Name Your Favorite Final Fantasy & Why (Aside From ARR)

[Hrethnar]

Definitely IX for me. After the very bland VIII, IX was a breath of fresh air (of a sort, seeing as it was really hearkening back to the first game). Plus, it had vivi. And the weapon abilities system was a lot like ARR.

[Mizar]

Another one who thinks 9 was the best here.

The artistic design, the setting, the world, the story, the drama (I'm still crying for poor Vivi :'<), everything about it was great.

Well, everything except that maybe it was a tad too easy.

Heh.

I never really factor in "difficulty" for the single player Final Fantasy games because I play them for the setting/story/characters. I also am a "power" gamer and tend to overlevel/level everything to the max anyway. It's fun for me to stomp the game as hard as possible. XD

[Docent]

X-2. I love the job system whenever it shows up in a final fantasy, and the dynamic combat system + non-linear story in X-2 makes it probably my favourite one. I just wish they had a better story to it, but design-wise, that game has all the best systems imho.

I'd place V, Tactics, VI, XIII-2 pretty high on the list too, but I just had to be that person that says I love the most hated FF ever.

[Zedakah]

FFVIII was my favorite. I liked many other FF games a whole lot too, but 8 was my favorite. I liked the story, the older characters, the mercenary aspect, the draw mechanic (which I realize was horribly tedious), the incredible card game, and of course the gunblade. The ending wasn't my favorite, but still alright. It was one of the few games that I would have earned a 100% completion rate.

[Dorin]

"It's still breathing..." (Old Man)
"Should I crush its head?" (Young Man)
"Stop it, it's a living creature!!" (Zidane)
"What did you say!?" (Young Man)
"Brahne programmed them [black mages] to kill, but they're still just like anybody else!" (Zidane)
"Lies! They may look human, but that's where the similarity ends! They destroy everything... like wrecking balls destroy buildings. They don't even know we're made of flesh and blood!" (Young Man)
"If it's human, make it understand how much suffering it caused! Make it understand that it killed my only son! Otherwise... my son's death has no meaning!" (Old Man)
"They didn't even flinch, even when one of their own got killed. They made monsters seem docile!" (Young Man)

[juniglee]

If we're considering only mainstream titles, VIII will always hold a special place in my heart, as it was the first FF game I've finished, and what really got me into FF to begin with. In particular, it was also the first FF where I attempted to fight a superboss (Omega Weapon), and made it out alive. More points because I loved Zell as a character too.

Triple Triad was the most engaging of all the mini-games in FF I've ever played, next to Blitzball. I also liked the near zero limitation of summoning monsters, which are always epic to see. And it just has such a sweet story to boot, and probably one of the funniest characters ever (Laguna).

Outside of mainstream, I'd say Tactics. I don't think I'll ever find another game out there that has a plot as good as Tactics ever has. Tactics doesn't have too many flashy stuff, but the story just grips you in. It can also end up being challenging, and that ends up being part of the reason why I loved Tactics.

[Salem_Rain]

Final Fantasy VI

Awesome characters with interesting personalities (Locke, Shadow, and Setzer are particular favorites), covers everything from love to loss to even mass genocide. The only one where the villain actually attains all his goals and leaves the player on their first play through feeling defeated. IIRC it has the largest cast of characters, and each manages to feel like an individual with different motivations and perspectives.

If anybody decides to do a playthrough - Edgar + Noise Blaster + Bio Blaster = profit.

I would have to say FFT is a close second though. All of my FFVI replays are always followed immediately by an FFT replay.

Quoted fo' truth.

[Zyeriis]

X-2.
but I just had to be that person that says I love the most hated FF ever.

I'm seriously surprised this hasn't turned into an "ERMAGEWD FF7!?" thread.

My personal favorite would have to be FF11 (not counting 14). Followed by the actual FF3 (not FF6).

[Velveteer]

Surprisingly it's Final Fantasy X. My first FF title.
It was the first game that made me absolutely adore the music, and the beautiful scenery and I felt something for the characters.

[seikenflash]

Triple Triad Hells yeah! I loved em all, especially Mystic quest!! lol not really. VI, IX, VIII, IV, VII. VI being all time fav, that kefka laugh, the opera house, the 8 dragons for Crusader, death gaze, leviathan, Blitz, the sunken castle, and RAIDEN Shin-Zantetsuken! I am pretty sure VI had the largest cast both character and summon wise, gotta love that magicite =) oh and can't forget about GoGo he was the best mime there ever was and will be!