Final Fantasy Intros Ranked | State of the Arc Podcast

[@ResonantArc]

Hironobu Sakaguchi interview Mike mentions: Edited: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIPJZ6ani9tnldE Unedited: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmSzoHWfd8eSfrc

[@samcherry120]

You guys absolutely need to check out the original demo disc version intro of FF8, if you haven't already.

[@nico.jovisst]

@@samcherry120 Tell me more please

[@samcherry120]

@@nico.jovisst I'd recommend looking it up. It was for the demo disc of FF8. Arguably one of the best game intros of all time, and they omitted it entirely from the final release.

[@nico.jovisst]

@@samcherry120 Thanks

[@SurinaSlackArt]

Tbh I don't even care what your rankings were, I just derived a lot of joy listening to you guys geeking out about FF intros 😂

[@eternalbraid]

Couldn't have said it better!

[@quezcatol]

I always felt that Aeris, when praying near the leaking lifestream pipe almost summoned us, the player, as we come down from the stars and then fly over midgar and crash down into the event when avalanche storm the reactor. Jenova came down from the stars to ruin the planet- we the player- came to save it!

[@TectonicImprov]

That's a nice thought!

[@hgc7000]

I'm on board with this. 100%

[@alanlee67]

Thanks for spelling her name correctly.

[@dylanwade9825]

That's amazing. I'm adopting that

[@karthisplays]

There are so many amazing things to take from ff7, thats a great one!

[@TheBlahSan]

Unrelated to anything, you guys are uniquely responsible for the word "dope" returning to my vocab after ~15 years. It's a versatile word.

[@EvanSchatz]

"dope" is the shit, I always use it

[@mikev8746]

Everyone uses that word still lol?

[@cloud1stclass372]

God, I love FFVII so much. I’ve never heard a better explanation of why the intro is so immortal.

[@darkgenesis611]

The whole Midgar section of 7 is straight fire. That's exactly how you hook people into your story.

[@germanasensio2730]

So much ResonantArc goodness, so often! Life is beautiful.

[@erikmclennan3934]

Great comment, totally agreed.

[@WarrenValion]

I believe that Final Fantasy VII has perhaps the greatest call to adventure ever penned.

[@quezcatol]

It should be noted that back in 1997 on the tv commercials they would use the CGI footage to showcase ff7 they didnt talk about the story, the characters or anything about their legacy, it was just showing tons of cutscenes. Yes, it was that impressive back then. In fact, my family bought it because of them, we had no idea here in Sweden what the game was about, the CGI were just beyond stunning. And when you started the game, and the stars moves around- I felt like I was in a planetarium for real.

[@leif54]

"årets äventyr kommer inte på bio!" I remember it well!

[@quezcatol]

@@leif54 Precis, och den där mario 64 reklam " WHAT am I - a MONKEY?" Jo, det är dessa man minns.

[@ghost-in-the-ciel]

I know guys that bought it because of those CG videos and when I tried to talk to them about the story they said, "You mean the reading parts? I skipped those"

[@quezcatol]

@@ghost-in-the-ciel crazy.

[@leif54]

@@quezcatol det var tider det.

[@IronCodyAlan]

That episode title YANKED me in 😂

[@pyguy7]

I give an A-EON that comment pun

[@Scimarad]

I've always been a big fan of that monochrome 'Overture' sequence from Final Fantasy VIII

[@johnmcternan4157]

My younger brother thought that was the coolest thing ever and I kind of have to agree.

[@SigurorSyn]

Love that you put a spotlight on the track Otherworld for FFX. That song might be the reason i'm a metalhead and a guitarist.

[@lolimmune]

Tactics intro is God teir

[@ghostnappa777]

If Kingsglaive had been part of the game and playing as Regis as the intro, then you transition to Noctis as the car breaks down, it would have been so much more incredible.

[@Rithysak101]

Agreed. Kingsglaive hooked me on XV than the game did.

[@King_Puffleump]

Ooh playing as Regis would have been amazing. You as the player could live the action of it all and also see how powerful you could become as the player later on.

[@Tenpouin]

Like Sakaguchi once said in an interview: FFVII's introduction is perfection. I also really like FFXII's intro, because of the symmetry it has with the ending. At the beginning of the game, Gabranth disguises himself as Basch to murder the king and start a war, while at the end of the game Basch disguises himself as Gabranth to protect the (new) king and prevent a war. It really comes full circle and for me it's the explanation for the game's logo.

[@lionheart4424]

Holy sh*t you're right! It's genius!

[@rattlethecages]

Nice catch

[@RokkouA1]

It's bit of a shame you guys didn't mention the very beginning in medias res in FFX, where To Zanarkand plays. That for me was already such a strong hook for the game where I just had to know how these characters got to this point. Everything else that happens is incredible but what really cemented the intro for me is when we learn the game takes place 1000 years later, that was just mind bending.

[@johnmcternan4157]

The isolation the Tidus feels in the game is palpable especially before he meets up with Auron in Luca. That's one of my favourite arcs in any game.

