Displaying items by tag: Final Fantasy
Nintendo Direct 23.09
Hi, you know I'm a fan of Nintendo "I" - Richard. I write most of these beautiful articles that I am so proud of. Thanks to BOTRL and its community I can have fun with writing.
Happy Birthday Final Fantasy I
Happy Birthday Final Fantasy I
Ah what a joy. Talking, writing, reading, watching or playing anything related to this franchise appeals to me enormously. I must also say that this is my second attempt to write this article. The first time I ended up writing 4 pages before touching on Final Fantasy number one. To be one hundred percent honest, I didn't at all, but at no time, say FF I except to say that I played it ...
So yes, this time must be the right one or I will start to doubt my ability to concentrate on one topic. So we're going to talk about this game, which I think is great. Obviously we have to take a lot of factors into account. First, the time when the game was released. The genre of this game, RPG obviously. The company that created the game. The circumstances in which this company was and ultimately what pushed to create this opus.
In short, we are not going to redo history otherwise I will end up making the whole history of the company without having talked about this game again. I get carried away so easily, it's crazy.
So what is this game going to be about? What can we expect? Quite simply to a magnificent story but where we quickly get to the heart of the matter. We are told only one thing, our destiny. Our characters (4) have no past history, at least we don't know it. We have to invent everything for them, their names and their classes. You can choose between warrior, monk, thief, black, white or red mage. For those unfamiliar with it, the warrior fights with sword and shield, the monk is bare-handed, the strongest physically and with the highest HP. The thief, well he's fast and his equipment isn't too expensive. The white mage heals, protects, and ensures that you survive. The Black Mage burns, freezes and electrifies your opponents, he can even spell alterations. The red mage is a mix between white and black. He is also physically strong and will therefore have the most versatility of any class.
The best thing is the classes evolve during the game. After a certain point in the story your characters get the evolved class of the one you chose. Thus the warrior becomes paladin, the monk becomes master, the thief becomes ninja and the various mages become sages. This allows each class to go even further in their basic characteristics. So you will have characters who are even stronger at what they can do and who will make you the player with the most powerful team in your world.
Now let's talk about the story. It's simple yet so well told, with great characters and amazing quests. The world is dying, devastating storms, marine cataclysms, nothing but misfortune. Nothing is going well, but the people are convinced that a prophecy will be fulfilled. That of Lukahn: “When darkness veils the world, four Warriors of Light shall come. "
So you play as these four warriors. The world turns thanks to the four crystals. The four crystals which hold the power of the elements, earth, fire, wind and water. You will therefore have to brave all dangers in order to be able to free the crystals from their corruption. Then the world can get better again and you can say that the prophecy was not just a legend.
However, it goes a little further than all that. The first dungeon you do will also be the last. During your quest you will realize that you will need to return to the place where you completed your first quest. This is where I got my big surprise. Speaking of my experience, I didn't pay attention to the alert. If you come in you can't get out anymore so you have to be damn prepared. Above all, be very well equipped, a lot of items to heal yourself and a white mage! Because the red mages cannot heal as well as the white mages (or rather the sage) you will not be able to be as effective in resurrection. Having had two red mages and no white, it was quickly over with me. Without a good diversity of classes and enough items I figured I couldn't do it. BUT, backups are there for that. Having made a double save when entering the dungeon, I took this last one and I went to train myself a little to get some money, to sell objects that I did not need and I provided myself like crazy into a bunch of items that could help me succeed.
Finally all is well then. It was a little harder than if I had had a white mage I think, but what to do, I love being at the front and attacking without thinking too much like a good nag. So I was in Paladin, Master, Red Sage, and Red Sage mode. I spent my time exterminating the monsters as fast as possible without using too much magic. Indeed, the red sages can have superb equipment also for the attack, the paladin necessarily too and the master knocks everything out with his fists. Most of my MP are used for care and protection. When it turns out useful or necessary then we indulge ourselves with black magic.
