Wark Digest #188 - Your Favourite Final Fantasy

Welcome back to the Wark Digest, your weekly newsletter of new developments and historical insights from the Final Fantasy universe. I’m Chris, aka Hoogathy, and this week, as the holidays draw to a close, I turn the quill toward you, our awesome community. I asked our readers and the members of our Discord server: what is your favourite Final Fantasy? Join us for a moment of reflection and celebration.

This week’s newsletter is 3050 words, a 14-minute read.

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“First was XII, but my favourite (as in I have the fondest memories of) was Final Fantasy VI. It overall felt like a refinement of the serious 2D style with a hint of a goofier world. And for me at least, sometimes the lack of overt characterization with more subtle storytelling via gameplay goes a long way in terms of my immersion into the world. For example I played that game as Celes as the main point of view character (even before the second half) and I assume many people’s experience playing though the game differ as well.”
~ RuneRelations

“It has to be Final Fantasy VII for me. My first FF, the one that started a love that lasts to this day. It was the first game I got on the PS1, and everything from the graphics to the story were worlds above anything I'd encountered before. The soundtrack is phenomenal and fits perfectly. The characters made me love every single one of them, and feel their stories—from the sting of Cait’s betrayal and subsequent attempts at redemption, to Yuffie’s anger at the fall of Wutai, to Barret’s internal feelings of anger that he couldn't save his loved ones in Corel. To this day I love playing the game, and play it every year, and it remains my favourite game of all time.”
~ Reth

“My favourite game in the series is Final Fantasy VIII. I've lost count of the number of times I've played it and I've watched a fair few LPs, too, but it can still surprise me. It helped me through a really hard time—slicing up big ugly monsters with a huge sword is a great stress-reliever! I enjoy its constant twists and turns, its symmetries, and its secrets. The Drawing and Junctioning system was really interesting to me when set against the Materia system from FFVII (the only other FF I'd played at the time). And I even enjoy the plot holes you could ride a chocobo through, because they really inspired me as a fanficcer! The OST is so beautiful and I still listen to it a lot (it's great 'white noise' when I'm writing minutes—I write a LOT of minutes). I found Squall rather annoying at first but now I can see how he grows and develops. I would love to see a remake—not a 'fix' of the OG but the game the devs wanted to make, with the larger role for Laguna and any of the other ideas that ended up on the cutting-room floor.“
~ Rose

“It can be a close race, but my favourite has been Final Fantasy VIII for the past 25 years. I discovered FFVII a few months before FFVIII came out and remember tracking the preview hype in each new monthly issue of PlayStation Magazine, playing the demo, and staring at the full-page ads. My brother picked it up for us, and that first trip through its story is still engraved on my mind whenever I replay the game today. Though the story has its flaws, I loved the customization of the Junction system, jamming R1 for the gunblade trigger, all the epic set piece moments, and its cast. Dusting it off for a replay feels like a pilgrimage, flexing old muscles, and a trip back to a great time in my life.“
~ Chris

“If my username didn't give it away, my favourite is Final Fantasy VIII. I think it holds that special place for me for a number of reasons, but the highest and most inescapable of those is the nostalgia that comes from a story hitting you at just the right time in life.
VIII came out for me while I was in the first year of secondary school. I've always been a very introspective, shy person who probably gives an air of aloofness and wanting to be left alone, but truthfully that aspect of myself has always come from a fear of losing important things in life. This is all to say that when I played through FFVIII and went on this journey with Squall, I found myself relating to him in a way I don't think I even had to a fictional character before. I saw my weaknesses through his lens but also how they could be molded into my own strengths without pretending to be someone I'm not.
The story showed me that it's always alright to be me, and that real friendship, real family (blood or not) and real love are worth everything in life, and that it's ok if most of the world doesn't get you as long as those people that matter do.
(Also on a less personal note, the soundtrack is still a masterpiece and “Fisherman's Horizon” will probably never be topped as my favourite piece in all of FF. I always turn to it when I need to find a moment of peace.)“
~ squall9930

“I love everything about Final Fantasy IX. Characters, setting, story, combat, to me not a single thing falls short. I think some aspects have flaws, but they don't significantly detract from the experience in my opinion.“
~ Boko Makoko

