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RPGamer Mailbag presents: Final Fantasy Opened Mind Second Chance
What is this? A contest, or more aptly named ADVENTURE where you replay your most hated/least favorite Final Fantasy game with an open mind and then write in your experiences to the RPGamer Mailbag, where I'll be sharing my own experiences as well.
When does this run? From now until the end of April, but it will be extended if a lot of people are still trying to finish.
Is there a prize? Yeah, I'll buy one random participant an RPG of their choice from this year.
How will the winner be selected? I'll create bots in Unreal Tournament 3 with all your names and see who comes out the winner.
Are there rules? Somewhat. You really need to take the FF game on its own terms and truly give it a second chance, which means I'll promptly bin any entries along the likes of "OMG FFXIII's LINEARITY IS AWFUL STILL", "IF ONLY FFXI WEREN'T AN MMO", etc. I want people to really give these games a second chance, as I'll be doing. You are welcome to substitute your #1 most hated for your 2nd or 3rd if there's a particular reason you don't want to play your most hated. For example, if you really don't want to pay for XI's monthly fee. This is for main series titles, but I will allow the following offshoots:
These direct sequels: The After Years, X-2, XIII-2 (too early for Lightning Returns).
Final Fantasy Tactics (if you hate it for some bizarre reason).
Final Fantasy Type-0
Final Fantasy: 4 Heroes of Light
Final Fantasy Dimensions
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
That's it, fire up an FF and (hopefully) have some fun. When complete you should email me your writeup for the rpgamer mailbag at
wheels@rpgamer.com or in the RPGamer Mailbag thread.
GOOD LUCK!
Comments
Well you aren't eligible for the prize anyway so OK.
As for myself, I'll be replaying FFI PS1 (the closest version I think to the original NES game which I refuse to play given how slow the battles are, I liked the PSP/GBA versions just fine), FFX-2, and XIII-2 time permitting.
Hmm.... Does it count if I simply didn't enjoy the opening part of Final Fantasy Dimensions, but never gave the rest of the game a try (because it cost a decent amount of money and I didn't think it was worth it after that bad opening)?
Twitter @FinalMacstorm
Twitter @FinalMacstorm
Does Mystic Quest count?
Yes it does. Adding it to the approved list of non-main games.
NOPE you gotta earn it! :P
Multiple have, but there's no limit to how many can take which so feel free.
You're more than welcome to play it in an emulator.
Also, for those considering replaying FFII, try it with some guides that explain the hidden stat mechanics. It becomes a lot more fun when you know how to manipulate every single action to your advantage.
Also wondering if you have to start the game over or if you can just continue from your most recent save. FF13 is probably my most disliked FF (with FF8 in a close second) and I really don't want to start from the beginning, but I'd be willing to go ahead and try to finish it (my most recent save is chapter 9 or 10, I think).
End of April is the deadline, and you're more than welcome to start with that most recent save
Oh, that helps. I think I left off at the beast's stomach in FF2, although between ESO, The Old Republic, Path of Exile, and Dragon's Dogma, I doubt I'll find the time to get around to it.
Be sure to record that UT game so we can watch the bots murder eachother, heh.
If that should ever happen it probably would be II because that's the only one in my collection that remains unbeaten: the leveling system is just that bad and seemingly random.
It's fine to talk here, I don't mind scanning through if anyone has more questions.
Just a note about the deadline again: I'll happily move it out if many are struggling to finish so don't rush yourselves.
But not now. Oh, not now. FF6 (iOS) and Banished (PC) are devouring my soul at present.
But that's only because a) it's one of the few I've finished ONCE, b) it's my least favorite out of a favorite series, and c) ... I'd do FF13, but I've actually finished that game three times over. Long story... Has to do with dying and replacing systems. 'Cause honestly...? Out of the "universally" hated games in the series, I like FF2 (and can also break it over my knee), I really enjoyed FF3, though I didn't ENJOY FF12 I didn't dislike it either...
You know? With just general gut feeling, I think I dislike FF12 more than FF8! So... I might do that instead? SOMEONE FLIP A COPY OF SUPER MARIO ADVANCE 3: YOSHI'S ISLAND FOR ME.
"I blame myself for underestimating the beast that is sex appeal..." - Agnes Oblige
There really isn't any universally hated game in the series, 2 and 3 have always had their fans.
Each one of those I got a little bit further in the game, and then hit a roadblock. The last one I actually plowed through and finished the whole thing in about 23 hours. The encounter rate seemed lower than I remembered, and the battle system, while still clunky and slow, wasn't as annoying as I had recalled. Maybe it's because I used a guide this time, or because I just barreled through it without even trying to grind. The storyline was still schlocky, but I've long since realized that FF storylines weren't really supposed to have much weight, and they're kind of like disposable anime plotlines. I replayed it with the realization that it's just meant to be light fare, and I enjoyed it more for what it was.
This probably doesn't qualify though, because I finished it on the 19th of January. This was the conclusion of my long standing goal to finish every mainline FF game at least once.
Of course, I now hate FF4 After Years with a searing passion.
The only games I put at FF4's level in the rest of the series were the first 3, and only because of how arcane they are, and story-light. I don't really hate them, I just don't think they're anywhere near the best the series has to offer.
It does not, maybe give it another chance by trying the DS version?
Can I get some tips? I may be able to finish it if I can get through it easily. I'm thinking a group of pure melee fighters supported by the odd bit of healing should be simplistic enough for me to soldier through the game. Button-cancel grinding is just too darn boring to tolerate for very long.
Also, once you hit near end-game, MINI AND TOAD. They're Matter-elemental and are instant death spells. There's literally only TWO THINGS IN THE GAME that resist it - Zombie Borghen and the final boss. Meaning once you level it, you can kill whole enemy parties AND almost every single boss in one turn.
"I blame myself for underestimating the beast that is sex appeal..." - Agnes Oblige