FF8

finished it yesterday -- gameplay much stronger than story, to me, it really went off rails around disc 3. i don't hate the junctions, but wasn't always fun to min/max

cast is just...not charismatic. squall is an uninteresting mopey boy. hard to invest in.

7.5/10 (i'll put it just above FF3)

and that's where i'm at so far! i'm 75% or so through FF8 right now, so i'll come back to this thread and update as i go.

as things stand now, my ranking of the games would probably go as such (VIII currently ranked around 6th):

1. FF Tactics
2. FFVII
3. FFV
4. FFVI
5. FFIII
6. FFIV
7. FFI
8. FFII

Tactics

didn't include it above, but i've ALWAYS loved this game so much. i sucked hard at it as a kid, but i LOVED the job system, and the battle system, and the political intrigue plot

this is still peak tactics game to me. bring FFT back. top 10 games of all time in my book. music SLAPS

10/10

FF7

i am...as some may know...very anti-bandwagon. i get annoying about it

everyone likes FF7, so i have always shouted from the roofs that it's overhyped.

but like...it's not. good game. hot take? FF7? good game.

excellent characters, compelling story, can't deny how great it is

9/10

FF6

another one highly lauded online, but this one lived up much closer to its expectations. interesting characters (some), good plot twist, engaging enough gameplay with a little challenge

plus, getting to stand at the final boss death scene as MOG? what a treat, bossest moogle ever

8/10

FF5

the one i'd probably heard the least about, so didn't expect much

...and then i fuckin LOVED this one. slow burn start, but possibly one of the more interesting/impactful (storywise) death scenes of the franchise for me. very fun job system, and quirky characters -- a pleasant surprise

8/10

FF4

i was excited to finally play this! it's spoken of highly.

unfortunately, that maybe set my expectations a little lofty? i didn't fall in love. it got a lil cheesy how just everyone offed themselves, and THEN narrative weight got lost by the end... fun to have unique characters tho!

6.5/10

FF3 -- one i had on 3DS and tried as a kid, but just wasn't into

first iteration of the job system! very cool! sucks that some of the new/unusual jobs...sucked. BUT THEY WERE AN OPTION, and i made a few work. story was preeeeetty trope-heavy, but still fine. higher opinion than i once had!

7.5/10

next, the oft maligned FF2

and sadly, not undeservedly. the leveling system seems LOGICAL on paper (use sword, get good at sword), but it's so tedious as to make the game feel less fun, so it detracts

i really appreciate that they tried to go big on story. points for historical significance

5/10

kicking it off, FFI. the start of it all.

it isn't BAD, and it's straightforward, which is probably why i was able to beat it as a kid. not unenjoyable, and i appreciate a game's historical significance, but the story's nothing to write home for + it's wanting for some QOL.

6/10

to start off, here's how i prob would've tiered the games prior to this playthrough:

never played at all: IV, V, VI, XV, XVI

never finished: III, IX, XII

disliked: II, III

meh: XII, XIII

solid, but not exceptional: I, IX

quite enjoyed: VII, XIV

v underrated: VIII, X-2

fave of all time: X