One-Year Anniversary Special!!!

Can you believe its been an entire year since I've started this??? Me neither. As promised, I'm marking the occassion with a Top-10 list. We're going to run down all 10 main entries in the series, ranking them by how easily someone who's never played a Final Fantasy game could jump into that game for the first time. Basically, how well the game holds up today removing the fact that it is a Final Fantasy Game. We'll also be sure to comment on the historical significance of the game. So, without any further ado, let's begin!

#10 - Final Fantasy II

Why is this #10? - I don't think there's any surprise here. This has always been the black sheep of the franchise. The real reason I've placed this one at the bottom is the levelling system of the game, which is incredibly awkward. The irony of this is that it was created to make a more logical levelling system by levelling up exactly what you use.

Updates - The more recent versions of the game include first a postgame quest that involves all the characters who perish in the main quest . Another addition is a new dungeon that uses all the different passwords in the game and allows you to fight a new superboss and claim some new ultimate weapons for the characters. These updates flesh out the story quite a bit, but they don't make up for the very awkward levelling system at all.

Historical Significance - This is the first Final Fantasy game where the plot is the central focus. It is also the first Final Fantasy game where we have named characters who we follow along and are specific to the plot. It is also the first game where we have any characters who perish along the way.

#9 - Final Fantasy III

Why is this #9? - This one was a bit of a tough decision... but I eventually decided to put this one lower in the end because of the new Engine. The only version of this game officially released in the west, was done with a new 3D engine. While this greatly improved the visuals of the game, it greatly slowed down the pace of battles in the game. Also, the job system, while an awesome addition has some awkward levelling mechanics involving the number of battle turns you input a command as that job which just gets a bit grindy...

Updates - The newer releases of the game includes named characters with a small prologue introduction. Also, it includes a new feature called Mognet which allow you to get messages from certain NPCs in the game and are used to unlock some endgame things such as a legendary blacksmith who can craft you some ultimate weapons if you can attain maximum job levels, and a hidden cave where you can fight Iron Giant one of the more difficult superbosses in the series. Both very good additions

Historical Significance - This game is certainly known most for being the first game in the series that contains summons. We can expand this a bit as being the first Final Fantasy game that allows you to change jobs in the middle of the game and having what would really become the standard job list for Final Fantasy. Yeah.. I know... there's no Vikings anywhere else...

#8 - Final Fantasy I

Why is this #8? - I've rated this as the highest Final Fantasy from the NES era due to the updates that Square has made to the game over its many interations. They actually make the main quest a more modern experience and the additional content adds in some necessary time as the main quest was quite a long experience when it first came out is now a very quick experience compared to most modern RPGs. I really think this is a game that newcomers could come in and play and enjoy and act as a good introduction to the series.

Updates - As it is the original in the series, Final Fantasy I has received many updates through the years. The first removed the 2nd Edition D&D style of magic charges to use a more friendly MP system. Also, it included some postgame dungeons that featured boss fights from Final Fantasy II through VI. The PSP/smartphone versions of the game also include a final postgame dungeon that include a mini-quest type system with 30 different rooms and the better you do makes for a more difficult version of the superboss at the end... yeah, it is a little confusing... very fun though.

Historical Significance - Well, let's just get right to it. Without this game, Square would have folded and the rest of the games in the series would never ever exist. From a gameplay standpoint, it first introduced jobs, as well as job upgrades, or expert jobs as you will. It also really give the names of what would be a large number of the ultimate armors and weapons that would stick throughout the series.

#7 - Final Fantasy VII

Why is this #7? - Oh, I can hear all the fanboys now... well, look at things this way... this is the earliest Final Fantasy to really not receive any updates since its release... despite what all the fans want. Also, this game was released in the early days of the PlayStation, which as I've said multiple times, was kind of the adolescent era of video games and the graphics look just awful today. Sure, the gameplay is great, and the story is a classic, but that can really be said for most of the games in the series. So, yes, unfortunately, the graphics are the downfall of this game.

