sephiroth was just a pawn. But the point is that even if the game shifts after the initial Midgar section the let's-save-the-planet theme still remains constant, even if it's done in a different way.Quote:
I mean, you start as a group of eco-terrorists against an evil corporation, oh but there's actually this evil hero dude who is even worse. Oh, and he thinks he's an alien baby and wants to... sail through space... by blasting the planet with a... meteor?
FFVII storyline to me was overall very solid and enjoyable, despite the troupes it had. Although I really agree about prejudice today towards other JRPGs, it's really annoying how some people keep complaining about recent games while praising FFVII like it's the be all end all. This mentality is what makes people hating on certain games, while they are in fact pretty good.
Allow me to disagree again. I've recently finished FFXIII's main storyline (currently grinding in the Mah'Habara to complete the Crystarium) and I didn't find the datalogs to be that important. I mean, sure they help understanding a few things (mostly about the lore), but once you read those about who the Fal'Cie are and so on (and it takes literally two minutes), you should be ok.Quote:
I get why XIII got treated like this, since it really deserved it due to putting half of the relevant story in datalogs, but most of these criticisms nowadays seem to be based purely on prejudice, while Final Fantasy VII gets a pass because of all the nostalgia. And as much as I like FFVII, I think this is incredibly unfair.
FFVII is pure nostalgia for me. You're probably right in that I let a lot of the issues with the story slide as it was one of my favourite gaming experiences of all time. I haven't played FFXIII so I can't comment on that. It'll be interesting to see how SE present the story in the remake considering everyone knows it so well.
Did you steal a Striking Staff from Eligor in the train graveyard for Aerith?
Nah. I didn't even know about that, and I'm not really trying to get everything this time. This is a pure marathon run, so I'm doing my best to get to the end ASAP.
And don't get me wrong - I'm not saying all those things are "issues". They are staples of the genre that fans such as myself have accepted and learned to love. It's just weird that people have this weird attitude to them now when they praised VII to high heaven for the same things, basically.
Just got out of Midgar. Gonna keep Red and Aerith in my party for now because they still haven't unlocked their second limit breaks. Also, Red's gonna be my Blue Mage, so Imma try to get some enemy skills on that materia now.
Awesome. Matra Magic from the Custom Sweepers outside Midgar is always a good one. You can also steal the Cannonball gun for Barret from them... if you can be arsed.
Then yey! It's the Kalm flashback! Everyone's favourite part!
I liked some of the wacky goofiness in FFVII tbh. I do have a limited tolerance for that sort of humour but FFVII nailed it pretty hard. So did other FFs of a similar era. When I think of later attempts at FF games to do it (CHOCO BOCO LINNNNNNNAAAAAAAA!) I cringe and I wonder if it works best with the more cartoonish style graphics and a lack of voice acting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fynn
Good God, am I glad that I dropped the XIII trilogy when I did
fwiw I think each iteration was an improvement on the last.
Idk, from what I've played of XIII-2, it seemed as if what little artistic direction XIII had was completely thrown out the window for a completely chaotic smorgasbord of stuff that just doesn't go well together and seems to have really nothing to do with the stuff established in the previous game :gator:
But enough about that! Got Matra Magic and did the Nibelheim flashback. Off to the Mythril Mines.
Ha, Mythril Mines and Fort Condor is where I spend hours getting Level 3 Limit breaks for everyone! I assume you're not gonna bother if you're speeding it?
Are you gonna get Yuffie?
Yeah, I do intend to get Yuffie and Vincent. Characters are something that I pretty much need.
And yeah, after trying to and later giving up on maxing all jobs with everyone in FFV, I've decided I really need to spend my energy wisely if I want to go through with this whole thing in a reasonable amount of time. Especially since I've basically done all the extra stuff in all FF games at least once in the past. Who knows, if I push myself, I might just finish it before Christmas (which is when I might potentially get FFXV but that's still a big if). So yeah, I need to hurry and get this done. Don't even know if I'll bother with the final weapons and limits.
