Questions about Final Fantasy

[chaostheory]

Never played any FF game, so I'm unfamiliar with this series. I have a few questions. Hope this is in the right forum.

1. What is the gameplay like? Is it easy or complicated. Is the button layout well thought out and easy to use?
2. Going by the trailers, there are great cutscene footage. Are they lengthy, as in MGS4 lengthy? How frequent do they show up?
3. For newcomers starting out with FFXIII, like me, will the story be somewhat confusing to follow if it makes frequent references to previous games?

 

[CassinoChips]

1. What is the gameplay like? Is it easy or complicated. Is the button layout well thought out and easy to use?

There are slight variations from game to game, but in general, I don't think you'd have any trouble adjusting to it. It's fairly intuitive.

2. Going by the trailers, there are great cutscene footage. Are they lengthy, as in MGS4 lengthy? How frequent do they show up?

Again, it depends on the game, but they can be anywhere from 15 seconds to 5 minutes in length. They are relatively frequent, I suppose.

3. For newcomers starting out with FFXIII, like me, will the story be somewhat confusing to follow if it makes frequent references to previous games?

Each game stands alone, and is independent from the others in the series. There may some minor references and/or recurring themes, but there won't be any plot issues for you if you haven't played any of the others.

 

[Ilyena]

The gameplay is fairly easy. The fights are pretty much menu-driven and you select what you want to do in the fight. The battles are nothing like action games.

Most of the cutscenes aren't extremely lengthy, at least nothing close to MGS lengthy. They show up pretty often in the later FF games. I haven't played FF XIII so I can't really judge that one.

Most of the numbered FF games are standalone. The only references you'll really see are reoccurring objects, summons, creatures and the ubiquitous Cid.

 

[WanderingAesthetic]

1) The games are mostly about menu-based combat, i.e. you enter a command and your character/characters do it. This makes the gameplay more about strategy than about skill. Otherwise, it varies from game to game.
2) There are lots of cutscenes, yes, except in the early games. The plot is a big part of the reason to play most of the games. But it's not like MGS4 where there are long segments where you won't pick up the controller. The only time you would get that kind of cutscene action would be at the very end of a game, as in, after you beat the final boss.
3) It shouldn't be hard to follow at all! Each game, excepting X-2 and the spin-off games of IV, VII and XII, has its own independent plot. They don't even take place in the same universe. There is occasionally a reference to a previous game, but it's just a fun little cameo, never anything important.

I hope this answers your questions. If you have any more feel free to ask, and if you decide to play, tell us what you think.

 

[Abstract Debauchery]

Please, please, PLEASE, don't start with FFXIII. Start with the Playstations ones if you must. FFIX is win on an epic level. All of them are great (except for FFVII and FFX, don't touch them.) Even the original games are epic win.

 

[Linnaete]

1. What is the gameplay like? Is it easy or complicated. Is the button layout well thought out and easy to use?

If you're playing the traditional numbered FF games, the gameplay is mainly a turned-based combat affair. If you're not familiar with Japanese RPGs in general, it's pretty simple. You have command menus during your characters' turns. You input what you want your characters to do (usually one at a time), such as attack, use black magic or use potions. You'll get the gist of it quickly, though the newer games introduce new methods of attack such as limit breaks.

2. Going by the trailers, there are great cutscene footage. Are they lengthy, as in MGS4 lengthy? How frequent do they show up?

There are a lot of cutscenes. Final Fantasy is a story driven franchise so cutscenes are a large staple. The newer games have a mix of CGI cutscenes and cutscenes using in-game graphics. They are not as long as MGS4's, although some endings can be rather long.

3. For newcomers starting out with FFXIII, like me, will the story be somewhat confusing to follow if it makes frequent references to previous games?

The storyline shouldn't be too confusing as they tend to differ each game. I don't think FFXIII will make much FF references like FFIX did. I would agree with Tsukianei. FFXIII could be tough for someone who hasn't played a FF before as its combat can become overwhelming based on what we have seen. I would start with FFIV or FFVI before moving onto the PSone and PS2 ones. You can start with FFIX, but the references may be lost on you.

 

[Gingerbread Lesbian]

Never played any FF game, so I'm unfamiliar with this series. I have a few questions. Hope this is in the right forum.

