Convince me to play this game

[ryanraze]

Sometimes I think gems like these will be lost on those who didn't experience them at their prime and/or inception. This isn't to say that someone could play it tomorrow and fall in love with it; I just feel that the "magic" of it is hard to attain to an aged gamer who's seen so many technical advancements.

Keep in mind, FF6 is my all time favorite game period. I understand it's flaws, but the game resonated with me in a special way. I still, to this day, recall spending 18 hours straights playing this game and loving everything about it.

For me, it was a natural progression from FFIV. The graphics were improved, the sound was improved, the characters were improved, and the story was captivating. It had 16 playable (14 if you wanna be a dick about it) characters and two distinct halves to the game. It had a villain that epitomized the word "villain" and it had compelling heroes. The multiple party members was revolutionary and the separation of parties created an epic feel.

But, for someone to play it now for the first time I can see how it would be difficult to fall in love with it. It's not as smooth as say, Chrono Triger; but I do feel it to be the better game. Even upon my most recent playings of it, I still had that feeling of nostalgia, but it wasn't quite the same. I still loved it, and it still ranks as #1 on my list; but I can understand why people can't get into it.

As with the poster above me, I would like to know what you aren't enjoying about it specifically. Is it the dialogue, the graphics, the combat system, the archaic feel? The general speed of the game is slow; but you have to accept that this game is decades old.

So, what say you?

[Loony BoB]

I know ryanraze's post isn't directed at me, but I want to point out that I had no trouble enjoying FFV at any point, not for the music nor the characters nor the story nor the gameplay. I just enjoyed it. It was enjoyable! With FFVI, I found some parts fun but never felt that the entire thing really clicked together for me. Perhaps it's how often the characters were switched around so I never really got to feel attached to any one of them (although I do like some more than others, naturally). Perhaps it's that I just couldn't bring myself to like Terra, a rather prominent character, in any way. Perhaps it's because, having so many characters, I couldn't really feel that enough time was spent on any one of them... this is important for me, actually, now that I think about it. I don't like that there can be major moments for each of these people at various points but that's about all they have in the game. I can't help but feel that they could have gone into so much more depth with each character, to really explore them, that the game just left me feeling like the characters were too numerous. And then there were others with little to no story whatsoever, which was a shame. I mean, leave the character in and give them a story, or take them out. Maybe it's just me, I dunno.

Another major thing for me in video games is exploration, and perhaps after playing FFV I just felt that none of the areas shown in FFVI really offered anything new and inspiring. You can only see so many blocky houses and cliffy mountains and whatnot before it seems a bit stale. 3D games have a lot of luck in this area in that they can really show off to you when you explore the world, but 2D games can suffer a little. The idea and general feel of Zozo was cool, and I wish the area was larger and offered more to the user than what it did. In the end it was a chore to explore due to it being a monster-infested location, but more importantly there were only three things to it: Indoor room, outdoor stairs of the buildings and floor. Again, a shame.

I can't help but feel the game could have done with a few more comical or uplifting moments, particularly in the case of characters such as Terra who just bored me to death. So there's that, too. I would use Umaro constantly purely because fighting with him throwing your other characters about made me smile.

[ryanraze]

I know ryanraze's post isn't directed at me, but I want to point out that I had no trouble enjoying FFV at any point, not for the music nor the characters nor the story nor the gameplay. I just enjoyed it. It was enjoyable! With FFVI, I found some parts fun but never felt that the entire thing really clicked together for me. Perhaps it's how often the characters were switched around so I never really got to feel attached to any one of them (although I do like some more than others, naturally). Perhaps it's that I just couldn't bring myself to like Terra, a rather prominent character, in any way. Perhaps it's because, having so many characters, I couldn't really feel that enough time was spent on any one of them... this is important for me, actually, now that I think about it. I don't like that there can be major moments for each of these people at various points but that's about all they have in the game. I can't help but feel that they could have gone into so much more depth with each character, to really explore them, that the game just left me feeling like the characters were too numerous. And then there were others with little to no story whatsoever, which was a shame. I mean, leave the character in and give them a story, or take them out. Maybe it's just me, I dunno.

