Summary
While theFinal Fantasyseries has become one of the most popular video game franchises of all time, it can be easy for a newcomer to bounce off the games entirely if their first entry is a little too difficult or awkward for them to enjoy. The truth is, considering how drastically different all theFinal Fantasygames are in their core gameplay mechanics, it certainly means not all of them end up being very accessible.
This isn’t to say that these games are bad entries, but they are definitely games players will want to get to later down the line to appreciate how experimental and challenging they are. While there may be plenty ofFinal Fantasygames designed with beginners in mind, these entries below ought to be avoided by anyone looking to dive into this long-running series for the very first time.
Final Fantasy 8’smagic systemworks quite a bit differently from the rest of the series. Instead of armor, players will be equipping themselves with magic to enhance some of their stats, while also granting abilities, meaning magic can be used for more than just casting. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg of how far this mechanic actually goes, and since the game does a pretty poor job of explaining it, it can be easy for newcomers to become overwhelmed when it shows up in the first hour of the game.
Another unique system inFinal Fantasy 8is how enemies will always scale their level alongside the player, meaning that grinding out enemies for EXP is more or less impossible, omitting one of the core elements of the series' gameplay loop. Because of how muchFinal Fantasy 8tinkers with the traditional formula, it’s a game that’s better enjoyed after playing a few other entries first.
7Final Fantasy 10-2
This Experimental Direct Sequel To Final Fantasy 10 Can Intimidate Newcomers In Its Bizarre First Few Hours
While there are only a fewdirect sequelsin theFinal Fantasyseries, some of them are actually fairly easy to get into as a newcomer, withFinal Fantasy 13-2being a prime example. However, unlike that game,Final Fantasy 10-2can be quite a tricky first sell, especially due to how unforgiving it is in terms of gameplay. The game is action-packed from beginning to end and is noticeably a lot lighter in its story compared to other mainline games.
This game would also only feature three total party members, which is more restrictive compared to what fans are used to. These sorts of alterations do make sense though, since10-2is often seen as being a more experimental title where the developers could have a ton of fun making changes to the gameplay formula seen in the originalFinal Fantasy 10, but it does end up resulting in a vastly different overall experience.
WhileFinal Fantasy 2is shorter than the first gamein overall length, it’s also very grind-heavy, which can end up making it quite difficult. Additionally,Final Fantasy 2is a little less creative with its environments, especially the dungeons where every room looks virtually identical, making them all feel like a giant maze. The leveling system can also feel a little tedious for weapon spells, which can come across as uninteresting to newcomers.
Final Fantasyveterans will often return to the second game simply to experience one of the classics, but it can certainly be a hard sell as the very first game in the series. However, there’s still a decent set of characters here, along with iconic music and challenging battles, so it’s still well worth trying out.
The name of this spin-off game can be a little deceiving. While it is true that this spin-off explores the ‘origins’ of Garland, the final villain of the very firstFinal Fantasygame, this doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a good place to start.Stranger of Paradiseleans much more heavily into the hack-and-slash genre than most games, and whileFinal Fantasy 16is alsoaction-oriented, that game is also much more forgiving in its combat.
In contrast,Stranger of Paradisebecomes brutally difficult only a few stages in, especially if players don’t focus on utilizing the expansive Job system. Speaking of the stages, each of the 16 levels is based on areas from previous games, such as a Mako Reactor and the Flying Fortress. Needless to say, these homages can only really work for those who have journeyed through those previous games before getting to this one.
The troubled development ofFinal Fantasy 15is well known by fans of the series, with the game going through what many would call’development hell’for over an entire decade. While the game still managed to come out in a solid state and has amassed a large fanbase, it’s clear that the story especially was chopped up and moved around a lot before the game officially dropped.
As a result, the overall narrative ofFinal Fantasy 15can feel a bit messy and disjointed, requiring players to check out the extra anime series and movie to piece together many of the game’s crucial plot points. This can cause newcomers to immediately bounce off the series, so it can be a much better idea to enjoy some of the story-rich entries first, before then getting to15, which many fans agree is somewhat of a required taste.
The combat systems inFinal Fantasygames have evolved drastically over time, growing into a more action-oriented real-time system in more modern games, but it feels especially different in the twelfth mainline entry which uses aunique ADB (Active Dimension Battle) formula. The way this works is, that players can do-battle with monsters in the overworld without having to trigger a battle screen. Each character will then have lines that show where an ally is directing their attacks, which they will perform automatically.
However, players are also able to control certain actions and abilities of their comrades while in the middle of combat, ensuring at least some of the traditional turn-based DNA is still intact. While very unique, the ADB system can be tricky to get the hang of, even for longtime veterans of the series.
Lightning Returnsis the third and final game in theFinal Fantasy 13trilogy.Final Fantasy 13-2, surprisingly, is fairly easy to get into thanks to thetime-traveling hijinksand new characters, butLightning Returnscan be a much harder act to follow for those unfamiliar with its predecessors.Lightning Returnsgets right into the story without any introductions, and instead, thrusts players immediately into the gameplay where they take control of Lightning who is tasked with preventing the world from being destroyed in thirteen days.
Fans of the13trilogy will be able to jump right in, but newcomers will surely have questions cropping up right from the get-go, such as why Lightning is the one sent to rescue the world, and why she seemingly tries to kill Snow in the first few moments.Lightning Returnsalso includes an in-game countdown system, similar to that seen inMajora’s Mask, which is the only time the gimmick is ever seen in the series.
Final Fantasy 7has plenty of external material outside of the original entry, but when it comes to the games, whileAdvent Childrenis a decent starting point, this doesn’t exactly apply toDirge of Cerberus. Considering the game follows Vincent Valentine, a character who is already established in the original game as an optional party member, the narrative is much more meaningful for those who are already aware of Vincent’s actions and motives from the original game since this spin-off is set three years later.
Additionally, the third-person arcade shootergameplay loopis a huge departure from the traditional turn-based and RPG-heavy focus of the mainline entries. It’s a fun game to jump into for fans of the originalFinal Fantasy 7, but it might be a little jarring for those stepping into the series for the very first time.
