Any Final Fantasy nerds out there?

[chatt-townVOL]

I'm just now playing FFXIII (pretty good so far, not quite living up to the FF name but still good) and I was just curious: what's the deal with the FF mmorpgs? I know that XI was MMO and XIV is supposed to be MMO but whats the point? Is there a storyline still? Are they even worth looking into?

The MMO's and XIII-2 are the only ones I haven't played that's why I'm curious.

[RoaminVol]

Just wait til you get stuck on a boss in that game. Its sucks so bad. You are going to get stuck and I know which boss it is. Just wait til you get to the 3rd disk.

[chatt-townVOL]

Of XIII? There's only one disc

[Volwark]

Played FFXI (the MMO) for a while. Was a terrible, hardcore grindfest for a long time in the Japanese style. However, they made several changes over the years to make it solo or low-man friendly. IMO its a very good MMO now. It's achieved a pretty good balance of providing a challenge without being too difficult, or too easy and kiddy-friendly like WoW supposedly is (have not played). Graphics wise it is, of course, outdated. It is available for 360 tho, which is nice, and about any computer can run it without being taxing. If you've played FFXII, the battle system is similar to that, but much better cause you actually control (and can micromanage if you choose) your character.

In typical FF style, the storyline in FFXI is outstanding and is probably as good as it gets for an MMO, especially the Chains of Promathia expansion. Wings of the Goddess has some good stories as well. Not so much in the main storyline, which is ok, but in the nation missions.

FFXIV, on the other hand, is absolute trash from all accounts I've heard. But they are totally revamping the game (2.0), so it may be worth trying. Graphically it is top notch for an MMO, but can be taxing without a higher end PC.

XIII-2 is really good. Gameplay wise, more fun than XIII. A lot more freedom. Debatable on whether the story is better or not. It involves time travel, so that should tell you something. Has the most powerful villain in FF, maybe in all video games, without spoiling too much.

[chatt-townVOL]

Originally Posted by Volwark

Played FFXI (the MMO) for a while. Was a terrible, hardcore grindfest for a long time in the Japanese style. However, they made several changes over the years to make it solo or low-man friendly. IMO its a very good MMO now. It's achieved a pretty good balance of providing a challenge without being too difficult, or too easy and kiddy-friendly like WoW supposedly is (have not played). Graphics wise it is, of course, outdated. It is available for 360 tho, which is nice, and about any computer can run it without being taxing. If you've played FFXII, the battle system is similar to that, but much better cause you actually control (and can micromanage if you choose) your character.

In typical FF style, the storyline in FFXI is outstanding and is probably as good as it gets for an MMO, especially the Chains of Promathia expansion. Wings of the Goddess has some good stories as well. Not so much in the main storyline, which is ok, but in the nation missions.

FFXIV, on the other hand, is absolute trash from all accounts I've heard. But they are totally revamping the game (2.0), so it may be worth trying. Graphically it is top notch for an MMO, but can be taxing without a higher end PC.

XIII-2 is really good. Gameplay wise, more fun than XIII. A lot more freedom. Debatable on whether the story is better or not. It involves time travel, so that should tell you something. Has the most powerful villain in FF, maybe in all video games, without spoiling too much.

Thanks for the elaboration. I guess I have just never played an MMO so I don't understand how it's possible to have a storyline and free roaming players from all over the world. Like does it ignore other people during the quest and then you can periodically return to the free world? Does everybody have the same quest? Just confusing.

And if you're saying this villain is badder than Sephiroth you better be ready to back that up lol. That can be considered blasphemy to some in the FF world.

[Volwark]

Originally Posted by chatt-townVOL

Thanks for the elaboration. I guess I have just never played an MMO so I don't understand how it's possible to have a storyline and free roaming players from all over the world. Like does it ignore other people during the quest and then you can periodically return to the free world? Does everybody have the same quest? Just confusing.

Pretty much, yes. Its just like a FF game where you have a lot of freedom in world exploration. In order to advance the storyline, you'll go and talk to an NPC or do a battlefield. Instead of your party members being in the cutscenes with you, there are certain NPC involved in the storyline who will appear with you. There are lots of familiar faces, like Cait Sith, Odin, Alexander, and so on.

There's no random battles. Enemies appear like they do in FFXII and FFXIII, in the field and dungeons. It is very similar to FFXII in a lot of ways, but with a better story and better overall gameplay.

