GAMING: Final Fantasy Discussion (any one of the series)

[BenedictKJS]

I think I’m an older gamer here just by looking at the previous posts.

I got into the FF series back in the early '90’s when FFIV (II back then) was still the latest version in American stores. I had been exposed to FFI even earlier than that when a neighbor from down the street came and played it at my house.

By far the earlier FF games were the best. IV was indeed a simple plot and little kids could get into it with greater ease. VI had awesome music and I still think that the Playstation remake for Anthology wherein they took various scenes and remade them with better graphics was absolutely killer. I remember my shock and utter joy at seeing the well-done graphics and the redone “Aria di Mezzo Carattere” (Celes’ opera song).

In recent time, I was privileged to hear the entire opera. I was watching the group “Tour de Japon” on YouTube and they had the completed opera. In the game, the music gets cut off when the players fall from the opera house rafters and interrupt the show. Well, the completed version goes on as if nothing happened and it was just beautiful…simply beautiful. Type in “Tour de Japon” and “Maria and Draco” and you should find an A and B version. You’ll soon see what I mean. I remember a sense of “completeness” when I finally heard the completed opera. It had been 12 years and all that time I did not know there was a complete opera piece…

I got into FF7 when I started college in 1999 (10 years…whew…). In a way, I feel guilty that I was told about Aeris’ death beforehand. At the time, I never thought I’d play the game and someone spoiled it for me. I imagine, however, that if I had not been spoiled, the effect of her death would have hit me more. I’ve read of people’s reactions to that scene, some were just crazy but I understand why. I learned how to play “Aeris’ Theme” on the piano (via the official Squaresoft music score) and still play it to this day.

I loved FF8 and think it got some bad reviews. I admit that there was a cultural difference but given that I like cultural experiences, I suppose that is part of the charm of FF8 and why it affected me. I sympathized with Squall’s lone-wolf/self-imposed social exile nature. I liked the junction system and all and the ways you could get ahead early in the game and be set for the rest of it. The music was great–Eyes on Me especially. It was history in the making, for sure.

However, I realized that playing such games oftentimes is a temporary remedy for acedia and I could not play them anymore. I stopped playing video games last year and have not played them since, though I do enjoy an occasional flashplayer game or solitaire on the computer.

I also realized that the FF series was getting darker and darker with references to the occult. This began most especially with FF7. Someone already put something about this above in a previous post but I would like to add that it was the figure of Aeris and the Lifestream that brings this out. X was really bad with the references.

When the movie “Spirits Within” was released, I knew something was terribly wrong with the gaia references. I interpreted that as a quasi-continuation of the plot from FFIX (which I did not like, btw) between “Gaia” and “Terra.” It seemed to be earth-worship to me and I did not think it smart to continue exposing myself to such things.

Alas, I could go on and on about Final Fantasy because the series has brought some good times to my life. By far, however, I would have to put my vote in for either FFIV or VI as the best ones. I was there when they were popular and they remain in my heart. IV was beautifully simple and yet detailed while VI had great music and a great plot.

 

[DavidCatechumen]

I think I’m an older gamer here just by looking at the previous posts.

I thought my post was downright geriatric.

By far the earlier FF games were the best. IV was indeed a simple plot and little kids could get into it with greater ease. VI had awesome music and I still think that the Playstation remake for Anthology wherein they took various scenes and remade them with better graphics was absolutely killer. I remember my shock and utter joy at seeing the well-done graphics and the redone “Aria di Mezzo Carattere” (Celes’ opera song).

I got into FF7 when I started college in 1999 (10 years…whew…). In a way, I feel guilty that I was told about Aeris’ death beforehand. At the time, I never thought I’d play the game and someone spoiled it for me. I imagine, however, that if I had not been spoiled, the effect of her death would have hit me more. I’ve read of people’s reactions to that scene, some were just crazy but I understand why.

As I got older (and studied logic in grad school) I began to realize that she died from falling into a plot hole. You know how the game ends: Sephiroth’s plot is ultimately foiled BECAUSE he killed her. And supposedly, he killed her to stop her from using Holy, which was never a threat to him in the first place (which is why you have to go through the last dungeon.) If Holy was not a threat, why bother with killing -]Aeris/-] -]Aerith/-] -]Earith/-] -]Earisu/-] oh forget it that flower girl?

