Odin

I'm not sure there's ever been a topic that's so consistently dominated the discussions on this forum as that of which installation of the Final Fantasy franchise is the best. This prompt has gotten out of control in the past, but I think it's one that warrants reconsideration, so for my part I'd like to offer a promise to stay as civil as possible during the course of this debate. For brevity's sake I'm going to omit the installments that were only released on their original platforms in Japan; I think it best to limit our discussion to Final Fantasies IV, VI, VII, VIII, IX, and X. I'd like to offer the general theories on why several of these titles are considered the greatest the series has produced. I won't discuss IX, because it nauseates me; nor will I go into detail on X, because I don't own a PlayStation 2, and I won't insult you by singing the praises of a game I haven't beaten.

FFIV
The Argument:
Final Fantasy IV is generally cited as the first taste of the brilliance of the Final Fantasy franchise to which American gamers were treated. Normally critics don't extol its plot as they do for later incarnations, but a great deal of praise for FFIV seems to stem from the remarkable way in which the developers coped with limited hardware--and a limited understanding of that hardware--and told a complicated story regardless.

FFVI
The Argument:
In general I'm of the opinion that this game is the greatest in the series. The arguments are many, but chief among them tend to revolve around character: it boasts by a good margin the largest cast of any of the fantasies (counting Gogo and Umaro it has 14), and the story is masterful in the way the characters wrap around the plot and develop theme (which is important in itself, because FFVI is generally looked upon as the first of the ten to aggressively develop specific--and adult--ideas). The plot is at once universally applicable and utterly ambiguous--for who knew that Shadow was Relm's father--and speaks to gamers now as then, the technical evolution in console hardware notwithstanding. It's also noted that FFVI was a phenomenal aesthetic success and, to its proponents, broke at least as much ground for the Super Nintendo's technology as the next two did for the PlayStation's.

FFVII
The Argument:
Without question the most famous (and hyped) Final Fantasy title, FFVII was earth-shattering in that it was the first to incorporate CG visuals, being the first to appear on a 32-bit platform. Gamers who were introduced to the series by the seventh installment and played it only casually tend to revere the title for its visual achievements, but its plot was astoundingly rich, rivaling its predecessor in brilliance and ambiguity. The title's advocates also point to the remarkably cohesive materia-based battle system, which I cite as the best in the series. The PlayStation's exciting technical architecture notwithstanding, FFVII demonstrated graphically some things at which a good many people were astonished: genuine emotion was conveyed perhaps for the first time--or for the first time with such clarity--through graphical representations of the plot. It's also important to note that VII was, to a large degree, the title that brought the franchise to the masses and brought the series out of the dust of its "cult classic" formative years.

FFVIII
The Argument:
I'm not especially fond of this title, but from what I've gathered from years of bloody debates it seems that the proponents of FFVIII draw a good deal of meaning from its plot, which, granted, was more ambiguous than the standard Final Fantasy fare. The ending, especially, was brilliantly done, and left much for the gamer to interpret for himself. In keeping with that theme, the title's junction system allowed for a phenomenal, almost unhindered degree of customization that allowed for the production of god-like characters very early in the game. It's perhaps the greatest departure from the prototype established by VI and, as such, it offers the most anti-heroic (in the most literary sense of the word, I assure you) of protagonists. All good heroes in the franchise are flawed, but for FFVIII Square extends that expectation and presents the gamer with a brooding, selfish lead, and advocates will argue that his growth makes him more endearing upon the game's conclusion.

Just some of my thoughts. Let's talk about it! Identify the best Final Fantasy title and tell us why.

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--Bryan Keers, biggest badass ever

Mr. SunburnMan

I'll throw in my 2 cents. I like *most* Final Fantasies, and all to a different degree, and for different reasons. I'll speak of most of those that I played and considered truly good.

FF1 : It wasn't DQ. In all seriousness, I cannot provide anything that makes this one stand above the others. It was a nice first try, and a great attack to the DQ market, also a great introduction to RPGs (for myself. I had only played DQ at that point, and I despised it, and still do). My favourite RPG at the time, but it was rapidly surclassed by...