[@crashwithkirby6708]

While I love the campfire scene, I don’t love that it’s both the pre-menu video, and the (unskippable) intro to the game. By the time you catch up to that in the game, it’s the third time seeing the scene for most people, which kind of lessens the impact for me.

[@RokkouA1]

Final Fantasy VII's opening is so fundamentally sound and basically perfect for a narrative focused game. It wasn't a suprise to me at all when Masahiro Sakurai made his video about how game intros should generally start with the climax. That Final Fantasy VII was the first example he directly mentions. In 2 minutes you know everything you need to know to start and then you're already playing the game.

[@johnmcternan4157]

7 remake's intro where the lights turn on in the evening and the child in the playground looks up at the Mako reactor revving up, shooting particles, Chernobyl style with the low bass rumbling choir in the background as the camera spins into the familiar darkened alley with Aerith is great.

[@psychoticllama2531]

Right! Such a great way to make something new while also respecting the old iconic intro with the stars

[@santinopaone-hoyland]

But it also discards the cyclical symbolism of the original game, which is a shame.

[@thomasbayer9700]

I think what you said about abstraction also applies to dialogue in older games. What's written in textboxes with limited space can be seen as the gist of a conversation or a summary of the information you got out of an NPC (sometimes boiling down to something like "I am Error") and you have to imagine the conversation between the characters and their voices yourself.

[@samcherry120]

The intro for the demo disc of FF8 was incredible, and put you right in the middle of the action, with an incredible track that they omitted entirely. It didn't have the drop off in pacing the final cut had.

[@whitleylevi]

I haven't played 15 since it came out, but I really loved the car breaking down in the intro. I thought it did a great job at setting the tone that this game was going to be a little different. The friendship/relationship between the main party was more important and better executed than the typical world ending narrative that the rest of the games set up. And the Florence cover that starts playing was on point.

[@dylanwade9825]

I liked it, but I actually thought it was one of the weakest intros. That doesn't mean it wasn't good. It's just, there are some amazing ones.

[@richardkhchang]

In terms of a timelessly striking opening moment aesthetically, I don't think anything can touch that shot of the Magitek mechs trekking through the snow to Terra's theme and the opening credits rolling, personally. Just something about it that's pure magic (and I did not grow up with or anything).

[@TheBeird]

Back in my teens, I would sometimes just replay the intro’s to FF 6, 7, 8 and 9 just to relive the vibe. It’s nuts. I only just replayed 6 for the second time ever last year but I’d seen the beginning dozens of times. Best intro for me? It’s 9. So well paced, introduces all the principles deftly, sets up the world and tone succinctly, and it just so much fun.

[@Spades20XX]

FFXII is one of my favorite games and I think it’s better for the fact that Vaan and Reks are your player character- the twist about Basch being the kingslayer, alongside playing as the little guy, the kids caught up in the big scale world makes it a long stronger emotionally when Vaan finally meets Basch and has to make a decision over time about how much he wants to be a part of a change and helps Ashe to shed her hatred. I know people prefer Basch to be the hero or Ashe (I believe Ashe is our main hero for all purposes) but I am glad Vaan is our viewpoint/player character. I think it’s brilliant.

[@richardcahill1234]

More excitement, beauty, inventiveness and incredible music in the opening FMV of FFVIII than the entire FF movie.

[@pandaeyez]

I get what you guys are saying about the abstraction and theatre performance of the characters in the og FF7, but I don't think that is necessarily better or worse or detracts what they have done in the remake. It's reductive to say Cloud just raises an eyebrow, I know you were generalising there, but the body language and performance in the Remake models and the things they do are incredible. And from time time the characters in the Remake project exaggerate their bodily movements. 7 Remake sometimes skirts this line between being overly animated, and then cinematic similar to the original. Look at the way Johnny runs for example, or the way some of Don Corneo's men walk when they meet Cloud, and the way Barret and Yuffie gesture their arms about and all the eccentric poses the characters do, and how the energetic characters express themselves. It's very eclectic in expression. They can be super animated and expressive sometimes while in others they are subtle and nuanced. I recommend you take a closer look at the way different characters in Remake and Rebirth move for both the main cast and npcs.

[@dreamer6758]

You've done intros, but how about conclusions?

[@Postumeartist]

Good question… I love the question 7 leaves you with: “did the planet think humanity was worth saving?” I love the ending of 6 too. The little montages are great and the music is stellar. I replayed 9 and realized something about the ending. When Garnet drops her mums gemstone at the end and leaves it, it really ties in with the theme of the game. It’s not just proof of how important Zidane is to her, It’s her leaving the past behind to embrace the future and whatever comes with it. Accepting that the past is in the past. Oh man and 10! That’s a tear jerker. All the golden age endings were great.

[@santinopaone-hoyland]

Definitely wants covering next, though VII will rightly win again.

