Square Enix designates the Playstation era as the Golden Age

[Depression Moon]

List is perfectly fine as is. They got it right.

[Slothy]

But then that are those that think FF12 fits in just fine in the dark age category....

FFXII may be a bit of a contentious entry in the series, but if anything that's a stronger argument for it not being lumped with FFX-2 and FFXIII given the way the common consensus rolls on those two.

[Rantz]

Looking at this list, I'd say it's no wonder the "golden age" started when it did according to them. Calling it ended after XII seems less obvious, but yeah, they were likely only dividing them into neat eras and adding names after the fact, trying to make all three sound good in their own way.

[Wolf Kanno]

Well if I was going to be a bit more semi-serious, I would probably make the list like this:

Antiquity
Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy II
Final Fantasy III

Golden Age
Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy VI
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within ~ The Fall of Square

The Dork Age
Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X-2 ~ The Beginning of the End
Final Fantasy XI
Compilation of VII ~ The Apocalypse ~ Beginning Signs of the Dark Age
Final Fantasy XII

The Dark Age
Fabula Novis Crystallis
Final Fantasy XIV

[Jinx]

Wolf Kanno, I thought you liked XII.


Anyways, my problem with this list is, I don't think necessarily that the games should've been listed in chronological order. Like, just because it came from a specific "period" does not mean it was good.

VIII in Golden Age, really?

[Agent Proto]

I... don't really like your use of of Dark/Dork Ages to describe the more modern eras, WK.

[Raistlin]

I don't think being in the "Golden Age" requires every game to necessarily be great. It's more about popularity and attitudes than anything. After VII, fans of the series were ridiculously excited to VIII. And even after VIII disappointed many, everyone was excited for IX. If FF had a Golden Age at all, those two games were probably in it.

Similarly, while XII was good, it was not part of that Golden Age. It was years in development, and a lot of enthusiasm for the series as a whole had waned at that time.

[Wolf Kanno]

I... don't really like your use of of Dark/Dork Ages to describe the more modern eras, WK.

Wel Dork isn't as bad when you understanbd what I mean. I still feel the Dark Age is appropriate for the modern entries since I feel they've caused more fan outcry than previous titles. Granted, the Dark Age could also be just a few games and Versus XIII, Type-0, FFXIV 2.0 and FFXV could all turn it around for Squenix.

I don't think being in the "Golden Age" requires every game to necessarily be great. It's more about popularity and attitudes than anything. After VII, fans of the series were ridiculously excited to VIII. And even after VIII disappointed many, everyone was excited for IX. If FF had a Golden Age at all, those two games were probably in it.

Similarly, while XII was good, it was not part of that Golden Age. It was years in development, and a lot of enthusiasm for the series as a whole had waned at that time.

^ This is pretty much what I was getting at. The Golden Age is still the generation where a majority of fans say the series was still going strong and even questionable entries are sort of shrugged off as being innovation that just didn't take off like people wanted, but is not necessarily bad. With the exception of FFX, I feel most of the entries in the Dork Age fit the profile of the Trope, as being pretty experimental for the series and being very divisive among the fanbase as the new FF teams explored what to do with the series.

[ReloadPsi]

To be fair it just seems to be divided into couplets of console categories (every further FF game on the 360/PS3 and whatever their immediate successors are will make up that third age before they go for a fourth) but yeah I'm a huge cynic so I'm still going with golden age = money.

[Pike]

Honestly I'd move FFXII to Modern Era. It just seems to fit better to me. When I think back on classic "Golden Age" FFs I don't think of FFXII. That still "feels" like a newer one to me.

Other than that I'm okay with the designations. As much as I'd love to put FFVI in with the "Golden Age" on a personal level I also like that they split it by 2D and 3D games so I'm fine with keeping it that way.

[Hollycat]

I wonder what they consider crisis core...?

[Mercen-X]

Antiquity
Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy II
Final Fantasy III

Golden Age
Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy VI
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within ~ The Fall of Square

The Dork Age
Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X-2 ~ The Beginning of the End
Final Fantasy XI
Compilation of VII ~ The Apocalypse ~ Beginning Signs of the Dark Age
Final Fantasy XII

The Dark Age
Fabula Novis Crystallis
Final Fantasy XIV

Having read the trope you linked to, I more or less agree with your assessment.

Honestly I'd move FFXII to Modern Era. It just seems to fit better to me. When I think back on classic "Golden Age" FFs I don't think of FFXII. That still "feels" like a newer one to me.

Other than that I'm okay with the designations. As much as I'd love to put FFVI in with the "Golden Age" on a personal level I also like that they split it by 2D and 3D games so I'm fine with keeping it that way.

I'm inclined to agree.

[ShinGundam]

I wonder what they consider crisis core...?

Portable age...

[ReloadPsi]

I actually enjoyed X-2 because it was so Dork Age, and I know I'm the only person on the planet who still hasn't admitted it's not actually a parody but I don't give a toss because it's the only way I can stomach the battrout crazy story and characters :P Oh, while playing the rather enjoyable game itself that is. Forgot to mention that.

[Del Murder]

VII to XII is a pretty long ass golden age. I would agree with Wolf that IV-IX is the real FF golden age. SNES and PS1 are where it's at.