Brand New... Haven't played a FF game... and very confused... ummm... Help =D

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ashwinte

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So first off HI. New to the FF world. I've wiki and googled and understand some things but others I'm a lost person.

Here is what I know about FF...
1. None of the games are connected, except two, and from what I can read I think also FF 1 and 2 might be.
2. NES started the games and they have evolved with PS3, XBox...
3. Graphics have really improved
4. It is a series from 1-12 with other spinoff games

Here is what I don't know...
1. I know that it is 1-12, but I looked at the list of games, and got really confused because it tells me that the games have been on different platforms, like I think 1-6? By different platforms I mean NES, SNES, NDS and GBA... I think those are the earlier games. Are they remakes, originals, or what? I have the GBA Dawn of Souls, which is 1 and 2, then I saw that FFIII was made into a NDS and became FFVI, so what about 4 and 5?? Are they remade, did they exist, was it only in Japan that they were released??
2. I should probably do another post for this one, but I'm brand new to FF. And I've been told by every living soul, if you like RPG play FF. So I brought Dawn of Souls but truth be told, is that the best way to enter the FF series? I have a NDS with GBA slot. I grew up playing SNES, and have never played on a NES. The game that I played on SNES, was Super Mario World. Which I thought had amazing graphics. =) I've looked at pics of FF 1 and 2, I'm not impressed. Even looking at other SNES Mario games I'm not impressed. I've played Eragon on GBA, so I understand the battling, but I would like good graphics. I've also played all the Pokemon games also from GB-NDS.
3. I don't have a PS2 or PS3 or XBOX or WII. So I can't play any of the games from PS1-PS3. So from what I've told you, I hope I can get something answered. Hopefully I'll fall in love with this series, as much as I have with Pokemon =) hehe. Thanks for reading and happy explaining.
 
It's down to personal opinion, but I personally find FFVI to be the best game of the old school era. FFIV and FFV are very close to this in terms of quality, so any of those games are a very good way to enter the series.

FFI and FFII are good too, and you may enjoy them, but the FF franchise was still very young then. It was still establishing itself as a series and many of the elements of FF which make the series famous are absent from these two earlier games.


As for the games themselves (your first question), the FF series really consists of 14 main games, and then spin-offs too. FFXI and FFXIV are both online games so people do not always consider them, but they are still numbered titles.
All FFs from FFI-FFVI were on old school Nintendo consoles. All of them have now been re-released (some of them have had several releases). Apart from FF3 they can all be bought on PSX, PSP, etc... Some of them (if not all) can be downloaded on Playstation Network too... But how they are collected depends upon where you are. FFI and FFII are often collected together (Dawn of Souls for handheld / Origins for PSX, etc), and so are FFIV and FFV (Anthology for PSX for UK / Europe).... However, to complicate things FFVI and FFV (I think) were collected together as Anthology for the US audiences. So it depends upon where you live... That said, you shouldn't worry about that if you do not have a Playstation. But most of these are also available on Gameboy Advance and DS.

FFIII and FFIV both got special treatment also, as a complete graphical remake. FFIII is now only available in this remade 3D format to most Westerners. FFIV is still widely played as a 2D game, but it also exists in 3D for the Nintendo DS.

But (and I apologise for what the company has done to us all), but there had been confusion with numbering in the past. When the FF games were first released in the US they numbered the games depending on what game was released next... However not all games were released. Therefore FFI was FFI, but FFIV became FFII (since FFII and FFIII were not released to start with), and similarly FFVI became FFIII. This is no longer an issue, and people know the games by their correct numbers... But if you were to be looking on archaic websites or fanpages / wikis about FF and found references to these games as different names then this is why.

I hope that I have clarified rather than confused further. :gasp:
 
1. Okay so let me help you out. The Final Fantasies from 1-6 were originally released for the NES and SNES back in the day. There have been various ports of these game to different consoles. 1+2 have had ported versions for the GBS as the Dawn of Souls port which has both games. Additionally there have been versions of FF1 that was on Wonderswan Color, Play Station 1, (most recently) the PSP Virtual Console and it can even be downloaded through the Play Station Network. Final Fantasy 2 have been ported to the same aforementioned consoles as its predecessor. Final Fantasy 3 has also been ported for the Nintendo DS and it pretty much an alternate versions with slight alterations to the game, most notably that this version is fully 3D. FF4 was originaly on the NES but was then re-released as a GBA port later on then it was re-released on the Nintendo DS and the PSP. FF5 and FF6 were also ported. FF5 was ported to the GBA and FFVI was ported to the GBA:SP (which is the version I own).
2. There's really no set game to start out with. I played Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and since it's considered a standalone game in the series with slight connections to Final Fantasy Tactics in terms of locale and enemy types and names and such, it wasn't that hard for me to start out with. I wasn't confused. Each game has its own individual story, cast of characters, and difficulty level so whether you want to start off with Dawn of Souls or with Final Fantasy VI and then work backwards--is solely up to you.
3. It's okay I don't have a PS3, XBOX, or Wii myself yet so the games I wish I could own I kinda can't. Lol, but hey beggars can't be choosers sometimes. I'm sure you'll really like the series it's a very influential RPG series, very well-known, and it has some great titles, especially earlier on in the series. :)

