I feel like 9 got the closest to perfecting the heart of what the series is (or was) about. Incredible world building which toed the line perfectly between medieval and steampunk, great characters that were developed really well, mostly light hearted but with a serious live story and bad guy and actually explored some pretty existential themes of identity, personhood and meaning.

@JackCrossSama

9 ай бұрын

I feel like 10 was the last great final fantasy we got from Square

@codyvandal2860

9 ай бұрын

@@JackCrossSama10 also was the biggest technical leap forward as well.

@JimC1984

9 ай бұрын

Same 10 was truely the last spirit of final fantasy. The rest have been reactions to trends not a masterpiece fantasy

@nayibgonzalez3250

9 ай бұрын

X is truly remarkable. The way the game’s narrative tackles certain themes is second to none, like hope and sorrow. Sin presented as a repercussion for humanity’s mistakes (sins) but also as a necessity. And more. To this day, Final Fantasy X still amazes me with all the messages I can get out of it.

@youtubasoarus

9 ай бұрын

9 certainly felt the most magical of the ones i've played. Wonderful soundtrack.

Ive been slowly playing through the 1-6 pixel remasters and its been such a joy. I still remember sitting in front of our tiny TV with my brothers playing FF1. Its such an old gem for me. I miss those times

@mike1989libra

9 ай бұрын

Why I got it on switch

@solidwisdom8749

9 ай бұрын

Its good but too hard

@tlovehater

9 ай бұрын

Rest in peace.

@rowanmorris2187

9 ай бұрын

I got them all as I'd never played 1 through 3 before. I just started 5 last night. So glad they fixed the font and finally put them on console.

@Terron29

9 ай бұрын

​@@solidwisdom8749too hard? You can triple all xp gains if you wish and turn off random encounters

Just wanted to say your videos get me through tough times. I feel like you are a friend taking me back to childhood when video games make me remember. Thank you, Johnny!

@HappyConsoleGamer

9 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching! Appreciated!

@drgonzo123

7 ай бұрын

I’ve been dealing with depression a lot lately. I really hope you find some joy in life. It takes work, but is possible. If you are dealing with depression, all I can say is find a doctor. Hang in there.

@smicrv

3 ай бұрын

@@drgonzo123 Hey man! I suffered depression from 16 years to 35 I'm currently 36 and it's possible, not gonna lie it's not easy but its doable as you say. I do agree with you that it feels like Rob is an old friend and for me is the friend that never left.

My childhood best friend and I got half way through FFX together, then I moved away. So we each beat the game on our own and we still share a love for that game over 2 decades later, because it reminds us of hanging out at his house

@88Fitzy88

9 ай бұрын

Something similar happened to me too!! Amazing story

@HUYI1

9 ай бұрын

​@@88Fitzy88same, I was in college at the time too so I shared the experience with my friends at the time

Oooh yeah that FF3 (ff6) was so very well done in many ways. That intro with Terra in the snowstorm and that opening music, that can never be done again. Love this game forever.

@johngumprecht

9 ай бұрын

3/6 is hands down my favorite super nintendo game of all time.....even better than super metroid

Final Fantasy Tactics was the first game where I was emotionally invested in the characters. That game’s story is sooooo GOOD 💯

@badboy-gn8fu

9 ай бұрын

i remember FF tactics when it was released in 1997. i LOVED it. even to this day it is still the greatest SRPG ever made. i can't wait for the remaster..i will buy it day 1. right now i am playing the demo for Disgaea 7.

@EnigmaCat329

9 ай бұрын

It was good, indeed! Great characters, splendid OST, well-crafted story with twists and turns and solid strategy gameplay. It gripped me far more than FF7. And is my 2nd favorite Final Fantasy, with FF6 being my all-around fav.

@deathproof8732

9 ай бұрын

I didn't connect with the characters at all. I never even understood what the game was about. I beat it just as confused as I was when I beat 7 and 8. 4, 12, and 15 are my favorite. I'm 45 so there was nostalgia in 15 when in the 90s me and my friends would load up in the firebird and go meet up with girls, the arcade, or the movie theater. Get into fights and leave town to go meet people from online.

@badboy-gn8fu

9 ай бұрын

@@deathproof8732 wtf are blabbling on about?!

@jaybee4288

9 ай бұрын

This is a hot take but I loved the original FFT release and absolutely hated what they did in the later releases when they rewrote it like Shakespeare.

Final Fantasy changed me too but in a different way. Whenever Covid 19 came out and the world was changing, I decided to try the FF7 Remake. I never had any experience with the series other than trying 14 a few years ago. I was blown away by the remake and wanted to dive deeper. 3 years later, I have collected and beat every game in the franchise, while it opened my eyes to several different forms of media heavily popular from Japan, like reading manga and watching anime. I’ll always owe it to Final Fantasy for being my gateway into several other mediums of entertainment!

