Weekly /r/FinalFantasy Question Thread – Week of March 08, 2021

Nearly finished DQXI and thinking of next game. Narrowed to either FFXII or FFX (X also has X-2 so its 2 games for the price of one...). I have Xenoblade DE and don't really like it, figured I'd go back to FF

Does anyone know how can I play FF13 in Steam with English voices? I live in Asia. I emailed greenmangaming and they said the one that I can buy there will most likely also be the Asian version so...

Hey guys, I just downloaded FF7 remake with the PS plus, and so far I'm loving it but there are so much stuff to build whats your favorite build? I'm thinking I should work toward this, plz let me know what u think.

Cloud: balanced build

Barret: tanky build

Tifa: straight physical damage with some defensive materias

Aerith: full magic up build.

Should I give them 1 element materia each(fire, ice, wind) and adjust them based on the battle?

Also once everything is fully unlocked what would be the best weapon for each to use? All the guides I've seen just tell you what each weapon does but never explain what to use or at least what's the most popular build for each character is.

Thanks in advance.

Should I play the original 7 or remake first? I’m sure this gets asked a lot but I’m looking for fresh opinions. Also, if I play the original should I only play up till they leave midgar or all the way through

Thinking about getting FFIV on steam since they have remake version. Should I get the After Years with the bundle or just IV alone?

Does anyone know, FFXII, if I leave Stiltshrine of Miriam after fighting (but not beating) Negalmuur, will it appear again?

with memes being banned most the week made me wonder is there a meme subreddit for final fantasy in the same way thers like

FFXV - Can anyone suggest a good magic/element tutorial? I'm sure it's not terribly complicated, but the game doesn't explain much and I'd rather not spend a ton of time figuring it out.

Is there an optimal way to play Final Fantasy games? What I mean by this is do i need to grind before every boss encounter? Are their specific spells and skills that are must haves? I've played FF 3, 4, 10, 12, 13 and 15 out of all those I've only beaten 15 but i would like to go back and play 7-12 but I always get stuck trying to figure out if its because I don't know how to properly play turn based games lol

Hey, I'm about to play my first FF game, final fantasy X remastered, and I was wondering if a guide is really necessary? I don't really care about achievements and I'm really only here for the story. I'm scared of searching anything related to FF10 since I have a habit of seeing spoilers.

Where in ff4 on steam can I encounter a sand worm? The wiki said outside Kaipo but I haven’t had any luck finding one. Is there a certain spot on the map where they spawn?

I'm completely new to the franchise (I've only played Dissidia before, but I totally did not get it nor I remember it) but I started playing the VII remake since it came free with the plus subscription. I'm enjoying the story so far, however, there's one thing really bothers me. Am I missing something or the NPCs in this universe are stupid as shit? It's super funny and immersion-breaking when I read the dialogue and there is some line about how people are not sure who is blowing up the reactors and how this "terrorist gang" is super mysterius. Yeah, it certainly is not the guy with the huge ass sword or the dude with a fucking machine gun for arm...

Quick question about FF7 remake upgrade! Do you get the new story dlc free with the upgrade to Ps5?

FFXIII-- does anybody know if connoisseur catalog increase rates stack or is it pointless to equip more than one?

Hello, does the phsycal copy of the original FF VII exist for ps4? It's seems there is only the 8 that I am interested to play

I know that the PSP version of IV is generally considered the best, but I was looking to buy the Japanese region PSN archive version of the PS1 port as I like being able to switch between portable and tv to fit my needs. My question is if there are any glaring issues with the PS1 version. I’ve heard that V and VI have problems with BGM quality, loading, audio getting de-synced, etc. on the PS1.

Are there any such problems with IV PS1?

Does the Marcus/Eiko stat bug still exist in the Steam Version of Final Fantasy IX?

I have only ever played tactics, 4 & 5. Nothing like these new type ones! Annyyyyway eshop has a huge sale on ATM and I got 7 &8 - which should I play first? Did I make a mistake getting them and is there any others I should play?

I thank you in advance if you do reply and helping a fellow out

Who is the figure that speaks to Cloud in the original FFVII?

I'll add to others that while III isn't as good as IV onwards usually are, it's a lot better according to most than I and II. So might be worth checking out at least.

It's OK to abandon a game if it's no longer fun. To continue playing a game you don't enjoy playing is failing to sunk cost fallacy. I personally found 1 too linear for my tastes when there are so many other great options available.

If you're looking for classics, 4-6 will work well depending on what you think you needed more from 1:

4's driving force is the story. The 2D PSP version has bonus dungeons that have more character development and a bigger endgame roster. The 3D Steam has a much more complex battle system that rewards players for NG+. Can't go wrong with either depending on how you want to experience the game. My personal favourite is the PSP port.

5's driving force are the battle mechanics. The story and characters are only slightly more complex than 1, but less than 4. There are 22 (SNES) or 26 (GBA / Steam / Mobile) different jobs to choose from by endgame. That's 22C4 = 7315 (SNES) or 26C4 = 14,950 different combinations of jobs in your team of 4 you can play to keep things interesting. My suggested port is either SNES translation or GBA + sound patch.

