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Post by toei on Mar 1, 2018 21:59:56 GMT -5
I play VS fighter story modes now and then, but there's no denying that the genre comes alive with another player.
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Post by Xeogred on Mar 1, 2018 22:35:49 GMT -5
I dug up something from a folder created in 2013. (that's the special 5-IN-1 final dungeon(s)!) Found FF5 too! Also from 2013... which means, 2013 is the summer I played FF2 (PSP), FF3J (NES), FF4 Complete (PSP), and FFV (GBA) all back to back. I was possessed and loved it. It was my first time completing FF2, FF3, and FF5. I don't think I've played FF6 since then... so damn it's been 5+ years now. Probably been about that long since Chrono Trigger as well. And for good measure I dug up the ancient of treasures, my save states show 2010 but I'm not sure between some computer moves and such. From ZSNES 1.42 buried in a tropical jungle of folders, my last awesome full run of Seiken Densetsu 3: HISTORY! Awesome to have this all on "paper" now somewhat.
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Post by Sarge on Mar 2, 2018 11:08:25 GMT -5
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Post by Ex on Jul 24, 2018 16:01:52 GMT -5
I see now I never posted my status with this series in this thread.
Just sticking to the mainline entries here, not getting into the pseudo-sequels and spinoffs:
FF1 <--Have never beaten this, would it be dumb to do so via the PSP version? FF2 <--same as above FF3 <--same as above FF4 <--same as above FF5 <--Beat this on SFC. 6.5/10 FF6 <--Beat this on SNES. 9/10 FF7 <--Beat this on PS1. 7/10 FF8 <--Have not played yet. FF9 <--Beat this on PS1. 6/10 FF10 <--Never beat, currently playing PS3 HD version. FF11 <--Have no interest in playing an MMORPG. FF12 <--Beat this on PS2. 9.5/10 FF13 <--Have not played yet. FF14 <--Have no interest in playing an MMORPG. FF15 <--Have not played yet.
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Post by Xeogred on Jul 24, 2018 16:31:42 GMT -5
I see now I never posted my status with this series in this thread. Just sticking to the mainline entries here, not getting into the pseudo-sequels and spinoffs:FF1 <--Have never beaten this, would it be dumb to do so via the PSP version?FF2 <--same as above FF3 <--same as above FF4 <--same as above The PSP version of FF1 is similar to the Wonderswan/GBA ports, still some subtle balancing changes and whatnot though. I've beaten the PSX, GBA, and PSP versions... can't go wrong with any of them. Simple 10 hour dungeon crawling action. No story/character whatsoever though.
I also played some of FF2 on the PSX and GBA but never finished those versions. I finally beat this one on the PSP. I remember having fun with it but have honestly forgotten most of it by now, outside of the obvious fact that it's really weirdly designed with the leveling system and whatnot. You can see the blueprints for FF4 here or whatnot with more story... I guess, that's what some claim, but I couldn't name anyone if I had to.
No PSP version of FF3 exists sadly. I've avoided the DS version since I'm not a fan of that look. Same with FF4 DS. Beat FF3 via emulation. It's massive compared to FF1, a good 20-30 hour dungeon crawler probably. I actually think I'd go mad if I tried playing it without a guide too, every dungeon has invisible paths and whatnot that are pretty different from all the other overhead FF's. But it felt great beating this because the finale is like a 10 hour stretch of ~4 dungeons combined into one super dungeon for the final dungeon. That made sense right?
The PSP version of FF4 is freaking good. It has auto battle and fast forward features if that's a plus. The graphical overheal is actually pretty damn good to me, I would have loved to have seen FF3 and even FF5 in this style. But this is still an easier version of the game with the ATB bug from the GBA port, you can get in more turns than the enemies at times than was intended or something like that. Still no sleep in the park, but the only truly hardcore version of FF4 we got is the PSX Chronicles release that came with Chrono Trigger. This is the original Hard Type version and the first one I beat, it was incredible. I've beaten pretty much every main version of FF4 outside of the DS thing, love them all. I still think it's weird this one didn't click with you from what I remember, it really seems up your alley in every way to me... but FEAR proves how wrong I can be. lol
Man, I almost want you to play FF8 right this moment. I seriously can't predict how anyone would react to it going in fresh in 2018. It certainly plays like most FF games but has some really bizarre mechanics and ideas, topped off with one of the wackiest second half's ever. The ending is legendary. I thought the characters and setting were really likeable though. It's close to FF7's sci-fi meets fantasy a bit, but not nearly as grimdark, maybe a bit more Victorian. It's impressive how well it holds up visually.
But let me quote myself from a previous discussion: My problems really stem from me being a bit OCD, especially with the magic drawing. You do not have normal MP in FF8, instead you get single use card like items to use in battle and you spend a turn to "draw" them out of an enemy to stock up. Sometimes you draw like 1-9 at a time or something like that, but still this can take awhile if you encounter an enemy with a new spell you want to stock up on and get 100. The more you have in stock, the better your stat boosts are when you use it to Junction to your stats. The summons "GF's" also have their own levels and something weird like that. It's weird.
Like I said in the quote though, I still look back on it very fondly regardless. Liked it way more than FF9.
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Post by Sarge on Jul 24, 2018 17:02:29 GMT -5
The PSP version compares well with the GBA/WSC/PSX versions. I'd probably say that's the definitive version, unless you want to experience the more unbalanced NES game. The remakes are significantly easier. Well, at least all but the PSX version, which can still have the tougher balancing.
For the second game, I wouldn't recommend messing with the NES game except out of curiosity. I don't think it's as bad as folks say, but I don't think it's necessarily good, either. For better or worse, it approximates a really unbalanced SaGa game. I believe the PSP version is considered the definitive version, although the version on GBA is also splendid and largely the same outside of more pixelated graphics.
