When I think about Final Fantasy, I visualize all the signature elements like chocobos, moogles, magic, crystals, summons, and the iconic Cid. I recently completed a replay of Final Fantasy XII, and while it’s not my personal favorite, I believe it effectively showcases what makes a Final Fantasy game special. This got me pondering—what game, in your opinion, embodies all the classic Final Fantasy traits the best? I feel like Final Fantasy XIV is somewhat a cheat since it borrows from all the other games, but ironically, I find FF16 captures the essence really well, even though people are divided on its combat style. It features chocobos, the mother crystals, and summons, and we can’t forget about a fantastic version of Cid. How do you all feel about this? What’s your go-to game for capturing everything that makes Final Fantasy unique?
5 Answers
Honestly, I think Final Fantasy V really nails the classic vibe. It’s super underrated with an awesome job system, and it has all the key elements like crystals, chocobos, and moogles. Plus, it introduces blue magic and Gilgamesh, which is just awesome! Just feels like a quintessential FF experience to me.
Absolutely agree! FFV often gets overlooked, but it really set the stage for the series. I’d never forget the creepy Tonberries making their first appearance in that game too!
I gotta give it to FF14 because it’s like “Final Fantasy: Greatest Hits.” It has everything—crystals, chocobos, moogles, even an evil empire! Plus, it brings back all these familiar faces from different games. It’s a real celebration of the series!
For sure! It’s kind of a dream come true for fans with all those Easter eggs and references. But I guess it’s an MMO, so it feels different from the single-player experiences of the mainline games.
I get that, but some feel it’s more of a theme park, so it doesn’t quite capture the core FF experience like the mainline canon does.
For me, FFIX is the ultimate classic Final Fantasy achievement. It was made to be a love letter to all the previous games, with all the right characters and story beats. It captures that nostalgic fantasy feeling perfectly, even if it lacks a job system. It’s all the archetypes done right!
Yup! It’s like they took everything quintessential about classic FF and just smashed it into one beautiful package. The art style and nostalgia hit hard for me!
Agreed! I loved the setting and characters, but I do think the story started getting a bit wonky in the second half. Still, it’s such a treat overall!
I feel like FF6 is the most traditional in the series, with all the classic elements and a deliciously rich story. It’s got tragedy, humor, and that unique sense of adventure. Definitely deserves some love in this discussion!
FF6 is a masterclass! It set the tone for many games after it, blending character depth and fantasy elements.
Totally agree! Each character felt like they had their own arcs that contributed to this epic story!
I’m with you on FF12 too! It offers a modern take with the political intrigue and all. But I think FF9 truly brings back that old-school vibe, especially with its character design and storytelling. It’s nostalgic in the best possible way.
True! FF12 does feel different, but the world-building is fantastic. Each game offers such a different take on ‘Final Fantasy’ which is cool in its own right.
I think the mix of old and new in 12 makes it unique, but if we’re talking traditional vibes, 9 really takes the cake!
FFV is a blast! I only got to play it in the Pixel Remaster and it’s phenomenal. Definitely worth a try if you’ve missed out on it before!