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- Banbury, UK
- Uberbee
Right, this is for all the people that:
A) Have never played Final Fantasy,
Or,
B) Are not sure which one to buy,
Or,
C) Your bored and have nothing better to do.
So i'll give a nice review to each one that I have played.
(If you wish to find just one particular game, use the find funtion (Ctrl + F) and then type in its number I.E. For FF8, type in 8 or for FFX-2, type in 10-2)
Title: Final Fantasy VIII (8)
Genre: RPG
Console: Playstation 1
Price: Your probably looking at around a tenner now and it will most probably be used.
So, number 8, not exactley my favourite, but none-the-less a very spectacular game.
You mainly play as Squall Leonhart, a SeeD Cadet (Kinda like a special forces group) from Balamb Garden, (Training centre for SeeD Cadets). As he goes on an adventure of betrayal, war, love and death.
The ingame graphics are what you would expect from a 1998 PS1 game, but where it really shines is the cut scenes, they are almost on par with the in game graphics of a PS2 game, which considering the jump in graphics from 1 to 2, is truly incredible.
Now, as you train up your characters you will sooner or later enter a battle against a monster. In this game you fight in ATB or "Active Time Battle" where you fight only when your character is ready, during this time the monsters can attack you so you have to keep on your toes and get strategic, especially at boss battles.
Although this can get repetitive, this game was one of the longest of its time and spands over 4, yes 4, discs with each one getting gradually more difficult with disc 4 requiring you to be in your best of form when it comes to battle decisions.
The soundtrack is mostly opera but fits perfectally within the game and gives a different dimention in your gaming experience.
As with all Final Fantasy's it is only a single player but you will no doubt call on your friend's assistance once or twice. Then again why would you want to share this game?
Ultimatley, this game followed on from Final Fantasy 7's RPG revolution and made it into a liberation for RPG gamers. A true classic, and only for a tenner!
Graphics: 9 - Considering its on PS1 you can't expect much for in-game graphics BUT the cut scenes really do shine.
Gameplay: 9 - The battles take some time to get used to, especially if your new to the series but once yo uahve them nailed, each battle will be a different experience.
Lifespan: 10 - I really need a number higher than 10, this game will keep you going for a good 6 - 10 months.
Multiplayer: 0 - There is no multiplayer, but like I said, why would you want to share this game?
Final Rating - Well if you add up the numbers you would get 28/40 but since you wont want a multiplayer i would put this more in the 35/40 range.
Right, 1 down, 3 to go...
Title: Final Fantasy IX (9)
Genre: RPG/Life Changer
Console: Playstation 1
Price: Once again expect it at around a tenner and used.
Now for my favourite installment of the series, nine.
As FFVIII was set in the future (I presume) IX is set in the past, back when steam engines were around, but its not on earth, like every other installment. This time you play mainly as a thief by the name of Zidane Tribal and the games start as you take part in a plot to kidnap Princess "Garnet Til Alexandros 17th" and the story goes on to reviel hidden truths about the planet and the people who rule it.
The graphics on VIII were ground breaking, especially the cut scenes, well IX has gone further, not just with the cut scenes but also the in-game graphics and the different textures and vibrant colours on the planet really do shine for a Playstation 1 game.
The battle system is just the same as VIII with ATB (Active Time Battle) but this installment brings back "Trance" from Final Fantasy V, this is were the characters emotions run rampad and special attacks become available, very handy for boss battles. Another addition is the fact that the characters learn the moves instead of being given them in VII, battle experience gives "AP" or "Ability points" to a certain move that the character is laerning, once you have enough AP for that move the character has learnt it and can start learning another. This makes the characters able to be customised to make the perfect battle party.
Once again the soundtrack is opera but with a hint of medievil tunes, especially in cities, and again perfectally fits in with the game.
There is no multiplayer as per usual but there is a number of mini games to keep you ticking.
Get ready however to not be able to put down the controller, for a very long time. I rushed it at first and it still took me a good 60+ hours to complete but if you take your time and try to fully complete the game, your looking at atleast double that time. It WILL keep you in your gaming room for a very very long time.
Graphics: 10 - For Playstation 1, this is right up there with GT2.
Gameplay: 9 - Once again, if your new to the system it will take a while to get used to but then once you've nailedi t, you will be loving it.
Lifespan: 10 - Argh you sure I can't go over 10?! Honestley, this game is one of the longest I have ever witnessed.
