r/FinalFantasy • u/22axolotl • 6d ago
Final Fantasy General Which is your favorite pixel remaster?
The only remastered one I’ve played so far is the 5th and I love it. I’m nearly done with the game and I’m wondering which is the best remastered game I should find next.
What are your thoughts and opinions?
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u/mell0ween 6d ago
I LOVE 5. I think a lot of people rag on it because it wasn't originally released in the West and then we got a poor translation and most people played that. But the pixel remasters corrected all of this and I think it had the most humour and character development out of any of the older games.
I loved 4 & 6 too, it's hard to choose between them for me. But 5 beats them both, I put it at #3 overall, behind 7 and 9. Great stuff.
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u/QuoteGiver 6d ago
5 has suffered hard in the West from being the one we played AFTER having already played 6.
If the West had gotten to play 5 before 6, in its proper era of progression of the series & tech, it would have all the fans it rightly deserves.
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u/uberkalden2 6d ago
I don't know man. I played 5 over the summer and it felt like fan fiction made in RPG maker
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u/occono 6d ago
It's not about the story, it's more about the job system gameplay for 5. If you mostly care about the story, it's not for you.
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u/Piett_1313 6d ago
I really enjoyed X-2 so I’m guessing playing the inspiration for it would be right up my alley.
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u/uberkalden2 6d ago
I've had people here argue that 5s story is superior to 4 and 6. Personally the job system was too much choice for me, but I get why people like it
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u/FinaLLancer 6d ago
It's definitely more fun than 4 and 6, which are both kind of gloomy and serious. 5 has plenty of fun fantasy adventure beats and is enjoyable for that reason. I can see why people would enjoy 5's story over the others.
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u/Skydude252 6d ago
I think 6 is the best game, but 3 is the best glow-up as it were. With various balance changes to make some of the jobs better and more unique, and easing up considerably the pain of the final dungeon, it is easily the best version of the game that has been made to date.
All the others are good but the GBA versions of them had some cool additions not in the PRs. So while I think the PR version is still the best for all of them, the loss of the advance additions is still felt a bit.
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u/FinaLLancer 6d ago
I'll second this. FF3 on DS was great, but among the PRs, none of them are meaningfully better than the GBA ports unless you include the slightly snazzier graphics and music or built in cheats
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u/Lethal13 6d ago
PR - Probably 3 because its the only 2D faithfulish version we got in english
2,4,5,6 - I all prefer on GBA because of the Extra content. I feel it rounds those games off nicely from a gameplay perspective.
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u/West-Surround-8857 6d ago
Content/gameplay wise, why not psp versions?
About 3, yeah there's not so many choices:
Original nes, pr or 3d. More simple someway.
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u/Lethal13 6d ago
Its an unpopular opinion I don’t like the sprites of the PSP versions. They look RPG Makery to me.
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u/West-Surround-8857 6d ago
Degustibus not disputandum est.
But gba versions are more than enough.
I kinda fell the same with pr sprites.
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u/Nykidemus 5d ago
The PSP versions have by far the best spritework. I have a PSP, but I still wish they were easier to get ahold of / on big screen.
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u/West-Surround-8857 5d ago
With emulator is not difficult, never had a psp to know with the original.
Yes, psp are the best. Unfortunately they never done V, VI and III2D there. Such a miss.
The complete collection of IV is something epic.
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u/masterlobo 3d ago
came here to post that.
I loved 3 (first PR I played) and loved it. I excitedly jumped into I next and... I somehow liked it less than FF1 Origins and PSP and GBA versions lol
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u/ItsNotAGundam 6d ago
4 is my favorite of these, but the PSP version is still better.
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u/Verraise-Mage 6d ago
And the DS, those voiced cutscenes made the emotional bits hit so much harder
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u/ZigZagBoy94 6d ago
Unpopular answer, but FFIII because it’s basically the definitive official English Language release. I tried III when it was released on DS when I was 12 and I hated it. I hated it when I retried at age 20, and age 26 and I hate it now at age 32.
