Greetings,
It seems to me that most Final Fantasy Fans are divided into two general categories: +7s and -7s. Unquestionably, the series changed significantly during/after Final Fantasy 7. The debate is ever how about whether those changes were for the better or the worse.
My beef is simply this: When they reinvented the series, arguably at 7 or 8, they should also have renamed it. Now all thats really being argued is what the definition of Final Fantasy is and/or means, when really we are talking about two entirely different series of games which were developed by almost completely different teams of people. Of course the games are radically different, but because Squeenix is a business and wanted to cash in on the popularity of the title name, they included a number of token, "series staple" similarities.
Really, the differences between FF12 and FF4 are great enough that the games could easily be from different companies and comparable only as both existing in the RPG genre.
That being said, it is probably human nature that what is experienced first becomes the definition, and so for gamers who had a SNES (or bought one specifically for Final Fantasy...*cough cough*) the earlier iterations of the game are the definition. Then, if it so happens that the +7 games are not only unappealing but also a disappointment since certain expectations were left broken/unfullfilled, then begins the endless debate over which FF games were better.
I am of course a -7'er, to the point that FF7 doesn't even rank very high on my ever-changing internal list of "greats". The simple evidence being that I have played through 4,5, and 6 on average two times each over the last ten years, but I havent picked up FF7 since I beat it back in, um, '97 I think it was.
I can't stand the gameplay/characters/story of FF 8, 9, X, X-2, and honestly it is not just bias resulting from disappointment. Even if I pretend they are not games with the FF name, they still suck. I haven't had a chance to try 12 yet, but I did see it being played at a friends house, and I have to admit I am intriuged. Not because I want to play a FF game, of which IMHO and based on my definition of what an FF game is they dont make those anymore, but because it did look mildly interesting and I am close to beating Eschalon:Book I and even with a billion MODs (including FCOM) Oblivion is starting to wear out again.
Also, if you havent had enough, here is a link to a post I made about the specific FF games, a loooong time ago:
Final Fantasy VII? VIII? IX or X? which one do you think is the best?
I do think it is interesting how my opinion on 7 and 9 has soured over the years, like white wine going bad. Might have to boot them up again sometime to re-evaluate my opinion.
Sincerely,
TastEPlasma
EDIT: Oh yea, and Dead Fantasy is totally awesome, cant wait for the third and final part.
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Last edited by TastEPlasma; August 30th, 2008 at 16:52..
Reason: forgot something