Final Fantasy vs. Oblivion 141
An anonymous reader writes "bit-tech has up a short comparison between Final Fantasy VII and Oblivion. While Oblivion is touted as the latest and greatest PC-based RPG, Final Fantasy VII is held in the minds of many gamers as the best RPG of all time. From the article: 'At the time of its release, nearly ten years ago, FFVII received rave reviews from the press and the public, and it has a claim to being the best loved Final Fantasy game ... In a Top 100 Games of all time, it would be up there in the single digits. It is, by all accounts, Sergeant Pepper-Citizen Kane great. If something is great, it should be great whenever you pick it up -- buy a fresh copy of Pepper or Kane now and they'll still blow you away: they were great in '67 and '41, and they're great now. Is the same true of FFVII?'"
Short answer... (Score:5, Insightful)
Then again, graphics aren't everything. But FF6 beats it in the story department, too. And the gameplay department.
Re:Short answer... (Score:3, Insightful)
But on the other hand, FFVII had more than just evil villains conquering the world by force; it had a hero battling with himself, discovering the truth about his pa
Re:Short answer... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Short answer... (Score:2)
You might want to take a look at the Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega [ign.com], which was a book published in Japan that explains the story. After reading that, especially seeing exactly how Jenova, Sephiroth, Cloud, and Zack all are connected, it makes a whol
Re:Short answer... (Score:2, Insightful)
I could, however, see supplementary books with the Halo series. Not everyone cares about the story, it is kind of a mindless FPS.
Re:Short answer... (Score:2)
Kefka, OTOH, was a seriously messed up human. He was a genocidal maniac who killed for no good reason. I could look at him, and liken him to Hitler or other despotic leaders who use mass murder to rise to and keep their power. But, yeah, he did look like
Re:Short answer... (Score:1)
Check out the instruction book drawings. He was basically a clown.
That's exactly the idea. He's the architypal evil clown: he believes existence is some cosmic joke. And he embraces the chaos. (See The Joker from The Batman comics for another example.)Re: (Score:2)
Re:Short answer... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Short answer... (Score:2)
You lost me here. Though the framerates weren't stellar, I'm going to have to disagree strongly about the lowres models. Chrono Cross, IMO, has the best graphics of any Playstation game. The movements are so smooth and realistic, and the details are excellent.
But more importantly: why exactly do the frame rates and models have ANY bearing
Re:Short answer... (Score:2)
Framerate: 0
Bearing on game? Yes
Re:Short answer... (Score:1)
Re:Short answer... (Score:1)
Re:Short answer... (Score:1)
Re:Short answer... (Score:2)
Playing somet
Re:Short answer... (Score:2)
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Re:Short answer... (Score:2)
The main character in Memento never did discover any truth about his self. At least not for longer than
Re:Short answer... (Score:1)
I swear to god, the text in that game is harder to read than the new font on this site. Makes it unplayable IMO.
How the hell do you screw up text? They'd only been doing just fine with it for the previous 7 games.
Re:Short answer... (Score:3, Insightful)
The first half of the game is great. Terrific. The story moves along, has interesting characters, great scenes. The whole nine yards.
Then the story just falls apart. When the linearity of the game is removed, the writers need to stop character interaction, because you may not actually have a character when you get a different one. As well, you don't actually have a storyline anymore. The game is reduced to a series of individual character scenes.
Re:Short answer... (Score:2)
Re:Short answer... (Score:2)
Re:Short answer... (Score:3, Insightful)
Oblivion is a classic "western" RPG: "Here's a world. Go forth and do things."
FFVII is a classic "eastern" RPG: "Here's a story. Go forth and complete it."
FF7 FTW (Score:1)
Resurfacing?! (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Resurfacing?! (Score:1)
FFVII the greatest? Please. (Score:5, Insightful)
That said, I'll take even 7 over Oblivion any day- RPGs are about the story to me, and sandbox RPGs have way too weak a story.
Re:FFVII the greatest? Please. (Score:1)
As for FFVII it was only my third favorite game of the PS1/PS2 era(FFT > FFIX > FFVII), and I have not had the chance to play FFXII yet.
Eh Nine was crap (Score:4, Insightful)
The game play was it's redeeming factor but I loved the flexibility of the materia system much more.
Re:Eh Nine was crap (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Eh Nine was crap (Score:1)
Re:Eh Nine was crap (Score:3, Funny)
Re:FFVII the greatest? Please. (Score:1)
Maybe in your opinion, but your opinion is not fact. I prefer FF7 over any of the previous games, or FF8, which is the last FF I've played (I don't have a PSX/PS2, see). FF6 was good, but it just didn't really grab me like FF7 did. It's not a question of graphics, because I greatly enjoyed Chrono Trigger when I played it for the first time 4-6 years ago, and it's one of my favorite games. I loved FF7's Materia syst
Re:FFVII the greatest? Please. (Score:1)
Re:FFVII the greatest? Please. (Score:2)
My only real objection was that that idea of actually casting any of your spells was ludicrous, since they were so much more effective when just junctioned to your other abilities. It would have been nice to see more balance between those two uses.