Another major thing for me in video games is exploration, and perhaps after playing FFV I just felt that none of the areas shown in FFVI really offered anything new and inspiring. You can only see so many blocky houses and cliffy mountains and whatnot before it seems a bit stale. 3D games have a lot of luck in this area in that they can really show off to you when you explore the world, but 2D games can suffer a little. The idea and general feel of Zozo was cool, and I wish the area was larger and offered more to the user than what it did. In the end it was a chore to explore due to it being a monster-infested location, but more importantly there were only three things to it: Indoor room, outdoor stairs of the buildings and floor. Again, a shame.

I can't help but feel the game could have done with a few more comical or uplifting moments, particularly in the case of characters such as Terra who just bored me to death. So there's that, too. I would use Umaro constantly purely because fighting with him throwing your other characters about made me smile.

Regardless I enjoy discussion. So with that said, allow me to retort.
1. My first question would be how old are you, when was your first play through and last play through.
2. Do you feel the complaint about blocky graphics is valid considering the era and time the game were released? Are these opinions from current playings or previous playings?
3. I think I can agree with you on the high volume characters = low quality story. There are some characters which I feel added no value to the overall story (Umaro, Gogo, Strago) and just felt tagged on. Hell, even Mog had a very small role to play in the whole thing. So I can see where they could have dropped some characters in order to enhance some of the characters with weaker stories (Relm, Setzer, Locke). Yes Locke who, despite being my favorite, could have used more story.

I also can understand the lack of attachment from groups switching around. I think, for me, a lot of this game is viewed through rose color glasses. I think at the time, when it struck such a precious cord, I didn't care too much about getting attached to specific characters; it was more being wrapped up in everything happening.

Good discussion though

[Quindiana Jones]

It's free, and it's a really fun game.

[Roogle]

Sometimes I think gems like these will be lost on those who didn't experience them at their prime and/or inception. This isn't to say that someone could play it tomorrow and fall in love with it; I just feel that the "magic" of it is hard to attain to an aged gamer who's seen so many technical advancements.

Yes, I agree with you. I think that the time has passed for a lot of the older games to maintain their presence with a newer audience.

I believe it can be difficult to cater towards the old audience while trying to find a new direction, and that might be some of the reason why Final Fantasy XIII has some bad reviews.

I don't think that it's impossible to recapture that certain spark as Final Fantasy Versus XIII has a lot of fan interest; consequently, it is one of the least talked about titles by the company right now.

[Loony BoB]

Quin: Saying FFVI is free is like saying that if you steal your mate's car, then it's free.

1. My first question would be how old are you, when was your first play through and last play through.

I'm 28. My first play through was when I was around 17, the last play through was started this year and ended just a couple of days ago. Eleven years apart and my opinion hasn't really changed, I gotta say.

2. Do you feel the complaint about blocky graphics is valid considering the era and time the game were released? Are these opinions from current playings or previous playings?

I'm not complaining about blocky graphics, as I play other games with blocky graphics and enjoy them enough. But there will almost always be a case of repetition due to the restrictive nature provided that stops games from feeling incredibly new art-wise. I began playing the likes of FFI through to FFVI all at once when I was 17, but the FFV was the one that captured my attention the most. After playing FFV, I do feel that most dungeons etc. in the other NES/SNES FF games are very similar and thus the exploration and artwork are difficult to find as interesting and new.

3. I think I can agree with you on the high volume characters = low quality story. There are some characters which I feel added no value to the overall story (Umaro, Gogo, Strago) and just felt tagged on. Hell, even Mog had a very small role to play in the whole thing. So I can see where they could have dropped some characters in order to enhance some of the characters with weaker stories (Relm, Setzer, Locke). Yes Locke who, despite being my favorite, could have used more story.

I also can understand the lack of attachment from groups switching around. I think, for me, a lot of this game is viewed through rose color glasses. I think at the time, when it struck such a precious cord, I didn't care too much about getting attached to specific characters; it was more being wrapped up in everything happening.

Good discussion though

Indeed! I like your posts, man, they're quite balanced ones which is a rare thing in gaming forums.

[maybee]

When I first played Final Fantasy VI way back in 2003 I just didn't get it. It had terrible graphics compared to the Sony PlayStation 2 and it has a very slow opening.

