Final Fantasy II rant...

[mookie75]

Has anyone else played this game? Of course, I'm talking about FF2 as far as the Japanese numbering goes.

I had the stupid idea a couple weeks back to start a Final Fantasy run. Namely, go through each game in order. Why? Who knows......to kill time I guess.

Anyway, the first one went off without a hitch. I enjoyed the stroll down memory lane and got a kick out of the improved graphics on the PSone version.

Now, I'm a little over halfway through the second game and I'm quickly learning to hate this game with a passion. It's no surprise to me that it wasn't released in North America for so long.

First, I don't care much for the spell system. If I keep playing this game to the end (which is a BIG "if" after getting the shaft a couple times today), it's obvious to me that I'm going to have many spells that aren't leveled up at all. The only way to avoid this would be to waste countless hours going around and casting multiple spells on my party and/or enemies. I could accept some lower level spells if they didn't suck at the low levels. Most attempts to cast something like Silence 1 or Shield 1 will result in nothing but misses.

Second, can anyone who has played the game tell me if they had this problem? Why, oh WHY does Gus take 300+ damage from undead while Firion who has almost identical stats will only take 50 damage from the same monsters?! It has always been like this and I can't figure out why. Since total HP goes up as you lose HP in battle, Gus has 2000+ HP already while Firion just recently broke 1000. This may sound great to some, but 2000 doesn't last long when getting hit for 300+. Especially since I swear some enemies hit you two or three times before you get to do anything.

Anyway, I just had to rant after dying to a group of undead even though I managed to get off something like 10 fire spells (some as high as level 7) and somehow still lost. That brings me to one other complaint about this game's system....if you have an unexpected death in the game (the aforementioned defeat was only my 2nd full party death in over 20 hours of gameplay....so, yeah it was unexpected) you lose ALL those skill points that you've been trying so hard to build evenly.... Sure, you only lose what you did since the last save...but the dungeons in this game are VERY large and often irritatingly tedious if you want to get every treasure chest. There aren't any save points down there, so the only safe option is to warp out every so often, save, and then wade through 3 floors of random encounters to get back to where you were. :eek:

This could be the end for this game with me. We'll see how I feel later about it. lol :sweat:

[Chosen Raven]

I agree with pretty much everything you said. FF2 is definitely my least favorite game in the series(followed by FFVII and FFX). As for Gus taking so much damage, do you have him equipped with anything that makes him more vulnerable to undead attacks?

[mookie75]

I agree with pretty much everything you said. FF2 is definitely my least favorite game in the series(followed by FFVII and FFX). As for Gus taking so much damage, do you have him equipped with anything that makes him more vulnerable to undead attacks?
Not that I can see. He has basically the same gear as Firion. Defense, Endurance, etc etc are all pretty close as well. It's a mystery I guess. lol

I thought the game was ok until today. Perhaps my pride was hurt when I got spanked by a big group of undead on the 500th floor of the Mysidian Cave (ok....slight exaggeration....) :p

[SirLemming]

I only played the GBA version, so I probably got off easy. I played through and beat it a few weeks ago.

I did have that same issue with undead enemies, though. It's a killer. And the last boss seems to do that, too, which is really annoying, because those attacks also siphon the HP to him, which means he can basically undo any damage you do to him each turn. I only beat him because he was dumb enough to avoid using that attack for 4 turns or so.
My experience led me to believe it was a matter of how much max HP you have, but it sounds like that's not the case with you. Of course, I heard that they made the GBA version easier, which may also explain why I found the level-up system of spells & stats to be quite bearable.

The biggest difficulty I encountered in the game was the fact that they give you such free rein of the world map... because early on in the game, when I first got a Chocobo, I rode it to Mysidia. And then I saved the game. And then when I left Mysidia, I realized I was stranded with no Chocobo in a place where any random battle could kill my entire party. So for about 5 hours of game time I had to level everyone up enough to be able to travel back to where I was supposed to be!
Of course, leveling up so much made the rest of the game pretty much a breeze.

[Artimus Gigan]

Easiest way to defeat the final boss:
Equipped two people with bloodswords

it takes one round...

one round and the Emperor doesn't even get a hit in...

it doesn't even matter what levels you are...

In the final dungeon I even skipped the optional bosses

This game is also incredibly short...10-20 hours

(heck just keep beating your people up, it makes it go quicker)

Also for the dungeons, just get a map...