FF7’s plot was not as good as it was well-presented.

I loved FF8 and think it got some bad reviews. I admit that there was a cultural difference but given that I like cultural experiences, I suppose that is part of the charm of FF8 and why it affected me. I sympathized with Squall’s lone-wolf/self-imposed social exile nature. I liked the junction system and all and the ways you could get ahead early in the game and be set for the rest of it. The music was great–Eyes on Me especially. It was history in the making, for sure.

I admit to being harsh on FF8 by calling it overly complicated. It was innovative and different, like FF2J was after the original–so it gets labeled a black sheep. The Junction system, like iced tea, is an acquired taste and I never picked it up.

However, I realized that playing such games oftentimes is a temporary remedy for acedia and I could not play them anymore.

I think this happened to me too, but I wasn’t sure what to call it–until now.

I also realized that the FF series was getting darker and darker with references to the occult. This began most especially with FF7. Someone already put something about this above in a previous post but I would like to add that it was the figure of Aeris and the Lifestream that brings this out. X was really bad with the references.

Well, pseudoreligious schlock sells, unfortunately. Hello Duh Vincey Code…

With that said: I am pretty convinced that, in the case of Japanese Shinto adherents striking Western nerves, there is little to no ill will involved. Kitase and Nomura are certainly not Catholic, but they didn’t come up with -]Aerith/-] -]Eris/-] -]Arereris/-] -]Earwig/-] that dead flower girl because they wanted to parody or feminize Our Lord. Ditto on the paganism in FF9+.

Alas, I could go on and on about Final Fantasy because the series has brought some good times to my life. By far, however, I would have to put my vote in for either FFIV or VI as the best ones.

Yup. I only wish the rights to this series weren’t in such unworthy hands.

 

[e61iuser]

Hey guys! Adam Sessler of G4’s XPlay just came out with a feature stating that FF7 really wasn’t as good as most people remember. You can watch the video here:

g4tv.com/xplay/videos/37041/Your-Childhood-Sucks-Final-Fantasy-VII.html

I really haven’t had the chance to play FF7 yet so I can’t make a judgment call as to the fairness of his assessment but if the comments beneath the video are any indication, Sessler’s opinion is a bit contentious. He he.

 

[DavidCatechumen]

I really haven’t had the chance to play FF7 yet so I can’t make a judgment call as to the fairness of his assessment but if the comments beneath the video are any indication, Sessler’s opinion is a bit contentious. He he.

Well, we didn’t spoil you for the game since the video already did. Don’t use -]Aeries/-] -]Aries/-] -]Airith/-] you know who because she will take your XP, run off and die for no reason.

It is still playable, despite the random battles, Popeye models, grind-leveling and MIDI soundtrack. However, the SNES/NES games are far more playable than FF7 IMHO. If you do wind up playing it, it would be interesting to see what you think of the game, without the shock and awe of what were then cutting edge graphics.

 

[e61iuser]

Well, we didn’t spoil you for the game since the video already did. Don’t use -]Aeries/-] -]Aries/-] -]Airith/-] you know who because she will take your XP, run off and die for no reason.

It is still playable, despite the random battles, Popeye models, grind-leveling and MIDI soundtrack. However, the SNES/NES games are far more playable than FF7 IMHO. If you do wind up playing it, it would be interesting to see what you think of the game, without the shock and awe of what were then cutting edge graphics.

Nah, the Statute of Limitations for spoilers (10 years) has lapsed. Every single plot point of FF7 has been discussed online since the advent (heh) of the internet so it was pretty much unavoidable that I’d know how it all turned out.

Besides whenever I play a retro game I always try to put myself in the frame of mind that I’m at the era that this game was first created and released. That’s why old Nintendo games like Star Juster and Trojan amaze me with the thought of how much fun they were able to fit in a 128MB cartridge. I try to keep my modern sensibilities as a frame of reference though so I can appreciate how much progress we’ve made since then and how great gameplay was back in the day as opposed to graphical eye candy that we have now (although one must admit that certain innovations have helped).

