GameSpot Asia Beat Ep. 9: Active Time Babbling
On this week's episode, we talk about Final Fantasy and nothing but; at least after the 12 minute mark.
To celebrate the recent Final Fantasy 25th anniversary party that happened in Japan on September 1 and 2, we figured we should share our Final Fantasy memories to you avid listeners. While opinions on the Final Fantasy XIII saga are still divided, at least we can look back at a time when Square Enix (then called Squaresoft) could do no wrong with the legendary series that placed the "J" on the JRPG genre.
Yours truly geeks out with Robots Gone Bad's Aaron Yip and Mary-Anne Lee, and SGCafe's Sim Cheng Kai about draw systems, mental cases with giant swords, and Shinra allusions. On with the show (cue sound of field-to-battle transition).
Download the episode here. Time stamps are below for your reference:
2:13 - Theatrhythm Final Fantasy
5:26 - The Walking Dead Episode 1-3
8:34 - Persona 4: The Golden
11:13 - Intermission (Earthrise [FF Church/Main Theme] by Brandon Strader)
12:10 - Final Fantasy IX (Mary-Anne)
16:15 - Final Fantasy VII (Aaron Yip)
24:40 - Final Fantasy VII (Cheng Kai)
33:13 - Final Fantasy XII
37:18 - Final Fantasy VI
39:00 - Intermission (Final Fantasy 6 Ruffneck Terra)
40:04 - FF VII remake?
42:30 - Final Fantasy Legend series (SaGa)
45:10 - Final Fantasy III, FFVI vs VII
49:41 - Final Fantasy VIII
57:13 - Final Fantasy X (for a bit)
For more recent videos on Final Fantasy, check out our Heroic Archetype feature. Tell us on the comments box below your favorite Final Fantasy moment, or what you love/hate about the series back then and now.
Intro & Outro music: Penpal (Tugboat Cover) by Anamanaguchi
Intermission 1: Earthrise (Final Fantasy I Church, Main Theme) by Brandon Strader
Intermission 2:
Final Fantasy VI Ruffneck Terra by halc
Born and raised from a jungle-laden village in Sarawak, Malaysia, Jonathan Toyad has been playing games since the early 90s. He favors fighting games, RPGs, and rhythm titles above every other genre, and occasionally spaces out like Pavlov's dog to video game music on his iPod.
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hope i get the same feeling when i played VIII and X. when ffv13 comes out =)
that balamb garden theme and besaid island theme.. ooohhhh
Why are there real-life models still when Final Fantasy and other franchises sport their increasingly-female show case...??
First time I'm listening to this, and it's great, congratulations!!! Anyways, Final Fantasy IX is still the best one in the series. I was amazed by the graphics the first time I played.
AndCarlsen This cant be serious, ff7 is the best ff ever, and looks like it always will be, because squares's creativity has gone =_(
AndCarlsen I agree with you on liking 9. That and the thirteen series have been some of the best ones that I have played. 7 is really good, but like they said, 9 had a great grounding in the roots of Final Fantasy. 13 brought something fresh to the series and it worked too.
I've never really understood people saying FFIX was their favorite but it seems to be the popular answer. I personally got bored with IX and never really could get into it, nor did I finish it. I've always liked FFIV which was one of my earliest serious gaming experiences. My personal favorites would have to be VIII and X. FFVII was one of the best as well.
endorbr You´re missing out a wonderful game.
endorbr I agree, the unique FF I wasn't able to go on until the end was FF IX, boring history and chars, and after "real" chars getting back to animated chars makes no sense to me.
same here....ur dead right
My favorite FINAL FANTASY moment is when I suddenly came to the realization that I have been playing FFVIII for 3 days while wondering what does such game - with no fun gameplay - has to offer to an almost-hardcore gamer like me!
FINAL FANTASY VIII was the 1st RPG that I've played in my life when I was 17, and it is my most cherished. I used to play all other sorts of action oriented and thrilling adventurous games - even sports and racing sims -, but I've never touched an RPG before. I didn't expect much of such genre and for a change I decided to try one. Playing style was weird as there's no "conventional" gameplay that requires mental or motor skills. There were no gameplay physics or mechanics. You just travel around exploring the environment, talk to people you meet and listen to their stories, collect items and artifacts scattered everywhere around, fight enemies or villains that come in your way through a strange turn-based menu-navigation-system, and spend peaceful moments following the story of those who take you through an epic journey traversing their fascinating realm.
I was sucked into it, and I didn't realize how deep I was invested in the main characters' stories until after I've spent 3 consecutive days playing the game. I wasn't actually playing a game, I was eating, drinking,and breathing art in it's highest form!
My #1 game of all time. The most beautiful love story I've ever encountered. An engaging fantasy story with memorable characters. Awesome musical score that fits the game's atmosphere and a song that touches the heart.
marshalmathers2 FF VIII was my first Final Fantasy too. I play through it each year (atleast once) just because I miss the characters and the places. Everytime I hear the Balamb Garden theme I get the feeling of "being home".
Even if the graphics are outdated by todays standards, the well detailed backgrounds and the (still) great looking cut-scenes help make the game feel beautiful. I have all the characters voices and expressions imagined in my head so who needs good graphics anyway, right? :)
For me FFVIII is the best Final Fantasy and after playing through it I have played all other Final Fantasies hoping to get another experience like VIII. This far FF VI is the closest I have come and I hope Versus XIII can reach the same levels.
Ramin1989 marshalmathers2 First FF game for me also and my all time favorite.
I bought it again just for the nostalgia and i love it. It makes me laugh also, the game is basically text based with cut-scenes and its just so damn good. LoL Way way better than most "next-gen" games now days.
Story is just awesome!
marshalmathers2 FFVIII is definitely one of my favorites. I'm looking forward to downloading it to my Vita soon so I can play it again while on the go.
Final Fantasy VII
-
PC, PS
- Publisher:
- Eidos Interactive
- Category:
- Role-Playing
- Release:
- May 31, 1998
- ESRB:
- T
