[quote name='Lord_Kefka']Great point. It seems to be a common psychological hook to remember earlier experiences (especially new ones which moved you or introduced you to something you continue to enjoy in years ahead) as being "better". Favorite places you ate in your old hometown, the first sports hero, places you used to visit with family.
For me, Final Fantasy VI holds up to the test. Technology and innovation does date the game more and more as years past, but the base enjoyment holds up. In my opinion, any entertainment medium which draws my attention has to tell a good story. Movies, books, games. I've been playing games since Atari 2600 and NES (I'm pushing 30), so I had already played Final Fantasy I, FF2 (really FFVIV) and the Dragon Warrior games on NES. And games were just games. Good guys, bad guys, stories that don't challenge you. FFVI (known as 3 back then) was one of the first games that I recall that challenged these standards. Deep characterization of individual stories of redemption, despair, love and loss. The mid-point of the game includes the unthinkable (at the time) of the villain winning and tearing the world asunder. The music was powerful, timely, and matched the individual characters persona. I would involuntarily curl my lip in anger hearing Kefka's music for years. Games became more to me that day, they meant something different.
So I guess in a way, it was the "first" since it was the first to affect me emotionally. Other games (outside of Final Fantasy) have done that since then, but this game probably will forever hold that spot like a first love.
And then this made me laugh. Childhood was FFX? Oh man....I'm feeling older every time I come to this site.[/QUOTE]
I totally agree. Final Fantasy VI still holds up for me better than any other game in the series. I like the graphics, I love the music, and I adore the story; which is more than I can say for most other Final Fantasies, especially after they've aged half a decade. I find the game world, dotted with it's many victorian-industrial towns and cities, very endearing as well. It also carries with it, a darker, more ominous and earthy vibe than any Final Fantasy prior. It always felt like there was something big and/or bad about to go down and the music was very indicative of this; allowing you to build a deep sense of dread.
*Final Fantasy VI SPOILERS Below*
And there are some moments within the game that really stick out... I mean, who could forget the opera scene, the departure of Cyan's family (was so
ing heartbreaking), the first flight into Vector amidst the scorched sky, when Terra goes berserk and lands in Zozo, the world's end at the hands of Kefka, Celes' attempt to save Cid's life, the choice of whether or not to leave Shadow behind or wait for him, or how about the orphan village and Terra's plight agains Phunbaba.
I played that game to the point where I started having dreams about it; I miss those days.