(not to mention FFVII is stupidly easy so far)
Yeah, you can easily skip all the time-consuming stuff like Choco-breeding. I don't think I've ever done a speed run of FFVII. I don't like missing things!
Again, if you want some sort of challenge at least, there's trying to get Beta without grinding *right now*. Requires a decent-ish amount of strategizing at least. But I think a Sadness + Fire-halving Barret should be able to survive it by this point so it's certainly not impossible ^^
But I don't have the means of halving fire right now >.>
.......oh. Well then.
<.<
ah well, extra challenge is lame press x to win instead
Yeah, FFVII is pretty easy, even if you avoid grinding or getting optional extras that make the game go faster (like Matra Magic, Beta; though that in itself is a challenge).
Having said that, I've never done a low level run, or a no-materia run, or any other sort of handicap, so I can imagine it can be difficult if you make it, but a standard play is pretty easy.
What's your favourite Midgar scene? I love that entire sequence of the game, it's like a game within a game.
I like the whole package as well, but Intgink the Shinra Building takes the cake, as it's the climax of that chapter. First there's the climb, then some cool puzzles, then some actually creepy stuff, and then three boss battles in a row, one of which takes place after a whole bike chase. This is where the game really comes together which is quite fitting because this is where the actual game begins. After what felt like a game of its own.
Wall Market is a really close second, though!
Btw, Sense is like the most useless materia so far and yet I already have two. UGH
Did you not pick up the Elemental materia from the mayor in the Shinra HQ? That should do the job.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fynn
Yeah, I don't think I ever used sense. It didn't really serve a purpose in this game.
I... did not
*Curb Your Enthusiasm theme plays*
Currently looking for Yuffiebin the Junon Area forests and she's not spawning UGHHHH
The annoying thing with Yuffie is the Junon forests grant her the lowest spawning chance. Just don't mess up her interview when you do catch her.
Sorry for the lack of updates. Searching for Yuffie is one of the reasons why my interest in this game has kind of dwindled. I'll try to get back to it asap.
Stop searching for Yuffie then :P
There's one forest over at Rocket Town that has a 255/256 chance to have you encounter Yuffie.
Ugh, but I've already spent so much time looking for her here. I don;t want that to go to waste :eep:
And that is what we call the "sunk cost fallacy". ;)
:stare:
She always pops up super regular when I've played. For some reason, I run around in that really small section of forest below the huge one and she nearly always shows.
Yeah, it takes at most half an hour, but I've never been that unlucky. I'm a bit of a completionist, so I always get Yuffie when I first can.
I swear this is happening to me because you guys said she spawns really rarely here :stare:
Sorry to jinx you. Maybe if I say the spawn rate is actually very high, you'll find her in no time. Or just go read a book or listen to the radio while finding her.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fynn
Too late
smurf it, I've lost my patience. I never liked that stupid Naruto reject anyway
Also, now that I think about it, FFVII has the same number of story-important women as XV. Huh. And that's if you count Scarlet who barely qualifies.
Kids, if you ever need to perform CPR, please don't do it like Cloud does
People will die
I'm about to enter Gongaga, by the way!
Things are going so much faster now that I've decided to ditch Yuffie! Now I can pretend like she never existed!
Aqualung is great against Reno and Rude if you learnt it from the Harpy near Corel prison.
Nope!
There was a harpy there? Huh.
You need the buggy to encounter them, just ride it around the desert until you encounter one. The more important thing to pick up was the Laser Enemy Skill from the Deathclaws in Corel Prison, cause it's impossible to get back there and you won't encounter an enemy to learn it until the final dungeon.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fynn
Well, too late for that since we're going into Gongaga right now!
Ain't no stoppin' this train we're on, boys!
