Final Fantasy Thread I: Why Did the Chocobo Cross the Road?

[Atheris]

With all the buzz around Final Fantasy as of late, such as FF7R Intermission, the PS5 re-release of FF7R, and FFXVI hopefully coming up in the next few months, I feel like it was high time for something I've always kinda wanted; a Final Fantasy thread.

For those who don't know, Final Fantasy is a Japanese RPG (JRPG) series that's often been considered one of the best of all time. It, alongside series like Pokémon and Chrono Trigger, have been called responsible for populating the JRPG genre outside of eastern Asia (in contrast with Western RPGs, or WRPGs, such as The Elder Scrolls). The series really began to kick off with Final Fantasy 6 and 7 (Final Fantasies?), for SNES and PS1. The games, while all in separate timelines, usually share common motifs; a group of three to four heroes fighting against some fort of great evil, usually ancient or primordial in nature, some kind of authoritarian government and/or state in rebellion, the appearance of two or more villains (such as the Four Fiends and Chaos sharing the role in the original Final Fantasy), and a character named Cid. Despite being labeled as Final Fantasy, the game usually shares in many other setting genres, FF7 being possibly the most noticeable example; it combines urban fantasy with cyberpunk, psychological horror, and even arcade racing games.

The series began in 1987 with the release of Final Fantasy on the Famicom. It didn't really take off in the west until Final Fantasy 7, which was released as FF7 worldwide despite only being the fifth entry in the series outside of Japan (FF2 and FF3 weren't released until after FF7 in the west). FF7 was the first in the series to use 3D models and full-motion videos (FMVs), making it unique among not just the series but JRPG games in general. The series has been commonly referred to as revolutionary and a pioneer in gaming.

That being said, with all the hubbub about the series as of late, let's start off with some general questions.

- What do you think about Yuffie's redesign in Intermission, alongside Weiss's return from Dirge of Cerberus?
- What are your expectations for FF16? High, low, inbetween?
- Have you played FF7R? If so, what were your thoughts on it?
- What's your favorite game?
- Who's your favorite protagonist?
- Who's your favorite villain?

[Odreria]

I am playing final fantasy vi

[Diaboland]

Hi! FF villain superfan and hardcore Dissidia player here! My favorite character is Ardyn Izunia!

[GENSOC]

Hi! FF villain superfan and hardcore Dissidia player here! My favorite character is Ardyn Izunia!

God I miss my PSP, Dissidia was such good times.

[Diaboland]

I wanna bump this. I'm obsessed with FF

[Radiatia]

I can't believe I never noticed this thread, given my own love of the Final Fantasy series. Here are my thoughts from the OP:

What do you think about Yuffie's redesign in Intermission, alongside Weiss's return from Dirge of Cerberus?
I think Yuffie's redesign is quite interesting, they've certainly made her a more sympathetic character. In the original, I hated her personality (granted, yes, she was intended as something of a comic relief character) whereas Intermission has fleshed her out and so far I like what they've done.

Can't comment on Weiss as, gasp, I never played Dirge of Cerberus.

- What are your expectations for FF16? High, low, inbetween?

Trailer looks good. However given that, to be brutally honest, I haven't really loved a Final Fantasy game since FFX I'm cautiously optimistic with extra emphasis on the word 'caution'. But it does look good and it does show signs that the series might have found its mojo again with an interesting return to the basics (in terms of setting).

- Have you played FF7R? If so, what were your thoughts on it?

I have mixed feelings. On one hand it's by far the best FF game since 10, I actually enjoyed the action RPG elements and fleshing out Midgar and formerly minor characters, etc.

On the other hand there were some very unwelcome changes to the story and the ending was... just ghastly, I did not care for it.

- What's your favorite game?

Tough choice.

- VII holds a special place in my heart for being the first one I played but a recent playthough made me realise that it has a lot of flaws (Disc 2 kinda drags in a lot of places for example).

- VI is what I would call technically the best, in that it has the best soundtrack, characters, story and gameplay.

- VIII is my favourite one to actually play and is the one I've replayed the most. I just love trying to break the game, but also I really like the game's world and just running around with the Ragnarok at the end of Disc 3 not really doing anything.

- Who's your favorite protagonist?

Is there a more iconic character than Fighter from Final Fantasy 1?

Okay I'm kidding. I don't want to say 'Cloud' because that's too cliche and I also really liked Terra from FF6 and Zidane from FF9.

And Bartz from FF5 is called Butz in some translations and who can't like someone called Butz?

Tl;dr: I can't pick just one.

- Who's your favorite villain?

Kefka. A fantastic embodiment of chaotic evil and in many ways the most terrifying villain of the series.

I also like Sephiroth but I don't really see him as a villain - if I was in his shoes I'd also summon a meteor to try and kill everyone and give myself the power of a god.

Ardyn from FF15 was quite a good villain and probably one of the only things I really liked about FF15.

[Diaboland]

I just love trying to break the game

Have you ever encountered the FF8 debug room? It's kind of creepy but I love that vibe

[Radiatia]

I just love trying to break the game

Have you ever encountered the FF8 debug room? It's kind of creepy but I love that vibe

Not for FF8, no. I've found the FF7 debug room though.

[Diaboland]

I got the FF Ultimania archives and they are amazing reads. Absolutely recommend

[Diaboland]

Just got my nationstates capital city and of course I named it Spira.

[Diaboland]

Going to try to give this thread a Phoenix Down, again