In your opinion, what is the most underrated mainline Final Fantasy?

[Quinton]

I see this term tossed around a lot, and I kind of feel like it doesn't really apply to any of them anymore. They've all gained significant followings through the years. Sure, none of them are big parts of the public consciousness, but even FFVII is no Call of Duty. None of these games are truly colossal.

It seems like we tend to dwell, still, on what the games were like upon release whereas they've all built up loads of fans in the RPG playerbase thanks to positive word-of-mouth.

With that in mind (or not), which of these titles do you think it applies to even now, and why?

 

[Ashodin]

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest.

Yeah I said it.

Game rocked way harder than it had to even though it was supposed to be training wheels.

Tristam for life.

 

[Dary]

These days, it's II.

 

[Ovvv]

XIII for me.

Best combat in the series until 7R.

 

[Truno]

FFV I think. Fantastic game with great replay value.

I could see arguments being made for most of the entries listed in the poll, but I cannot fathom how someone would consider FF6 or FF9 to be underrated

 

[demu]

A couple of years ago I would've said IX, but it gets lots of love nowadays. I don't know how VI can even be in the poll tbh. lol

 

[Slaythe]

Ff8.

It is a game that gives a lot of freedom to the player.

Unfortunately this can result in them having a good or bad time with the gameplay.
But not just that.
The game gives you a lot of little choices when it comes to character interactions. Some optional. If you dont pick the right things or discover them, the character development feels unearned and nonsensical VS actually being nice.

Also a lot of the lore is hidden behind exploration and data on computers/newspaper etc... in some obscure menu. Nor to the extent of FF13 of course but still. Lots of people's issues with plot holes usually have answers there.

And it was hard to live up to ff7.

Besides a couple of really annoying moments, it's a pretty great adventure.

 

[shintoki]

FFIX is the best from the PS1 era. Most rank V below IV, but I'd say it is above.

X-2

 

[Silvergun-Blue]

Voted IX.

Time was I would have voted for XII but I feel that gets more recognition these days than it used to.

 

[Knight613]

Out of those choices...probably VIII or XIII

 

[Lobster Roll]

I've played FFVIII many times in my adolescence and a few times as an adult. I've had a growing appreciation for the game as I've played it while older. People hand wave the game off often, but there are days I rate it above every other PS1 FF game depending on how I'm feeling.

 

[Dyno]

XIII for me.

It's a serviceable game, has an ok-ish story redeemed a little if you go out of your way to read all info the game offers, but due to expectations from the series its considered terrible. I'd be inclined to agree almost, but that soundtrack is sublime and the world itself while feeling like a missed opportunity, is still possibly my favourite fantasy world setup. So much wasted potential unfortunately, but a lot of redeeming stuff hidden behind the bad.

 

[Neutron]

Once upon a time I would have said IX, but it gets near universal acclaim these days. So I'll go with XII.

There's definitely been a renaissance on it, but I still think it doesn't get the attention it deserves (not least from SE themselves).

 

[Ashes of Dreams]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNkI08t4rqM

Spoiler

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl1CJnAYriQ

 

[MegaSackman]

Absolutely XII. After VII Square got obsessed with love stories and fans loved it, XII came out without one and with a different tone and people didn't care much, the Vaan excuse is just that.

This is my opinion of course.

 

[GamerJM]

XIII is a great game and people seem to hate it, so uh, I choose XIII. That being said I do feel like in recent years it's gotten credit for the parts of the game that legitimately work really well, and I've come to realize with time that there's stuff in that game that's a dealbreaker for a lot of people that just doesn't bother me at all. At release I didn't really understand that perspective but I've come to realize with time that what I look for in a JRPG is just unique and that things like towns and exploration are way more important to people who aren't me.

The one that's not listed here that I don't think gets enough credit is IV. It's generally pretty well liked, but IMO it should be up with VI and VII as far as legendary status entries. It's a landmark title for storytelling for the medium in general, and the way that game makes some aspects of the NES games easier and streamlines things while also keeping the world and the mechanics open was really smart. Yeah the story is a bit melodramatic, but imo it's a fun kind of melodrama and kept me super engaged the whole way through. And yeah it's a bit more basic mechanically, but so is IX and everyone seems to love that game (and IV is like approximately 387304835739485 times better paced).

 

[ArkhamFantasy]

XIII, it has really strong combat, visuals, music, and its very polished.

 

[Nimby]

I haven't played much FF, some of 7 and the remake, 15 (which I did not enjoy), almost beat FF9 (which is a masterpiece), and XIII-2. XIII-2 was a great game, and I enjoyed it so much I ended up platting it.

 

[Kazer]

XIII.

Would've said XII but I feel like a lot of people came around on it after the Zodiac Age release.

 

[Leo]

I think Final Fantasy as a series in overrated in general. XII used to be underrated but that perception has changed, so none.

 

[Souls Survivor]

FF6. I don't care how highly it's rated, it deserves higher.

 

[strife85]

13 because the music and combat system.

 

[entremet]

XIII. I love XIII.

 

[GeeseHoward]

Apart from the obvious "ff6 is underrated because it deserves to stand alone in the top by a huge margin" take, FF5 is the only game in the series i like more every time i replay it. Maybe as I got older I've come to appreciate it's unbridled optimist attitude, but i just love it more and more.

 

[TigerBrownie]

Final Fantasy V has the best classic FF gameplay hands down.

 

[platypotamus]

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest.

Yeah I said it.

Game rocked way harder than it had to even though it was supposed to be training wheels.

Tristam for life.

Click to shrink...

Yep

 

[Kazer]

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest.

Yeah I said it.

Game rocked way harder than it had to even though it was supposed to be training wheels.

Tristam for life.

Click to shrink...

No lies detected.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZOQ8sLO-vU

 

[Haze]

XII is the best one… but people are coming around to its greatness.

I'm gonna say XV because it's a great game. A beautiful mess, if you will.

 

[Zeal543]

Historically V but nowadays I don't think I'd call any mqin numbered FF underrated

 

[Chance Hale]

FFXV (based purely on this site)despite its flaws has more heart and fun details than any other soulless open world game of the modern era so the hate it gets is weird to me. Did sell a ton tho.

FFIX is the best game in the series but given its getting an anime series and remake not sure how underrated it is anymore.

 

[Disclaimer]

Has to be XI, if we're counting MMOs.

Otherwise, I guess V.

 

[Modest_Modsoul]

Since XII being "resurrected" with The Zodiac Age, maybe it's a toss-up between V/XI/XIII/XV?

🤷

 

[PAFenix]

I threw my vote in for FFV. Even with XII & XIII being divisive they still have ardent fans that defend it whenever a topic gets posted about either tbh.

But like.....just no one talks about FFV. And it's good lol

 

[Atom]

*thinks XIII or V*

*checks results*

makes sense.

 

[Kill3r7]

At this point from the PS1 releases it feels like FF8 doesn't get enough love. I would also agree with FFV.

 

[Trigger]

VIII.

I'm hoping it'll get more love oncea remake or sequel eventually comes along.

 

[Enduin]

VIII wasn't perfect, but it was a still an amazing ride that gets a bit too much hate for what faults it does have. I would kill for a remake to really fix some of its issues and flesh out things because it's got such a unique style and story for the series.

 

[Raskol]

FFV seems to not get as much love as it deserves. When I think of FF's golden run I think of V-IX. I can kinda understand it though. The story isn't anything to write home about and the OST is a bit forgettable. But that job system carries hard.

 

[Teenage Fansub]

Defintely 13. I need to try it again with the xbox upgrades.

 

[Comet]

Absolutely it's V. I adore the game and it likely didn't get much love because it didn't release in the West until FF Anthology on PS1 and then later the GBA remake.

 

[The Unsent]

Overall I wouldn't say it's underrated per say but people always say FFIX's battle system is too slow, when there's a toggle to increase the speed and newer versions have even more speed up modes. The criticism feels like a load of hot air.

 

[Cipher Peon]

XV is the most underrated imo

I loved it :)

 

[Flame Lord]

Definitely V; played through IV-VI for the first time and it's definitely the one I had the most fun with. I don't know why the job system hasn't gotten more use in the mainline games, I also enjoyed the story the most; not super original but it was fun like an arc of Dragon Ball and Exdeath was definitely the best villain of the first V games.

 

[Nairume]

5, 6, 7, and 9 all get a lot of praise and shouldn't really be part of the discussion. I'd honestly say that goes for 12, though others may disagree. Also, really, 8 and 10 get an equal amount of praise and love to go with the criticism, which is honestly appropriate for those two.

I could thus leave it down to 13 and 15, but those games are honestly both just bad in different ways, so I'll go with 2

Yes, 2

It's broken and has some questionable dungeon design, but goddamn a lot of y'all allow some awful ass memes unfairly color your opinions of the game to where people ignore all the things it gets right, which, for 1988, was a lot. Not only does it play better than people give credit once you stop playing it wrong because of a dumb meme and actually read how the game works (like a kid playing it when it was new would have done!), there's a fun game with an engaging story for the time, a neat world to explore with adventure mechanics baked in, and a great soundtrack. Also beavers.

Give 2 a chance. A *real* chance.

 

[Quinton]

I don't know how VI can even be in the poll tbh.

Click to shrink...

Believe it or not, I still to this day see people who label VI "the forgotten true best FF" etc lol

 

[QisTopTier]

it's 5

 

[Syntsui]

I think FF II was extremely ambitious for its time. It's mind boggling to see all the stuff they pulled off with it at the time. But nowadays it's relegated as the worst of the entire mainline series, it simply isn't.

 

[Dealer A]

Do people really not enjoy 5? Most everyone I know who has played it really likes it. My vote would be for 1, 2 or 3. I feel like they are always getting ignored or hated on. But I feel people don't give them a fair shake and give up early.

 

[Yata]

It's definitely V. One of the only mainline FFs games with an actual fun battle system, lots of freedom and charming everything else and no one aside from the hardcore fans mention it.

 

[caffe misto]

No one is talking about IV in this thread. Maybe IV is underrated now?