RPGamer Mailbag presents: Final Fantasy Opened Mind Second Chance

Wheels

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!

Nyx

There is a part of me that wants to take part in this and give FFX a try again. I couldn't get into it, X-2 OR XII. I also have XIII-2 which I grabbed back when it was less than ten bucks on PSN and I wasn't planning on playing it until I saw the FF13 recap and laughed my head off over how stupid the plot of XIII-2 seemed. My only issue may be not being able to start right away since I am drowning in tests! (Reading week is next week. Yay week off!)

Wheels

Hey you can't give XIII-2 a second chance if you haven't already suffered through it once :P

Nyx

I suffered through it via videos and all the staff's whining and complaints. I THINK IT COUNTS.

Wheels

Nyx wrote: »

I suffered through it via videos and all the staff's whining and complaints. I THINK IT COUNTS.

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.

redwing42

If I didn't have so many other games on the burner right now, I'd go back and play FFII again. Wait, no I wouldn't. Why would I do that to myself? Because, MAN, did that game suck.

smacd

deleted.

TwinBahamut

I'd join this, if it were not for the fact that my most hated is FF12, and that game is just too long to replay on a whim.

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)?

Macstorm

lolwhoops wrote: »

Ok, so after thinking on this a bit I decided I should try something. I'm never going to be able to beat FF1 because I find the game excruciatingly slow and boring, and I don't want to play FF3 again because that final dungeon ruined an otherwise forgettable and joyless adventure. But there is one game that could qualify for this. A game I started and stopped without really giving it the chance to maybe be more fun for me. So, I will try to beat Final Fantasy 13. I will try my darnedest to enjoy something in the game.

I highly recommend the PSP version of FF1, though sadly it's not on PSN.

Macstorm

Nyx wrote: »

I suffered through it via videos and all the staff's whining and complaints. I THINK IT COUNTS.

It counts, but I don't think the staff complained TOO much about XIII-2. It was just that the story was even dumber. Not a bad game, though.

TGBarighm

Hmm...I dunno about replaying FF2, but I was thinking of going back and giving Jade Empire another shot. Seems like it has more upside.

Does Mystic Quest count?

Wheels

TG Barighm wrote: »

Hmm...I dunno about replaying FF2, but I was thinking of going back and giving Jade Empire another shot. Seems like it has more upside.

Does Mystic Quest count?

Yes it does. Adding it to the approved list of non-main games.

TGBarighm

Can I get a UT3 bot even if I don't participate? :P

redwing42

No takers on FFVIII yet? I enjoyed all the window dressing for that game, but it was probably my least favorite battle system aside from FFII. I hated how the junction system made every character essentially the same. I hated how special attacks were tied to HP or Aura spells, instead of charging up like in VII. I hated that I had to spend 10 minutes on a single battle just to draw spells. Lots of wasted potential on that one.

Shinseitori

Hmm, interesting. It would be Final Fantasy IX for me, and I even know where my discs are. Can I gussy up the graphics in an emulator or do I need to have an "authentic retro experience?"

Wheels

Wheels wrote: »

Yes it does. Adding it to the approved list of non-main games.

NOPE you gotta earn it! :P

redwing42 wrote: »

No takers on FFVIII yet? I enjoyed all the window dressing for that game, but it was probably my least favorite battle system aside from FFII. I hated how the junction system made every character essentially the same. I hated how special attacks were tied to HP or Aura spells, instead of charging up like in VII. I hated that I had to spend 10 minutes on a single battle just to draw spells. Lots of wasted potential on that one.

Multiple have, but there's no limit to how many can take which so feel free.

Shinseitori wrote: »

Hmm, interesting. It would be Final Fantasy IX for me, and I even know where my discs are. Can I gussy up the graphics in an emulator or do I need to have an "authentic retro experience?"

You're more than welcome to play it in an emulator.

Clix

You can't pay me to replay FFIII. No one can pay me to do that again. It is the only one I hate. I was mostly disappointed or frustrated with IV, X, XI, and XIII. Only III found a way to permanently earn the bottom tier slot in my rankings.


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.

smacd

deleted.

Zeboyd Games

What's the deadline?

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).

Wheels

Zeboyd Games wrote: »

What's the deadline?

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

Shinseitori

My journey has stalled. The pacing in FF9 is as bad (if not worse) than I remember. Thanks for the distant deadline, I may just make it.

TGBarighm

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.

Lassic

I don't know if I want to replay one of my least favorite Final Fantasies (I, II and XIII).

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.

Wheels

lolwhoops wrote: »

so, should we have a thread where people talk about their journey through their FF game of choice? Maybe we talk in here? Any ideas?

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.

Shinseitori

End of April works for me. I will either decide to finish it and do so or not by then.

But not now. Oh, not now. FF6 (iOS) and Banished (PC) are devouring my soul at present.

Shannon Harle

Think I already mentioned on Twitter I'm planning on doing FF8 for this...

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.

Wheels

SweetieAshe wrote: »

Think I already mentioned on Twitter I'm planning on doing FF8 for this...

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.

There really isn't any universally hated game in the series, 2 and 3 have always had their fans.

kazriko

The one FF game that I hated with a passion was FF4. I gave it a first chance, (Emulated US version) a second chance, (PS4j Emulated with translation), a third chance (PS1 FF4 US) and finally finished it with the 4th chance (PSP FF4 Collection) and found that by the end with the PSP version, it wasn't as bad as I remembered it. What I disliked about it was the battle system (the slow ATB bars, combined with the frantic attempts to choose an action before the enemy pounded you to death, and only one thing going on at once created a very slow battle system. When you add in the absurdly high encounter rate, it was annoying to do anything in the game) and how the storyline featured all of this tragedy, then at the last minute undercuts any weight it had by bringing all of the characters that sacrificed themselves to get you where you were back to life/consciousness. (The characters that remain dead? Anyone who died while not specifically helping you. They just senselessly died while being attacked by Baron, or died trying to take revenge, and never came back.)

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.

Wheels

kazriko wrote: »

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.

It does not, maybe give it another chance by trying the DS version?

TGBarighm

Out of the "universally" hated games in the series, I like FF2 (and can also break it over my knee)

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.

Shannon Harle

TG Barighm wrote: »

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.

Shields for early game (and really all game because they give Def, Eva, AND Spd), cast any particular spell once every battle (though it doesn't hurt to do some MP grinding outside of the first town). Also SPECIALIZE in a particular weapon for each character. I tend to do spears for Firion, staves or maces for Maria, and swords for Guy, since Leila uses daggers, and axes have such a low hit count they're not particularly worth it.

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.