[@_sparrowhawk]

NO SPOILERS GUYS :/

[@dylanwade9825]

​@@PostumeartistI might be alone, but while FF7 is my favorite FF game of all time, I actually think the middle of the game (you know when) is better than the ending. X might take it for me.

[@SamuelSabharwal]

I don’t like half the ff endings lol I’d say all the intros are better

[@EclecticEngineer604]

FF X - Best intro for me 😊

[@KingLeonidas_300]

for real. i thought they were going there...

[@barisaxman2]

I remember being in high school and getting shared the FFX FMV intro. It was so cool at the time. FFX was my first FF, but I don't think I realised at the time the FMV was from the series.

[@Bardran1986]

I strongly disagree with a lot of the positions u guys placed the Intros, but at the same time, i really enjoyed all the arguments i guys used and talked about during the whole podcast. as usual, i feel very interested to hear u guys arguments and just the chat in general. really good stuff.

[@hgc7000]

Great discussion guys, and as always, so happy to see Tactics included here. Just a powerhouse story! Edit, Because I remembered. FFVI will always stand out as what an intro should do to set the story and tone for an RPG. Even today, that Mode 7, 16 bit sequence has me locked in. With Tactics, when I first got it, I had no clue what I was getting into. I purchased the game because it had "Final Fantasy" and "Square" on it, yeah the internet was a thing then, but not like today of course. The design team did a BANG UP job of setting up characters, design, tone, and style with the intro, and then throwing you into a pitched battle to show the player how things work. Also, the game would have been flat without those opening musical tracks. Just that soundtrack alone can get someone hooked, I still listen to tracks from FF Tactics weekly.

[@anivmoreno9612]

It still bugs me to this day that people still don't get Vaan and why he's important. He was the spare, the failsafe the Occurria were saving in case Ashe faltered in her vengeance, that is why only him sees a phantom, in his case his brother, and why he tells Ashe near the end that he understands her answer. He was being groomed as a potential "Hero" at the same time as Ashe, as a survivor of the invasion, with a personal vendetta against the oppressors, who would be looked on favourably by the populace. He just shook the brainwash before Ashe did, and seing him give up his hate is why Ashe gives up her, for the betterment of humanity and returning history to the hands of men.

[@BOSIE321]

Be that as it may, the problem XII has is that its cast feel so bland and share so little camaraderie throughout the adventure together, and this issue is kind of symbolised in the character of Vaan. The characters may have functions here and there but it’s often the case that I just don’t know why they’re there. So many characters feel like a +1 invite to a party. Penelo is there because Vaan is there, Vaan is tagging along, Fran is there because Balthier is there. It’s an odd cast that doesn’t gel well together and again Vaan kind of is the symbol of that. Hope that makes sense.

[@anivmoreno9612]

@@BOSIE321 Penelo being there because Vaan is there is the whole point, same with Fran, they care about their friends and join them. As for Vaan, Balthier and Ashe, it does kind of seem that they are all thrown together willy nilly right? It's not like they all have ties to the whole plot of the game, with Vaan being the brother of the person who testified to get Basch into prison, and Balthier the only son of the chief engineer of the empire. It's not like someone or something is manipulating events so things go a certain way right? Like some of the Occurria moving pawns to continue their influence over humanity. They feel disconnected because that is the nature of the story, they are being manipulated, while Venat and Cid are trying to destroy the hold the Occurria have on humanity. I do get that it doesn't seem that obvious on a first playthrough, but after a second or a third, reading the notes in the game and information on the bestiary, it paints a picture. Like they say, in the first part of the story and how they change the model to show that the one killing the king is Gabranth, it's those little things that keep adding up. At least, that is my understanding of the story, if you think differently, I have no issue with it, just that is how I have interpreted the story after several playthroughs since the PS2 version

[@BOSIE321]

@@anivmoreno9612 but the problem is that they don’t feel like they ever gel together despite being thrown into the circumstances they’re in. There’s so little camaraderie, so little emotion with the characters. By contrast, in something like VII everyone hates Shinra and is concerned for the planet but we see little group dynamics and party banter/interactions developing. In XII the “+ 1 characters” as I call them seem to barely speak to anyone in the party other than the person they know. It’s so flat and doesn’t engage the emotions. It’s a very dry cast.

[@ArcadianGenesis]

I honestly didn't know what the hell was going on in FF12, but it didn't matter because I thoroughly enjoyed playing the game regardless.

[@anivmoreno9612]

@@BOSIE321 they do interact a lot, but then again, it is shown that the game takes too little time. It is shown more on actions than in words, like how Balthier trusts Vaan enough to care for his airship, even though he doesn't say it, or how Ashe gradually stops being dissmissive of everyone else as the story progresses. Also, the characters do interact a lot in the background of other important moments in the story, one normally doesn't notice it because you're paying attention to the important plot in the foreground, but there are several times you can see Penelo, Ashe and Fran interacting in the background for example. There is one where Ashe and Basch are discussing something and you can actually even hear them talking in the back, and it is also a callback to Final Fantasy Tactics since they use the same dialogue from the original translation of the dispatch missions.

