Just can't get into classic Final Fantasy

[rannsaka]

I've been a JRPG fan boy my whole life, and I grew up with a Super Nintendo, largely regarded as a peak system for the genre. But I have a confession to make. I have never completed any of the first 6 Final Fantasy games.
Growing up, my favorite game was Chrono Trigger, and I basically worshipped anything from Squaresoft, but no matter how many times I would start playing one of the classic Final Fantasy games, I would always lose interest and move on to something else. I've started Final Fantasy V & VI at least a dozen times each, but have only ever gotten a few hours deep.

My whole life I've always heard that Final Fantasy VI is a must-play for JRPG fans, and one of the best the genre has to offer. I genuinely WANT to get into it and enjoy the experience. I want to play the first Final Fantasy to see what the game that started it all has to offer. I want to play FF2 to experience the wonky leveling system and the Star Wars-esque story. I want to play FF3 for the introduction of the swappable Job system, FF4 for the incredible story and dedicated use of jobs and classes, FF5 for the perfection of the job system model and the "end" of the "4 elemental crystals" structure used up until that time.
But I just find them so difficult to enjoy.

This isn't because of antiquated gameplay. I am a fan of older, simpler mechanics and even downright bad controls & systems (I just played Earthbound for the first time a few years ago and loved it).

The only thing I can think of that always takes me out of these games is the disparity in sprite work. Depending on the scenario, sprites are totally different in tone, scale, realism and even movement. Enemy sprites are totally different in battle than the ones for the same enemy in normal gameplay. And finally the play character sprites are completely different from that same character's profile illustrations. Does anyone else have a problem with this or is it just me?

I'm wondering if anyone else has had a difficult time starting these games, but powered through and was glad that they did? Trying to decide if I should keep playing through FF6 or just give it up for something else (like Seiken Densetsu 3, for example).

 

[MasterEn]

you might have to check out different versions of each game. each original version was made under different circumstances. ff2 came out 1 day before the first anniversary of ff1. ff1 is so broken it isn't funny. the intel stat doesn't work, several spells do the opposite of what they are supposed to do. ff1 and 2 don't adjust attacks if an enemy dies before a character attacks them, they will attack empty air instead of switching to a viable target. ff3 forces the use of specific jobs at points to progress, which cost job money in the original. ff4 was supposed to be a nes game and switched over to the snes at the 80% mark.
... ff5 and 6 are the most stable and consistent.
the gba versions and onward are vastly more improved. sprites are more consistent and colorful. 3 and 4 have 3d remakes with new content.
i know your main complaint was just not liking the sprite work, but that will be the least of your concerns if you got far in the older games.

 

[ATenderLad]

Well, that's definitely the first time I've heard *that*. It's interesting, though!

I think generally video games, or JRPG's more specifically, often had that element of imagination where you had some gorgeous artwork in the manual or portraits, and you had to picture that's what your little sprite on the overworld or battle screen represented. ("Use your imagination" was basically mandatory for most older PC games especially.)

I think that gulf between Pretty Expectation and Practical Reality hit a peak with FF7, where the portraits looked like anime heroes and the CGI featured realistically proportioned characters, but Cloud is a jaunty little blonde troll with Popeye arms. (The battle models were a little better, admittedly.) That's probably what drove the expectation for a remake, people wanting to reconcile that difference with new technology.

...can't say it ever bothered me, personally, but it's too bad that presents an obstacle for getting into the series for you.

No one can really hold you to any "video game canon" though, life's too short to play things you don't enjoy.

 

[Somnia]

If you've tried multiple games and still come away feeling meh on it, it just might not be for you. It can be sad to not enjoy something that most people love to engage with, but forcing it usually isn't worth it. GTA is a franchise that I've tried and tried to get into but I just struggle to give a damn, which makes everytime a new one is coming out a bit sad since I can never join in on the excitement lol

Best thing I could recommend though would be to try out some of the 3D era games out. FFVII definitely has the disparity between how things look in and out of battle, but after that game things tend to feel super duper consistent. FFX is often recommended as a good starting point to new FF fans for a number of reasons, so maybe give any game post-VII a shot and see how you're feeling. If you still dislike them then it just might not appeal to you as a franchise, unfortunately.

 

[RanmyakuIchi's iconRanmyakuIchi]

I'm wondering if anyone else has had a difficult time starting these games, but powered through and was glad that they did? Trying to decide if I should keep playing through FF6 or just give it up for something else (like Seiken Densetsu 3, for example).