I was then able to get rid of the vermin making this world a poor and sad place. Again we can be impressed by the script because in the end, no one will ever know everything we did. It was all a paradox. By putting an end to it, we are not making our destiny possible. So by doing what we do, we lose the memory of our exploits in our present. The villain, Garland turned Chaos, is actually taken from our present by the Chaos Demons, to go into the past and make their own existence possible. By doing this, they allow the prophecy to be fulfilled by creating the warriors of light that we embody. By going to destroy it, we are not allowing demons to exist or Garland to be Chaos. So we can't remember something that we've never done.
So yes, we save the world, in exchange we simply lose our memory so do all living people. No one will ever know that an unprecedented danger existed and that it was even a chaotic time loop until we intervene. It turns the brain upside down and it's just great in terms of imagination, ingenuity.
This game, just by its history, shows the full potential of this studio and its director. A small band of geniuses who will make us happy for so long. Today we are treated to a lot of games that no one should ignore if they love RPGs. We cannot miss this franchise or this Square Enix company which has created so many good games.
Thanks Final Fantasy
Franchises I love - Final Fantasy
Franchises I love
FINAL FANTASY
Hello, this article will be one of the most fun to write. Simply because of the memories for this franchise. This franchise is by far the one I love the most. If I had to do a top 3 it would be easy to do. There's Final Fantasy first, Mario second, and Zelda hangs in the balance with Pokémon for the third place. For some who know me, they would say I forget Fifa. So no, I'm not forgetting Fifa, which is also an obligation for me. I also like this franchise, but emotionally it lags behind. While this is a game you can play at any time, the three franchises on my podium require a special mindset and above all, time. Because yes, when I start playing one of these games, I have to be sure that for a minimum of two or three hours I will not be interrupted. I need to be able to immerse myself and be able to do as much as possible to have fun that defies everything.
So let's take a look at the games in this franchise that I've played (or that most impressed me) in chronological order.
FF VIII and VII are the first (yes in that order) that I played and I thank my brother who discovered these games when we were young. I must have been nine or ten years old. I remember before that I didn't play video games that much. Then my brother had these games and we would time each other to see who was allowed to play next.
So I would often watch my brother play and try to do as well as him. The stories of these games, the way they were told hit me hard. I thought the storytelling was great and I was hooked by these games. After playing FF IX and X, which I liked a lot less at the time probably due to my young age. Released in 2002, its style of storytelling was less obvious to me to accept and understand I think. The same year were released the compilations including the FF I and FF II, FF IV and FF V, but also FF VI in game only. All this on Playstation first of the name.
I learned English with these compilations and played around trying to understand as much as possible. Once I start English lessons, one will help me progress in the other.
In 2007 I had an extra blow with FF XII, my attention turned a little more on the games. And presto, we have a hardcore FF lover. So I also took over FF I to VI. My playtime exploded with the IV, V and VI. The IV is excellent and the VI is one of their piece of art for me. The V is really cool due to the import of "Jobs", plus you can change as many time as you want. This well-shaken cocktail made me a die-hard fan of this franchise. I also took again FF II, which had a pretty cool gameplay which I did not understand too well due to my level of English which was still too low in 2002. It is to know that the games released on Playstation 1 were only available in English. and that we had to wait for the versions on Game Boy Advance (which I also have yes yes) to have them in French.
FF II was a little slap in the face for me too, as the fact that you didn't get an EXP point and had to register keywords to use with the right people at the right time was intriguing. You were asked to know how to manage your characters and the unfolding of the story on your own. It was pretty impressive for me and I found it exhilarating. I remember I had a game on Game Boy Advance that was pure genius, I felt unbeatable and it must be said the story was well told.
For Final Fantasy XIII, this was the first time that I had real expectations and that I followed the information regarding its development. I felt what I can feel a lot more often today when it comes to video games: A longing for a new game. Just that longing for a new adventure to play. I was also afraid as some reviews were starting to fall on the game and especially that it was taking a long time to finally come out on the market. With the game in hand, I spent my time solely on this game. It was one of those games that you just can't look away from. I finished the main story in about 65 or 70 hours, in two weeks. Yes, an average of about 5 hours a day. This game made me love the franchise even more. However, I also understood the main criticism of the game which was that it was a bit of a “direct and straight line” game, with less freedom than what you are used to having. It was not wrong and it was more or less obvious at times. That didn't stop me from loving this game.