[@Postumeartist]

I’m shocked that in FF9 I didn’t hear you mention the tiny little funny plot twist. You’re there to capture the princess, and she seems to be running away from you, but she’s actually running to the airship because she wants to be taken away. It reminds me of a silly little Gilbert and Sullivan theatrical comedic twist. It’s such a great intro. I really truly thought in KH that at some point the stained glass dreamy tutorial stage would reveal itself to be what the inside of kingdom hearts actually looks like. And that the inside of everyone’s hearts was a little piece of kingdom hearts, and that’s why when we start the game at the stained glass areas it was meant to show that connection…. But nope. Just stained glass looking cool…

[@lanisolfire5692]

As someone currently aspiring to game developement you guys discussions always make me think about how to get what i want to accross in the project im working on. its always fascinating to hear you guys perspectives

[@AntonioCunningham]

Hearing Mike go on about Final Fantasy VII made my day! Its hard to convey what you're feeling about something, but he does it perfectly here. I feel the sane about the orginal Final Fantacy opening. Its sooo good. And yes, FF7 then FF X are my top Final Final Fantasy intros

[@dtcharo]

I love hearing these two discuss games so in-depth (plus showing those sweet gams with the ankle socks also doesn't hurt the eyes) but as someone that tends to like specificity and/or rubrics in these kinds of videos I found the parameters for the discussion to be pretty nebulous at times. Plus, the ranking logic seemed inconsistently applied at times but that's just what happens when you're having conversations. Fascinating conversation always wins out over sterile logic, IMO. While my list would look drastically different from theirs I really appreciate their perspectives. This channel is a gem and I hope they continue to cultivate a dedicated subscriber base. Cheers fellas.

[@wegogiant]

Ya know, I think if you guys ever just did "best pre rendered cutscenes in RPGs" that the trailer style intro to FF8 would be way up near the top. Because, yeah, I get exactly what you mean. It's an incredibly cool moment, but then gives way to a really slow build. Loved the episode, guys. Well done

[@Axaul]

Are you familiar with the alternate trailer cut of that intro that shipped with FF7 Platinum Edition?

[@DanielSantosAnalysis]

I think there's something to be said about the games we grew up with, compared to the ones we didn't. I grew up playing FF7-10 and Tactics, for me those games have the strongest intros as a result, compared to the rest which I still enjoy, but seeing the bombast of that intro in FF8 for example when I was just in middle school? It practically changed my brain chemistry, I remember rewatching it over and over because I was so enamored with it.

[@rjulian1]

FFIX has my vote. I absolutely LOVE the music in the intro in the play scene and the FMV with Zidane and Garnet.

[@party_boy69]

Really enjoyed this, and loved the overall positive approach to breaking down the pros and cons. But damn you guys, that ending was wayyy too hype! You have given me that itch to start yet another playthrough of FFVII.

[@chaosmos24]

25:00 I remember seeing the initial commercial/trailer for FFVIII and being blown away.

[@willianlimberger875]

Working here right now and watching/listening to this. Best podcast, greetings from Brazil

[@OniLink99999]

Absolutely loved this video (and the previous list) guys! I just really enjoy hearing you talk about storytelling and RPGs, and you always manage to give me a fresh perspective on something I'm already familiar with. I'd find it hard to rank them myself, so I think you did a great job; no complaints from me 😄

[@SHaddad655]

Straight up catharsis hearing Mike gush about Final Fantasy VII again

[@lavinder11]

I would have placed FF8 higher. Nostalgia isn't why people love it; its because it's a mesmerizing introduction. I think nostalgia applies to the #1 pick tbh

[@ramzaleonhart7436]

what a delight of a video! it’s really nice when you both talk about final fantasy

[@mariop8852]

I think one of the reasons FF1 felt like the intro to an adventure game is because it's mechanics revolved heavily on the rules of D&D. My assumption is they were fans of the game and brought in that table top hand crafted feeling into a digital format. I've also always felt that FF9 was a love letter to the original Dragon Ball series with it's aesthetic and whimsical storytelling.

[@lionheart4424]

FF16 despite all it's flaws, that intro is so freaking bombastic. The song "AWAY" is equal parts epic and emotional. Also, please rank the FF logos next!

[@12ealDealOfficial]

The most FFXVI thing ever is me trying three times to type this comment and autocorrect changing FFXVI to FFXIV.

[@Batterydennis]

Final Fantasy 13 intro left players feeling like the localization was only half complete and the rest was shoved into a glossary.

[@LS1Highwind]

While I dont disagree, now that I know the story it grew on me and love playing through it nowadays .

[@Shananescence]

I love this so much! My feeling on specifically FFXII as a younger player versus now (in my 40s!) has made me appreciate playing a character that's not "main-character" energy and just a regular person. Following along as all this drama occurs is quite relatable in a way that wasn't common in my gaming/reading experience as a youth. I find it interesting to not be the protagonist, but rather the assist in everything happening. Having a close connection, but not being the most powerful or most meaningful is a cool perspective, I think. I can't wait for your commentary on the Metal Gear intros!

