Ite, I think I'll take what you wrote about Tifa and frame it on my wall.
I also think Tifa would be less great without Aerith, and Aerith would be diminished without Tifa. I can no longer favourite one without including the other. They are each other's foils.
Both Cid Highwind (VII) and Doctor Cidolfus Demen Bunansa (XII)
Day 14 - Favourite Final Fantasy male character.
That's really hard. :\ If I had to choose........it'd be between Cloud and Zidane. Both total opposites but they each stand out in their own way, I love their backstories, and they both grew into great people in the end once finding themselves.
Day 15 - Favourite Final Fantasy female character.
Tifa Lockhart, no question.
Day 16 (since it's almost tomorrow for me)- Your favourite Final Fantasy limit break.
Another hard one to figure out! I guess Final Fantasy VII's version since it was so diverse at the time and I could pick which ones I liked for them to use instead of sticking to one combination. Individually, I would say Auron's version. It was kinda aggravating to figure out the combination within the time limit, but once you found all those spheres related to him and his limit break, you got a real sense of accomplishment and wanted to finish the full combinations just so you can see how badass he is sending his foes to oblivion.
Favourite limit break. Cloud's Meterorain. I just love this limit break, it's just so badass summoning meteors to destroy the monsters on the battlefield. Everytime I playthrough VII, I always spend hours to try and get this limit break quickly as possible. Because it's just so cool !
This has gotta go to the Renzokuken for me. I love Meteorain and Tifa's slots (ba-dum-psh) but FFVIII made me feel like I was actually fighting, while still maintaining the strategic core of old-school FFs (something that was killed with FFXI). R1 was my best friend. I almost chose Irvine's, because spamming R1 to make him a beast with a shotgun was fun indeed, but nothing beats actually feeling like you're in control of a sword. It made me realize why people still used swords in ages of gunpowder. (hint: because they're badass)
The Dance-Dance-Revolution sequence during the Renzokuken made me feel like I was in sync with Squall, and it split my mind in half. The right brain (the PLAYER) saw the bar scrolling and lined up R1 accordingly. The left brain (the CHARACTER) was rearing the sword back. Feeling its weight. Lining up the strike. I haven't been in such physical sync with a character before or since. That includes the gimmicky Wii-mote. FFVIII was really special in the implementation of R1.
Dragon Dive is pretty sweet, and I have favoritism towards dragoons. It was the move that convinced me to use Cid. Meteorain is cool, so is Satellite Beam. But I have to give it to Tifa's limit chain. It is just so cool, and there is nothing more satisfying than getting all seven 'Yeah's. Not to mention that all Yeah's, with the Premium Heart, is actually one of the most powerful moves in the game.
It also is some of the more contextually understandable limits. As chaining maneuvers together is the eventual evolution of a lot of martial arts. And AC/C showing her chain the abilities together was cool to see.
I also think Tifa would be less great without Aerith, and Aerith would be diminished without Tifa. I can no longer favourite one without including the other. They are each other's foils.
That's a good point as well, and something I'm going to have to take into consideration when I write my entry for Day 15. I really don't know who I'm going to pick!
My favourite Limit Break systems has to be FFVII's, FFIX's Trance system and FFX's Overdrive System.
As for the Limit Break themselves, in terms of storyline, my favourites are Sephiroth's Supernova, Kuja's Trance/Ultima and Mog's Trance/tranformation in Madeen.
Gameplay-wise, Vivi's Trance, for its usefulness and pointy hat (), Cloud's Omnislash and Squall's Lionheart (for their sheer power) and Anima's Oblivion, for its power and over-the-top coolness.
I liked VII's limit break system. I couldn't stand trance, it being so uncontrollable, and VIII's was actually kind of fun but I'm not a big fan of having to use them only if you're low on health- since I always try to remain healed. And never wanted to waste my Aauras.
Gameplaywise, Fury Brand was my shit. It looked pretty cool (Aerith worked it like a boss) and I got two limit breaks for the price of one. I used it to level other people's limits too. I always stop at Fury Brand now, when playing FFVII. The other ones are kind of broken and if I get Great Gospel, chances are by the time I have it I don't need it.
My favorite Limit Break system would be FFVII's. It's nice that you don't have to be at low HP to trigger them and you can also save them up for the boss fight.
My favorite Limit Break would have to be Rinoa's Angel Wing, or actually her Meteor Wing. It took me a little bit of set up, but I got it to where 1 meteor spell caused between 40,000 to 80,000 damage. I also Junctioned Auto-Haste and Spd+40% and Triple to Speed so she was at least twice as fast as everybody else.
Favorite Minigame - Probably the motorcycle from FFVII (EVEN THOUGH I SUCK AT IT!). Snowboarding from FFVII was fun too. And I also liked Blitzball from FFX. Blitzball is one of those that you either love it or hate it, and I liked it
Omnislash and all it's variants are like..the definitive limit break and my favorite of Final Fantasy. It's just so fucking badass and over the top. Seriously, Cloud just fucking charges up with mako, and hits the opponent so fast, so hard, it looks like there's several of him attacking the opponent at once. Hell, he literally LOOKS like an Army of One. And it's just fucking nuts. The damage output he can deal with that attack is just nuts...in FFVII the only attack that does more damage is Knights of the Round. A goddamn summon. Cloud just going nuts with that sword is awesome and hilarious. The fact in Dissidia it's arguably the strongest EX Burst in the game when Cloud's at max HP, just cements it as the definitive "Limit Break" in FF.