I always found Gongaga to be a rather strange location - after the Golden Saucer, but before the great Cosmo Canyon segment. It sorta seemed sandwiched between these great story sections, and I always forget about it.
Idk, I actually like Gongaga more. It's at least relevant to the story, since this is the first thing that suggests that there's more to Zack than being Aerith's ex. CC is pretty boring, really.
I love the atmosphere of Cosmo Canyon so I'll have to disagree on that. Plus the part where they just sit around the fire is what kind of sets off the whole introspective 'why am I even a part of this team' question that comes to a head in one of my all-time favorite FF scenes, the scene at the end of Disc 2 where Cloud asks everyone to go to their loved ones and homes and think about why they're still here, fighting.
I just hate Cosmo Canyon because for a long time I had a bootleg copy of the game that would crash once you got to the planetarium
I enjoyed the Seto part, though
Just got the Fairy Tale staff for Aerith and I loooove that it has so many material slots. This works because she's my Mage/summoner, so she needs dem slots!
Also, I'm actually... not enjoying material as much as I remember. It takes extremely long to level everything up, and I'm really missing the stat variety that the espers provided. I also miss the complexity and convenience of the Junction system (such as being able to just transfer one person's settings to another - that's an awesome thing that would work here because you're always only using three members at once anyway, and I like to transfer material to my active party so it levels up quicker).
In all, playing this game has really made me eager to play VIII :p
You mean something like the Exchange submenu in the Materia menu? Where you can exchange single materia, single lines (weapons/armor) of materia and entire character setups? Yeah that exists =PQuote:
Originally Posted by Fynn
It still takes clicking through the menu twice to do so whereas I remember Junction being a simple one click.Quote:
Originally Posted by KarifeanYou mean something like the Exchange submenu in the Materia menu? Where you can exchange single materia, single lines (weapons/armor) of materia and entire character setups? Yeah that exists =PQuote:
Originally Posted by Fynn
I'm with Fynn, Cosmo Canyon is a bit boring since Red XIII is more of a novelty character and his story was a bit predictable even back in 97. I enjoy Bugenhagen's scene explaining the Lifestream better but overall I find the whole place to be tedious. It doesn't help that Disc 1 doesn't really pick up again until you reach Nibelheim and the mindsmurf of seeing the town rebuilt, from there the whole disc goes by pretty quickly.
Yeah, with Exchange you still have to transfer the materia one by one. With Junction you could just copy one character's entire setup to another. Super convenient.
Anyway, got through Cosmo Canyon and about to enter Nibelheim. I actually had to beat the Cave of the Gi twice because the game crashed for me once. I escaped from one battle and got right into another, only the battle theme from the old one was still playing alongside the new one, so it all sounded pretty bad, and then after the results screen came up it all just crashed completely.
Time for another controversial opinion!
I actually think the first Nibelheim visit is more interesting than the flashback.
It's also pretty funny with all these cloaked figures saying stuff like "m...must go... to Reunion" when the first thing that comes to mind is like a high school reunion :p
Uggghhh that Wutai quest
GOT to disc two. Yeah, the thing happened.
Other than that, I'm starting to get the feeling FFVII is way too long for it's own good. I mean, there's two more discs of story, but I literally can't remember anything that happens from this point (aside from Cloud's mind breaking and the WEAPON stuff), but that kinda makes me feel all this is padding? I mean, I forgot how horribly in-fun the snowboarding mini game was, and that took forever! Now I'm at the Great Glacier which is just a mess to get through.
I just... kinda wish this game would just get to the point? Not to mention that the mood whiplash of Cait Sith coming back cheerfully while Cloud literally beats Aerith senseless, or when right after her death it's all like "woohoo snowboarding!" :/ I like me some good whiplash, but this just feels like it's in very poor taste
I'm actually really excited for the remake because of that! I feel like they will be able to consolidate some of the storyline and re-pace the game to match the updated battle system. Plus since they're doing full V/o for Cloud, we'll actually get some of that perspective rather than the silent protagonist.