[@C4DNerd]

One thing about FFX's intro that you guys didn't discuss that was always really powerful to me was the very first thing - the "To Zanarkand" moment. When I see FFXV's intro with how it cut to Ifrit randomly and then went back to the beginning, I felt like they were kind of hoping it might work because it worked so well with FFX. But what makes FFX's work where FFXV's didn't is how FFX's jump to the future is there with a clear and specific purpose: It sets the tone for where this journey is going and you can get an idea of what the characters might be feeling through their subtle expressions. As I played the game and met the characters one by one through the story, I kept thinking about that opening shot and wondering "What are they going to be going through that leads them to that moment?" And then when the moment does happen, I get it and I'm right there with the characters, reflecting back on the story thus far and contemplating what is to come. Meanwhile with FFXV, when I finally got to the Ifrit fight, I almost forgot it was even a part of the intro to begin with. It didn't really have any deep meaning beyond "this is a boss fight before the final boss."

[@oboronyon]

Damn, you reminded me of the Omen video. I had to rewatch it and I couldn't stop crying as this was sooo good as an intro and so poignant ! It had this FF8-y intro vibe. Like a dreamy and metaphorical summary of the whole story that would have fit in perfectly if we imagined Noctis waking up in the car at the beginning of the game... what a waste XV was, despite doing great with the interactions between the boys and a really interesting yet underdevelopped vilain. Awesome video guys !

[@jacobmonks3722]

Final Fantasy VI is great at setting a tone. Magic is gone. The world is on the verge of complete domination by an evil empire. They are so vile that they will use mind control on innocent people for their purposes, use and abuse every technique they can to assert their superiority, and they somehow are the only ones who have magic powers, skewing the balance of the war massively. The desperation of the fight and the values at stake are immediately apparent in the first 4 minutes, and the game decides that the player should start the game fighting on the empire's side. This is great for endearing the player to Terra, who is also fighting on the wrong side against her will. The way the game creates a connection with the main character is effective, efficient, and effortless.

[@eosa]

Great points on all of these. For me, the games with the strongest intros have always been 1, 4, and 7. 5 and 9 are my two favorites in the series, and while they have great intros they are a bit slower paced for me. The intensity and involvement that 1, 4, and 7 have just hit you so hard and it’s hard to think of any others as having hooks as strong as these.

[@dknight2175]

You guys slayed this. Such a good video

[@Felipe_AC]

Great video! Wouldn't change a thing! All your reasonings were fair and well spoken. Personally for me, i love XII's intro the most. But i agree that VII's is seemingly unmatched. But i most say: I felt curious about what is your stance on each Final Fantasy soundtrack individually. Another hot topic for the fanbase. Maybe in that regard, 12 would've ranked higher~ 👀

[@vivilee7290]

Back in 1997, my family didn’t even own a PS1. It wasn’t until after the turn of the millennium, during the Advent Children era, that I finally got to experience Final Fantasy VII. Even then, the game absolutely blew me away. Sure, by that time we had the sleek, modern Cloud from AC, but the blocky characters of the original didn’t take away from the story’s power or immersion at all. As one of the first games to transition from 2D to 3D, it had this unique charm that’s hard to describe. The silent dialogue, perfectly paired music, and brilliant camera work all came together to create an unforgettable atmosphere. It felt like something between a movie and a book-every line of dialogue felt like it was coming straight from your own thoughts, while still letting you view the story as an observer. That’s why the big turning points hit so hard. Of course, the iconic moments are unforgettable, but even at the very end, when the Lifestream bursts out, I couldn’t help but tear up. 🥲

[@SumG186]

I'm watching your criticisms regarding FFXIII, in particular how you didn't like how early in the game there are a bunch of ill-defined terms fantasy terms being used in rapid succession without good explanation. I remember having a similar perception of the opening, and FFXIII as a whole, regarding this issue when I played the game myself when it was released. However, now after having seen your extensive discussions and debates on translation and localization, I now find myself wondering if this issue could have an issue related to localization. In your discussions on the topic you've talked about how the Japanese and English languages differ from each other, and in particular how Japanese is a high context language. I wonder if these fantasy terms from FFXIII being ill-defined from an English context is considered 'more acceptable' in a Japanese context, and if there were similar complaints to what English-speaking audiences had in Japanese-speaking audiences. I also wonder if this is something that was the result of the localizers doing 'too direct' of a translation or if perhaps the localizers knew this would be an issue but didn't have the wiggle room to insert what they needed to in all of the early game cutscenes and FMVs. Curious what your thoughts might be on this.

[@mkooij]

I personally would rate FFT a bit higher but other than that i completely agree with the list

[@bowiebazinga2019]

FFVII remake is what got me into the series, almost for the same reason the original game did in 1997. It captured my imagination and showed these characters in such a way that let me become ingrained in their conflict, not just an outward conflict, but inner as well.