My only real gripe about the game now is lack of customization in appearance. In that, the game shows its age and the fact that it was originally developed for PS2. You will see a lot of people running around who look like your character.

And if you're saying this villain is badder than Sephiroth you better be ready to back that up lol. That can be considered blasphemy to some in the FF world.

He is, at least in terms of what he accomplishes and how he goes about it. Whether he's badder/cooler or not is up to your opinion, but he is definitely more powerful.

[chatt-townVOL]

Give me the old days of Tactics and VII all day long

[rockytop9808]

Originally Posted by chatt-townVOL

Give me the old days of Tactics and VII all day long

Mmm...Tactics.

[Volwark]

The job system of XI is great. Reminiscent of Tactics. The key difference being that, in Tactics, you would pick certain abilities of other jobs to make your main job better. Like I can't remember which ability it was, but in Tactics, Black Mage has an ability that made Samurai's swords do a lot more damage. In XI, you choose a support job to your main job, to add abilities, traits, stats, and spells to that job.

For example, you could be a Red Mage as your main job. You could then choose White Mage as your support job, which would give your Red Mage access to some of the healing spells and abilities that White Mage has.

And, like Tactics, you can also have every job for your character. You're not limited to just one role like most MMO. Of course this also means you'll have to get gear for those jobs too, but its not difficult.

[chatt-townVOL]

Originally Posted by rockytop9808

Mmm...Tactics.

Most underrated video game in history IMO

[chatt-townVOL]

Originally Posted by Volwark

The job system of XI is great. Reminiscent of Tactics. The key difference being that, in Tactics, you would pick certain abilities of other jobs to make your main job better. Like I can't remember which ability it was, but in Tactics, Black Mage has an ability that made Samurai's swords do a lot more damage. In XI, you choose a support job to your main job, to add abilities, traits, stats, and spells to that job.

For example, you could be a Red Mage as your main job. You could then choose White Mage as your support job, which would give your Red Mage access to some of the healing spells and abilities that White Mage has.

And, like Tactics, you can also have every job for your character. You're not limited to just one role like most MMO. Of course this also means you'll have to get gear for those jobs too, but its not difficult.

But then you can't take them into the quest? You said your party is replaced by old familiar characters right?

[Volwark]

Your party members consist of other players, and they can do missions and quests with you. You just won't see them in the cut scenes, cause they will have their own.

You can change your jobs in towns, and do the story on any job you choose. Of course some jobs will be more optimal for some situations than others. You can't just come as a White Mage to something hoping to whup some ass. Your role would be to heal your other party members.

Think of it this way. Say in Tactics you have a character named Joe. Joe has all the jobs unlocked. In some fights, you may want to use Joe's Lancer (dragoon in FFXI). In others, you may want to use his Ninja. Same thing goes for FFXI. You can basically change jobs at will for your own character.

[chatt-townVOL]

Originally Posted by Volwark

Your party members consist of other players, and they can do missions and quests with you. You just won't see them in the cut scenes, cause they will have their own.

You can change your jobs in towns, and do the story on any job you choose. Of course some jobs will be more optimal for some situations than others. You can't just come as a White Mage to something hoping to whup some ass. Your role would be to heal your other party members.

Think of it this way. Say in Tactics you have a character named Joe. Joe has all the jobs unlocked. In some fights, you may want to use Joe's Lancer (dragoon in FFXI). In others, you may want to use his Ninja. Same thing goes for FFXI. You can basically change jobs at will for your own character.

Ok that makes sense. I still probably will skip XI but I may take a stab at XIV. Even though supposedly there is another XIII game coming out (Final Fantasy XIII Versus is the title apparently)

[RoaminVol]

Originally Posted by chatt-townVOL

Of XIII? There's only one disc

IDK what FF XIII you are playing but mine had 3 disk. You must be playing FF XIII-2.

My question is are there any Kingdom Hearts Fans out there?

[thehardknoxlife]

Ah, FF. I haven't enjoyed any past X. Once they changed the battle mechanics to what they use now, it lost my interest. I played a little bit the newer ones, I just didn't like the mechanics. My favorites in order were VI(III or w/e it's called), VII, X, IV, and IX. I wish they'd go old school and make a game like they used to, not a re-make, just an all out new game with hi-res textures similar to any of the ones like IV, VI, or VII.