Multiplayer: 0 - Once again, no multiplayer, but thats a good thing...
Final Rating: Again your looking at 29/40, btu honestly I would give it around a 37 - 38/40, truly amazing.
Hurrah half way there!!
Title: Final Fantasy X (10)
Genre: RPG
Console: Playstation 2 (At long last)
Price: Looking at 15 quid, at most and will most probably be used.
SquareSoft were already in the process of making this game just as they were finishing off IX in 2000, X was realesed at the tail end of 01.
So Final Fantasy makes its debut on the PS2 and boy o boy... It shines. The graphics have taken full advantage of the PS2's power and is utterly jaw dropping. And for the first time EVER, actors have been used for the character's voice.
This is my sister's favourite installment most probably because of the main character - Tidus, who when you start off, is a Blitzball (The "football" of this world) hero who's home city gets dramatically destroyed but yet he survives (or so you think) and wakes up on the coast of a tropical island where he starts his adventure to find out what the hell destroyed his home city.
The battles have been totally re-done and this time instead of ATB (Active Time Battle for those who didn't read VIII) they have replaced it with CTB (
) or "Conditional Turn-based Battle" where isntead of waiting for the character to get prepared for a turn, you quite simply wait for the character's turn to appear, therfore you can easially plan stratagies but then takes the zing out of the battle itself. I like to refere this game as the "Beginner's Final Fantasy". Also "trance" has been taken out and replaced by "overdrive" (really they are the same thing just different name"
Now, although the battle system has made the game easier (IMO) the game is just as long if not longer than IX yet they managed to fit it all on one disc! First time i completed the game my total time was 108 hrs and that was fairly rushed but I did take some time with the Blitzball season.
Yes, a Blitzball season (Or multiple ones if you wish), you can take control of a team and simply train them up for leagues/championships just like when you train up the characters for battles, and if your team is good enough to win, the rewards are priceless.
The soundtrack has became more modern this time round with a mix of opera, dance and rock music which fits in well, but the song for the temples WILL get on your nerves eventually but atleast theres only a total of 8.
And yes you've guessed it, no multiplayer.
Graphics: 10 - Amazing, totally realistic to the eye lash.
Gameplay: 8 - For new-comers, you will love it, for verterans, you will hate it, kinda like marmite.
Lifespan: 10 - This will keep you going possibly for a year.
Multiplayer: 0 - Starting to see a trend?
Final Rating: It would be 28/40 but think of it more at around 37/40, most probably the best Final Fantasy all round. (But not my favourite)
Right, i've had a cup of coffee, lets knuckle down the last one!
Title: Final Fantasy X-2 (10-2)
Genre: RPG/ Dance-music-athon
Console: Playstation 2
Price: Your looking at around 19 pounds now that it is in the platnium range. (Somehow)
So, the first actual follow on to a previous Final Fantasy, in this case it continues the story of Final Fantasy X.
This time you play as Yuna (The 2nd main character in FFX) as she joins a version of a group of mine diggers (Don't ask why) along with Rikku (Also from FFX) and Paine (New chick, kinda resmebles Auron from FFX) in an all girl party for the first time in FF histroy. Although all the characters, except for Tidus and Auron, come back for another round. (Although you can't play actually as them).
CTB has been dropped (Yey!!) for the return of ATB (Yey!!!) and the battles become very reminisant of the older FF games. This tiem however there is no Trance/ Overdirve but instead the ability to swap "dresses" (No you dont see them actually change...) and become totally different styled fighters, for example you could change from the Samauri dress, which is fast, to the Dark Knight dress which is slow but stronger. This gives you a great choice of customisation to create the perfect battle party.
But sadly, thats roughly were the good points end. This installment has a kind of rushed feel to it, its not one that you would want to play over and over again like the others, and the soundtrack is utterly pathetic, unless your into girly techno/dance music... Really does not fit in the game well at all. Its lifespan is not too long either, I think the only time I thought this could actually take a while was at the 2nd to last boss which is composed of 5 different battles but then after that you just have quite a simple battle against a bad bad man (You will recognise him if you have played FFX).
Multiplayer is again non-existant.
Graphics: 10 - You would expect graphics this good from Square-Enix.
Gameplay: 7 - ATB is back!! But it feels rushed...
Lifespan: 7 - If this was not a Final Fantasy it would have got 10, but since it is, it really does not live up to its name.