[@scottunderwood5318]

Dude on the left has the same voice as Mike from Red Letter Media and I couldn't stop hearing it this whole podcast

[@EvilCronos13]

An iced Earth callout??? I love it!

[@mikev8746]

Some thoughts I had I personally found interesting while listening to the video : 1 - Could it be that abstraction is an especially effective storytelling vehicle for children? Since it tends to be said children have the most vivid of imagination and easily maintain suspense of disbelief among other things. I wonder if that just makes you as a kid much more impressionable playing abstract games. Specially in formative years, especially long games that can take up a whole school season and mingle with tons of other memories. I almost find it unrealistic to ever expect to be enjoying similar experiences as an adult. And again the magic is simply relived and remembered by playing the thing or reading the abstract thing that captivated your life so much as a kid. I think it helps to be aware of this sort of possibility in light of setting expectations in the future. Especially if your personality type really leans into that sort of thing. 2 - When you said that remakes are almost an adaptation it suddenly hit me. Honestly it’s nothing special but I for one never bothered to line these things up. But what if remakes of older abstraction heavy games (closer to book experiences) are just that, the cinematic adaptation? If so then what is the expectation here and is it possibly engaging with a new thing in the wrong mindset? You afterall would never read Lord of the Rings and then expect the movies (what remakes are to older games) to give you a similar experience no? Things will hit different, feel different. Hell literal scenes will be different like the Elves at Helmsdeep or the Mumakil charge at Pelenor. It’s not the book everyone gets that. Every scene isn’t interrupted by a poem. The script isn’t written with the beauty of language in mind even to the point of it becoming self indulgent. Gimli makes tonally different jokes now. Its pacing will be vastly different and how you imagined the world tonally can be off. That doesn’t mean every Lotr fan enjoys both the books AND the movies as separate experiences. And would never make the mistake of mixing or trying to unify the two picking a clear favorite. People just enjoy both as their own thing. So why are we going at remakes and comparing every nuance and tone and emotion we used to have when playing the original? I can’t help but feel this is a faulty attitude depriving people of the best of both worlds. Would you have refused to watch the Lotr trilogy in the cinema cause it’s not the same as the books? I know I wouldn’t. And again this logic really only works for retro games getting remakes in a modern style. So DQ3 getting a DQ3 2DHD remake is not the same. And for example newer games that only need an engine/texture swap like MG3 with MGS3R also would not be a good comparison. Just my thoughts.

[@RanAkano]

1:44:21 You are right! At least as I am concerned. I picked up Final Fantasy 7 because I've seen pictures of it in a magazine where the point of view and text boxes reminded me of "Zelda Link to the Past". That's why I picked it up! Had no idea what a JRPG was at the time. But would learn to love the genre after playing this.

[@adamdam]

On the topic of FF IX's characters look, I always felt like they're puppets in a child's play like punch and Judy. Wooden looking, covered in fabric or rubbery.

[@AntonioCunningham]

That artstyle/ Character look is the main reason I don't like FF9. I LOVE the gameplay! It has one of the g Highest replay of FF games, but when anything related to the story starts, the Artstyle kills the immersion and I can't complete the game because of it.

[@Postumeartist]

@@AntonioCunninghamyou’re missing out. 9 is spectacular. It’s kiddy look, betrays that it’s got interesting existential plot points everywhere.

[@AntonioCunningham]

@@Postumeartist I can't immerse myself or take serious any story with goofy / childish looking characters. It's why I Hated Xenoblade chronicle 2 and sad that now one of my favorite video game writers are now 100% owned by Nintendo. I'm not saying this art style in itself is bad. I think it works for for none serious or games that don't take itself serious. (Like Mario games) However when games are trying to tell a compelling story, it shouldn't use art style that doesn't match the theme of the story they're telling. Final Fantasy 9 Artstyle felt mixed matched to me and it's the perfect example that amazing gameplay can't carry a game alone for me.

[@santinopaone-hoyland]

It's a shame the art style puts some people off. It's not their fault, but they're missing out on an absolute masterpiece.

[@UnrealChaosHD]

Nice List, BUT........ √ Heavy Metal √ Gravity is F%#@ √ Mass of Water shooting into city √ Badass Samurai greeting the thing √ Yeah FFX is #1

[@Xeyner13]

Hi there! A little technical suggestion: could you make the central camera focus a bit shorter? Mike is a bit blurred. This has happened in many podcasts, so I thought it'd be fine to address it. Great episode as usual, cheers!

[@TarvouldsQuest]

I dont think I've ever clicked a video faster. I loved the last video, but was a bit bummed FF was excluded (though totally understand why). so I am INTENTLY listening to this one!

[@NyrikDoomfist]

I'm currently playing through FF1 (PR version) for the first time on my stream, and I'm so impressed by it. I even went and watched the NES version of the intro. Nobody was doing stuff like that back in the day. I'm honestly sad that I missed it when I was a kid. I don't think I had ever heard of Final Fantasy until a friend loaned me FF4 on SNES and I just fell in love with the series (and JRPGs in general) from that point on.

