Off Topic Discussion Megathread

[TheMightyMollusk]

It's possible to get everything in a single playthrough of IX, up to and including the infamous Excalibur 2, but you have to know the game pretty much inside and out. There's even a guide for it over on GameFAQs.

[RyuDragnier]

All the more reason I want a remake for 8 and 9. There is something wonderful in both...but they both need polish.

Oh most definitely. FF8 could stand for having the Draw system replaced with a Learning system where drawing a spell actually helps you master a percentage of it. MP would return, and casting a spell at a lower mastery would randomize the damage it does for a higher MP cost. When it hits 100%, it's at the normal cost and damage. But you could then use a 2nd spell slot and go for double mastery, where it costs more but does double the damage or double the chances of success (for status effect spells). Would really make the game feel better overall since we could actually use spells without worrying about it screwing up our Junctions.

FF9...this one would definitely need some work. Keep opening tournaments in Treno for prizes after the original one is over so Tetra Master is worth doing, speed up the ATB and battle animations in general, add in some of the missing content like the other fights and areas for the 4 Elemental Lords instead of us only doing Lich, ACTUALLY GIVE FREYA, QUINA, AMARANT, AND EIKO SOME PROPER CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, and make the final boss less of a giant space flea from nowhere (meaning hints of its existence sprinkled throughout).

Yes, I have a LONG list of complaints for FF9, and still don't understand how people can declare it the best in the franchise when it has so many problems with it. Note that I feel the art direction and music are solid, with the music being some of Uematsu's best and the art giving somewhat of a Studio Ghibli-ish vibe for several areas (Lindblum alone definitely feels like something you'd see from Ghibli). Also Chocobo Hot and Cold is one of my favorite minigames in the franchise (along with the associated chocobo treasure hunts), and I absolutely love the synthesis system and learning abilities from equipment (in case anybody thought I hated everything about FF9).

[Kalania]

Oh most definitely. FF8 could stand for having the Draw system replaced with a Learning system where drawing a spell actually helps you master a percentage of it. MP would return, and casting a spell at a lower mastery would randomize the damage it does for a higher MP cost. When it hits 100%, it's at the normal cost and damage. But you could then use a 2nd spell slot and go for double mastery, where it costs more but does double the damage or double the chances of success (for status effect spells). Would really make the game feel better overall since we could actually use spells without worrying about it screwing up our Junctions.

FF9...this one would definitely need some work. Keep opening tournaments in Treno for prizes after the original one is over so Tetra Master is worth doing, speed up the ATB and battle animations in general, add in some of the missing content like the other fights and areas for the 4 Elemental Lords instead of us only doing Lich, ACTUALLY GIVE FREYA, QUINA, AMARANT, AND EIKO SOME PROPER CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, and make the final boss less of a giant space flea from nowhere (meaning hints of its existence sprinkled throughout).

Yes, I have a LONG list of complaints for FF9, and still don't understand how people can declare it the best in the franchise when it has so many problems with it. Note that I feel the art direction and music are solid, with the music being some of Uematsu's best and the art giving somewhat of a Studio Ghibli-ish vibe for several areas (Lindblum alone definitely feels like something you'd see from Ghibli). Also Chocobo Hot and Cold is one of my favorite minigames in the franchise (along with the associated chocobo treasure hunts), and I absolutely love the synthesis system and learning abilities from equipment (in case anybody thought I hated everything about FF9).

I love FF8, it was my first final fantasy; but the draw system burns me out so bad! It turns it into drawing to 99 to junction with my GFs meaning I almost never use spells.

[RyuDragnier]

I love FF8, it was my first final fantasy; but the draw system burns me out so bad! It turns it into drawing to 99 to junction with my GFs meaning I almost never use spells.

It's by far the biggest issue with FF8. Fix that, and you've made the game feel a lot better.

EDIT: UGHHHHH the worst part of the first disc...stealing from Beatrix for the Mythril Sword and Chain Plate.

[RyuDragnier]

SO, I found out part of why FF9 feels so bad to play...it never reaches 30FPS. Battles seem to be at 15FPS, and the world map is 20FPS. That may explain why the game feels so slow.

[Kalania]

You know; this reminds me that I have yet to open up my Saga Frontier for Switch.

The last time I played it through was with a fan patch on it on my PS1 (I have a modded PS1)

[RyuDragnier]

Watching the Nintendo Direct. Already surprised by a few games I want.

EDIT: OH MY GOD EVERYTHING YOU CAN WANT WAS ANNOUNCED.
PIKMIN 4
ADVANCE WARS REMAKE (April)
GAME BOY COMING TO SWITCH ONLINE (TODAY!)
GAME BOY ADVANCE COMING TO SWITCH EXPANSION (TODAY!)
METROID PRIME REMASTERED! (DIGITAL TODAY, PHYSICAL FEB 22ND!)
ETRIAN ODYSSEY COLLECTION!
BATEN KAITOS I AND II HD REMASTER (SUMMER!)
NEW ZELDA HITS MAY 12TH!

[Kalania]

Marked Safe from Nintendo Direct.

...I never finished the first Zelda. The motion controls were hell on the lite.

(Not marked safe from Hogwarts Legacy, just bought it for my daughter and I'll pick it up for my Series X soon for myself.)

(Also never finished Metroid Prime; have it for both Gamecube and the Wii. I need a new gamecube however....)

[Cincierta]

'tis about as uneven as Alphy's swimming.

[Amenara]

(Not marked safe from Hogwarts Legacy, just bought it for my daughter and I'll pick it up for my Series X soon for myself.)

I just started it yesterday, having a blast so far.