IGN UK Ranks the Final Fantasy Series

[vivalahazy]

IGN UK has ranked the Final Fantasy Series, from good to best, and you can check it out here (http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/105/1057079p1.html).

If there's one series that completely embodies the charm of the Japanese role-playing game, it's Final Fantasy. This legendary series, which is now more than twenty years old, has grown into a universally recognizable entity, spawning spin-off action games, movies and more. With a heavy emphasis on character-driven stories and elaborate battle systems, it's easy to see why Final Fantasy has such a devoted following.

One of the most popular debates among Final Fantasy enthusiasts is the classic question: Which Final Fantasy is the best? Here at IGN, we decided it was about time we weighed in on that discussion. Considering the upcoming launch of Final Fantasy XIII this coming March and the increased buzz surrounding Square Enix's series, we set out to work. In order to assemble the list to end all lists, we collected votes from throughout the IGN staff (restricting voting to the proper numbered installments) and then rounded up a handful of our most fervent Final Fantasy devotees in order to chat about each game.

I have to admit I agree with the number pick as I love the game and feel its always over looked by the people who discovered FF after 1997

[pwnophobia]

8 over 9? Get the fuck out of here.

[Hapless]

I'm going to have to say that the top three, top four even ring true to me. I would have done a little rearranging, but it's close enough.

[Syl]

Considering I loved final fantasy XII and hated final fantasy X, i'd simply reverse their order and i pretty much agree with everything else.

[Johan]

I think III ranks more highly than that. I really enjoyed it on the DS. I agree with VI at the top. I still have fond memories of it on the SNES (as III, of course, back then).

[Zander]

They have the wrong graphic for FFXII for some reason.

I have a few issues with their ordering, but putting FFVI at the top is 100% fine by me.

[automaton]

The top 3 is perfect. I'd take FF8 and FF10, put them at the bottom, then bump everything else up 2 places.

[rulyblue]

Read: IGN UK has nothing better to do and rates the FF games according to what most people would rate them.

[oldschooldimo]

this in my opinion is a pretty close ranking of what id think, although 9 over 8 for sure. Any word of final fantasy vi being on the psn?

[Abednigo]

I hate a lot about what's blocked here at work (everything related to gaming), but not being able to see this list annoys me.

[pwnophobia]

I hate a lot about what's blocked here at work (everything related to gaming), but not being able to see this list annoys me.

From good to best:

11 (good)
2
3
12
1
9
5
8
10
4
7
6 (best)

[bluefiberoptics]

I hate a lot about what's blocked here at work (everything related to gaming), but not being able to see this list annoys me.

Here is their list:
12. Final Fantasy XI

11. Final Fantasy II

10. Final Fantasy III

9. Final Fantasy XII

8. Final Fantasy I

7. Final Fantasy IX

6. Final Fantasy V

5. Final Fantasy VIII

4. Final Fantasy X

3. Final Fantasy IV

2. Final Fantasy VII

1. Final Fantasy VI

[scott topic]

i'll never rank 7 ahead of 4 and 6, but that's just me being nostalgic i suppose.

[rulyblue]

In the descriptions, ign uk seems to be rating the gmes on story as much as gameplay/battle system.

[Abednigo]

I'm glad to see 7 not ahead of 6. This is probably the first list where that's happened. 7 is always rated higher, and from the standpoint of being the first mainstream FF to reach a wider audience that makes sense, but it was by far the best.

I started playing FF when IV came out on the SNES (as FFII) and fell in love. FFVI was definitely my favorite, and while I enjoyed VII, IX was more my style. I'm still waiting for it to be released on the PSN store too. I always preferred the medieval settings over the futuristic ones, which we seemed to be stuck with now. But VIII over IX?! That's ridiculous. VIII, in my opinion, was the worst of them all.

[OakTr33]

everyone here agreeing that FFVI is the best restores my faith in humanity

[TeeCakes]

Wow, never thought I'd agree with any article on this subject, but perfect rankings IMO.

[Emabulator]

I'd say the top four are spot on. It's been so long since I've played some of them it would be hard to sort out the rest of the pack though.

[Rommel]

Not a bad list, but a few factual errors brings the article down. I still prefer VII over VI.

[Nimos]

O M G !!! They left out X-2 ! *hides*

[Syl]

O M G !!! They left out X-2 ! *hides*
X-2 wasn't nearly as bad as most people considered it...

