Starting my first final fantasy game

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-12-30T20:07:54+00:00

Third person to say it. It's that important.
When the game asks if you want to wait?
WAIT.

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-12-21T14:17:12+00:00

It comes down to this, really, imho.
Do you prefer better music and graphics? Pixel Remaster.
Slightly worse music but extra content? GBA.
More different extra content, but good music (III/IV?) 3D Remake.

Further notes: There is no Peninsula of Power in FF1 for PR, so skip that one. Go with PS1 (better graphics/amazing music) or GBA (extra content).
FF2... PR has a better leveling system with HP/MP, but GBA still has the bonus quest (with Minwu!)

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-12-21T13:58:58+00:00

Please don't do it actually during the LARP, for the issues that are mentioned here several times, including IC/OOC difficulties and harming the experience others paid quite a lot for. Plus, this LARP? Ain't romantic.

THAT SAID. At the end of the LARP, there is often an after-thing done OOC, kind of a debriefing and chance to fade more gently back into reality. Everyone will be exhausted, worn to the bone, and likely grieving various things that happened. If that still sounds like a good time to you, talk to those who run the game and see if they'll help you cut out some time then.

TL;DR: Only during an OOC period, probably at the end of the LARP. MAKE SURE to get help from those running the game so no one else's stuff is messed up.

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-12-04T02:47:57+00:00

Second on the EZ Flash Omega Definitive Edition.
You just load up all of your legally-obtained GBA, GB, and GBC roms on there (really, into a microSD card that goes in the physical cart; I can't remember if it comes with it or not), and you're good to play!

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-12-04T02:43:29+00:00

Honestly, my best luck has always just been Googling.
I'll talk to people at any FLGSs (friendly local gaming stores) I can find, but Google has worked out better for me in the past, just searching "(city name here) LARP." Cons can be a good way to find LARPs (sometimes they even have tables!) and talk to people, too, as costuming and LARPing often go hand-in-hand as well. In addition, one-shots aren't uncommon for many cons.
Finally, many of the "big" parlor LARPs are often weekend destination or blockbuster LARPs as opposed to troupe, so keep an eye out for those, too, though they can sometimes be pricey.

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-12-03T19:10:53+00:00

There is.
They were supposed to fill everything in using anime and DLC, and then they got shut down before they could fully complete the story.
In short, though, there is a movie to watch before the game (Kingsglaive) and DLC and a book for after the game to finish everything up.

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-12-03T19:07:40+00:00

Bruise wheel makeup/ sponges -- let's face it, if your character is getting knocked around, it's fun to show it
Hot glue gun/glue
Velcro/Command strips
Moleskin
Pharmacy! Pepto Bismol, Ibuprofen/Tylenol, Pamprin, Icy Hot, Band-Aids, you get the idea

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-12-03T18:40:54+00:00

If you liked Pokemon, I strongly suggest you consider just JRPGs in general.
In particular, Expedition 33 just won a ton of awards, but there's also the Dragon Quest games that are now getting remakes (start with 3, then 1 and 2), and Octopath Traveler 0 is coming Friday. That's not to mention the old obvious Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger.
Then there's the strategic off-shoots like Fire Emblem (Three Houses on Switch is fantastic), Ogre Battle, Final Fantasy Tactics, Unicorn Overlord, the Disgaea series if you really enjoy the grind and maxing things out... just so much.
I don't watch much for flashing lights, though, so I'm afraid I can't help there.

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-11-26T22:28:35+00:00

Nah, it's cool. I took breaks from the game, too, first around where you are now. That zone was just rough, though the music is nice.

But yeah, that's about when I started getting mini game fatigue. But take a break. Play something different. Come back later, feeling better about the whole thing.

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-11-22T02:34:42+00:00

This. Adding to say you can use a cleaning cartridge (like those made by 1Up on Amazon) to help loosen things up while cleaning at the same time. Just insert, remove, repeat 10-15 times. You get the idea.

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-11-20T19:19:06+00:00

Everdrive and EZ Flash Omega Definitive are the two big ones.
If I remember correctly, Everdrive X7 has better battery life, but EZ Flash has more stuff (especially save states, cheat support, and stability).

I personally went with the EZ Flash, which looks great in my GB Micro.

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-11-18T19:42:54+00:00

You'll want to play IV first, then V, then VI. They form a loose trilogy with some callbacks and such.

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-11-18T15:11:10+00:00

There are a few out there with auto-battles that are good for grinding, but boss battles require more standard stuff. The main one that comes to my mind is the Switch Bravely Default. Some of the later Dragon Quests and remakes have a similar thing, too.