[mookie75]

Get a map? Bah! That's the cheap way....I enjoy the frustration! :p


I was back to playing it this morning. I managed to gain some decent levels on the more neglected spells. It helped that I realized you get more skill points for casting, say, Shield 1 while fighting a group of tough enemies than for casting Shield 1 while fighting pathetic Goblins near the starting point of the game. It would still be irritating to get every spell up to a reasonable level...but I've already picked several that I probably won't bother with.


My rant still stands though. It's really not that great as far as Final Fantasy games go....IMO anyway... :sad:

Oh well, once I've beaten it I'll never have to return to it again. :anime:

[Artimus Gigan]

Get a map? Bah! That's the cheap way....I enjoy the frustration! :p


I was back to playing it this morning. I managed to gain some decent levels on the more neglected spells. It helped that I realized you get more skill points for casting, say, Shield 1 while fighting a group of tough enemies than for casting Shield 1 while fighting pathetic Goblins near the starting point of the game. It would still be irritating to get every spell up to a reasonable level...but I've already picked several that I probably won't bother with.


My rant still stands though. It's really not that great as far as Final Fantasy games go....IMO anyway... :sad:

Oh well, once I've beaten it I'll never have to return to it again. :anime:
You have to realise the conditions that it was made under

A) RPG's were a fairly new genre in videogames

B) Squaresoft had to quickly follow up the success of Final Fantasy 1 because prior to it they were on the verge of bankrupcy

I personaly though that Final Fantasy 1 and 2 were more or less underwhelming by today's standards...they were both short and pretty much straightforward. They are also both very easy games as well...

[Master Moron]

Is the trick to leveling up magic spells still in the PS1 version? On the NES version all you had to do was target an enemy with a spell, cancel, and repeat over and over again and you'll eventually go up a spell level.

I agree with you about the lack of saves, but that was a problem with all three of the NES games. Final Fantasy III in particular had one hell of a long final dungeon. It was pretty insane to make it through there with no save points. And then there were enemies that ended up multiplying for no particular reason. Like you can start out fighting 3 enemies and before you can even kill 1, there's 6 of them, it was freakin' insane.

[Artimus Gigan]

Is the trick to leveling up magic spells still in the PS1 version? On the NES version all you had to do was target an enemy with a spell, cancel, and repeat over and over again and you'll eventually go up a spell level.

I agree with you about the lack of saves, but that was a problem with all three of the NES games. Final Fantasy III in particular had one hell of a long final dungeon. It was pretty insane to make it through there with no save points. And then there were enemies that ended up multiplying for no particular reason. Like you can start out fighting 3 enemies and before you can even kill 1, there's 6 of them, it was freakin' insane.Yeah all the tricks that were in the original FFII are in the PSX version as well

Also MM those weren't multiplying enemies, those were a large group of enemies that were too big to fit on screen. So each time you took one down another one took it's place.

[Dark Soul]

I beat it already, I found it pretty easy.

[mookie75]

I beat it already, I found it pretty easy.
I'm one or two areas away from the end. I seem to be breezing through most everything now...I don't expect much trouble from the Emperor.

For the record, at times I've found the game to be quite irritating. However, there's a huge difference between irritating and difficult. I agree that it's easy....after all, my whole party has only died twice in the entire game...and one of those times was because I had a screen full of imp-like creatures who cast 5 to 6 "Muddle 16" spells on me every single round. Of course, I found a way to avoid dying even in situations like that, but they caught me by surprise that first time.

I'm just anxious to move on to FF4. The memories....I still remember buying it for the SNES....still have it actually. :anime: I remember thinking it was the coolest thing to see actual spell effects (of course this is back when FF1 was only available on the NES and you didn't see much for spell effects in that version.) There's nothing like seeing a big bolt of lightning zap your enemies. I wish they could do something like that in Final Fantasy Online. It would be awesome if you could be on the other end of a zone and see some lightning streak across the sky as someone casts a spell on something. :D

[mookie75]

Well, it is done...

I have to admit that, while I said I didn't expect much trouble from the Emperor, I didn't expect him to be THAT much of a pushover.

This is the basic gist of the battle:

Emperor opens with "Starfall" (or whatever it was called) and hits everyone for around 200 hp.
I tell Firion, Gus, and Leon to attack and Maria to cast Cure 13 on everyone.
Before we do anything the Emperor casts Flare 16 on Maria and it takes somewhere around 400-500 hp (putting her down to 300 or so).
Maria casts Cure 13 which doesn't cure as much as I think it should at that level...even if it is on everyone.
Firion hits with his Blood Sword and Holy Lance combo for a ridiculous amount.
Gus hits with the same combo for an equally ridiculous amount.
Emperor dies.