@RCONNECT4

9 ай бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/oWF3prOkZbjKm9I.htmlsi=-jt3NO8lHULvAwXw

@statesminds

9 ай бұрын

That’s crazy you beat them all after that lol. That’s awesome. What are your top 5 FF you played?

@branberrycakes

9 ай бұрын

This is what I call a true passionate fan. Playing every entry regardless of the general consensus on the entries. Playing to play. Nothing more, nothing less. This is what gaming is all about.

@poppysgtspanky

9 ай бұрын

@@statesminds ohhh man. They always be changing xD but for now 1. Ff6 2. Ff14 3. FF9 4. FF7 5. FF4

@blackout1518

9 ай бұрын

I’m on the same journey as you brother. Going through ff8 for the first time rn and loving it(except for the garbage triple triad rules)

That's why I love the Dragon Quest series, because it continues to respect its roots

Final Fantasy 4 and Super Mario RPG were the first RPGs I ever played. What a time to be alive

@Southwest4Life

9 ай бұрын

I miss those days 😢

@robertharper3114

9 ай бұрын

Squaresoft was the GOAT back then during the 90's. Man I miss those times...

@HUYI1

9 ай бұрын

Chrono trigger was one of my first, now I feel old 😂😂

@fartguy69

9 ай бұрын

Same! Later tried FF3, Chrono Trigger and Earthbound.

@AbstractM0use

9 ай бұрын

Dragon Warrior was my first, but it paled in comparison to Final Fantasy. That's the one that turned me into a RPG fan. After the SNES era, I couldn't get both the PS1 and N64 at the time, and since Squaresoft went to Sony, I didn't even hesitate to choose Playstation. Still don't regret that decision. Also, Final Fantasy 4 is still the definitive Final Fantasy, for me.

Great video Johnny. Final Fantasy is a series I haven’t spent a lot of time with but I can definitely relate with other series. I’m like this with Phantasy Star. I keep wanting Sega to recreate the same joy I had with older titles and PSO but it just isn’t the same with newer entries

@paulkinder8440

9 ай бұрын

I concur PSO is my favourite game of all time, i spent so much time on that on my Dreamcast and Xbox, losing my Xbox data after over 3 yrs of playing the game, stopped me from playing much longer. Unfortunately PSO2 took too long in coming to the UK on consoles, so it never felt the same when it finally arrived and i didn't like PSU at all.

@dericksanzi2579

9 ай бұрын

I loved Phantasy Star 2,3,4 on Genesis - but, never played PSO. I just never was big on the MMORPG genre.

@HolyClownFuckarus

9 ай бұрын

Wawawewah its tyler!

@richardgallimore5976

9 ай бұрын

I currently got an emulator & am playing games I was a bit too young to try back in the day (grew up briefly with SNES, then N64). RPG wise I've played through a few good ones, Dragon Warrior I/II, currently playing III, also Final Fantasy I. Haven't tried much of the Sega Master System (though Wonderboy III blew my expectations away for an 8-Bit game), but I do want to try Phantasy Star at some point. Based on what others have said I'm in for a treat getting to play it for the first time.

@paulkinder8440

9 ай бұрын

@richardgallimore5976 I mostly played fighting games on my Sega consoles, i did play Dragonforce and Panzer Dragoon Saga on the Sega Saturn and i enjoyed both. On the Dreamcast probably my favourite game of all time was Phantasy Star Online, but that was my first online game i'd played and i continued playing it on the original Xbox until my hdd crashed and i lost all my data. I have also played through Phantasy Star II on a Megadrive compilation. Because i don't use guides, i did find it quite hard to get through, some of the dungeons are a nightmare to be truthful and the gameplay is quite dated now. It'd be good to see a remake of the game. From what i hear PSIV is the best one.

All these years later , your channel is still as authentic as ever. Amazing.

Final Fantasy is THE series that helped me learn how to read while growing up because i never enjoyed reading books. Nowadays i don't play any of them as much as i used to. FF8 and 9 were ones i played religiously.

Monolith Soft broke off of square just in time to avoid their new quirky, cinematic, action based era. And their Baten Kaitos series remains my favourite; a perfect balance of classic FF style mixed with incredible and enchanting fixed camera visuals, the evolution of what FF9 & chrono cross were doing, and I'm still waiting for something to continue in that direction.

For me playing final fantasy almost decades ago, when it launched did changed me in the sense that I felt like I habitated that world, it wasnt just a game it was an experience I got to live in midgar. Hard to explain it with words but I even wrote it in a little notebook back in the day, I didnt just play the game I habitated the world.