[@jtru8989]

I always include the dollet mission as apart of the intro but maybe because I had the demo disc

[@Pwrplus5]

I do as well since the opening of the game is that the SeeD exam is about to take place and that's the end of it

[@antedeguemon1194]

I agree with your reasoning for leaving the MMOs out but the intro CGs for ARR and Shadowbringers in particular are top tier if nothing else.

[@dendraki]

On the ff 12 intro spoiler part. If you pay attention you can also tell that its Gabranths Va doing the lines as Basch

[@MrThephonypope]

FFVIII's intro BLEW MY MIND when I saw it as a trailer, then somewhat confused me when I saw it as the intro To this day I find it a little baffling, it really seems to me like it was built as a trailer and the opening should've been reworked

[@alexakaa.charlesross8919]

Final Fantasy XI & XIV both have amazing opening cutscenes.

[@disturbedrebirth]

FF8's demo's intro was the best.

[@dan47483]

You guys are absolutely on fire lately

[@grant_del435]

Havent finished the video but my top 3 are 1. 7, specifically the remake version 2. 6 3. 10 I know you guys arent big on the remake stuff but I love the way it introduces you to the world of FF7 and how it tells you what the story is about without any actual dialogue or anything. 6 and 10 are both incredible at pulling you into the story. Personally my least favorite is 8, while I love 8 myself and that games story the intro is a glorified trailer if you ask me. Im really not a fan of it.

[@trollingisasport]

This sounds about right to me.

[@jelyse14]

30:50 Kingdom Hearts is very reminiscent of this. Its clear the "Final Fantasy" that became the norm in the '00s started in FF8.

[@Evilbusdriver12]

You should consider doing a video for Final Fantasy endings too! Everything from the final dungeon up to the end of the credits. Would be really interesting to see how they all compare :)

[@keen96]

love you guys and the discussions.

[@joshray3855]

1:48:40 ish. The best way I can put it is to refer to Nintendo devs talking about working on finding the right style for Breath of the Wild, and communicating it as "it allowed us to lie the way we wanted to." In the case of BotW, you shoot a pig, it goes up in a puff of smoke and then there's just porkchops remaining, and you just accept it because of the art style. I think that this is leaning on the player's imagination the same way, but out of necessity rather than stylistic choice. Cloud flipping off of the train kind of demonstrates this. In the low-poly style of FFVII, that's how you depart the train during your bombing mission with panache -- but in a more high fidelity style, it just kinda seems silly and over-the-top (though in this case, that maybe serves the character even more). I think that the "remembrances" opening of Suikoden II, when Riou and Jowy are sparring is operating the same way. In that low-fi sprite work, all the staff and tonfa spinning mid-fight communicates skill, and effort during their match. With real people, it would read more like they're playing with each other than sparring in the army. That said though, one thing can't be denied in that Suikoden II sparring session; those boys are coming at each other with speed and aggression. I think that it really communicates a lot of trust that they can go there with each other, while still kind of hinting at the rivalry/resentment hiding under the surface.

[@guruthosamarthruin4459]

8's intro was OUTSTANDING, and before it released, I watched it over, and over, and over, and OVER, and OVER, and OVER, NONSTOP. I think Skyrim is basically the only other time I did that.

[@Easelgames]

One thing you missed is that Basche/gabranths voice acting is VERY subtlety different. He gives different inflections in his speech for both.

[@thecourtdijaster]

Love this! Unrelated to this video, but you guys did a video a while ago about too old to game. Any chance you can do a video on how you guys came into your careers (professional, this podcast) and any advice on career choices etc

[@pdraggy]

FF11's intro was why I was a BLM in that game. It was just so brutal.

[@jlyt18]

Damn your comment on 13 made me realize all they needed to do was have the ol text burb on black screen motif before jumping into the action that covered 1) the two planets 2) their respective gods 3) here's how the differ (maybe not even necessary) And some clever expository dialogue during the branding scene to better explain l'cies and everything woulda just been so much better Such a minor tweak could've really saved alot of that clunky narative

[@ToddMa09]

I would've much preferred it in FF12 if Reks had survived and been the main character. I liked his design better than Vaan, he would have had plenty of reason to be involved after what happened in the opening, and it would have made for a more interesting story having him go through learning that what he thought he knew was wrong.

