Poll: Final Fantasy VII or VIII?

[SlappyMcGee]

My friends and I appear to be at complete odds in this debate, so I thought I'd see what you guys think.

Personally, I'm an VIII man. They expanded the magic system, added GF's, which look awesome even by today's standards, and it had a much more enveloping storyline.

[toasters]

FFVII got a lot of hype for being the first of its kind. I prefer VIII as well.

[LittleViking]

That demo disc I had with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater on it also had a section of FFVIII. It was near the beginning of the game where you're coming across the ocean on boats, and you fight through the town up to the top of this tower where you battle Wedge and Biggs before fleeing from a giant mechanical spider back to the beach and escape. They also gave you Leviathan because you wouldn't have had any GFs at that point, or maybe you would have had Ifrit. I forget. It was a sweet demo. Anyway, the FFVIII chicks are hell of cuter than the VII chicks.

Edit: That said, FFVIII was still pixely as hell. But then FFVII was gradiented-polygons as hell. Neither really stood up well over time graphically.

[toasters]

That demo disc I had with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater on it also had a section of FFVIII. It was near the beginning of the game where you're coming across the ocean on boats, and you fight through the town up to the top of this tower where you battle Wedge and Biggs before fleeing from a giant mechanical spider back to the beach and escape. They also gave you Leviathan because you wouldn't have had any GFs at that point, or maybe you would have had Ifrit. I forget. It was a sweet demo. Anyway, the FFVIII chicks are hell of cuter than the VII chicks.

Edit: That said, FFVIII was still pixely as hell. But then FFVII was gradiented-polygons as hell. Neither really stood up well over time graphically.

I have that same exact CD. I got it from Pizza Hut.

[SlappyMcGee]

I had a demo disc that had that demo, LV, as well as other classics:

Tomba (Fucking amazing.)
Intelligent Qube.
Armored Core.
Megaman Legends 2.
PaRappa the Rappa.

Oh, and some game where Phil Hartman plays Zapp Brannigan. It was the greatest demodisc ever.

[Sniperwhere]

FFVII.

I just found VIII a little boring. Didn't care for the battle system in that you could only use a spell as much times as you had charges gathered, and the money gaining system. I also didn't find enough to keep me hooked.

The card game, though, was damn amazing. Played that to death and then some.

[Kablizzy]

Seven was great, but Eight has my heart. Triple Triad is my part-time lover.

[a happy song]

I think seven was an all round better game. Materia is the single greatest magic system of all time, the storyline was epic and every character was explored, the pace was perfect, the way the world map unfolded after leaving Midgar for the first time, KOTR!, Biggs and Wedge <3...

Saying all of that, there's something about FFVIII that I remember more fondly. It was an oddly affecting game, I really felt Squall's discomfort and sense of detachment, and the story got under my skin like no other has (bar MGS on the PS1). The draw system wasn't as outright brilliant fun as materia, but it was just as unique and interesting to explore. The entire concept of SeeD and the Gardens was absolute fantasy genius! Oh, and Biggs and Wedge <3.

And Gunblades. Blades that are also guns. Blades that shoot when you swipe. How can you argue against a sword with a gun attached to it?

I bought the platinum edition of FFVII, and it had the demo disc LV mentions included. I think I fell in love with FFIII as soon as Squall and his team landed on that beach...

[PALEMOON]

i think 9 is my all time-favorite, but of the two listed i really like 7 a lot more than 8. I thought the magic system and the GFs were a little hokey, and i like the materia system a lot more.

I really felt Squall's discomfort and sense of detachment,

Squall: "Whatever."

[a happy song]

Squall: "Whatever."

Haha, I know ;)

I meant the atmosphere of the game reflected it rather than he articulated it well. There really was something very cool about the darkness of FFVIII, especially toward the end of the game.

Also, FFIX was great too. I miss these games :(

-

I'm listening to Final Fantasy by accident while discussing Final Fantasy. Coinkydink!

[Sniperwhere]

This topic is giving me nostalgia. IX was(I'm sorry, is) great as well. It seemed the most livelist of the three. More colorful and upbeat.

Vivi = Magical ownage.

I want to play these games again. If only my PS2 still ran them. <_<

[Kablizzy]

Duuuude, the music in VIII? Fucking sick-like amazingness. Same with VII. AH GOD I WANT TO PLAY BOTH NOW. ;____;

I've got FFVI on my box here - I might start playing through that again, but VIII was just... I dunno. The storyline for VII was much deeper, and didn't fall apart at the end, but I think the mechanics, gameplay, and the Triple Triad amazinglyness.

[toasters]

I sold my Final Fantasy IX with my old Playstation, something I've deeply regretted ever since.

[Kablizzy]

I did the same - I had VII, VIII, IX, Anthology, and Tactics.

[a happy song]

Seriously, it's a blade with a gun on it, a GUN BLADE, it shoots when it stabs, how is that not the coolest thing EVER?!

[T3chno]

I'm VIII in this one.

However, Final Fantasy X was my fave of all time. <3

[toasters]

I'm VIII in this one.

However, Final Fantasy X was my fave of all time. <3

I don't know why, but something about X just annoys me. Tidus mainly, plus I detested blitzball. But the battle system was a refreshing change with the different strengths and weaknesses of the characters. At the moment I'm playing through XII for the first time, and from what I've seen so far it's going to be my favorite of the whole series. The combination of Tactics, FFXI and the traditional Final Fantasy game is fantastic, and the gambit system is much more intuitive and fun than I had expected.

[a happy song]

I'm VIII in this one.

However, Final Fantasy X was my fave of all time. <3

Ten was (is) awesome. Blitzball aside (and the sphere grid was a little lame in comparison to previous systems), but omg the graphics and battles? Hmmmm.....

[LittleViking]

I sold my Final Fantasy IX with my old Playstation, something I've deeply regretted ever since.

I never forgave myself for selling A Link to the Past and Super Metroid with my Super Nintendo.

[PALEMOON]

I'm VIII in this one.

However, Final Fantasy X was my fave of all time. <3

I don't know why, but something about X just annoys me. Tidus mainly, plus I detested blitzball. But the battle system was a refreshing change with the different strengths and weaknesses of the characters. At the moment I'm playing through XII for the first time, and from what I've seen so far it's going to be my favorite of the whole series. The combination of Tactics, FFXI and the traditional Final Fantasy game is fantastic, and the gambit system is much more intuitive and fun than I had expected.

i played some of 12 and it was ridiculously boring for the first hour and a half, and then it really picks up and is a lot of fun.

[Condog]

X. Oh my fucking god X.

Seriously, X.

The boss battles are epic.

[SlappyMcGee]

For people who want to play through their games but don't have a functioning playstation any more, there's always emulation. ePSXe works great after some settings tweaks, and (And this is fucking Jesus.) I found drivers for XP and Vista32 that let me use my PS3 controller as a gamepad. So, I'm replaying through VIII right now. I'll probably pop in Chronicles next.

Basically, to play, you need:
ePSXe 1.70
A Bios file from your PS1. (You can get these on the internet, but it's moderately illegal. :/)
And an image of the disc in question, which you can do with just about any burning software.

And I'll help anyone configure, if they'd like.

Oh, and before this gets adminquestioned: Everything except the Bios is perfectly legal, and the Bios is legal if you get it yourself using a GameShark.

Man, we should play through all 12 in sequence in one sitting, and label it InsomNicon.

[Condog]

Man, we should play through all 12 in sequence in one sitting, and label it InsomNicon.

Duuuude, that would be awesome.