Multiplayer: 0 - You know the story.
Final Rating: It would be 24/40, but i'll be fair and do what I did to the score of the others and prob boost this to around a 32/40.
Done!! Hope this has shed some light if you have never played a Final Fantasy game before, or if you read this because your bored or a fan, hope this has been a good read. 👍
Bee.
A) Have never played Final Fantasy,
Or,
B) Are not sure which one to buy,
Or,
C) Your bored and have nothing better to do.
So i'll give a nice review to each one that I have played.
Title: Final Fantasy VIII (8)
Genre: RPG
Console: Playstation 1
Price: Your probably looking at around a tenner now and it will most probably be used.
So, number 8, not exactley my favourite, but none-the-less a very spectacular game.
You mainly play as Squall Leonhart, a SeeD Cadet (Kinda like a special forces group) from Balamb Garden, (Training centre for SeeD Cadets). As he goes on an adventure of betrayal, war, love and death.
The ingame graphics are what you would expect from a 1998 PS1 game, but where it really shines is the cut scenes, they are almost on par with the in game graphics of a PS2 game, which considering the jump in graphics from 1 to 2, is truly incredible.
Now, as you train up your characters you will sooner or later enter a battle against a monster. In this game you fight in ATB or "Active Time Battle" where you fight only when your character is ready, during this time the monsters can attack you so you have to keep on your toes and get strategic, especially at boss battles.
Although this can get repetitive, this game was one of the longest of its time and spands over 4, yes 4, discs with each one getting gradually more difficult with disc 4 requiring you to be in your best of form when it comes to battle decisions.
The soundtrack is mostly opera but fits perfectally within the game and gives a different dimention in your gaming experience.
As with all Final Fantasy's it is only a single player but you will no doubt call on your friend's assistance once or twice. Then again why would you want to share this game?
Ultimatley, this game followed on from Final Fantasy 7's RPG revolution and made it into a liberation for RPG gamers. A true classic, and only for a tenner!
Graphics: 9 - Considering its on PS1 you can't expect much for in-game graphics BUT the cut scenes really do shine.
Gameplay: 9 - The battles take some time to get used to, especially if your new to the series but once yo uahve them nailed, each battle will be a different experience.
Lifespan: 10 - I really need a number higher than 10, this game will keep you going for a good 6 - 10 months.
Multiplayer: 0 - There is no multiplayer, but like I said, why would you want to share this game?
Final Rating - Well if you add up the numbers you would get 28/40 but since you wont want a multiplayer i would put this more in the 35/40 range.
Right, 1 down, 3 to go...
Title: Final Fantasy IX (9)
Genre: RPG/Life Changer
Console: Playstation 1
Price: Once again expect it at around a tenner and used.
Now for my favourite installment of the series, nine.
As FFVIII was set in the future (I presume) IX is set in the past, back when steam engines were around, but its not on earth, like every other installment. This time you play mainly as a thief by the name of Zidane Tribal and the games start as you take part in a plot to kidnap Princess "Garnet Til Alexandros 17th" and the story goes on to reviel hidden truths about the planet and the people who rule it.
The graphics on VIII were ground breaking, especially the cut scenes, well IX has gone further, not just with the cut scenes but also the in-game graphics and the different textures and vibrant colours on the planet really do shine for a Playstation 1 game.
The battle system is just the same as VIII with ATB (Active Time Battle) but this installment brings back "Trance" from Final Fantasy V, this is were the characters emotions run rampad and special attacks become available, very handy for boss battles. Another addition is the fact that the characters learn the moves instead of being given them in VII, battle experience gives "AP" or "Ability points" to a certain move that the character is laerning, once you have enough AP for that move the character has learnt it and can start learning another. This makes the characters able to be customised to make the perfect battle party.
Once again the soundtrack is opera but with a hint of medievil tunes, especially in cities, and again perfectally fits in with the game.
There is no multiplayer as per usual but there is a number of mini games to keep you ticking.
Get ready however to not be able to put down the controller, for a very long time. I rushed it at first and it still took me a good 60+ hours to complete but if you take your time and try to fully complete the game, your looking at atleast double that time. It WILL keep you in your gaming room for a very very long time.
Graphics: 10 - For Playstation 1, this is right up there with GT2.
Gameplay: 9 - Once again, if your new to the system it will take a while to get used to but then once you've nailedi t, you will be loving it.
