How should I start off with the FF series?

[makatak7]

I am completely new to the series, never played any before. I have been perusing the internet to which are the "best" (which is subjective, but the generally best ones). I was thinking about trying IV, VI, VII, X, XII, and maybe VIII and IX. The problem is, I only have a PS3 without backwards compatability, so I couldn't get IV or XII. I am not willing to use an emulator. Do you think that these are the best games to start with? These are probably the only games that I would get, and they would give me an idea of if I liked the series, determining whether or not I would be possibly interested in XV. Which order should I play them in? I was thinking that I would save VI for last, as VI is generally regarded as the best. So, is there anything else that I should know?

Thank you,
makatak7

 

[L]

take a stab in the dark and pick the one that looks most appealing imo

that might be hard though, if you didn't grow up with pixels and don't appreciate pixel art though. I would not even suggest trying to familiarize yourself with the whole series if you are one of the new gen 12 year old kids that think being able to masturbate to a tank with hi-res textures is what a game is about.

talk of emulators is forbidden and I will not tell anyone how to operate one, but good luck finding these classics at a reasonable price haha. I know they ported Dawn of Souls to the PSP and have FFIV: CC on there as well. But I cannot imagine how much you are going to have to shell out for these games that have not had a console port like FF7, FF8, FF9 and FF6.

I mean the choice is yours, but it just seems like an awful lot of money being wasted to me

 

[timthebigone]

If I were you i would start at FF1 and play them one by one (chronologically made). I did this just to see the build up and all the different changes that are from the first FF to the the most resent.

So far i beat FF1, FF2, FF3, and almost done with FF4 (played ff1 and ff2 for gba and 3 for ds)

but if you want to start on FF4 just play FF4 then FF5 so on and so on, its what ever you want, but i recommend my route because there is a lot of great and amazing content in the 3 FFs... because t

 

[makatak7]

take a stab in the dark and pick the one that looks most appealing imo

that might be hard though, if you didn't grow up with pixels and don't appreciate pixel art though. I would not even suggest trying to familiarize yourself with the whole series if you are one of the new gen 12 year old kids that think being able to masturbate to a tank with hi-res textures is what a game is about.

talk of emulators is forbidden and I will not tell anyone how to operate one, but good luck finding these classics at a reasonable price haha. I know they ported Dawn of Souls to the PSP and have FFIV: CC on there as well. But I cannot imagine how much you are going to have to shell out for these games that have not had a console port like FF7, FF8, FF9 and FF6.

I mean the choice is yours, but it just seems like an awful lot of money being wasted to me

Yes, it would be hard trying to pick a single best one without a whole lot of knowledge of the series. I am of the current generation, and didn't grow up with too many pixel based games (although I did have a Gameboy, where all the games were sprite-based), but I do not need stunning graphics, and appreciate pixel art very much. Some of the games that I mentioned (like VI and VII) have PS3 ports on the Playstation Network for $10. All of them besides IV and XII are listed as being on the Playstation Network, but I haven't checked if they are available for PS3. Well, thanks for the advice! I hope to get involved with the FF series soon!

If I were you i would start at FF1 and play them one by one (chronologically made). I did this just to see the build up and all the different changes that are from the first FF to the the most resent.

So far i beat FF1, FF2, FF3, and almost done with FF4 (played ff1 and ff2 for gba and 3 for ds)

but if you want to start on FF4 just play FF4 then FF5 so on and so on, its what ever you want, but i recommend my route because there is a lot of great and amazing content in the 3 FFs... because t

I could do that. It would certainly be fun, but it would be a good amount of money to buy every game in the series, and I'm not interested in getting a new system (Gameboy, DS, PS2) for every game. I also wouldn't particularly want to play bad games in the series, like XIV. I could do every good game available on the PS3 in chronological order!



Mod Edit:
*Posts merged*
Please try to reply to different people in one post next time. Thank you =)

 

[Sheechiibii]

I agree with timthebigone, go in chronological order, because what is one persons favourite might not be yours. Better to just go as they were made since you wouldn't want to be dissapointed. For example, saving VI for last because it's often called the best and then disliking it and being majorly dissapointed. Also, then you get to play them in the order they were initially produced, therefore experiencing what the fans did back then.

I didn't think IV was available on the PS3? I thought it was only for portable or something...? Not very sure, I don't really use the store.

Xx..xX

 

[kratoscar2008]

Try first FF7, as most people began with FF7 and began playing the series after 7, me? i began with 8.

6 is great leave it to last as a sweet for you .

 

[makatak7]

I agree with timthebigone, go in chronological order, because what is one persons favourite might not be yours. Better to just go as they were made since you wouldn't want to be dissapointed. For example, saving VI for last because it's often called the best and then disliking it and being majorly dissapointed. Also, then you get to play them in the order they were initially produced, therefore experiencing what the fans did back then.

I didn't think IV was available on the PS3? I thought it was only for portable or something...? Not very sure, I don't really use the store.

Xx..xX

Try first FF7, as most people began with FF7 and began playing the series after 7, me? i began with 8.

6 is great leave it to last as a sweet for you .

I think chronological order is probably the way I will go. Only thing is, there is still the problem of games that aren't on the PS3. And will I play VI after V or at the end? Aghh! Also, Sheechiibii, IV is not available for PS3

 

[Grimer]

As for your problem with IV, go pick up a used gameboy advance(you can find em under 20 bucks) and then get a copy of IV advance.

i think goin chronological would be the way to go, i didnt tho, i started with 2(which is what IV was called at the time).

my personal favorites are VI and X.

