The Best Final Fantasy?

Back in 1991, which is subsequently about the time I really started to get into gaming, Square released Final Fantasy II (now IV) for the Super Nintendo. It was one of the first games to involve a complex plot coupled with dramatic storytelling and was one of the pioneers of RPG’s

[fromasterjay]

The best Final Fantasy is and will ALWAYS be 7. (followed closely by 10)

[scruffy_bear]

7 was poor 6 is the best then 4 for me

[FrankMcSpank]

I personally loved FF-FFIX

I didn't care to much more X-XIII

If I had to pick, it would be Final Fantasy IV. The story and world was poor brilliance. But I can't choose one. I always have enjoyed the FF series(minus a couple of them)

I also really loved Crystal Chronicles on Gamecube too.

[Etseix]

i never played a FF game, until i had a psp and was searchign games for it, i pick up FF: CC, imo teh best FF CC for me, after that i played FF VI,VII,VIII. VI is the best from those for me.

Crisis Core made me hate Cloud, Zack sacrifice for him and he later have a crush on Zack's girl? hell no, i was happy to know that Seph killed her ( ha! i must be the only guy who thinks like this haha but is still my opinion)

[NegativeCreepWA]

FFVI, VII was just the first one most of you kids played.

[Dac2u]

Definitely FFVI, the story was epic for its time and still holds up today. They didn't just focus on one character, instead there were many interesting characters with great stories of their own. FFVI had enough side quests to keep you entertained for so many hours. Still, it's my favorite RPG to date.

Edit: Let's not forget the music either, even with midi, it still sounded amazing. Re-released today with lossless orchestral music, it wouldn't have an equal.

[SuperStrokey1123]

ANyone who really really has played all the FF games will know 6 is best. There are other excellent games (such as 7,9, and 4) but 6 simply sits at the top of the pile.

[rroded]

yeh 7 was great n CC on psp is the only epic follow up since imo squeenix sux since they sold out nothing but trash games from a once great studio.

[Kevin ButIer]

IMO FFVII and VIII were the best, although i loved the VI one, but thats just me,

[AndrewRyan]

YES SCRUFFY.

Final Fantasy 6 on SNES and PSX was the best one!

[iamtehpwn]

I may get a lot of disagrees for this, but:

Final Fantasy X.

You can argue what you want, but it's undenyable that Final Fantasy X created the best illusion of a real world inside of the screen thus far and was as simply the most brilliant art and music direction. Wrapped in excellent Character design, a game who's story was so good you forgot it was even that linear, to which opened up greatly after completion. It Was an seamless world, much more realistic than what is provided with a world map, as this game connected each route together through a pathway toward Zanarkand.

It's a great game for anyone looking to get into Final Fantasy. The battle system went back to franchise roots prior to ATB, and at the same time, new features. Sphere Grid got rid of a traditional leveling up system in favor of something that was not only more flexible and strategical, but over all easier to remember in nostalgia.

Annoying or not, Tidus was the most believably human character in the series history. While he may have been annoying to the some or many, Tidus unlike predecessors or successors, had a multide of emotions. I remember points in the game where he was extremely happy, he was depressed, angry, upset, curious, and had a wider range of emotions than any FF character in the history of the franchise.

[AAACE5]

Agree... FFX was my favorite as well! Spent so much time with that game plus it was the first Jrpg that really got me into playing them.

[Eamon]

You're not judging the other FF games by their release date.

The older FF didn't have voice acting or loads of cutscenes with facial expressions. They could only express emotional moments in the couple of CG FMVs, background music and script.

That's not to say FFX isn't a good game. It was amazing and I enjoyed it immensely.

[iamtehpwn]

@Eamon, true, but technology does influence things.

[Anderson8]

@iamtehpwn

couldn't agree more ffx was my personal fave as well i spent like 100+ hours on that thing followed by viii then vii

[Big Boss Extreme]

i agree with aaace5 and i amtehpwn ff10 is my favourite final fantasy. Ive never been connected to the characters of any other final fantasy game other than 10. SPOILER!!! Before the ending where you vs Jecht is so cool and the ending actually made me cry lol. Easily my most favourite game and game experience of all time.

