Let's Play Every Final Fantasy Game In Order Of Release [Now Finished: Final Fantasy Tactics]

[Squirtodyle]

I don't think Sabin is ace, but that's mostly down to the fact that the one time he's shown to not be attracted to someone and have it called out specifically, he proudly declares that it's part of his training, and it's kind of weird to push the idea that you can train yourself into asexuality.

In other words, Sabin isn't ace, he just hates horny people. We stan a (not) king.

 

[GilliamYaeger]

-Terra and Celes both lean Magic over Strength, though with their good equipment sets they also make decent hybrids if you want to go a physical power route

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This is news to me, since my understanding was that their access to the biggest swords in the game (only Terra, Celes, Edgar and Locke have access to swords, and Edgar's probably not going to use them due to his unique access to spears while Locke has highly inconsistent access to the full sword list) means that Terra and Celes shine best as dual-wielding autoattack monsters.

 

[McFluffles]

Look, if I have to talk about awesome music every time it shows up I'll be here all day. Every song on the soundtrack is stellar.

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True, True. Slam Shuffle is one of those ones that's forever engraved in my brain, but there's been a lot of good tunes I'd forgotten as I replay through FFVI.

This is news to me, since my understanding was that their access to the biggest swords in the game (only Terra, Celes, Edgar and Locke have access to swords, and Edgar's probably not going to use them due to his unique access to spears) means that Terra and Celes shine best as dual-wielding autoattack monsters.

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It's mostly the fact that they already have stellar Magic stats that makes raising Magic a good option for Terra and Celes. I mean technically with how Magicite upgrades work, anybody can be your endgame casters. Heck, dump 40 levels of Magic on Cyan, throw on the right relics, congrats Cyan is now your best caster. It's just that it's a lot more level investment for characters like Cyan, where Terra and Celes can dump some extra level bonuses on other stats, and also have great armor availability meaning they can be tanky casters if they want. Or frontline physical fighters who can also pop out high level magic.

Point is, Terra and Celes are both really good and flexible characters who you can build in either direction, compared to say... Edgar, Locke, and Cyan (especially Cyan) having some of the lowest base magic stats and bad equipment sets for casters, so Strength is a no-brainer excluding specific silly setups like Wind God Cyan. And even that probably falls to the wayside now that Cyan's Bushidos got a buff in the Pixel Remaster, not having to wait the charge time out on his ATB screen.

 

[GilliamYaeger]

True, True. Slam Shuffle is one of those ones that's forever engraved in my brain, but there's been a lot of good tunes I'd forgotten as I replay through FFVI.

It's mostly the fact that they already have stellar Magic stats that makes raising Magic a good option for Terra and Celes. I mean technically with how Magicite upgrades work, anybody can be your endgame casters. Heck, dump 40 levels of Magic on Cyan, throw on the right relics, congrats Cyan is now your best caster. It's just that it's a lot more level investment for characters like Cyan, where Terra and Celes can dump some extra level bonuses on other stats, and also have great armor availability meaning they can be tanky casters if they want. Or frontline physical fighters who can also pop out high level magic.

Point is, Terra and Celes are both really good and flexible characters who you can build in either direction, compared to say... Edgar, Locke, and Cyan (especially Cyan) having some of the lowest base magic stats and bad equipment sets for casters, so Strength is a no-brainer excluding specific silly setups like Wind God Cyan. And even that probably falls to the wayside now that Cyan's Bushidos got a buff in the Pixel Remaster, not having to wait the charge time out on his ATB screen.

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Spoiler: lategame mechanical spoiler talk

Morph means that Terra's damage output is the highest of the entire cast, thus since she's the most likely to hit the damage cap (or at least hit hard enough to breach 9999 with the eight hits supplied by genji+offering which is almost certain) she's objectively better off building for strength rather than magic. Celes is debatable, but Terra's definitely better off going for a physical build over magic.