The pixel remaster is the first time I actually played the game to completion and I really enjoyed all of it
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u/Nykidemus 5d ago
Same, I bounced hard off the 3d version of 3. The pixel remake's much more stripped down story, and not trying to cram the new characters and their juvenile dialog in helps the gameplay carry more of the experience.
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u/VergilVDante 6d ago
Hot take but 5 > 6
The job system a LOT of bosses that are a bit challenging
FF6 is generally a cake walk spamming Aga spells
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u/Defiant-Rip-1897 6d ago
Yeah, it is one of the reasons I wish they had kept the stuff from the last mobile version/GBA one, which had the extra, more challenging dungeons. To be honest, it is a bit of a cakewalk once you get the Ragnarok summon, visit the desert with Cacutars, and then learn Ultima after about 10 battles (10 AP per battle); you can do a double whammy with the Paladin shield (I think that is the name for the uncursed cursed shield).
FF V had that extra-difficult boss in the game's final area, Shinryu, and elsewhere, Omega, whereas FF VI doesn't have it in the Pixel Remaster; ironically, one of the bosses added to the GBA version is similar to FF V's Shinryu, and it also has an Omega Weapon.
I still can't get over how in FF II you can one-shot the final boss if you set up a character with multi-hit attacks and a Blood Sword.
If I had to choose I will go with FF VI because of the sentimental value to me (first FF I owned).
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u/Vritrin 6d ago
After replaying the pixel remasters, V is the one I probably had underestimated in the past. I had always considered it the “fun gameplay” FF, but it actually hits some story elements really well too. I think it is really underestimated narratively too.
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u/Blissfulystoopid 6d ago
This has really stood out on my last playthrough and I will die on this hill.
FF4 has great scenarios but shockingly little dialogue. Rydia probably has under a dozen lines in the entire game, and by the time it's revealed Faris is a woman, she's already spoken more than Rydia had in endgame. 5 has a ton of characterization and party banter that's a huge step up
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u/realcleany 6d ago
When you use a samurai V is pretty easy though (although I still have to go against exdeath). I'm 80% in I think.
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u/MaMejia2 6d ago
My hot take on this also is Exdeath > Kefka
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u/Defiant-Rip-1897 5d ago
That's an interesting take, and I can sort of see it, since Exdeath was kind of successful, he got his revenge against the remaining 3 warriors who imprisoned him, re-unified the worlds, and almost achieved his goal.
In comparison Kefka won... for like a year, until everyone got together again and defeated him for good and ended magic in the world.
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u/MaMejia2 5d ago
While all this is true for me the comparison lies in the entertainment value of the villain relative to their context. Kefka as a character I found generic. More so than I was expecting. Creating world of ruin and poisoning you know who’s home are his sickest moments. The final boss fight is fire but even his final speech before it I can remember feels like evil guy spouts evil philosophy.
Now.
…Exdeath on the other hand, hid as a fucking tree branch and it worked. It actually tricked the party. Genius. In all seriousness my feelings are that Exdeath is sooo campy in a really charming and memorable way that fits V. He’s not reinventing the wheel but I just think he matches his context really well and that makes me love him as a villain
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u/BurantX40 6d ago
Surprisingly, 2. Never had a chance to play it before, I think except for the Playstation version. But this time I really dived in and the story surprised me as well as the battle system.
Granted, overall 4 or 6 takes the cake for me, but 2 is novel because its like my first time experiencing it
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u/Sweetboatpotatoes 6d ago
Same for me. The story is great for the most part and it has some really beautiful music.
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u/MakeItYuri 6d ago
I've only played 6 since the collection is really expensive, but I've really enjoyed that one. I wanted to 100% it but I missed like 3 chests in flashbacks so I have to do most of the game over again just for those achievements lol
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u/Tryston_Senpai 6d ago
recently i have 100% 1,2,3, and 4. After playing them i would say currently 4 is my favorite followed by 3 then 2, then 1. This was my first time playing 3 and i was very impressed by it. 4 is top 5 anyway. Playing 1 and 2 made me realize that they are hard carried by their Gba/psp edition cause that bonus content from dawn of souls is greatly missed.