But Final Fantasy VI has something special and rather deep about it. It's characters. It may sound simple or rather plain but Final Fantasy VI's characters feel relateable, deep, thought provoking, passionate, heart warming, and they're bound to change your life and how you think or feel about the world.

I used to think that taking a gamble was just that only, just taking a gamble. But now thanks to Final Fantasy VI and the character Setzer I know how important it is to take a risk, if you feel deeply inside that it feels right. It could change your life for better and in my life it actually has.

That's just a small example of how deep and passionate the characters within Final Fantasy VI are. Take somebody like Cloud from Final Fantasy VII. He's famous and likeable, but is he thought provoking and life changing towards the player ? Not in the slightest. Cloud has taught me nothing about the world, myself, other people, or anything. He's just a likeable Fantasy main lead.

Final Fantasy VI has a awesome crew of men and women. Celes is one of the most strongest females to ever come out of a Final Fantasy game. And you should play Final Fantasy VI to meet these awesome characters, know them, know their story, cry with them, smile with them, and then say goodbye to them and thank for them for what they have taught you about you and your life.

Because they deserve it.

[Quindiana Jones]

Quin: Saying FFVI is free is like saying that if you steal your mate's car, then it's free.

Yeah, and if your mate has an Aston Martin, then you should definitely steal his car.

[ryanraze]

Quin: Saying FFVI is free is like saying that if you steal your mate's car, then it's free.

1. My first question would be how old are you, when was your first play through and last play through.

I'm 28. My first play through was when I was around 17, the last play through was started this year and ended just a couple of days ago. Eleven years apart and my opinion hasn't really changed, I gotta say.

2. Do you feel the complaint about blocky graphics is valid considering the era and time the game were released? Are these opinions from current playings or previous playings?

I'm not complaining about blocky graphics, as I play other games with blocky graphics and enjoy them enough. But there will almost always be a case of repetition due to the restrictive nature provided that stops games from feeling incredibly new art-wise. I began playing the likes of FFI through to FFVI all at once when I was 17, but the FFV was the one that captured my attention the most. After playing FFV, I do feel that most dungeons etc. in the other NES/SNES FF games are very similar and thus the exploration and artwork are difficult to find as interesting and new.

3. I think I can agree with you on the high volume characters = low quality story. There are some characters which I feel added no value to the overall story (Umaro, Gogo, Strago) and just felt tagged on. Hell, even Mog had a very small role to play in the whole thing. So I can see where they could have dropped some characters in order to enhance some of the characters with weaker stories (Relm, Setzer, Locke). Yes Locke who, despite being my favorite, could have used more story.

I also can understand the lack of attachment from groups switching around. I think, for me, a lot of this game is viewed through rose color glasses. I think at the time, when it struck such a precious cord, I didn't care too much about getting attached to specific characters; it was more being wrapped up in everything happening.

Good discussion though

Indeed! I like your posts, man, they're quite balanced ones which is a rare thing in gaming forums.

Unfortunately, I never had the chance to play FFV. Or I should say, when I finally had the chance, my taste in graphics and games had evolved to the point where I'd say, "I could either play this game from 1992, or I can play this sweet ass game on my PS2". Because around this time I was wrapped up in other games, I just never was able to go back. However, at this stage in my life (31 with a little bit more appreciation for the classics), I sometimes question whether I should check in FFV. I hear there is a "rift" between FFVI zealots and FFV fans. FFV claims it to be the best, and also having a villain that trumps Kefka in nearly every way. Your statement of the graphics/dungeons not being repetitive in V makes me quite curious. I'll have to check it out...aka: watch videos on youtube while I'm at work analyzing data.

Cheers

When I first played Final Fantasy VI way back in 2003 I just didn't get it. It had terrible graphics compared to the Sony PlayStation 2 and it has a very slow opening.

But Final Fantasy VI has something special and rather deep about it. It's characters. It may sound simple or rather plain but Final Fantasy VI's characters feel relateable, deep, thought provoking, passionate, heart warming, and they're bound to change your life and how you think or feel about the world.

