Best FF title for a new player?

[Feba]

Just curious, what would you say is the best FF for new players? Both people new to FF, and people new to games.

Cover at least these two categories:

1- Difficulty
2- Normalness for the series (for example, FF7 and 8 were much more technical than most; FF11 is very much different because of online play; the earliest one or two are odd because they lack moogles, chocobos, airships, and the like that are a staple; etc)

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Best FF title for a new player?

I'd say FFIV, FFVI and FFX give the most standard Final Fantasy experience of the series. FFIV and FFVI have the ATB system most people know and love, while FFX is a little more new player friendly with the CTB system (basically a purely turn-based system).

FFIV and FFVI are a bit dated now in appearance, though, so FFX would be easier for the RPG newbie to slide into. If you wanted an RPG with a more classic approach, but more contemporary graphics, I'd have to defer to something outside of Final Fantasy, such as Dragon Quest VIII.

Of the FFs I did list, I'd rate FFVI as the highest in difficulty, the versions of FFIV on SNES and GBA were a bit toned down from JP and PSX versions. FFX, again, is more player friendly, but it can throw you for a loop on a few boss fights if you aren't familar with some of the tricks they've pulled on you past games with enemies (i.e. Zombie Status vs. Yunaleska).

[711rocks]

Re: Best FF title for a new player?

tacticstacticstactics
very difficult at first; once you get the hang it's ridiculously fun
good story/soundtrack etc
stellar battle system (of course)
not normal for series; i guess it's kind of a spin-off anyway
features stuff like black mages and chocobos; but involves a lot of astrology related stuff affecting everything

[TheGrandMom]

Re: Best FF title for a new player?

I think that starting with the classics are the best way to get a taste of FF. With the remakes, its easy to play them now. FFIV and FFVI are absolute MUSTS! Then go on with VII and up. FFXI is optional since it is online and thats not everyone's cup of tea.

[Kitalrez]

Re: Best FF title for a new player?

"Lower than the Lowest Tunnel Worm"... oh wait, you meant games.


6 is the must. 6 gives you all the flavor of a FF series, but doesn't make things ridiculously difficult or technical. You can waste days, weeks and months on this, but you don't have to. You can have just as much fun doing the bare minimum and the little mini-games on the way, (like fishing for Cid), as you can trying out every single solution. The cutscenes were also entertaining and still are, even if the graphics are dated. Kefka scales based on how powerful your characters are at the final battle sequence. If you're weak, so is he. It's a challenge, but never an impossible one. You get your money's worth on this one no matter how much time you put into it.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Best FF title for a new player?

tacticstacticstactics
very difficult at first; once you get the hang it's ridiculously fun
good story/soundtrack etc
stellar battle system (of course)
not normal for series; i guess it's kind of a spin-off anyway
features stuff like black mages and chocobos; but involves a lot of astrology related stuff affecting everything

Feba is talking about main series Final Fantasy.

Tactics doesn't count. Its hardly new player friendly, either.

[Bluecat]

Re: Best FF title for a new player?

I would have to go with FFX and FFVIII

FFX: Its the first FF game ware your Summons stay with you till they die, the graphics rock, you get to play blitzball which the other FF games do not. (its kind of hard, and its like a underwater soccer game.) You can switch your characters during battle which you cant really do in the other FF games. Your limit breaks also go up levels like they always have in the FF series accept for in FFVIII and FFIX. You can also have your summons learn different magics and many different things like strength, magic strength,HP,MP, etc...

FFVIII: Even though it might start out on the hard side, it still a must have game for anyone to atleast try. It has flying airships,chocobos,and everything else that any FF game can ask for. (accept moogles I think.) Also, the story line rocks, its also one of the longest in the series, but you will have a really good time playing this one. Also the limit breaks rock, they are different with every single weapon, the only other FF game that has this is FFIX. One of the characters also has 2 different types of limit breaks, ware everyone else is pretty much the same. Some of the bosses are hard, but I think that is a good thing, it will get you used to the FF series. (just watch out for Omega and Ultima weapons though they will kick your butt!) You can also use the junction system to modify your strength, magic, HP, etc..also your GFs (summons) can learn different traits, which with some of them you can junction to yourself to make yourself kick even more ass!


FF Games Noobs of the series shoudn't play

FFXII: Even though the battle system is kind of like FFXI it is also a lot harder to get used to, I think you should get used to the idea of magic, melee, DD, and all that stuff before even setting foot within this game. (if you have played MMOs before you should be able to play this game well.)

[711rocks]

Re: Best FF title for a new player?

