What's your history with Final Fantasy?

[PandaPause]

FF7 was my 1st RPG and I was hooked on RPG's ever since. I started my 1st MMO because it was a FF. Ultimately FF has turned me into a SE fanboy lol.

[Naunet]

I've never played any Final Fantasy game before ARR and I've never really felt a want to. I'll admit a little bit of annoyance that the game relies so much on recycling creatures and such; I wish they'd do a bit more original world construction.

[Rivienne]

I guess I will bite, though I notice almost everyone who has cared to post thus far actually does have some form of history with FF. Not seeing much from the other side.

My sister played the offline Final Fantasy games, 6 through 10-2 (that I remember), and while I watched her play them all pretty much beginning to end, and even thought the stories were really amazing, I rarely tried playing them myself because the game play itself seemed so incredibly awkward and boring. (Sounds like a complaint I hear around here about this game all the time.. hmm!)

13 was the first game I willingly played instead of just watched someone else play... And I loved it. The story, the battle mechanics, everything(okay. I was less than enamored with one particular voice actor... ). I played 13-2 when it came out as well, and mostly loved it (though the controls weren't as fun for me and I hated the QTE) right up until the end. At which point I threw my controller across the room and didn't play a game for probably 8 months...I still alternate between hate for story writers and love for the game itself. Oh and yeah, after having watched my sister play the earlier games, and hearing all the complaints against 13. I still don't get the hate. It was a slightly different structure, but so was every other FF. Each game tried a different approach, but with similar themes and styles. Perhaps I don't see it because I was never personally invested in any single game until 13, and now I still don't because I have already seen so many others, that I don't see deviations from my favourite as a personal affront.

XIV I wanted to try when it came out (after years of my sister pestering me to try other MMO's, including XI) but I was consumed with a huge contract, and then when I had time those I knew who played it told me to wait until the 2.0 beta (which I did) because 1.0 was reaaally bad. So here I am. Loving the game so far. It reminds me of all the games I used to watch my sister play, but the gameplay isn't boring to me, or awkward. I still prefer the XIII ATB system for battles, but ARR is overall pretty solid. I guess in a way, 13 eased me into actually playing and enjoying FF games for myself, after having already experienced many of them second-hand.

I also plan on going back and playing X for myself when it comes out for the PS3. If ever I can pull myself away from XIV long enough that is.

[Noshpan]

Being poor throughout my life, I have had very little experience with Final Fantasy games in general. Most of it was spent watch others play, from the first Final Fantasy to 13-2. It wasn't until decades later that I was finally able to play the first Final Fantasy. My experience with Final Fantasy VII was helping my now-ex-boyfriend get the golden chocobo (and restarting the PS2 whenever he didn't get it) and briefly playing FF X.

When XIV was originally slated to come out, I decided to sign up for the beta and give it a shot. To say that "I was displeased" would be a severe understatement. When I got the email for the ARR beta, I almost deleted it based upon my memories of the previous beta for XIV. However, I'm glad that I didn't.

[Ayiana_Arch]

I haven't played a slew of the games like most of you have, but I have played a handful. I can say that my very first Final Fantasy was VII at the age of 18 months >.> To this day I haven't beat it without cheats (I'm a cheater in video games >.>). X came next which I actually beat without cheats. Then came XIII and XIII-2, which I absolutely love, like the rest I've played. I got to Chapter 11 on XIII before I decided to have my eboot.pbp modded as I was severely underleveled. I have the save from before I beat it so I can beat it without the mods, but I finished the game with them. XIII-2 I beat without any cheats and cried at the end (FUCK YOU SQUARE-ENIX, FUCK YOU). I played Crisis Core as well (cried again, fucking SE), along with both Dissidia games which I have played since release. Signed up for the beta of this one after some friends on IRC were talking about it and I've been in ever sense. I HAVE played VI, but barely. I mean like up to the first save point. Other Square-Enix/Squaresoft games I've played include Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, and The World Ends With You. Then comes the beloved Kingdom Hearts series. Own, played, and beaten every single one, including all of the Final Mix games.

[Enistachia]

I've inked my body with the great and powerful Mog Moggle from FF6, you know the one... He is leaning on a dagger. XD

I fell in love with Final Fantasy with that game, but I would have to say that FF8 would have to be my favourite from the past. I wish I could say I played them in order but alas no I cannot. So far I still need to still try FF12, I never did get to try FF11 and that is what pushed me to obtain FF14. So far so good, I am taking the game at a slow pace becasue that is how I roll. To me it feels just like an FF game, all the elements, the music, and the attmosphere. When I was playing the open BETA of FF14:ARR, it felt like element of all the games were tucked into this one.

[Chezen]

I played a lot of games when I was younger, but now Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts (which is kinda-sorta related) are the only console games I play. FFVII came out when I was in my low 20's, and I just loved it. FFVII and FFVIII remain my favorites to this day. In fact, I've been playing FFVII again.

I've played one version or another of most of the main titles.

[Tazo]

Started with ff7 and went up from there. Went back at one point and played some of the older ones for the story. My favorites to this day are Xenogears, FF7 and FFTactics. Played FF11 for many years and loved it; it was the first MMO I played.

[RyujinUzikin]

I started off with 8 and 9, then 7, and then kept getting all ff titles I could get my hands on, like the ps1 re-makes of 1,2,4,5,6. I enjoyed a lot my experience up until ten when it comes to the regular ff games, and I enjoyed my time in ff11. I met a lot of great people, and through a lot of struggle I managed to get to the level cap and enjoy briefly some end game content.

After that I have been jumping from mmo to mmo trying to find that feeling again, and I never had any luck. With the re-release of this game my hopes got up again. I can't say I am disappointed, but I see the potential this game has, and if the developers put their hearts to it, I'm sure this game can reach higher goals in the future.

[Sephirah]

When I was a little kid before I really started gaming, I played Final Fantasy I, and III (VI). Not much mind you, my experience the first time in FFI was walking straight upto Prince Garland without any preparation and getting my face stomped. I was still a bit young to really get into games while my older brother was playing III(VI), so the first one that I ever played completely was VII, and I absolutely loved it. I also enjoyed 8, although it wasn't nearly as good as 7, I think it would have been received better if they had released them 7, 9, 8.

I loved 7-9 and tactics, 10 had a good battle system but I really disliked Tidus. Never played 10-2, loved 11, and 12 reminded me of an offline 11, so I liked it. I really dislike the entire XIII franchise though.

I have to say XIV has been the best FF story I've played since 9, and it has really restored my faith in the Final Fantasy series. If it had failed again, I probably would have written FF off as a dead series.