...FF2 (IV) : Completely opened my eyes to the potential of videogames. Videogames weren't just killing monsters, jumping on monster's head, and blowing stuff up. They could have decent storylines (by my standard of a 10-11 year old kid), involving music, and involve killing monsters.
I remember playing this one at neighbor's house for hours, when it was nice outside, and when we would've usually have been playing outside. So many hours wasted watching/playing this game... So many memories.
But did it stand the test of time? Most definitely. While the gameplay has been surpassed to a degree (except maybe in the dungeon area), and while the game is too easy for its own good when you are a RPG veteran, it is definitely a classic, and a preview of what was to come in the game industry.

FF3 (VI) : This game remains one of my favourites in the series for simple reasons : 1) character variety, 2) the soundtrack, 3) open-ended second half.
1) There were about 30 total playable characters in this game. While it meant that the characterization was more unfocused than in FF2, but the trade back on gameplay was definitely sufficient, because of the added variety, and the 'non-linearity' in leveling up, since most of the characters were different. Of course, it's a FF, and as with any recent FFs, you can make them all alike aside of a few things at the end of the game (Gau makes a great mage), but you still spend the game with very distinct characters in battle.
2) IMO, this OST has yet to be surpassed in the series. The sound quality is almost better than the psx incarnations (it's outrageously better than FFVII's sound quality) - but that's very subjective... However, most of the time I reminsce myself of FFVI, I remind myself of the tunes.
3) Yes, the area where the game was most criticized, the World of Ruin, is my favourite area of the game. It is far less linear than anything that was done in FFs previously in terms of story progression, but I loved scouring the world in search of items and friends in the order I felt like. Awesome.
Also, FFVI, more than any other FFs, was Amano's FF. His influence is obvious in every area of the game... If only this game was done on a hardware that would've been able to reproduce his art more faithfully. Ever since I opened this game's hintbook, I've been dreaming to see this game as Amano intented it to look like. That dream has yet to be realized...

FFVII : I can't say that my interest with this game has lasted as much as the other two, but regardless of which, I think it's definitely one of the best of the series. The plotline was something unseen in console RPGs of its time, and, with the help of the cinematics, was brought to us with an unprecendented vision. I remember first gazing upon Midgar in that introduction, and be completely blown away 5 years ago...
To a certain degree, this was another FF2. A sneek peak at what's to come.

FFVIII : I remember reading from the creators of the game that this game would be loved to death by half the fans, and hated to death by the other half. They were quite right.
I like this game for many reasons : atypical characterisation (the plot was never so focused on characters as it was in this game), atypical character building system, atypical setting... no wonder why so many hated it.
I personally loved it, aside from a few details, and I think that in terms of polish, this is the most polished game in the series along with FFVI.
The gameplay system is definitely the area where the game was the most criticized, and for reasons that completely puzzled me, since it allowed the most freedom than any other games in the series (doesn't mean that you're free to do it that you have to do it either). The variety of ways to build up your characters is astounding, whether it's by manually drawing (zzzzzzzzzz....), or if it's by playing the game smartly and using your GF's abilities to refine magic from those seemingly useless items you collect in combat. And if that gets boring, you can play cards too, and refine them as well. Or you can do absolutely everything of the above. It's your choice. You don't have to walk around and level up like you did in the 4 previous games in the series and the countless other RPGs you've played.
Sure it might've been tedious, but what other RPG isn't at some point?

FFX : This game has the best battle system in the series. It's quick, it allows you to switch party members to adapt to the ennemies, it allows you to switch weapons in combat, and did I say that it's quick? While the character switching would've been pretty useless in other FFs (all of them), it was nice to see that Square has changed things a little after the regression that was FFIX.
Though the battle system has disadvantages. You always know the order of execution of the battle, which sometimes makes it easier than when you took risks in the ATB system. But I scarcely used it personally, which explains why I'm one of the few people that had some hard times with the games.
I also quite enjoyed the game's soundtrack. While I don't believe that it raises to FFVI's level, it's quite close. Hopefully they'll bring back the idea of having more than one composer in the future, as some of my favourite tracks in the whole series can be found in that game.
The game's storyline, while not my favourite in the series, was also quite good, even though it felt short, and simplistic compared to previous interations of the series. Though I fear it may be bastardized by the sequel (....) for reasons I will not mention here, as some have not completed the game yet. Actually, I will say something (SPOILERS) :