Best of luck on the rest of a marathon, btw! :) Love living vicariously through your journey!
The glacier is probably my least favourite part of VII except maybe Temple of the Ancients... cause I never figured out how to navigate the damn place. No matter where I landed I always ended up going in the wrong direction somehow and it would take forever.
You aren't wrong; FFVII's main flaw is that the story really loses coherence after Disc One. The snowboarding section is terrible. The Great Glacier is a slog. Honestly, they could have chosen a better location for Disc Two. The mood whiplash jarring as well; the game has pacing issues, and they definitely need correcting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fynn
Yep. The Huge Material quest is just another trainwreck, honestly. It really doesn't make sense why they'd go outbofvtheirvwat to spite Shinra - Cid even mentions this on the ticket, how we should maybe trust science?
Really, the only redeeming thing about the whole disc is the whole reconstruction of Cloud thing
Honestly, end of disc one is about halfway.
When you get to disc 3 it's literally a bit of Midgar and the final dungeon.
I know. It's just that back when I first played it, I never noticed how weak and unnecessary the majority of disc 2 was. I really don't think there was a need to pad it out so much. Funny how I never noticed that before. But then again, I was a kid when I last beat it
Okay, I know I may have come off as a bit negative in recent posts. But make no mistake - I still love FFVII and it's still one of my favorite games. It's just that I last played it a long time ago, and so that, combined with the reverence it gets treated with, makes the issues I didn't see back then, all the more glaring.
So I haven't done this since FFIV, I think, but here's a list of pros and cons I've noticed so far, as well as a list of just general things I hadn't noticed before. I am now almost at the end, so I don't think it would change much if I waited.
+ The atmosphere is great, especially at the beginning sections.
+ In general, disc 1 is very solid and has this cohesive narrative that, while it has its ups and downs (Cosmo Canyon was boring and the focus does seem a bit lost right after you leave Midgar), makes you wanna keep going until the very end of the disc.
+ I actually really enjoy limit breaks.
+ Though in general I vastly prefer Espers and Junction to Materia, I still think the idea of having to choose a weapon not only based on stats, but also all the benefits or shortcomings it has when it comes to materia, is pretty cool.
+ I like most of the characters, Barret and Tifa especially, which is why I'm basically only sticking to them throughout.
+ Probably the prettiest world map in the series, despite the overall dreadful presentation. It's also filled with secrets and fun stuff off the beaten path, which is great.
+ The soundtrack is one of the absolute best in the series.
- Yuffie is the single worst character in the history of the franchise. I really don't get why people love her. Her design is stupid, she's a pain to get, the Wutai theft chapter is one of the most tedious parts of the game, and every word she speaks is garbage. She is out of place, she is not fun to be around, and in general she is complete and utter trash. I hate her guts and I want to see her burn in hell.
- In general, disc 2 is just... wrong. I heard some people complain about it, but I never remembered it being as bad as it is. Oh, but it is. Save for a few meaningful scenes like reconstructing Cloud and the part right after the northern crater (and possibly the Midgar revisit, but I still haven't gotten there, so I can't really say), it just feels like insane padding. I honestly feel like this game was made too long for its own good. The Great Glacier and the whole crater area was way too long and lacking in cutscenes for its own good, not to mention the only thing separating it from Aerith's death was a snowboard ride, which is just... ugh. It seems like for the hours following her death people forget to even mention her.
- Probably the worst part of Disc 2, though, is the huge materia arc. It really makes no sense for the team to go after Shinra. I get that they're trying to preserve the planet, yadda yadda, but when you guys have no clue how to save the world, maybe you should just let Shinra blow up the Meteor with the huge materia because that sounds like a solid plan and if the world is gone there is nothing left on it to protect anyway?! I mean, even smurfing Cid says it when they're on the rocket, but no, later on he's like "eh, I guess I went to space already, so I don't really care about any of that anymore." And then they're devastated when the rocket didn't destroy the meteor. DON'T YOU THINK MAYBE THE OUTCOME COULD BE A BIT DIFFERENT IF YOU HADN'T DECIDED TO JEOPARDIZE THE WHOLE THING?