Feba is talking about main series Final Fantasy.

Tactics doesn't count. Its hardly new player friendly, either.

VI or V then
VI is the best game overall
V has a fun battle system

[Malacite]

Re: Best FF title for a new player?

Well, you could just work your way up in order through the series.

That way you'll appreciate better how the series has evolved with each new title.

As for which game would be easiest to start with (in terms of over all difficulty) I'd say FF 8 or 10. Both of those were stupidly easy and offer stunning visuals and music to hook the 'new generation' (aka retards)

[Feba]

Re: Best FF title for a new player?

Quite honestly, FF1 would be a horrible intro to the series. I mean, if it were the first one I were introduced to, I'd probably never have looked at another one.

I mean, going up in order to see the progression is good for someone who's an established fan, but for a new player it would just be horrible to get through the first few.

[Mog]

Re: Best FF title for a new player?

Final Fantasy 6 for the SNES was my first FF game, and damn, was I impressed. I'd say 4,6, and 7 are absolute musts.

As far as difficulty goes, 6 is only difficult if you rush through the game and don't grind the levels out. It becomes progressively more difficult as time goes on. Also, the other difficult part is the random parts of the game where you have absolutely no direction and need to wander around until you stumble upon a cutscene.

As far as normalness goes, I think a lot of the other FF games built off of 6. Moogles, chocobos, Cid the engineer, all of the elements you would expect in a good FF game were in 6.

[Callisto]

Re: Best FF title for a new player?

I honestly would have to go with 4. The PS/GBA remakes of 1 and 4-6 are all very nice, but I don't think any game in the series has yet to fill me with the 'oh my fucking god this is the best fantasy game ever' feeling that 4 did back on my SNES. To me the characters are more memorable and the story is fantastic, music is great, just everything that sums up why most people our age love the series.

6 would be my #2, and 5 would be third, mostly for the job system. Absolutely anything but 7, while I still feel strongly that 7 is one of the greatest games I've ever had the pleasure of playing, it's not where I'd start them and say 'Here, this is Final Fantasy'.
______________________________

Quite honestly, FF1 would be a horrible intro to the series. I mean, if it were the first one I were introduced to, I'd probably never have looked at another one.

I think if you gave them the original NES or PS version I'd agree, although I feel S-E did a superb job on the GBA remake of FF1, it's alot more playable and easy to get into.

[Caspian]

Re: Best FF title for a new player?

Only played 7 and 9-12 (x-2 was terrible)
I think I'd agree with X being a good place to start. Only difficulties I could see down the road are ultimate weapons and unlocking them, etc. Ofcourse you're gonna run into that with any FF if you try and break it.

OT: Everyone keeps saying how great 6 is, 7 was my first and is also my favorite. Is 6 that much better? And what are my options for playing it now? I think I might still have my SNES somewhere, but I imagine cartridges are gonna be pretty expensive. Did someone say they redid it for PS? How are the load times on it? I tried chrono trigger on PS and nearly shot myself after the first few battles.

[Jaice]

Re: Best FF title for a new player?

S.O.B. Superhero! oh.... not character title in FFXI >.>;;

I'd have to go for the FFIII on the DS so far I've seen a wide dispersment of jobs, chocobos, and moogles hanging about (I havent gotten to play it much.... yay finals) It has the simple combat elements that got me hooked on this game and as you unlock more jobs you can do so much more in combat, yay! Having decent enough grapics and being portable are a big plus too ^_~

[Callisto]

Re: Best FF title for a new player?

OT: Everyone keeps saying how great 6 is, 7 was my first and is also my favorite. Is 6 that much better? And what are my options for playing it now? I think I might still have my SNES somewhere, but I imagine cartridges are gonna be pretty expensive. Did someone say they redid it for PS? How are the load times on it? I tried chrono trigger on PS and nearly shot myself after the first few battles.

While 7 was undoubtedly a fantastic game, maybe one of the best games ever made in my opinion, it was a pretty radical departure for Final Fantasy in general, which is why myself and many others feel it's better to start with an older game to introduce someone to the series.

As far as playing it, the PS load-time problems were mostly on FF4 and Chrono Trigger(the ones that came in the Anthologies package iirc), I believe FF6 on PS was fine. If not the GBA remake is probably solid, and if nothing else you can just get an SNES emulator on your PC(though you may need to look for 'Final Fantasy III' to get the correct NA release version).

And for Feba, I suggest an experiment: Start your friend off with Mystic Quest and see if 1) they finish it or not and 2) if they still talk to you afterwards.