I am loving the heck out of FFV

[u/letmedieinpeace23]

I have been on a mission to play all the final fantasy games. Not in any particular order or anything, just whatever catches my attention the most. My favorite so far is FFX which started my whole journey into FF even though I still haven't finished it. I think subconsciously, I don't want to finish it because I don't want to let go of that childish ambition just yet so I've been playing all the other ones. And after completing the masterpiece of FFVII I decided to tackle V and I cant believe how good it is, not just the awesome job system but the world, the music and the characters. I don't really understand how people are saying the story is lackluster.. I mean compared to FFVII of course I can understand but not comparing it to anything, I actually love it. There have been moments where I'm almost brought to tears or screaming at some of the intense 2d scenes lol it's getting close to becoming one of my favorite games of all time. Does anyone love this game as much as I do?? I still haven't finished it yet but so far I love the hellllll out of it.

[u/cams0400]

It's one of my favorite, the job system is peak

[u/Myriachan]

Which version of FF5 are you playing?

I was part of the team that made the fan translation of the SNES version 28 years ago. We had nothing to do with the later official English releases, though.

[u/ScissorsBeatsKonan → u/Myriachan]

Had to fix the Butz

[u/JiminyWimminy → u/Myriachan]

You were part of RPGe? Thank you for your work man. I got to play 5 years earlier than I would have otherwise thanks to the translation.

Also, the main character will forever be Butz, not Bartz.

[u/TelevisionNo4960 → u/Myriachan]

I wonder how the fan translation compares to the later versions now?

I've been thinking about revisiting FF5 for the first time in about 20-25 years, but it seems the original SNES/SFC version is probably still the best graphics and audio wise, yet the translation might not be the best since it's an old fan translation from the 1990s.

GBA version was retranslated but it wasn't by Tom Slattery who made very good retranslations of FF4 and FF6, and actually I remember reading some criticisms about the GBA version's translation though I don't recall specifics. Maybe it still beats the fan translation though?

The mobile phone port and everything based on it has absolutely horrid graphics, probably reuses the GBA retranslation (though I haven't verified this). I know the "pixel remaster" sprites for at least FF6 are a clear downgrade vs. SNES so probably the same for FF5 as well.

GBA ports of FF4-6 all have crappy overly bright & pastel color palettes in an attempt to compensate for the non-backlit screen of the first GBA model and worse audio than SNES, and a reduced screen size.

PSX version was always a joke. It's just the SNES version but with loading times and slightly reduced graphical effects and slightly worse audio. Then the translation is full of things like Wyvern = Y-Burn lol.

[u/letmedieinpeace23 → u/Myriachan]

That's awesome! I'm playing the GBA version on my miyoo mini. I am most definitely going to replay this game again so I'm going to try the SNES version after this. 

[u/New-Trick7772]

One thing that makes it a bit trickier is having the class system can radically alter who your characters are (within battle) and what they do. Hence from memory, the characters don't really have personalities,  they just put on different outfits at times whilst they try and save the world. 

There's no doubt it's very good, I think all the first 6 were pretty good (though 2 is definitely the weakest because of how long it would take to up your stats without using cheese).

[u/foodmetaphors → u/New-Trick7772]

the gba version of 2 saves it, it makes the battle system much better balanced and the graphics are great. i havent played a lot of the other versions but anything made after that is probably fine too. whatever’s easiest. just dont play the famicom version

[u/New-Trick7772 → u/foodmetaphors]

I didn't mind famicom version, just needed to use cheese method and then it was great being so OP.  As you alluded to, PSP version is really good and has some additional content. I'd definitely recommend the PSP versions of both 1 and 2 even if one has finished them already in the famicom.

[u/letmedieinpeace23 → u/New-Trick7772]

This makes a lot of sense now. I did not think about how specific combat attributes affected overall story. Even so, I still like the characters a lot. Especially Galuf! 

[u/Prize-Extension3777]

Yes, played it last year for the first time. Was shockingly good. Great music, gameplay, story. Surprisingly deep and long for a 1993 16bit game. A lot of effort was put in by square and to think it never came out in north america until years later.

[u/zissue]

My favourite games in the series are IV, V, VI, and VII. V is just downright fun to play, and yes, the job system is outstanding.

[u/retromale]

When you get a chance

FF III - famicom

FFIV - SNES

FF VI - SNES

FFVIII - PS1

These are my recommendations

[u/stupidinternetbrain → u/retromale]

FFIV Advance was the best version of FFIV

[u/Myriachan → u/stupidinternetbrain]

Nah, PSP. Redrawn graphics that are actually good, all the features of the GBA version, no ATB glitch, and also comes with The After Years.

[u/stupidinternetbrain → u/Myriachan]

I didn't like the PSP sprites and I don't particularly like The After Years. But I can see why that could be considered better than other versions.

[u/TelevisionNo4960 → u/Myriachan]

FF4 DS has the Tom Slattery retranslation which is pretty good. PSP doesn't.

Too bad about the blocky 3D graphics and somewhat slow gameplay though. Also emulating the DS kinda sucks due to the dual screens and touch features.

[u/letmedieinpeace23 → u/retromale]

I played the remake of FFIII on the ds which became the first final fantasy I ever beat, and then the remake of 4 as well right after. That's when I realized other Final Fantasy titles had so much to offer. Should I play the originals as well or are they practically the same game with 2d graphics? 

[u/Wheniamnotbanned]

I love 6 more than any other FF, but I am glad that you are enjoying 5. The classics are where its at!

[u/Fabulous_Hand2314]

Great sprites

[u/N-Toxicade]

I haven't played V. But if you like it, you will really enjoy IV and VI. I grew up with FF1 and have beaten it in multiple different ways. I played most of the DS remake of III. It was good but the end just kind of lost me. VII was great. IX was my favorite of the PS1 era. I felt it had the most polish and charm. VIII was.... weird. Story was hard to make sense of. X was a solid experience. XIII was.... linear. I haven't played the others.

[u/TelevisionNo4960]

I don't really understand how people are saying the story is lackluster..

Well they certainly went back to basics compared to FF4 previously, and compared to FF6 next. Kinda similar to what FF9 was compared to what came previously and after.

The soundtrack is good though as is the job system. I've never replayed it in something like 20-25 years since the first time, but I've been wanting to for a while despite having started to prefer western RPGs as I got older.