- The translation is downright incomprehensible at certain points. Gast's secret laboratory was really bad, and then there was that scene on the Highwind where Red XIII says they should go visit Bugenhagen - the whole dialogue was so incomprehensible I literally had no clue how they all got to that conclusion. One thing I'm really looking forward in the remake is that they'll finally make the words sound good. Also, I am pretty convinced Gelnika was supposed to be called Guernica. Yeah, like Picasso's painting. Because that's actually a word that has some intertextual meaning, and Gelnika looks like some translator sat down, saw the katakana and just transcribed it into a vaguely Russian-looking word. Because Russians have submarines, amirite?
- I see a lot of people complaining about the Empire in FFXV, but damn, man, have you seen the Shinra people? Palmer, Scarlet and Heidegger are just so useless it's just funny. And that slapping match on the cannon was just terrible.
And some weird things I noticed:
*I've come to the conclusion that Aerith's death in the narrative serves a completely different purpose than I (and creators of the Compilation, apparently) have assumed previously. The loss of Aerith as a character isn't what really influences the narrative and the motivation of the main cast - it's what it entails for Cloud. Or rather, not what the death itself entails, but Cloud's actions prior to it. Nobody really mourns her death - the first time anyone mentions her after she dies is when the party meet up with Bugenhagen to take him to the Forgotten City, and that's way past the half-way point of disc 2. And even then, it's just a throwaway line.
Honestly, once the initial shock of "they killed a potential love interest!" wears off, there's not really much left. Her death - and the fact that it was Cloud that almost killed her - is meant as more of a segway that leads us into the part of the story that focues on Cloud's fractured psyche. Right after the death, and just before the "change discs" screen shows up, Cloud's last line is something along the lines of "This is who I am. If I ever lose control of myself again, please, stop me."
The way it's framed, this is not a story about loss. Aerith's death isn't supposed to be impactful for the very fact that you've lost a precious party member (it was framed that way in V and worked very effectively) - it's actually a tool that clues you in on the fact that Cloud isn't exactly who he is. And that's scary.
So though we've built up our own discourse about Aerith and her death over the years, her death is actually framed more like a plot device in the game. It's not important that a character dies. It's important what this death means for everyone else and the fate of the world. Even the grief isn't there. Which is kind of sad.
Do you guys know which game I think has so far had the most narrative consistency and the best pacing, as I'm playing this marathon? IV. I'm surprised myself, since while I always liked it a lot, it was never one of my favorites. But it really has a story that keeps you invested from start to finish and my most recent experience with the DS version had me perfectly leveled for every area, meaning my pace was never slowed by extra grinding. This is something I don't think has been done before in the series or since. FFs I through III didn't have really compelling narratives, while V, VI and VII all kind of lose focus after the mid-point (which bothers me more in VII, and less in V and VI due to why it happens in all those games). Because of that, IV feels much shorter than the games that came after it (even though it's not THAT much shorter), but in a good way - a game that has a very clear beginning, middle and end and a steady pace throughout.
Is IV my favorite FF from the ones I've played? Absolutely not. But I never noticed how perfect an example it is of a story that has just enough things to keep you interested from start to finish while not bogging your progress down with way too much stuff to do or nearless padding. So while it may not be my favorite, I'd say it's definitely the most satisfying one so far.
Yeah, that said, I only played through VIII and IX once, so we'll see what impression they make on me in that regard.
It's funny seeing people's opinions on Wutai. It seems pretty much split between people really enjoying it and really hating it. I thought it was a very enjoyable and I loved the sole pagoda challenge for Yuffie. I suppose if you hate her though it would be a nightmare :lol: