In some FF, begining in FF VII, we witnessed something that changed the battle gameplay a little. Until FF VI (if i'm not mistaken) The only way to deal more damage then usual was to score a critical. FF VII, gave us something else, it brought a new concept of finishing moves, the Limit Break. With FF VIII they stii continued with this name, but now with better graphics. With FF IX, they modified it a little bit, instead of a finishing move, one would hava enhanced ability for a set period of turns, they called it Trance. With FF X they gave a new concept to finishing moves, not only did the characters had the, but the summons, in this case Aeons, had finishing moves too, called Overdrives.

Each had his pros and cons, but the one i hated he most was Trance, you couldn't control it, and when you needed it it didn't happen and when you didn't nedded it happened. It sucked when you are training for so long to have your Trance built right before you hit it with a hnit, before a boss, and having a fight and having your character reach Trance >_> that was annoying and FF VII well you had Aura to induce the Limit Break, but it was kinda random you didn't had full control over it also. But although FF VIII had this, it still had the attack button while FF VII, being able to control the limit and save it, we couldn't use our normal attack, it would be replaced for limit break and you couldn't damage you enemy, if you wanted to save your limit break that is.

To me, FF X was the best system, you could change the way your character filled the Overdrive Bar, from Attacker to Healer, from inducing status change on your enemy or while sustaining status change. It was very innovative to bring Overdrives to Aeons and th whole concept of you being able to control them even added more to my pleasure.

What about you? And please tell us why. ^^

Good question. I definetely think I used and relied on Limits the most, since there was some definete safety there in the fac you could save it and therefore plan around. I didn't use much of FFVIII's until I had aura. Trance's were good but unreliable, and X's meh', didn't have much opinion on them. I liked the overkill thing where you got bonus stuff though.

Uhh, they definatly had a sort of limit break in FFVI. When a characters health got really low, sometimes they would do a very powerful attack when you just choose Fight. I remember thats how I won the battle against the Phantom Train. Shadow and Cyan died, and Locke was about to die, but he used his special move (forget the name, didnt really see it come up all too often) and it killed the Train. I have also seen Shadows and Sabins as well.

As for me, I agree, FFX had a good overdrive system. With set mode you could choose from a slew of different modes to raise your overdrive. Also some of the characters had interactive overdrives like Tidus, Wakka, Auron, and Lulu and you had to push buttons, spin the control stick, or line up slots to deal damage.

Most of the other games systems seemed primitive. It was more like you would just keep taking damage until it was filled then you could use your move.

I absolutly hated FFIX's system. Sure it was good when you had it, but the thing that really pissed me off was the fact that you couldn't save it. If you got someones at the end of a battle or just fighting easy monsters there was no way you could save it for a harder foe. Hell, if you didn't even get to use it, it would go away after the battle. That system was crap.

I agree that FFX did have a better system. I did love the fact that there were over a dozen ways to build up on overdrive my favorite was daredevil to build up the over drive by fighting an enemy by yourself. The other games didn't give that kind of freedom. I also like how the aeons had an overdrive, and that yuna's overdrive was using an aeons. That really helps.

In FF7 when you got limit you could attack without wasting it. In FFX you can still attack and do what ever with your limit filled. and going into battle with everyone's limit was even better than FF7 cause you had about 7 people and no one limit was the same. They didn't just take out damage they all had an extra edge like Wakka how could attack with a element or status effect. I
think I liked FFX because of the freedom to do most things your way including how your character
learned new moves.

I preferred the pre-limit system (s). While yes, they did provide a tactical advantage, they were also overpowering and created a sort of "reliance," on them as compared to simple leveling and actual strategy. Although I do not deny the practical application, I rarely if ever use them for anything other than thier entertainment value.

Note: the FF9 trance system overall works to your advantage if used correctly. You just need practice.

Gemini_Bloodian

FFIX would probably have the best system if you could control it. They probably didn't let you control it because it would have been to powerful, now that I think about it.

FFVIII was probably the most useful. If you have good limits with Squall just keep him near death and any boss battle becomes super easy. My characters are all weak and pathetic, but I have Lionheart, and with it Ultimicea is a pushover.

IX was the worst, simply because you couldn't control it. That said, it was still cool. I just wish you could have controlled it a bit easier.

The easiest to control was definitely FFVIII. You could just cast Aura and use it right away. You didn't need to worry about HP or anything. One spell and you'd have it.

FFVII was useful, I must also say. I remember the first time I beat Emerald Weapon. I just saved my game with Cait Sith in a limit break.

And then reset. And reset. And reset. And reset. And reset.

And eventually, I got instant victory. Though it would have been quicker just to fight it over and over again.

If I had to give a best though, I'd say FF8. I really enjoyed it's system, especially because of its easy adaptibility and usability.

