Final Fantasy XIII

If there’s one thing nerds love to do, it’s argue about our favorite things and which one is better. SNES or Genesis? Batman or Superman? Mike or Joel? Amongst the myriad of geeky topics than can spur internet flamewars, there’s a particularly contentious one: which Final Fantasy game is the best?

Anyone who has attempted to engage in such a debate has discovered something: your favorite FF game is somebody else’s least favorite FF game – and oftentimes for the very same exact reasons that you love it. With that in mind, we’ve set out to settle the debate once and for all. We’ve taken a long, hard look at all the mainline, numbered FF games – no spinoffs, no direct sequels ala X-2 – and have decided to end all arguments once and for all by describing why each and every one is simultaneously both the best and the worst Final Fantasy game ever. In the face of such irrefutable evidence, all arguments are certain to cease now and forevermore… right?

Looking for categories like Best PSP Driving Game? Greatest Achievement in Control Layout, Artistic? Eastern European Developer Most Worth Watching in 2011? Then our end-of-year awards might not be for you.

GamesRadar's Platinum Chalices are different. We're not interested in checking off a massively tedious list of genres, platforms and technical subdivisions… we'd much rather focus on the stuff that makes this hobby, you know, fun. And reward whichever games delivered the most of that stuff.

So if you're looking for the best fan service, most satisfying gore or greatest achievement in old-school kickassery in 2010, you've definitely come to the right celebration. Let's get it started…

How often do you examine videogame logos? Not regularly, we’d suspect, as there’s not a lot to look at beyond letters and possibly an emblem. But in the case of Final Fantasy, each logo has a distinct message to convey, and with XIII fresh in our minds and XIV on the horizon, we figured it was time to go through all the info tucked away in each game’s logo...

 
Above: lonlonjp does classy acoustic guitar covers of great JRPG songs. He recently posted his 200th video

You’ve probably never heard of lonlonjp. But this YouTube user has posted tons of videos of him performing glorious guitar covers of some of our favorite videogame songs of all time. In fact, he’s just posted his 200th video. That’s why we wanted to take some time to congratulate lonlonjp on his recent milestone and to thank him for his contributions to the videogame music scene…

This week's episode contains Cundy, Meiks, Nathan and an uninvited bodily function. They cover such choice subjects like whether a developer's name sounds a little bit like a gentleman's part, your answers to Question of the Week and even play more than one (read: two) voice message left on the GamesRadar Hotline. You'd be an eejit not to listen to it now. Honestly, is that something you can live with - being an eejit? Oh, it is? As you were then.

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TalkRadar UK episode #36

While playing a bit of Spirit Tracks I bumped into a tiny old man named Niko, who’s apparently been a part of Link and Zelda’s watery quests since the Wind Waker days. After that revelation shook its way through my bones, I realized, oh hey, his name’s Niko… as in Niko Bellic!

26 more cases of "Oh, that's interesting" inside!

An oddball standout among FFXIII's 80+ stellar tracks, "Pulse de Chocobo" will get your ass moving!

There are few videogame franchises that have as rabid a fanbase as Final Fantasy. Stretching all the way back to the series’ NES debut, the intense love FF fans have shown the series has made its title increasingly oxymoronic over the years. But you know what? We’re not here to love your favorite game. No, we're here to hate.

Wait. It's not as boring as it sounds. We've taken half-a-dozen video game franchises and turned them into frankly awesome spin-off products that we would absolutely definitely buy. Who wouldn't want to have a jar of NBA Jam on their breakfast table in the morning? It makes perfect sense.

Ungames, God of War III exalted, Final Fantasy XIII defended and Pokemon HeartGold / SoulSilver gets done a prfoundly goofy disservice