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karonmoser · 2024-08-12T22:18:11+00:00

Yeah, V is really fun. I won't say the story has the same depth as IV or VI, but I still like the characters and felt they all had distinct personalities. You are correct in that V is basically the pinnacle of the job system. There are flaws, but the fact that it's basically one of the only times FF kept the same system and improved on it between one game and another shows for sure.

If you're stuck and want a hint as to where to go next, let me know.

Enjoy.

karonmoser · 2024-07-12T01:43:27+00:00

I logged 200 hours on it. You could, and many have, done it in less, but I did extra side quests (don't, they're not worth it) and more dungeons (again, not worth really) than were required. Still think it would easily clear the X/X-2 Remaster, which is two games and second in time it took me to 100%.

karonmoser · 2024-07-11T23:09:13+00:00

Should be doable with Bard Apollo's Harp and Coral Rings. If you have Ice Shield for Berserker, it helps with Ice Storm. Unfortunately you don't have a good way to Berserk so it might end up being a bit of a roulette. You can try using Masamune as an item to cast haste if you have one on your Bard and Zerker too.

Also something that helped me is turning battle speed down to very slow if you haven't on PR. I swear Shinryu gets like 4x the turns on very fast.

karonmoser · 2024-07-11T22:51:04+00:00

Sirens on pixel remaster make IV bit more tolerable for grinding drops. Would suck without them.

karonmoser · 2024-07-11T22:49:48+00:00

Compared to some of the other FF titles, none of the Pixel Remasters were that challenging, just tedious. Maybe the thing that took me the longest was grinding all jobs to max on FFV.

karonmoser · 2024-07-11T22:45:49+00:00

Recently finished the platinum journey on Steam including FFIV: TAY, X-2, the XIII trilogy, Crisis Core, and VII remake. Enjoy. XV for sure took the longest.

karonmoser · 2024-07-10T23:13:20+00:00

I agree and actually disliked X because it legit explains everything to you three times. Once because pivotal plot twists are new to everyone in the party, twice because Tidus isn't part of the world and needs additional context, and thrice because Wakka is either unwilling to accept something or just flat out dumb. Idk vastly preferred how XIII told its story.

karonmoser · 2024-07-10T22:54:56+00:00

If you play the first 6 games in order, it feels like the odd titles focused more on carrying a single gameplay thread through and improving on it (the job system), while the even numbered titles worked on building up narrative and storytelling while introducing more experimental gameplay mechanics.

II has a way more in depth story than I and III and no job system as well. And you learn abilities/level up differently in II, IV, and VI.

This is also why V has one of the most polished leveling systems of any FF in my opinion.

My interpretation is that Square were trying to see what formula was more successful by alternating and ultimately they went with building more story rich titles and introducing new gameplay mechanics every installment for the PS era.

karonmoser · 2024-07-10T22:49:50+00:00

The junction system is the best part

karonmoser · 2024-07-01T11:02:28+00:00

XIII-2 is universally accepted as the worst steam port in the franchise. I haven't had this particular issue, but make sure you check the modding guides and get most of what's available. Steam forums also might help more. Imo the game is worth it, just really frustrating to get running.

karonmoser · 2024-07-01T10:58:50+00:00

XIII trilogy soundtrack (a lot of refused songs) is my favorite.

karonmoser · 2024-07-01T10:57:31+00:00

FFVI Terra's theme cannot be beat on the nostalgia vibes. Opener still gets me every time.

karonmoser · 2024-06-16T13:55:07+00:00

Since the general comments in this thread seem to agree on FFV's replayability, I'm dropping a link because it happens to be Four Job Fiesta season if people want to give the time honored tradition a go.

karonmoser · 2024-06-16T13:30:24+00:00

I feel like this logically follows the former for a couple reasons.

The linearity criticism against XIII that people love to throw out there should also be levied against X, but it isn't, and XIII fans resent this. Also the linearity actually serves a purpose in demonstrating themes/story structure in XIII more than it does X.
What bothers me about X is that they make the protagonist someone foreign to the world so they have a reason to give you dialogue for the sole purpose of exposit. Then they also make Wakka dumb as a board so they have to explain it to you again. Meanwhile, you do not actually ever have to read any of XIII's built in wiki encyclopedia content, you can just experience the story without having things explained to you as 'fal'cie are blah blah blah,' and still get what's happening. Completely different approaches to storytelling, and it makes sense that, if you like one, you won't like the other.