...of course, the game's easy enough that Genji/Offering Morph Terra wielding Ultima Weapon and Illumina is turbo overkill, but still. The powergamer in my heart won't accept a suboptimal magic build that's capped at 19998 damage per turn with Dualcast

 

[Connelly]

Spoiler

[redacted for the spoiler overload taints our souls]

 

[SerGregness]

Spoiler: lategame mechanical spoiler talk

Morph means that Terra's damage output is the highest of the entire cast, thus since she's the most likely to hit the damage cap (or at least hit hard enough to breach 9999 with the eight hits supplied by genji+offering which is almost certain) she's objectively better off building for strength rather than magic. Celes is debatable, but Terra's definitely better off going for a physical build over magic.

...of course, the game's easy enough that Genji/Offering Morph Terra wielding Ultima Weapon and Illumina is turbo overkill, but still. The powergamer in my heart won't accept a suboptimal magic build that's capped at 19998 damage per turn with Dualcast

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Spoiler

The problem with building Terra as physical is that you're wasting her stronger magic potential, and her ultimate already allows her to turn that into strong physical attacks. Plus, you have to think about gear availability. With so many characters, is a bit silly to take away the best physical gear from strength based characters in favor of mages.

Not saying you can't, I've gone dual wielder goddess of war Terra myself a couple times and she's good at that. But it's a bit of a waste party wise when she can just as easily dual cast planet cracking level Ultimas and autocrit with Apocalypse. Trance or not (which you won't have available always anyways), that's going to hurt. 🤷‍♂️

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Spoiler: late game builds

I tend to try to use every part of the buffalo so to speak, but on the scale of the whole ensemble. So while Invincible Sword Princess Terra is great and all, you only get one Offering (Master's Scroll in the Pixel Remaster) and I'd rather put those relics on Setzer to abuse Fixed Dice because what else is he doing, honestly? That also makes Setzer one of the characters who is well suited to just taking the HP boosts on level up since the dice only care about Setzer's level, which simplifies the Magicite shuffle a bit.

Not to mention that Ultima spam is only capped at 19998 damage if you're looking at one target, which even a lot of boss fights have multiple targets, as well as you're forgetting to count Quick in there for more casts.

 

[Shard]

The impression I get from the spoiler discussion is that even with terribad/suboptimal/no Magicite allocation you can probably break the game over it's knees once you get some key items/abilities.

 

[SerGregness]

The impression I get from the spoiler discussion is that even with terribad/suboptimal/no Magicite allocation you can probably break the game over it's knees once you get some key items/abilities.

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Yeah, to expand on what I said earlier (while hopefully not being too specific outside of the spoiler boxes) FFVI never requires grinding, but it's not without its difficulty spikes now and then so certain sections can be a bit tricky, like we saw with the raft sequence earlier, or Omi having to give the Narshe fight a few tries. When people have been going on about 'oh, FFVI is so easy' the last few pages, they're referring to once those key items and abilities come online.

I don't want Omicron or anyone else playing along to beat yourselves up over hitting hard parts of the game and either wondering what the fuck this thread's on about, or worse beating yourself up over it because 'this is supposed to be easy!'

To the spoiler crew: for fuck's sake can we lay off immediately solving the game as soon as it's technically not spoilers? Explaining things that the game never properly does is one thing, what exactly Stamina does for example, but I'm talking about stuff like "Ah, now that you have magicite you can teach everyone Cure and never worry about managing HP again!" which someone dropped a few pages ago. Let Omicron work out those implications for himself.

 

[illhousen]

Going back to the plot, the striking thing about Rachel sequence is that the middle section with amnesia seems... completely unnecessary?

Like, the important bit for both the characterization and, presumably, plot progression is that she's died/went into coma/lost her spirit/whatever while Locke was away, and the Empire is to blame. So now he seeks out a legendary treasure to bring her back to life and jumps to protect other women in trouble.

You can arrive at the same emotional beat by just having Locke prioritize being a dashing adventurer over being with her, so while he was away having a time of his life on some escapade, she died to the Empire.

Or even if you specifically want them to be partners in crime with him being responsible for her injury, you can just give her a normal injury that would prevent her from going on adventures again, like a broken spine.