6's driving force is the story, roster of characters, and generally more story and gameplay variety than 4 and 5. With 14 characters, there's bound to be at least one or two characters you can relate to. Each character has a different unique skill that separates them from the rest of the team. Though they don't all get the same amount of screen time or development. My suggested port is either SNES or GBA + sound patch.

6 would be my go-to if you wanted a safe pick.

7 is always a good one to begin your journey. It's definitely the most popular and it's relatively easy to get into for newcomers.

10 is also recommended for newcomers so that isn't a bad choice at all.

Honestly, you could even start with Final fantasy 1 if you really wanted to see the beginning of the series. It holds up super well and the mobile controls aren't bad at all.

Cloud still has a pretty standard SOLDIER weapon and uniform so they just assume he's with Shinra.

You're not missing anything. I think the game is great in general, but the NPC design is pretty poor. Most of them are just generic, wearing normal everyday clothes, so the main characters look really out of place. If they had more random NPCs walking around with guns, swords and armour then it would be more believable that they wouldn't suspect the main characters are up to something.

that a common problem with some japanese games and anime

and FF7 certanly is the biggest sinner in FF, Barret is one example so is Vicent which is another character from this game, the other FF are better at making the character blend with the world.

Final Fantasy games always had weird NPCs, and it was noticable from X onward. Older NES/SNES/PS1 games could get away with this because weird NPCs were just a thing.

I don't like how SE do NPCs and crowds, either. Its pretty shit but thats their style of doing it.

GTA NPCs are dumb as shit, too.

So, this is my favorite game series, honestly. I want y’all to understand that. Because I’ve tried to play chronologically and I’m just...not having a good time. I’m about 2 crystals into FFI and I’m straight up not having a good time.

Getting ganked in the ice cavern and wiped before I can move thanks to dark wizards using Fire 3 (on easy difficulty no less), constant interruptions from random battles just trying to get to a town, and...obtuse, shall we say, hints at what to do next have all combined to make a not-fun experience.

So, I’m considering throwing in the towel. I’m not opposed to a bit of grinding (I much prefer the Bravely Default method of controlling how many random encounters you get, though), and I love the idea of classic Final Fantasy, but I’m just feeling like I’m wasting my time when I’d have more fun with another entry.

The issue is which entry. I know I’ll more or less enjoy VII onward, but I don’t want to neglect the classics. If I’m having these issues with 1, would 4 be too similar to enjoy it? I feel like I’m gonna have the same experience with the NES games no matter what.) 6 seems more along the lines of Chrono Trigger (which I do like), so it might be okay, too. I just need a professional opinion on where I might be “safe” to pick up another classic FF without feeling like I’m beating my head against a wall and not having a good time. Any advice is appreciated!

(Edit: I’ve played bits and pieces of 7 onward, so I’m reasonably confident I’ll enjoy those. It’s just 1-6 I’m not sure about so far)

IV is a good starting point depending on the version you play. The 3d version can be a bit difficult even on easy mode but the SNES and GBA versions are easy enough.

Late to replying here, but - I've replayed 4, 6 and 7 like a dozen times each, and 1, twice, haha. There just isn't a ton of "there" there, outside of the basic combat. It's a bit more tenable if you over-level, which if you have a red or black mage capable of casting Fire 2, you can likely do by using the Peninsula of Power. However, I don't think 1, 2 or 3 have aged particularly well, so I wouldn't fault anyone for skipping them.

My only experience with FF VII is the remake on PS4. I want to experience the full game but I don’t know if I should just play with the full HP/MP feature on. I just want to see the story but don’t know if I’m missing anything significant by doing that beyond the depth of the battle system.

I say switch one and off at convenience thats what I do:

- do I need to grind? stat boost and speed, so I don't have to worry about healing

- I am lost and the random encounters are making my grind far more than I would like? no random battles.

I say play normal and use the booster to get rid of annoing parts, getting rid of the gameplay in a game while playing kinda takes away some of the experince, especially because if feel like taking on the optional bosses which appear for story reasons.

perhaps using the HP/MP refill for normal encounters of enemies you already know, and fight normaly against new enemies and bosses? that way you will grind in a somewhat normal fashion while still having some game left on bosses and rare enemies which are at time fun challenges/surprices or add some tension to the dungeons as they cleary not mean to be fought yet and it's rather nice going back and beat them.

Play it as it was intended, I would say! FF7 is a full game, so you are missing a huge amount by not playing it. Remake adds a lot to Midgar but thats not even half of the first of 3 discs of FF7. Without spoiling the original - Remake is what they wanted to make in the mid 90s.

Remake's battle system is a highly improved/modern version of the original. You will recognise some things but it works better the other way around (OG to Remake).

Both games do their battles very well.

Use the fast forward function for FF7 so you can grind quickly otherwise just play as is.