I had bounced off of classic Final Fantasy a couple times in the past, but fairly recently I gave VI another shot and devoured it completely. In my example, I found I was comparing it to things like Chrono Trigger and FFVII and not taking it in for what it itself was, if that makes sense. If you want to try it again, maybe give yourself some time and come in with a fresh mindset perhaps?

 

[Egg (McMuffin) Man]

I like the classics but I haven't played them all. There are some problems with various versions as @MasterEn stated. If you're going to play them today than you should probably just play the Pixel Remaster versions.

My personal recommendation is to start with FF1. It's a very simple game, and it's relatively short too. The games get slightly more complex as they go, and it will probably be harder to enjoy the earlier games after you have played the later entries. My introduction to the series was the FF1&2 collection on GBA and it was great.

FF1 is a barebones version of the rest of the series - it is FF in it's purest form. If you like this game, you will like them all. FF2 builds further on the foundation that FF1 laid down and introduced Chocobo into the series. FF3 introduced the job system and my beloved Moogle's, and FF4 introduced the newer battle system. They kept building further on the ideas with each entry.

 

[Strategist's iconStrategist]

If you don't enjoy it, you don't enjoy it. SNES era Final Fantasy is what it is. For me it was love at first intro sequence and the gameplay wasn't that much of a barrier for me to experience the story. I don't get the graphics complaint. Final Fantasy VI alongside with Chrono Trigger has the most exquisite sprite work on the SNES so its not like its hard to look at. Plus most JRPGs have the same disparity between monsters and player characters you describe.

 

[AncientBehemoth]

Everybody got their limits. Me, no matter how hard I love jrpg genre I cannot play on anything older than Genesis/SNES. I did play FF through 1-6 (1-2 on PSP 3rd one was Steam mobile port) and only didn't finish Final Fantasy 4. This game I have a problem with. I've started it 3 or 4 times and every time I drop it around the moment the twins petrify themselves. Guess I don't have your kind of problem

 

[Leifang]

You can use modded versions of games for sprite consistency (ATMA weapon and Brave Steel) but SNES version is good enough and I feel that it kind of doesn't matter since you won't be having enemies visible on the map for most of the game, it's just the intro that's heavily scripted.

If you want good spritework, play PSP versions for 1,2 and 4, or the 3D versions for 3 and 4, they're very good, in fact 3D remake of Final Fantasy 4 was the first RPG I finished in years since I have the problem of restartitis and it's so linear and simple I can just go forward to the end.

If you want to get into the series and graphics keep you away, STAY AWAY from 7, it has the worst problem of different models in battle, and even FMVs aren't consistent, FF8 onwards graphics are consistent though 8 has obscure mechanics and 9 kind of assumes you played the games before it. IMO you should try to get a bit further in 6 (to castle in the sand) and if you give up before, go with X really. It's the first one that looks smooth and feels modern.

 

[prnzo x BOOZE-o ka-BEER-o]

as my lifelong ADHD gets increasingly worse as time marches on off the proverbial cliff - I find even modern RPGs a tough proposition as I get a nagging feeling while tryin to absorb the story n its vibe that I should stop n save about, say, every 5 min... sometimes every 2. this is why pick up n play then drop genres (most prominently fighters) are my mainstay type of game

...however, when the ADHD, bipolar mania, n meds match up the right way for the planets to align n conjure forth the perfect storm... ok, maybe not THAT rare lol but sometimes can be a wait of 2-3 months - I try to capitalize on my mind's fleeting/temporary but increased, unforced patience n jump on wutevR I can n binge it while my mind can still wing it.

this ofc still means I won't experience a fraction of the true FuQtunnz motherload of story/progress-driven games I want to experience in my lifespan (and a laundry list of other severe health issues impede my uphill-both-ways quest but I still feel blessed instead of *boo-hoo me*) - one good thing about a harsh health struggle is that it can help you appreciate better almost any stimulating, interesting, fulfilling, passion-activating facet of shenanigans that has ever crossed your path in favorable fashion - and if I was kickin it on my deathbed even right this moment, I'd hold a thumbs-up in the air (if I even have any motor control left xD ) n say it was a good run - no matter what I end up missin out on. you can't have 999 cakes n eat all 999 of them too lol

sorry for sounding me-me-me but I'm just hopin this aids your perspective in some way is aLL I'm essentially goin for here ^_^

 

[The Missing Link]

Same, I'm used to the ps1/ps2 FFs mostly and Dissidia 012 but that's more of a fighting game.
FF6 or over here its called FF3 is good too.

I tried the pixel remasters but they kept erasing my saves even when I made backups so I never completed the first FF or the second.

