14 or bust?

[My_car_is_faster_than_you]

I'm an avid FF player, and I do play X (without the music on) which solves my problem. And also, I do like Yuna's outfit in X and even more in X-2. The gunner outfit, but some of the outfits were a bit outlandish to me.

I know we all have our opinions, and that is what this post is really about. To see the different sides. I'm getting older, and playing something like IV or VI is really easy for me, because I still know the system and can jump right in. That's why it works for me. Everyone else probably can't get over the 2D pixels, which were so very cool looking to me at the time. For me, it's more reminiscence than anything.

If I was first to play X, I'd probably like it a lot more than I do. I personally love the Sphere Grid (one of the few old timer FF fans that does), and love the way I can customize my characters however I want. Lulu ended up being a White Mage, Rikku the Attacker, and Yuna the Black Mage, so you never know. The only reason I had problems with it, was because it was so different than the previous FF's I've played and I was expecting levels, powerful weapons (ones that can make or break your character), and world maps. If someone would have told me the differences before I got it, it would have been a much better experience.

It's all how we perceive things and how we take them to heart. Not like anyone's wrong. FF isn't for everyone. My dad can't stand it, but I love it. My girlfriend may or may not like it, I haven't asked. It's just all in tastes, and that's what makes us human.

[Captain Maxx Power]

Provided the series continues to move on and innovate as much as it has, it will still keep selling. After all there are music acts that have the same sound for years and keep selling records (AC/DC, Iron Maiden, The Rolling Stones etc.), as well as certain computer game franchises (Megaman, Dragon Quest). In comparison Final Fantasy is a series that always manages to feel continually fresh.

[Slothy]

You aren't alone in your love of old school FF, and apathy towards the newer ones, but I certainly don't share your view. Though I love the old school stylings of games like FFIV, V, and VI, and will gladly admit that FFVI is my favorite game of all time, I can't deny that for the most part these games keep getting better. FFIX is easily my second favourite in the series for it's story and battle system, and FFX had one of the best done stories I've seen in any game because everything felt natural. The characters and their motivations and the changes they go through felt right to me, and the battle system rocked. Having played the FFXII demo, I also can't deny that it has what could be my favourite battle system in the entire series from what I've played. All of these games easily top games like FFIV and V for me in every respect except nostalgia perhaps. They're just plain better made, whether they share the style of the older games or not.

[My_car_is_faster_than_you]

Provided the series continues to move on and innovate as much as it has, it will still keep selling. After all there are music acts that have the same sound for years and keep selling records (AC/DC, Iron Maiden, The Rolling Stones etc.), as well as certain computer game franchises (Megaman, Dragon Quest). In comparison Final Fantasy is a series that always manages to feel continually fresh.

I agree with you there, FF's have always seemed to implement enough changes to keep us interested. Hah, I keep buying them, so I guess it works.

[Bolivar]

I'm assuming that most people on this site are from North America.

Here's the problem with N. Americans criticizing a game series because it "lost its touch".

Final FAntasy is a Japanese game. And in Japan, they keep rating these games better and better every time a new one comes out.

Look at Famitsu's fan-made list of the greatest 100/200 games ever made. Final Fantasy X is #1. #2 is Final Fantasy VII.

There's also the problem when people who played FFVI came out call it the greatest FF. Because they claim to be afficionado's, but in reality, at the time they weren't even aware that half the series existed.

One of my best friends is one of those people. He, too, says that the only thing Square cares about now is Graphics, rather than story, characters, and other elements.

As someone who recently completed all the SNES FF's, I can honestly say, the stories and character development has gotten BETTER with almost every game. When FFVII came out, one reviewer stated that it was the first time when storytelling in videogames actually surpassed that in movies.

If you go back and play VI, the dialogue in the game would never hold up in any RPG today, because the story and character interaction isn't real or logical enough to be implemented into a game. So even if it was to be remade with 3D graphics, it would still seem outdated unless they revamped the entire game.

I think one of the main reasons that this has been a prevailing issue among American fans of FF is because of Final Fantasy VIII. I think Square had an enormous vision for a video game, it just didn't turn out the way they wanted, at least the reception in America wasn't.

I think FF will keep going strong well into the XX's. The games had a huge impact on a generation of SNES gamers in the 90's. Undoubtedly, it won over a new generation with the PS generation of games. And if you look today, there's a new generation of gamers who love FFX and Kingdom Hearts.

I find it ironic that in this post I was criticizing the VI-fans for having a grudge against the newer games for the way they've changed, as now I am unsure whether or not the Gambit system in XII will win me over. It may be too much of a departure, but the American audience can't decide that until it reaches our shores.

[Paul]

i think the problem is partly that RPGs are quite formulaic and predictable. when you approach this forumla for the first time, it will blow your mind. but as each FF game is released, following a similar pattern, it's hard to stay impressed.

but secondly, the games aren't necessarily getting better every time. basically, each game has a different gameplay system. these appeal to different players in different ways. FF3, 5, 7, 8 and 10 are the games that really had intricate battle customisation possibilities. some people like materia, hate junction, it's one of those things. some systems are better than others.

as for story, basically the early games had rather primitive stories, which began to get a lot more interesting with FF6, then became incredibly detailed with FF7. this was the peak, FF8 tried to take things in a different direction, and became a "love it or hate it" thing. FF9 returned to the light hearted and less complicated stories of the 16 bit era. FF10 tried way too hard with unbelievable and ridiculous plot twists, and the horrible voice acting didn't help at all.

i'm sure every title in the series is SOMEBODY'S favourite (okay maybe not FF2), but they aren't necessarily getting better every time. especially in terms of story. better presented, yes. but i haven't felt too involved in any of the stories since FF7, although they are still entertaining.