Lj==Best and Worst==
General
| Category | Best | Second Best | Worst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game | Final Fantasy VII | Final Fantasy XII | Final Fantasy VIII |
| Story | Final Fantasy XII | Final Fantasy VII | Final Fantasy VIII |
| Graphical Style | Final Fantasy XI | Final Fantasy XII | Final Fantasy III DS |
| Soundtrack | Final Fantasy VII | Final Fantasy IX | Final Fantasy II |
| Character Cast | Final Fantasy XII | Final Fantasy VII | Final Fantasy VI |
| World | Final Fantasy XII | Final Fantasy XI | Final Fantasy VI |
| Monsters | Final Fantasy XI | Final Fantasy VII | Final Fantasy X |
| Final Dungeon | Final Fantasy VII | Final Fantasy | Final Fantasy X-2 |
| Final Battle | Final Fantasy VII | Final Fantasy | Final Fantasy Tactics |
| Battle System | Final Fantasy XII | Final Fantasy X-2 | Final Fantasy II |
| Level Up System | Final Fantasy XII | Final Fantasy X | Final Fantasy II |
| Skill System | Final Fantasy XII | Final Fantasy X | Final Fantasy II |
| Limit Breaks | Final Fantasy VII | Final Fantasy XI | Final Fantasy VI |
Characters
| Category | Best | Second Best | Worst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male Protagonist | Vaan | Cloud | Squall |
| Female Protagonist | Ashe | Aeris | Terra |
| Male Supporting Character | Basch von Ronsenburg | Vivi | Irvine |
| Female Supporting Character | Tifa | Freya | Selphie |
| Temporary Player Character | Beatrix | Vossler | Palom/Porom |
| Villain | Sephiroth | Garland | Ultimecia |
| Minor Villain | Jenova | Judge Bergan | Kefka |
| Recurring Boss | Ultros | Gilgamesh | Borghen |
| Cid | Cid Highwind | Cid of Bastok | Cid the Al Bhed |
| Biggs and Wedge | Final Fantasy VII | n/a | n/a |
| Airship | Final Fantasy II | Final Fantasy XI | Final Fantasy VIII |
| I Character | Warrior | Red Mage | Thief |
| VII Character | Cloud | Barret | Yuffie |
| VIII Character | Quistis | n/a | Selphie |
| IX Character | Vivi | Freya | Blank |
| X Character | Lulu | Tidas | Auron |
| X-2 Character | Rikku | Brother | Nooj |
| XII Character | Basch fon Ronsenburg | Vaan | Al-Cid Margrace |
Music
| Category | Best | Second Best | Worst |
|---|---|---|---|
| VI Song | Opera | Boss Theme | |
| VII Song | One-Winged Angel | Boss Theme | Chocobo Racing |
| VIII Song | Closing Theme | Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec | |
| IX Song | The Place I'll Return to Someday | ||
| X Song | Summoned Creature | Hymn of the Fayth | n/a |
| XII Song | Rabanastre | Victory Fanfare | Unknown |
| Chocobo Song | Brass de Chocobo (FFX) | Ukulele de Chocobo (FFIX) | Electric de Chocobo (FFVI) |
| Town Theme | Final Fantasy VI | Final Fantasy IV | Final Fantasy VIII |
| Battle Theme | Final Fantasy VIII | Final Fantasy VII | Final Fantasy II |
| Boss Battle Theme | Final Fantasy VI | Final Fantasy XII | |
| Final Battle Theme | Final Fantasy VII | Final Fantasy |
Job Classes
| Category | Best | Second Best | Worst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fighter | Steiner | Cloud | Squall |
| Thief | Vaan | Zidane | Locke |
| Paladin | Beatrix | Cecil | |
| Black Mage | Vivi | Lulu | Palom |
| White Mage | Aeris | Yuna | Rosa |
| Blue Mage | Quistis | Kimahri | Strago Magus |
| Ninja | Ninja (Final Fantasy XI) | Yuffie | Shadow |
| Samurai | Samurai (Final Fantasy XI) | Yojimbo | Auron |
| Gunner | Balthier | Barret | Irvine |
| Dragoon | Freya | Cid Highwind | n/a |
| Monk | Tifa | Monk (Final Fantasy XI) | Sabin |
| Gambler | Tifa | Wakka | Selphie |
Summon Incarnations
| Category | Best | Second Best | Worst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander | Final Fantasy IX | Final Fantasy VII | Final Fantasy VIII |
| Bahamut | Final Fantasy X | Final Fantasy XI | Final Fantasy VII |
| Carbuncle | Final Fantasy Tactics | Final Fantasy XI | Final Fantasy Tactics Advance |
| Diablos | Final Fantasy XI | Final Fantasy VIII | Final Fantasy VI |
| Fenrir | Final Fantasy XI | n/a | n/a |
| Ifrit | Final Fantasy VII | Final Fantasy XI | Final Fantasy VIII |
| Leviathan | Final Fantasy VIII | Final Fantasy VII | Final Fantasy XI |
| Odin | Final Fantasy IX | Final Fantasy VIII | n/a |
| Pheonix | Final Fantasy VIII | Final Fantasy VII | Final Fantasy Tactics Advance |
| Shiva | Final Fantasy X | Final Fantasy IX | Final Fantasy XI |
