Final Fantasy V

[OCH]

I find myself needing to take breaks from FF7 Rebirth. What better then to play the last of the Classic Era I am the least familiar with? I played this originally with the PSOne collection many years ago now. The newest playthrough is via the Pixel Remaster. So let's get this out of the way. The story isn't the main focus of this one. This is a "four chosen heroes gather to protect the elemental crystals that power the world". I'm already two and half hours in and the story has been on the lighter side, so far. As is the tone. This is almost at odds with FF4 and FF6 that start strong on the story front. You play as four characters almost from the very beginning. So there is no real "main one" to focus on.

 

So what is the main focus of this one? Job Classes. This is basically the last game to refine the job system that debuted in FF1. Here's the gimmick though: You level up your job class and past a certain cap. Unlock a skill IE use of White Magic that you can retain when transferring to another job. For example, when the job classes are first unlocked. I set one character as a Monk IE the physical powerhouse. A couple levels in, you unlock "Barehanded". A skill the grants other job classes the physical strength of a Monk, when unarmed. Therefore, that character is now a Black Mage. Who when the skill is set also happens to be one of the strongest attackers in the party. This opens up a lot of variety to each build and character. Magic is also done a bit differently in this. You don't "learn" a single spell. You buy them from a Magic shop. Now levelling up White and Black Mages grants higher levels of proficiency. The initial unlocked skill grants use of Level 1 White/Black Magic EG Cure, Fire etc This goes upto level 6. So it pays to have one of two of your characters set long term as a Mage. Blue Magic also returns. Which is weirdly done. Because you don't influence enemy attacks in anyway. You just have to wait and see if the enemy has something you can learn. You don't even gain the "Learn" ability until Blue Mage lvl 3.

 

This is the kind of grinding that I find really relaxing. Especially with the speed up battle option.

[Metroid66]

Interesting choice for a 'break' game from  Final Fantasy 7😀.

 

My own foray into the world of FF9 ended rather abruptly when I decided it was just too good to be a side game. I'm going to start it again when I'm done with 16 and give it my full attention.

 

[OCH]

On 24/05/2024 at 22:27, Metroid66 said:

Interesting choice for a 'break' game from  Final Fantasy 7

The issue with FF7R is frustration over narrative choices. The gameplay is enjoyable, for an Action RPG. But in terms of story, it is one step forward and two steps back every single main story beat. For example, Tifa gets knocked into a reactor! Cool. Except we are using this as a segue to apply the Mideel scene earlier into the game. They actually do something with the GI Tribe! Interesting. Except this is just how we introduce the Black Materia into the story instead. They can't stick the landing on the new stuff and don't seem to understand what makes the old stuff work IE Dyne. Tangent over.

 

Meanwhile,

EXDEATH!!!!

I forgot the villain's name in this was so lame. This is one of those games that plays fast and loose with setting. I'm currently on a second planet, using warp portals from meteors (for those that thought FF9 was the outlier when it came to flipping the script). The amount of variety with the job class system is wild. For example, you learn the ability "Lance" with the Dragoon class. This attacks, absorbing HP & MP. Pretty cool right? Now apply that to a Mage class and you're basically invincible. The main weaknesses do still present themselves however. Mages can't really take a hit. Knights and armour wearers are slow etc There are some weird choices though. Magic has been split among three classes - Black, White and Time. The first two are pretty self-explanatory. The latter, you're thinking that's spells like Haste, Slow, Stop. But what else? How about Float, Regen, Comet, Gravity??? Granted I assume I am mid-game now. But there are some classes I haven't even touched yet. Not sure if I will either? As the ones I am using have the most utility. 

[OCH]

I haven't talked about this in a while. Although I am roughly 30+ hours in, I can see why this is the less celebrated of the SNES trilogy. Cecil and Terra's stories had a narrative focus that this really doesn't. There are two (big) twists in this. Including a roster shake up that I didn't remember from my prior playthrough. But I don't think it hits as it should have. Had you been as invested in these characters as in their contemporaries. 

If anything, this game I would cite as the precursor to FF13. Wherein the main focus of the game is the battle system and the "game" was built around it. Make no mistake, this is as versatile as the Job Class system was and will ever be. If you want a Summoner that can duel-wield knives or a Knight that can Learn Blue Magic, this is the game for you. I think I'm near the end now. Honestly really don't care too much for the cast or even the villain. Which is saying something for me.

[one-armed dwarf]

Yeah I know absolutely nothing about this game other than the main character is called Butts and the job system is apparently really good. 

 

Interesting to think in another universe if this game got localised in the 90s it would probably be argued about the way VIII and XIII are.

[OCH]

Early on for example, you learn a Monk job ability called "Bare handed". Unequip weapons and any other job class can fight with the strength of a Monk.  This is s a game changer for the Mage classes. Who as should be apparent, are not physical attackers. The trade off is that this is an early game skill. Their attacks are strong initially. But that damage is worthless from mid-game onwards. Similarly the physical job classes have the final ability to "Equip Weapon" IE A Summoner can equip a Knight's broadsword. 

 

They clearly put a lot of thought into this and it offers a ton of variety. The rest of the game's story and narrative? ..Meh