 

[L]

Yes, it would be hard trying to pick a single best one without a whole lot of knowledge of the series. I am of the current generation, and didn't grow up with too many pixel based games (although I did have a Gameboy, where all the games were sprite-based), but I do not need stunning graphics, and appreciate pixel art very much. Some of the games that I mentioned (like VI and VII) have PS3 ports on the Playstation Network for $10. All of them besides IV and XII are listed as being on the Playstation Network, but I haven't checked if they are available for PS3. Well, thanks for the advice! I hope to get involved with the FF series soon!

ah right, i forgot some of the titles were released on PSN, so I guess that takes care of the price issue. but you see, I do not own a PS3 haha. I have heard that they have some annoying bugs, but I cannot say with certainty how much interruption they can present.

But just look at some of the scenery and screenshots, listen to some of the tracks and just decide based upon that.

I personally played FFVIII first in a demo that came with brave fencer musashi and adored it's environments, music and character design. I also liked FFX a lot, and while graphics did make a big part of it's impression, I still thoroughly enjoyed Final Fantasy VI and Final Fantasy I. FFVII was my second, and while I am not nearly as fond of it, it was different, the battle system had really bitchin' moves called Limit Breaks. Had a lot of stuff to do and a lot of cool little trinkets to hunt down.

 

[timthebigone]

If your going to get a used gameboy advance you can also pick up Dawn of Souls which is FF1 and FF2 into one game and if you have an Ipod touch you can also get FF3 that way if you want.

 

[makatak7]

As for your problem with IV, go pick up a used gameboy advance(you can find em under 20 bucks) and then get a copy of IV advance.

i think goin chronological would be the way to go, i didnt tho, i started with 2(which is what IV was called at the time).

my personal favorites are VI and X.

Yeah, I was thinking about possibly doing that, or borrowing a DS from a friend.

If your going to get a used gameboy advance you can also pick up Dawn of Souls which is FF1 and FF2 into one game and if you have an Ipod touch you can also get FF3 that way if you want.

No need for that, 1 and 2 are available on PSN

 

[timthebigone]

I hope you have fun playing the FF series and that you play them all cause their all good for me so far and I am only on FF4, but i can't wait until i get on FF6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 which i heard its the best one for ps2

 

[Shaissa]

Well it really depends on how much you can like old graphics... You can buy I+2,VI-IX+tactics on the PSN for... $9.99 I think... X is going have a HD remake on the PS3.

Without going into details of story or anything (assuming you don't want any background on any game) IV, IX, and Tactics are my favorite. and IMO have the best story, and are very easy to pick up and learn.
But I think you will enjoy most of the games as long as you can stand older graphics

 

[makatak7]

I think I have made up my mind. I will do them all in chronological order, maybe invest in a gameboy or DS, or just borrow a DS from my friend. I might get a PS2 for XII, and I think I will skip the MMOs, XI and XIV, as I don't really like MMOs, and I would've skipped XIV anyway. Thanks for the help, everybody!

 

[Shaissa]

I think I have made up my mind. I will do them all in chronological order, maybe invest in a gameboy or DS, or just borrow a DS from my friend. I might get a PS2 for XII, and I think I will skip the MMOs, XI and XIV, as I don't really like MMOs, and I would've skipped XIV anyway. Thanks for the help, everybody!

Well good luck with that
Just remember 1 is very very basic, don't expect too much of a story, 2 had arguably the most unique level up system... so when you get to that don't be expecting the normal battle monsters to level up deal. and 3... well.. 3 annoyed me so I wont say much.

 

[Squid]

I do not think playing them in order is a good idea.
FF 1, 2, 3 and 5 are terrible games. I think they appeal to people who grew up with them rather than people newer to the series.

The great thing about FF games is it doesn't matter which order you play them in. So there is really no need to put yourself through those first few games, I actually think they could put you off the series.
I reckon you should start with 6, 7 or 9. They're good. Once you decide whether you love the idea of FF or not, you can start branching out to the older games.

That's just what I reckon anyway.

 

[makatak7]

Okay, just one last question! For IV, would you recommend the original 2D Gameboy version, or the 3D DS remake?

 

[Shaissa]

For me I liked the 2D better, mainly because the voice acting wasn't that good and really the 3D graphics killed the game imo, but really It's up to you. my advice though, if you can get ahold of psp, get that one, so you have the original game and After years

 

[makatak7]

For me I liked the 2D better, mainly because the voice acting wasn't that good and really the 3D graphics killed the game imo, but really It's up to you. my advice though, if you can get ahold of psp, get that one, so you have the original game and After years

Thanks for the advice. I think I will go with 2D, after thinking about it a little. Unfortunately, I think PSP is out of the question.

 

[Dincht]

Going with the majority would probably be your best option. As someone has already said (apologies, I forget the person) playing them chronologically will really give you the a great sense of evolution throughout the series. Not just due to the obvious graphic improvements, but the music, the depth of the story etc...As you go through the series you'll get to notice certain aspect that the FF developers clearly love to use again and again.

Personally, I started with FFVII and loved it. I then moved onto FFVIII, XI, and then randomly VI. The messed up order made no difference to me - FFVII and FFVIII had me hooked