How could anyone not understand it? FF8 was so simple and straight forward, I found it difficult to misinterpret things differently.
Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy II
Final Fantasy III
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy XI
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles
Final Fantasy XII
How could anyone not understand it? FF8 was so simple and straight forward, I found it difficult to misinterpret things differently.
EOFF needs a resurgence to it's former glory.
FFX-2 and FFVII, although neither of them are on the poll so whatever.
I didn't mean misunderstand as in not being able to comprehend it, I meant it more as it people look at it a certain way, and fail to appreciate how great it really is.Originally Posted by Hazzard
For example, i hear frequently how the plot is full of holes and is in some parts unbelievable, and how the battle system is broken.
I used to be the exact same way. However I've come to realize that VIII's plot is alot more intense than maybe any other FF's that the few flaws in it are easily forgiveable. Also, the battle system isn't broken - sure you can spend a considerable amount of time drawing and make your characters uber strong but in any FF you could spend hours leveling and do the exact same thing. It's about deciding just how much is enough and getting through the plot without as many distractions.
I'll grant you the plot stuff because despite the lack of a consistent villian and the gaping plot holes I still manage to enjoy the story, but even with little knowledge of where the best draw points are and how to exploit them, a person could easily junction there characters with enough high level spells to unbalance the game without ever spending the kind of time it took to overlevel in other games. Granted if someone wants more of a challenge they can delierately hold back, but even I can't be bothered as the main reason myself and most people will play through multiple times is to do sidequests they missed the first time and to enjoy the story again. The majority of people will never bother since it's incredibly difficult to walk the line between a reasonable difficulty, and uber hard super fan challenge.
The system isn't broken because you can create overpowered characters, it's broken because it can be done in little time, and pretty much by accident simply by using the system the way it was designed to be used.
People assume it's broken because they do not use it to full standard. Sometimes.
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The above sentence is false.
I would have voted for FFX-2. While certainly many complaints about the shortcomings of the plot and characters are valid, too many people seem to think the game have no redeeming qualities. I would contest at least that the variable job system and New Game+ aspects are actually quite innovative and (unfortunately) rarely used in the main FF titles.
I'll contend that very few see the beauty in VIII. Granted I agree that VIII is one of the most flawed games in the series but it doesn't mean I don't still love it.
Yes it has plot holes, story elements that don't go anyhwere, bad execution and the gameplay mechanics are broken (see Vivi22's post about the Junction system to understand my feelings.) and overall, the game easily has the greatest potential to be truly incredible. It falls short but I feel it gave players the most incredibly different experience in the series. For that alone I love this game.
IX also gets alot of hate for no real reason as well as Tactics Advance since both get nailed for being "too kiddy" when in reality if you really played through each of them you know that is far from the truth. Certainly I have some gripes about TA's game mechanics but even then it's still fun if a little frustrating at times... (still only two missions away from getting Cid...)
I'll never understand the III DS hate cause most complaints I've heard are completely stupid. It either shows you're an elitist snob or a noob who got into RPGs a year ago and have no understanding (and no appreciation) about the genre's history. FFI falls into this category as well.
I personally feel FFII is a wonderful game with a good story and though it's battle system is broken; at least it was nice to see Square strive for innovation. I like the battle system and would't mind seeing a retooled version in future titles; as well as a retooled and balanced Junction system.
I know I really should have put X-2 on here (just vote for Mystic Quest instead since it's gotten the least amount of love). I do personally hate the game but it looks like I may have to play through it again so perhaps a second playthrough will make me appreciate it more. I also have to play through X again and I am seriously dreading that... only game I honestly decided I disliked after my second playthrough...
I know some feel VI, VII, and X should be on this cause the games do get dissed for really stupid reasons (hey they are popular) but these games also recieve more love than the others so I don't see the point. This is a thread about the underdogs of the series!
True beauty exists in things that last only for a moment.
Current Mood: And it's been a long December and there's reason to believe. Maybe this year will be better than the last. I can't remember all the times I tried to tell myself. To hold on to these moments as they pass...
I know i already give my opinion but... I want to say that i cannot understand how FFXI is not winning the poll. The majority of the FF community simply ignores it. Some people don't even consider it part of the main series. And most of them didn't even play the game.
Being ignored is worst than being hated IMO.