Re:FFVII the greatest? Please. (Score:1)
Re:FFVII the greatest? Please. (Score:3, Interesting)
But lets not mix apples and oranges. FF & Oblivion are not the same type of RPGs. They're both beautiful games (in terms of graphical eye candy - for when their time anyway).
Oblivion is more about freedom, exploration and interactivity while FF is more about your classical RPG where the hero saves the princess from the raging dragon.
But i have to admit that square enyx has done a good job at dis
Re:FFVII the greatest? Please. (Score:3, Informative)
Re:FFVII the greatest? Please. (Score:2)
Re:IV was the greatest (in the US at least) (Score:2)
Errr... Not a fair fight. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Errr... Not a fair fight. (Score:1)
Re:Errr... Not a fair fight. (Score:2)
Plus why exactly do we care about a reporters opinion or the outcome of a poll? It won't lessen you love of Final Fantasy style RPGs or my love of Elder Scroll style RPGs.
Re:Errr... Not a fair fight. (Score:2)
Re:Errr... Not a fair fight. (Score:2)
Re:Errr... Not a fair fight. (Score:2)
Re:Errr... Not a fair fight. (Score:1)
The main reason I prefer the NES Final Fantasy games is that my Treo can emulate an NES, but a PSX? Doubtful.
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Re:Errr... Not a fair fight. (Score:2)
KOTOR (Score:5, Interesting)
Heh (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Heh (Score:2, Insightful)
Final Fantasy games are adventure games with a leveling system, just like Deus Ex is an FPS with a leveling system.
You don't "role play" in either of those games, any more than you do in a conventional adventure game or FPS.
It doesn't mean that any of the games is better than the others necessarily, I just think it's silly to automatically label anything with a leveling system and involving s
What is the point? (Score:5, Insightful)
No, I havn't RTFA, and don't intend to.
Writing a article and being on /. (Score:1)
The question is how to be sure to be on
Just put two big names in the title of your article and publish on the net.
Whatever the content, you'll be there
Where is the point ? (Score:2, Insightful)
IMHO, the whole article is biased, just take a look at the screenshots, do you see any of Oblivion ?
For me, a really interesting article would have been build around the differences between eastern RPGs and western RPGs. Trying to analyse the reason why each genre is fun in its own way, trying to improve them in mixing concepts but still respecting the specificities...
On FF series... (Score:1)
It's interesting how many people say this, then loads of people say "No, I preferred this one". I've only completed 7 & 8 myself, and I'm not sure which one I like more - though they both get a bit silly towards the end.
Re:On FF series... (Score:2)
And what is the japanese obsession with Fishing and pointless mini games? Is it only brilliant US developers who thought up the idea
Re:On FF series... (Score:2)
FFVII is actually my favorite RPG (calling it "the best" I think is a little much), so it's true for some people. Personally, I thought FFVIII was awful. The game itself was alright, but I hated Squall. I kept playing the game and going, "Why am I still playing, Squall is the one I
Re:On FF series... (Score:1)
What? (Score:3, Interesting)
I enjoyed both games, but non-linear games don't really do it for me. First of all, I don't have time to put a million hours into a single game when there are so many out there to play. That's why I decided to give up MMOGs completely - or if I try one I only play the trial month and then quit (as I did with World of Warcraft and Everquest 2).
Also I just personally prefer linear games over non-linear ones - especially when it's an RPG and the story is the reason that I'm playing. Everything can be so much tighter and efficient in a game that has you follow the story closely.
For the record, I liked FF7 more than FF6 but not as much as FF9.
Re:What? (Score:1)
Just because the game is open-ended doesn't mean it can have a story that you can follow through and through without engaging all those small side tracks.
Take Ultima VII, for example - it has a reasonably long main story, and you can spend quite a time to get that done, and it's quite possible to finish the game without doing any of the subquests. But it's also open-ended; you can literally go wander around and literally live in the world (make money by engaging in honest jobs, and pay for food), explore
Re:What? (Score:2)
Re:What? (Score:2)
I loved NWN, and am eagerly looking forward to NWN2. I loved the origina Ultimas, I-III, and the original Wizardry. The original Bards Tale (and Bards Tale II) were simply fantastic stories. Even the original Might & Magic games were brilliant in scope.
FF7? Maybe one of the best console RPGs, but it can't compare to those early PC games.