[@haybusa4547]

FFXV is probably my favorite Final Fantasy for completely different reasons than most people but as far as the intro goes a lot of it at least on first playthrough feels very random or needs context. I remember the whole fire part and I remember getting to the end of the game where that happens again and I was like "Huh they have facial hair in this one? I wonder if it was like this at the start?". I think the cutscene with the King/Father was pretty great when you look at the entire game but I agree the fire part even though captivating was very just chaotic for chaos sake and then you had the whole Cid/Cindy into very basic boring tutorial (other than big bird coming through but even still lol). So I mainly agree overall it being the "least/worst" of FF intros though I can't say that since I haven't played all of them yet, but I just appreciated how you can have all this chaotic stuff happening, royalty, fate, destiny, gods, etc and you essentially walk away from the game remembering that car and hanging out with your friends the most and it reflects on despite everything that it is "Fantasy" Noctis reality or the one he really wanted was to be a normal dude playing video games hanging out with his friends, pushing the car in 100 degree weather, camping, being selfish, being nagged, etc. I always felt Noctis is a pretty relatable MC in a sense that he's a nerd, wants to fall in love, hangout with his best buds all the time but forced on this insane role only he can fill, and thats the tragedy of the story of FFXV and what makes it albeit very different in the sense of what "Final Fantasy" should be but the journey is so special to me. I appreciate the video as always Mike and Casen, everytime FFVII is brought up I'm just always curious on that Mike take with the original VII from the 90s and contrasting that with the Remake Trilogy which I do like as well. I wasnt there in the 90s for VII I was born actually so I don't necessarily ever had a say on what VII is or what it should be I just consume! So whether it be 1 year or 10 years cant wait to finally hear those thoughts in a full podcast!

[@dudemcguy1227]

I still really enjoy FFXIII, but I agree the intro is very flawed. They don't do enough to ease the player into the new setting. All the terms are defined in the natural dialogue (Cocoon, Pulse, PSICOM, Guardian Corp, L'cie, Fal'cie, Focus, etc.) but it can be hard to follow if you miss the one or two lines where the term was defined. And that can make it feel like reading the Datalog is required to understand the plot/setting even if that's not technically true. The setting and terminology were so strange that the story would have been much better off with a slower paced intro to ease us into the characters/world and then ramp up the action shortly after that.

[@JJFeKl]

XIII begs for XVI's active time lore.

[@mellybeannn14]

Casen mustache!! Excited to see where this goes xD Also generally agree with the rankings here! Man FF intros are so good

[@PLAYDIMITRI]

1. Watching this while working was GREAT 2. Must be nice to know at least ONE other human being in real life who likes final fantasy this much. I don't know anyone who I can sit down with for an hour and talk about stuff like this lol

[@frankeeeej]

I just wanna say that Vagrant Story is a Final Fantasy game since it takes place in Ivalice, so it should have been in this list. And at the top as well, Vagrant story is amazing :)

[@michaelbrandy6843]

Jeez guys this made me want to go back and play them all again lol. Sucks being an adult 😅

[@joeyisabsb1]

You must mean it sucks being a parent. Adults with no kids have plenty of time to game, unless their whole life is about their jobs.

[@michaelbrandy6843]

@ Well I don’t have kids but my manager position, part-time Navy career, social life and girlfriend take up my time… as well as watching sports lol. It just depends I guess.

[@blabony]

I’m late to the party. Objectively I agree with your ranking, but FF8 and 10 intros had the most impact on me (those were my first two ff games). You guys got hyped up on playing ff12 and 13 again (I feel like I completely forgot everything about them). Great video as always.

[@samuelpipe88]

Granted, I started my FF journey with 8 when it came out, but I still rank that intro super high. Not just the opening FMV, but then starting the game out in garden, all building up to the Dollet mission.

[@cazd4590]

I played 8 when it came out and the graphics were so high end at the time. The intro was so good and the music is almost best in series. Love that game. Respect your ranks and agree with your nostalgia comment.

[@thebestwingsfan]

Another thing about Gabranth in XII's intro is that he talks in his normal voice so if you paid attention to how Basch's voice sounded, you'd know something was off.

[@gregtroyan]

I made a video on this same topic last year as part of my "16 rankings to celebrate the release of FFXVI". That project was insane. 10 hours of video essays on the series. I opted to include the MMOs because everyone skips them and I included Tactics too because everybody likes Tactics. My rankings for that video (didn't include XVI because it wasn't out yet) were: 16. Final Fantasy XII 15. Final Fantasy I 14. Final Fantasy V 13. Final Fantasy III 12. Final Fantasy XV 11. Final Fantasy XI 10. Final Fantasy II 9. Final Fantasy VI 8. Final Fantasy XIV 7. Final Fantasy Tactics 6. Final Fantasy IX 5. Final Fantasy IV 4. Final Fantasy XIII 3. Final Fantasy VIII 2. Final Fantasy X 1. Final Fantasy VII FFXVI's intro would probably slot right below Tactics for me. Btw, Mike, if you haven't seen my XI video essay yet (the two hour one that, to date, is the only video covering the entirety of XI) you should check it out. I'm really looking forward to listening to this whole episode, just started it, but already we've got some wild divergence in opinion. This should be a good time.

[@EricaSimpson-f2b]

you should be in prison for this list

[@gregtroyan]

@EricaSimpson-f2b What's wrong with it?

[@Rithysak101]

​@@gregtroyanit doesn't match her opinion

[@phialpha88]

yussssss oh man can’t wait for this one!

[@dakotawinston7677]

The whole VII conversation was so much fun to listen to and so accurate!