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Tidus is dead. I wonder what kind of cheap ass soap-opera way they'll bring him back to life, if they do so, which would not surprise me one bit. And Yuna is going to be a great pop-star!!!
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But I consider FFX on its own, and it fares fairly well. I don't know about the game's sidequests or anything, as I don't care about those in the first play and I haven't replayed the game as of yet, but I was told that the game contains a good variety of them, as do all FFs.

Tosser00

I personally think FFX is the best because it was the first FF game that welcomed me with open arms. The battle system, as Burns mentioned, was immensely faster than that of previous FF games. This is what prompted my initial purchase after I rented it. Gone were the endless bevies of text parading across my screen. Replaced by emotion-filled voices, which weren't great, (Tidus started sounding like Leo from ZOE after a while with his incessant whining) but pretty good for a first time effort by Square. In the end I think Square made X the FF game that fit like a glove for RPG newbies like myself, and the hardcore alike. All in all an impressive first outing for Square on Ps2.

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World of Warcraft has stolen my brain.

Arnold K. (Admin)

Dammit, I hate these kind of threads, they bring out the gamer in me.

Final Fantasy II (IV): While I only played this most recently, with the release of FF Chronicles, IV is arguably the Final Fantasy game with the best character development and the richest storyline. The dialogue was always well done, and surprisingly enough had its fair share of swearing here and there. The adventure itself was moderately difficult, though the game was quite addictive. I didn't beat Final Fantasy IV, admittedly, though I did play a good deal of it to conclude it was an incredible game, especially today.

Final Fantasy III (VI): Argued by some as the best in the series, I can certainly see where these people are coming from. Intriguing storyline, tons of characters, a nearly flawless soundtrack, and an extensive battle system. Final Fantasy VI was an extraordinarly fantastic game. The character development, while obviously not as good as FFIV's, was still respectable. The job system totally kicked ass, and Terra is one of the finest protagonists to ever grace a FF game.

Final Fantasy VII: I still can't decided whether or not this my favorite of the Final Fantasy games. FFVII was the game that really opened my eyes. Graphics notwithstanding, the materia system was so superbly done that it almost turned FFVII into two different games; one being the RPG itself, the other being a quest for materia. Collecting materia turned into an addiction, much like Chocobo breeding (so, this makes FFVII three games, right?). The battle system was quick, enjoyable, and even addictive to a degree. The massive materia combinations always kept FFVII as fresh as ever. Right up there with Kefka, Sephiroth has been argued to be the most ruthless, dark, and demonic videogame antagonist ever. Then we have the biggest turn of events, and arguably the most touching videogame moment ever, Aeris' death. FFVII did a lot for the RPG genre, and videogaming alike. It paved the way for many of today's RPGs, and only ONE RPG game managed to really come close to pulling off a similar FF presentation, it was The Legend of Dragoon.*

Final Fantasy VIII: It's hard to really put this game into words. It's right up there with FFVII as one of my favorite of all time, but I still don't know if this is my favorite FF game. The junction system made FFVIII the most open-ended FF game of them all; FFVIII practically had no boundries. While the character development wasn't as rich as I'd have hoped for it to be, I was able to easily look past that and see FFVIII as one of the most deepest and intriguing videogames ever made. The story was a bit perplexing, to say the least, but towards the end it began to make sense. There was a number of minor flaws in the game, but then again, what I think were flaws, Square actually did deliberately (Ultimecia's unveiling totally confused me). Still, FFVIII's depth is unrivaled by any RPG, and the characters, while not as deep as other FF games, were still pretty cool. Lastly, the art style of FFVIII is arguably the finest in the series, not to mention the kick ass ending (which IS the best of FF title), and the sickeningly good looking CGs.