I used to think that taking a gamble was just that only, just taking a gamble. But now thanks to Final Fantasy VI and the character Setzer I know how important it is to take a risk, if you feel deeply inside that it feels right. It could change your life for better and in my life it actually has.

That's just a small example of how deep and passionate the characters within Final Fantasy VI are. Take somebody like Cloud from Final Fantasy VII. He's famous and likeable, but is he thought provoking and life changing towards the player ? Not in the slightest. Cloud has taught me nothing about the world, myself, other people, or anything. He's just a likeable Fantasy main lead.

Final Fantasy VI has a awesome crew of men and women. Celes is one of the most strongest females to ever come out of a Final Fantasy game. And you should play Final Fantasy VI to meet these awesome characters, know them, know their story, cry with them, smile with them, and then say goodbye to them and thank for them for what they have taught you about you and your life.

Because they deserve it.

While I can't say I had any of the life changing experiences you did, it is enjoyable to see someone else who holds this series in such a high regard. It further encourages me to play through the game one more time to relive the entire experience. I figure it couldn't take more then 25 hours of game time...especially if I used a save game state with some enhancements. Yeah, furrow your brow at me all you'd like; I put my time into the game and am only looking for story.

Now to find a thread on some other classic RPGs....

[Loony BoB]

I sometimes question whether I should check in FFV. I hear there is a "rift" between FFVI zealots and FFV fans. FFV claims it to be the best, and also having a villain that trumps Kefka in nearly every way. Your statement of the graphics/dungeons not being repetitive in V makes me quite curious. I'll have to check it out...aka: watch videos on youtube while I'm at work analyzing data.

I wouldn't claim FFV to be the best, it's just a really enjoyable game that is one of the best out there, and I enjoyed the job system and how it affects battle mechanics/leveling more in FFV than pretty much any of my other 'favourite' Final Fantasy games.

Kefka is the better villain in my opinion. Although I must concede that I felt the disaster striking the world in FFV was much more in-your-face than it was in FFVI. Weird, considering there is a world state called "World of Ruin" in FFVI! But when you see what the evil guy does in FFV, it's much... grander in scale, I guess? Hard to describe without spoiling major parts of the story.

And no, I don't mean FFV's graphics aren't repetitive, I just mean that FFV's graphics and style are repeated in FFVI in large chunks, so when I went through (for example) a mountain dungeon in FFVI, I felt like I'd seen it all before. It's just the way of the 2D world as there is only so much you can do to change the look of the grass, the cliffs, the mines, the castles, etc. They will still be square-by-square of bricks and green texture etc. You get what I mean? I'm sure when I play FFIV again I'll see a lot of stuff that I'll think "Eh, seen it in FFV and FFVI". It's not a criticism of the game, just stating it as a reason I couldn't get into FFVI's exploration.

PS. When you already have the last post, please edit your post instead of making a new one. I'll merge your last two together.

[Cloudane]

Ha, a "convince me to play" thread - I used that for FF3 (no, hadn't seen this) so just had to pick this one.

You know, I never actually finished it. Got very very close so I don't know why, I think I just got distracted with Everquest or something and never went back to it.

But I'd say the highlight of this game for me is the vast, vast range of characters. There are insane number of playable characters, each with their own story, it's so deep and amazing. As far as I recall anyway.

And yeah, the music.

[maybee]

It doesn't look like anything is working...




You know that there is a naked picture of Tifa that you can unlock when you end this game right ?

[Cloudane]

It's truuue
Just like how you could jump up, back, left, right and forward in the tutorial for Tomb Raider, and you will be able to see Lara take off her clothes before she gets in the pool

[Bolivar]

I'm with BoB on this one too. I wonder if that means FFV is a more timeless game than FFVI is.

I do like FFVI, though, and look forward to my next playthrough.

[Flying Arrow]

I'm with BoB on this one too. I wonder if that means FFV is a more timeless game than FFVI is.

For my money V is more "timeless" than VI - or at least it's more fun for me to revisit.

I think it's the Job system + classic JRPG gameplay. It doesn't do anything overly-ambitious or anything of that sort. It just is what it is and does what it does very well. Story-driven games have trumped FFVI since it came out almost 20 years ago, but V is just so solid and fun to tinker that it still just works if that's what you're in the mood for.