Reading through this thread persuaded me to whip out my ds and play ffta2, kind of the opposite effect, eh?
Before, in the PSX version, there were times when the character would speak before throwing out a move. Like, example "Burn in flames, blah blah blah, Firaga!" That was the battle dialogue I think Cilo was pertaining to. I could be wrong though.
Too bad the game doesn't have this New Game+ function a PSP version did. Just completed the game yesterday and got the final completion save but I can't continue playing after beating the boss or start a new game with the same equipment. Well, no matter, I already spent more of my time on that game than allowed so I guess it's for the best I can't continue anymore. Took me a hefty 33 hours on game timer to get it done with. That doesn't include loaded games and retries. Also I first played some 20 hours before starting a new game so it didn't take me quite as long a time the second time around since I mostly skipped the dialogues I had read already and the battles were smoother since I already knew what to expect. All in all it's still a nice game after many many years. Last time I played this was around the PS1 release time over 10 years ago. For those still hesitating whether this has the hours I could safely say that if you wholly complete the game with all the secrets and are a first time player it would take you some 60 hours game time, which depending on your battle prowess might be up to 90 hours real time. In the end what I really didn't like was the lack of actually useful classes. I tried to develop one of my chars into a Dark Knight but a bit before I was done I read about the DK skills online and wasn't that impressed anymore. Would be interesting to know what kind of party you guys used when playing the game. Im'ma do it in a spoiler safe form so no one accidentally reads it. Spoiler - Ramza as a Knight using Squire as secondary skill and Ninja's Dual Wield to wield two nice knight swords. - Summoner with a Geomancy as secondary. Kind of a backup char who died first and contributed a little. - Ninja using Monk as secondary and Brawler from Monk making him a fist fighter. A total powerhouse with great healing/revive ability and fast too. - Samurai using Monk as secondary. Couldn't fully utilize the Monk abilities since with a Samurai sword and gear the skills didn't hurt much but having yet another Revive really is worth all that. - Black Mage (occasionally white depending which I trained at the moment) stacked with full spellpower no matter how much HP/MP I lost in the process using Arithmetician as secondary. Arithmetics is soooo good I would nearly deem it unbalancing. Being able to wipe out the entire battleground with one spell is insane ([CT - 4 - Holy] one person wearing a Holy absorbing item hits everyone most of the time). In the end I didn't even bother to use any Special class chars like Cloud, Orlandeau, Beowulf etc.
Yes, this is what I was talking about. I like these little sayings, not sure if they are in this version though.
should i read the WHOLE tutorial if i've NEVER played a FF game before? or is it like any other turn based RPG?
It's pretty much like any other turn based RPG. There are a few little differences that I can think of: 1) Blocking/evasion plays a huge role in FFT. At the end of each turn, you're given the option of making your character face one of four directions. Attacking a person from the front gives the highest chance to evade/block, side a little less, and back usually gives 100% chance to hit. Elevation plays a small role in this too-- you generally have an advantage if you're uphill. Many enemies also have a counter attack ability-- the chances of which are reduced if attacking from a side rather than the front. 2) When someone dies, their body will have a 3-round counter appear overhead. When that counter reaches 0, they will then turn into a crystal or an chest with an item. (If this happens to a teammate, you lose them forever. Guests do not have counters.)You can then walk over there to get the item or use the crystal for the option of restoring hp/mp completely or learning an ability. 3) In FFT, your characters gain XP and JP (job points) with every action they perform. Job Points are then used to learn abilities after battle. So simply having Chemist as your job is not enough to know how to use phoenix downs or hi-potions-- you have to have learned the ability with JP.
I would actually read the whole tutorial. It's long, but I found the information to be pretty much invaluable, particularly early on in the game. I wouldn't say that FFT is like other turn-based RPGs -- it's more like a complex marriage of chess and an RPG, one in which victory hinges as much in the preparation before combat as it does on your tactics in the battlefield. It is particularly important to fully understand the job system; otherwise you will often find yourself lacking the necessary skill to defeat your enemy. I have to say, I am usually skeptical of high complexity in an RPG: it often strikes me as a way to mask overly familiar gameplay and lousy, cliche stories. It works in FFT, though, perhaps because the world itself is rich and complex. I'm taking it slowly -- just reached chapter 2 -- but I'm having a blast with this game.
thanks guys, i guess i'll read the whole thing. pffff im on vacation i don't wanna read XD, one more question, is there any exploration in this game? or just battles?