“I remember getting my mum to buy me Final Fantasy IX on a family trip out as an 8-year-old. I had already got well into FFVII and FFVIII, but before the internet and the like I didn't know IX was coming out, so when I saw I knew I needed it there and then. But of course we were on a family trip out, so I had to wait HOURS before we finally went home and I could play it.
FFIX just instantly won me over and has been my favourite ever since—because it has ‘heart’ and ‘charm,’ the fairytale-esque story and the art style makes it feel timeless and heart-warming. The whimsey of it coupled with the deep, thoughtful, personal stories of the characters—the reason for life, purpose of living, the meaning of friendship. It's just such a great tale. The playable cast (particularly Vivi of course) and all the supporting NPC cast help make that world feel alive. And the love letter to classic FFs that it is.
And that's to say nothing of the gameplay which, albeit a little slow compared to others these days, was a perfectly solid use of ATB and made each character have their own role and purpose. The ability mastery system with equipment was inspired. Then the mini-games, ATEs and more. It's just ‘fun’ to play and experience.
And the music... Uematsu's best, he put his heart and into it and every single track is just sublime and further helps capture the essence of the story and world. With that in mind, FFIX is my (joint) favourite with FFVII.”
~ aeonlord92

“IX! Nine! 9! I love Final Fantasy IX for its characters and setting. Look at all the depth on the loading screen portraits. ‘I do what I want, you have problem?’ So many of the characters get time to show off how layered they are. Not everybody but a good chunk. Vivi and Zidane's existential dilemmas. Garnet struggling to save her kingdom, experiencing so much trauma she goes mute. Freya and her loyalty to her kingdom. Steiner’s loyalty to the crown being pushed to the breaking point. I love the rustic charm of the planet. Such memorable characters.
Also the abilities learned via weapons is a nice touch, and I'm glad they brought it back in FFVII Rebirth.“
~ DiligentDodo

“Final Fantasy IX has always and will always be my favorite Final Fantasy. Now, as I have finished replaying and finishing all mainline entries, is it even more prominent. It touches on all the amazing things of games previous—from soundtracks, to moments, and so on—while also standing on its own with an incredible story of people coming to terms with who they are. The inward focus of finding oneself while also going on a massive journey, is something that everyone in reality struggles with. I struggle with my own self and feelings of others around me. The game just solidifies and makes me happy to exist in a world of so many copies.“
~ Narufinal

“My favorite game in the series is Final Fantasy X. I think it had some of the best music in the series which sends chills down my spine even today. The Sphere Grid as a leveling system was unique and terrifically fun to navigate and build upon. While I love so many characters throughout the series, I feel that FFX in particular had a standout ensemble of party members who went together very well. Sin is unlike any other boss we have seen elsewhere in the series and felt monolithic, like an unbeatable foe and imposing force of nature. Blitzball was a fun ongoing side-game and at the same time symbolic of how the people of this world were trying to find temporary light and joy in otherwise dark times. Finally, I don't recall any other game in the series having quite the variety of terrain from island beaches, the Thunder Plains, the Moon Flow, Guadosalam, Luca, Zanarkand Ruins, Macalania, and Mount Gagazet.“
~ Edowin (via Substack)

“Obviously [by my screen name], my favourite is Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age. I love the freedom that comes with all the amazing sidequests and exploration, the world building, the gambits, and the dialogue (especially from all the Archadians). The mob hunt is awesome due to not only having many unique encounters, but unique stories to them as well. Also Balthier.
I have a whole favorite FF list on my PSN profile because there’s so much I like about many games, for different reasons. Final Fantasy XV (Royal), for example, is my comfort game. Hanging out with the boys feels so authentic. I'll cheat and throw in Kingdom Hearts 2 FM as 3rd place.“
~ Vayne Solidor

“The thing about Final Fantasy XIV is that it's been there for me. I first started playing it almost thirteen years ago. I haven't stopped since. In the intervening time, I've called many places home (I've lived in five cities in four states since I started playing it), but Eorzea has been there to provide much-needed stability through all of it. I'm also a roleplayer who's managed to be a part of some pretty amazing stories that the community created. My involvement with the game's fandom has had a notable impact on my life for the better, and it brought me to the great love of my life. That's not even getting into the actual game itself, which features some of the most beautiful stories, the most admirable heroes, the most abhorrent villains, and gameplay that has kind of never been broken and thus never needed fixing.
Also, this one time at the first Fan Festival, Naoki Yoshida gave me one of the strongest high-fives I've ever received. Damn near blew me off my feet.“
~ Agwhaan

“My favorite would be Final Fantasy Tactics. Not only because I enjoy it so much and in so many ways, but because it taught me the importance of being able to see and fight for the right cause no matter the personal cost, even if I have to do it alone. Tactics was the primary inspiration which helped me successfully defend, protect and advocate for people in need who would have otherwise been alone in their fight.“
~ Gregoroth Durai