Awesome video! I enjoyed you speaking about your journey in Final Fantasy which closely resembled mine. The original Final Fantasy shaped my childhood and then Final Fantasy 3(6) defined a lot of my teen’s. I followed the games the same as you and had the same feelings and emotions up until Final Fantasy 13. I was always a grinder, leveling up my characters and just enjoying the game and the open worlds, then came 13 and about half way through I hit a boss who I couldn’t beat, dead stopped me, I couldn’t go back because of the linear design and that moment was it for me. Without the turn based combat and open world exploration I didn’t feel the draw to grind and adventure, it wasn’t what I loved anymore. So I went back to the start and played through my first loves again instead and haven’t really ever come back to the new games. I guess I didn’t want it to change.

My favorite thing about Sunday is watching my Jacksonville Jaguars but a new video from happy console gamer is definitely 1B

16 legit made me cry. It’s so beautiful. And being a huge DMC fan it made me jump right in and juggle enemies to the moon.

@dcrediah

9 ай бұрын

And maybe I’m not THE FF guy to ask but my fav FF is 8. That should say everything about me lol

@OrphanCrippler1

9 ай бұрын

I loved 8 as well bro. It felt more mature to me.

@realmatic10

9 ай бұрын

All I get from this FF8 comment…is that you love tedium, and handsome boys.😂

@dcrediah

9 ай бұрын

@@realmatic10 you’d be amazed how much on the nose you are 😂

These games were such a huge part of my life since i was 14 and first laid eyes on ff7 at a friend's house around 97/98. Been a die hard fan ever since, it's wild to have played ff16 all these years later and still feel that same excitement. Thanks for the nostalgia as always Johnny! Hope the fam is doing well🙏 *i still have my original ps1 copies of 7-9, tactics, anthology and my copy of 7 has a misprint on the back label. I love holding on to the very games i got for Christmas as a teenager, having those physical copies is part of the fun of collecting games and I'm always amazed by your massive collection

It's my favorite video game series ever, but unfortunately, I haven't enjoyed it all that much since FFIX. I did enjoy FFVII Remake though and am looking forward to Rebirth. But ever since FFIX, it just hasn't been the same for me. I think the series really misses Sakaguchi. What I consider the golden years for the series were with him. It feels directionless and visionless now. I very much miss Nobuo Uematsu as well. He is perhaps the most influential and important gaming figure for me. His music has done so much for me and I first discovered him playing FF. But the series feels forever changed, that's fine if that's the route they've chosen. There are tons of other RPGs to fall in love with and you can always go back and play the classics if you have the itch. I didn't like FFXVI at all, but I know a lot of people did. I hope one day we get FFVIII and IX remakes(I know the IX is long rumored).

I'll always cherish turn-based systems but I think FF7 remake hits the sweet spot between action and thoughtful strategic combat

@el_oh_ell

9 ай бұрын

Then they should take that system and make a triple A mana game with it. They spun off final fantasy to make an action series already.

@domymbd

9 ай бұрын

I think FF7 Remake is the only one in the whole series with a good action-oriented combat system.

@ShonnDaylee

9 ай бұрын

I can't stand the dumbed down action combat. It's awful. Lacks strategy, and trades it for over-the-top action. Very meh....

@blackout1518

9 ай бұрын

@@ShonnDayleefinal fantasy has always been over the top. Action combat fits the series so much more than turn based ever has which is why they’ll never go back so deal with it

@ElBribri

9 ай бұрын

For me FFX kinda killed FF for me, the way was uninteresting to me, the narrow hallway trend started with this game and for me all games from there on have felt NOTHING like a FF game (expcet for 12), and to this dya, I've been uninsterested in FF, not one catches my eye and attention as they used to

I grew up with final fantasy 1, I remember going to my best friends house and we cleared it together. I love final fantasy 1,4,6,7,9,12. When 13 came out I tried it and wanted to love it. But unfortunately that was the end of final fantasy for me. Love your videos.

Final Fantasy feels like a friend you grew up with who, as you both get older, tries to be friends with everybody, so they end up changing themselves as a person to appeal to those people and it alienates you from the personal you knew growing up. In the later years, you can still get along and hang out, but it's just not the same, and they're spending more time with those other people doing things with them, and less with you as a priority. Basically, Final Fantasy will always have those older games to go back to, and it will always have moments that rekindle those moments in the future, but things change and we have to learn to accept that over time.

@Jon_Cummins

9 ай бұрын

Great description! Monolith Soft broke off from square just in time to avoid their more western, cinematic, action based FFs. And their Baten Kaitos series remains my favourite; a perfect balance of classic FF style mixed with incredible, enchanting fixed camera visuals, the evolution of what FF9 & chrono cross were doing, and I'm still waiting for something to continue in that direction.

I'm not even a fan of Final Fantasy. Never have been. Yet I'm 6 minutes in and enjoying the video because of how much passion you speak about the series.

I struggle with “what makes a Final Fantasy a Final Fantasy game”. Humour FOR SURE!!! I think it’s a vibe but I’ve felt like the recent ones haven’t given me that Final Fantasy feeling…but like you, I’m always super optimistic and I get excited for the next one every time! It could be a new fav! You just never know!