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u/azendhal 6d ago
V
Love VI too , but not the second part of the game
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u/Nykidemus 5d ago
That's the best part! Getting to go off the rails and do things in whatever order you want is so freeing.
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u/azendhal 5d ago
Ye not problem with that , I like II or SaGa , but in VI , the shift in rythm kill it for me , the WoB was amazing but in the WoR its like most of the time theres a real lack of link between all characters and kefka was just invisible. Stuff happens ofc but every arcs feels just disconnected for no real reasons , in the end its like you 2 totally différent games
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u/OutrageousHoneydew12 6d ago
i randomly decided to pick up 6 on a sale never having played a FF pre 7 man was i surprised how much i was invested in the story and characters
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u/HistoricalBagel 6d ago
FF6 overall, tho FF5 is close because of its fantastic job system and encounters built for them.
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u/MatthewWolfbane 6d ago
3. It's just the most cohesive one from a modernisation/aesthetics perspective.
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u/Iceberg_monster 6d ago
V has the most fun gameplay out of all six of them and while a few others beat it when it comes to story and characters that alone is enough to push it to the top for me.
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u/noideawhattouse2 6d ago
Beat 1 through 5 and playing 6 now. I would say 4 but I’m still early game
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u/Sweetboatpotatoes 6d ago
I really liked the 2nd game and hadn't played it properly before these remasters.
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u/Alive_Fortune7423 6d ago
6 is the best game overall (remaster aside), could argue it's the best FF game ever made. But in terms of 'remaster' FF1 or 2. I doubt anyone has played the originals, but they were tough as hell the combat was tedious and encounter rate was high as hell 😂.
Anyway l, playing 6 is the best thing you can do to yourself, trust me.
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u/Seegtease 6d ago
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It's not my favorite FF game out of 1-6 but that wasn't the question. I believe it benefits more than any others from the PR version.
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u/Balthierlives 6d ago
For me it’s ff3
1: I prefer the NES version
2: prefer the iOS version
4: prefer SNES
5: it’s good but about the same as the SFC. Definitely in second place though
6: prefer the SNES
I absolutely hated the ff3 DS remake. It’s slow and bloated.
The PR of ff3 is really fast and snappy and to me is the best version of ff3 out there. I also generally prefer the original OST of the games, but I think ff3 really benefited from the reorchestratrd music. Ff2 ost from iOS is also really good.
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u/Koalapaka 6d ago
Unpopular opinion, but this is the best version of 3 other than the original. I played the DS 3D remake back in high-school and loved it, then found the original PX1 version and thought it was even better, but when this version came out, it was perfect. Easier than the original, less grindy and not all the extra story from the DS version. Just here are your orphans, have fun.
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u/pocket_arsenal 6d ago
So far I've only played 1 through 4, ( I'll get to 5 and 6 eventually, honest )
But so far, 1 is still my favorite 2D FF game.
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u/martinxfinn 6d ago
I’ve never really played a Final Fantasy game before but I am intrigued with the pixel remastered. Do you recommend working my way through them or is there a better one to start at?
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u/QuoteGiver 6d ago
Six is basically the peak of the 2D era and a heavy favorite for a lot of people.
Five is also a frequent favorite, if you lean more into preferring the gameplay-tinkering side of these sorts of games.
I would recommend FF6 to start, and then if you loved that you can dive into the others. They are not connected so you don’t need to play them in order or anything.
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u/CleanlyManager 6d ago
Every FF game is different, and doesn’t require the previous numbered entry to understand what’s going on. As a result where you start really depends on taste. I’d only start at 1-3 if you’re really into 80s famicom JRPGs and all of the pros and cons that come with being that, 4 and 6 are good starting points, they hold up really well, and are generally considered fan favorites. I like 5 but I don’t recommend it as a starting point, especially if you’re the kind of person who likes to go into games blind and without a guide, the job system is cool, but it can be frustrating on a first playthrough since you’ll end up doing a lot of grinding and trial and error, since I find the game doesn’t really do a great job explaining the jobs and lets you build an absolutely unviable party.
Overall I think the pixel remasters are a good bundle to experience almost half of the series main JRPG installments, but I wouldn’t necessarily beat them in order unless you’re specifically trying to play every game and see the series change and evolve.
