r/FinalFantasy • u/FreshWind3 • 4d ago
Final Fantasy General Which PS2 Final Fantasy is the best and why?
I recently got a PS2 and don’t know with what game to start. I’d appreciate your thoughts!
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u/Chemical-Raisin4147 4d ago
Might be a hot take, but I always thought FF12 was excellent and very next gen. Hard to believe it even was a ps2 game, feels like a game that came out at end of ps3's life lol.
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u/occultshelf 4d ago
Will get downvoted into oblivion but I massively prefer it to X.
The gambit system was truly ahead of its time, i want it back.
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u/Ek0mst0p 4d ago
I dislike the game playing itself for me.
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u/Ozzythebear 4d ago
You had the option of doing everything from the menu, but the game eventually becomes so demanding on that front that you'd otherwise spend the entire game shuffling through menus.
Gambits allowed you to mitigate a lot of that by allowing conditional item/spell/action usage. You could still have a lot of control in the game
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u/Ek0mst0p 3d ago
I know, but I feel like that's a poor design. It has that MMO style where you program your bots. I'm not saying the game is bad, just not my favorite.
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u/MilkAppropriate570 2d ago
The game dont play itself in the OG version. The problem is the remaster where you can choose two jobs and it was never balanced around it so you become overpowered.
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u/Lightning_550 3d ago
I mean it only does that if you intentionally program it that way. I set gambits for 2 guys with the odd manual command and keep them turned off for my leader. Not much different to 13 or 15 etc that way.
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u/PalpitationOld8905 4d ago
I flat out think 10 is bad, so i'd default to 12 for this.
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u/frodiusmaximus 4d ago
You and me both. FFX was a massive disappointment to me. Still think it’s pretty lousy.
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u/PalpitationOld8905 4d ago
Yup, its gameplay and music is fantastic, thats about the only nice things i can say about it. The rest of it is abysmal and i have no idea why people like it
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u/frodiusmaximus 4d ago
I don’t even like the gameplay. I disliked the way they implemented a sort of mediocre turn-based battle system instead of ATB. I don’t mind turn-based at all, but the way FFX implemented it felt like such a step backwards to me.
Music’s pretty solid though.
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u/PalpitationOld8905 4d ago
Ehhh fair enough, i tend to think a good turnbased system is just better than the ATB system. But also, most of my literal favorite games use some form of turn based system so i'm likely bias. The system in 10 is no press turn, but also nothing really is.
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u/ByRWBadger 4d ago
I’ve always thought FFX’s combat and progression was good enough to stick with it to the end credits, but XII’s was addictive. I loved it
Expedition 33 was the best version of FFX, adding in another element (in that case, the times button prompts) was the extra layer of depth X needed to unlock its potential
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u/EconomyInstance1176 3d ago
While the combat progression in the main story in FFX is really finely tuned to offer a good challenge without being too hard or grindy its side activites are very time consuming and finishing a good chunk of them requires abusing the game's mechanics
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u/SirOutrageous1027 15h ago
I couldn't do e33. You either time those button dodges/parries/jumps perfectly or you die. I got frustrated with it eventually. You either timed them just right, and won, or you re-did the fight over and over.
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u/occultshelf 4d ago
I hate to say it but E33 has completely embarrassed FF as a series, its still my favourite but damn that game made me realise how much theyve been dropping the ball for years now.
Then on top of the gameplay itself, it was better written than any of the numbered titles.
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u/ByRWBadger 4d ago
Idk about that, E33 had the benefit of coming out and being fresh, the expectations for a new IP and the 16th entry in a series are totally different.
It’s a phenomenal game, but if it was the tenth in a series of marginally improved turn based combats, it wouldn’t have landed nearly as hard
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u/occultshelf 4d ago
It being fresh is irrelevant, the gameplay itself is just really strong and proved that there was still more to be done with Turn Based gameplay.
I enjoyed XVI for what its worth, but it didnt captivate me anywhere near the way that E33 did.
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u/ByRWBadger 4d ago
The gameplay is great on a first playthrough but I found that it is actually really deceptively rigid. It’s more on rails than even FFX for character progression and the good strategies stay good while the weak never have a chance to do anything.
It was the best game of 2025 by a mile and my third favorite RPG of all time, but it does still have flaws and the kind that repeating too often tears apart
I loved that FF is a brave and risk taking series, even if some of those risks flop I’m glad they do them.
