Final Fantasy VII

[stePH]

I finished the game last night.  My impressions on the endgame movie and epilogue ...

"um ... wtf just happened?" 

The rest of the game was fun, though.  I hope FFX has a better ending; it's the next one I'm playing.

[CammoBlammo]

Yep, that's Final Fantasy for you. If you can follow the story, you're doing it wrong.

Understanding that makes the whole franchise make sense. I'm the only person I know who saw 'Final Fantasy: the Spirits Within' and understood what was going on. It was a real exercise in Zen---it's only by clearing your mind of understanding that you can learn to truly understand.

[stePH]

Yep, that's Final Fantasy for you. If you can follow the story, you're doing it wrong.

Understanding that makes the whole franchise make sense. I'm the only person I know who saw 'Final Fantasy: the Spirits Within' and understood what was going on. It was a real exercise in Zen---it's only by clearing your mind of understanding that you can learn to truly understand.

I must be doing it completely wrong, then ... I followed the story just fine until the cinematic following the final battle.

As for The Spirits Within, Jeremy Parrish's (hilarious) review says it all:

http://www.gamespite.net/toastywiki/index.php/Media/FinalFantasyTheSpiritsWithin

Final paragraphs:

Still, I went to Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within expecting a Legend of Dragoon?-scale disaster and was pleasantly surprised when my sensibilities were nowhere nearly so viciously annihilated. I don't pretend this FF title will be supplanting FFV or FFVIII as my favorites, but at least the dialogue was more coherent than FFIV's, and the graphics were far better than FFIX's grainy garbage. Square has given us much more enjoyable experiences than this, but as the cheapest FF yet (I paid $5.75), the entrance fee is quite reasonable.

Anyway, I need to hit the theatres again. I've heard that if you make it through the hangar scene with all your party members intact, you can unlock a secret ending in which Aki wears her Maxim bikini. Square really does love us.

[Listener]

Yeah, FF7 was great until you find out Cloud is genetically-engineered and then the whole thing with Meteor.

You'll love FFX. It's the only video game that's ever made me tear up (the wedding scene, and NOT for the reason you think). And, even better, the ending actually makes sense. Plus, the sphere grid method of leveling up is really cool and innovative. I wish more games did it like that.

[stePH]

You'll love FFX. It's the only video game that's ever made me tear up (the wedding scene, and NOT for the reason you think). And, even better, the ending actually makes sense. Plus, the sphere grid method of leveling up is really cool and innovative. I wish more games did it like that.

There's a lot of swimming in FF10.

My first was FF8, I bought it on impulse at half price (for PC; I never had a console since my old Atari 2600 up until getting a PS2 last July).  I like the "draw and junction" system much better than the materia system of FF7.

I've also got FF12 for my PS2; now to find PSX copies of FF9, FF Origins, FF Chronicles, and FF Anthology.  Once I have a job again and can afford luxuries, that is (I got 10 and 12 for Christmas last year.)