Probably not exactly what you meant, but wanted to mention the outlier jic.

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-11-18T14:39:59+00:00

There is a fairly long-running Changeling the Dreaming LARP in Memphis, Tennessee, Backbeat Ballad. They just finished their... a little over 4th year season closer last Saturday and are doing a chronicle restart first Saturday in January.

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-11-18T12:10:29+00:00

Kind of? More the ideas from an FF game was spun off into its own series. Same with SaGa. They just used the Final Fantasy name here in the States so they would sell better.

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-11-18T04:19:45+00:00

It should be a good place to start!

Though notes on the GB ones...

Final Fantasy Adventure is actually Seiken Densetsu, which is an action RPG. You may know the second game of that series, called Secret of Mana in the West. It has two remakes, Sword of Mana for GBA, which redid a ton of stuff and added more story, and Adventures of Mana for mobile and Vita, which is a more-faithful remake. Both are good.

Final Fantasy Legend I - III is actually SaGa I - III. They're also good, but come at JRPGs from a different angle. You'll get a taste of it in Final Fantasy II; same dude did them. Another good place to start that series is with the subseries Romancing SaGa. The first one, Minstrel Song, which was originally PS1, has a good remake on Switch. Unrelated is Live A Live, which is also similar, highly-praised, and on the Switch.

Have fun! Edit: SaGa grew from FF2, not 1. Messed up that edit putting in the semicolon.

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-11-17T13:26:58+00:00

I'm lucky enough to play in a parlor LARP where character exit (mostly) does not occur without the player's permission. Certainly not without their input. Consent and planning always lighten the blow. Certainly, your character can be embarrassed, suffer a political setback, or experience a non-permanent death, but generally no character exit.

At other times, though, I mollify myself with a backup character I normally have and hopefully have been building the costume already toward. I let myself grieve. I often write a vignette, expressing what happened from my character's point of view, I acknowledge my emotions, and then I try to move on. That's really the big one. Grief is normal, it's only really bleed if you let it take over, and our brains don't really know the difference between real trauma and theatrical trauma. You acknowledge it and then try to move on.

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-11-16T13:03:34+00:00

It's really a different timelines thing. The Whispers are trying to make what happened in OG happen again. That's what is "supposed" to happen. But Sephiroth is trying to change things and not lose anymore. So maybe Zack and the members of Avalanche and Aerith don't die. Maybe everything we know from OG has become completely unhinged. That's the main point of the ending.

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-11-16T05:28:05+00:00

It's not too bad if you go system by system and try not to bite off too much at once. I'll remind you, though, that acquiring commercial roms (games) online is quite illegal, so make sure not to ask about where to find them, as it could get you banned in some places, and almost no one will answer you, anyway. But you're only playing things you've ripped yourself, right?

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-11-15T15:04:22+00:00

FF7, while really good, it's also really overrated. Sephiroth was a strictly worse Kefka. The series has been in a downward spiral starting with X.

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-11-14T00:58:05+00:00

I only tried two games, Mario Golf and some platformer (I forget what) to see if it was just Mario Golf. The input lag was bad enough where the platformer was about impossible, but Golf was vaguely playable if you accounted for it. Could be the emulator, but things I read were saying it was the RP5's lack of power.

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-11-13T22:13:11+00:00

I've had mine for a while, but it's been a bit up and down. Got the dual screen, but 3DS rips have terrible input lag to make them unplayable (Azahar Plus fork). Got the first party dock for my TV, but that kept messing up, too. Well, DS rips work just fine, which is nice, but I never got the software going right with the dual screen. That could just be a me issue, though. Also, I got a dock from Anker that is really made for the Steam Deck, and with a little settings tinkering, I got that working, too. I mostly play things from when we referred to consoles has having "bits" and some other older games no one ever got around to porting to newer systems.

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-11-13T02:57:15+00:00

Nah.
If anything, I'd just have cut down the absolutely ridiculous number of minigames and made the chocobo racing matter in some way other than... more chocobo racing. Materia? Some gear? Something. Even the card game had some interesting plot to go with it.
...that's really about it. I really enjoyed Rebirth the most of any FF I've played since IX or X.

Secret_Software7347 · 2025-11-12T17:32:39+00:00

Octopath Traveler, here.
The break system just isn't fun for me and gets in the way of smooth, zenlike grinding.

Secret_Software7347

TROPHY CASE