Am i the only one who gets super pissed off while playing final fantasy 7 remake and i constantly get hit by enemies you cant see on your screen?

You can compile the info based on Wiki entries where directors, producers, designers, programmers, artists, writers, and composers are listed. Alternatively, can always youtube different games' credits or let's play if you want more details.

Here's a directory with the most prominent people:

There's usually a "personnel" heading on every personnel page that organizes people based on their roles:

Missing quite a few people, but famous ones:

Executive Producers: Shinji Hashimoto (various)

Producers: Hironobu Sakaguchi (various production, designs, and direction work), Yoshinori Kitase (7R, 10, 10-2, 7 compilation, 13 trilogy, etc.)

Directors: Tetsuya Nomura (various designs and direction work), Motomu Toriyama (7 / 7R, 10 / 10-02, 12RW, 13 trilogy, Dissidia), Hajime Tabata (7 compilation, Type-0, Agito, 15)

Writers: Kazushige Nojima (7 compilation / 7R, 8, 10, 10-2, 13, etc.), Daisuke Watanabe (12, 13)

Designers: Yoshitaka Amano (various)

Composers: Nobuo Uematsu (various), Masashi Hamauzu (7 / 7R, 10 / 10HD, 13 trilogy, WOFF, etc.)

Does the exp u get from the colosseum change based on difficulty? I'm trying to grind levels and doing it on easy mode takes wayy less to complete the rounds but it doesn't day anywhere whether exp changes based on difficulty or not.

Which FF game should I play after FF9?

Have you played any other games in the series? Anything from 6-10 would be a decent option.

FF6 is a SNES game but it's a very popular entry among the fanbase. FF7 is obviously the most popular in the series, but newcomers often find its visuals to be distractingly dated (sometimes even more so than FF6). FF8 is more divisive but is my personal favorite of this bunch. All three of those use the ATB system that 9 uses, but in general are more fast-paced. Generally characters in these three are more interchangeable than in FF9, you can pretty much do anything with any character.

FFX is often considered the best entry for newcomers. It has a similar but distinct combat system, where characters and enemies have formal turns rather than a bar that you wait to fill up. It has the best graphics of the bunch and is maybe more accessible for modern audiences.

EDIT: I should add that FFX has characters with distinct roles in combat until late in the game when they become more interchangeable. It's the most like FF9 of this set in that way.

Other dude gave a good reply.

I agree that X is the best entry for newcomers. IX is a great looking PS1 game and the 2 previous games dated quickly in that regard (but not in story, of course). X take the best of the PS1 games and moves into PS2 graphics and does it well.

Is there a reason for me to buy the Steam versions of FF3 and FF4 if I have both the PSP versions? Like is the PC version that HD?

Not at all for FFIII, it's more or less the same game on both platforms.

As for FFIV, well that's a bit more complicated. The version on Steam is the 3D remake, which is honestly almost an entirely different game than the PSP 2D remaster. I personally think it's worth it to play both at some point, but if you're playing for story over gameplay, then I'd just stick with the PSP version, as it's more faithful to the original and also includes both the Interlude and The After Years (the 3D remake for TAY is a separate purchase on Steam, I believe). It's worth noting that both versions have some different mechanics as well as different endgame content.

AFAIK, 3 now has 2x speed up mode and auto-battling now. IIRC, the PSP/DS version had a more involved Mognet sidequest to unlock Onion Knight. Now in Steam, you unlock it based on 25% bestiary and going back to Ur. Not worth unless you're a big fan.

4 (Steam) doesn't have interlude. It has voice acting, more character thoughts depending on who you have as your avatar, and new and harder battle mechanics meant for those who love NG+. Though you can only play for up to a max of 3 times. However, unlike PSP, you only have access to the final 5 as your roster. And without the Lunar Dungeons, there isn't that much character development for the other guest characters. Again, not really worth it unless you're a big fan.

the biggest problem is that the remake only covers the first 15% of the original, if you were to follow only the story of the original and ignore any kind of deviation from the story you will pretty much reach where the remake ends in 5 hours.

so if you don't play the orignial you will be in high risk of spoilers for the upcoming parts. there also the fact that Sephirot and Aerith's talk like they know something about the future, which is something totally new.

Hey all. I have FF9 on Steam, and I'm having trouble with the controls. Specifically, I don't think hald of my inputs are register for the Zidane/Blank sword fight. The x/c/v/b keys are just awkward to press, but the arrow keys don't seem to register at all. I've tried wasd, the actual arrow keys and even the arrows on the number pad. What am I supposed to be pressing?

Also, is their a way to get a PS4 controller working with this game? I'm fine with XBox prompts, but I'd rather play this with a controller. It's semi working now, but left and right are up and down, and up and down doesn't do anything.

I got the controller working fine with ds4windows.

I say start with IV. That's a good crystallization (no pun intended) of the classic FF experience. Once you have that, you'll be able to appreciate how later games played with or completely overturned standard tropes of the series.

Don't let yourself get surrounded. Keep everything in front of you