| Titan | Final Fantasy XI | Final Fantasy Tactics | n/a |
| Non-reoccuring | Garuda | Anima | Kjata |
Thoughts by Game
Final Fantasy I
I actually only got to play this game once on the original NES. I found it to be a little difficult, to say the least. I revisited it when they made it a little less unfair but also a little more involved with Dawn of Souls. Needless to say, by modern standards its nothing particularly amazing, but Final Fantasy should always remain in our hearts and minds as the great progenitor. Many of the themes, in particular, are lovely moreso when played with actual instruments.
| Category | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Story | 3.0 | It is pretty non-existant. |
| System | 7.0 | Rudimentary RPG, but look when it was made. |
| Score | 6.5 | Midi does hurt, but the themes are memorable. |
| OVERALL | 7.5 | Objectively, this game is greater than its components. |
Final Fantasy II
Wait, I don't have levels. Why do I have 10MP and why can't I seem to do anything to change that? Why does this game only create questions? Why square? Why did you go this way? Why can't I figure out how to actually go where I'm supposed to? Why does the story seem lacking?
| Category | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Story | 7.0 | Where am I? What am I doing? Whats my motivation? |
| System | 7.8 | In terms of concept, still ahead of its time, but lacking a quality implimentation. |
| Score | 5.5 | Reasonable, but the most common music sounds like hash on a chalkboard through a tunnel |
| OVERALL | 4.5 | Still needs work... go PSP? |
Final Fantasy III
Please release this game in a format that does not make my eyes bleed.
Final Fantasy IV
I got lost again. What can I say? I revisit this every once and a while, but I have to say, in all honesty, the cast could use a little work. As much as I really want to like them, they seem every bit as shallow as their sprites portray them to be.
Final Fantasy VI
There are definitely two things that need to happen for someone to really appreciate an epic RPG like the Final Fantasy series; you have to identify with the characters and you have to dislike the enemy. Needless to say, if you find Terra to be on the board for one of the most annoying characters of all time, and you're pretty 'blah' about Kefka, you're not going to like this game...
There is of course the rest of the cast, which was numerous, which is cool, but completely unremarkable if not a little stupid.
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII is a great foil to Final Fantasy VI. It has two major things going for it that VI did not. It had likable characters, at least the initial four introduced, and a good villain.
Cloud gets off to a good start. Barret is tough and cool even if he is a little stereotypical. Tifa is amiable and Aeris is enchanting. The characters added after that point are a little hit or miss. Most of them have their redeeming factors, if you include the option of not inviting certain members to your party. Cloud wanes a little, but in all honesty, Cloud comes from a long line of unimpressive lead characters.
Sephiroth is a character you can truely hate. He brings a certain vengence to the storyline that is far more petty (in global terms) but so personal that for reasons far beyond saving the planet, he must die. Though it might be a cheap trick to kill off the most likable character in the entire game, for those of us who liked Aeris, there is no villain in Final Fantasy that is as vile as Sephiroth. It actually feels good to beat him up all three times at the end.
Advent Children
Dirge of Cerberus
| Category | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Story | 5.5 | I never really cared for Vincent, but this managed to do that while still not blowing me away or being completely worthless.. could benefit from some work though. |
| System | 7.5 | You can really tell that Square had never done this before and they never figured everything out. Invisible walls, a few interesting movement issues, but mostly ok. |
| Score | 7.5 | Everything seemed to fit, but I don't walk away humming much from this game. |
| OVERALL | 7.5 | I actually enjoyed this game more than its worth. It has a certain appeal to it, probably based on the weapon customization, as limited as it is. |