And as far as bugs went, they didn't really have any. You couldn't really patch back in thos
Well it's subjective (Score:2)
Bah... Fallout 2 is the best RPG of all time. (Score:3, Insightful)
Although, I get teary eyed everytime I want FF:Advent Children mostly over Aeris's death. I think that is the only game that has ever made me cried.
For some reason FFVII made me very emotional throughout the game, but I don't know if it was because I was young or if it was the first game to do that.
Re:Bah... Fallout 2 is the best RPG of all time. (Score:1)
"Temple of Trials" BS at the beginning aside, that game was great.
The character creation/leveling system was awesome, ALL of the storylines (main quest- and side quest-related) were terrific, interesting and immersive world, good/fun battle system, and, most importantly, *multiple endings*. Not just for the main quest, but with variations created by *every* major side quest. Somehow manage to not find a certain town during the whole game? No mention of that town at the en
Re:Bah... Fallout 2 is the best RPG of all time. (Score:2)
Re:Bah... Fallout 2 is the best RPG of all time. (Score:2)
Hear hear!
Fallout 2 is exceptional from both a gameplay and story perspective. Completely non-linear, amazing easter-eggs and probably 100+ hours of gameplay easy (only running through it once) - for me no other CRPG can hold a candle to the Fallout series, I only hope that Bethesda do the Fallout series justice if/when they eventually release Fallout 3.
Citizen Kane comparison... (Score:3, Interesting)
So, it wouldn't be outside the realm of possibility for FF7 to be the same way, afterall when something is hyped up so much, it is bound to be viewed down a bit too...
FF vs. OB, fuggedaboudit... (Score:1)
Materia (Score:1)
Materia is the worst part of FFVII (Score:2)
What ever happened to good old classes? Or what about (in my mind) the greatest ability system of all, the Job systems present in FFV and FFT?
Best RPG? Nah, A widely accepted cult classic. (Score:5, Insightful)
I wouldn't call FF7 the Citizen Kane of RPGs or games, but rather I'd call it the Star Wars of the gaming industry. Noone I think really expected it to explode into the success that it was and reach such a larger audiance (I dont think anyone who had a PS1 didnt have FF7). On top of that, like star wars it seems each recent sequel can't find the same place in people's hearts that FF7 found. It was strange indeed, but I think its success can largely be attributed to many little things. Things ranging from marketing and publicity down to the twists in the story and Characters in game (Sephiroth is still by far one of the greatest villains ever). I can still remember working on leveling my characters up all day just so I could beat the Ultima creature.
As far as keeping it fresh and would FF7 still stack up today? No... I don't think so. Unfortunatly games have made moves in recent years that are so major it can't be helped but not feel impressed by games like FF7. Sure FF7 will always carry the nostalgia love with it, and while its story and characters are still top notch, you cant help notice some things that have been improved on since (graphics aside) and perhaps wish that PS3 tech demo at E3 was actually being made into a FF7 remake =)
Narrow and sharp wide and fuzzy (Score:2)
Oblivion is definitely an evolution in some aspects over Morrowind in some aspects, but some features are a step down (the made-for-TV interface is worthless on a PC monitor
Re:Narrow and sharp wide and fuzzy (Score:3)
Haha, same thing's happening here. I've put in ~50 hours doing most of the town-related sidequests, all of the Dark Brotherhood quests (best so far, definately), and I'm working my way through what appears to be the only other set of interesting guild quests (Mage's guild). I've also progressed maybe 25%-30% of the way through the main storyline (though with a character that I've stopped using because he sucked).
I'm getting REALLY bo
Re:Narrow and sharp wide and fuzzy (Score:2)
And I found the main story really weak and uninteresting. Saving whatshisname from the burning city was the dumbest crap I'd ever seen in a game. Our 15 escorts in plate mail all got killed, bu
Re:Narrow and sharp wide and fuzzy (Score:2)
You know that you can fast-travel with companions, right? Do lots of minor side quests and exploring so you find (as in actually go to, not just get the map markers) almost every major place on the map (or at least enough places so that you can get NEAR anything that you can't fast-travel to directly) and THEN do the guild quests and main quest.
It's what
This is a joke, right? (Score:1)
I'm sorry, Final Fantasy who?
Re:This is a joke, right? (Score:2)
Console RPG (Score:3, Insightful)
Console RPG, yes. There's no clear winner in PC RPGs with contenders like Planescape:Torment, Fallout, and Ultima IV.
Now this is spin at its best/worsed (Score:5, Insightful)
If we assume for a moment this guy ain't a shill then all he is showing that he prefers adventures over RPG's.
