LogFAQs > #949916623

#51 Final Fantasy VI (Playstation, 1999)

Finally, the first numbered Final Fantasy game on my list. It's not surprising, though. There is a very large gap in my preferences between my favorite Final Fantasies (of which this is one) and the others. I guess FFTA sits somewhere between the two groups.



Final Fantasy VI was the second game in the series that I played, on the SNES, but I didn't get very far. Not because I did not enjoy it, but sometimes you just get distracted from a game and move on to something else. I ended up coming back to it as part of Final Fantasy Anthology for the Playstation, which is when I really got serious about it.

This game was a big step forward in the series from a technical standpoint, but also with respect to design. While Final Fantasy V experimented with new ideas, VI took the ideas that made IV great and iterated on those, polishing them and making them shine. The cast is expanded, the story is more serious, the graphics are much improved, and there is just so much more to do in the world.

The World of Ruin was an interesting decision. As far as I was concerned while playing, the game was at its climax at the Floating Continent. I had explored the whole world, and it all had the feeling of a finale. So I was pretty shocked when it turned out that there was a whole second half to the game. It certainly lacked the structure that defined the World of Balance, but there is something to be said for the non-linearity and freedom that can be enjoyed. And it's cool that you can finish the game with just a few characters or go ahead and collect everyone. Still, the game suffers considerably from the reduced focus and it's easy to lose momentum at times. The World of Ruin would have done better to have a more clear narrative path leading up to the game's actual finale. Something to help build to an appropriate climax.

Final Fantasy VI is, for better or worse, responsible for the never ending debates about the "main character" which returned for X and XII. The way I see it, the game stars an ensemble and there is no real "main character" and that is OK. Terra is probably the focal character of the story, but that is a whole different thing. I really liked the fact that for much of the game you are free to play with whichever characters you prefer and do not have to be stuck with one character constantlyone of my complaints with Final Fantasy VII is the lack of this freedom.

Since Arti shared his ranking, I might as well share mine.

Edgar > Sabin > Setzer > Gau > Locke > Celes > Mog > Shadow > Terra > Cyan > Relm > Strago > Umaro > Gogo

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At least your mother tipped well