And then came the wait for Final Fantasy XV. Between the 12th and 13th there was a three-year wait. From 2007 to 2010. For FF XV we had to wait for 2016, six years therefore.
At this point I want to give an update on the FF games I have. We are now in 2016/17 and I have: FF 1 to 6 three times, except FF III of which I only have the Remake on DS, I have FF 7 to 9 twice (I did not yet have the Switch so today also three times for these games), I have FF X, X-2, FF XII twice because I bought the PS4 version as well. I have FF XIII and inevitably also FF XV which arrives last at this time.
I didn't want to spoil anything for the game because I remember how many feelings I had for the previous game. So even almost a year after its release I don't know anything about the game except that you have a great customizable car and some pretty special characters with you and that you will be in Bromance mode. Once I had the game, I couldn't look away. I played a significant number of hours and loved each one. This game is a pure masterpiece for me. Everything was good in this game. Everything you could have to do, main quests, side quests, quests to improve the car, hunt monsters, cook for better stats, how to heal yourself by hitting others with your magic, how to use magic, how to lead each character. Everything, everything is superbly done and nothing would have to be changed if it only concerns me. I liked every point in this game. I find no fault with it.
What I liked most was the storytelling and the gist of the story. I must say that the way everything is told, I put this game in number 1. It is touching, addicting, beautiful and even poetic. It goes against the way of fighting which is more nervous, powerful and dynamic.
Since then I haven't had enough to satiate myself, but once the Nintendo Switch in hand I bought FF VII from FF IX. I finished the IX first because it is very beautiful I think. A beautiful story and the graphic style I like very much.
My dream right now would be to get an import of the "classics" FF I to VI on the Switch. It would be really nice to be able to enjoy it, especially when you see that you can enjoy classics like Dragon Quest I to III, FF Legends or the "Mana" games are available, so why not those?
Like most people, I had the pleasant surprise of seeing the presentation of the youngest, Final Fantasy XVI. A return to medieval fantasy, a return of crystals and a new way of seeing Shiva, Ifrit and the others we have called Espers, Eons, G-Force or even Eidolons. Everything looks very promising. When we see the video we also realize that there will be more blood visible than we are used to, the director who is the one who took care of FF XI And XIV is trustworthy. Everything is therefore implemented so that the last of the franchise is at the height of its elders.
In short, you will understand I find no fault with this franchise and their developer Square Enix formerly Square Soft. The future looks bright as a future FF will be released and that's already good. Final Fantasy has given me a lot over the past 15 to 20 years and I've loved playing around with every character that these games have given me the chance to control. Rich, sad and happy stories. Epic and frustrating fights. Today there are great memories and tomorrow there are new quests to discover. I look forward to writing to you again regarding this franchise.
So my top 3 FF with logos just for fun (from 1 to 3, from left to right):
Total ranking after the top 3:
- Final Fantasy VII
- Final Fantasy XII
- Final Fantasy XIII
- Final Fantasy II
- Final Fantasy V
- Final Fantasy IX
- Final Fantasy VIII
- Final Fantasy I
- Final Fantasy X
- Final Fantasy III
Of course, it's not just a good-to-bad ranking, but mostly from the one I liked the most to the one I liked the least. But each of these games brought me joy and I loved playing it and will love to play it again. I tell you, in the next article.
BoTRL's Expectations
So I decided to ask the friends of the committee to tell me a bit about the games they are waiting for in the more or less near future. It is an understatement to say that the demands are very varied. I don't know if Santa will have the time to do what is necessary (it's even unlikely). So let's review everyone's wishes.
Toufik was the first to respond. His answer was clear and demonstrated his great excitement. He's only waiting for one thing, GTA 6.
Our friend Toufik loves the franchise and is sure it will be the best game to come. Our artist has just that in mind.
Soon after we got a response from Jo. Our Head of Communications has a passion that anyone who has seen our podcasts knows, Dark Souls. So naturally the game he's waiting for is Eldenring.