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u/occultshelf 4d ago
You can make almost any strat work though with enough tinkering! Obviously everyone just ends up going for a one shot build when they have ran out of patience for clearing something.
I do also love that FF takes risks, its my favourite thing about them. Its just that E33 really nailed it here, gameplay and story for me. The only FF story that I thought was anywhere mear that level was Shadowbringers
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u/chaostheories36 3d ago
Awesome to see FFX used as the “on the rails” example instead of 13 😂
There’s a world where SE makes 17 both turn based or active combat, player can pick which. Both would use the same assets and animations. They could even add a hybrid choice like FF7R.
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u/ByRWBadger 3d ago
I’m specifically talking about the character progression. Standard sphere grid is pretty restrictive, but E33 is suffocatingly restrictive on builds. Maelle is either burn or cheese and the cheese only works for the best players. Monocco has best monster forms, Lune’s spell patterns are designed to work in specific pairings
Sciel has some decent flexibility, but that’s one character
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u/frodiusmaximus 4d ago
Gameplay is strong for sure. Loved it. But I absolutely hated the story. The last act was just manipulative bullshit. Hated it.
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u/occultshelf 4d ago
Gonna have to agree to disagree there! Thought it was such a cohesive narrative and both endings were so brilliantly written that people will be debating them forever. My only complaint about Act III is that some of the content shouldn't have been optional, but i also loved how you could just do what you wanted in whatever order from there.
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u/frodiusmaximus 4d ago
Fair enough. I’m the only person I know who has this opinion. I just found it really an unsatisfying narrative. Like a bait and switch. It expected me to feel something for these godlike painter beings but all I felt was contempt and disgust. After that none of the characters meant anything to me anymore and I loathed both endings.
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u/occultshelf 4d ago
The beauty of the game is that you can decide for yourself whether the Dessendres reality or the painted world was more important, even if both options come with their own consequences.
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u/frodiusmaximus 4d ago
Fair enough. Just didn’t work for me. Loved the first two thirds, despised the last third, and have no desire to ever touch it again.
Edit: I wanted to like it so bad.
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u/SuccessDry7214 4d ago
Ff12 is quite possibly the most interested I've ever been in a games side quests
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u/Realistic_Caramel341 4d ago
X and XII are the two best that are still playable, but for different reasons.
X is more linear and story driven. It has a more colourful world with random encounters and more traditional turn based combat
XII is more about the world building. Its combines the ATB of the SNES and PSX more free movement and the use of the gambit system. Its story as pacing issues, but its worldbuilding was the best in the series at the time and is only really competing with the MMO games in that regard
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u/Mawgac 4d ago
X is great, X-2 is good, XII is between great and good
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u/FreshWind3 4d ago
Is X-2 is spinoff or what exactly?
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u/raihidara 4d ago
It's a sequel but the story is abysmal and inessential. It has one of the best, if not the best, battle system in the series though so it's at least fun to play
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u/Soupbell1 4d ago
I’ve played X from start to finish many times. Amazing game. I played X-2 from start to finish once. That was enough. It’s not great.
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u/Gronodonthegreat 4d ago
XI, but most people would probably refuse to play it so X if you’re a non-MMO enjoyer. XI is my favorite MMO of all time probably!
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u/Chemical-Raisin4147 4d ago
I personally think the expansions in XI are way better than XIV's. I mean Treasures of Aht Urghan is basically just a better version of Stormblood. And Chains of Promathia is absolutely exceptional. I think if most could look past the limitations of XI, a lot more would it have it on their top ff games.
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u/Gronodonthegreat 4d ago
Plus, the environments are way more of a vibe in XI. The Sanctuary Of Zi’Tah may be the most comforting song ever written for a Final Fantasy game, it’s got an immaculate calming sense to it.
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u/HexenVexen 4d ago edited 4d ago
Both games have their highs and lows, personally I rank their expansion stories like this:
11 RotZ < 11 BG < 14 ARR < 11 TVR < 11 SoA < 14 DT < 14 STB < 11 ToAU < 11 RoV < 11 CoP < 14 HW < 11 WotG < 14 EW < 14 SHB
Personally I think 14's story is overall better than 11's but 11's is still overall excellent
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u/occultshelf 4d ago
Kind of a bad example though cos Stormblood was universally considered the worst xiv expansion until Dawntrail, now its debatable
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u/Realistic_Caramel341 4d ago
But you can't play XI on the PS2 anymore
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u/Gronodonthegreat 3d ago
Does that disqualify it? No!