[Mozgus]

I will never understand why people think 6 is the best, let alone better than 4 or 5. I've tried many times to get into it but it just fucking fails. It is certainly no Chrono Trigger, Mario RPG, Terranigma, Star Ocean, or Tales of Phantasia. People need to take off the nostalgia goggles, I swear.

[pwnophobia]

X-2 wasn't nearly as bad as most people considered it...

You're right, it was terrible. I played it all the way through and wish I could get my time back. :p

[Spacebear]

This list makes me want to play through all of these games again. I never got through 7, someone deleted my save file.

[Anenome]

FFX is one of the most memorable games I've ever played. Few games have taken such a literary, poignant approach to story-telling and achieved something greater than the sum of its parts. Even though I had absolutely no patience for those ridiculous puzzles and looked up near every one. Everything except that was wondrous.

[alienchild]

X-2 wasn't nearly as bad as most people considered it...

I absolutely loved FFX and was jumping of joy when I heard they were making a sequel. They managed to completely destroy the image they had created of Yuna in the opening video. I was left with my jaw on the floor and a big WTF!? on my forehead. I decided to give it a shot but after a few hours I turned it off, never to play it again.

Personal favorite is VI, but I also loved VIII a lot as well.

[Anenome]

I absolutely loved FFX and was jumping of joy when I heard they were making a sequel. They managed to completely destroy the image they had created of Yuna in the opening video. I was left with my jaw on the floor and a big WTF!? on my forehead. I decided to give it a shot but after a few hours I turned it off, never to play it again.

Personal favorite is VI, but I also loved VIII a lot as well.
Same boat here. I bought it sight unseen on the strength of X, popped it in, saw the opening cut-scene, big WTF on my face, played about 5 minutes of it, noticed that entire magic system was based on what skirt you are wearing >_> and forever put it down. Seriously, weird.

[Syl]

See, i hated FFX, so much that no character could be destroyed in FFX-2.

I agree that the opening segment and "girl power" was absolutely obnoxious, but the real-time class changes and combat in FFX-2 were excellent.

[Anenome]

I agree that the opening segment and "girl power" was absolutely obnoxious...

This is the actual opening if you want to know what we're talking about:

bgzZ2Ta0EpA
<_<;;;

[TekkenZaibatsu]

VIII over III? Really?

[Valkyrist]

I guess I'll always be weird that I really really loved FF8. But only after playing through a 2nd time and paying more attention to the story.

To me, the story is what makes or breaks any RPG, and the battle systems and everything else comes second. And imo, FF8 had the best of the series. To the point that it was so subtle and yet so complex at the same time, that the vast majority of players didn't actually "get it".

The best example (out of many) is that most people who beat the game have no clue who Ultimecia actually was.

I understand the Junction/Draw systems were annoying as hell. And that Squall's teenage angsty-ness put a lot of people off. But it really confounds me that they'll yell praises of FF7's convoluted psycho-babble-story and personality-deficiant Cloud, and then degrade FF8's love/tragedy story.

FF4 was still my all-time fav, btw. Was the first RPG I ever played, so it wins by default over FF6. And FF12 is still one of the most underrated of the entire series.

[inscribed]

The best example (out of many) is that most people who beat the game have no clue who Ultimecia actually was.

I was not aware of any dual identities of Ultimecia until this comment. I googled it. My mind is blown.

[TeeCakes]

To me, the story is what makes or breaks any RPG, and the battle systems and everything else comes second. And imo, FF8 had the best of the series. To the point that it was so subtle and yet so complex at the same time, that the vast majority of players didn't actually "get it".

The best example (out of many) is that most people who beat the game have no clue who Ultimecia actually was.

I understand the Junction/Draw systems were annoying as hell. And that Squall's teenage angsty-ness put a lot of people off. But it really confounds me that they'll yell praises of FF7's convoluted psycho-babble-story and personality-deficiant Cloud, and then degrade FF8's love/tragedy story.

Most people also don't give FF7's "convoluted psycho-babble-story" enough credit either. Blame a less than satisfactory translation, but if you really think FF7's story isn't better than 8, perhaps this site (http://off7.org/cosmo_canyon/mythologems/promised_land.html) would be a good start to begin changing your mind.

[Anenome]

Yeah, FFVII was a good story, even if it was anti-technology, anti-business, pro-environmentalist BS :P Had to toss that in there. Everything is political :P