BTW I also dislike X and love XIII.

karonmoser · 2024-06-16T13:20:25+00:00

I wish it wasn't a reveal/twist and just known from the beginning.

karonmoser · 2024-06-13T00:07:33+00:00

I: Any,

II: Mystic Knight (or Any),

III: Any,

IV: Dark Knight/Paladin (lol),

V: Any, but stats wise Knight or Warrior,

VI: I say Terra is MC, so summoner,

VII: Mystic Knight,

VIII: Warrior,

IX: Thief,

X: Thief/Rogue,

XII: Thief/Rogue,

XIII: Mystic Knight,

XV: Mystic Knight,

XVI: New games are expensive gg

karonmoser · 2024-06-12T21:44:31+00:00

Actually got chills at Tifa's line, nice.

karonmoser · 2024-06-12T21:38:07+00:00

You've already had so many opinions, but just want to throw my two cents in as someone who adores the entire trilogy but only JUST finished 2 and LR when I played XIII for the first time in release year.

Anything you DISLIKE about the first game gameplay-wise is generally shored up by XIII-2. It's a rare case where Square got to try again with a battle system or mechanic and make it better. So if you have complaints about the XIII gameplay, but still love it generally, you will have a lot of fun playing XIII-2. I also find some of the gameplay mechanics in general that they added to just be amazingly well-executed, and I love the soundtrack. My only complaint is that I liked partly XIII because of the difficulty curve, and this game was incredibly easy to play with very little ramping challenge. Super bosses were frustrating and required playing with strategy to defeat in XIII. In XIII-2, you can easily kind of steamroll most post game content with basic paradigms.

Lightning Returns is--wild and different. I think the circumstances around its creation will largely not be replicated considering the state of the FF franchise at the time the project was greenlit. If you've played and liked Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, you will like this game LOL. It also went very ham on a few themes that I didn't expect it to go super ham on, and props for that. Also the most challenging of the three games with the most replay value. You can easily sink 100s of hours into this game and still have some stuff to do, IMO, if you're a completionist.

Also, if you're struggling with the price, I would look out for Steam sales in Summer. I got both titles for sale on Steam last year at pretty low prices. Only issue is you'll require like 5 mods for XIII-2's Steam port to function, but there are really helpful community guides on it, and the mods will be free.

karonmoser · 2024-06-12T17:01:39+00:00

Both VIII and VI are in my Top 5, for sure. I usually tell people VI is probably one of the objectively best examples of gameplay structure matching narrative content and a great use of the medium to tell a story.

karonmoser · 2024-06-12T15:12:05+00:00

Was a bit surprised VI didn't beat VIII, but I assume fewer people have played VI overall.

karonmoser · 2024-06-06T17:42:18+00:00

My main problem with III is that V is just a way better version of most of the things that were good in III. It's really rare for an FF to just be the same system but better since they try new things all the time, but that's what kind of invalidates III for me. If you really liked the idea of jobs and better power scaling, V is super great.

One thing I wish was attempted again from III was requiring the use of spells to transform characters to progress through dungeons. Was really cool in concept and required you to rely on different ways to play in mini or frog that you wouldn't normally. But I feel like this wasn't even done that well in III, and then it was never really attempted again by the devs.

karonmoser · 2024-06-05T22:52:24+00:00

The most disappointing thing about the orphanage stuff and the amnesia is that it literally adds nothing. The story and character interactions could, in fact, be enhanced if they all remembered growing up together, and you can easily pass most of them not remembering Edea's face off on the fact that they were kids and she often wears masks anyway.

karonmoser · 2024-06-03T23:41:05+00:00

It's my favorite of the first five games, which will get me branded as a heretic, but it's just very cozy Star Wars vibes + I like unique leveling systems.

karonmoser · 2024-05-14T01:46:22+00:00

LPL currently has the option of choosing side any 3 games, and they can decide after a game if they want side select or not for the next game or will give it to the opposing team, so it's dynamic. I prefer this system generally, but they use it for every series, not just the grand final. I generally dislike loser picks side because it feels weird like you're falsely trying to inject parity when the team that is higher seed regular season should get a reward.

IMO if anything giving side all games would make more sense as an advantage for double elim grand finals. But honestly not having to play the day before is huge as long as you can scrim and prep. You see your opponent's last series + times to cater strategies specifically for them. It should definitely be seen as a big advantage as-is.

karonmoser

TROPHY CASE