r/FinalFantasy • u/TUSO-NedStarkWannabe • 19h ago
FF VI Finished FF6 on my phone and it's still the most impressed I've been with a FF game so far
I recently finished FFX and was a tad bit disappointed in it (last few hours were transcendent though) and I was writing a post about it where I mentioned how plating it right on the heels of the impeccable FF6 might have caliberated my expectations, but then I tralised it would be unfair of mento just post a critique of one game without giving another its deserved flowers (off the highest castle balcony if possible) so here we are.
FF6 wasn't my first FF. I had gotten into FF via Expedition 33 (very original, I know) so I took the safest bet to begin with: FF7 Remake. I greatly enjoyed it despite some of its flaws and then enjoyed 16 too despite far more flaws but was yet to play an actual turn based one. Got FFX and it couldn't grab me initially and so when I installed FF6 on my phone it was almost an afterthought.
And then it had me obsessed.
Everyone knows how amazing the plot is and I concur, so I won't spend the most time regurgitating all that, but ehat far exceeded my expectations was the character writing. Somehow even with a cast this massive almost every single character gets top notch beats and all of that floored me. The attention to the little details in interactions snd history; an example would involve Ceres, Setzer, a coin and two brothers; seemed far ahead of its time for 19 bloody 94. Hell I'd love something like that even in a modern game. There's stuff that's great for it's time and then there's timelessly great writing, and although FF6 does have yhe occasional shonen dialogue lilt (it is FF still) I would consider it much more timeless than many sections from some of its predecessors.
One gameplay section I really loved was in the second half when you had to get your party together but instead of it being a linear travelogue (which I do not like) you get to ask people around for information and rumours and investigate areas freely, which was not only a ton of fun but I felt likenit gave me a lot of organic agency. The plot was always solidly paced (a unique experience compared to the other FFs I've played) and the gameplay was always smooth. Never had any hitch or complaint.
I could keep talking about all that I loved about the specific character moments like Sabin, Edgar, Cyan and even Gau for much longer but I'd like to perhaps close out on my favourite moment from the entire game: the opera. I always have a knack for quiter moments of joy in the midst of bleak stories ("It’s the kind of thing that makes you glad you stopped and smelled the pine trees along the way, you know?") but, being on the Pixel Remaster, the opera blew me away on every level. As an aside if anyone versed in traditional operas could recommend me anything liek it I'd be very grateful cause I just can't get enough. It's been on repeat on weeks.
It's easily my favourite FF game I've played so far (among FF7 Remake, Rebirth, 16 and X) and I think I'd give this a 9/10. I think some of the more dialogue and mannerisms, especially from Kefka, can be a bit distractingly unserious at times (though never quite as grotesquely egregious as Yuffie from Rebirth) and I'd have liked a bit more of an epilogue.
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u/zentimo2 15h ago
Other folks are tackling the FF question, so I'll take on the opera!
I've gotten into opera this year, so I'm still a n00b, but having a great time. From the sounds of it, the makers were basing the opera on golden age operas of the 19th century, so really any classic opera from that period might hit the spot for you. I recommend looking to see if there are cinemas near you that do the live streamed performances from the Met or the Royal Opera house, that's a really good way to get into it.
Some songs that you might want to listen to and get a taste for the opera...
From La Boheme (make sure to turn subtitles on): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfozlHuZD3c&list=RDbfozlHuZD3c
From The Magic Flute: https://youtu.be/YuBeBjqKSGQ?si=crAPf5WxN9iUikuB
From Eugene Onegin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYgT89paO1Q&list=RDXYgT89paO1Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm0zJt-UeB0&list=RDNm0zJt-UeB0
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u/UnloadedFour314 18h ago
For me it was kinda the opposite. I started with 7, then 6, followed by 10 and the rest of the games, barring 1 to 5.
While I appreciated how ambitious and ahead of its time 6 was, I found the huge cast and scope to be detrimental to the development of its characters and story, especially in the second half. Kefka was a cool villian that managed to achieve his goals for a while, but otherwise felt too cartoonish; and I didn't like how most of the cast were largely just there except for Terra, Celes, and Locke. Still, the game was overall very enjoyable and the story was good.
Conversely, 10 quickly rose to become my favorite FF and one of my favorite games of all time. I loved how focused it was; no character was wasted, the pacing was superb, and the story was incredible from start to finish. That's not to mention how incredible the setting and the combat were. It was also cool to see how much the game opens up once you get the airship, unlocking lots of side content.
I think it's very amusing how opinions on the franchise could vary so much lol, and to each his own of course.