1. What is the gameplay like? Is it easy or complicated. Is the button layout well thought out and easy to use?

The gameplay on the whole is extremely easy to grasp, how you choose to implement your ideas such as job classes in the earlier Final Fantasy titles and gambits (FFXII) etc will be the most difficult part. Final Fantasy titles on the whole are fairly easy depending on how much effort you're willing to level grind and such like. Since you're a newcomer I woud advise staying away from any SNES/NES versions of Final Fantasy I/II and sticking with the PSP versions if you choose to play them. Button layout is fine and easy to use as well.

2. Going by the trailers, there are great cutscene footage. Are they lengthy, as in MGS4 lengthy? How frequent do they show up?

The only lengthy ones really are the beginning and end CGI scenes, there are the odd lengthy ones during some of the games but nothing really the length of MGS4. As for how frequent it would entirely depend on what game you play as the more modern the console the more cutscenes they're able to implement due to updated technology.

3. For newcomers starting out with FFXIII, like me, will the story be somewhat confusing to follow if it makes frequent references to previous games?

Final Fantasy XIII should be fine, SquareEnix are trying to broaden their audience so it should make very little reference to traditional features from previous games, although you'll see Chocobos and such like they won't be confusing. I very much doubt it will make a reference to any other Final Fantasy title since Final Fantasy XIII is the first game of it's compilation. Plus, if you start with Final Fantasy XIII it means you won't be comparing to any other FF title which means you'll probably enjoy it more

 

[FinalHeart]

Please, please, PLEASE, don't start with FFXIII. Start with the Playstations ones if you must. FFIX is win on an epic level. All of them are great (except for FFVII and FFX, don't touch them.) Even the original games are epic win.

It's funny that you say VII and X are the worst, when they are considered two of the best by many people. The two most disliked are probably VIII and XII, although I don't think V was too well loved either.

Anyway...
1) The gameplay isn't too difficult to understand in any of the games. In the older ones, the gameplay is your standard fare, with classes, leveling up, and normal turn-based battles. Once you get to the more recent games, however, you have things such as limit breaks(VI and pretty much every game since then), systems that take the place of classes, and gambits(XII). The things that take the place of classes would be things like materia (VII), license board (XII), sphere grid (XII), and actually the system they're using in XIII is very similar to the sphere grid, from what I see.

2) Yeah, there are a fair amount of cutscenes. However, considering a big plus of the Final Fantasy series are its stories, this should be somewhat expected.

3) Every game is stand alone, excluding the following games:
a) FFX and FFX-2
b) FFXII and Revenant Wings
c) FFIV and The After Years
d) FFVII and its various spinoffs

Every numbered member of the series is stand-alone, basically. If it has some sort of subtitle, or something other than a roman numeral and "Final Fantasy", then it is a spinoff.

 

[Abstract Debauchery]

It's funny that you say VII and X are the worst, when they are considered two of the best by many people. The two most disliked are probably VIII and XII, although I don't think V was too well loved either.

Opinions, they're a bitch huh?

We can't help it if we really don't like those two. Personally, we find them the worst of the series, and if he was going to start with any FF, we don't think they should be FFVII or FFX.

If anything, he should start with FFIV, the remake on the DS anyway. We think anyone new to the series would love it.

 

[FinalHeart]

Opinions, they're a bitch huh?

We can't help it if we really don't like those two. Personally, we find them the worst of the series, and if he was going to start with any FF, we don't think they should be FFVII or FFX.

If anything, he should start with FFIV, the remake on the DS anyway. We think anyone new to the series would love it.

I'm just stating that your opinions may be outliers, because they don't represent the popular opinion. Don't you agree that if, say 80% of people prefer FFVII while 20% prefer FFIV, that the OP has a better chance of liking VII, without any previous knowledge of his taste in games that is.

I agree that FFIV is a GREAT game to start with though. It's relatively simple, yet difficult. Also a great story. I also agree that FFX is a bad one to start on if for no other reason than it's pretty different from the games previous to it. It has the sphere grid instead of levels and non-ATB combat. However, FFVII was my first game, and I loved it.

Again, I realize it's all opinions, and I don't believe your opinion is INVALID per say, but I just think that he has a better chance of liking FFVII or FFX than, say, FFXII or FFVIII.

 

[.Ted]

Everything I could have said about gameplay is right here. FMVs aren't too lengthy (except final cutscenes; those are usually 30-60 minutes long!) I can recommend a few games, so here's a list.

FFI: I recommend Final Fantasy Origins for the PS1, if you have a PS1. If not,try to get Dawn of Souls for GBA(?). Or was it PSP?