No exploration, just battles. I guess the most you can get out of "exploration" would be trying to find items hidden under the tiles, using treasure hunter (Chemist movement ability). @Cilo I believe they took those out, unfortunately.
There are side quests found in taverns as Errands. In theory they're exploration but in reality you send away few guys and wait for them to do stuff and then read the report. I would suggest for you to first skim through the tutorial, then play the game for a few battles or so and then read over the tutorial with some thought and after that either continue where you left or start a new game if you feel you've gone wrong. FFT has to be among the top most complicated rules console game. The zodiac signs and everything. Don't bother learning them by heart unless you really want to. Also you don't need the chart with you to see which is compatible with which; you can easily finish the game without bothering with that kind of stuff.
^ agreed. the zodiac chart is just for extra stuff if you want to go really indepth but you definitely don't need to pay attention to it.. I know i don't lol man, time flies when i play this game, now it has up to 16 hours =O where has my life gone??? lol
Stealing in game Hi guys. Possible spoilers. Deals with stealing near the end of the game. Spoiler I'm in chapter four. At the point where I'm trying to steal the genii equipment from elmdor. Does anyone know if it's even possible to steal the masamune or genii gear in the iPhone version? There isn't a percentage chance to steal, and whenever I try to steal, all attempts are blocked. I was told in the psp version, items not possible to steal were available through multiplayer. If none of the genji gear is possible to steal in the iPhone version, it makes me wonder if they are attainable in game, considering the lack of multiplayer... Thanks!
God, Entering my 10th hour, still on chapter one! this really is an excellent game, feels good to take it slow and the "grind" is very enjoyable.
I've had some parts of the Genji gear as rewards from fights. Have you checked if Elmdor has an ability called Safeguard that prevents stealing. Usually if you don't get percentage chance then it's not possible.
After many painful turns trying to level my arithmatician(s), I finally all spells action spells learnt. At first it was annoying having to go through so many options to try and find the best one to cast as much as possible with as little collateral damage, but especially on levels in which the enemy starts off at a different level, you can destroy them in a single turn. Definitely the most boring and hardest job to level due to its incredibly slow speed, but without a doubt(apart from the annoying menu's) the best job to have with a magic user.
Game Impressions AMAZING!!!! I just made it to Chapter 4. Never grinded so far (I did any 'zone' just 1 time except main story ones) but I wish I did a bit before. My problem is that after maxing out Ramza and some else as a Knight I do not like a lot the other Jobs (even if they have nice skills), but I must admit that without auto-potion and MANY dozens of X-Potions I would never made it. Chapter 3 ending was a REAL NIGHTMARE to me, probably I missed something HUGE in the game because it was really hard for my (probably wrong) party, took me 1 good day of planning and retrying, but I finally made it with a bit of luck (I was out of potions for the entire last part...do not ask...) There are probably many Job combinations that make that part easy, but for me it was semi impossibile before finding the right tactics (and much luck). Fortunately I have the habit to progressivly save my games in order, and I really advice everyone to do so, because if I didn't I'll probably already have throw my iPhone away. HANDS DOWN the best game I played in many years (it has really been years I didn't put so many hours in a game and still wanting to go on, usually after 8 hours in I got bored recently), probably one of the best overall. I LOVE the convience of being able to play in ONE SECOND (extracting the phone from my pocket time included), and after almost 40 hours I have to say the interface is really perfect being it a port of a heavy menus game. If you love historic fantasy, deep RPGs, are not scared by many hours of great gameplay and an amazing story and pace, feel lucky not to have the slowdown issues many have....buy it and forget your life. After all these many hours, I'm really puzzled by the reviews of the iOS game...really, in this category there is nothing that even compares to it.
What do you mean you progressively save your games in order? Just wondering how everyone else is making the most out of their multiple save slots.
Belive me. I know several friends that played the game on their PSP and always saved on the same slot....they never finished the game. I simply save everytime I finish a battle, equip, assign skill, before departing...using every slot available and then re-starting from the first one. There are 15 or 20 slots so if you feel weak or missing something you can always roll back a bit (usually on a town). I suppose everyone do the same, but I felt useful repeat that...you never know.