I’ve procured for myself a copy of FF7 playable on the PSP though, so I might queue that up after I’ve finished with FFIV on the DS.

 

[ahollars]

I’ve procured for myself a copy of FF7 playable on the PSP though, so I might queue that up after I’ve finished with FFIV on the DS.

PLEASE… tell me how you did that!!! :banghead:

 

[Eucharisted]

I didn’t get the Sphere Grid, and so I gave up.

I also didn’t get the plot. Then again, I didn’t like Xenogears’s plot either–too Evangelion for me.

But I have often heard that it was the “last great” FF. I am too nostalgic to share that opinion, though.

I gave up on the Sphere Grid early in the game. I do love the plot, though. Lots of twists, lots of funny scenes. I haven’t played any other FF game, so I don’t know if it’s the last great one in the series.

 

[BenedictKJS]

I have always been interested in an interpretation available on Herbert Meehan’s “Aeris Shrine” web site.

His site alleges that Aeris was a representation of eastern religions and that everything around her was western religion. Aeris is slain upon the altar of fanatical religion (i.e. western) and so is a Christ-like figure, though portrayed as being silly by Hironobu Sakaguchi.

Apparently, the concept of sacrifice has not quite hit our Asian brethren too hard just yet.

Though there is also the other, more plain, interpretation.

Hironobu Sakaguchi’s mother died and he wanted the whole world to feel his pain–hence Aeris, her death and all that went into its emotional nature.

-BenedictKJS

 

[DavidCatechumen]

I have always been interested in an interpretation available on Herbert Meehan’s “Aeris Shrine” web site.

His site alleges that Aeris was a representation of eastern religions and that everything around her was western religion. Aeris is slain upon the altar of fanatical religion (i.e. western) and so is a Christ-like figure, though portrayed as being silly by Hironobu Sakaguchi.

In support of this theory, notice that the “calamity from the sky” and arguable principal villain of the game is named “Jenova,” i.e. Jehovah (an obsolete transliteration of the Tetragrammaton) + nova (new) == “new [monotheistic] god.”

I still think that Sakaguchi and others involved are innocent until proven guilty, though.

Apparently, the concept of sacrifice has not quite hit our Asian brethren too hard just yet.

With this I agree wholeheartedly. Japan needs to hear the Good News.

Though there is also the other, more plain, interpretation.

Hironobu Sakaguchi’s mother died and he wanted the whole world to feel his pain–hence Aeris, her death and all that went into its emotional nature.

Accord this Sakaguchi interview here.

 

[e61iuser]

PLEASE… tell me how you did that!!! :banghead:

Well first things first I had to customize the firmware of my PSP. I’m running CFW 3.90M33 at the moment. I’m sure there are newer firmwares at the moment but I’m happy with what I’ve got because it runs converted PS1 games easily.

Then I asked my buddy who was proficient with a program called Popsloader to convert my FF7 disks into a format that can be run by the custom firmwared PSP. Seemed like an easy enough conversion, although since I saw Popsloader used a command line I got intimidated by it and asked same buddy to do it for me. He took my disks and came back with 3 eboot files that I can play on the go.

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

Oh, I’m not a gamer at all…but when we were first married DS got me a play station 1 (i guess around 1999). Since he used to work really late hours, I played a Final Fantasy game when I was home in the evening. I played all the way through and really liked it. But I can’t remember which one…maybe someone can remind me.

It featured a boarding school for SeeDs. Then there was a teacher named Quistis (I think) and there were various G force characters, one was a fire force that you had to retrieve from a cave. Then there was another character who looked like a cowboy named Irving.

Anybody remember?

 

[DavidCatechumen]

But I can’t remember which one…maybe someone can remind me.

It featured a boarding school for SeeDs. Then there was a teacher named Quistis (I think) and there were various G force characters, one was a fire force that you had to retrieve from a cave. Then there was another character who looked like a cowboy named Irving.

That would be FF8. Click here to reminisce.

 

[Argh]

Another worthy addition to the thread may be Ogre Battle. The original was a great game, and the multiple endings and tactics made for very well constructed gameplay. If I remember correctly, the only way to launch yourself to power was to get the lowest alignment possible (ie the most evil).

If you can find an original copy…uhh. send it to me immediately.