The whole thing about her losing memory only to regain it at the last moment feels weird, like the writers changing the plot that was somehow objectionable or paying homage to something I don't recognize.

 

[SirKaid]

The point with the amnesia was twofold. First, it amplifies his reaction to Terra - maybe if he successfully protects Young Woman With Amnesia B it'll make up for him failing to protect Young Woman With Amnesia A - and second, it gives a reason why he wasn't there when the town was attacked. He only left because Rachel told him to, and she only told him to because she didn't remember him and her parents hated him.

Actually, three reasons. It also twists the knife, and this is a game that loves to twist the emotional knife.

 

[illhousen]

and second, it gives a reason why he wasn't there when the town was attacked. He only left because Rachel told him to, and she only told him to because she didn't remember him and her parents hated him.

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That's my point, though: there is a lot of less convoluted ways to get him away, like being a lot less responsible back in the day or causing her a regular injury, which could have easily led to resentment from her and hatred from her parents.

Your point about Terra is sound, I suppose, to the point of being kinda humorous if you look at it that way. He also protects Celes with similar passion, though, and she's very much not amnesiac. She's similar to Terra rather than Rachel. So, does he expand his profile of women he needs to protect in order to attain atonement? From "amnesiac girl for whose injury I'm responsible and who's gunned down by the Empire" to "amnesiac girl formerly working for the Empire against her will and now being hunted by them" to "girl who formerly willingly worked for the Empire and are now being held prisoner by them"?

Transitory properties of damsels in distress.

 

[Omicron]

snip

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Don't worry, I have been making a list ever since my last update and the death commandos will soon arrive at the home of everyone whose name is on it.

 

[Connelly]

Don't worry, I have been making a list ever since my last update and the death commandos will soon arrive at the home of everyone whose name is on it.

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*hears the door being forcefully open and windows being broken*

"O sweet death, free at last."

 

[SirKaid]

That's my point, though: there is a lot of less convoluted ways to get him away, like being a lot less responsible back in the day or causing her a regular injury, which could have easily led to resentment from her and hatred from her parents.

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FF6 isn't just a drama, it's an operatic drama. The overwrought nature of it all is kind of the point.

Sure, she could have just suffered a spinal injury, cussed him out, and then died in his arms having regretted her words, but that's not nearly as much fun (for us) as her completely forgetting who he is, only to remember just as she dies to twist the knife. The latter means that he could have saved her. In his mind, if he had stuck it out just a little longer she would have remembered who he was and he would have been there when the attack came.

 

[Zimmerwald1915]

operatic drama.

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The term you want is "high melodrama."

 

[SolipsistSerpent]

It's weird, because the espers with the most desirable stat boosts have the least desirable magics. Kirin could turn any of my party members into a White Mage, but also doesn't grant any magic boost. Should I equip Celes with Kirin to boost her known repertoire then, or with Cait Sith to increase her Magic stat? Or should I simply wait until I have done the Magitek Research Facility and presumably unlocked more espers to equip and choose from?

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Is it odd? It sounds completely expected to me: Some Espers are more focused on giving you good spells and some on better stats. If some Espers gave you the best stats and the best spells the others would be trash.

 

[Frumple]

Edit: Like, he chalks it up to his training, remember. Are we saying that you can train yourself to be ace?

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I mean, from what I understand it's possible? Folks' sex drives can be induced to turn off, sometimes. It's just that "training" in that case is closer in intent to "brutal abuse and trauma", which.

... well, fairness where it's due, Sabin's got pretty literal punch magic vibes going on, and cultivation style training is not known for its sensibility or lack of trauma.

 

[csjorm]

Is it odd? It sounds completely expected to me: Some Espers are more focused on giving you good spells and some on better stats. If some Espers gave you the best stats and the best spells the others would be trash.

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Yes, because it incentivizes bad, flow-breaking gameplay, and that's after the same system incentivized not leveling up until you acquire it. What it tells you to do is track your XP constantly so you can stay on the Espers granting better spells then switch just before you level up. It's not necessary to beat FFVI but this is an optimizing the fun out of the game problem: optimal play should still be fun and shouldn't boil down to something stupid.