Agrees "To be forgotten is worse then death"
As much as I think FFXI has received a bad reputation for no reason, I think it's fair enough if people don't play an MMO if they're not into that sort of thing. It's just sort of silly to criticize a game you haven't played simply because it's part of a genre you don't like.
i'm not really sure about all that. I would have ask what part of the game you're talking about. Because higher level spells that boost stats up rediculously don't come in during the first few scenarios, and to really make a difference you'd have to draw alot of the low level spells. I'm not sure how much time you're saying that it is, but I know if you spend that time grinding in previous titles, even if it's just a few levels, the enemies become considerably easier.I'll grant you the plot stuff because despite the lack of a consistent villian and the gaping plot holes I still manage to enjoy the story, but even with little knowledge of where the best draw points are and how to exploit them, a person could easily junction there characters with enough high level spells to unbalance the game without ever spending the kind of time it took to overlevel in other games. Granted if someone wants more of a challenge they can delierately hold back, but even I can't be bothered as the main reason myself and most people will play through multiple times is to do sidequests they missed the first time and to enjoy the story again. The majority of people will never bother since it's incredibly difficult to walk the line between a reasonable difficulty, and uber hard super fan challenge.
The system isn't broken because you can create overpowered characters, it's broken because it can be done in little time, and pretty much by accident simply by using the system the way it was designed to be used.
I don't really go junction crazy until the end of the 3rd disk (because it isn't necessary), and even then Ultimecia's castle wasn't a cakewalk. granted it wasn't as difficult as some of the other FF final dungeons but i wasn't obliterating every enemy who came in my way either.
You can get high-level magic pretty early in FFVIII. The boss Granaldo that attacks Elone in the training center on disk one drops 8 wizard stones (the Raldo around it drop another 8), which can be refined into 5 firagas/thundagas/blizzagas a piece with their respective refineries. Tents can be refined into 10 Curaga's a piece as soon as you learn Siren's Life magic refinery. It is extremely easy to become uber powerful very early on with almost no effort.
Last edited by Karellen; 08-10-2007 at 05:38 AM.
wizard stones are a high level drop for bite bugs.
those 8 you get can absolutely make a difference if you stock 40 high level spells on one stat on one character but i don't believe that constitutes breaking the game.
also you're absolutely right about the curagas, they can have dramatic effects on life/spirit, but you're forgetting how costly they are in the beginning of the game. Even if you go through the SeeD exams with a cheat sheet that alone still takes a little bit of time, not to mention intervals between receiving your salary. Which is my point, you're still spending some time to do that.
You're also forgetting that it takes time to get those refinery abilities, there's about 30 AP each, but that means you're foregoing more status-j's, and being that each GF starts with 2-3 you're not really making much use of your stock anyway. Granted you can fight the fish at the shoreline for like 6 ap in the beginning of the game but you're still spending time regardless doing that.
Which is my point - if you could give me an approximate minute count i think you'd see what i'm saying. I recently spent not even a half hour level grinding before the floating island in FFVI and that section, which is the most challenging part up to that point, was a breeze.
See edit with the bite bugs. I knew I had more wizard stones then that earlier on, I just wasn't sure why.
Tents are expensive, but are pretty much the only things you'll ever need to buy in shops anyway (beyond weapon upgrades, which are all fairly cheap). It's very easy to gain a large supply of them by consistently buying them throughout disk 1.
Large amounts of high level magic junctioned to strength really does make a significant difference in FFVIII. It basically allows Squall to kill bosses with 2-3 renzokukens for quite a way into the game. Similarly, high HP means that what attacks the enemies do get in won't cause significant damage. For the most part, strength and HP junction are all you'll ever need until quite a way into the later disks, beyond an average magic stat for healing. I don't think I've ever used Status-J's once in any playthrough, beyond when fighting the T-Rex. Status defense only ever came into play during the Omega battle.
30 AP is really not a big deal. You gain 20 AP alone from the first battle with Ifrit. By the time you get wizard stones there is pretty much no excuse for not having already learned it (refineries virtually being the most important abilities beyond HP-J and Strength-J). Similarly, You can gain 20 AP as soon as you have Siren to help towards her Life Refinery by fighting Diablos as soon as you get him.
None of these things take anywhere near the sort of time it would to level up to an equivalent stat of god-hood in other FF games. For the most part, these things can be gained just by following the story.
Karellen seems to have covered my argument for me. It takes no time to learn the necessary magic refinement abilities and little time/money stocking items and low level magic to be refined into higher level magic, and as said before, HP and strength junctions are all you need. The first makes you unkillable, the second kills everything in your way. And since high strength is better than casting a spell every time, you'll never have a reason to run down the magic stock.
All of this is easy to do, and can be done early on in little time, or by simply going through the story normally. Either way, you'll be more than powerful enough to carry you through to the end of the game by the end of the first disc, and that's without ever going near the draw points on the islands closest to Heaven and Hell. And that was really my point to begin with. You don't have to take the time to grind to become far too powerful much too early in the game. But I think we may be getting a bit off the original topic now.
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