I hope this helps. ^_^
 
I'd recommend finding a ps2 cheap to play what are imo the best FF games in the series. 7-10 are all great, with 8 being maybe a little bit too different to the others to be the game to start the series with.
I'd like to add something small to the previous 2 statements about FF3: it's coming to psp also.

Starting with a 2d FF (1, 2, 5, 6) may leave you a little underwhelmed graphically from all the praise the series gets, which is why I'd recommend starting with 7, 9 or 10. If you can find a cheap ps2, that is :)
 
ashwinte said:
So first off HI. New to the FF world. I've wiki and googled and understand some things but others I'm a lost person.

Here is what I know about FF...
1. None of the games are connected, except two, and from what I can read I think also FF 1 and 2 might be.
2. NES started the games and they have evolved with PS3, XBox...
3. Graphics have really improved
4. It is a series from 1-12 with other spinoff games

Here is what I don't know...
1. I know that it is 1-12, but I looked at the list of games, and got really confused because it tells me that the games have been on different platforms, like I think 1-6? By different platforms I mean NES, SNES, NDS and GBA... I think those are the earlier games. Are they remakes, originals, or what? I have the GBA Dawn of Souls, which is 1 and 2, then I saw that FFIII was made into a NDS and became FFVI, so what about 4 and 5?? Are they remade, did they exist, was it only in Japan that they were released??
2. I should probably do another post for this one, but I'm brand new to FF. And I've been told by every living soul, if you like RPG play FF. So I brought Dawn of Souls but truth be told, is that the best way to enter the FF series? I have a NDS with GBA slot. I grew up playing SNES, and have never played on a NES. The game that I played on SNES, was Super Mario World. Which I thought had amazing graphics. =) I've looked at pics of FF 1 and 2, I'm not impressed. Even looking at other SNES Mario games I'm not impressed. I've played Eragon on GBA, so I understand the battling, but I would like good graphics. I've also played all the Pokemon games also from GB-NDS.
3. I don't have a PS2 or PS3 or XBOX or WII. So I can't play any of the games from PS1-PS3. So from what I've told you, I hope I can get something answered. Hopefully I'll fall in love with this series, as much as I have with Pokemon =) hehe. Thanks for reading and happy explaining.
Click to expand...


1.) FF10 and 10-2 are connected, and now so are FF13 and FF13-2. The only other games that are connected are spinoffs like the FF7 compilation: Crisis Core, Dirge of Cerberus, the movie Advent Children, etc. FF1 and 2 are not connected.
2.) The series started on the NES, went to the SNES, PS1, PS2, PS3/Xbox, Nintendo DS, Gameboy, etc.
3.) FF is known for having awesome graphics, if nothing else. lol. And music.
4.) It's from 1-14.

Now for what you're asking:

1-3 were on the NES. 4-6 are on the SNES. Final Fantasy 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 have been ported several times. 1&2 have been ported to the Gameboy, PS1, and iOS, etc. FF3 got ported to the Nintendo DS. 4-6 got ported to Gameboy, PS1, and FF4 is on the PSP as well. So they're not remakes, just ported and updated to different systems.

Let me try to explain the confusion over the first 6 titles.

Japan and America got FF1 (I don't know if Europe received FF1. Someone correct me if I'm wrong)
Japan originally had FF2 for the NES. But it wasn't released in the west until the PS1 port.
Japan got FF3. FF3 wasn't ported to the western countries until it's NDS release.

Then comes FF4. For the first time since FF1, America got a FF game. But they decided to name it FF2 in the west because of the fact that we never got 2 or 3. So to avoid confusion and questions from the American gamers, they just made it FF2. But in reality it's FF4

FF5 was only released in Japan on the SNES. Americans got it on the PS1 years later.

And then comes FF6. Like FF4, it received a name change. Since we did not get FF5 they changed the name of FF6 to FF3 since it would be the third one we got.

From that point onwards they decided it would be way to confusing to name the FFs for different parts of the world. I believe FF7 would be the first FF to be released in Europe. So to them it would have been FF1, to us: FF4, and to Japan: FF7. That's way to confusing. So they just left it as FF7, and then released the previous titles onto the PS1 so Americans and Europeans could catch up.

