Is FF12 the greatest Final Fantasy game?

There's nothing Final Fantasy fans enjoy more than debating which is the best game in the series - so with features editor Martin Robinson declaring "the best Final Fantasy is even better now that it's portable" with the arrival of FF12 on Switch, now is the perfect time to get into it ourselves on the podcast.

[PhoenixUp]

It’s definitely up there with the best

[IMissJimRyan]

These articles are only praising ff xii because the game was released on Switch.

[septemberindecember]

Both the original game and the remaster were received well when they were PS Exclusives too.

[PhoenixUp]

FFXII was praised prior to that

Plus you seem to forget FFXII came to both Xbox One & Switch as well

[RedDevils]

not for me. But it definitely better than 13 though.

[Relientk77]

I would say Final Fantasy X was the last great FF game, so no.

[Cyb3r]

FF12 is where the series went downhill

[Flynn_Ryder_897]

Final Fantasy 13 is when it fell off the cliff.

[Kados]

There were several downhill moments for the series, 10 being one of them with the linear design. It was just as bad as 13 in that regard. 12 brought the series back up. It is easily in the top 5.

[Princess_Pilfer]

10 also has the best paced story, and the best developed character in the series (Yuna) that isn't just a protagonist.

12, however, has a garbage story, stuck between being a political drama and shounen anime nonsense and *both* aspects are dragged down by the presence of the other/ fighting over the overall tone that they do. Not to mention the almost total lack of character development and how poinltess and irritating Vahn and Penello are, having basically nothing at all to do with the main plot.

And this is *without* getting into things like the combat that's structured in such a way that it's *really* tedious to control all the characters yourself, but really boring to either only control 1 character or to simply let the game play itself FF13 style. (In fact, as much as I hate 13, 13s combat is probably actually better than 12s, because they addressed that issue by making swapping around the way the game plays itself at more fluid and intuitive than it is in FF12.)

So, no, I woulnd't put it top 5. If we exclude the MMOs (which is arguably unfair as 14 is really good) I'd say X, X-2, 9, 8,7, and 4 are all better.

[meep316]

most of the final fantasy games are pretty linear with side quests.

[Flynn_Ryder_897]

Final Fantasy 9 is my personal favourite.

[iDadio]

Same here, it had everything.

[Sirk7x]

One of my favorite games of all time, let alone FF titles.

[Snakeeater25]

No and far form it.
You are just to young to have played ff2 and ff3 and ff7

[pietro1212]

Played and beat every Final Fantasy except for XIII and I would place FFXII in the top three. FF2 is the weakest of the franchise, same goes for 3 including the DS remake and VII is just overrated

[Last_Boss]

Thank you!!

[pietro1212]

I would agree if you talking about FFVI, that game is truly a gem.

[meep316]

vii was really good, but it also had 100 million dollars worth of marketing in the late 90s (which was unheard of). if it wasnt for that marketing it would probably just be another cult classic Japanese role playing game. Sony really took a chance marketing it like that for square, but it really paid off!

[Snakeeater25]

Yes i Was talking about FFIV= ff2 because were dont live in japan and FFIV= ff3 again because we dont live in japan those are far better story/caracters

[pietro1212]

FF2 and 3 have been released overseas for years now though on different platforms

[Sirk7x]

So many people are familiar with how the western releases were numbered that you'll probably confuse people by talking about 3 as 6 now lol.

[Cobra951]

It's more correct to call it FF VI (when you refer to FF III US). That way, there is no confusion in an international forum, regardless of what country you live in. "FF III" could refer to an entirely different game, as could FF II. The renumbering for Western markets was stupid; but then again, those were different times.

[Segata]

FFII isn't very good.

[pietro1212]

The character progression was awful and the story was really bland. It was the first story driven FF title so it does get props for that.

[discodowney]

The worst ive ever played. Awful characters, boring, small scale story, terrible battle system, horrible progression system.

[MoshA]

FF7 > FF9 > FF Tactics > FF15.
Everything else is poop. Play Ni No Kuni or Dragon Quest 11 instead.

[Gamehard]

LOL so FFII and FFIII/VI are poop? FFXV is the biggest pile in the franchise...

[Teflon02]

FF9 is the best imo, but I'm okay with what you said

[Snakeeater25]

Ni no kuni is like playing with diaria

[Segata]

Ni No Kuni has great music visuals and atmosphere. Just the wrong battle system for a game that requires heavy grinding.

