New to FFF;Old school FF player in search of something my speed. Looking for a recommendation

[Mr. Walnuts]

Ok, Background.

I'm a 33 Y/o Retired Army E-7 that plays only two video games (not a gamer by today's standards): FF Series & Gran Turismos 3, 4, and 5 (hopefully if can acquire a PS3 to play 5 on.

While I hear Everquests 1 & 2 are all the craze... WoW and Second Life as well... I hear the F.F online counterparts are less than great.


I'm not certain how the online versions work... but that they charge ACTUAL U.S. $ to play them.

• If its a monthly fee, I have less issue with that.
• If they charge per battle or to advance in the game, I have no interest in BUYING my way through a game... at ALL.

So I have TWO questions:

1. Are the fees for the online versions of the later installments of F.F. monthly fees or gamemilestone/advancement based fees? (eg: buying weapons and/or secrets)
2. What is the most recent NON-online F.F. game on the market that can be played single player?
   1. I have already played and beaten FFVII, FFVIII, FFIX, FFX, FFXII, and FFX-2; Looking for another, outside the list I've already played and won.

ETA @ the Creators of this Forum: I Like your choice of color scheme and design.

 

[C i d]

1. I believe there's a monthly fee to it. Not sure about the milestone thing. Just google for the FFXI or FFXIV website for more details. Though we FF fans rarely play online FF games at all.
2. The most recent console non-online FF title is FFXIII-2. However it's recommended that you play FFXIII first to understand the story. They are both for PS3 and xbox360. Be advised that many people don't like the XIII series due to a variety of reasons. So don't expect a great game out of these two. I would also recommend the older FFs like FFIV and VI.

 

[Lirael]

1. The fees are indeed monthly!

2. I agree with Uncle Ulty - Final Fantasy IV or VI are probably the best two to check out. I personally love XIII and XIII-2, but they're rather unpopular. The gameplay in XIII is somewhat automatic; the map is linear, which I didn't mind, but you barely need to contribute to the battle system beyond switching Paradigms (you control one character and the game will select the best attacks if you choose 'auto attack,' which is usually necessary with the fast pace of each battle). Having said that, I do absolutely love the Paradigm system and I believe it's not unlike selecting 'Attack,' 'Magic' and 'Items' in previous titles. XIII-2 improves on XIII's sytem, making it a little more exciting and a little less frustrating; in XIII, if your party leader dies, it's Game Over, regardless of whether or not everyone else has full health.

 

[PhoenyxAngel]

Well the most recent would be FFXIII-2, but you should probably play XIII prior to that to understand what the heck is going on. But I really hate to recomend XIII to people since it's really one of those games you either like or you don't. And the majority of old school FF fans hate it. So.....yeah, if I were you I'd play some of the older FF games. I suggest FFVI.