Updates - Umm... well, there's a Steam version of the game which lets you play the game in very nice 1080p blockyness!

Historical Significance - This is the best selling Final Fantasy game of all time. Also, it is the game with the most official expanded material of any in the series, including a motion-picture and multiple spin off games. From a gameplay standpoint, this game introduced Materia... oh yeah, it was also the first game to use these little things we call FMVs... ya know, which Square has become kind of known for.

#6 - Final Fantasy VIII

Why is this #6? - Again, I can hear the fanboys... of Final Fantasy VII...  I'll agree, here... yeah, overall, I'd say that FFVII is a better overall game, but FFVIII is not a bad game at all. In fact it is still quite good. It is very fun learning to play Triple Triad, and the story is still great, with even better and more fully fleshed out characters than in FFVII... oh yes, it is also not so painful to look at. So, even though, I really hate to do this. When comparing these two games, it is almost the exception to the rule. The graphics win out. Now, that being said, there's plenty to complain about here to keep it from being higher. First of all, we have the most complicated levelling system since Final Fantasy II. In fact, it is usually preferable to not level, as monsters level along with you... which has always been a horrible system. Also, you have magic, which mostly serves as equipment??? Yeah, its odd. Anyway, even with all the odd systems, they all link together very well, and there are a vast number of ways you can choose to play the game, which kind of makes it unique.

Updates - Again... there's a Steam version... which, again, let's you play a 1080p version of 15 year old graphics... yay...

Historical Significance - Well, actually, there's very little here. Sure, it was the first game to take place in more of a modern setting... and umm... the first game to try to do a crafting system. Oh, here's a good one, its the first game to have a sidegame that runs through the entire game with it (Triple Triad)

#5 - Final Fantasy V

Why is this #5? - Okay, we finally get to a game from the SNES generation... not that it was ever on the SNES.  This game took the job system introduced in Final Fantasy III, took it to the next level, combined it with a storytelling style akin to that from Final Fantasy IV and you have a great game. Now, take the 16-bit graphics and clean it up a bit and put it on the iPad and you've got something that I can safely place ahead of most of the PS era games. That being said, the story is a little silly... and the boss... is a tree??? Anyway, this is a good game, I think the rest of the games are just better, that's all.

Updates - The later versions of this game include a post-game dungeon! This post-game dungeon is awesome. It adds great challenge and strategy... and an annoyingly high encounter rate. It also adds in two new classes... which is fine, really just gives you more to collect. Also a boss gauntlet mode... and of course updated graphics!

Historical Significance - Two real notes here. The first, obviously, is that this is the series' first attempt at multi-classing, or at least combing different sets of skills. The second... and Final Fantasy VII, you have this game to thank for this... its the first time in the series that a main, playable character dies.

#4 - Final Fantasy X

Why is this #4? - Wow, I had a REAL hard time ordering these last 4. In fact, there was some time I had this one at #1, after all, this game has a lot in common with many more modern RPGs and looks incredible! So, just saying now, I don't have any complaints with anyone who wants to reorder any of these Top 4. That being said, I have to get nitpicky. So, I'll say, the fact that most of the main quest is so linear is a bit of a distraction. It would've been nice to go back to some of the old areas during the main quest... ya know other than the Blitzball Sphere. That being said, this is a wonderful game. Very cool advancement system, Blitzball is an awesome sidegame, great graphics, amazing soundtrack. However, some of the sidequests are incredibly frustrating, advancing to the point you can take on superbosses is an incredibly long grind.... really just enough to keep it out of the Top 3...

Updates - Well, the new PS3 version has a few things going for it. First of all are the remastered graphics and soundtrack which are both amazing. Second, it adds in items from the international version, such as an Expert Sphere Grid, a few new abilities, Dark Aeon fights, and a couple new customization options... oh yeah, and FFX-2 built in on the disk.

