Final Fantasy IX

A shame for me, because the story didn't hook me up at all, I tried to play this game since it came out and always stopped before finishing the first disc, then several years later I finished it and I must say that I didn't enjoy much. Characters are cool and so, but it is missing something, maybe more character development, epic story or a lively world.

The gameplay feels more classical, still turn based random encounters with active time battle but I think that the combat is more simple and repetitive, it also probably because all these years I've been playing lots of rpg and I got used to these fights, but I barely used skills nor invocations, just steal-steal-steal, ok let's finish it.

I didn't have fun with customization either, it reminded me to a light version of Lost Odyssey and skills weren't as interesting for me as in the previous Final Fantasy games.

Of course the game is an excellent Final Fantasy and thousands of people have enjoyed it. A big world map with many things to do and production values are very high, beautiful enviroments, excellent design and a very well done soundtrack. It is just that my tastes or expectations are different to what FFIX delivers.

Did I like it? Yes, but not what I expected.
I think you will like it if you:
- Like jrpg
- Get interested by the story and world

I rate my experience with a 6.5 out of 10.

Final Fantasy VIII

Another of my favorites from my teenage days; an epic story involving students from some kind of mercenary school.

Gameplay is the same good as always, random encounters and turn based combat using the active time battle. This time the customization is based on GF, the old invocations are now some kind of being that can be linked to one of the characters.

By linking a GF the character gains the ability to summon them, the passive bonuses that the GF has gained by leveling up and finally also give stat bonuses that depends on the amount of magic linked to that slot. This magic can be extracted from monsters, giving more things to do on a combat rather than fight.

Ok explained like this the gameplay may look complicated but it is well explained on the game and without the need of a heavy tutorial.

There arent many minigames available but clearly they put a lot of effort into the card game, I love it is really addictive, specially when the opponent has a nice card that I want ^^.

Graphics has improved a lot too, now characters look more human and have textures, backgrounds are pre-rendered (I love it) and combat stages are in 3d. Music is also outstanding.

I loved the characters (Laguna is awesome ^^) and the story is very well done and emotive enough, Cry Count = 5.

Did I like it? Yes!
I think you will like it if you:
- Like jrpg
- Avoid comparisons with VII

I rate my experience with a 9 out of 10.

Final Fantasy V

This is probably the less valued Final Fantasy game from Squaresoft's golden age, but for me is my 2nd favorite Final Fantasy and one of the best games I've played (always on my criteria, shoo!).

It has all the Final Fantasy elements: crystals, active time battle, random encounters, different worlds and travel methods, nice graphics, invocations, etc.

The music is awesome as usual, Clash on the big bridge and the main theme are amongst my favorite themes ever.

What makes this game one of my favorites is the Job system, being able to choose the characters class from a original and varied set of different classes with their own habilities which some of them can be shared with another classes.
 This gives a whole lot of different choices and party setups to try, these class possibilities are my favorite thing on a game because it means that there's a whole lot of different strategies and approaches on combats, and I love this!

I enjoyed the story too, some people say it is not as emotive as the other games but I don't remember any FF game with a very emotive story, intense yes but not emotive for me (objection! I still get moved by the song dedicated to Laguna).

Did I like it? Yes!
I think you will like it if you:
- Like jrpgs
- Stop comparisons

I rate my experience with a 9.5 out of 10.

Final Fantasy VII

This is probably the game I've finished more times in my gaming life, it has everything I need to have fun:

Engaging story: I always wanted to keep moving foward to know more about the story, it's on these times that I don't care much if the game is linear.

The materia system is also very original, lots of different available materias, combinations, upgrades, mastering, plus being influenced by the character equipment in many ways. I think this is system is very complete and well thought.

The usual active time battle system is even more entertaining thanks to the materia combinations there are lots of skills to try and diferent ways to approach a combat. Boss fights are challenging enough, specially for someone who hates level grinding like I do.

Graphics may have aged bad but I still like them and never had any problem with. Music is just awesome.

To me nearly everything is perfect, but I'm not giving it a 10 because some things feel rushed, character story development is very low on some cases, story sometimes feels too linear and it left many unanswered questions on me. But these are all very minor details, the game is still one of the best.

Did I like it? Hell yes.
I think you will like it if you:
- Like jrpgs

I rate my experience with a 9.5 out of 10.