Final Fantasy I - X(pt2).

[Mytical]

Well we have a thread for Final Fantasy XII, would rather forget XI ever happened, so here is a thread about all the others.

I've played 1, not yet 2 (but I am getting Dawn of souls which has an updated 1 and 2...yay). Just recently played 3, and have played all but v and 6 (but I will be ... soon). Each one that came out, was invovative for it's time, and graphically better then just about anything out before it.

Lets discuss FF III, the one I just recently got a chance to play. The graphics was a bit dated, as it was a remake, but they did of course polish it. The job system was frustrating, but that made me love it. I also liked the fact that you had to do certain things to get to certain jobs, but found it a little sad when only 2 of the last like 6 were very interesting. One of the interesting ones was just because it was a Ninja and I like ninja's. Other 'older' jobs did better then some of the newest, and to me that was rather sad. If you have to progress through the ranks and earn new jobs, the newer jobs should be superior to the older jobs. Period.

Ok the jobs are somewhat convoluted, but break down into some logical placements.

Freelancer, Red Mage, Bard, and Sage, are all utility jobs. Each is ok in it's ranks, but far inferior to specialist jobs. Of course they can do most of everything. Their diversity is their strength.

Warrior, Blackbelt, Ranger, Black Knight, Ninja, and Dragoons are the offensive Fighters (which is odd for the ninja but that is beside the point). Warriors use advance (deal increase ammount of damage but take more damage when attacked). Blackbelt can boost their attack to increadible levels, but it burns turns to do so. Rangers can hit all units with barrage, but it is random and sporadic, don't bother with them. Black Knights drain part of there lifeforce to increase damage delt and attack all enemies. Ninja throw things to deal increadible damage to a single enemy. Dragoons jump into the air and come back down the next round to attack the enemy (this makes them immune to spells and attacks while they are up there)

Knights, Monks, and Vikings (???!) are your defensive fighters. Knights can save somebody if weak, monks can hit back while on defense, and Vikings can lure enemies to hit them. (A viking..defensie...huh???).

Stand alones are Scholor (can study and dispell positive effects an enemy might have), and Geomancer (free endless magic supply as they use the terrain to attack the enemies)

Evokers and Summoners do almost the same job, Summoners just are more reliable. But evokers can get some more interesting results...and have more spellpoints to summon the creatures. Though Heatra (effreet) is the only one that makes me want an Evoker over a summoner (evokers have a chance of turning that spell into a healing spell).

Healing types are ... White mage and Devout. White mage can not use level 8 spells, but have a lot of lower level spell points. Devout has fewer lower level spells, but more higher level ones. They can also use level 8.
Problem is they don't get much weapon or armor choice. Oh well they are there to heal, not fight.

Black Mages and Magus. Hmm what to say about these two. They are really hit and miss. Same as White mage and devout as to who has what spell points..that is where the similarities end. Black mages while a little tougher the white mages become useless against creatures with high magic defense that do not have a specific weakness..as do Magus. When a creature has a specific elemental or spell weakness however, they are nothing short of awe inspireing. For example to make either Sages or Summoners worth the time you have to fight and defeat 3 of their summonings. Odin, Leviathen, and Behamut. Taking a Black mage or a Magus to Odin or Behamut is just asking for trouble. Though taking white is absolutely needed. Taking either a black mage or Magus to Leviathan, and the battle is all but over. A couple powerful lightning spells and Leviathan curls up and dies. Even though it is stronger then Odin and weaker then Behamut. Talk about hit or miss..

Now lets discuss job levels. The most confusing thing about the game (which is still an amazing game). You don't get job levels like you get regular levels. In fact your job level can be 99 and your level can be very low (if you have the patience). The more actions you take in a fight (or fights) the higher your job levels go. Even if they are unsuccessful. If you don't get to complete them, however, they don't count (your ally before you kills the last creature before you get to act.) Guard and Defend (which takes place before any other action or attack) always count however.

Now lets say you go through the trouble of getting a white mage to 99th job level and switch to Devout. Basically they do the same 'job' so it would make sense that all your hard work carries over. No such luck. Now true a 1st job level devout's heals are more powerful then say a 30th level white mage, but still you need to work up that devouts job to increase the effect of their spells. Weird huh?

Stats and job levels affect everything.
How powerful spells are, how much damage is done, if you hit or miss, ect.
Job levels have specific things that they effect that stats don't however.

For instance. Throw for a ninja. A Job level 99 ninja will get more damage from throwing a 10 attack item then a Job level 1 will from a throwing star (200 attack).
Provoke for a Viking (If your provoke takes place before the enemy attacks and you are a job level 99 viking that creature is going to attack you every time).
Dark Knights damage portion of it's special goes up with job level and much more for the others.