Lmao, I don't remember any pre-limit FFs having actual strategy at any point really. While I'm not putting it down, they were your standard turn-based fare, I could generally level up then just beat through with strength, imo FF is one of the weak series batlewise because I think in all of them you could pretty much bat your way through the game pretty mindlessly.

I'm kind of in agreeance with Gemini... In a series as easy as Final Fantasy (well post-FFVI) I think Limit breaks are quite unnessesary. I don't mind when the limit breaks do more than just a super powerful attack (such as Aerith's healing) but I'm not paticulaly keen on them.

Right now I'm attempting FFIV but I'm finding it so damn hard (This is the original tyoem not the simplier American one which I have already completed). I am far under-levelled and the Final Boss just ate me alive... It's a real fun challenge and I'm so glad it isn't spoilt by the characters suddenly pulling out limit breaks. Let's face it, Ultemicia would have been MUCH harder if it wern't for Limit Breaks... especially on a game where Levels mean squat.

I still don't understand this idea that FF games before the PS1 were somehow harder and required strategy and real thought. I mean, I've played them all, and I don't really see much difference, and I also don't really see anyone explaining this view. By all means state that you think they were harder somehow, but please do share the thought behind this. You really think limit breaks make that much difference? Lol, you must really have relied on them then, I didn't find them making much of an impact. I guess if my characters were weak, I would have had to use them alot though. Maybe I just levelled up more than other people usually do, but meh. Still stands, I don't see why 1-6 were any harder than 7-beyond.

It's not that you need more strategy, it's just that you need to do a lot of leveling if you play the hard (japanese) versions of the games. The old ones didn't have any uber attacks that cheesafied the game, like Knights of the round, Lionheart, or cheap battle systems that you can easily manipulate (I'm looking at you FFVII & VIII.). You can master a whole bunch of counter materia and kill Sephy in 7 seconds. Even if you were at very high levels in FFIV theres still more challange than in FFVII or FFVIII because of flashy stuff like that. FFVIII, My characters were complete #####. I got lionheart and coasted through the rest of the game to get it over with. Like flame, when I tried to go through the hard version of FFIV at a fast pace the final boss made bread out of my bones.

Hmm, I guess I jsut eprceive it differently. Imo, if really hard levelling is the only way, that sounds far easier to me. I just don't see that as anymore of a challenge than any other games. As for the newer battle systems being able to be manipulated; isn't that true for all the games though? There are always ways of manipulating the battles to be easier on you than there should be. That doesn't actually mean the new games were easier; that means you choose to make them easier. You find them annoying tht you can manipulate them, and blast through with lionheat? Don't use it. No-ones making you.

Thanks for the insight though, I wasn't attempting to be difficult, I jsut literally don't look at it that way, and therefore I didn't really understand. I see what you're saying though, I gues sits jsut how you choose to play the game, jsut as its how I choose to level alot anyway that means I don't think its as hard, or that different in any of them.

I think Hworang hit the nail on the head earlier. I also agree that you don't have to use these thing but it's really hard. For Example, on FFVII you had acess to so much with such little restrictions. Materia allowed you to use powerful magic and skills with little restriction a classic example is Enemy Skill. Aside from MP, there was no restriction. All your characters could have some really amazing spells such as Big Guard or White Wind which would make the game so much more easier. In FFVII, your characters could have strong attacks and the strongest spells. I always attempt Sephiroth at pretty low levels (I never train up, but I also don't often run away from fights if ever) and using non-overpower materia (No 4xcut, Ultima, Enemy skill or KOTR) but I still don't find him paticulaly challenging.

It's just the way it is... the better and more in depth the Battle system, the easier it seemsgets. The games can still be challenging but there are so much easier ways to get through Post-FFVI games without simply levelling up.

And also levelling up to high levels on FFIV is easier said than done. (Off Topic: My characters are approaching Level 50 I think though they might be lower... does anyone know a good level to attempt the final Boss?)

70, Flame. You missed your chance for good leveling though. In the area where you lose FuSoYa and get Kain, you could find little thing which used "Alert" or something and called other enemies. And you'd just cheaply keep fighting them until you got to a high level.

But then, I really didn't do that.

I was Level 47 fighting the Final Boss, and I wasn't capable of stealing the Dark Materia...

so...

I sharked in 99 Cleavers and just threw them all at the bastard.

Well, even though hated by most, I liked Trance. It wasn't the best system, but it looked cool and was quite powerful, cause all parameters increased and you had some nasty devastating moves waiting for your opponent.

Well actually I liked every kind of limit break through the whole series.

FFIX was in my eyes the most powerfull kind of limitbreak but hard to control but so appealing for the eye

The limit break I loved the most was in FF VIII, they looked so great and where so fun to do

I didn't liked the limit breaks in FF X they where just not my kind of thing.

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