Clearly this is the game of the decade for him. With the spirit of the Game of Thrones writer and the desire to make a game in the same vein as the Souls games, Jo is already running out of patience.
Patrick, one of our treasurer has a pretty surprising answer, although the game is expected it is not the one we hear the most about. On the other hand, his answer is much less surprising when you know Patrick.
It is Star Wars Knight of the old Republic Remake. His motivations are simple. First of all, the franchise of which he is an absolute fan and because the game had a very good quality story and to return to it makes him salivate in advance!
Marc our editor has the future Battlefield in mind and nothing else. His son is also in total excitement awaiting the arrival of this game. It must be said that the franchise has had some great games lately and it is high time for a newcomer.
It is true that the images we have enjoyed quite recently concerning the future opus make you want to play that game !
For my part, I am totally waiting for Stranger of Paradise, Final Fantasy Origin.
No wonder I love the franchise. But in this case it's more special. First of all, it is a revisit of Final Fantasy I, a new game which at the time made a great buzz. A game with a story as beautiful as it is tragic, an idea as simple as it is complex and a game mode so enjoyable.
This revisit seems so far from the original game, but the story only becomes more captivating. The very first monologue we got had given me chills and the release date trailer is so promising.
I'm very close to buying a PS5 at this time ... though consoles are available of course.
We all can't wait to see these games come out. And you ? What game are you waiting for? Please do not hesitate to answer us and tell us what your expectations are!
In the meantime, good game to all!
The To-Do List
We are going to talk about a phenomenon that I have read that I find interesting. I've always felt a bit guilty for not always finishing the games I buy or for playing them too little and taking forever to finish them! So while point two remains fairly true, the first point is common. In fact it is very common. In fact it is incredibly common!
Indeed, studies show that almost 9 out of 10 people surveyed do not finish the games they buy. It's huge ! Afterwards, the statistics change according to the type of players and, over time (thanks to the Achievements and Trophies) this percentage goes down.
However, the studies remain quite formal, most of the games are not finished by the players. That's crazy, so it got me thinking to do a change. It's been a while since I decided to finish a game before buying a new one. There are only a few exceptions, but they do exist.
Already I'm throwing myself flowers. This decision was the right one. I spend less for no reason and buy games that I actually enjoy afterwards. It also opened my eyes to the colossal number of games that I enjoy! It's not possible the games I want to get my hands on.
So my criteria are more or less simple. From the same franchise I only buy one game if the previous game is finished. For example, I finished Pokémon Shield before buying Pokémon Legends Arceus which I finished before buying Pokémon Brilliant Diamond. Logical and efficient.
There is, however, a small exception to this rule. Final Fantasy games. Yes, it could come out 3 in a row, I buy them! This is how. Pokémon could, should also be an exception. It may be in the future but I must say that the timing was almost perfect for the above listed games. But Final Fantasy, regardless of the timing, it will be bought, period!
So with this way of proceeding it encourages me and makes me want to play as much as I can. So I'm sweating like crazy! And Yes because I haven't finished Xenoblade Chronicles (on Switch) so I have to wait before I can begin to sweat with the two, while the three comes out in summer this year! It's awful.
Especially since that's not all. In my list there is also Horizon Zero Dawn, which I got for free and which I regret not having played before. So I also want the sequel to this one because after having tasted the first opus I must say that I am impatient to see the sequel. I still have to finish the first one first!
Then there are other games that I had accumulated before adopting this logic, like The Witcher 3. I let myself be tempted by Tales of Arise, which I am bleeding for the moment, and Stranger of Paradise, a Final Fantasy Story…
As you can see, I find myself with a rather long list of games to finish before thinking about buying other games!
So my to do list for now is:
Tales of Arise
Xenoblade Chronicles 1+2
The Witcher 3
Stranger of Paradise
Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West
It's already not bad I think and I really need to put the turbo. As a devoted father, loving husband and gaga dog master, I don't always have time to play. We do our best and we respect as much as possible the logic of finishing one or more games before buying the next one. Especially in the case of the same franchise!
And you? Do you have a To do list? Tell us in the comments! Here and on Facebook!
In the meantime, good game to all!