[ChickeyCantor]

While the underlying message was pretty impressive ( as far as religion goes).
The problem with FFX was that the story took to long.
Characters beside Yuna had no actual objective. Their characteristics were poorly done and as a whole not interesting at all.
[Spoiler]They just used Jecht as Sin so that cry baby Tidus could talk about his daddy issues. Other than that he was one of the most boring and unstable FF hero ever!
( Yes and Cloud is en emo cunt)

Until the last parts, it finally took off but it was too late.
I enjoyed the game, the battle system was good, but i cant take people serious if they think FFX was the shit( thinking its the best FF).

I think games like FF4 or FF9 easily top FFX.
Even if FFX had voice acting, i wished they didnt.

[NegativeCreepWA]

FFX was a great game but I think it was the start of the series going down hill. It was the first FF to remove the explorable world map.

[FanOfGaming]

I have to agree that Final Fantasy X was my favorite. Tidus and Yuna were fantastic and the music is epic as well. Some of Uemetsu finest!

[scruffy_bear]

I didn't like 10 but when back to it last year and loved it, and the sphere grid is awesome :)

[xYokox]

I believe it's undeniable XII has created 'the best illusion of a real world inside of the screen thus far and was as simply the most brilliant art and music direction', it was incredibly well done, beautiful, non linear game world that was both artistically superior and gameplay enhancing.

The music of X was as pseudo emotional as it's characters and storyline. Incredibly primitive too.

The battle system was a huge step back for the series, the only way I could see anyone justifying it is that it was very accessible. The grid was indeed a good idea though.

I disagree that any characters in X were 'believably human' or had 'multitude of emotions'.. it's that they were presented in a very straightforward, infantile way, highly appealing to teens. XII did a far better job, while being incredibly mature and tasteful. XII was light years ahead of X, it was just way too subtle for many.

X was in the end, nothing but a more accessible, more angsty, more teen oriented version of the older games.

[Eamon]

The "Cloud is an emo cunt" bandwagon only started after the release of Advent Children.

He's not emo at all in Final Fantasy VII mainly because his personality isn't his own.

[Megaton]

6 > 9 > 7 > 10 > the rest of the series put together.

[Exquisik]

My order would be...

IV > VI > VII > X > VIII > IX > III > V > II > XI > XII > XIII > I > XIV?

The reason why I was second to the last was because I didn't get to experience it when it was first released, and by the time I got to experienced it, it wasn't as great as I thought it would be or compare to other FF/RPGs of the time.

Final Fantasy Tactics would be somewhere between VIII and III.

[huzzaahh]

FFX is definitely my favourite. VII is great, but it's waaay overrated.

[infamous-butcher]

Im playing through IX now and I am severly considering it to be beter than VII. Still X is my No.1

[TBM]

6 is the best to me followed by 9, and 4.

[schlanz]

VII isn't even the best of the PSX games. IX is.

IV might be my personal favorite. I don't consider it the best, though.. just my favorite for nostalgic reasons I suppose. It was the first FF game I played and I've beaten it far more times than any other FF game.

[NovusTerminus]

7, 8, 9, and Tactics. Those are my favorites.

[CrzyFooL]

4/6/7 and Tactics are my favs.

[Jio]

final fantasy XIII, lol

[AmpedUP]

I believe FFIV is the best because it the first to feature the ATB system. It also had amazing characters and story for its time. The music is classic as well. I even think its part of a music curriculum in Japan. Amazing game that has stood the test of time with multiple re-releases and add-on content to continue the story.

[SquareEnixFan]

8, 4, 10, and 6 are my top 4. I can't decide between 7 and 10-2 for the 5th spot. I know a lot of people hated 10-2 but I loved it.

[Godmars290]

FFVI is my #1 because of how characters and story were done. That's the one that made me a fan.

[CrzyFooL]

VI doesn't get enough attention. It's strange seeing how most people agree it's one of the series best as well as being a HUGE hit on the SNES.

[schlanz]

VI gets plenty of attention. The three FF games that get the most love are VI, VII, and X. One for each of the last three gens.

If there is any FF game that doesn't get enough attention it's IX.

[NegativeCreepWA]

Best story by far and just when you thought you were going beat the game the world gets destroyed and you realize your only half way there.

[Godmars290]

Meant to say FF4, not FF6. Not that it wasn't a good entry into the series, four just had good balance between story and gameplay.

[bossblue]

Crazy the amount of quality JRPG's released on the SNES. IV and VI were instant classics in my opinion. I almost wan't to go dust off the old SNES and bring these bad boys out.