My suggestion for starting off with the series would be the beginning. But since you do not own a PS2-PS3 you would not be able to play FF10-13-2. So until you are able to get a PS2 or 3, you can't play those.

I would suggest starting off with FF1 and 2, but realize that the graphics and the storylines WILL improve throughout the series. FFIV is a really good one. And so is FFVI. And if you do have a PS1 you will likely enjoy FF7-9.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.
 
Eeach number is completely unconnected to the other but if they share the same number, they are direct sequels or belong in the same universe.

Example:

FfX, ffX-2

FFXII, FFXII:revenant wings

ffXIII, ffXIII-2

FfIV, ffIV: the after years.

Ff crystal chronicles series

Sometimes exceptions such as fabula nove crystallis series. Ff tactics and ffXII are in the same world but different locale.

Honestly everything can be search through wikipedia. The older articles of final fantasy are well written and reliable. Everything after final fantasy 13 and the sequels/spin off vary.


I suggest playing the original final fantasy. Very simple yet surprises you in how entertaining. Final fantasy II is also good. FfIV is a very good game aswell and puts more fast paced gameplay. FfVI is good depending on the fan apparently. I was recommended not to play it but some say its good and their personal favorite of the older 2D versions.

Ffvii is good, but honestly the game is good to play during its time. Its still amazing but since everyone is so graphic oriented, not many will enjoy it as much as ppl did back then. Same gameplay as previous with limit break, materia based magic is also more fun.

Ffviii is also good.

Ffx is amazing. Andd from there i dont recommend the rest after....however the spinoffs are good
 
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If you are really looking for a FF with great graphics, music and gameplay, I think FFVI will be right up your alley. This was actually the first FF game I've ever played and I fell in love with it. I think at this point (referring to when FF6 was made), Squaresoft really mastered Final Fantasy for the 2D console. Afterward, I went and played FFIV and although the graphics weren't as good, I still really loved that game as well. So if you find that you really aren't digging FF1 and want a game that is a bit more beefy, check out FFVI.

And like greenyxi said, if you can get a PS1 or PS2 and play FF7-10, you'll find some pretty fun games. Just keep in mind that the stories aren't perfect, but they are definitely fun to play.
 
I would recommed leaving FF2, FF3, FF4, FF8 and FF12 till last and playing the others.

FF2- FF8-FF12 have a unique and complexed battle system which confuses new players and sometimes even experts and FF3 is just plain hard and unforgiving... I heard that FF4 is quite hard too..

FF1 might be good to leave till last as well; as the game hardly tells you where to go and you can easily get lost or confused and just spend hours on your boat or airship just going around the FF1 World Map like a idoit... :ffs:

FF10, FF13, FF6 and FF7 would be pretty good to start with. FF10-FF13 have quite easy to follow battle systems and if you're lost on FF13 you can just press a automantic button and the computer does the work for you. Excellent for beginners. FF6 while it doesn't have a newbie-friendly battle system- it doesn't really have Game Overs and you can just start from where you last saved but with the EXP you had from all those battles still with you.
FF7 is quite well balanced- it 's a little challaging but it doesn't have a confusing battle system like FF2 and it's not exteremly hard like FF3.

I would recommed FF10 first. Or FF6 you have a PSP and don't have a PS2. If you have none and just have a X-BOX 360 then FF13 will be a good start.

To be honest I've been playing FF games since a baby and I just completed FF8 last year so it's okay to feel a little lost within a FF sometimes. I still haven't completed FF1 yet and have been lost several times. :olivia: Same with FF12 and some others.
 
On the contrary. Final Fantasy 4 is seriously easy. The only thing I had to do in terms of leveling was 1 hour in the room before the last boss.. Otherwise it is a piece of cake.. Now the sidequests might be a little bit harder but even so nothing surprising.
While FF8 concept might be a little difficult to grasp at first. It is probably the easiest game of the main franchise..
 
I didnt have that mouch trouble with the original. Played it on an emulator. I think ff13 is too easy. They have a tutorial for ff13 as he plays. But just lack of interactivity between characters and only controll their class as a group which in turn couldve been great if they made it more necessary and also unlocking more paradigm shifts.

And yes ff8 is a little difficult. I remembered i made an awesome move without knowing how on the demo. Regardless i know now. Its still a good game. Idk about easy. I recommend level grinding
 
Omg man... Final Fantasy 8 has the most broken character progressing system. I played it the first time as a kid and just drawing 100 magic of the best magic spells I could get my hands on I would be too overpowered and the game ended up being too easy. Even for Omega Weapon all you need to know is which cards can refine into what in order to get the necessary equip / spells etc.
 
All of this FF8 talk. I need to go back and replay it. I remember beating it when I was about 15 or so, but I can't for the life of me remember the ending.
 
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