Is it just that I'm playing it 11 years later or....

I would say in all ways. :nod:

Panzer Dragoon Saga transcends the genre though.

 

well not in all, especially not in sales :'(

 

I love FF9. FF7 was good but I played it after FF9. Better graphics, better fight scenes IMO, and overall great character design. Not so dramatic, too.

 

I played both, FFVII and PDSaga when they were relatively fresh. I re-played through FF7 later on the PC (enjoying the 3DFX-smoothened graphics and laughing at the pitiful soundtrack of the Playstation - the game uses midi sound for music and I had real Roland and Ensoniq soundcards in my PC at that time) and I also re-visited PDSaga in the form of PD Azel with a friend who was learning japanese at the time.

I must say, although both games can´t really be compared, FF7 wins in almost all aspects. Saga had the more interesting combat system, but that was about it. The landscape was empty and void, it felt lifeless, dull, boring. The FMV sequences were horrid, the design of the models uninspired and the textures just bad.
In contrast, Square really blew you out of the water with the intro sequence alone. The transition threw you right into the game and it kept you on your toes for the first few minutes, essentially this was what sold the game to most people. The calmer sequences later on allowed for some character development, plus it was really up to you how much time you wanted to invest in the game. I printed out a complete walkthrough with monster guide back then, 400 A4 pages...

PDSaga was a little bit like Shadow of the colossus to me. A zen-like experience, a great storyline, but the game itself felt sluggish and made it feel like you worked your way through it so you could just get another hint how the story evolved. For me, the gameplay got in the way of the storyline, which made it altogether not a great gaming experience.

FF7 had its lengths, too. But you already were on disc 3 before it got really tedious, plus there was always stuff to explore that you hadn´t seen before. And the battles were (at the time) just awesomefrickincool! Bahamut Zero was a BLAST! (no pun intended). The only problem was, that sometimes all that coolness could get in the way of reaching a sub-goal. Note to myself: Never equip heavy-artillery-materia as a counter-spell when you are on a time-critical mission... you sit and stare helpless at your enemies dissolving while the timer ticks to zero...

And now, I´m going to go back and play some more Oblivion. Damn great game, still one of the best looking there is, and it´s so immersive (even more so with some mods).

 

Ok I was wrong

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy_VI#Interactive_CG_Game

I started Playing FF6 yesterday and it's waaaaaaaaaay better than VII in every way.

Is the Main Character Terra or is pretty much everyone the Main Character?

 

How in the hell does PDSaga get tedious? You can beat the game in like, 8 hours.

And if you understand PDSaga's story (which, very few people ever really get it), then I can assure you, PDSaga is far deeper and well thought out than FF7 could ever hope to be.


GodofHardcore,
Pretty much all the characters share the spotlight in FFVI. Which is part of why its so much more awesome than FFVII.

 

I don't know. For me, that is what made it second to FFIV. FFVI has a pretty well defined main character for the first half of the story, but after the "pivotal event" (no spoilers for the uninitiated) in the game, there is little direction with the characters and no character really ascends into the main slot. Sure, there are opportunities for backstory, but that doesn't help the "main" problem.

 

I disagree. It is a good and unique RPG, the best on the Saturn, but that is not saying much. It is overly rated thanks to rarity.

 

PDSaga is pricey, but it isn't "rare". I doubt there's been any point in time where you haven't been able to easily find one on Ebay or damn near any other site.

Now... Mizubaku Adventure, Blast Wind, and Crows: The Battle Action for Sega Saturn... THOSE are rare. :nod:

 

Ok, instead of rare, allow me to say "Released in limited quantities and thus highly sort after and expensive"

 

I own both games Taucias, and I can confirm that PDZ was an amazing experience. It trully engaged me.

 

Sounds like everything Working Designs has ever released.

I kinda think the term "Rare" varies for some gamers. WD games aren't really "Rare" but they are expensive. Well, they might be rare since you can't find them at Game stores, but that applies to a crapload of other games that are 2+ generations old.

BTW....GoH, I can't BELIEVE you spent $80 for FF7. I haven't looked for it on Ebay as of late, but that seems stupidly expensive. I paid less money for freaking Valkyrie Profile. And I was lucky, I found it in a store, used, in pretty good condition. The original PS1 version.

Lord knows how expensive it is now.

 

FFVI's main character is the story itself. and that makes it GREAT.