[Music Alchemist]

Can't believe there wasn't a main thread yet for discussion of all things Final Fantasy!
 
It is by far my favorite video game franchise. There's so much to talk about I don't even know where to begin! I'm sure many of you feel the same way, so hopefully we can form a little "club" here.

 
A few of my favorites are VII, IX, XIII-2, and Tactics Advance. I love 'em all, though.
 
To this day, Final Fantasy VII remains my favorite video game of all time. So excited for the remake! It and XV are the main reasons I would get a PS4. If anyone wants advice on VII, feel free to ask. I know practically everything about it. I've even done stuff the developers probably didn't know about, such as crazy materia combinations and battle strategies.
 
I'm also really into the soundtracks. Check this out.
 
http://vgmdb.net/search?q=final+fantasy&field=date
 
Well over 500 listings! (Albeit some are duplicates.) It would cost a fortune to buy them all.
 

Spoiler: Here's some free Final Fantasy music!

Free downloads:

http://ocremix.org/album/39/final-fantasy-random-encounter
http://ocremix.org/album/64/final-fantasy-ii-rebellion
http://ocremix.org/album/14/final-fantasy-iv-echoes-of-betrayal-light-of-redemption
http://ocremix.org/album/20/final-fantasy-v-the-fabled-warriors-i-wind
http://ocremix.org/album/46/final-fantasy-vi-balance-and-ruin
http://ocremix.org/album/1/final-fantasy-vii-voices-of-the-lifestream
http://ocremix.org/album/66/final-fantasy-ix-worlds-apart
http://ocremix.org/album/19814/hurry-a-final-fantasy-x-impossible-remix-album
http://megaranmusic.com/album/white-materia-final-fantasy-vii-mashups
https://djnerd42.bandcamp.com/album/deltron-3742
http://scrubclubrecords.com/new/releases/final-fantasy-the-3-6-chambers/
http://megaranmusic.com/track/introduction-with-additional-vox-by-marlos-hill
http://megaranmusic.com/track/cloud-strife
http://megaranmusic.com/track/mako-reactor
http://megaranmusic.com/track/cry-of-the-planet
http://megaranmusic.com/track/ninja-girl
http://megaranmusic.com/track/absolute-remix-featuring-maja
http://megaranmusic.com/track/the-turks-remix-featuring-dale-chase-2
http://megaranmusic.com/track/avalanche-dj-jinnai-remix
http://megaranmusic.com/track/final-fantasy-jonwayne-remix
http://megaranmusic.com/track/bonus-yuffie-naomi-c-remix-instro
 
And here are some paid albums that you can stream for free:
 
https://ffnewworld.bandcamp.com/releases
http://store.ffdistantworlds.com/album/distant-worlds-music-from-final-fantasy
http://store.ffdistantworlds.com/album/distant-worlds-ii-more-music-from-final-fantasy
http://store.ffdistantworlds.com/album/distant-worlds-iii-more-music-from-final-fantasy
http://megaranmusic.com/album/black-materia-final-fantasy-vii
http://megaranmusic.com/album/black-materia-the-remixes
http://lostperception.bandcamp.com/album/black-materia-instrumentals
http://bandcamp.com/tag/final-fantasy

 
And to top off this first post, here are some reference links:
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Final_Fantasy_media
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Final_Fantasy_video_games
http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Final_Fantasy_Wiki

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

I probably would've made this thread if I hadn't made the JRPG thread. Sadly, not many people on here discuss video games.

If anyone wants advice on VII, feel free to ask. I know practically everything about it.

There's no way someone is as fanatical about that game as I am, lol. I'm surprised.

Though I'm less gameplay mechanic savvy, as I am plot/character savvy. I did beat FFVII countless times, but I used to stick to a pretty standard character loadouts, and didn't do much experimentation with materia setups. I did like my godlike Tifa-cover, counter build, which which would 4x attack for 9999 on anything that physically attacked ANYONE in my party. I kept her Limit maxed, so her Premium Heart would always be maxed damage in counter, and during her turns I would use E. Skills, etc, since her attack was for counter use.

I have literally been dreaming FFVII related things since 1997.

I (used to) scour fanfiction.net for the best FFVII fanfiction, and spend nights reading them. I don't do it anymore since the advent of smartphones and watching things instead, but I was a hardcore fanfiction reader.

Used to frequent adventchildren.net, where for years used to dominate the forums (back when it was still a thing). Most of my best friends online and off are people I met on there.


Diehard Tifa fan first and foremost. Yuffie second, Vincent third, Cloud/Zack 4th.

I love FF as a whole, though the feeling has died down a lot since FFX basically. FFVII, VI, IV, IX are my faves in order.

Currently, ACTUALLY playing Lightning Returns on PC, since I skipped it last time around. I'm using a PC Trainer (cheat program) just to stop time at a press of a button, since I can't stand being on a world timer. That was the only way I was gonna actually play this game, Chronostasis be damned.