Final Fantasy IX: I'll say it now; while it was a GOOD game, I OVERRATED Final Fantasy IX. The crystal system was a bit reminicent of VII's materia system, but that aside, I'd say FFIX is probably the weakest of any FF titles...although FFV is easily the worst. The game is FFIV's cousin, and I've said it a million times. Both games revolve around a crystal. Both games have an empire with a ruler who's gone mad. And both games have a few characters that are quite similar in terms of characteristics. That said, IX's story was weak, and the game itself wasn't quite as deep as FFVIII or VII for that matter. Visually, IX delivered as expected, but artistically IX lacked that certain new edge that made VIII stand out. The art was a bit too plain for me to really care. Though, it must be pointed out that Vivi is among the finest FF characters ever created, sad to see him get stuck with also some of the dullest FF characters ever.

Final Fantasy X: Quickly shooting up my top 5 of all time, Final Fantasy X is one of the best games I've ever played. The sphere system was so innovative and fresh, that it instantly made FFX a far more refreshing experience than any other FF title. The combat system is hands-down the best of any FF game. Being able to switch your characters on the fly, is not only a great tactic, but also a great way to manage the experience of your characters, and have them evolve equally with others. The story line was imerssive, and very captivating, which made FFX an even more addictive RPG title. Acquiring Aeons (FFX's equivalent of Guardian Forces, or Summons) was done by going through a series of mazes/puzzles and eventually having Yuna acquire the Aeon at the end. While a bit easy in some respects, there's no doubt that FFX got pretty tough towards the end with the constant boss battles, and the harder enemies. FFX, though linear and lacked the freedom of VII, is perhaps the finest game in the series. It's one of my favorite games of all time, as well.

*The Legend of Dragoon was a kick ass game. Shut the hell up, don't say jack shit, or taste the ban bomb...your choice

Dmitry M. (Lazer)

FF III (VI) - Defenitly one of the best Final Fantasy games every made. It is 2nd on my list of top 3 FF games every made. The game got me hooked from beginning to end. The storyline and the plot of the story was well-developed and made you want to play more. Like Arnold mentioned, "Terra is one of the finest protagonists to ever grace a FF game."

FF VII - My 3rd of top 3 best FF games. The story yet again well-developed thought it lacked a certain kick into the game like FF III (VI) had going. This was also the game that got me into Final Fantasy and RPG games. The new breeding with chocobos and collecting all the materia was a nice add-on that made you want to play even more. Killing Emerald and Ruby weapon was a great challange for the game. And let's not forget out favorite the Golden Saucer, it was just so much fun that i saved a seperate file on my Memory Card.

FFVIII - Most people say this was a horrid game do to it's story line. I do disagree with those people. Though not my favorite game the story was a well-developed love story. The introduction of the new card game into Final Fantasy VIII was an awesome thing. I was always trying to get the best cards and was playing it addictively non stop until i got the card i wanted from the person. The new way to use summons was also a really cool feature. Though towards the end i noticed that the games story didnt progress as well and unlike Arnold i would have to say that FFVIII had a pretty bad ending for an FF series, though not the worst.

FF IX - The game started with a nice touch into the story but as you progressed through the story the game started to fade out and the story just wasn't as interesting as any other FF game IMO that is. The ending in the game was the worst i have ever seen in a game. FFIX is my most disliked game in the FF series.

FF X - Well this game is defenitly one of the best FF games made. The new system of leveling your character up was the coolest system ever made. It made me want to continue to fight as much as possible. The story was excellent and the new mini-game (Forgot what it was called) was so much fun that i got addicted to playing it. Though the game isn't as long as the other FF games, it is still a great game to play.

FF Tactics - My most memorable and most loved game of them all. Though FF Tactics is a tactical rpg game, what got me to love it so much was the story and the characters. The system of fighting was also an excellent thing that i loved. The job points was a cool way of learning new moves. And the essence of 2 best friends turned into enemies in the game makes the story outstanding. Delita and Ramza are my most memorable and beloved characters of all FF games ever made. This is my favorite FF game till date.