My first was 7. It was and still is my favorite (nostalgia is heavy with this one!) I enjoyed 8 and 9, but fell in love with 10. The next one I enjoyed a lot was the 13 series. I know they’re not the most popular, but my late friend and I had a lot of fun with the series, and due to his passing, I will forever hold the 13 series close. Thanks for the video!

I haven't played FF16 yet, I don't own a PS5 ... but I played pretty much every other entries as they came out in North America and I'll say these games actually shaped my personality as a teen in a big way! In retrospect, I would say these games were just as important to me as some movies and songs/albums were! Favorite order for me: - FF6 - FF9 - FF7 - FF4 - FF12 - FF1 - FF10 - FF5 - FF15 - FF8 - FF3 - FF13 - FF2 - FF11 and 14 (not a subscription MMO fan, didn't have the money back then ...)

@dizzydazed8055

9 ай бұрын

You will have fun with 16... it is decent; better than 15 and 13. It overstays its welcome a bit, but still a solid 7.5/10

@shutup1037

9 ай бұрын

Glad that 12 is on your top 5 for someone who have played every FF. It's the only ff i've finished and played

Final Fantasy 12 was the last one I could get into, X was the last one I loved. I just miss the turn based combat, I really hope that Square sees the success of Baldur’s Gate 3 and copies it’s turn based combat for Final Fantasy 17. That might get me back into the franchise.

Johnny, man.. you are the best. For years and years now your hard work with these videos have left me with a lot to think about and always with a smile. All the best to your and your family!

I love how this series is so tied to your life. It grew or degraded as you grew. It’s so interesting to watch how much they’ve changed.

@AaronBowley

9 ай бұрын

yeah it’s been like 30 years

Even though I've been subbed since like 2010(?), I've been rewatching lots of your content, just wanted to say thanks for all the good times you provide us. Best wishes to you and yours!

Okay, so after 9, everything is weird. Weird weird weird weirdy weirdy weird weird. We get it.

I hope you go back to the XIII trilogy someday! Maybe you'll see it from a fresh perspective! The pulse quests are where the combat really shines. There's a reason they use the stagger system in future FF games. It's pretty satisfying when you get it.

@phoenixxxashez

9 ай бұрын

As someone who's played and beaten the first two XIII games in the trilogy (Haven't finished Lightning Returns yet) I really didn't mind the games. Maybe it's just because I'm a casual gamer and don't really care all that much as long as I find a game fun and decent. I don't really complain.

@Evan2768

9 ай бұрын

Ff13 and 13-2 are my 2 favorite final fantasy games. I find them beautiful, nostalgic, moving, and fun. The music alone is enough for me. I agree that the stagger system is very well done, but also the paradigm system shines the further you get into the game, and especially on hard difficulty. The combat requires strategy and timing to be mastered. I also wish people would revisit these games with a fresh mind… maybe one day we’ll get a remaster.

Final fantasy 3 or Final fantasy 6 seems to be shiney and magical gem from the past. Love your videos John 🌟 Started on FFVII and also played VIII and X and have been curious about Final fantasy VI have never played it but life and game backlogs has not allowed it yet

@superricky9223

9 ай бұрын

You have to play Final Fantasy 6 when you can you can Suplex a train in the game story is really good with good characters in it more chance to play it with the pixel remaster out final fantasy 1-6 looking to get it on the switch then have more time to play it with it be hand held and life getting in the way

Here is the story. My first turn-based JRPG was Wild Arms(loved that game). I bought Resident Evil (finished many times).My friend has FF7 and we traded our games . We used to play football and basketball together. He got into a car accident. He didn't die but he is a vegetable. Yeah.... I'm crying

@L0stV1k1ngz

9 ай бұрын

Sorry to hear that brother. This world is cruel, I hope you find comfort in knowing you both shared time in the world of Gaia ❤️

@EdwinTheGreat337

9 ай бұрын

@L0stV1k1ngz Thank you brother. It's been close to like 25 years now. What I learned is your mom will love you no matter what. His mom takes care of him. He doesn't have a father.

Always enjoyable to listen to your passion. Great episode as usual

Any day that my favorite gaming tuber talks about my favorite series is a great day.

I absolutely love part 10. It was the second game I bought for my ps2, the music, the fmv’s the graphics!!! Changed my life.

@mjolnir_swe

8 ай бұрын

Me too. I kinda liked the combat also. The last true FF for me.

As someone who got into the series in the 2000s and has enjoyed each game, it just pains me a little that Final Fantasy has got from being arguably the premier RPG series, to just "very good" games (albeit with very high production values). I enjoyed the likes of Shin Megami Tensei V, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Tales of Arise, and Octopath Traveller 2 far more than Final Fantasy XVI - which would have been shocked to me 20 years ago.