My favorite Limit Break system though is Final Fantasy X's. The way you could customize the way the Overdrive gauge filled depending on the fighting style of each character was really awesome, and something I wish continued in other FF games.
Favorite Mini-Game: Triple Triad (I like strategy games)
With all the refining abilities, playing this was actually useful (getting LionHeart on the 1st Disk) especially at the start of the game when you didn't have access to high level magic/items. I also liked that you could customize the rules to make them easier/harder. My favorite set up would be Open and Same/Plus/Same Wall.
Yeah, Tetra Master was fun. Despite its nonsense rules, I did end up playing it a lot more than I ever played Tetra Master.
Although a big part of that was probably that the Tetra Master song kicked ass.
But still, Snowboarding is the only FF minigame I have ever booted up the game its in for the sole purpose of playing it.
Fav Limit Break:
Blade Beam (Cloud/FFVII):
I loved Blade Beam as a kid. I think because it was a simple move and yet had the added bonus of deflecting at the other enemies.
Fated Circle (Squall/FFVIII):
Not only a visually appealing attack but I loved the sound effect when the heat runs along the ground and then explodes.... I know what I mean.
Blitz Ace (Tidus/FFX):
Since Omnislash has been taken, I'll go with this one. Tidus just wails on the enemy with his sword, then they integrate his blitzball skills as the coup de grace.
Fav Minigame:
Yeah, Tetra Master over Triple Triad. Although Triad looks simpler on paper, it got unnecessarily complicated and cheap with its variety of rules. For that reason, I found Tetra Master to be far more addictive, even if I was blagging it on my first playthrough.
I'm gonna throw FFVII's Motorcycle mini-game into the mix, too. Okay, the hit-detection was lousy, but it's so worth it for that theme song.
Blitz Ace was amusing because not only did it do a shitload of damage, but the added plus of your favorite female character serving up the blitzball for Tidus to kick was just hilarious and awesome. That one also is one I remember fondly. Thanks for reminding me Masamune
UM I thuppose I will start with Final Fantasy game that disappointed you: Final Fantasy XII -- if only because there's quite a lot I do like about this game, but it just falls short for me. It had some interesting ideas that just fell apart in execution (looking at you, license board). The pacing felt awkward, and I didn't really feel attached to any of the characters (what is Penelo even doing there?). Also the soundtrack was largely forgettable imo, and this being an FF game, that alone is kind of a big disappointment.
Favorite Cid:
Fabool all the way, baby. This guy pioneered steam technology, built three fantastic airships -- one of which he built as an oglop while he was also bracing for war -- planned Garnet's kidnap, is a bro with Baku (so you know he's down with thieves) and was a total ladies man. He makes me feel ashamed of my life.
Favourite Final Fantasy male character.
Kuja, hands down. I love all the male characters in FFIX, but Kuja gets bumped up for also being the first villain I really felt connected to. I was sort of amused that he couldn't just beat Garland, but wanted to do it with the thing he feared most, while also succeeding where he was supposed to fail. And then the way he just started cracking during the middle of the game when he kept getting thwarted, his breakdown upon realizing he would die, and then finally his redemption at the end. He was a really great villain and character all around for being so fleshed out.
Favourite Final Fantasy female character.
THIS IS A THREE WAY TIE
and no one was surprised. Irritation with her CC portrayal aside, I love her. I probably relate to her the most out of any FF heroine. I feel like I've already said why a million times, so I'll make it short: she's a white mage, last of her race, girly girl that could have easily nosedived into Mary Sue territory, but she didn't. She had good aspects and bad ones, and in the end was just a lonely person who's death was a tragedy. Mostly because she was one of the most intentionally funny party members She had a shitton she could have been angry or angsty about but she chose to roll with the punches and look forward. ilher. End of.
It's funny, because when I first played IX I didn't think much of Garnet: now she's one of my favorites. Her bossiness is amazing; her telling Steiner to shut up so she can talk to her thief friends is hilarious, even if it is a bit mean. They really balanced the side of her that was a natural leader with her insecurities, which made many of her decisions -- not the least of which to leave to party to accomplish her own goals -- believable. I like how she had all this power, both magical and political, that she was afraid to use, but by the end of the game in a powerful and confident queen. Who likes to go on adventures and steal things and sometimes act in famous plays. Best. Queen. Ever.
She is my favorite redheaded lesbian next to Winter, srsly
I like girly mage chicks with hidden depth and some angst, what can I say?
Your favourite Final Fantasy limit break.
Tifa's. Aside from the slots it was hilarious to watch her lift these giant awkwardly shaped objects and pile drive them into the ground.
Favourite Final Fantasy mini game.
I SHOULD PROBABLY CHILL ON ALL THE FFIX but Tetra Master is my shit.