Poor Leon didn't even get to attack! lol :sweat:


Well, on to the next chapter.... :D

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

The bosses in BOTH FF1 and 2 are stupid easy. However, FF2 is the easier game overall. In fact the easiest FF of all the FF games, IMO.

[Artimus Gigan]

Well, on to the next chapter.... :D3 won't be out for sometime...

and in 4 the difficulty fluxes from dungeon to dungeon 1 may be easy than 2 may be hard, 3 will be medium, and 4 will be easy, etc.... the final boss in 4 is that gave me the most trouble...

[mookie75]

3 won't be out for sometime...

and in 4 the difficulty fluxes from dungeon to dungeon 1 may be easy than 2 may be hard, 3 will be medium, and 4 will be easy, etc.... the final boss in 4 is that gave me the most trouble...
Yeah, I'm disappointed that I can't do 3 in my big FF run. I was referring to 4 though when I said that. I'm still deciding if I should dig out the SNES or play the remake on the PSOne. I've heard the remake is harder...so perhaps I'll give that one a whirl. I can always use some extra irritation. :D

[Artimus Gigan]

Yeah, I'm disappointed that I can't do 3 in my big FF run. I was referring to 4 though when I said that. I'm still deciding if I should dig out the SNES or play the remake on the PSOne. I've heard the remake is harder...so perhaps I'll give that one a whirl. I can always use some extra irritation. :DPSX version is harder...

once you've beaten that it's pretty much smooth sailing thru the rest of the series...until you reacht he Vai Infinanto in X-2...

for that you need two things:

All must be level 99 or close to it
CatNip must be equipped
Bring assloads of potions and pheonix downs

You face a Weapon and right after that(you get no break) you face Trema who casts Ultima constantly and hits for a ton of damage...


allthough I did find Sephiroth a bit of a challenge during the final battle in 7...

[Master Moron]

Well, it is done...

I have to admit that, while I said I didn't expect much trouble from the Emperor, I didn't expect him to be THAT much of a pushover.

This is the basic gist of the battle:

Emperor opens with "Starfall" (or whatever it was called) and hits everyone for around 200 hp.
I tell Firion, Gus, and Leon to attack and Maria to cast Cure 13 on everyone.
Before we do anything the Emperor casts Flare 16 on Maria and it takes somewhere around 400-500 hp (putting her down to 300 or so).
Maria casts Cure 13 which doesn't cure as much as I think it should at that level...even if it is on everyone.
Firion hits with his Blood Sword and Holy Lance combo for a ridiculous amount.
Gus hits with the same combo for an equally ridiculous amount.
Emperor dies.

Poor Leon didn't even get to attack! lol :sweat:


Well, on to the next chapter.... :D

Firion? Gus? Leon? Why'd they rename all the characters? Frionel, Guy, and Lionheart sounded fine to me.


Yeah, I'm disappointed that I can't do 3 in my big FF run. I was referring to 4 though when I said that. I'm still deciding if I should dig out the SNES or play the remake on the PSOne. I've heard the remake is harder...so perhaps I'll give that one a whirl. I can always use some extra irritation. :D

So...what are you going to do when you hit 11?

[SSJPabs]

Firion? Gus? Leon? Why'd they rename all the characters? Frionel, Guy, and Lionheart sounded fine to me.Who names their kid Guy?

[Dark Fact]

Who names their kid Guy?
The Frenchmen! ;)

Anyways, I'm playing this game on an NES rom. I have a policy when it comes to RPGs: I beat the game twice. Once to understand the layout, twice to max out the party.

I'm on my second run through the game and working to max out everyone (yes, including Leonhart as he is your last accomplice before the emperor). It is long and winding considering that I have to max out all my spells and weapon skills but if you know which enemies offer the best payouts, the game is a breeze.

For instance, there is a pretty easy way to build up your guys early in the game. First, you'll need to raise a particular weapon up to level 4, as well as a particular offensive spell to 4 such as fire. Head into Fynn, challenge the captains and keep killing them over and over until your guys boost in MP, HP, and level skills. Later on in the game, leveling up gets pretty tough past 10 so if you want to level your guys up more, fight in the Masamune room in Pandemonium castle. ;)

[mookie75]

So...what are you going to do when you hit 11?Well, my Paladin is currently at level 58. Perhaps I could get her to 75 by then? I suppose that could almost be considered "finishing" the game.........in a way..............kinda............... :sweat:

[Artimus Gigan]

Well, my Paladin is currently at level 58. Perhaps I could get her to 75 by then? I suppose that could almost be considered "finishing" the game.........in a way..............kinda............... :sweat:There is no ending...