[Deleting]

Since the best Final Fantasy is really based on your personal taste I'm going to go for FF8. I honestly don't understand how most people don't like it, in my opinion I think it's better then FF7 and theres so much in FF8s world which has been untouched. For example how about a game where Laguna is the main character with Kiros and Ward in the old days leading up to the Sorceress war with Adel or even taking that little speculation that Rinoa is Ultimecia and make a sequel out of that.

I love Squalls character development aswell throughout the entire game we see him transform as he opens up to his friends and the girl he falls in love with.

I'm not a FF7 hater. It's an amazing game but you have to admit it's a little overrated. If anyone comments I would respond but I only have one bubble so :/

[moe84]

VIII was great. It wasn't VII and that's why people hated it. Plus for it's time and compared to the other games in the FF lineup, was probably the most difficult(rpg). Not saying it was hard, but it definitely wasn't care bear like VII was.

But VII was pretty damn good. Just not the best =)

[schlanz]

I loved VIII. I think some things people didn't like were the draw system and GF tedium. One of my friends hated the fact that if he used magic on certain characters, their stats would decrease.

7-9 are all great games. IMO, 9>8>7

[NovusTerminus]

I added my vote to give you a bubble.

I think the main thing holding 8 back was gameplay. I felt that it fell somewhat short in that category. Story and characters where top notch.

I don't know which would be my favorite FF game in truth. Tactics was great to me. Just an amazing game. I like the way 7 blended the magic and technology.

9 was just a well told story and I felt actually loved the 2 player option!

FF normally has great characters and 7, 8, 9, and Tactics just had my favorites.

[moe84]

The only thing I disliked about VIII was the horrible history lesson at the orphanage in disc 2... and Omega Weapon, he can eat a fatty.

[Anderson8]

ultima weapon was worse... i never could defeat it :(

[Snatcher]

FF4 is the best in my opinion. Cecil is a badass character, Cloud is a pussy

[AmpedUP]

Kain, Rydia, Cecil, Golbez, Tellah, were all my favorite. If I had to pick one it would have to go to Kain or Rydia. Both are very underrated characters in Final Fantasy mythology. I think that this game doesn't have as much respect because we can't visualize it in a 3d world. Oh and Nobuo Uematsu is an amazing composer!

[Capt-FuzzyPants]

This is the first FF I beat. Has some of my favorite characters like Cecil and Kain. I havent played the after years so im looking forward to this.

[Newtype]

9 was my personal favorite.

[ChickeyCantor]

I agree.

It was something more of a "fantasy" than most FF games.
But thats not the reason i liked it so much...i guess one just have to play it to understand it.

[schlanz]

My favorite as well. Doesn't get near enough love as it deserves.

[Redempteur]

I agree on ff4 because it was one of the first of his kind to try a story told like that .. and succeeded ..that's more of a leap that anything that came afterward even if i prefer FF6 because teh package would be more polished and bigger.

[Eamon]

Final Fantasy VII stands on top. Best story out of all of them IMO. Also, the most complex story.

7, 10, 6, 9, 4. Loved each of them
I haven't played the rest except 12 and 13 which I disliked.

[chidori666]

"Best story out of all of them IMO. Also, the most complex story. "

nah... there are so many flaws in story in this game,anyways ff6 also happens to be my favorite final fantasy.

[Eamon]

lol, not flaws just confused the hell out of people including me. I played it when it first came out so I was pretty young and the story was just way above what I could grasp at the time.

But undoubtedly, it has the most complex story.

I also loved FF6 but I felt it was let down by the SNES. It had so much potential and the script was so cropped due to limited space.

We need FF6 remake for 3DS and FF7 remake for PS3!

[schlanz]

A complex story does not equate greatness

[SJPFTW]

personally i had a blast playing the Tactics spin offs

[PlayerX]

Final Fantasy Tactics. Sure it's a poor mans Tactics Orge, but it as still fun.

[moe84]

I miss Tactics Ogre every now and then.

[moe84]

1-9 were the best games the franchise had to offer. But in the end, I'd have a hard time choosing between FF IV(II on SNES) and FF VI. Loved running through VI start to finish with a friend over a weekend. Two player rpg ftw. Next would be a toss up between V and IX, after that it doesn't matter.

Mystic Quest was the best non-numbered, FF game.

[Arup02]

FFXII. The most complete FF that i've played. People still thinks FFVII is the best? The time of FFVII died a long ago. There are way better FF out there than VII.

