Topic: Final fantasy discussion thread

@nessisonett Yeah it wasn't that I thought the game was bad or anything like that, probably more to do with me being a bit fed up with series as a whole and not being keen on the direction they were going with it.

@TheBrandedSwordsman I figured I’d post here for discussion regarding our final fantasy experiences —

I made it through chapter 11 of FF7R and had another epic boss fight. Was a really cool encounter. The chapter has a different kind of setting from the previous chapters, and the boss Eligor was less robot and more fantasy based. It was really hard also and I was surprised how difficult since I’d heard Hellhouse was the hardest but this boss was also up there as far as difficulty. Maybe not quite as hard but still quite challenging. The bosses all require some slightly different tactics, which does keep the game fresh. I was happy to make it through by the end and get to the next major checkpoint before shutting down for the day.

Sounds like you’re making progress with FFXV. I know a little about the storyline from my research before I bought it. Noctis apparently being a prince or something like that. Do you enjoy the whole car / road trip setting? It sounded like it could get tedious to me, but at the same time the character interaction has been reported to be really good with the bro group. Would you say the combat is harder or easier to get a grip with, compared to FF7R? What are some other parts of the game you enjoy so far?

@Th3solution I don't mind the car/road trip setting too much, it could get a little tedious later but I'm fine with it so far - you can get another driver to drive for you or for 5 gil you can fast travel to locations, inexpensive, what? I do like the bro group, there was an amusing moment I think I can mention without spoiling anything, Noctis and the other bros do a crazy pose in front of the car for a photo, so, yeah, plenty of Japanese flair thus far, the combat is harder to get a grip with, but only a bit, and yeah, graphics-wise though it looks too much like a PS3 game compared 7R. Other aspects of the game that I enjoy so far - I just like the world, it feels living and breathing, plenty of places to shop and places you can spend the night in if you have the necessary funds and don't want to camp. One problem I noticed so far though is that the spot for setting up the camp wasn't marked on the map so I had to wander around with my party till I found it, but that,I assume is just because I haven't unlocked them on the map yet, and if it is a bug, which I doubt as this is a digital download version of the game, i can always watch Youtube videos to find the camp spots.

A fantasy-style boss sounds excellent, I'll definitely be starting over from scratch once I can get a digital download version of the game after this and Elden Ring.

@TheBrandedSwordsman I’ll be interested to hear more about how FFXV develops for you. Are you playing the Royal Edition that has the DLC and added content?
One thing I heard was the main story ends strangely and the DLC helps to make for a better wrap up, but I don’t know.

So apparently there is time mechanic in combat where you have the ability to combo up with your team mates for special attacks, is that correct? Do you get to control all of the players in the group or is it just Noctis that you can control?

@Th3solution The time/combo mechanic is definitely there, and you can control all of the players in the group, but I've just been playing it like one of the original GoW games! 😂

I'll definitely keep you posted as I continue to play through it.

I liked Final Fantasy XV more than I had any right to. More than it deserved, honestly. I feel like I was meeting it more than half way, but for as shambolic and messy and blatantly unfinished as it is, there's something about it. I will play it again one day. But it is not this day.

@johncalmc

@Th3solution The FF7R boss fights are pretty great on the whole and it's funny how people can struggle on different ones. Hell House is a common one but I really found Abzu quite difficult (the sewer boss) and both my normal and hard runs.

Flying bosses are thankfully few and far between but do cause additional problems! My current run is turning out quite easy thanks to be high level characters and materia but also because I can remember what bosses are coming up, check the "enemy intel" screen and then load my materia accordingly.

I'm just coming to the end of the game as I'm deep into chapter 17. Then it's onto the DLC at last!

@Thrillho Yeah, I must say - I’m rather impressed with the bosses so far. Each one I’ve faced has unique challenges and also creative art style. The game is really beautiful in general, but the bosses are especially well conceived.

I like how having the right materia and spells will make an encounter easier, but it’s not always a necessity if you get creative with your party. In Persona, if you don’t utilize enemy weaknesses then you’re usually toast. In FF, it helps but if you have enough other firepower you can often make due.

So I’m just starting Chapter 12, so I guess I’m probably over half way? Maybe two-thirds?

@Th3solution There’s 18 chapters so technically two thirds I guess.

What is impressive about the game is that there is real depth to the combat and materia mechanics but you can get through without worrying about it too much.

The blue materia is particularly useful when used right. For instance, you could give Cloud fire linked to magnify (the equivalent of “all” from the original) but also link fire to MP absorb so he will attack all enemies with fire but also absorb MP.

