FF Meme: Day One

[lowkey]

Inspired by mako_lies, I've decided I'd try my hand at this FF Meme thing.


Day 01 - What is your favorite FF game?
Day 02 - Your least favourite Final Fantasy game.
Day 03 – Your favourite Final Fantasy theme/song.
Day 04 - Your favourite Final Fantasy party from your favourite game.
Day 05 - Your favourite Final Fantasy City/Town.
Day 06 – Favourite part of your favourite Final Fantasy game.
Day 07 - Least favourite part of your favourite Final Fantasy game.
Day 08 – Favourite Chocobo Version.
Day 09 - Favourite Moogle Version.
Day 10 – Best Final Fantasy scene ever.
Day 11 – Final Fantasy game that disappointed you.
Day 12 - Final Fantasy game you’ve played more than 5 times.
Day 13 – Your favourite version of Cid.
Day 14 - Favourite Final Fantasy male character.
Day 15 - Favourite Final Fantasy female character.
Day 16 - Your favourite Final Fantasy limit break.
Day 17 - Favourite Final Fantasy mini game.
Day 18 - Favourite Final Fantasy opening sequence.
Day 19 - Best Final Fantasy outfit.
Day 20 – Best Final Fantasy hair.
Day 21 - Favourite Final Fantasy pairing/ship.
Day 22 - Favourite Final Fantasy summon.
Day 23 - Least Favourite Final Fantasy mini game.
Day 24 - Best Final Fantasy quote.
Day 25 - Final Fantasy game you plan on playing (old or new).
Day 26 - OMG WTF? Final Fantasy moment.
Day 27 – Best Final Fantasy storyline.
Day 28 - First Final Fantasy game obsession.
Day 29 - Current Final Fantasy game obsession.
Day 30 - Saddest Final Fantasy character death.

But first!

I've finished a total of three Final Fantasy games—X, XII, and XIII—and I have started but not finished another three—VIII, X-2 and Tactics. Beyond these more conventional games, I've also beaten Kingdom Hearts, played through several storylines in the original Dissidia, and am currently engrossed in Dissidia Duodecim.

I think three additional facts are worth pointing out. First, I still feel like a newcomer to the the FF series, insofar as I've almost played the series backwards: I've started with the more recent and less popular iterations, and I still have never reached the quintessential Final Fantasy game, FFVII. Some part of me, perpetually frozen at the age of ten or twelve, thinks that all the cool kids play Final Fantasy, but I don't and am therefore not part of that culture. It is an unreal that I've played a pretty good chunk of the series.

That I got into them at all is the work of my best friend M., and this makes up the second fact. Of the games I listed, I've played the vast majority with her, and so my FF experience has been simultaneously shared and very cinematic.

Lastly, my game experiences have often been spread over the course of years. For instance, I bought XIII the night it came out, over the next month played up through Gran Pulse... and then only finished it a year later (roughly two or three weeks ago). I started XII, then restarted it a two or three years later. I've started and put down Tactics twice. That I've finished any of them has been the direct result of M.'s involvement.

Day 1 - What is your favorite FF game?

Welp, isn't that the million dollar question.

My favorite game is sort of a toss-up, and it really depends on what side of the bed I wake-up on. VIII is rapidly growing on me, but since I haven't finished it, I'm remiss in naming it my favorite. The same goes with Tactics, which has an amazing plot that I've only ever half-finished. Though I enjoyed them both, XII and XIII bothered me when it came to aspects of their plots. And as much as I want to say Dissidia Duodecim (SRSLY GUYS IT IS AWESOME), I've not finished it, nor is it probably considered a "core" FF game.

SO, with all of that in mind, I sorta have to go with FFX. And I'm okay with that, because 1) I genuinely liked X, and 2) alot of other people didn't, which in my mind makes my positive gaming experience that much more unique and special.

I know that Tidus gets a lot of hate, and I understand why. He's not really a badass, not like Cloud or Squall (or Jecht or Auron or Basch or Balthier). He uses humor, but not as well as Laguna. Jecht didn't pass along any of his ruggedly handsome genes, but did hang around long enough to pass along his emotional attachment issues, so Tidus ends up both emo and metro.

But haters gonna hate. I like Tidus. This is going to sound stupid, but in my mind, he's more... realistic, or at least more approachable, than other FF heroes. He's not an amazing warrior; he's a sports star who ends up in a fantastical world half empty, and he does right by the people he's with. And he's pretty stupid and he's frank and he's pretty naive and boy does he have daddy issues, but he's a good man, and I like him for that.

And the story isn't just about him. Outside of Kimahri, who I never really connected with, I thought that FFX's party was pitch perfect, with a good balance of abilities and personalities. And I totally called Lulu/Wakka. Totally. AND ALSO the plot ended up making sense and having some emotional umph to boot.

SO THERE. Maybe X really is my favorite? Now I really want to get around to finishing X-2.

Comments

[owlmoose]

I am so with you. I like Tidus, and for the same reasons you list -- although I think he's less stupid and more naive; after all, he grew up in a much easier world than Spira, so naturally some adjustment is to be expected. And he does adjust, with almost no angst at all, even when the world yanks the rug out from underneath him. So, yeah. Tidus fan here. :)

[lowkey]

Yes, my "dumb" comment was a little harsh. You did a much better job summing up Tidus' awesomeness than I did. I mean, hell, the dude finds out that he's the after-image memory of a dead civilization, and that saving Spira will result in his destruction, and the dude doesn't even blink.

Well, I assume that he blinks alot, and that he has to grabble with this discovery on his own terms. But the important thing, is that he never lets Yuna down. And that means something.

[mako_lies]

Ha, your reasons for liking Tidus are similar to my reasons for liking Vaan.

I'd really recommend playing VII--it's a good game--but try to ignore the hype, or you'll be disappointed.

IX is another good one. It's got story, characters, and world... and is just wonderfully executed.

The pre-VII FFs are good too (at least V and VI are, I've never played the others, and I've only played a little of V and VI, but they're awesome).

[lowkey]

You know, Vaan has really started to grow on me. I mean, I do have my criticisms: his abs always freaked out my friend M. and I—their shadows are, like, inverted or something—and in my opinion, he had a hard time coming into his own in the context of XII's ensemble cast. But Dissidia Duodecim really depicts him in a favorable light, and now that you've pointed it out, I can totally see the similarity between Tidus and him.

I'll try to get around to the other FFs at some point, but no promises! One step in front of the other, and I'll have XIII-2 to start on eventually, not to mention all of my other half-finished games!