Back to FFVII, I'm obviously very excited about the Remake, and I'm just super happy it's not a simple graphical upgrade, but a full on new game. If I wanted the old experience, I have FFVII in basically every way, from PS1 disc, to Steam, to PS3, PSP, PS4. I bought it for everything I own.

The whole episode thing makes complete sense. People are delusional if they think FFVII re-translated into current gen would be financially plausible as ONE game. It would take 10 years to make, and an astronomical amount of money.

FFVII was considered a massive hit in 97 with 4 million sold. Tomb raider today was considered a disappointment at 4 million sold. Times have changed. People need to grow up and accept that games changed as well, from cost to profit margins, to time needed to fully realize a game of this scope.

 

[Music Alchemist]

I probably would've made this thread if I hadn't made the JRPG thread. Sadly, not many people on here discuss video games.

 
I've come across many fans of video games and Final Fantasy on Head-Fi, but most of them don't congregate in the video game section, or so it seems. I'm glad you're here, though!
 

There's no way someone is as fanatical about that game as I am, lol. I'm surprised.

 
The contest begins! hahaha. But nah, I'm not too worried about others being even more into FF7 than myself. We could literally talk for weeks on end about just this game, so it's more realistic to only touch upon a few random things for the time being.
 
Got this memory card?
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Final-Fantasy-7-VII-Memory-Card-PS1-Original-FF7-Saves-/370364927780
 
If not, read the description.

Most notably, it allows you to play through the game with Aeris and Sephiroth in your party! I need to convert it to digital format so I can use the save files on PS4 and PS Vita.
 

Though I'm less gameplay mechanic savvy, as I am plot/character savvy. I did beat FFVII countless times, but I used to stick to a pretty standard character loadouts, and didn't do much experimentation with materia setups. I did like my godlike Tifa-cover, counter build, which which would 4x attack for 9999 on anything that physically attacked ANYONE in my party. I kept her Limit maxed, so her Premium Heart would always be maxed damage in counter, and during her turns I would use E. Skills, etc, since her attack was for counter use.

 
Here's one basic-but-epic materia strategy you probably already know about. This is only really relevant for battling the Weapons, since it deals out so much damage.
 

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Equip Ultima Weapon and as many mastered Counter-Mime combos on Cloud as you can. (You undoubtedly also know that the best place to master materia is in the swamp area in the Northern Cave, particularly with the two triple growth weapons.) Have his Omnislash limit break ready to go. Make sure no other auto-reaction-type materia are equipped, and never let other members in your party act at all. Use Omnislash once. Now, simply do nothing. Every time the enemy attacks, you'll spam the crap out of Omnislash! From memory, it's possible to do nearly one million HP damage in a single turn with this. Naturally, there are limitations, since your party can only receive so much damage without needing to heal. There are ways to further milk this strategy, but I won't get into it for now.

 
There are far more intricate materia combos, but they're too complex to recall off the top of my head. Basically, imagine a barrage of every combination of attacks before the enemy even has a chance for their turn, among other things.
 

I have literally been dreaming FFVII related things since 1997.

 
Same.
 

Currently, ACTUALLY playing Lightning Returns on PC, since I skipped it last time around. I'm using a PC Trainer (cheat program) just to stop time at a press of a button, since I can't stand being on a world timer. That was the only way I was gonna actually play this game, Chronostasis be damned.

 
I didn't like Lightning Returns nearly as much as XIII-2 and XIII. Same goes for the soundtrack. It's still worthwhile, I suppose.
 

Back to FFVII, I'm obviously very excited about the Remake, and I'm just super happy it's not a simple graphical upgrade, but a full on new game. If I wanted the old experience, I have FFVII in basically every way, from PS1 disc, to Steam, to PS3, PSP, PS4. I bought it for everything I own.

 
Do you remember how when the 2012 PC remaster of VII was first released, it had different soundtrack music? The MIDI instruments were different and sounded like a kid made them on a cheap keyboard. haha. But still, it was interesting. They have since reverted to the original soundtrack, so it sounds like the PS1 soundtrack again...but I have those original files backed up! They have random names, so it was bothersome to put them in proper order to listen to.
 
Speaking of soundtracks, have you heard this one? The instruments sound more realistic.
 
http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Final_Fantasy_VII_Remastered_%28album%29
 
Have you collected any of the limited edition Final Fantasy soundtracks? Some of them are uber-nice.
 
Hearing the music on high-end headphones (I've owned or heard lots of 'em) is a real treat too.
 

The whole episode thing makes complete sense. People are delusional if they think FFVII re-translated into current gen would be financially plausible as ONE game. It would take 10 years to make, and an astronomical amount of money.

 
I actually didn't know about the episode thing for the remake. (Wanted to just wait until it's out, without seeing any of the preview content, so I'm totally surprised once I play it.) That does make sense.
 