 

[Compellor]

Zozo is a fun surprise, but it feels like a place where Something Was Cut. I mean, there seem to be hints toward some kind of location-specific plot, but it just never materializes. Like, there are all these strange events, and the clock puzzle, and the unusual enemies, and it all builds up to you climbing the tower, but instead of answers you find the main plot. I have no evidence, but I suspect that an earlier idea for a city-dungeon was repurposed as the place where Terra ended up.

Full disclosure, I never quite finished the game, so I may have missed something.

There's more that could be said about the Twin Cities, but I think my feelings can be summed up by Woolie's change of heart about the basic Town theme:
Before Zozo
After Zozo (back in Jidoor)

As to KOTOR, that's a great analogy. On the other hand, you've reminded me that on my third playthrough I went for a blasters-only run and duped the best pistol in the game. Who needs Jedi?

if we do visit the one rich people's mansions that is available, we find two interesting things, one which may be foreshadowing a later plot and one which is just a funny easter egg: [Mention of Maria, and a portrait of Ultros]

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I'm just going to bookmark this guess for later.

 

[SerGregness]

Alright, y'all can dump on Magicite if you want but I'm here to tell you that middle-school Gregness didn't understand a damn thing about 'game design incentives' and 'satisfying levels of challenge' and when he heard about how we went from Magicite to the FFVII materia system, his only reaction was "Wait, that's obviously a way worse system because it doesn't give you as much power!"

Checkmate, haters.

 

[RiverDelta]

I mean, from what I understand it's possible? Folks' sex drives can be induced to turn off, sometimes. It's just that "training" in that case is closer in intent to "brutal abuse and trauma", which.

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Asexuality is a natural orientation, not a state of trauma.

 

[SolipsistSerpent]

Yes, because it incentivizes bad, flow-breaking gameplay, and that's after the same system incentivized not leveling up until you acquire it. What it tells you to do is track your XP constantly so you can stay on the Espers granting better spells then switch just before you level up. It's not necessary to beat FFVI but this is an optimizing the fun out of the game problem: optimal play should still be fun and shouldn't boil down to something stupid.

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No, that's a problem with "it only counts what's equipped the second you level up" not "the ones which give better spells give lesser attribute bonuses." That's an entirely different issue with implementation and not what was discussed in the text I quoted.

 

[RogueIce]

Zozo is a fun surprise, but it feels like a place where Something Was Cut. I mean, there seem to be hints toward some kind of location-specific plot, but it just never materializes. Like, there are all these strange events, and the clock puzzle, and the unusual enemies, and it all builds up to you climbing the tower, but instead of answers you find the main plot. I have no evidence, but I suspect that an earlier idea for a city-dungeon was repurposed as the place where Terra ended up.

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Not really? It's a dungeon with a gimmick: a "thief city" populated by liars, the latter of which is part of the aforementioned puzzle (puzzles to some treasure being a not uncommon trope of FF dungeons) but they went with it throughout for the sake of consistency with the boss. And then of course it advances the main plot, as any good dungeon crawl will do.

Aside from circling back to the whole "lying liars who lie" aspect and the fact it's ostensibly a town, I can't think of any "strange events" intrinsic to Zozo? I mean the party gathering to discuss things is basically a convenient dungeon warp after you've cleared it while advancing the plot and letting them stretch their legs with the neat cutscenes they can do, but other than that? It's pretty typical dungeon fare from what I can see.

 

[FunkyEntropy]

So, about Zozo and it's enemy encounters. I'm...surprised @Omicron didn't talk more about them, because Zozo has some utterly burtal enemies.