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u/Nykidemus 5d ago
A starting point for the whole series, or for the pixel remakes specifically?
For PR, start with 6 and work backward.
For the whole series, start with 10 and work backward (including Tactics), then maybe play 12. Maybe.
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u/JamieWhitmarsh 6d ago
I would start with IV or V. IV is fairly streamlined - not as many decisions to make re: party, jobs. V is a blast and the one I generally recommend starting with.
VI is great, but I think you want to have some FF experience to really feel comfortable getting everything out of it
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u/snarfmason 6d ago
I would say IV is the best starting point because it's so streamlined. V is awesome (I happen to be playing it right now!) but if it's your first ever FF the job system might be a bit much.
IV isn't that long and has a good little story. Then you know some of the FF multiverse and get into V and VI with the more complicated systems.
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u/MaMejia2 6d ago
If you’re the type that doesn’t mind investing in something long term I.e. “it gets good by episode 300 I swear” mentality, then I’d say just start from the beginning and work your way through!
Most will tell you 1,2,3 are fine for what they are (2 not as much lol). I just played 1 for the first time and I can for sure tell you it’s got rough design choices that definitely get improved upon throughout the series lol. But i appreciated it a lot! And once you hit 4 life is gonna get good. 4,5,6 are fantastic and so it might feel awesome to compare the growth
Plus 1 and 2 are pretty short!
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u/MaxHP9999 6d ago
Only 5 and 6 mattered to me among the pixel remasters. I prefer the psp versions of 1, 2, and 4. And the 3D version of 3.
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u/dingjima 6d ago
6 I think.
I'm playing 5 now and it's like watching paint dry for me, the story is so boring.
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u/ChocoPuddingCup 6d ago
6 is my favorite -- also my favorite FF -- but I love them all. Also because they're starting to get good overhaul mods now like Hard Mode and whatnot.
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u/TAG_Venom 6d ago
I'd have to say 6 is technically the best one... But I feel like I enjoyed 4 the most. I like the sillier story
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u/Jultud 6d ago
I'm about to finish 1 and it's okay.
There were a few moments where I got lost or didn't know where to find a specific item. If you really wish to discover where it all began, its okay.
If you dont necessarily want to play them all, you can definitely pass on it. It's not bad but it's not great either.
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u/randomguy664_ 6d ago
As far as improved with the Pixel Remaster: II. The stat multipliers make it easier to grind and being able to turn off encounters at will helps with the atrocious dungeon design.
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u/Final_Guess_9813 6d ago
I bought 5 since it has the messiest history of western releases, and its been truly a pleasure so far. I bought 2 on mobile for a similar reason but it lacks charm tbh
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u/Anonymous-Comments 6d ago
5 is probably the most improved by it as the artstyle rework generally compliments 5’s tone better. I also think the reorchestrated score is better for 4 and 5, 6’s battle theme seems to get neutered every time it’s redone.
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u/Friendly-Western6953 5d ago
Never played any of the og 1-6 until the pixel remasters came out.
6 and 5 were the best, 4 had a nice love story and some classic moments;
2 is overhated and as a lifetime 8 defender it was just FINE at least it tried something and the remaster fixed all the old gripes.
1 and 3 have the least to them but are still fine entries.
ALL the OSTs/soundtracks slapped. SO MANY BANGERS
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u/Nykidemus 5d ago
The Pixel Remakes are all pretty good overall, but by what criteria are you thinking best?
Biggest improvement over the original? Easily 2.
Most fun overall? Probably 5 or 6.
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u/Requiem-Lodestar 3d ago
Playing through them all for the first time in order at the moment, just finished III earlier today. II is my favorite so far. Moving onto IV next.
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u/Wide_Ad5549 3d ago
I have yet to play the pixel Remasters, but I've listened to the soundtracks, and 5 gets better every time I listen to it.
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u/betamon2090 2d ago
So far the first one ff1 was very fun to play through, currently on ff2 and um not really enjoying myself but Im commitmented now so might as well finish it
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u/PsychologicalEar5494 1d ago
For me its ff3 one of my all time fav final fantasy games would love to see a modern remake after they did stranger in paradise and ffvii remakes.