Ok I've rambled enough for now...more later.

[winterfate]

That's very interesting Mytical!

Sounds like a very fun game indeed!

[asandir]

I think she mighta posted the whole game's story though!

[Omega_Destroyer]

If you've played one Final Fantasy, you've played them all.

[winterfate]

That's true, Omega.

[Campaigner]

Mythical: Final Fantasy III (and VI) is the one with Kefka, Locke and Terra. Where do you get 'Blackbelt', 'Warrior' and 'Red Mage' from?

The only FF game I remember those charactertypes from are the very first one (which sucked btw as there was no explanation of how anything worked. Used a spell from the Red Mage and couldn't cast a spell from him again....)

[Mytical]

No see that is where the confusion starts. American FF III was Japans FF V, but recently they have made the Japanese FF III into an american game for the Nintendo DS. The new FF III is totally different from American FF III. America never really got Japan's FF III or IV till much later. Confusing huh?

As for all them being alike, you not correct. The first few were about crystals and very similar, I give you that. Then they moved passed that to Materia, then evolved past that as well. The story lines even diverge, the first few are about the balance of light and dark, the next trying to save the world from a corporation (which has a lot of similarities to America for some reason), and finally about finding oneself. Yeah some of the stories are very similar, and there is a lot of reused things...but FF similarties between games is less then Might and Magic series and HoMM series.

[Omega_Destroyer]

Like I said, if you've played one, you've played them all. C'mon, you know the next game will start off with some semi-idealistic protagonist, who meets up with a bunch of people who become ultimately closer as a team, who must stop some unspeakable evil from destroying the planet.

[asandir]

If you've played one Final Fantasy, you've played them all.

That's true, Omega.

ahhh, no .... the theme you listed could apply to a heap of games .... the fact of FF games is that each iteration has a completely new skill system, differences in combat etc etc .... there is no other series that creates the differences between games like Square Enix with FF

[winterfate]

Touché, stefan.

Yet at the same time, many similarities in the core gameplay of most, if not all, of them causes you to notice that:

If you've played one Final Fantasy, you've played them all.

It's an odd effect really. They are so similar that they are different. (if that makes any sense)

Square Enix's latest addiction of protagonists with weather-related names (in FF) is starting to freak me out.

[Omega_Destroyer]

Someday "A chance of rain clouds forming in the afternoon" will have to take up the mantle of the hero of Final Fantasy.

[winterfate]

Indeed!

Let's see how many they have had:

FF7: Cloud
FF8: Squall

Hm...I'm stuck...but as far as I can remember, there are way more...just can't remember right now.

[asandir]

methinks you guys are missing the point .... it is a series .... hence it follows a theme, there is a link if you will

but the differences they introduce are intense, they recreate from the ground up.

[winterfate]

Well...that's true.

I can't debate that.

[Mytical]

So you are of the mind that all Rpg's (including Might and Magic), TBS (Including heroes), and pretty much all games are all just clones of each other? Small differences sure, but hey they all have common themes. RPG's you pretty much have to save the world from some evil or such. All tbs you have to outthink your enemy and build various things, hire troops, ect. If you have played one, you've played them all. Yes there are common themes. Even some of the characters make reappearences. The storyline is similar, if different in a few aspects. Yet each and every FF has something different about it. Maybe it is the skill system, maybe the combat system, maybe something else entirely. Go ahead compair X to I. Almost two totally different games. I am working on getting back my collection (and the ones I've missed). H5 has more in common with H1 then even FF 6 does with FF 7. Might and Magic IX has more in common with MM I even. Sorry, this is my favorite series, bar none, so I may get a little antsy . There is no series out there that varies as much as this one however.

[winterfate]

I see.

they all have common themes

Of course, that's why they're genres...and beside, didn't I say before that:

I can't debate that.

I've played FF7 and FF9 myself and I can say that those games were great.
Gripping storylines (especially 7). 9 had some cool stuff too though.

[asandir]

I can now hear the voices of reason!

[winterfate]

They never truly left, stefan.

[Omega_Destroyer]

I may consider getting the next game if it comes to the 360, like some are speculating. It certainly would need a draw greater than Eternal Sonata, Lost Odyessey, and Blue Dragon for me to consider it. A long time ago I was psyched that they released one for the Game Cube, until it was revealed how much Sqaure decided to screw the Cube.

[Meandor]

I may consider getting the next game if it comes to the 360, like some are speculating.

Imho there are more chances for DS or PSP version than 360.