 

[ryoha]

my 1st RPG is FF8, then after finishing FF7 & FF 9 I wonder how another fInal fantasy look a like, than i have commitment to play all series. right know i already played FF 1-12 , ff dissidia, ff crisis core, ff 7 remake. i used to playing RPG like reading a book, for completing my 1rst run on ff8 i took 80 hours gameplay in 1 year, and i already played maybe 4-5 times. its no problem if you got distracted. take your time. you have real life too dude. i think i took 25 years to have this achievement. im played another games too and have many things to do too.

 

[Raggs]

It's a "when the stars align" kind of thing for me. Speaking from my own experience, if I force myself to power through a game I'm going to hate it and end up daydreaming about something I would rather be doing.

OTOH, I'll get seized by a sudden addiction to a game and just go with it. I played Soulash 2 for three days straight, then moved on. I had a lot of fun, and that was enough.

 

[JustLooking123]

I had bounced off of classic Final Fantasy a couple times in the past, but fairly recently I gave VI another shot and devoured it completely. In my example, I found I was comparing it to things like Chrono Trigger and FFVII and not taking it in for what it itself was, if that makes sense. If you want to try it again, maybe give yourself some time and come in with a fresh mindset perhaps?

This is very true.
I always find myself with different expectations from time to time... i enjoyed some games a lot when i was a kid, but if i look at them today, i can see a lot of flaws in them...
The opposite can be true too, i used to not like some games when i was kid, and nowadays i like them.

Having the correct mindset is the key... but we are talking about playing games, which is mostly for fun! so that's the most important part! have fun! ?

 

[fake-kun]

The only thing I can think of that always takes me out of these games is the disparity in sprite work. Depending on the scenario, sprites are totally different in tone, scale, realism and even movement. Enemy sprites are totally different in battle than the ones for the same enemy in normal gameplay. And finally the play character sprites are completely different from that same character's profile illustrations. Does anyone else have a problem with this or is it just me?

Yes, it is just you.

 

[JustLooking123]

And finally the play character sprites are completely different from that same character's profile illustrations. Does anyone else have a problem with this or is it just me?

Honestly, i have this very problem with the GBA version of FF5!
Portraits of characters in FF6 are still in an acceptable range... but in FF5, they just picked some random pictures without any relevance at all!
I mean, look at Galuf? In his portrait, he doesn't have a beard at all! ?
Fortunately for me, i played the snes version of them! ?

 

[McDoob]

the gba versions and onward are vastly more improved. sprites are more consistent and colorful.

This. Play the later iterations of the early titles, if you want the best experience. Not just graphically, either; there are plenty of QoL improvements and added content. Do yourself a favor, though, and avoid the PSX copies like the plague. The loading times are super annoying, even in emulation. I recently finished I, II, and IV on PSP, and that was pretty good. I'm working through V and VI on GBA.

IMHO, the definitive versions are the Pixel Remaster set for PC. Best graphics and sound quality. But my PC is waylaid with a busted CPU cooler.
-McD

 

[Bonkers225]

If all else fails, try tactics

 

[Izzy]

I've been a JRPG fan boy my whole life, and I grew up with a Super Nintendo, largely regarded as a peak system for the genre. But I have a confession to make. I have never completed any of the first 6 Final Fantasy games.
Growing up, my favorite game was Chrono Trigger, and I basically worshipped anything from Squaresoft, but no matter how many times I would start playing one of the classic Final Fantasy games, I would always lose interest and move on to something else. I've started Final Fantasy V & VI at least a dozen times each, but have only ever gotten a few hours deep.

My whole life I've always heard that Final Fantasy VI is a must-play for JRPG fans, and one of the best the genre has to offer. I genuinely WANT to get into it and enjoy the experience. I want to play the first Final Fantasy to see what the game that started it all has to offer. I want to play FF2 to experience the wonky leveling system and the Star Wars-esque story. I want to play FF3 for the introduction of the swappable Job system, FF4 for the incredible story and dedicated use of jobs and classes, FF5 for the perfection of the job system model and the "end" of the "4 elemental crystals" structure used up until that time.
But I just find them so difficult to enjoy.

This isn't because of antiquated gameplay. I am a fan of older, simpler mechanics and even downright bad controls & systems (I just played Earthbound for the first time a few years ago and loved it).

The only thing I can think of that always takes me out of these games is the disparity in sprite work. Depending on the scenario, sprites are totally different in tone, scale, realism and even movement. Enemy sprites are totally different in battle than the ones for the same enemy in normal gameplay. And finally the play character sprites are completely different from that same character's profile illustrations. Does anyone else have a problem with this or is it just me?