First, you have the Hill Gigas. Tons of HP, hits like a truck, and to top it all off has a 1/3rd of a chance of causing a party wipe when you kill it. Not even joking about that last part. On death it can cast Earthquake, which hits the entire party for around 300 damage. The only real safe way of beating this guy is using Edgar's Noiseblaster so he'll keep casting Earthquake on himself until he runs out of MP, at which point he's safe to kill. Gau can also survive no problem by using the Lesser Lopros Rage, which casts float on Gau. You can steal a decent accessory (the physical equivalent to Earrings) from the Hill Gigas so it's not completely awful to encounter them. But mostly I just run from them. Not worth it IMO.

Next we have the Harvester. They have a rare steal which is worth getting - Dragoon Boots, which turn the attack command into Jump. The problem is, if you steal from them they will attempt to steal from you which is incredibly annoying. Sure you can get your stuff back (it's just gil, btw) if you kill them, but it's anxiety inducing. Anyway, the major danger they pose is that if you don't kill them fast enough they'll throw knives at you, which IIR are OHKOs on just about anyone at this point.

Finally, the Veil Dancer. Not dangerous if with other enemies. Solo...they cast 2nd tier black magic at you. If it's single target their victim is dead. If it's a group cast they'll just do terrible, terrible damage. Which is probably a wipe if you don't always keep your teams HP topped off.

Man, Zozo is rough.

Actually, about the Veil Dancer - it's really weird. They're human opponents, allegedly the exiled poor of Jidoor, but they can cast magic. Magic is supposed to be super rare, why can she cast magic? Are the Veil Dancers (and maybe the Hill Gigas) actually the uncontrollable rejects and test subjects of the Empires magitek program? Lore-wise this is a huge gaping question which I really wish had been explored.

 

[Omicron]

So, about Zozo and it's enemy encounters. I'm...surprised @Omicron didn't talk more about them, because Zozo has some utterly burtal enemies.

First, you have the Hill Gigas. Tons of HP, hits like a truck, and to top it all off has a 1/3rd of a chance of causing a party wipe when you kill it. Not even joking about that last part. On death it can cast Earthquake, which hits the entire party for around 300 damage. The only real safe way of beating this guy is using Edgar's Noiseblaster so he'll keep casting Earthquake on himself until he runs out of MP, at which point he's safe to kill. Gau can also survive no problem by using the Lesser Lopros Rage, which casts float on Gau. You can steal a decent accessory (they physical equivalent to Earrings) from the Hill Gigas so it's not completely awful to encounter them. But mostly I just run from them. Not worth it IMO.

Next we have the Harvester. They have a rare steal which is worth getting - Dragoon Boots, which turn the attack command into Jump. The problem is, if you steal from them they will attempt to steal from you which is incredibly annoying. Sure you can get your stuff back (it's just gil, btw) if you kill them, but it's anxiety inducing. Anyway, the major danger they pose is that if you don't kill them fast enough they'll throw knives at you, which IIR are OHKOs on just about anyone at this point.

Finally, the Veil Dancer. Not dangerous if with other enemies. Solo...they cast 2nd tier black magic at you. If it's single target their victim is dead. If it's a group cast they'll just do terrible, terrible damage. Which will probably wipe you if you don't always keep your teams HP topped off.

Man, Zozo is rough.

Actually, about the Veil Dancer - it's really weird. They're human opponents, allegedly the exiled poor of Jidoor, but they can cast magic. Magic is supposed to be super rare, why can she cast magic? Are the Veil Dancers (and maybe the Hill Gigas) actually the uncontrollable rejects and test subjects of the Empires magitek program? Lore-wise this is a huge gaping question which I really wish had been explored.

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Please don't take this the wrong way, but last update was 7,200 words. It's nearly as long as Endgame A, Endgame B, and Epilogue from the FFV LP put together! It took me about six hours of writing for about an hour of gameplay. Some stuff can't make it into everything and random encounters are often the first thing to get dropped from or never-gotten-around-to in that case, especially because once I realized what bullshit the Hill Gigas pulled on death I just started systematically running away from every fight, which is something I've been doing through most of the game actually.

But yeah, Zozo was a significant step up in difficulty. Helps that it has a killer background music though.

Anyway, been delayed in writing my next update, but I think people will really enjoy it. I know I did.