Lifespan: 10 - Argh you sure I can't go over 10?! Honestley, this game is one of the longest I have ever witnessed.
Multiplayer: 0 - Once again, no multiplayer, but thats a good thing...
Final Rating: Again your looking at 29/40, btu honestly I would give it around a 37 - 38/40, truly amazing.
Hurrah half way there!!
Title: Final Fantasy X (10)
Genre: RPG
Console: Playstation 2 (At long last)
Price: Looking at 15 quid, at most and will most probably be used.
SquareSoft were already in the process of making this game just as they were finishing off IX in 2000, X was realesed at the tail end of 01.
So Final Fantasy makes its debut on the PS2 and boy o boy... It shines. The graphics have taken full advantage of the PS2's power and is utterly jaw dropping. And for the first time EVER, actors have been used for the character's voice.
This is my sister's favourite installment most probably because of the main character - Tidus, who when you start off, is a Blitzball (The "football" of this world) hero who's home city gets dramatically destroyed but yet he survives (or so you think) and wakes up on the coast of a tropical island where he starts his adventure to find out what the hell destroyed his home city.
The battles have been totally re-done and this time instead of ATB (Active Time Battle for those who didn't read VIII) they have replaced it with CTB (
Now, although the battle system has made the game easier (IMO) the game is just as long if not longer than IX yet they managed to fit it all on one disc! First time i completed the game my total time was 108 hrs and that was fairly rushed but I did take some time with the Blitzball season.
Yes, a Blitzball season (Or multiple ones if you wish), you can take control of a team and simply train them up for leagues/championships just like when you train up the characters for battles, and if your team is good enough to win, the rewards are priceless.
The soundtrack has became more modern this time round with a mix of opera, dance and rock music which fits in well, but the song for the temples WILL get on your nerves eventually but atleast theres only a total of 8.
And yes you've guessed it, no multiplayer.
Graphics: 10 - Amazing, totally realistic to the eye lash.
Gameplay: 8 - For new-comers, you will love it, for verterans, you will hate it, kinda like marmite.
Lifespan: 10 - This will keep you going possibly for a year.
Multiplayer: 0 - Starting to see a trend?
Final Rating: It would be 28/40 but think of it more at around 37/40, most probably the best Final Fantasy all round. (But not my favourite)
Right, i've had a cup of coffee, lets knuckle down the last one!
Title: Final Fantasy X-2 (10-2)
Genre: RPG/ Dance-music-athon
Console: Playstation 2
Price: Your looking at around 19 pounds now that it is in the platnium range. (Somehow)
So, the first actual follow on to a previous Final Fantasy, in this case it continues the story of Final Fantasy X.
This time you play as Yuna (The 2nd main character in FFX) as she joins a version of a group of mine diggers (Don't ask why) along with Rikku (Also from FFX) and Paine (New chick, kinda resmebles Auron from FFX) in an all girl party for the first time in FF histroy. Although all the characters, except for Tidus and Auron, come back for another round. (Although you can't play actually as them).
CTB has been dropped (Yey!!) for the return of ATB (Yey!!!) and the battles become very reminisant of the older FF games. This tiem however there is no Trance/ Overdirve but instead the ability to swap "dresses" (No you dont see them actually change...) and become totally different styled fighters, for example you could change from the Samauri dress, which is fast, to the Dark Knight dress which is slow but stronger. This gives you a great choice of customisation to create the perfect battle party.
But sadly, thats roughly were the good points end. This installment has a kind of rushed feel to it, its not one that you would want to play over and over again like the others, and the soundtrack is utterly pathetic, unless your into girly techno/dance music... Really does not fit in the game well at all. Its lifespan is not too long either, I think the only time I thought this could actually take a while was at the 2nd to last boss which is composed of 5 different battles but then after that you just have quite a simple battle against a bad bad man (You will recognise him if you have played FFX).
Multiplayer is again non-existant.
Graphics: 10 - You would expect graphics this good from Square-Enix.
Gameplay: 7 - ATB is back!! But it feels rushed...
Lifespan: 7 - If this was not a Final Fantasy it would have got 10, but since it is, it really does not live up to its name.
Multiplayer: 0 - You know the story.
Final Rating: It would be 24/40, but i'll be fair and do what I did to the score of the others and prob boost this to around a 32/40.
Done!! Hope this has shed some light if you have never played a Final Fantasy game before, or if you read this because your bored or a fan, hope this has been a good read. 👍
Bee.