FFVII was considered a massive hit in 97 with 4 million sold. Tomb raider today was considered a disappointment at 4 million sold. Times have changed. People need to grow up and accept that games changed as well, from cost to profit margins, to time needed to fully realize a game of this scope.

 
It's funny how the profit margins for video games are so low compared to popular movies and the like.
 
My philosophy when it comes to creative businesses is to have other profit-focused businesses to fund them, so I can create the best stuff I possibly can without regard for making a profit. I'm interested in launching a digital music store and a production company for animated television series and video games someday, if/when I become wealthy. It would be awesome to license remakes of Final Fantasy IX and VIII (since Square Enix stated that they will never do remakes for them), as well as record my own renditions of the soundtracks (especially VII) in the highest quality. (With the help of experts and musicians, of course.)
 
Whew! I gave you a lot to reply to. Sorry.

 

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

As for Aeris and Sephiroth in the party... I did ages ago with a Gameshark, lol. (Back when the codes were newish): Sephiroth's hex values are too close to Vincent's, so you can't have them both in the party, as it will cause the game to just instantly kill Vincent in battle, and Sephiroth won't even show up.

The code that worked well was Sephiroth replaces Vincent in battle code. You could have it where Sephiroth replaces a character in battle, depending on slot, but you have to make sure Vincent isn't participating...again. It would work best with codes that made Sephiroth have a particular character's stats, instead of his Nibelheim stats, which weren't great later on in the game, and he'd be stuck with his pre-determined materia.

Lots of tweaks to get Sephiroth to work properly, since he doesn't have real limit breaks, missing animations, etc. Hell, giving him limit breaks would often break the game, and they weren't useful. Like some weird Cait Sith toy soldier one that was bad.

There was a lot of cool codes, like actually allowing him to be controlled, equipping him with Materia, etc. He didn't have an animation for 4x cut or Flash cut, so I didn't use those with him.

When I played, I would just have him replace Cloud in battle, so as not to crash the game during cutscenes and whatnot.

I'm sure a lot has been fixed since those days, and I stopped messing with the game so much.

I still have a PS1 memory card with FFVII saves, as well as saves from other incredibly rare games I have/used to have, like Suikoden II, Xenogears, Thousand Arms, etc.

I'm replying out of order, but yes, the whole Omnislash/Mime thing I used to do for the Battle Arena. Just Omnislash every round. Worked well with stat boosted Highwind, Catastrophe/Ungarmax, Doom of the Living, etc.

Trust me, I'm pretty sure I beat this game over 15 times. I've tried MANY things with the game. Just not magic counter stuff.

 

[Music Alchemist]

Oh man, creating your own codes with GameShark Pro was one of my favorite things back in the day! Didn't do it much with Final Fantasy, though...
 
And yes, many of the intricate materia combos involved magic counter stuff.
 
In terms of battle difficulty, VII is actually one of the easier Final Fantasy games. XIII has much more complex, fast-paced, hard-to-beat battles, for example. (Although many of the battles are still straightforward to the point of being mindless, but that goes for countless games.)

 

[Sonikku13]

Does anyone here play FFXIV? Great MMO since 2.0/ARR. Sure, maybe 1.0 left you a bad taste, but it's so much better now.

 

[Music Alchemist]

To any Final Fantasy fans reading this: spread the word about this thread so it's not so dead! haha
 

  Does anyone here play FFXIV? Great MMO since 2.0/ARR. Sure, maybe 1.0 left you a bad taste, but it's so much better now.

 
Wish I had the time. I have heard some of the soundtracks and love a few of the songs enough to put them in my on-the-fly playlists from time to time.

 

[socks2sound]

  To any Final Fantasy fans reading this: spread the word about this thread so it's not so dead! haha
 

  Does anyone here play FFXIV? Great MMO since 2.0/ARR. Sure, maybe 1.0 left you a bad taste, but it's so much better now.

 
Wish I had the time. I have heard some of the soundtracks and love a few of the songs enough to put them in my on-the-fly playlists from time to time.

I used to play until mid patch 3.15. I loved it for the story, but hated it when they reintroduced relic grinding. I think I was around 30/80 tokens before I unsubbed. It is a great game though, Binding Coil of Bahamut was amazing, Heavensward's launch itself was amazing, Hildibrand was the best, but ultimately what made me stop playing was the lack of story content. 

Other than ffxiv though, I'm kinda excited for World of FF. It would finally be an excuse to brush off the dust from my Vita after playing FFX on it a long time ago. Though, I kinda hate that I'm going to have to buy a ps4 for FFXV and the re-release for FF7 (or maybe they'll release it on pc)

 

[Music Alchemist]

I've been playing Final Fantasy Tactics Advance again. (Played it for hundreds of hours total in the past.)
 
Although the graphics are fairly primitive (it's a Game Boy Advance game, after all), it's just so addictive!
 
*sigh* But alas, this thread (and the video game section in general) is hardly active, so I won't go into further detail for now...