The PS2 generation of FF

[BlueOni]

What do you think of the FF games on PS2? Better or worse than the ones on NES, SNES, and PS1?

I think it's been rather disappointing.

[Dark Vincent]

You think?
I have found most of them really awesome. I haven't played the 12th or X-2 yet, but FFX and FFXI are two of the greatest RPGs I have played. I'm about to finish FFX and I have enjoyed the world, its characters and storyline more than any SNES FF and as much as FF7 and 8. I mean, seriously, the world is extremely well-detailed with little-to-no holes in its history/background compared to previous FFs. From what I read, FFXII followed at least this coherency with its setting as well.
We can also add that the graphics are really beautiful, colorful and pleasant to the eyes, but its hardware is way more potent than the ones used in previous FFs so.. The only thing I would bitch about is some of the character design, like Tidus and Lulu. The raw idea was good, but those 183771376 buckles forming Lulu's skirt and Tidus yellow armband and crap looks really stupid. Oh yeah, and I'm not a fan of turn-based fighting anymore, I think it's overused and about time they moved on to a more dynamic system with FFXI and XII.

FFXI... I have played for a long time (Vice, on Sylph Server) and I must tell you it has a GREAT storyline that kinda resembles the classic NES/SNES FFs. The graphics are great too, but I feel it lacks on color compared to FFX (possibly because it's an online game so they can't overload it much?). The setting, Vana'diel, is FF's most detailed world and a very vibrant/large one at that. I have played many MMOs, and I have quit FFXI since March, but I have fond memories of its storyline and setting among other things.

As for FFXII, I'm getting it in a few days so let's see how that one goes...

[Allen Walker]

The PS1 one days were better. I really liked FF10 but FF12 and 10-2 were terrible. FF7, 8, and 9 are one of the top FF games IMO.

[Circuit]

I have to say, I've never really been bothered with the PS2 generation of final fantasy games. I played X and X-2, and have yet to pick up XII. For some reason they just don't seem to have the character and charm of previous games, I can't really put my finger on it...
Doesn't stop me being extremely excited for XIII and versus though!

[Whiplash]

Oh I thought this topic would be about the generation of gamers who've only played PS2 Final Fantasies, because they're pretty much really annoying. Especially the ones who have only played X-2.

As for the games, I'm sure I'd feel that they were brilliant if I had grown up with them like I grew up with the earlier ones.

[Naunen]

X-2 sucked for a Final Fantasy. The PS ones were golden. So far, best Final Fantasy to me on PS2 would be XII.

[Cathryn]

X-2 was a piece of Spice Girl, Pop dancing, Feckin Teedus obsession shit.
Truth.

[Naunen]

X-2 was a piece of Spice Girl, Pop dancing, Feckin Teedus obsession shit.
Truth.

----But Paine's gotta be the coolest character. She made everything seem close to a Final Fantasy.

[The Whaler]

Yeah I liked Paine
Everyone kept calling her emo >.>
Then I was like....stfu
I liked her kinda humor when she always seemed so serious xD
Rikku looked like a freakin hoochie momma

[Cathryn]

At least she had the ability to be funny, unlike Yuna and Rikku who where half naked shittin hoe baby daddy's, who pretty much acted like Barbie.
"Oh look, SHOES"

[The Whaler]

hahaha yeah
"Time to lay down some serious hurt"
xD
I like that line. lol
I swear it was like "who's dat who's dat hoochie momma"
Freakin butty ass shorts for Yuna??
I mean come one xD
And a tiny as like freakin 5 inch skirt with a yellow thong just
popping out saying "hello"
Now THAT'S sex appeal xD

[Naunen]

hahaha yeah
"Time to lay down some serious hurt"
xD
I like that line. lol
I swear it was like "who's dat who's dat hoochie momma"
Freakin butty ass shorts for Yuna??
I mean come one xD
And a tiny as like freakin 5 inch skirt with a yellow thong just
popping out saying "hello"
Now THAT'S sex appeal xD

----I think we're getting off topic. O.o But tru dat ^ anyway. Final Fantasy X-2 just ain't my cup of tea in PS2 Final Fantasy's. Well, it shouldn't be considered one since it's just a weird sequel to Final Fantasy X. Now X is Final Fantasy but it ain't the best in my opinion. Kinda disappointed nonetheless but XII kicked some serious ass and laid down the smack down.