They’ve also boosted the synergy materia since I played. That one (got from Chadley) links to an elemental materia and when another character uses any ability requiring ATB, that character will perform the base level magic attack on the same enemy. So you could get Cloud to use one of his ability and Aerith will follow it up with thunder. Originally, it used up an ATB bar and required MP but requires neither now so is essentially a free attack.

@Th3solution Just to respond to your earlier message, I do have the Royal Edition, and as an update I'll say that I've completed chapter 1 now and am on to chapter 2, probably have to camp somewhere for the night soon after progressing the main story somewhat. I just had an interesting battle with some knight-like characters who went down easily enough, but now we're back on the road for the next part of the bro-ad trip heheh. Oh, and as a @colonelkilgore told me to do it, I've been having Igni (I think that's his name) or the "speccy one" cooking for me at camp, I usually choose a crisp cheesy pizza 😛How is 7R going? How's your current game or games going colonel?

@Th3solution just did a bit of a dungeon crawl, you have to acquire specific powers, I'm saying this without spoiling anything I hope, in order to advance the power of your character, but using said powers depletes HP while you use them, N.B these powers aren't spells, I don't want to say too much for fear of giving too much away, but the map gives you the option of returning to the entrance of the dungeon after you've got the goods, which I thought was quite a nice mechanic. Remember that @colonelkilgore?

@TheBrandedSwordsman Sounds good and a nice variety from FF7. It has me more excited to try it eventually so definitely keep me updated.

@TraCuz- I’ve not played any in the last couple days but I’m into Ch 12 and really enjoying it more and more. Having both Tifa and Aerith in my party has been great. I really love playing as both characters during combat as each has their own strengths and strategy. That boss Eligor was no joke. It was pretty intense, but I enjoyed the whole ghost and haunted vibe of that chapter. I don’t remember that section in the original game, but there isn’t much detail I remember about the Midgar section of the original game. And I definitely don’t remember a big dancing mini game at Corneo’s in the original 😅

Overall I like the combat a lot, I like most of the characters and story, and the visuals are really beautiful. It’s a great game to look at. I might have mentioned this, but I wish it had haptics and adaptive triggers and 3D audio. But I’ll take the native 4K and the 60 fps as a nice bonus.

So the Fort Condor mini game in INTERmission is equally a bit rubbish but also incredibly addictive. Shame there’s so few people to play it against in the game.

@Th3solution I'm glad to hear its really grown on you, the gameplay is just sublime. you would be correct Eligor and the haunted train station was not in the original. I wish there was something to warn you! There's a trophy for obtaining all of the items that can be stolen from enemies, that enemy has a staff for Aerith. Haha! That dance scene caught me so off guard, especially the production value that went into.

You're not kidding about the game being great to look at, let me know when you get to the end of Ch. 16. There's a cutscene that I think is one the best I've ever laid my eyes on in all of gaming. You'll know it when you see it.

@TraCuz- Well the train graveyard is in the original game but that section is certainly expanded in the remake! And the enemy you mention is also in the original game;

Link here!

@Thrillho Haha man I recently just played Midgar in FF7(1997) and I completely missed this rare boss fight. 24 years later and still has secrets for people like me!

@Th3solution I just took down a giant mech at the end of Chapter two, very reminiscent of FF7R, greatly enjoyed the boss fight, and now have the ability to drive the car, apparently you can only switch characters in the game after earning the ability to do so during gameplay, so I don't know if that'll put you off or not? How is FF7R going?

@TheBrandedSwordsman Sounds fun. It’s sounding more and more like I want to try FFXV eventually. I’ll probably need a little break after 7R, but I’ve enjoyed it enough to want to experience Noctis and Co.’s journey.

I just took down a major summon boss and am onward to try and save some of my squad mates from Shinra. I’m probably about 2/3 finished, based on my playtime and what chapter I’m in. The game is getting noticeably harder and even some of the basic fights lately have pushed me a little. But my materia and equipment is getting stronger and so it’s a lot more fiddling in the menus to change up equipment. I’m enjoying it though, and sometimes such a thing will annoy me when there is too much equipment shuffling to constantly do, but it strikes a good balance here where a player can constantly optimize the load out if they want, but I’m also able to spam certain builds which work for most encounters.

How about FFXV, is there a lot of equipment change outs or is the leveling up skill tree type of stuff?

@Th3solution Your four swords are linked to the arrow buttons, and I haven't come across the use of materia except for spells, one of your swords is a greatsword that does lots of damage, more as your level up, so that's usually my go-to weapon, also in terms of leveling up you tend to do that every night when you set up camp and have a meal, so that occurs regularly enough to make a positive impact on gameplay.