@blubblurb

9 ай бұрын

Now that you mention it, Tales of Arise also hooked me more than FF 16. Even Ys VIII did more to me than FF 16.

Looking forward to this video, great work Johnny! Loved your channel since 2012 and Sunday uploads with a mug of tea in hand is a special thing ... currently playing the pixel remasters for Final Fantasy on switch and even doing another FFX playthrough (a personal favorite)!

Great video & content! Very thought provoking.

I love the series so much! I’m kinda in that same realm where I completed most of the games. I played some of 11 and 14 but mmo really not for me. Once the game lost the “world map” it’s when it changed for me. Like exploring the world map and going wherever you want on your gold chocobo…I miss that part so much! Still love the series though.

There’s a lot of positive things to say about the Final Fantasy series and I feel that each numbered entry having its own identity, is part of being a Final Fantasy game. I think the developers feel they can do more with the ever advancing technology, so I’m excited to say what they do next!

Loving the hair Johnny! Keep rocking it 😎🤘

Love this video format, and i'd love to see your view on other franchises! Please make this a video series.

What would be the OP method of emulating the old pixel final fantasy games? I enjoyed this video. I feel like the original final fantasy games had more heart. Also I enjoy the turn based combat a lot more than these newer titles.

@Agostoic

9 ай бұрын

The PSX one? It's the same og experience w/QOL improvements that smooths it out.

This is, by far, the best place to talk, learn about and remember moments related to video games. The rest available everywhere else feels -to me- like they've been losing focus, they've been missing the point. Johnny, your vision and way of relating to video games and everything around them, the stories you tell and your genuine enthusiasm is exactly what why I come back to your channel every week, knowing that there's a relatable friend that will tell me one more story in the most honest and passionate way.

I really value you sharing this, Johnny, especially as a fellow love of the series with an entirely different history-my first experience was playing 7 as a 25-year-old back in 2020. If nothing else, I think it’s beautiful that the same series can impact both of us deeply even if it’s in unique ways. I really respect your points, and I’ll second having humor for XVII, haha

I do like the artwork for the original game, that's a cool t shirt. Ideas for future episodes I would like to see • Top ten final fantasy games • Top ten Zelda games • Top ten consoles • Video game movies

Final Fantasy is Life

@rain1676

9 ай бұрын

I love Bahamut

1 to 9 were good

@Jon_Cummins

9 ай бұрын

Ya, Monolith Soft broke off from square just in time to avoid their more western, cinematic, action based FFs. And their Baten Kaitos series remains my favourite; a perfect balance of classic FF style mixed with incredible, enchanting fixed camera visuals, the evolution of what FF9 & chrono cross were doing, and I'm still waiting for something to continue in that direction.

Really enjoyed this video!

Thanks Johny for making my sunday

I think people can expect game to be what they want before playing it. And they can oftentimes be disappointed. Or they can meet a game where it is and appreciate it for what it has to offer

The magic of "Final Fantasy" ended with 9. Uematsu's scores can't be overstated. While X has some, it's still not the same. I still enjoy the games a lot, FFXII really had a great battle system but some of the core of what makes FF is lost. FF7 remake sort of revived it but that is maybe because of the nostalgia: it has the music, humor and light-heartedness, alongside a serious theme. Can't wait for Rebirth!!

@mbern4530

9 ай бұрын

That is why I love ff12, it broke from the mould and felt fresh. Different composer, different art direction and an actual mature story as opposed to what came before. It's still my favourite.

@danholo

9 ай бұрын

@@mbern4530 music in 12 is godsend and gambits are awesome. atmosphere in that game was really something.

@Jon_Cummins

9 ай бұрын

Ya, Monolith Soft broke off from square just in time to avoid their more western, cinematic, action based FFs. And their Baten Kaitos series remains my favourite; a perfect balance of classic FF style mixed with incredible, enchanting fixed camera visuals, the evolution of what FF9 & chrono cross were doing, and I'm still waiting for something to continue in that direction.

You hit me with so much nostalgia with that timbits box at 11:14.. maaan I miss that era of tims 😭

Great video dude!

I'm currently in the process of trying to get into Final Fantasy, and I've been watching many of your FF videos. This was a great one to watch because it really helps me pick which ones I should be giving a try. Currently I'm thinking I'll play FF7 remaster, FF3, FF9, FF10, maybe FF12, and FF16. Love your passion in these videos

@jaybee4288

9 ай бұрын

If you’re really going to play them fully, these games are a lot of hours and will consume your gameplay for some time. 7, 9 or 10 are a good place to start. Not too retro. I’d steer away from 12 as a first one to be honest, it’s something to try if you’re a fan of the series, very divisive though. 15 much the same.