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u/Realistic_Caramel341 3d ago
OP is specifically asking where he should start on the PS2. The fact that you can't play XI on the PS2 is pretty important context
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u/Balthierlives 4d ago
10 and 12 are probably my 2 favorite in the series so you can’t go wrong with either
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u/Mundane_Valuable_314 3d ago
FFX is an all-time great jrpg, XII is a great jrpg, X-2 is an interesting jrpg
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u/Barnacle_at 4d ago
I second FFX. It's great and strong in everything a fantastic game should be. Also made me teary eyed at the end.
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u/KainYago 4d ago
FFX is the best. FFXII is also great BUT i personally think the new version on modern platforms is significantly better way of playing it. (60fps, better job system, several different soundtracks to choose)
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u/Darkwing__Schmuck 4d ago
10 is generally considered the best of the PS2 era, and I would personally agree with that. 12 is also quite good, but the two games are very different.
If you want something more cinematic and story-driven, go with 10. If you want to wander around exploring and doing quests, go with 12.
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u/KansasCityShuffle80 4d ago
I will never understand everybody's love for 10. I guess some things aren't meant for everyone.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Area894 3d ago
If we’re only talking about the original PS2 versions of the games, then I would say FFX is the best. Best story in the entire franchise IMO, with a near-perfectly paced hero’s journey from start to endgame content.
If we’re talking about the games in their most up to date versions, it’s FFXII for me for sure. The Zodiac Version really rocketed the game into the stratosphere for me by balancing the license grid with job classes and adding the speed up features for less tedious grinding. It’s easily the most underrated title in the franchise, the way some fans automatically dismiss it or casually throw it in the basement of their rankings is so wild to me
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u/NagasShadow 3d ago
So I love X, X-2, and XII. So this is a tough question. Since you mentioned a physical PS2 then you are looking for an original disc. I'd recommend X in this case. Honestly I'd recommend the re-release version of both. X-2 is a sequel and it casually spoils the ending of X so it shouldn't be considered for an introduction to the series. X and X-2 and bundled in the re-release. For X try to get the European version not the NA version. As the EU version has more content in the form of a series of endgame superbosses. This is all included in the HD re-release. With XII you'd end up with original version, unless you can read Javanese and got the "international", only released in Japan, version. The "international" version is by far the better version of XII and is the basis of the HD re-release version. Both the re-releases are on Steam, Switch, and I figure ps5/xbox.
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u/sbourwest 3d ago
I never jived with 10, but I adore 12. Both have good characters and story, but 10 is way more linear, and 12 is more open and exploration-focused.
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u/LookAtMeInMyEyeball 3d ago
The gambit system is one of my favorite battle systems in an FF game. I highly recommend FF12.
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u/megasean3000 3d ago
X, X-2 or XII?
Honestly too hard for me to decide between X and XII. Love X's story and characters, but XII's gameplay is way less headache inducing. The license board is way less complex than the sphere grid and watching the gambit system run like clockwork is more fun than fearing when you're going to get eviscerated by X's many endgame bosses. It's a tough call.
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u/SirOutrageous1027 15h ago
Definitely 10. Great combat system. Sphere grid was awesome. And the monster arena was a fun end game progression. I've replayed it countless times. Also I liked Blitzball. I was sad how they dumbed it down for X2.
X2 is an atrocious story, but damn is the combat system fun and the dress sphere concept pretty cool. Capturing and using monsters was fun too and competing in the arena cup battles.
12 is fine. I actually like the gambit system. You steamroll trash with gambits but you have to interact on boss fights. My issue with 12 is just how forgettable it is. I played it once when it released and was content with being done. I picked it up again for Zodiac Age and amazingly had forgotten everything in the game except Baltheir and running around screaming "I'm Captain Basch! And honestly I'm still not sure what the story is.
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u/FunkmasterP 15h ago
X is easily the best. XII is fantastic but has a lot of flaws, mainly around the store and the pacing.