“Being a Kingdom Hearts fan, I was funneled into the FF pipeline via Cloud and Sephiroth, but FFVII is not my answer, as much as I love Crisis Core and the emotional impact it left on me. It was the first Dissidia Final Fantasy, released in 2008 and played on a bus ride home, that really got me started in the bigger world of Final Fantasy, and is probably the only really legitimate answer I can give.
Between the rearrangements of the best pieces from each game, the smaller windows into each world in the main series (only 1-12 at the time,) the fast paced, reactive combat, and the crossover dynamics I had already experienced in Kingdom Hearts, Dissidia won me over by the time I got off the bus. It was an excellent introduction into a much bigger series than what I saw from KH, and it fostered a love for most of the main series I fear I wouldn't have gotten had I just started on a specific number. Dissidia Duodecim only improved the game, with more characters to learn about and more stories to enjoy, however piecemeal.“
~ Rosie

“My first was Final Fantasy Tactics, a game that I've learned to enjoy with time, because when I first played it I was too young and too naïve to worldy matters to truly appreciate the greatness of that game. Tactics, however, is not my fave FF.

When I first learned about Final Fantasy XIV, I was curiously 14 years old myself. I wasn't interested in it because at that time I was already exploring FFXI and I would soon replace it with another Square MMO, Dragon Quest X. I learned of its catastrophic downfall, and also of its miraculous rebirth. And it wasn't until Heavensward that I started to eye it out, lured by the increasing quality of its soundtrack. Time passed and in 2017, at the beginning of the worst chapter of my life, I downloaded and started the Free Trial (which then stopped at level 35). I think it was what I needed at the time. Eorzea swallowed me and I let myself be swallowed as a way to distract myself from my growing misery and deteriorating mental state. I played at irregular intervals, enjoying the seasonal events and slowly threading through A Realm Reborn and Heavensward.
Then, the pandemic came, and that awarded me more time to catch up. However, I was already undone by that point. Drowning deep in depression, all my IRL bonds wounded and with my body creating a nasty surprise I wouldn't learn of until later. The game taught me lessons, made me appreciate relationships with close ones and the world, and laid the foundations for a new version of me, if only I could brave myself and crawl out of the sinkhole I was in. But I couldn't, I was too far gone and the ugly surprise my body generated took me directly to the hospital. Darkness won.

But I was also reborn, what didn't kill me made me stronger. I was traversing Shadowbringers before the incident, and like Novrandt, I was also saved from a most miserable fate. Resilience was my prize for winning the duel against Death. Throughout my recovery I started to gradually mend all that was either broken or deteriorated by the foul illness that is depression.

Shadowbringers taught me that everything has an answer, everything has a solution except death. That we shouldn't let the evil win, and that evil can come in many forms—some physical, some not, some cloaked as good, some obviously not. The lessons didn't stop there, for Endwalker came and taught me to hope. For a better future, for a better world, for better bonds. It also taught me that kindness is rewarding, and how to reinforce bonds with other people. And the journey is unending, as we recently received Dawntrail. The lessons continue.

I can proudly say that Final Fantasy XIV is my favorite Final Fantasy. For all that it has given me, for all that it will give me and for all the obstacles we surpassed. I am a human reborn and this game is home.“
~ Eco

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Around the Union

Check out the previous installments in our reader-focused series here:
2023’s Your Favourite Final Fantasy Characters
2022’s What Final Fantasy Means To You

Thank you to everyone who sent in their answers! And thanks as well to all of you, our readers old and new, for supporting Final Fantasy Union and the Wark Digest! I’m humbled and forever grateful to be part of this enterprise, analyzing and celebrating (and unfortunately, yes, also sometimes criticizing) this series that I love, which—judging by the submissions we get for this issue every year—means the world to so many of you as well.

Happy New Year to you and yours, on behalf of myself, Darryl, Lauren, and our awesome team of writers and editors who create our videos. We wish you all the luck and good fortune for the year ahead.

Next week we’ll truly kick 2025 into gear with our annual “the year behind, and the year ahead” issue, looking back on the highs and lows of 2024 and charting the known course through the new year. In the meantime, have you checked out the latest issue of our second, premium newsletter, the Kupo Chronicle? We observed the series’ birthday this year by breaking down the original game into its mythological components, and building a “hero’s journey” template for all the games that followed. Check it out below:

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