I think the difference between the remakes and the original NES version of FFIII are minimal. I'd forgotten there was a PSP port (and a bunch of others as well), and they're all based on the DS remake. PSP is a good place to play it for sure. Outside of wanting to experience the NES version (or perhaps abusing save states for the final dungeon), I'd probably recommend PSP as well.
Now Final Fantasy IV proves trickier to evaluate. In my mind, there are two definitive versions of the game. The collection on PSP, which also includes The After Years, has some redrawn sprites, some of which I like and some that I don't. But as far as content, it is absolutely the most comprehensive, and is also the most faithful to the original version. I also, however, recommend the DS remake, which uses the same graphics engine as FFIII. The game doesn't move at quite the same blistering pace, but plays like a long-lost PSX entry. It also ramps up difficulty quite a bit; where the original FFII/IV was rarely a challenge, you'll have to be more careful with the DS game. So I think both are a blast. PSP is a good place to play, though. Just don't ignore the DS entry, even if you play through another version!
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Post by Xeogred on Jul 24, 2018 18:59:05 GMT -5
Yeah, I've often heard FF4DS is pretty tough. Maybe it's closer to the PSX-hard type/original Japanese release.
I have to be honest as one of the bigger FF4 fans here (from what I've gathered), I actually didn't care for The After Years much. Only put in a few hours and totally lost interest. It's cool for long time fans but I wonder who from the original staff even had a hand in it. FF4 ends on a high note unlike some of the others, the idea of a continuation just seems odd from the get go. I don't really dabble much into any of the post game content a lot of the FF ports offer. But yeah for those who want more gameplay, it's there in spades (even excluding Interlude and The After Years, I think FF4 PSP has a ton of end game bonus content from the GBA port).
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Post by Ex on Jul 24, 2018 21:06:05 GMT -5
No PSP version of FF3 exists sadly. As Sarge said, FF3 does exist on PSP: It's a PSN port of the Android version, which itself was a port of the DS version. Each port gained a few little extras along the way IIRC. I plan to play it this year. Either in November or December. I think it'd do better as a winter game. Plus I'm going to be playing FFVIII on my old desktop (via ePSXe). The desktop puts out a tremendous amount of heat, which heats up my dork cave considerably in the summer. So I'd rather play FFVIII on said PC in the winter, wherein the desktop's warmth can be a useful space heater. (Seriously I'm trying to avoid playing my desktop in the summer anymore, that thing puts out ridiculous BTUs.) FFIX is the most overrated entry in the entire series. I beat it, but did not enjoy it overall. PSP is a good place to play, though. Just don't ignore the DS entry, even if you play through another version! I've always thought FFIV on DS looked cool. It's hard to know how hard the game actually is. Considering most FFs I've played have been cakewalks, if that's what people expected, than yeah it's probably just right. I'd consider playing FFIV on DS after the PSP version. The PSP version's content is hard to ignore.
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For fun, directors of the mainline entries:
FFI = Hironobu Sakaguchi FFII = Hironobu Sakaguchi FFIII = Hironobu Sakaguchi FFIV = Hironobu Sakaguchi FFV = Hironobu Sakaguchi FFVI = Yoshinori Kitase, Hiroyuki Ito FFVII = Yoshinori Kitase FFVIII = Yoshinori Kitase FFIX = Hiroyuki Ito FFX = Yoshinori Kitase FFXI = Koichi Ishii, Nobuaki Komoto, Koichi Ogawa, Akihiko Matsui, Mizuki Ito FFXII = Hiroyuki Ito, Hiroshi Minagawa FFXIII = Motomu Toriyama FFXIV = Nobuaki Komoto, Naoki Yoshida FFXV = Hajime Tabata
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Post by toei on Jul 25, 2018 10:33:13 GMT -5
FF3 is the only NES FF I really love, as it starts to have a more developed story and world (per NES standards), and the gameplay is the most complex and hardcore thanks to the class system and various old-school FF mechanics that fell by the wayside (being able to equip one weapon per hand, splitting spells to hit multiple targets with a less concentrated effect, etc). It's also the hardest FF and there's tons of optional bosses, dungeons and equipment, so it rewards exploration and there's a real incentive for strategic fighting, which is rarely a thing in regular Japanese RPGs. I never used a guide, and found most if not all important stuff. You just have to be curious and thorough. What I really wanted to say, though, was the DS, PSP and Android versions are just hideous to me. I haaaaate that graphical style, it's a complete mismatch.
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Post by Sarge on Jul 25, 2018 11:28:46 GMT -5
Strangely, I kinda like the old low-poly PSX style. I know, I'm weird like that. Interestingly, the DS version absolutely holds on to the difficulty of the NES version, right down to having to make the final run with no save points. Dying to the last boss means you have to play through two or three hours of dungeon and battles again. To say the stakes are high is an understatement. That's why I mentioned save states; doing it legit can be rough. (I did it legit on the DS version, anyway.) Regardless, FFIII on NES ranks right up there with DWIII/IV, so if you really need to play an 8-bit RPG, that's one of the ones to go for. So, regarding FFVIII, that's actually my favorite PSX entry. I do wonder how well it has aged, though. I remember being okay with the draw system back in the day, but it might annoy me now. And I agree with Ex on FFIX. I'm not sure I've played many other games that are so praised, yet I had to force myself to finish. I started losing steam halfway through the second disc. The second disc! I hope FFX continues to hold up for you, Ex. I've got the remaster on PS4, and have been tempted to really revisit it in earnest. But then, I have so much new stuff to play! Not to mention so many old retro games that I continue to replay. And so many old games I still need to play.
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