[UP]

Most people started out with VII that is why it is held in such regard. My first and favorite is 9 followed by 10 for reasons stated by iamtehpwn. Both had better stories and characters then 7.

[PhoenixDevil]

Agreed on FFXII for me not only the best final fantasy but one of my favourite all time RPGs too it got a lot of hate but was such a good n complete game, this is the 1st comment on this thread i've seen of it being the best which i agree with

VII was a good game n im glad its remembered well as a classic but its hard to justify it as the best game ever just because of its commercial success on the PS1, I'd like to play VI as that seems to be a hardcore ff fans favourite that i have not had the joy of playing. All personal opinion as long as you enjoy it then its all gd

[ApexHell]

i like all of them i cant choose.

[MajestieBeast]

Chrono trigger bitches ohh wait thats not final fantasy. Can secret of mana count seeing as it was originally suppose to be a spin off. But for real FF titles i would say between 7 or 6. But all of em were good till FFX-2 and 12 then it just went to shit.

[GoldPS3]

Do anyone have a bigger pic of the girl in green?

[Exquisik]

Here's Rydia (the girl in green) - http://www.videogamegirlsdb...

And here's Rosa (another female character of FFIV) - http://www.videogamegirlsdb...

[ChickeyCantor]

Dont even know her name and want to fap to it?
My my...

[CLOUD1983]

FFVII & X is the best out there I give this 2 games a perfect score because they both have an amazing story both have amazing battle system both have awesome music and both can make u cry at some moments when this happen u know that u play a truly Epic game when u become one with the characters and u live the game not just play it.

[Infernostew]

FF 6 is may favorite but 9 was awesome as well.

[Son_Lee]

Final Fantasy VII for what it means to me personally.

But, to speak outside my personal meanings, Final Fantasy X takes the cake.

[bangoskank]

1)VI
2)IX
3)XII
4)IV(got me into the series but hasn't aged well)

[Hitman0769]

i love 6 the best :)

[AmpedUP]

VI is probably my second favorite then followed by VII and X.

[theonlylolking]

I say 13 since 10, 13 and dissidia are the only FF games that I bothered playing.

[trevonn95]

ffxii yes FINAL FANTASY XII i have played vii but i was 4 years old so yanno......

[FF7numbaone]

well ff7 was definitely the most successful of all FFs, part of reason why it will always be my number one. Not other ff has a higher demand than ff7.

No other ff has more prequels/ sequels, sales,ratings and demand for a remake than ff7.

[Lirky]

Back in 1997 i got into Rpgs FF7 was my first rpg ever! , then wild Arms, then legend of legaia :D Since i got into the storytelling of the games and how interesting each characters i grew with.

Then theres a game thats on Japanese ps store called : Saga Frontier square enix use to make original unique rpgs like that one Hopefully from 2011-2015 itll come to u.s. and euro ps stores. I never finished it too.

[helghast102]

IX or VI
Fact: Those 2 are God of Gods Tier

[GrilledCheeseBook]

VI or IX
those were my favorites

[Gamer112]

FF10 on the ps2 was the best hands down.

[Prototype]

I vote 6 and 8

11 if it had an offline mode and had the updates back then that they have now

[R_aVe_N]

My favorite has always been FFVII followed close behind with FFXI

[The Rock Bottom]

its most certainly isn't 13 lol. Is that even a real final fantasy at all. My favorite has to be 4 or 8

[GeneGodHand]

XII for me.

[Shnazzyone]

FFVI(III) is the one square should be updating and rereleasing. I find IV was impressive for it's time but compared to 6. It looks tame. Maybe 6 is such a complex masterpiece square doesn't even know how to update it and keep everything that made it great.

[Ponurasky]

I agree, VI was that kind of game that really should be remade to give it full justice, which wan't possible on SNES.

However considering state of current Square-Enix, and how other remakes were handled I rather stay with original game (GBA version was fun, but battles were made far too easy).

[Shnazzyone]

I dunno, last i checked the GBA version was quite simply a straight port. I noticed no difference in difficulty. Actually no differences at all.

I want them to do with FFVI what they did with FFIV on ds... but wait until 3ds and make it incredible.

[Da One]

The story in tactics >>>>> any other FF

my faves: FFT:WOTL, X, VII, IX, IV, VI

[Ratchet510]

FF7&8 are the best.