[The Whaler]

Yeah I really like XII
Alot of others didn't like it
Probably cuz it wasn't like any other FF
(obviously)
I liked the political way the storyline turned out

[Naunen]

Yeah I really like XII
Alot of others didn't like it
Probably cuz it wasn't like any other FF
(obviously)
I liked the political way the storyline turned out

----If I could rate it, I'd rate XII as 9.5. The other .5 was because it was too short for the story. I thought it'd end with Ondore's memoirs the way Olan's descendant did in Final Fantasy Tactics. Or at least be a little more in-depth with the political issues. I mean, Rozarria (sp?) only stepped in for a bit.

[The Whaler]

Yeah
I was actually expecting like a huge final battle between Arcadia and Rossaria at the end....
I would've liked some more Rossarianness in the game aswell

[Blu Ray Disc]

I enjoyed FF12 and FFX the most. I would say FFX was my favorite for the PS2.
FFX-2. Heh. I enjoyed my first playthrough of it. And I didn't really mind the girly-ness. It was just an extension of FFX for me and I enjoyed it. The second time I played it, I was like "WTF? How come I was able to enjoy it the first time when the second time was just unbearable?"
But i am happy to say that I was at least able to enjoy FFX-2 when most people hated it.

[The Whaler]

I'm the same way
I liked it the first playthrough
But I tried to play it again
and I was...."Fuck that"
xD

[Alice]

The only reason (at the time) that I even got a PS2 was because of FFX. But of course, I had plenty of other reasons to have that awesome console. XD Anyhoo, FFX-2 was...a disappointment. The story was very good, but the way Square went about it was...wrong. u.u

FFXI is one that I currently still play but I don't have it on PS2, I play on Xbox360.

And FFXII is just awesome, no question about it. I love that game. :)

[Allen Walker]

And FFXII is just awesome, no question about it. I love that game. :)

I really hope your not being serious.

[Alice]

lol Unfortunately for you, I am. :P I guess I'm just one of the few who like it. :/

[Blu Ray Disc]

I really liked FF12 too. There were a few things that could have been improved. (Vaan) but for the most part, the game was very well presented, and I enjoyed every second of it. And I didn't mind Vaan too much. THe only thing that could have been changed is his hair, and his painted abs.

[BlueOni]

FFX-2 wasn't at all bad, it's my favorite in this generation. Unfortunately, that's not saying much. FFX felt too depressing, XII too serious and XI... well that shouldn't have been made as a MMORPG. So it's unfortunate that a cheery fanservice-type game would be the best in the generation.

[Desi]

Final Fantasy XI is the only answer. God makes amazing addictive drugs. That game alone propels the PS2 "generation" of FF games up there next to SNES.

[The Whaler]

haha Vaan's painted abs xD
I wish XI wasn't an MMORPG
I think they should make a game system version of XI

[Desi]

haha Vaan's painted abs xD
I wish XI wasn't an MMORPG
I think they should make a game system version of XI Tanaka won't let them. FFXI is a constantly changing world and in his mind there is no place for a single player version since the world must be static.

[Exire]

I had FFXI for the PC...I felt it was less of a waste of money that way, buying a keyboard for one game just to fumbly have it in your lap? Eh, I don't think so.

I honestly felt the PS2 generation of Final Fantasy was a bit weaker. The PS1 FF's are remembered quite fondly in comparison to the PS2 ones. Granted, that probably is just the case for VII and VIII. IX was good but didn't feel on caliber to what the previous two were. But back to the PS2...

It started out strong with FFX which is a good game, I did enjoy it quite a bit. Auron is probably one of my favorite FF characters, right up there with Vincent. But the storyline was quite simple, the hero and heroine. Heroine gives her life for the greater cause without seeming to have much to say or feel about it while the hero seeks to find the impossible way to save her life and get everything everyone wants. Of course, everyone gets what they want pretty much. The game was also very linear, no world maps, the exploring was severely limited than how the previous three FF's were.