@AbstractM0use

9 ай бұрын

Awesome. I sort of envy people new to FF7 that get to experience it for the first time with the remake. It's a different experience, though. The original is revered for a reason, despite how dated it looks. (And yes it looks dated which is why fans have begged for a remake for decades) Gameplay-wise, you'll have a better grasp on playing FF9 if you play the original FF7 first. The classic ones are like watching silent movies, if you're used to voice acting (which begins with FF10).

FF VII: Rebirth so far appears to be what a modern FF game should be like -- a grand adventure across a big world, with friends (that you can issue commands to) you meet along the way. 😃 I'm glad that they didn't ditch the ATB system -- it's pretty much one of the most recognizable gameplay elements the series has. I just wish there's a mode that nerfs the normal attack damage and that it can't deal killing blows -- you'd have to mainly deal damage using ATB skills and finish off enemies with it. Basically the button-mash attacks are just there to speed up the ATB gauge.

@PhazeyBlur

9 ай бұрын

Not only issue commands you can control them too, and iirc in the menu you can change your party order so if every time you're in a party and you don't want to play as Cloud during battles, when battle starts the camera will automatically change to the character you set as leader so you could play as Tifa/Aerith/Barret pretty much from the mid to end game if you want.

"It's Final Fantasy in name, not in feel" I felt that. Dragon Quest is an interesting comparison, there have been changes to that game series but it has always held on to it's feel, whether that be it's art style, tone, world, etc. It feels like the games belong together.

always love you FF videos!

My Top 3 are 7, 9 and 6. I felt exactly the same as you with 13, and never played 15 or 16 (they just look so... joyless). Hope some are enjoying them still, but I would love the excitement and adventurous feeling to be back in 17 (and give us some more interesting looking characters, PLEASE)!

@robertharper3114

9 ай бұрын

And locales!! For heaven sakes, bring back the world map! And the turn based combat!! These new developers don't know what Final Fantasy is, and they're chasing the Call of Duty crowd while leaving the fans who brought the series to where it is, in the dust!! Sad!!

@mcihay246

9 ай бұрын

16 is definitely not joyless in regards to gameplay with the means of self expression through combat, and there are definitely moments of both tragedy and levity within the plot. There's a difference between just watching someone playing the game, and actually playing it to understand the potential. Not saying that it's perfect or it applies to everyone however, because no game applies to everyone.

@VeggieGamer

9 ай бұрын

@@mcihay246 True, but the trailers did nothing to get me to want to play it. I don't have time to play every game to find out if they are or just appear to be joyless. :(

@mcihay246

9 ай бұрын

@@VeggieGamer That's fine. If it's not going to look like it's your thing, then that's a great indication of not buying it.

3:25, you lightly touch on Nobuo Uematsu’s soundtrack to Final Fantasy 6 (3) as being elevated. I challenge you to listen to the whole OST in full 1-2 times. How does it make you feel? John Williams made using melody as a leitmotif famous, but Uematsu uses flue instrument samples for that, different melodies communicating the same thing thought the entire score. Its mixing/mastering is also elevated. Listen to the progression from 4, 5 to 6. Each builds a on the other. It might be the most Sophisticated soundtrack for any medium. I kind of feel left out that you only present the NA FF experience, three were three games on the SFC/SNES, Final Fantasy 5 is a beast of a game in its own right and has been subsequently released in North America. The FFV soundtrack is on the same level as Seiken Densetsu 2 and 3 (drum/bass, melody use). FFVI is in the god tier along with Tales of Phantasia or Rockman & Forte, the SNES soundtrack being used to its maximum potential.

@Mindblazter80

9 ай бұрын

Yes ff6 have the best music ever. Its still in my head today. And for me, thats the real and only ff game ever.

The timing on this video is crazy, currently replaying the first Final Fantasy with the pixel remaster. Very nostalgic as it was my first video game I played when I was 4 years old in the 90s and my older brother introduced it to me. Back then I thought defeating Garland (the first boss in the prologue) and rescuing the princess was the end of the game. All these years later playing FFXVI and getting this story about the bond between brothers struck a chord with me. Overall I will always be nostalic for the old entries, but I look forward to and enjoy the new ones too. Even though each game is different I always feel the universe as a whole remains consistent, I just imagine each entry taking place at different points in time or in different timelines. And yes they may play differently but we always have the old ones to go back to and there's also spiritual successors such as Octopath Traveler, etc. Great video Johnny!

Final Fantasy is my favorite game series ever. There's so much I could say about it but I don't want to clog up the comments, so here's one of my most special FF experiences: It was the early 90s. I was 12 when I discovered that Square was messing with the numbering and that we in North America did not get a release of Final Fantasy V. "Those jerks, they're holding out on us!" I thought. I emailed them (on America Online, haha) and asked them to translate the game and release it in America. They actually responded! The rep said something like "Final Fantasy V will not be translated from Japanese" and then went on to explain the company's official position and more stuff I can't quite remember. Man, I sure wish I still had that email! That would be an amazing artifact to show people today, especially after V has now gotten more than one official translation. Anyway, fast forward to summer vacation in 1998. That year I discovered not only emulators, but translation patches! I came across the fan translation for FFV (which I think was the first game to ever receive a fan translation ROM patch). You wouldn't believe me if I told you how excited I was. I could FINALLY play this "lost Final Fantasy game" in English! It's like I stumbled on a hidden treasure and none of my non-nerd friends could understand why I was so hyped about it. Needless to say, that game became my entire summer. Eventually I bought the Japanese SFC cartridge and to this day FFV remains one of my favorite games and favorite memories. Oh, and his name will always be Butz to me. "Bartz" who?