[TheMutator]

KEFKA,KEFKA,KEFKA,KEFKA,KEFKA, KEFKA

[Ponurasky]

VI is the best for me. The most likable characters, the best music, art design and battle system. That was truly a cinematic RPG even if technology didn't allow it, to spread it wings fully (opera scene was mind blowing) oh! those wonderful times.

IV was fun yet many thing weren't so polished back then.

And VII sucks @ss (as a "best RPG ever", how many use to call it). They couldn't decide what they want to make, and in the end it end up as a complete story mess. Yet some elements were fun. But VII it's far inferior to VI.

[Soul Train]

Part III in the US (6 in Japan), easily the best FF.

[zackacloud]

Best final fantasy I , VI , IX , XII , Crisis Core

VII it my fav but honstly it not the best their elements make us love it to much

first game on seies show for us 3d rpg play
good story
good music
very big game

[phinch]

FF VIII was the one i enjoyed the most as it was what i played first
FF X
FF VII

In that order for me

[Nate-Dog]

IX was (or is, so far) my favourite.

[EVO-OM3GA]

My favourites
Final Fantasy 7
Final Fantasy 8
Final Fantasy 10
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7

[Mowgs]

The only FF I ever fully finished was VII which was last month, despite it being the first PS game I ever owned. I have no doubt now that it's the best game I've ever played and being a huge Metal Gear fanboy I consider that quite a feat.

I have tried playing IX and it's a great game but playing it makes me want to play VII instead: The music in VII is better, I like the characters more in VII, I like the art direction infinately more and the Materia system to me seems to be just perfect. I felt like I was playing a poor man's VII, I also had the same experience with VIII and Crisis Core(Shambles of a game).

This place seems like a good place to ask for suggestions as where to go next. I can't stand the traditional JRPG settings with all the castles and Dungeons and what not. So what I'm asking is there another FF not taken from the book of JRPG sterotypes that has a great soundtrack that a VII lover might enjoy? Thanks in advance.

[Kee]

Most people usually pick the first one they played as their fave.
This might be why I like IX slightly more than the others. A lot of people seem to like VI. Anyone know when that was last released? I want to check it out.

[baker_boi]

It was first released as FF3 in the U.S. in 1994 or 95?

I'm not sure but I first played it as a kid on SNES, then got it in FF Anthology for PS1; Where I then finished it.

In comparison, FF5 can't hold a candle to it.

[baker_boi]

6 was the best followed by 7.

8 and 10 tie for third place. Everything before 5 can go in the garbage can.

12 takes honorable mention.

Lol, well, except mystic quest. It could be called the worst of them all, but I actually liked it.

I hated the characters in 9 so it defaults as garbage for me.

8 and 10 were so fuckin easy they almost don't count. You werent required to do anything in the game as far as leveling or powering up.

The only way to make it a challenge(talking about FF8) is to actually leave off finding any GF's not given to you and just run through the game.

10 was just ridiculously easy...once you get Waka's limit thing where he continually throws balls the game is over for any boss or enemy in it. Not to mention those gauges fill up faster than running water.

That's outside the status attacks and Auto haste.

I guess that's why SE tries to restrict how you can level and power up in the games now.

6 just had the best characters, the best story, and the most annoyingly hated final boss in the series. Oh, I hate me some Kefka.

He didn't just say he was gonna destroy the world, he did it. And you had to watch it.

[Asuka]

FFVIII is my favortite. It is also the fastest selling ff in the series (not including ffxiii)and received generous reviews across the board. Was also my first ff game =P

[imoutofthecontest]

Laughable misuse of the word "subsequently."

[silkrevolver]

...I loves me some IV. I love all of the SNES games a lot... but I find the PS1-era haters annoying. VII was a good game: hate it because it was a departure, if you wish... just don’t hate it because it’s popular.

[clarkdef]

10 and below are pretty damn good

[silkrevolver]

11’s not so bad... just different.

[clarkdef]

Ok 11 and below

[thecreeper]

Great Article. Final Fantasy VII would have to be my favorite, but I started later in the series. I'll definitely be going back to check out the older ones now though since IV and VI seem to be pretty popular.

[Tex117]

FF6 and that's running away with it.

Then
FFV and FFIV
FFIX
FFVII
FFXII
FFVIII

Then the rest. I really disliked FFX. When your first Final Fantasy is 1 then FFII and FFIII (The US Versions...they renumbered later) then FFX makes you cry in terms of weak sauce.