I'm wondering if anyone else has had a difficult time starting these games, but powered through and was glad that they did? Trying to decide if I should keep playing through FF6 or just give it up for something else (like Seiken Densetsu 3, for example).

What you gotta understand about the older series is that it was a saving throw for Square...which actually worked. Course it was the first time it gave players a chance to create a group of their own choosing and just beat the game with it. FF2 was the first game that literally changed up on their level system and it was mostly experimental with that. That experimental stat level system went to a later game that most have heard of but probably never played, The Last Remnant. FF3 was a teen version of 1 because of the job system. IV was a standalone game, while V and VI are basically 'let's see what you've learned'. As far as the artwork's concerned, that never bothered me. I mean that same artist did work for Vampire Hunter D. I feel you're going by what you see instead of getting immersed in the story, and it's totally understandable compared to say Chrono Trigger. I've played various RPGs all my life and always treated them like books. I get a sense of accomplishment after I finish one and I just take a break after it's fully digested. I rarely think of 'powering through' anything if I know how the combat system works. I suggest try changing your mindset on how you see the game outside what's already there. Even if it's for a bit, but don't feel you 'have' to soldier through it. Better to just play it for what it's worth than to know make it some kind of duty to see it through.

 

[Parasite_Steve]

It took me forever to get into the games prior to 7 because they all feel so same-y to me, the plots border on generic and the gameplay can be a slog. For the most part I don’t think they measure up that flatteringly to square‘s other games at the time, especially in the 16bit era.
However I did find things to like in each one. The only ones that never won me over were 2 (as in the actual second game, not part 4) and 5. My personal recommendation would be to absolutely avoid the original vanilla versions of each of the games.

I really enjoyed the polygonal remakes of 3 and 4 and the gba versions of the other games. They kind of hit the sweet spot aesthetically, were less grindy than the original versions and had a couple of quality of life improvements. I was surprised by how much I ended up enjoying the first one. It’s a lot smaller and simple but I found the shorter length to be refreshing. I would recommend playing all of them emulated though so you can fast forward through the many random encounters and use save states for the more frustrating parts.

So yeah I acknowledge them as classics* but there are mechanics that aged well and mechanics that didn’t. Acting like the latter isn’t a big deal feels disingenuous.

 

[Pandaprewmaster325]

Well I get you , I started with FF7 and after beating it I wanted to play the previous games before moving forward to 8 and 9 , I spent like 3 months playing 2d final fantasy where 4 out of 5 games had characters with moving legs while standing still I came up with a name for this I call it "retarded leg syndrome" just imagine getting into a shop and the owner is stretching his legs on the counter

This won't be solved until FF6 which has the best graphics of the 2d games , I went in with the mindset of "this will only get worse" each time I moved to the next game and it did it really did get worse since gameplay got more and more clunky , respect to square managing to create FF6 in 1994 which is 30 years old by now and held up pretty well gameplay didn't feel clunky at all and the various unique abilities from your ability to morph to edgar tools and sabin awesome blitz and cyan sword techniques help keep the game afloat , FF6 also is unique by not having separate models for characters in and outside combat save for kefka and the ghosts and few others.

Square seem to never be consistent with how they depict some characters you all know the cover art for FF1 its an icon of the series with its vibrant and lovely colors and cool armor of the light warrior well the warrior of the light depicted in it is.....the warrior in his knight form you can notice the horns worn by the knight similar to the horned helmet of the cover art , in FF2 art cover firion is depicted wearing a bandana the original game doesn't have him wearing one it won't be until later releases that he gets his bandana , in FF5 none of the cast look like their art , look at my epic PFP it features the tycoon sisters in their art depiction but they look nothing like it in game , faris isnt wearing some pirate armor nor is reina wearing a dress both are depicted with blonde hair well both in game are seen with pink/purple hair , galuf never had a beard in the artwork yet in the game he does the protagonist , the player the great warrior bartz is depicted with white hair and quite pale looking , he looks nothing like it in game he is brown haired.

Various art depicts terra with blonde hair yet in the game she always has green hair explain why????

One thing worth mentioning is character portraits always allow you to take a peek and a closer look at how characters look in the artist mind and how he wanted them to look that's a problem with 5 at least the PS1 version I played lacked any character portrait....

If you want more faithful depictions of characters similar to art take a look at the PS1 intro cinematics for 5/6 they really cooked with the intro for 6 I thought only blizzard could do peak cinematics well square seem to be able to do that too , one funny aspect in the origins version of FF2 the intro has firion wearing no bandana , square think its funny to keep stripping him of his bandana poor guy....warrior of the light is depicted in a faithful way to the art in FF1 intro.