Octopath traveler is the New final fantasy, its the true

X-2 is really underrated in the grand scheme of things. I love that game lol.

This was your best show for me i grew up on final fantay! I miss diving into them and getting away for hours of grinding and exploring it feels like we'll never be there again. Not like how big 1,2,3 and 7 really were. I truly miss those days. Some games are close but just cant touch those times it feels like to me. This was my favorite show you've put out for me yet man!!!

Happy Sunday 😁

I honestly miss the turn based combat so much but at the same time grew to appreciate the new action combat as well. I'm just hoping one day Square decide to give us a FF game in a turn based style again with an awesome over world to explore with a great cast of party members 😀

@johnnyflannigan136

9 ай бұрын

Turn based is too boring now after playing modern games so long.. Though I did just replay chrono cross and loved the way they did turn based.. And of course classics like chrono trigger and ff7 are still great to play but modern games are better imo. Ff7 remake did a great job of modernizing turn based

Had a friend spoil FF7 to me in elementary school. Said “Don’t level up Aerith. She dies.” Can you believe that!? Sadly, I don’t see FF7 the way others do. FF8 though. Now that game made me a fan. The graphics, music, GFs, romance. I’ve never been the same.

Man you changed a lot from the un squadron review. I'm happy to see you still doing this. Cheers!

incredible video

You should play XIII-2! It’s the best in the 13 trilogy by far, almost entirely because of its good combat. The combat feels like a blend of XIII and X-2, where different monsters fill the roles of different dress spheres.

This video seems weird without Andrew. That FF video with him has always been one of my favorites. Actually got me into the series since I never got into it before.

LOVE THIS VIDEO!! Finishing FF IX. Probably complete today. LOVE THE GAME!

I really love 16. I love the older ones too. Maybe it’s because the first one I played was 10 in high school but I don’t mind the action combat

Final Fantasy 6 did something to my brain. There is a bridge between me before and after FF6... Terra Branford will forever be one of my most beloved character. Terra's theme omg, it's the best, a hymn to RPGS

Awesome video man 😎!

Your final fantasy journey overlaps so much with mine in many ways. I think anyone that started from the beginning with the NES and SNES games must have similar feelings about where the series has gone. Those early games were part of our childhood and the emotions we felt while playing them were felt during key formative moments in our lives. Even just the box art stirs up an emotional response whereas the box art from the newer games do not. I imagine that people who grew up with the later games feel the exact opposite. But the thing that resonated most with me was your question: what is FF? What defines it as a series? As a person that gave up actually playing with XIII I’ve come to feel that the series has no core identity. It maybe never did. During different eras there have been trends and through lines, but rather than being existential to the series, those elements were probably an extension of who made the games. Each entry is a reflection of those creators’s interests and curiosities with little regard for “what is FF?” The only thing that really ties the games together might just be the name. As a fan whose childhood gaming memories are so closely tied to FF this is a bit of a depressing conclusion to reach but I think it’s close to the truth. And TBH it’s not a FF only phenomenon, if you squint hard enough you can see similar tends in other long running series like Star Wars and Star Trek. These franchises have become so huge and unwieldy that they can’t help but evolve away from the “source material.” Thankfully for those that want to, there’s always a chance to go back and relieve those early entries.

@jong2359

9 ай бұрын

This is true for almost everything in our culture. We are giving way to an era of developers/creators that are starved for attention, devoid of creativity, and looking to use video games/media as a platform to push their social beliefs instead of a canvas to tell a story outside of our reality. The era of game devs making games for the sake of fun, gameplay, or story alone is dead... that would require knowing what you want to be, and then executing on it without needing approval from everyone else - and without feeling the need to broadcast at every opportunity.

@TomSlemmons

9 ай бұрын

I wouldn’t go so far as to say game developers have no creativity. On an individual level the people that make these games are incredibly talented. My guess is that now development studios and distributors and the fan base have all changed and grown and now no single creator or creative team is given the same kinds of freedom to drive development. The game development world is a totally different beast than in the late 80/ early 90s.

New viewer to your channel. Great stuff so far!

