Define the "FF Experience"...

[Wolf Kanno]

I'm certain we have all had this happen. Some loser waltz into your favorite FF forum and decries the game you love. You battle with them but they just won't listen and finally you back this person into a corner and they go to the "it lacked the 'FF experience' I've come to enjoy. It just didn't feel like an FF game"

So here a question I humbly ask you fellow EoFFers... What is the "FF Experience" to you? What makes this series stand apart from others in your mind? Hell what makes certain FFs stand apart from your favorites?

Thought out answers are much appreciated

[pspkilla]

The memorable characters, the beautiful music, and landscapes, the great storiy lines, the artwork! The way it can hold my attention for more than 10 minutes lol, the plot twists, and surprises, you can tell they put everything into it, not like other RPG's out there that lack alot of these elements, boring almost elevator-like music, ugly landscapes, and characters no one really cares about, if Cloud died im sure everyone would be upset, even if he is just a fictional character, but i don't think anyone would care if someone from a game like Unlimited Saga died. to be honest I can't even remember their names XD

[Marshall Banana]

Adventure, discovery, freedom, variety, sacrifices, and crazy plot twists sum up Final Fantasy in my mind. I don't define Final Fantasy by its story depth and character development, but I guess that's just me. =O

FFV, FFVIII, and FFXII are my favorites so far, I think. FFV has its customizable Job System and animal characters that I really like (Syldra, Hiryuu, and more). It also has three different worlds to explore. FFVIII has its Junction System and unique towns that I really like. I really like everything about FFXII.

[Bolivar]

well i would distinguish the FF Experience as the installments that came out starting with VII, whereas the games that were just "games" were the first six

BUT That's for another thread!!!

as far as what i expect, it's just a cool fantasy setting that's nowhere near as cliche as its contemporaries, cool characters, charismatic villains, a decent battle system even if it's just having different characters with different roles, interesting story, KILLER MUSIC, lots of different colors. games where i can basically zone out for an hour or few if i just wanna chill out.

[Wolf Kanno]

well i would distinguish the FF Experience as the installments that came out starting with VII, whereas the games that were just "games" were the first six

BUT That's for another thread!!!

as far as what i expect, it's just a cool fantasy setting that's nowhere near as cliche as its contemporaries, cool characters, charismatic villains, a decent battle system even if it's just having different characters with different roles, interesting story, KILLER MUSIC, lots of different colors. games where i can basically zone out for an hour or few if i just wanna chill out.

Honestly, I feel this is a perfect place to elaborate on this. It' not just about FF vs. The World it's also about how the FF titles stand against each other.

[BG-57]

Chocobos.

Okay, not just chocobos, but there are qualities that I have come to expect in a FF, even if some do not include all of them:

1) Chocobos
2) Airships
3) Summons
4) Standard RPG character classes (mages, knights, etc...)
5) Music by Nobuo Uematsu

If the game is missing two or more then it doesn't feel like a FF to me. So to me FFXII felt like one, while FFX-2 didn't.

[Hazzard]

When your playing the FF for countless hours a day; straining your eyes, losing track of time and being anti - social till your just plain brainwashed. I love that feeling.

The music, graphics, characters and difficulty have definitely got to be top notch. I need that emotional attachment to every character to feel some remorse if anything bad happens to them, or feel the happiness when something good occurs for them. The music is a key factor to epic moments, and battles need to be both challenging and balanced. Villains need to have detailed, and interesting backstories, and they need to be really like-able.

I want the experience to be understandable, so I know how to do most things without looking up in a walkthough. I need to experience vast amounts of gameovers to realize the faults in my tactics or gaming. I need exploration of a massive world, and most of all...I need FUN!

[Comet]

I need Cid.

[Bolivar]

well i would distinguish the FF Experience as the installments that came out starting with VII, whereas the games that were just "games" were the first six

BUT That's for another thread!!!

as far as what i expect, it's just a cool fantasy setting that's nowhere near as cliche as its contemporaries, cool characters, charismatic villains, a decent battle system even if it's just having different characters with different roles, interesting story, KILLER MUSIC, lots of different colors. games where i can basically zone out for an hour or few if i just wanna chill out.

Honestly, I feel this is a perfect place to elaborate on this. It' not just about FF vs. The World it's also about how the FF titles stand against each other.

You callin me out, bro!?

haha, well I feel nothing I could say could explain this sentiment any better than it is here:

Gametrailers.com - the making of FF7 - 2 of 2 by RobotBling

"The previous versions of Final Fantasy could be called 'puppet shows' compared to this one."

- Hironobu Sakaguchi right before the commercials at the end.