[RedDevils]

Snake that because you eat taco. Do not eat taco when you play Ni no Kuni!

[CaitSith]

FF15 was shit.

[Father__Merrin]

Incredible soundtrack

[kayoss]

My ranking (my opinion)
1. FF7
2. FF10
3. FF Crisis Core
4. FF12
5. FF8
6. FF9
10000000. FF13
10000001. FF13-2
10000002. FF13-3

[MoshA]

FF10 was pure cringe and the combat was disastrious. I still remember that golem boss that 1 shots one of your members every turn and you have to revive them every time.

[goldwyncq]

Great worldbuilding and lore but the characters are forgettable and the pacing is atrocious.

[Chriswynnetbh]

No VIII is.

[Snakeeater25]

The worst of them you are right

[Chriswynnetbh]

Gunblades and space what is there not to like!?

[BlaqMagiq1]

Thank you!

[Casepb]

I remember XII getting a lot of hate when it was first shown off. A FF game not being turn based was blasphemy! I enjoyed it a fair amount for the PS2 but never beat it.

[modsrhypocrite]

1. 6
2. 4
3. 5
4. 8
5. 7
6. 9 - are all my favorite core entries.

10 was the end of traditional FF, and I found it pretty bleh. Boring cast, terrible linear feel. But at least it still had turn based battles. And yes, I completed the hell out of it on ps2 and also working on the plat on my Vita.

12 is where FF traded in the core JRPG mechanics to start feeling like an offshoot side game. Fun, but didn't feel like a -core- entry. Same for 13 and 15. If they were "random JRPG X" from a non AAA line, would have been less biased and enjoyed them more (though 12 is heads above 13 and 15). But what do I know. I like turn based battles, random encounters, and FFX-2 lol.

[AHall88]

It's in the top 3 for me.

[pietro1212]

No, but it's definitely up there with the best of the franchise. FFVI, FFIX and FFXII if spin off counts Tactics is the best

[TheColbertinator]

Yes. Yes it is.

[Lexreborn2]

It's interesting because I keep hearing all these opinions that the series has been falling off at this point or that point. But, In reality the series has been getting better and better evolving with the times. FF 1-9 all had the same style of combat and just improved the graphics but 10 and on is where you started seeing the gameplay evolve with the graphics. Instead of being stuck with 3 in battle you could access everyone in 10. In 12 they started experimenting with real time rpg action elements. 13 went for a more story driven beginning and opened up later. 15 focused on giving you that access to an open world out the gate like the classics while evolving the combat system into something more streamlined.

And just like how the reception is on a lot of these FF in the beginning because they are not always critically praised and loved. As, people did not like 8 as much I know I didn't, an then I played it again 4 years later and I loved the game. Sometimes it's just timing, but there is an audience that love these games even when you don't. I've been on the tail end of hating some when others loved it, and on the opposite were I loved one and others hated it. I personally feel 12 is in my own middle ground, but I can see why some love it.

I do wish that "fans" of FF realize that SE is always going to strive to push the franchise forward. And, that's the best thing we can ask for even if sometimes you don't like it.

[pietro1212]

This was pretty spot on

[Segata]

That is Final Fantasy VI. Followed by IX. IV and V are in the mix. XII is amazing but comes after those. XII, however, is the last great game in the mainline series.

[BlaqMagiq1]

Absolutely not. That belongs to FF8.

[meep316]

Depends what you mean by best, many fans of the series dont really like it so I guess it cant be considered the best.

[Kados]

By that logic, there is no best. Not everyone likes the same games. There hasn't been a single FF game yet that doesn't have its share of detractors.

[meep316]

Many of the other entries dont have as many haters, this is more polarizing.

[Imortus_san]

Not a fu..... chance.

[ShockUltraslash]

It's one of the worst.
This game started the downfall of the franchise.

[Babadook7]

Short answer: no

Long answer: nooooooooo

[Sirk7x]

What? No, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and Tactics all exist lol. XII didn't even have Nobuo music...

[Lividgravy]

Hmmmm I think 7 was the best

[Gatsu]

FFVII

[Sharingan_no_Kakashi]

Greatest? No, I've only played a demo of it mind you so I can't talk about how "good" it is. But greatness isn't just about if the game is good. You gotta consider the sales, the cultural impact and all of that. Clearly, 7 is the greatest. I do like the art style the best though. I hope ffxvi has this art style.

[drunkenspy007]

It's not even close.

[sushimama]

No. No it's not.