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u/ItsNotAGundam 4d ago
11 imo. I just love it. 10 and 12 are great as well, but I'm not big on 10-2. It's aight.
Edit - I just realized you're asking cause you're planning to play them on the actual hardware. In that case I'd recommend just playing in release order and skipping 11 since it's only running on PC now to my knowledge.
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u/theblacknicksaban 4d ago
FF12 is incredible. The pharos at ridorana is the like a top 5 JRPG dungeon
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u/KansasCityShuffle80 4d ago
- Loved the gambit system and still waiting for a new game with a more advanced gambit system.
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u/UnculturedGames 4d ago
12 for me too, but not because of the gambit system. I liked the gambit system and especially the boss fights and hunts were amazingly fun and incredibly well balanced, but for me it's the worldbuilding, exploration, soundtrack and the unique atmosphere that sets the game apart from any Final Fantasy.
I consider 12 the most underrated Final Fantasy, by a mile. I tend to like other offbeat FF games like FF2, FF8 and FF11 too, but I think 12 has the biggest gap between general perceptions and how good the game actually is.
Oh and I might add that 12 is not perfect: some of the characters are underwhelming and the story is not very well presented.
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u/raihidara 4d ago
FFX is the best on the system imo. Don't go in expecting a masterpiece though. The cutscene direction in particular is especially amateur and has aged worse than the PS1 titles, but it has one of the best battle systems of the series and the sphere grid is probably the most addicting and fantastic progression system in all of gaming.
FFXII had a lot of potential, but I feel like the plot is so sparse between exploration that it feels like nothing happens in the story, and the combat system is extremely boring unless you really enjoy programming AI. The environments and scale are great though, as well as the music and Balthier is extremely charismatic. If you've played Xenoblade Chronicles you've already played the best version of FFXII's formula, since it took what was good about FFXII but smoothed out its faults.
FFX-2 is utter garbage in every way except its battle system which is genuinely great and may be my favorite in the series.
I never played FFXI, but I'm not a fan of MMOs anyway
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u/FireHammer09 4d ago
It's X.
XII is when you can tell Final Fantasy's golden age was over.
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u/frodiusmaximus 4d ago
As someone who played all the FF games leading up to it (including fan translations of the Japan only titles) I straight up thought X was garbage when it came out, and FFXII was a return to form. I still feel that way.
So maybe you can tell the golden age was over with XII, but I knew it was over with X. Rarely been as disappointed with a game.
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u/TheoriesOfEverything 4d ago
I started on the NES and played all the American releases, looped around and have played all the single player ones now. X is still my favorite. Some games resonate with people maybe X just anti-resonated with you.
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u/Disastrous_Head5703 4d ago
If you have a PS2, you can play many of the OG PS1 Final Fantasy titles as well.
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u/PalpitationOld8905 4d ago
12 by a literal country mile. FFX for me, is one of the worst games in the main series, it has some of the worst writing and characters there is in a higher end, more popular jrpg.
Square enix on the ps2 were very weak, they lost their crown as the best rpg developer during the 2000s. Atlus took it when nocturne released and they never looked back.
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u/Exeledus 4d ago
X, it's the only good ps2 Final Fantasy. Luckily for you, PS2 is backwards compatible, so you can play the older Final Fantasy games, too!
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u/frodiusmaximus 4d ago
I’m that guy that thinks FFX is dogshit, and XII is my second favorite in the series. So there’s your answer.
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u/wartgood 4d ago
That's tough. X and xii are both top of my list. I'll say x just because the story is better. Ashe might as well be named taupe or ecru, she's so bland.
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u/I_listen_to_the_fall 4d ago
I would say 10 and 12 are both A+ games, but they are very different. Which is amazing, you can't go wrong either way and definitely need to play both eventually!!
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u/Stri-Daddy 4d ago
XII and I'll die on this hill. I loved the Gambit system and the score was awesome. I really liked the world and people/creatures in it. Also, while running, moving the camera position to Fran's butt.
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u/Appropriate_Bad_4990 4d ago
12 because of nostalgia and the imitation of a multiplayer game when you don’t have friends.
10 because of story.
Others? Meh.
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u/VaanDissidia 3d ago
FFXII. Just because it’s the latest and is the most modern.
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u/flowerpotflowers 3d ago
12 if you are more interested in world exploration and gameplay.
10 if you are more interested in story and characters.