Why is Chrono Trigger part of FF Chronicles?

[brunoafh]

If you're lukewarm about V then I don't think III is going to do anything for you. The grind is even heavier than in V and it's at times a pretty brutal game. If you can handle playing grind heavy NES RPGs now a days then it's definitely worth a shot, at least.

[dunpeal2064]

Man, V blew me away, and that was well after I played both IV and VI. I absolutely loved that game. So many cliche Final Fantasy themes that are all found in that game, and I thought the job system was pretty crazy for its time. Even had the first appearance of a "weapon", and 2 bosses that were "more difficult" than the actual last boss. I think VI really built the series, but I don't think it could have done so without V.

However, I would agree that if you are not a fan of V, you will probably not like III. The games have a lot of similarities.

[Xeogred]

I guess that's that and I'm not surprised. Dunno if I can handle grindy NES games anymore, my patience for the grind has kind of gone down over the years, lol. I still haven't even played the "original" NES version of FF1 because I could never get into it at all, though I finished the GBA and PS1 versions which were both toned down probably way too much, easy as pie.

FFIV and FFVI just got it perfectly right for me when it comes to the older ones I guess. I love a lot of customization and things like that in JRPG's, but yeah... guess the job system just isn't my thing.

Best thing about FFV for me was the caves theme and Gilgamesh, haha. I thought X-Death was terrible. It also had some really cool graphics though like some of the main temples or something.

[dunpeal2064]

I would actually say that V is far harder than the other snes final fantasy games. However, its style is nothing like IV and VI. It was almost like a step back to the 8 bit era, but revamped.

I can totally see someone not liking it as much, I couldn't get into it the first few times I tried. Once I got a friend to take control of half my party and 2p co-op the game, we had a lot of fun though.

As for story, V is pretty weak compared to IV and VI. I still like VII the most, just for pure nostalgia, but if I had to credit 1 final fantasy for being crafted perfectly, it'd be Vi without a doubt.

[brunoafh]

if I had to credit 1 final fantasy for being crafted perfectly, it'd be Vi without a doubt.

I'm not sure about that one. I agree with what you're saying in general, but I think IV is a perfect 10/10 game. Every single second of the game feels necessary and flows along without stuttering. It's probably the most "complete" RPG that I've ever played, and a big reason that IV was able to hit the nail on the head oh so perfectly was due to it's relative brevity. VI stumbles over itself in various sections due to being so ambitious and huge for the time. The most noticeable hiccup is after the destruction of the world sequence. The narrative really starts losing it's punch.

Don't get me wrong though, I love VI as much as the next guy.

[dunpeal2064]

if I had to credit 1 final fantasy for being crafted perfectly, it'd be Vi without a doubt.

I'm not sure about that one. I agree with what you're saying in general, but I think IV is a perfect 10/10 game. Every single second of the game feels necessary and flows along without stuttering. It's probably the most "complete" RPG that I've ever played, and a big reason that IV was able to hit the nail on the head oh so perfectly was due to it's relative brevity. VI stumbles over itself in various sections due to being so ambitious and huge for the time. The most noticeable hiccup is after the destruction of the world sequence. The narrative really starts losing it's punch.

Don't get me wrong though, I love VI as much as the next guy.

Before I say anything, I love IV as well, but here is why I saw VI. The actual character customizing.

In VI, not only does each character get their own abilities unique to them, but you can also equip espers to not only change what skills they will learn, but change their stats as well. IV did nothing close to this, each character was themselves, and that was that.

Also, in IV, you never get to chose your party (unless you are playing the GBA extra dungeon) I really enjoy fitting a party, and choosing who I will grow and how I will grow them. VI has so many characters, hidden characters, side quests, hidden espers, and hell, the world even ends and one of your characters attempts suicide.

As much as I love IV, for me personally it doesn't hold a candle to how insane VI was, and it didn't set the groundwork for the future of the series as much as Vi

Of course, all opinion, and I am not trying to say you are wrong, more just sharing why I feel that way

[brunoafh]

I know it's got lots of features, but that wasn't what I was commenting on as much. Gameplay wise I would put both V and VI over IV.

