Game Discussion of the Week: Final Fantasy IV/V/VI

I personally don't like it specially because each game is its own world, and are very different from each other.

I know we are a small group, but these threads will remain for a long time, and who knows what could happen in the future, maybe someone would one to expand on an specific game already covered.

That said, I'm not opposed to it, it is your series, and if you think that's better, it is fine with me. It has some pros like having more content to cover in a single thread.

For example here I can say that Final Fantasy V doesn't exist in the West, just like II, and III don't exist in the West either, until Chronicles I believe.

The Final Fantasy Trilogy in the West is I, IV, and VI. A lot of people think it is one of the best Trilogies in the industry for any franchise.

That's why we jumped from Final Fantasy III to VII, and I'm pretty sure that probably was a mind fuck for people without Internet trying to figure out that jump making any sense.

Either way people adapted, and Final Fantasy VII became one of the most successful game entries of all time, but the reason was because of the high expectations left from VI.

The biggest consensus I have heard is that Final Fantasy VI is not only the best Final Fantasy of all time, it is the best RPG of all time, and battles that reputation neck to neck with Chrono Trigger.

In fact it is said that not only Final Fantasy VII wasn't capable to match Final Fantasy VI despite how nostalgic and well received Final Fantasy VII was, it took three entries of Final Fantasy to match it.

They say that in order to match Final Fantasy VI you need to put together Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, and Final Fantasy IX combined to match it, and then you definitely get a match, but you take a game out of that equation, and VI tips the balance.

I'm not an expert, but that sounds reasonable considering how pixel art RPGs were extremely inspired, including every single aspect of their presentation, like the 16 bit music.

It had to be that way because the limitations of the hardware were the ones that pushed the creativity of the makers to levels that they probably wouldn't reach without those limitations.

It's not like we're not going to have individual threads anymore, but there are so many games only a couple of us have played, and fewer and fewer game discussions are spawning two pages worth of discussion. This is the reason why we'll never split up threads by DLC. I'm just saying here that having broader discussion threads can make those threads more worthwhile, but it individual threads have their places too. I'm just a little bit tired of making Dreams 2 threads, obscure Sonic threads etc. for games that no more than 2 individuals have even heard of here let alone played.

If you're referring to this thread, then this is just a discussion of the three games. There's no collection as far as I know.

Agreed

Final Fantasy II/IV - My least favorite of the SNES FFs but perhaps the most important. I really like the DS remake the best because it has challenging encounters while the SNES original was made easier to appeal to western audiences. The story and scope of the game was great for it's time even though much of it seems cliche now(especially all the fake-out deaths imo).

Final Fantasy V - After the grand adventure of FFIV this one did not focus as much on story but it had it's charm with a likable party and mostly didn't take itself seriously. Why I personally like it more than FFIV is the flexible job system that I've always liked in games that feature them and do it well. As I'm sure most by now this was passed over on the SNES in the west so many played it for the first time on PS1 which was the case for me. (actually I played all of them on PS1 first)

Final Fantasy III/VI - I revisited FFVI last year so I have some more fresh thoughts on this one. "They say that in order to match Final Fantasy VI you need to put together Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, and Final Fantasy IX combined to match it, and then you definitely get a match, but you take a game out of that equation, and VI tips the balance." I don't know if I'd quite go that far because the PS1 FFs are also great imo but it's in my top 3 with FFX and FFT(I'll never decide on an actual order lol). And as of last year it also took the crown of best RPG on SNES for me away from Chrono Trigger(which I also replayed last year). It doesn't have a job system but characters are also highly customizable with the espers. With the internet and walkthroughs being much more handy I was also more efficient knowing things like the Evade stat is worthless(bug in the NA localization). Even though it's not flawless like some hardcore FFVI fans seem to claim it does have pretty much everything I want in a 16-bit JRPG. Great music and story, the best incarnation of the classic ATB battle system, customization, exploration and side quests, a big cast of characters to choose from(although they are unbalanced in usefulness and 14 some could have used some more story development). It's easily a 5 for me and that is what I'll give the SNES/SFC mainline Final Fantasy games as a whole. (I don't know what I'd give Mystic Quest as I haven't played it)

Sorry if that is sloppy and hard to read. lol

I love these games all differently. They are like family members, really.

FF IV is amazing to me. I remember playing this game when it originally came out. The world was absolutely huge for the time. The graphics, although not even close to being the best for the system, were great in 1991. The use of the Sony SPC700 sound chip on the Super Nintendo was incredible. The story is relatively grand, but it all boils down to basic weaknesses: lust, greed, power, and jealousy. Nobuo Uematsu used the abilities of the music chip to such an extent, that I actually felt emotion in a video game for the first time. The game is excellent, and deserves more praise than it ever gets in 2020.

FF V was a game that I had to emulate, since it never came out here in the States. I hated the job system at first, since I was used to FF IV. When I played it again when I was older, I really began to enjoy it. The story is solid, but not as good as IV. I didn't see much of an improvement in graphics or music either. It was fun to play, because I had an itchin' for more 16 bit Final Fantasy.

Final Fantasy VI is the greatest Final Fantasy ever made in my opinion. (Can you tell I'm a fan boy? I think my avatar says it all.) The game is massive, and the endings are slightly different if you care to recruit your original party (and then some) after the major event half way through the game. The graphics are a huge upgrade, and the score has the greatest soundtrack ever produced in video game history. It is so good that I have imported the 3 disc soundtrack and have seen Nobuo Uematsu live at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra multiple times. The story line if phenomenal. You would think Terra is the main character, but she doesn't have to be, if you don't want her to be. The struggles of each of the main characters are real. There is a real sense of loss, pain, frustration, and above all else, hope in this story. Now, that doesn't apply to all of the characters though, since characters like Gau, GoGo, Mog, and Umaro are there for varied combat techniques. I love that they are there for differentiated options. I go blabber on and on about this game, but in the end, I find this game to be the gold standard of 16 bit RPG gaming. The combination of amazing graphics, the outstanding music, and the grandiose story make it a classic. I remember how it impacted me in the winter/spring of 1994 and 1995. The world of the Empire and the Returners gave me hope when the fall became summer like again. The World of Ruin depressed me during the nasty winter. The Spring brought Setzer's second airship and hope. The end of spring brought about new possibilities. I love this game.