It's an MMORPG you're not supposed to be able to beat it...

X-Box360 is getting a version of the game as well...so that means new expansions and whatnot...

This is why they released X-2....it's really supposed to take the place of 11 kinda sorta. From a standpoint Final Fantasy games that are tied in with the numerical games(not offshoots) tend to do better in sales. So considering that Console MMORPG's were risky financialy(heck it's pretty much the only reason to have the PS2 harddrive) they had to have it be called Final Fantasy 11.


So pretty much after 10, just go onto 10-2.

[Dark Fact]

I only wish Final Fantasy VI could get a direct sequel... :sad:

[mookie75]

There is no ending...

It's an MMORPG you're not supposed to be able to beat it...*sigh* Yes Artimus, I'm aware of that. Geez, you really think people are stupid sometimes don't you? I was making a joke.

75 is the current level cap, so reaching it would be a final accomplishment as far as exp-ing that job goes.

Besides, technically there could be an "ending" of sorts. You could get every single job to 75, reach rank 10 in all the nations, finish all of the Zilart and CoP missions, finish all the quests, cap out every single crafting skill, etc etc. You would prove you had no life, but technically you could accomplish everything there is to accomplish in the game. Sure, you could keep playing and wandering around aimlessly, but there would be nothing NEW to do (until another expansion anyway, but even those will stop someday. Even EQ didn't last forever). That would be an ending of sorts in my mind. For the record: I would never plan on trying to accomplish what I said in the above paragraph. I would hate for you to take me literally once again. I repeat. I wouldn't do it.






Really, I wouldn't. :anime:

[mookie75]

Just to be clear: I wouldn't. :p

[Artimus Gigan]

I only wish Final Fantasy VI could get a direct sequel... :sad:Nobody knows who Locke or Terra are...

NOBODY

6 just doesn't have the marketability of the later ones...

besides all of the redone CGI characters look fugly...

[straw_hat]

I only wish Final Fantasy VI could get a direct sequel... :sad: Yeah, it's the only Final Fantasy game I've actually played through till the end.

[mookie75]

What exactly is it about VI that makes so many people like it? I played through it years ago in college. It was ok as far as FF games go, but I found nothing super outstanding about the characters or storyline.....

[straw_hat]

What exactly is it about VI that makes so many people like it? I could ask the same thing about FF7 which seems to have the biggest fanbase then any other FF game created. I have yet to play the game myself but I've finally bought it a few days ago.

I enjoy FF6 mainly because it was my first and only Final Fantasy game for years. So yeah I'm not as big of a fan of the franchise as others so I can't account for the FF fans who love it the most.

With that aside the reason I enjoy it was for how big the game was and how beautiful it's 2D graphics looked at the time. Sure a few of the characters had no backstory or were anyway beneficiary to the plot but they were there to exist in a fantasy world I had never seen in any video game before it.

I'm in no way a fan of RPGs in general considering the only ones I've bought on the spot were Mario games. I really can't say why I have more interest in beating FF6 again instead of starting FF7 or finishing FF9, maybe it's just nostalgia :shrug:.

[Master Moron]

There is no ending...

It's an MMORPG you're not supposed to be able to beat it...

X-Box360 is getting a version of the game as well...so that means new expansions and whatnot...

This is why they released X-2....it's really supposed to take the place of 11 kinda sorta. From a standpoint Final Fantasy games that are tied in with the numerical games(not offshoots) tend to do better in sales. So considering that Console MMORPG's were risky financialy(heck it's pretty much the only reason to have the PS2 harddrive) they had to have it be called Final Fantasy 11.


So pretty much after 10, just go onto 10-2.

That's why 11 pisses me off so much. It ruins the whole flow of the games. I mean, if someone who's unfamiliar with Final Fantasy games sees you have X, X-2, and XII when it comes out, then they'll wonder where 11 is. And they'll point out that X-2 isn't a number. I refuse to buy X-2 because it isn't a number...and because it got awful reviews...and because I never wanted a direct sequel to X...and because I have no money...

As for 11, well, I'll either eventually get it if I can find it for cheap, or if I can find it AT ALL, or I might just give up on the Final Fantasy series altogether. I've played every single game up to this point, but XI just screwed me all up. I was planning on getting it at one point, but it was just so much money, and I don't want to get XII if I don't have XI. I like completion what can I say? So, thank you Square, by naming the super expensive online game Final Fantasy XI you have made a longtime fan abandon the franchise. Thanks a lot.