X-2, the first actual sequel to a Final Fantasy, and this game is probably the proof why. Even more linear than X was, which didn't seem possible. Yuna and Rikku...I'm sorry but dear God. I hated Rikku in X but I was also surprised by yet another impossible feat. I hated her even more. Payne was good, but sadly she can only take the game so far. There was also FFXI, which people think never should have gotten the number. Its thought to be secondary to World of Warcraft and many feel it should have just been called Final Fantasy Online.

And the Final Fantasy to end the franchise for the PS2, FFXII. Well, I won't say much with this since you can find what people think about it all over this forum and just about any other FF forum anyone happens to be on. Again, amongst fans, it has quite some mixed reviews. Its quite a bit different from the PS1 FF's where it seemed the majority of people really enjoyed the games, again, I am mostly speaking for VII and VIII. With the PS2 though, many think of X-2 and XI as disappointments, as do I in a way. That makes just two Final Fantasy's that were solely released for the PS2 and original pieces of work. Both of those also have some relatively large flaws in them.

Not to say people didn't pick out things with VII or VIII. I just feel in comparison, those two FF's from the PS1 seem to be golden FF's that may end up being compared to. If I get FFXIII and I really like it a lot, I'd probably say something along the lines of, "This is the best Final Fantasy I've played since FFVIII." So...amongst that blabbering, I could be seen as a hypocrite hehe. I played all of those games and enjoyed most of them for a period of time. I really liked FFX, but flaws in games should still be noted. Xenogears has really bad graphics and the anime cut scenes are dubbed horrendously...but its my favorite game period.

[Hakumi]

I felt the PS2 generation of Final Fantasy(and Square for that matter) was filled with more shake-ups and changes than any generation before it. The only game that I felt was a true addition to the series was Final Fantasy X. I was very pleased with the way Final Fantasy X turned at, and my expectations where pretty high(I basicly decided to buy a PS2 based off my faith the game would be great). I thought the game had done what every generational introduction game has done: reinvent the RPG genre. To me Final Fantasy 1, 4, 7, and 10 have set the stage for their era of gaming.

Final Fantasy the Spirits within was very disapointing. As a fan of the series, I was hoping to share what I loved about Final Fantasy with other people who were willing to watch the movie, that may have not invested the time in playing the games. The Movie was alright on it's own, but as a representation of Final Fantasy it was just disapointing....

The departure of Hironobu Sakaguchi and Nobuo Uemastu were also grave disapointments. While I knew the series would continue, without Nobuo's tradmark music it just wouldn't be the same.

I thought Final Fantasy XI was a great game, but I was upset they decided to make it a numbered addition of the series. I still feel, it should have either included a full single player mode, or have simply been called Final Fantasy Online. The world of Vana'diel is one of the most engaging and captivating I've seen in the series, and I would love to one day see a single player adventure in this world.

I didn't have a big problem with Final Fantasy X-2 as many people do. I pretty much saw if for what it was, a gaiden side story to X, with a fun battle system and a light story. But agian, I don't consider this a main addition to the series.

I had very low expectations going into Final Fantasy XII, as I saw the game as an addition to Final Fantasy Tactics, and not to the main series. In many ways Final Fantasy XII seems less a part of the main series than Final Fantasy XI was. I will say it was a good game, but lacked many of the core elements that would make it a true Final Fantasy.

The Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, has been a bit of a double edged sword. The very fact the first game to be released was Before Crisis, which was only avaliable on Japanese Cell phones left a some what dissapointing impression of how it was going to turn out. Advent Children was awesome in someways, but disapointing in others, I liked the concept but felt there just should have been more to the story. However, with Crisis Core soon coming out, I am hopeful about the future of the Compilation.

The Kingdom Hearts games are probably the biggest highlight to the PS2 generation when it comes to FF related stuff. Without Kingdom Hearts and the potiential it represents, I think the generation would have been rather disapointing over all.

If Kingdom Hearts counts, then I would say the PS2 generation was great, however without them, that really only leaves Final Fantasy X as a core game in the series as far as Im concerned. I think Square has learned a lot this generation, and they have gone through a lot of changes. The company merged with Enix, lost many of it's core team memebers, released it's first feature film, and launched a MMO for the first time.

I think more than anything, the experiance from the PS2 generation has helped Square to understand what works and want doesnt. I am very much looking forward to Final Fantasy XIII, which I think is the first major title in the series since Final Fantasy X.