The point I was trying to make is that IV is truly a perfect game. I'm hard pressed to name another RPG that managed to fully realize the scope of itself and craft every inch flawlessly. Many RPGs (especially PSX ones, since developers starting going crazy with new tech and possibilities and overshooting themselves) end up feeling incomplete in some areas because there is simply too much to worry about, and prioritizing staff and time properly is a difficult task. Everything must go without a hitch during the development process for the end result to be a game like FF IV.

[Xeogred]

SLOW DOWN!!!!!!!!

@dunpeal2064 (what you said about FFV being harder above) - That is a pretty good point and yeah, for me I just remember I'd get tired of having to grind for job points and building up classes. Maybe not necessarily harder, but far more purely gameplay focused and grindy for sure. The only time I grinded in FFIV (Chronicles) was towards the very end when I killed off everyone but Cecil (for the non-dividing exp trick) and got him up to the 70's or something, so he was pretty much God when I fought Zeromous a second time, haha. I'd say FFIV wasn't too hard, but it had a fair challenge unlike 90% of the other FF's (as much as I love them). FFVI on the other hand... don't get me wrong I've beaten it like 5 times, but it's probably one of the easiest JRPG's out there. But it's fun and addicting enough that sometimes I like to grind in that one for no real reason, I remember on my last replay on the SNES I got several characters to 99 with Ribbons, Speed Shoes, and did the speed stat leveling up trick, so it was just utterly hilarious how invincible I was going through Kefka's tower.

Before I say anything, I love IV as well, but here is why I saw VI. The actual character customizing.

In VI, not only does each character get their own abilities unique to them, but you can also equip espers to not only change what skills they will learn, but change their stats as well. IV did nothing close to this, each character was themselves, and that was that.

Well, going along with what I'm saying above... you could almost argue FFVI began the "overpowered-ness" in the series that followed BIG time with FFVII and VIII. Letting everyone in FFVI learn every single magic in the game was just ridiculously over the top, and then in FFVII Materia can be so manipulated and abused it's insane, and in FFVIII I had a Junction setup on my characters that made them absorb 100% of every single element in the game. It was hilarious how invincible you could become in these three. Not to say that's bad, but yeah.


I'm also with brunoafh there, I've only beaten IV once... but I've been thinking back to it a lot lately and kind of questioning whether or not if I prefer it over FFVI. In those 5 or more replays of FFVI for me, every single time I'd get to the WoR... the game really does change a lot and has this weird ultra depressing, slow vibe that I can't even explain. It's almost like the WoR in itself is the final dungeon, but yeah. I have always prefer the first half of the game when it came to the story and all. I also don't remember FFVI's ending being that great, like it was over, but you were just left there thinking "Wow... look at the world, this sucks". But in FFIV the progression of that game just continually got more and more epic, really weird with stuff I won't mention in case of spoilers, and I remember the ending being incredibly satisfying.

Well anyways, lol... have either of you played FFII to completion?

[brunoafh]

Well anyways, lol... have either of you played FFII to completion?

Yeah, I have. It's worth a play, but you pretty much have to play the GBA or PSP (when you can, at least...) versions. The NES version is... many things went wrong.

I think of it as the pioneer for FF IV and VI, like how I was the pioneer for III and V, if that makes sense. Enjoyable story, good artwork, decent music, good cast of characters, a worth-while game. There's also a really cool bonus mode in the GBA/PSP version after you finish the game that's pretty damn cool.

[dunpeal2064]

For me, gameplay is a huge part of my enjoyment, and I think thats why I think VI > IV. But yeah, not really a "which is the best FF" thread, so we can leave it at that.

I actually could not get into 2 the last time I tried. I think it was the lack of leveling. I never really felt like I was growing my characters properly. It was definitely where the FF customization began, but I think the individual characters were lacking something that set them apart from each other.

I'll admit that I haven't tried to play it in a long time, and I probably should give it another shot. Hell, I got through Mystic Quest, I should be able to get through any of em.