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The Benny (Macho)

I think VII's easily the best FF I've played, though I never played any of the FF games (or indeed many RPG's at all) before VII, so I can't really comment on those before it. I found VIII bland and depressing, and I'm usually quite a fan of that kind of thing. IX just wasn't very special, though I thought it was real cool when I first played it I've tried to play it through again and I simply don't want to. X just has too many niggling flaws for me to like it too much, the most significant being the flat, empty story.

VII easily had the strongest story of the lot (from VII to X, obviously), there are so many intertwining angles adding up to make the whole package. One of my biggest criticisms of FFX is that the individual characters don't have a lot of personal motivation, most of them are only there to accompany Yuna (Wakka, Lulu, Kimahri & Rikku), and of course as I've said before Seymour is pure filler.

With VII you had Cloud's group (each of whom had their personal reasons for fighting) and the core Shinra guys (Rufus, Heidegger, Scarlett) following their agenda. The Turks, though linked to Shinra, kept veering off in their own directions, you had Sephiroth and his followers going about his task, and all of the groups were necessary for the story to work. Without Seymour in FFX the story would have just been a lot shorter, and he could have been simply cut from the story without any problems.

Then you have the opening segment of VII, which really highlights the oppressiveness of life under Shinra, and the hopelessness felt by Midgar's citizens, and really paints out the whole worldwide situation. Compare that with the opening of VIII (Bleh), IX (Trying too hard to emulate VII but with a happier story) or X (Just plain weird and still unexplained) and VII stands taller than all of them.

There hasn't been a decent bad guy since Sephiroth (though Seifer deserves an honourable mention), with IX really scraping the barrel with the girlie Sephiroth-clone Kuja and big fat Branhe. I'd also agree with Odin when he says that the Materia system was the best system of the lot, I think it was easily the coolest of the games I've played. Then again I wasn't a big fan of the Junction system, IX's wasn't great and I had issues with X's Sphere Grid, so I don't have a lot of valid choices..

Every time I play a new Final Fantasy I can't help feeling that VII was something real special, and the games that follow just don't even begin to measure up. Considering Square's wonderful new attitude I don't think the situation is going to change any time soon..

While this would make sense in theory I still don't think Squall should have been as miserable as he was. He had a damn good life for goodness sake! There was no reason for him to spend half the game speaking/thinking with such apathy. As I said before he was employed in the job he wanted to do, earned loads of money to do it and had an attractive girl so clearly interested in him that she couldn't have been any less subtle if she'd stripped off naked, opened her legs and asked him to take her right there and then. What could have been a good angle was spoilt by his lack of dialogue and his groundless apathy (even when you take his crappy childhood into account). Then again I really don't like VIII, the whole game seemed so dull and lifeless to me.
Sunburn, reading the reasons you cite for liking VIII I see what Square meant with it's 'this game would be loved to death by half the fans, and hated to death by the other half', as almost every point you raised for liking the game is a point I would raise against it.

Note - Also Sunburn, I just looked back at the thread in the old forum where I raised these issues before and it seems you asked me a few questions that I never answered. Though you probably don't remember it I would just like to apologise, I wasn't intentionally ignoring you or anything. I'm not sure why I never replied, sorry..

Odin

I take issue with the assertion that the character development in IV was superior to that in VI...no way, dude.

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--Bryan Keers, biggest badass ever

Arnold K. (Admin)

IV's characters seemed to evolve as you progressed throughout the game. I'd love to present some examples, but it's been about a year or two since I've played it. While VI had good character development, with 30 different characters in the game, things got a bit messy.

_Jeb_

IX had the best character development of any game in the series.

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\"There\'s something about brown eyes. Can I tell you that I love to see you smile? I don\'t want to see you tired... And when I told you get some sleep, I didn\'t want to leave\"- Me

Mr. SunburnMan

It pains me to say that, because I think that the game was much more of a regression than a progression to me, but I agree. Vivi was unmatched (though he should've been much more... I felt that they kind of dropped the ball on him halfway through the game to focus on Zidane and Garnet alone).