Part I also demonstrates to some extent what I am talking about, but this one is where Sakaguchi, Uematsu and Kitase really delve in to how... dare I say... REVOLUTIONARY(!?) this game was in relation to previous FF's and RPG's.

[Lawr]

t3h myoosic

But seriously, all I want is good music and recurring type villains like an Elementals or Espers type of thing.

[,,,]

I'm not really a FF snob. I'm not going to say that a game isn't a true FF if it's not in a fantasy setting, or if it doesn't have moogles, or if the characters aren't developed to my liking, etc. They're all FFs because that's what it says on the package. What I've come to expect so far from the games within the package is:

Has a plot with at least one twist. All that I know of passed.
CRPG style. All that I know of passed.
The most important one of all-- fun to play. FVII and FFII failed. But that doesn't mean they aren't FFs, just that they suck.

[Bolivar]

The most important one of all-- fun to play. FVII and FFII failed. But that doesn't mean they aren't FFs, just that they suck.

Um, no, they failed (and suck) to you. Probably more people than not would disagree with that statement about VII so to say in general that it failed is a fallacy.

People in Kanno's "unreasonably disliked" thread also say that II was a fun game (including myself) so again, remember that it's just your personal opinion.

[Wolf Kanno]

well i would distinguish the FF Experience as the installments that came out starting with VII, whereas the games that were just "games" were the first six

BUT That's for another thread!!!

as far as what i expect, it's just a cool fantasy setting that's nowhere near as cliche as its contemporaries, cool characters, charismatic villains, a decent battle system even if it's just having different characters with different roles, interesting story, KILLER MUSIC, lots of different colors. games where i can basically zone out for an hour or few if i just wanna chill out.

Honestly, I feel this is a perfect place to elaborate on this. It' not just about FF vs. The World it's also about how the FF titles stand against each other.

You callin me out, bro!?

haha, well I feel nothing I could say could explain this sentiment any better than it is here:

Gametrailers.com - the making of FF7 - 2 of 2 by RobotBling

"The previous versions of Final Fantasy could be called 'puppet shows' compared to this one."

- Hironobu Sakaguchi right before the commercials at the end.

Part I also demonstrates to some extent what I am talking about, but this one is where Sakaguchi, Uematsu and Kitase really delve in to how... dare I say... REVOLUTIONARY(!?) this game was in relation to previous FF's and RPG's.

Yes, I'm calling you out, and don't you dare turn this into that debate. We both reached a standstill so theres no point in arguing since neither one of us will ever give in

I remember that interview but honestly, I disagree with them and don't feel technology can bring a better experience. Yes, I am disagreeing with Sakeguchi-sama.

I'll post my own thoughts in a little bit.

[,,,]

The most important one of all-- fun to play. FVII and FFII failed. But that doesn't mean they aren't FFs, just that they suck.

Um, no, they failed (and suck) to you. Probably more people than not would disagree with that statement about VII so to say in general that it failed is a fallacy.

People in Kanno's "unreasonably disliked" thread also say that II was a fun game (including myself) so again, remember that it's just your personal opinion.

Uh yeah, that was the point of the thread.

"What is the "FF Experience" to you?"

So yes, the "to me" is what I was answering. To me, those games failed miserably to provide me with fun and, therefore, suck.

[Bolivar]

well i would distinguish the FF Experience as the installments that came out starting with VII, whereas the games that were just "games" were the first six

BUT That's for another thread!!!

as far as what i expect, it's just a cool fantasy setting that's nowhere near as cliche as its contemporaries, cool characters, charismatic villains, a decent battle system even if it's just having different characters with different roles, interesting story, KILLER MUSIC, lots of different colors. games where i can basically zone out for an hour or few if i just wanna chill out.

Honestly, I feel this is a perfect place to elaborate on this. It' not just about FF vs. The World it's also about how the FF titles stand against each other.

You callin me out, bro!?

haha, well I feel nothing I could say could explain this sentiment any better than it is here:

Gametrailers.com - the making of FF7 - 2 of 2 by RobotBling

"The previous versions of Final Fantasy could be called 'puppet shows' compared to this one."

- Hironobu Sakaguchi right before the commercials at the end.

Part I also demonstrates to some extent what I am talking about, but this one is where Sakaguchi, Uematsu and Kitase really delve in to how... dare I say... REVOLUTIONARY(!?) this game was in relation to previous FF's and RPG's.

Yes, I'm calling you out, and don't you dare turn this into that debate. We both reached a standstill so theres no point in arguing since neither one of us will ever give in

I remember that interview but honestly, I disagree with them and don't feel technology can bring a better experience. Yes, I am disagreeing with Sakeguchi-sama.

I'll post my own thoughts in a little bit.

I look forward to it. Also, are you sure neither of us will give in? I think you should join us, Kanno. We got better graphics over here.