I'm a huge dork. I love so many of the places in the Final Fantasy games. (Also, forum newby - Hi.)
About me: I played the ever-living daylights out of FFVII-FFX. I also barely scraped through FFXII (going back to it soon) and quit XIII within the first couple of hours. Yes, I was part of the original PS1 target market (my VII, VIII, and IX copies have black labels) and I'm proud of it.
So I'm listing some of my favorite places in the games I have played. I encourage you to do the same - I want to know what you think.
Top 5 - in no particular order
The Blitzball Stadium - FFX
Seriously, they hooked me something bad in the opening FMV. I wanted to know what this awesome game was and when I could start playing it.
It was a great touchstone for the overall feel of FFX and its integration as the main minigame for X was pretty flawless. I especially liked the recruitment aspect of it, which was far more interesting to me than a lot of the other side quests of the game, sadly. The overall look and feel of the stadiums is pretty cool.
I only wish human beings had fish gills so we could play it IRL.
Fisherman's Horizon - FFVIII
You might be wondering why this one is on the list. Indeed, I didn't care much for FH during my first and perhaps my second playthroughs of the game.
For some reason, though, it has become one of my favorite locales in FFVIII. This has a lot to do with my discovery of the Master Fisherman sidequest in its entirety (not just stopping with Occult Fan III!).
In that small story quest, the Master Fisherman explains the origins of FH and why the place exists in the first place. It also gives an intimate and forgiving picture of Mayor Dobe, who up until this point was someone I considered a speed bump on the road to getting Garden mobile and getting another rare card. You get to see a different side of the people who initially decide to reject you. It's one of those awesome 'wow' moments that helps you understand the backstory to the game. Later, there is the fun concert scene that emo-Squall decides to ruin (still a good moment in the story) and the place that Squall starts on his journey to help Rinoa. Great moments all.
Icicle Inn - FFVII
Other than looking like a place I would love to live in (ski town please!) this town contains a lot of the history about Dr. Gast, Ifalna, and Aeris. It's also the jumping off point for one of the most epic story arcs in any of the FF games (which is saying quite a bit). I group this place in with the Glacier where you land after snowboarding and Mr. Holzoff's house.
Lindblum - FFIX
FFIX was perhaps my least favorite of the PS1 Final Fantasy's but had some of the most breathtaking places. There are a lot to list, but perhaps the best example of them is Lindblum.
I like its role as one of the tragic centers of the game (Atomos summon? Holy crap!). The people are sad, but resilient. It really fits the player's emotional state at that point in the game.
Alexandria plays second fiddle to Lindblum in overall greatness for me, probably due to my affinity for airships. The Alexandrian castle is epic, though.
Lunar Base - FFVIII
I was really sad when I figured out that you wouldn't really get to play much of the game here. Interesting, considering how underwhelming I found Esthar to be. The *only* con to this place is how monumentally annoying the card rules are initially (learn how to abolish, kids!).
Spoiler alert? The story portion here is stunning. Regardless of how you feel about the whole sorceress-within-a-sorceress-within-a-sorceress drama (or as one of my friends calls it, the "candy rocket ship to crazy town") looking through the telescope to see the Lunar Cry starting is one of the coolest scenes in the game as a whole.
Not to mention the fact that shooting off into space after the disaster leads to a movie-worthy romance scene. (Who am I kidding - I'd rather play this game than watch a movie!)
Honorable mentions:
Balamb Garden - I would have included it, but it's so ubiquitous to the game's plot that you don't really have to go out of your way to see it as a special place. The battle against Galbadia Garden is stunning.
Midgar - Same as Balamb Garden, you spend a large portion of the early game here. Great scenes include the Shinra escape and anything involving the Sector 6 church (meeting Aeris, later visions, music).
Shinra mansion, Nibelheim - meeting Vincent and getting his story, going the basement on disc 3 to watch the videos.
Daguerro - Just a really cool place to be in. Wish it had been more involved in the main story.
Bevelle - As evil as this place is, I did love the look of it.
I realize these are all from VII-X. These are the games that stick with me. I've only played through XII once and have yet to start VI (I need to get on that.) So, give me a reason to play the others. What are your favorites?