The simple fact is that the western RPG ala Baldur's Gate is a totally different genre then the japanese "RPG" ala the Final Fantasy series. The biggest single difference is that you do NOT have a choice in the japanese "RPG". Why do I use quotes? Because I am a westerner and as such think that RPG's originate with the D&D Pen & Paper style games. These games were not just about fighting and levelling up or being told a story. They were about making choices. The dungeon master would tell you the situation and then the game starts with, what do you do.
The western computer RPG usually tries to give you choice, choice as to what you play, choice as to how you play and choice as to well what choices you make. There are costs involved. The non-choice character Planescape Torment gives you a far stronger story then say Icewind Dale where you create your own party. Yet PT is as free as a bird compared to the on-rails gameplay of Final Fantasy.
If anything the Japanese "RPG" in western eyes is closer to an adventure with stat based fighting. Adventures are great games but usually not known for their free form story telling. Linear is the word most often used. I amazed to see games like Fire Emblem labelled as an RPG. Exactly where is the RP element?
You therefore in my eyes can't compare the Final Fantasy with Oblivion (although Oblivion does suffer from a lot of linear quests) because fundementally they belong in different genre's.
To me, a western CRPG lover Final Fantasy doesn't count as a great RPG, a mediocre RPG or even a bad RPG. I don't count it as an RPG. Doesn't mean it is a bad game. It just ain't a RPG.
I am not totally alone although I realize it is hard to come up with enough labels to eh label all the various game genre's. Lets just settle for Japanese RPG and Western RPG. Most people here would know what is meant by that including that comparing games between the two is futile.
This reviewer probably hasn't learned that distinction and was either burned by Oblivion thinking that ALL RPG's are like Japanese RPG's. Either that or he is an idiot.
As for this being posted by Zonk, well big supirse there.
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By your definition all games with a character are (Score:2)
Your comparison to theater is neither here nor there. This is not what is meant by roleplaying. That is why we don't call actors roleplayers and acting not roleplaying. Yes they play a role but they are not roleplaying. I would think that on slashdot the distinction would be clear. You are probably one of the washed hordes who never played a D
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Re:By your definition all games with a character a (Score:2)
In Quake you are a specific marine with specific skills assigned to you by the game.
In Neverwinter Nights, you are
Re:Now this is spin at its best/worsed (Score:3, Interesting)
2) You miss the point; in Oblivion, you have the choice not to play the "main quest" *at all*. When you "win" the "main quest", the game doesn't end... the only reason it's really even the "main quest" in the first place is that it's a long quest chain that happens to start with the very first quest you receive. If you want, you can play Oblivion as if the assassin's guild quests were the "main quest", beat that chain, and declare it won. That's true fre
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"Japanese" vs "American" RPGs (Score:2)
The best analogy I can give is Classical vs Jazz. While there's room for some variation in Mozart (dynamics, articulation, tempo, and cadenzas) it's not like a Duke Ellington chart where what's written is almost a sugge
Re:Now this is spin at its best/worsed (Score:2)
FFVII is an interactive story. You run on a treadmill for 2 hours and are rewarded with a pellet (another cutscene). Required no thought to solve puzzles, no thought to design characters, no thoughts on where to go next, no thought to defeat enemies. It's just a treadmill that you pay them money to run on.
Re:Now this is spin at its best/worsed (Score:2)
Difference (Score:1, Insightful)
If I could get a copy of it, I'd play it again (Score:2)
Xenogears (Score:1)
Re:Xenogears (Score:2)
Poor comparison.... (Score:2, Insightful)
Looking Back.... (Score:2)
In looking back at older FF games (which I recently did one weekend) I basically concluded that graphics *do* make-up a lot of the replayability
Tell me your age... (Score:3, Insightful)
Every gamer has a momemt, sort of like losing your gamer cherry. You never forget the first time a game moves you to tears, makes you laugh out loud, or scares you so much you have to turn on the lights and turn off the computer.
I didn't get FFVII, but I was 30 at the time. I had already played Ultima Underworld, Lots of Wizardry, and more traditional CRPGs. I'm sure if I was 13 and I had a Playstation, things would be very different.
I don't begrudge anyone their favorite game. I think it's great that people are passionate about it, and want to share the experience with others.
For the record, my "first game" was Ultima Underworld II. There's a portion of the game where you need to raid the tomb of a king, and his ghostly court tried very hard to stop you. When you reach the king, you realize they weren't trying to stop you from stealing his treasure, but were trying to keep you from letting him realize he was dead. At that moment, I had a feeling that I had done something very wrong... much worse than just stealing a trinket.
Re:Tell me your age... (Score:2)
Infocom's Planetfall (Score:2)
Poor, poor Floyd!
Re:Spoiler Alert! (Score:2)
BTW, Vader was Luke's father.
And Bruce Willis was dead the whole time.