Well, my point on that one. I find myself playing it again and again for PS1. It's hard to get used to, but the walkthroughs around the Internet are really helpful. If you can pass that one, you're ready for the big ones like VII-X.

FFII: If you're looking for a deeper storyline, start here. If you want to go in order, that is, from I to the last one. II has an actual main character, and the plot is much deeper than the first one. The level up system, however, is very unique. It stands out from other Final Fantasy games so many people wouldn't recommend this one for beginners.

FFVII: Well, the reason I give this one is because it was the first FF for many people, and that's why there's a unique fandom -- if not obsession -- about it.

FFVIII: I liked the graphics for this one, and the soundtrack is not too bad. The battle system can be a bit hard to get used to (in my opinion anyway) but it's fun once you get the hang of it.

FFIX: I highly recommend this as your first game, because if you get it after VII and/or VIII, you won't be able to appreciate what this one has to offer. The medieval feel is great, the plot is decent, the soundtracks and romance levels are perfect. It can truly change how you play FF games, just like FFVII can do that too. But it's up to you, don't let me influence your decision.

FFX: Mostly everyone has a PS2. This one has better graphics and a decent storyline, so give it a chance if you don't like the rest.

The reason I didn't state the other ones is because I haven't played them yet. I've seen FFVII, so I didn't need to play it.

 

[roink]

Okay, Queary for you all.

Why should one like the Heroes, Heroines or Villians of this seiries? seems an odd question I know but bear with me. The world is in danger. All that is good and great is about to perish is hellish storm of evil and suffering etc etc etc. SO. who do have to save the day.... some faintly androgenous pre-pubescent.... he/she. There are no men or women in final fanstasy. No character where you think 'f**k me' he's hard. No Stubble, no grit. even in battle it's all twirling around with a sword. Yes I know it's 'an elegant dance of death' but seiriously... Everyone is a bit of a ponce. I gave this thing a chance but I find every last charecter to be just so damn whiny and irratating. real heroes don't whinge. they just suck up the pain and then pound the living hell out everything with their fists. so please. this looks to be a good game. find me something to admire with these people besides their bizarre hairdo's and seemingly total lack of testoterone.

 

[Linnaete]

No character where you think 'f**k me' he's hard. No Stubble, no grit. even in battle it's all twirling around with a sword. Yes I know it's 'an elegant dance of death' but seiriously... Everyone is a bit of a ponce.

You seriously need to play more Final Fantasy games then, because this sounds like a very myopic generalisation considering it sounds like you have only played one or two. There are characters you consider "hard" - and just as hard as some western made characters actually.

Look at prime examples like Auron and Basch. They're considered tough, battle-hardened men able to chop monsters cleanly in half and not breaking a sweat. Yes, they have swords - what did you expect warriors to have? Rifles and machine guns? And why stop there? There's Barret, Kimahri, heck - even Steiner.

I gave this thing a chance but I find every last charecter to be just so damn whiny and irratating.

Which game have you tried? And how many? I'd like to know which game you tried so I can see which characters you are on about.

real heroes don't whinge. they just suck up the pain and then pound the living hell out everything with their fists.

Well that's your perception of what a "real hero" is. There have been many kinds of heroes that it's difficult to establish factually what a "real hero" is, it just thrives on opinion. I don't think every hero has to be like Kratos from the God Of War games or something.

 

[chaostheory]

Thanks for the input. The PS3 is my first PS console. I don't have a PSP. I looked in the Playstation Store, and found FFVII & FFVIII listed. As of current I didn't download either. Wish that FFIX is on the Playstation Store, as that one seems very well received. So it does look like that FFXIII will be my first one. I have pre-ordered the PS3 Collector's Edition with a strategy guide. Hope that's OK.

Anyway, my game background is mainly FPS (Call of Duty, Halo, Killzone 2, etc.) and racing games (Burnout, Racedriver Grid, etc.). My RPG background is Elder Scrolls 4, Mass Effect, and Fallout 3. I've also played Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess and Okami, which are to me the closest thing to a Japanese RPG-type game.

 

[.Ted]

Well, you're probably not going to be much into the FF games, given your past history. You get to explore like Legend of Zelda, but battles are a whole other thing. Of course, I still encourgae you to give them a chance.

Another good title is Dissidia Final Fantasy. It features the heroes and the villains of the first 10 FF installments. However, I think you'd enjoy it more if you played some of the ones from I-X.