Historical Significance - Couple interesting things here. First of all, its the first time you are able to control your summons directly... or just give commands to them... stupid Magus Sisters... just use Staccato!!!! Also, this is the first Final Fantasy game to use voice acting. Also, this is the first game to get a numbered sequel... (I differentiate, because technically Dirge of Cerebus is a FFVII sequel... and that's as much as I want to talk about that)

#3 - Final Fantasy IV

Why is this #3? - Alright, I'm going to go ahead and make sure its known that I'm talking about the PSP version of this game, and not the DS/Android/Ipad version of this game. While alot of what I say is true about both versions... those versions of the FFIII 3D engine, and some new gameplay elements that I don't love. If I had to review that version, it would go behind FF X.

Moving on, this is probably the standard of JRPGs... very easy gameplay elements, learning abilities as you level, classic equipment setup, great characters, each with their own DISTINCT abilities. I've often said this is my favorite game in the series, and was the first one I really completed, so yes, it will always hold kind of a special place in my heart. Even without that though this is just a wonderful slice of pie for someone to jump into. It is a quick game, but with the added content including the sequel The After Years, you can have quite a long, expansive quest that rivals any in the series.

Updates - The original updates... as in the GBA/PSP... are a bonus postgame dungeon with super bosses as well as the ability to use some more characters in the end of the game. The newer DS/iPad/Android versions add voice acting and cut scenes while completely reimagining some gameplay mechanics allowing you to equip different abilities which you gain through the game and from other characters... There are superbosses which require multiple playthroughs of the game... they are fun though.

Historical Significance - This one is a little odd, because the significance really only applies to the west, where this game came directly after Final Fantasy I. So, this was our first introduction to summons, the first time we had unique characters, etc. Viewing this series as a whole, it really has very little historical significance, except obviously it being the first 16-bit entry in the series.

#2 - Final Fantasy VI

Why is this #2? - Probably my biggest surprise in this first year of the project, is how far I've moved this game up my list. I always really disliked this game once you got into the World of Ruin and suddenly the game goes open world. During this playthrough, though, I really learned to enjoy alot of the intracacy of the game. This is a list for beginners though, so what does the intracacy have to do with it, then? Well, because the game is still enjoyable without paying attention to it. The characters are amazing... even if there might be too many of them. The story is fantastic, and the game is of a great length. As a casual player you will love playing through the story. As a hardcore player, you'll love min/maxing through the esper bonuses and building certain types of characters... and then there's the...

Updates - Well, there's really only one update. The GBA/iPad/Android version of the game include a postgame dungeon. The Dragon's Den. Overall, this dungeon is not quite as good as the FF V bonus dungeon. However, the difficulty is huge and has some of the most interesting boss fights I've played this year. The reward is another esper... that you need for nothing... yeah. Ooh, also, you can now go kill Kekfa multiple times and steal some end game weapons... meaning you can have an Illumina and the Ragnarok Esper at the same time!!! You ALWAYS take the Esper!!!!

Historical Significance - This was the first game to feature a female protagonist and the first game to introduce espers. The true historical significance though is the buildup this game produced. It was so well received, that fans could not wait for the next one, and we all know what happened when the next one was released.

#1 - Final Fantasy IX

Why is this #1? - It might sound like an odd choice for #1. But let's look at everything. Does the game have respectable graphics, and some great cut scenes? Yes! Does the game have a very compelling story with great characters? Yes! Does the game have fun mechanics that are not overly complicated? Absolutely! Good side quests? Yes! Really, I view this game as an updated version of Final Fantasy IV. It keeps distinct characters with distinct abilities. It gives great throwbacks to earlier games that players will only appreciate more, the more they get into the series. The villain is very underappreciated. I'm not saying it is the perfect game. The card game in particular is pretty useless. However, I still think it is the compilation and prototype for the series, and still modern enough for new players to try out.

Updates - Absolutely none!!!

Historical Significance - Again, really none. That's the thing with Square though, they do some of their best work when they are not trying to innovate too much, but instead just perfecting the things they already do well. Very much like another great gaming company... (Blizzard)...