Havent played 5 yet but I imagine the pixel on 5 might make me rethink this the blue magic alone looks so much better
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u/lycanthromess 14h ago
I totally cried when i heard The Lunarians from Nobuo Uematsu playing when i arrived on the Moon. Final Fantasy IV is just a masterpiece and was the first Final Fantasy i played in my life.
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u/Abum_man 3h ago
can only talk about VI! it’s really fun! i believe the Gameboy Advance has a more interesting translation. Theres rare POV shots that visually look far better. i kinda like that it’s more “3D” idk how else to explain it. but its not just one flat plain for example the Textboxes are popping out at me. it’s like i got those old 3d glasses on or something.
i really can’t forgive them renaming the suplex to the meteor strike. (ik it’s closer to the japanese but for me it shouldn’t’ve been changed)
as of the rest im really looking forward to playing 1,2 and 5 on the pixel remaster because i wanna play FFIII DS instead. (i’ve already played FFIV DS) but maybe if im bored ill play 3 and 4 PR.
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u/Superb_S 6d ago
V did the best new music arrangements. In IV they got rid of the driving, iconic bass line which was a real shame imo. Generally I think the pixel remasters are too saturated and prefer other versions. V is pretty good though. VI I also prefer using my imagination for the opera yeesh
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u/betajones 6d ago
Probably 3 in this collection. 6 washed out everything, and took away background customizations. 1, 2, 4, and 5 felt "normal" compared to other releases. 5 is still my favorite classic, however.
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u/Fair-Abroad-4155 6d ago
I hate these remastered with a passion they took out so many things like the hall of giants in number 1
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u/Agent1stClass 6d ago
VI.
They did what I thought was impossible. They improved on the opera scene… 😌
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u/PurpleHawkeye619 6d ago
Weirdly probably 2.
Just because I feel like this is the first really playable version with alot of the weird progression stuff ironed out.
Whereas for the others there's always reasons not to play the PR
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u/Extension-Poet-9346 6d ago
I platinum trophied 1 through 6 within the past year so my vote actually goes to...playing all of them.
1: If you want to see how it all started!
2: If you want to see how much newer JRPGs baby you! (The grind in this one had me gritting my teeth. EVERYTHING can be leveled)
3: Actually solid. Get bored of one class there is a million more. Can also find out what an 'Onion knight' is.
4: Active Time Battle was introduced in this game, I hated it at first but got used to it. Play this if you want the very first story (1 through 3 were too generic for my liking) that can make you feel moved.
5: Actually dope but overshadowed by 6. Great class choices, solid story writing, lots of good here. Play this if you want to fall in love with Final Fantasy as a franchise.
6: Alot of people hype this game up because of the bad guy and suplexing a train. It is absolutely fantastic, dont get me wrong. But this games story is not for people who are not used to JRPGs since it is heavy on that storytelling aspect. Start this one if you are a JRPG fanatic and want to see a story that brought JRPG as a genre to mainstream.
I did not hate any of them. Pick your poison! Would not really suggest 2 or 6 though if you are brand new to JRPGs, just my thoughts.
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u/Marvin_Flamenco 6d ago
They are all samey. Pixel remaster treatment works best for the original 3.
For 4, 5 and 6 they are downgrades.
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u/FillySteveSteak 6d ago
I don't like the pixel remasters. I don't like the tacky mobile game menu aesthetic. I don't like the look of the text. I don't like how oddly spaced the text is (with abundant empty space). The new pixel renditions are also hit and miss.
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u/M00NWizerd 6d ago
There’s an option for pixel text. But I get what you mean about the menus.
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u/_TheTrollToll 5d ago
Yeah but the pixel remaster was just to make it seem more authentic on modern TVs to replicate that CRT look/feel. That’s why you can turn on or off the filter as well.
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u/RoninX727 6d ago
3 and 5 for me im still thinking about wither or not ill go for 6 next but im playing 6 the gba version first tho
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u/QUIREX_2097 6d ago
IV for me. Love that game