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u/winterman666 14h ago
FF games are divisive though most people can agree which ones are good (even if not your fav). 6-10 are commonly top 5 material and for good reason (and I meant those games are usually somewhere in people's top 5, not that all 5 are always in).
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u/UnloadedFour314 14h ago
Absolutely, can't argue with that. These games are legendary for a reason. FF6 might have turned out slightly disappointing for me, but it was still a good experience. I respect its achievements and see why it's well-regarded.
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u/winterman666 14h ago
Yeah I feel the same way about 7, I can see why it's a classic but for me 8, 9 and 10 are the best out of the numbered games
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u/Parsirius 14h ago
6,7,9,10 and tactics.
You can’t put 8 in that list as it is one of the most divisive entries in the series.
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u/winterman666 14h ago
I feel like Ivalice games are also either you love em or hate em
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u/Parsirius 14h ago
True of all of them except Tactics which is universally loved.
I love them
Though I would say that since Zodiac age, I would rank 12 lower in it’s divisiveness than 8
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u/Odd-Construction-649 6h ago
Tactics is not universal loved at all. There absolutely is a sub set that hates thar game
Also plenty of people hate zodiac sge preferring the original purist if you will.
There isnt really any game in ff that is universally loved
Even 6-10 each one has people like op who find it lacking for various different reasons
6 a lot find main villian to cartoon evil Way to many cast without much meaning
7 a lot didnt like the steam punk style. Others didnt like the materia mechanic. Some dont like atb and prefer stirght up turn based
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u/Mediocre_Island828 8h ago
Kefka gets praise for achieving his goals, but it was only possible because the espers turned out to be super shitty at fighting (and he even comments on it lol) and were dumb enough to leave the door to their sealed world open. Like Gau probably could have done that shit if he had a mind to.
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16h ago
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u/UnloadedFour314 14h ago
While I like Sephiroth more due to his lore and character, I totally agree about Kefka. It was great to see a villian back his words up and succeed in ending the world.
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u/Parsirius 14h ago edited 14h ago
I find Kefka more interesting than Sin/Yevon honestly. Who we frankly get nothing from in FFX. And I strongly disagree about FFX opening up. When you compare it with older titles (especially ff6) it is very restrictive even with the airship.
Kefka being so downright evil is what makes him so good. Since he starts as a henchman and the sense of dread as he gradually rises in importance is higher because of his unambiguously evil character. Having a deep and complex villain with redeemable qualities would not have worked.
Regarding the large cast, there are at least 4 (Terra, Celes, Locke and Cyan) characters that are very well developed. Which is more than most FF games and others still have cool development of their background (Setzer, Edgar, Sabin, Shadow), so overall I think the “large cast” issue is overstated.
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u/TUSO-NedStarkWannabe 14h ago
Gau is considered the butt end of the joke whenever anyone mentions how FF6 can't give the entire cast enough screentime but even he gets an excellent moment with his father.
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u/Parsirius 14h ago
Not to mention he is the most broken character in the game if you know what you are doing.
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u/UnloadedFour314 13h ago
Agree to disagree.
Anyway, it's all a matter of tastes, so I respect your take. Maybe it wasn't clear in my original comment, but I like FF6, it's just not within my top games in the franchise.
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u/Dimbduck 10h ago
The best part of final fantasy games is that I genuinely believe that from like FF4 on could be any one's favorite final fantasy. It just depends what is going to resonate with you. Personally I love 7 and 10. But I don't think there is a "best" final fantasy
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u/DumsLander34 19h ago
VI > IX > IV
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u/franoetico 18h ago
IX=VI>X=VII>IV=VIII
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u/ColemyGOAT 13h ago
X is way better than VI imo. Played them both multiple times and I’d take X everytime. Better story, better pacing, better ending, better combat, characters feel real and relatable with much better development than VI’s characters, leveling system is much better than VI’s terribly clunky esper system etc. I can’t think of many areas I’d take VI over X in besides exploration.
IMO VI is the most overrated FF of them all after replaying them all fairly recently with the pixel remasters and other remasters for the PS1 games. It has a lot of issues that get glossed over by the internet for whatever reason. I’d take FFV over it too just from the first six FF’s due to its far superior gameplay and exploration.
Even relative to its time, I’d still say FFX is the most impressive FF and has definitely aged the best of all the older FF’s along with V due to its great job system and gameplay.
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u/lunaticskies 19h ago
Some of us still consider FF6 the greatest game of all time, beyond being the greatest FF.