I have just been looking into playing final fantasy for the first time and ran into this video never played it before but now i definitely want give it a shot ready for new adventures😁

Your comparison to Star Wars is spot on! Final Fantasy has always been such a huge chunk of my life with video games since childhood. Even if it’s never quite my jam again, I’ll always want to play and try to appreciate the new entries for what they are. And I could talk about FFXI for hours… best and worst thing to happen indeed…

I've always thought that when Hironobu Sakaguchi left he took the heart of FF with him. He was the guy that started it, and he brought the magic.

@blubblurb

9 ай бұрын

On that note, I hope you played The Last Story. It's IMHO not as good as a FFX, but it got me emotionally invested in the characters.

Thank you for making me care about games I've never played. "The characters were weird..." lol, very funny episode as you're puzzled about how you feel about it all. LOVE THIS! Your introspective thoughts are worth hearing. Respect.

That last comment you made really resonated with me. Ever since FF12, there’s been a lack of humor in the series. I think that’s partly why people gravitated to Balthier. He was the closest thing to a comic relief in that game. I’ve moved on from FF to Ni No Kuni which doesn’t hit the Highs of a classic FF but has a nice balance of humor, drama, and whimsy.

@ShoZama85

9 ай бұрын

14 has a great amount of humor especially with Hildebrand

I was just watching the Final Fantasy 7 ending with the prelude music playing while going through the stars and just remembering being a young man 25 years ago listening to that thinking there is a whole world and universe of adventure just outside the door.. It definitely put me on a path of adventure, found family, a lot of scrapes and a little mischief, don't know if I would be the same person without it.

Very solid retrospective! I have a somewhat odd "favorites" combo. Final Fantasy 4... AND... Final Fantasy 15.

The Master Sword and Shield in the background are both very cool!

More of this!!!!

Thanks Johnny for this video! I myself am a huge fan of the series, which I started with the IX! Loved it at the time, and I went on playing X and XII. The one that put me off track with the series was XIII, for the exact same reasons you mention. At that point, I was so disappointed I started to grind my teeth on other series, dragon quest VIII just arrived in Europe! But also, square Enix started to remake all their old games, which I bought and played for the first time. Here is what I wanted to say: I feel so much closer to the first entries of the series, coming from IX and X, than to the latter! Final fantasy's soul lies there for me too. And like you, I want to love final fantasy again, and feel that it's going away more and more. And okay.

My favourite Final Fantasy used to be the cliché choice Final Fantasy VII but overtime i have really come to appreciate Final Fantasy IX and now Final Fantasy IX is one of my favourite games of all time, i love the show and the stories Johnny

Great video. I was excited to hear your thoughts on Remake since I feel it bridges the gap between new and old better than the other newer titles…

You know with the latest entries, i feel the same. But you gotta' admit i've really been digging what they've done with the Final Fantasy 7 remake series. Pretty great stuff. Amazing sound track. Looking forward to seeing the second part unfold.

I’m kind of surprised that the changes of writers and directors isn’t mentioned as a reason for some of the changes to the games.

i love your videos!

I totally understand the fear of being addicted to FFXIV. I honestly don't blame you for feeling that way, and also being rather jealous of others that have the time to play it. You certainly have your priorities straight, and also have somewhat immaculate discipline.

I literally just dropped £99 on a physical copy of the Pixel Remasters for Switch. Was wondering if I'd done the right thing and then Johnny drops this video. I so did the right thing 😅

I do like how they are all uniquely different games with their own stories and worlds to explore and I also keep an open mind with each release”I try my best “. In all 14 of the single player games. For me personally, other than the music, the atmosphere and the world exploring of course. My favorite thing about this long running series is having a large party to control and get to meet and get to know all these different personalities that join your adventure and you get to customize these characters to how you want to use them on your team. I like having 7 or 10 party members and being able to swap them in and out of combat. I love the turn base in final fantasy 10 like an old school style and also the “ATB”system which is a perfect mix of action and turn based combats. I hope they return to something like this in the next adventure or at least anything closer to final fantasy 1 through 10. I enjoy them all in my own way, but these last two with final fantasy 15 and 16 it takes huge leaps away from what makes final fantasy special and nostalgic in my eyes and in having those stronger emotions and memories I hold dear. Keep up the good videos and I hope for the best for the real FF fans in the future!

FF2US/4JP was so awesome when it first came out. It had the coolest duo, Dark Knight Cecil and Dragoon Kain. It was such an upgrade over FF1 in every way, except that I really wish it somehow kept a job system.

It's obvious that Final Fantasy changed the most after the departure of Sakaguchi and Uematsu - those two were THE SOUL of the series. It's not really about the battle system, plot complexity or the visual style, but about a certain sensibility that those two have. No surprise that the games they did in Mistwalker felt more FF than the official FF's. That being said, it's normal that everything eventually comes to an end. Newer games are made for the new audiences, and certainly todays kids will at some point look back at them like we do at the "classic FF's". Then the cycle will repeat, until some meteor will fall from the sky and... um, a new hero will be born? 🤔