But if you really want the best depictions look into the dissida games where each character is finally properly depicted similar to the artwork of the game they are from.

But that's the thing they bring a character from a 2d game place it into 3d have it resemble the art more than the game they are from like why not bring the entire 2d game into 3d....

I think square should remake all 2d games with 3d graphics especially 2 , 2 deserves some love man it started the chocobo and houses the first ever dragoon in the series.

I gotta say battles feel very engaging in 7 and 8 due to the enemy finally having animations and not being static.

 

[jankusanagi]

I never played the first three games for the NES and the 4th on the SNES, because they looked and felt very generic, very impersonal.

But V on the SNES looked more "real", with more distinct characters, so for a while, that was the oldest one I played. It also had pretty great music. FF VI certainly had even more personality and looked great for a SNES game.

Years later I played the (3D) PSP version of FF III, which looked pretty great, with more "alive" characters.

I haven't tried, but there are versions of FF 1, 2, and 4 for PSX, PSP... that seem way less "empty" that the ones for NES/SNES, you might want to try those.

 

[Strategist's iconStrategist]

Square seem to never be consistent with how they depict some characters you all know the cover art for FF1 its an icon of the series with its vibrant and lovely colors and cool armor of the light warrior well the warrior of the light depicted in it is.....the warrior in his knight form you can notice the horns worn by the knight similar to the horned helmet of the cover art , in FF2 art cover firion is depicted wearing a bandana the original game doesn't have him wearing one it won't be until later releases that he gets his bandana , in FF5 none of the cast look like their art , look at my epic PFP it features the tycoon sisters in their art depiction but they look nothing like it in game , faris isnt wearing some pirate armor nor is reina wearing a dress both are depicted with blonde hair well both in game are seen with pink/purple hair , galuf never had a beard in the artwork yet in the game he does the protagonist , the player the great warrior bartz is depicted with white hair and quite pale looking , he looks nothing like it in game he is brown haired.

That's because they had different artists working on the concept art and the pixel art. They probably didn't sync up that well. Plus I imagine Amano was available on a limited time basis, would drop his concept art and leave to work on his other projects.

Various art depicts terra with blonde hair yet in the game she always has green hair explain why????

If I had to guess why that happened, it is because they had already a blonde character and it made her too similar looking to Celes. Or it could be that they thought she would stand out more with green hair. Or maybe it was a homage to Rydia from FF4.

There's also color palette limitations for sprites in the SNES hardware. That's something I learned from my romhacking days. The way the hardware works, you only get 16 colors to work with per character (I might be misremembering the exact number). Some characters share color schemes to work around memory limitations. The main point is, sometimes color choices are dictated by hardware limitations.

 

[Pandaprewmaster325]

That's because they had different artists working on the concept art and the pixel art. They probably didn't sync up that well. Plus I imagine Amano was available on a limited time basis, would drop his concept art and leave to work on his other projects.



If I had to guess why that happened, it is because they had already a blonde character and it made her too similar looking to Celes. Or it could be that they thought she would stand out more with green hair. Or maybe it was a homage to Rydia from FF4.

There's also color palette limitations for sprites in the SNES hardware. That's something I learned from my romhacking days. The way the hardware works, you only get 16 colors to work with per character (I might be misremembering the exact number). Some characters share color schemes to work around memory limitations. The main point is, sometimes color choices are dictated by hardware limitations.

I guess that explains the inconsistency , yeah It took me a while to figure who is terra and who is celes in the intro but in-game terra wears red and purple if I remember right celes idk I still can't understand what she is wearing a big T shirt? A dress ? All I can tell is her shoulder pads

 

[Yousef]

It’s perfectly ok to not be into final fantasy. I’ve never grown up with the rpg genre due to language barrier. I only had a faint knowledge of how they work due to playing a pirated rom of breath of fire 3 on my psp back in 2009. Once I turned 12, I became good in English and started expanding my horizons. My first beaten rpg was Dragon Quest 1 back when I was 14 or 15 and it opened a whole new world to me. Due to lack of time however, it became really hard for me to ketchup with the genre and since I sorta still see myself as a latecomer and someone with no prior attachment, a part of me still sees the genre as tertiary, even if I love it to death.

My tastes have changed but Dragon Quest remains number 1 with no other series being able to replicate its charm for me. I’ve expanded beyond it of course, but only via SMT/Persona and revisiting Breath of Fire III (which became my favorite PSX game of all time!).