[Dark Fact]

Nobody knows who Locke or Terra are...

NOBODY

6 just doesn't have the marketability of the later ones...

besides all of the redone CGI characters look fugly...
You know, I'm really fed up with hearing people say that the 2D versions of Final Fantasy could never live up to the spectacular glory of the 3D versions.

I have to admit that the 3D versions of Final Fantasy were mostly style and very little substance. The 2D versions at least were challenging and had the means to provide us a way to WORK at winning the game.

Another thing that really curdles my yogurt was the fact that the whole Final Fantasy franchise was practically non-existant until Final Fantasy VII burst onto the scene on the playstation with its grandiose budget and aggressive marketing campaign. People then called Final Fantasy the greatest RPG game series ever made but yet had to shaft the previous volumes of the series because they weren't Final Fantasy VII quality. Let's face it, if Squaresoft hadn't even made Final Fantasy VII or made it as a 2D game, the franchise today would only exist to the most devoted of RPG gamers!

Artimus, you're acting like none of the gamers today were even born during '94-'97. Final Fantasy VI and its previous versions were great games because they were CHALLENGING and represented true RPG gaming. The fact that people would praise Final Fantasy's VII to XI and ignore the previous games makes me wonder if they are really true Final Fantasy fans at all!

Final Fantasy VI ended on a good note but not on a fulfilling note. There is still the relationship between Locke and Celes that wasn't completely fleshed out as well as Shadow and Relm.

[Artimus Gigan]

That's why 11 pisses me off so much. It ruins the whole flow of the games. I mean, if someone who's unfamiliar with Final Fantasy games sees you have X, X-2, and XII when it comes out, then they'll wonder where 11 is. And they'll point out that X-2 isn't a number. I refuse to buy X-2 because it isn't a number...and because it got awful reviews...and because I never wanted a direct sequel to X...and because I have no money...

As for 11, well, I'll either eventually get it if I can find it for cheap, or if I can find it AT ALL, or I might just give up on the Final Fantasy series altogether. I've played every single game up to this point, but XI just screwed me all up. I was planning on getting it at one point, but it was just so much money, and I don't want to get XII if I don't have XI. I like completion what can I say? So, thank you Square, by naming the super expensive online game Final Fantasy XI you have made a longtime fan abandon the franchise. Thanks a lot.X-2 didn't ger horrable reviews, IIRC many of the magazines gave it pretty decent scores.

[mookie75]

You know, I'm really fed up with hearing people say that the 2D versions of Final Fantasy could never live up to the spectacular glory of the 3D versions.

I have to admit that the 3D versions of Final Fantasy were mostly style and very little substance. The 2D versions at least were challenging and had the means to provide us a way to WORK at winning the game.

Another thing that really curdles my yogurt was the fact that the whole Final Fantasy franchise was practically non-existant until Final Fantasy VII burst onto the scene on the playstation with its grandiose budget and aggressive marketing campaign. People then called Final Fantasy the greatest RPG game series ever made but yet had to shaft the previous volumes of the series because they weren't Final Fantasy VII quality. Let's face it, if Squaresoft hadn't even made Final Fantasy VII or made it as a 2D game, the franchise today would only exist to the most devoted of RPG gamers!

Artimus, you're acting like none of the gamers today were even born during '94-'97. Final Fantasy VI and its previous versions were great games because they were CHALLENGING and represented true RPG gaming. The fact that people would praise Final Fantasy's VII to XI and ignore the previous games makes me wonder if they are really true Final Fantasy fans at all!

Final Fantasy VI ended on a good note but not on a fulfilling note. There is still the relationship between Locke and Celes that wasn't completely fleshed out as well as Shadow and Relm.
Personally, I don't see the 2D versions as being any more challenging than the 3D versions. In fact, the only difference I feel is worthy of mention is that you had to spend (or some would say waste) more time in the 2D versions wandering around and building up exp/magic/money. There have been installments from both the 2D and the 3D era that I have enjoyed...so I don't feel I'm leaning either way on the subject. The only real challenge I encountered on the 2D games was a couple of final bosses back in the olden days...and that was only because I rushed through part of the game and was a couple of levels too low. I never have that problem nowadays because I'm very type-A about wandering around and doing everything....so I'm usually at a ridiculous level by the time I bother to complete the game. :shrug:

[Chrono1995]

The bosses in BOTH FF1 and 2 are stupid easy. However, FF2 is the easier game overall. In fact the easiest FF of all the FF games, IMO.
I actually had a hell of a time with FF2, and I can't figure out why. FFX was actually the easiest for me.