Final Fantasy is one of the most enduringly popular games in the history of video gaming. 2006's Final Fantasy XII, the last PlayStation 2 entry in the series, set a record for most copies shipped to retail on release. The series has struck a chord with fans the world over, by providing engrossing gameplay against a backdrop of astounding drama - for over 20 years.
But which game in the series is the ultimate? Which entry has the best main character, the best villain, the best music or the
At last, we'll decide which FF delivered in the best possible ways. Some games get one thing totally right but then falter elsewhere - we'll lay down the law by saying which reigns supreme. Are you ready?
5. Final Fantasy V
Thanks to a recent re-release on the GBA, this game may finally get the respect it deserves in the US. Though it has one of the weakest stories in the entire series, particularly sandwiched between the melodramatic IV and VI, the gameplay is among the best. The Job System
As we near the end of our weeklong countdown, it's time to look at one of the biggest parts of any Final Fantasy - the music. Each game in the series features an astonishing number of quality tracks, from burning guitar rock, to tear-jerking ballad, to rave-friendly electronica. There's probably no other game series in the world that's had as many full-blown concerts in its honor, be they garage bands cranking out angsty riffs or a legitimate orchestra performing for a crowd of thousands. But
Grand Theft Auto. A game series synonymous with death, drugs, carjacking, prostitution, sleaze, ultraviolence, sex and controversy. The tabloids would have you believe that simply playing the game will turn you into some kind of sick, perverted monster... who can barely swim.
We say: look again. There are many reasons why GTA can not only be harmless (when played by responsible adults as the Mature rating implies, we will say that), but can even help you become a better person. Don't believe
Being a serious fan means one thing: Dressing like a fool and parading around in public. To make sure your fellow cosplayers are laughing with you and not at you, heed our advice with our do's and don'ts to dressing like a Star Wars character.
DO
Try to find someone in the Star Wars universe that you actually look like. If you don't look like anyone, be Darth Vader and wear a helmet. Let this guy below with the specs and the goatee act as a warning. He thinks: I look like Anakin. We think:
With each new Final Fantasy, a tweaked battle system is revealed. Here, we consider how much each affected the series' gameplay as a whole. When most people think RPG, they think turn-based menu surfing. Final Fantasy IV finally got it right - but later games added on to it. We don't stop there - we also take into account the supporting gameplay systems that directly affect your fighting style.
5. Final Fantasy VII
The game that brought RPGs to the masses did so with a very clever evolution
The history of PS2 Star Wars games is a turbulent one. Let GamesRadar be your tracking computer in this trench of occasional gaming excrement, guiding you through the good titles and the bad ones.
First, the good:
Star Wars: Battlefront (2004) - PS2
Combining fast-paced, large-scale combat with a thin slither of strategy, Battlefront was the game that single-handedly proved that Star Wars videogames didnt have to suck. Admittedly, it worked better as an online multiplayer game - or at least,
Yesterday we decided, once and for all, who was the best Final Fantasy hero. Today we're going to have a bit more fun and sift through the oceans of bodies and broken realms to determine the baddest villain in the series' history. We're not necessarily gunning for the final boss though - they have a tendency to come out of left field. No, we're considering which character causes the most trouble throughout the quest, how much damage he inflicted and the scope of his crimes.
5. Kefka (Final
The central character of any game defines it. It goes double for Final Fantasy. Some characters blend compelling personalities with a tale of personal growth; some simply fade into the background and let a grand adventure take place around them. Obviously, nobody from the second category is going to make this list. No, it's a place only for the most dashing, the most troubled, the most likable of Final Fantasy leads. Away we go.
5. Squall Leonhart (Final Fantasy VIII)
No hero in the history
Today we're in an especially giving mood. Why all the love, you may ask? Well, publisher THQ just had one of them Gamer's Days where entirely too much info was divulged about the games you'll want to play in the next few months. Our crack-team of journalists were deployed to the frontlines to bring you, our dear readers, the best coverage possible from this event. How does the recently announced Conan action game look? Do the fiery daredevil feats of Stuntman: Ignition get your blood