About me: I played the ever-living daylights out of FFVII-FFX. I also barely scraped through FFXII (going back to it soon) and quit XIII within the first couple of hours. Yes, I was part of the original PS1 target market (my VII, VIII, and IX copies have black labels) and I'm proud of it.
So I'm listing some of my favorite places in the games I have played. I encourage you to do the same - I want to know what you think.
Top 5 - in no particular order
The Blitzball Stadium - FFX
Seriously, they hooked me something bad in the opening FMV. I wanted to know what this awesome game was and when I could start playing it.
It was a great touchstone for the overall feel of FFX and its integration as the main minigame for X was pretty flawless. I especially liked the recruitment aspect of it, which was far more interesting to me than a lot of the other side quests of the game, sadly. The overall look and feel of the stadiums is pretty cool.
I only wish human beings had fish gills so we could play it IRL.
Fisherman's Horizon - FFVIII
You might be wondering why this one is on the list. Indeed, I didn't care much for FH during my first and perhaps my second playthroughs of the game.
For some reason, though, it has become one of my favorite locales in FFVIII. This has a lot to do with my discovery of the Master Fisherman sidequest in its entirety (not just stopping with Occult Fan III!).
In that small story quest, the Master Fisherman explains the origins of FH and why the place exists in the first place. It also gives an intimate and forgiving picture of Mayor Dobe, who up until this point was someone I considered a speed bump on the road to getting Garden mobile and getting another rare card. You get to see a different side of the people who initially decide to reject you. It's one of those awesome 'wow' moments that helps you understand the backstory to the game. Later, there is the fun concert scene that emo-Squall decides to ruin (still a good moment in the story) and the place that Squall starts on his journey to help Rinoa. Great moments all.
Icicle Inn - FFVII
Other than looking like a place I would love to live in (ski town please!) this town contains a lot of the history about Dr. Gast, Ifalna, and Aeris. It's also the jumping off point for one of the most epic story arcs in any of the FF games (which is saying quite a bit). I group this place in with the Glacier where you land after snowboarding and Mr. Holzoff's house.
Lindblum - FFIX
FFIX was perhaps my least favorite of the PS1 Final Fantasy's but had some of the most breathtaking places. There are a lot to list, but perhaps the best example of them is Lindblum.
I like its role as one of the tragic centers of the game (Atomos summon? Holy crap!). The people are sad, but resilient. It really fits the player's emotional state at that point in the game.
Alexandria plays second fiddle to Lindblum in overall greatness for me, probably due to my affinity for airships. The Alexandrian castle is epic, though.
Lunar Base - FFVIII
I was really sad when I figured out that you wouldn't really get to play much of the game here. Interesting, considering how underwhelming I found Esthar to be. The *only* con to this place is how monumentally annoying the card rules are initially (learn how to abolish, kids!).
Spoiler alert? The story portion here is stunning. Regardless of how you feel about the whole sorceress-within-a-sorceress-within-a-sorceress drama (or as one of my friends calls it, the "candy rocket ship to crazy town") looking through the telescope to see the Lunar Cry starting is one of the coolest scenes in the game as a whole.
Not to mention the fact that shooting off into space after the disaster leads to a movie-worthy romance scene. (Who am I kidding - I'd rather play this game than watch a movie!)
Honorable mentions:
Balamb Garden - I would have included it, but it's so ubiquitous to the game's plot that you don't really have to go out of your way to see it as a special place. The battle against Galbadia Garden is stunning.
Midgar - Same as Balamb Garden, you spend a large portion of the early game here. Great scenes include the Shinra escape and anything involving the Sector 6 church (meeting Aeris, later visions, music).
Shinra mansion, Nibelheim - meeting Vincent and getting his story, going the basement on disc 3 to watch the videos.
Daguerro - Just a really cool place to be in. Wish it had been more involved in the main story.
Bevelle - As evil as this place is, I did love the look of it.
I realize these are all from VII-X. These are the games that stick with me. I've only played through XII once and have yet to start VI (I need to get on that.) So, give me a reason to play the others. What are your favorites?
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