Characters I'll remember for years (up there with Xenogears and FFVII)
596348
It makes me so sad when I see the low price, and hear that this game hasn't sold as many units as expected. I just don't get it, because "Enslaved" honestly has so much going for it: incredible graphics depicting an original and entrancing world; great gameplay containing simple, satisfying fights and varied, fast-paced platforming; a great setting and story filled with danger, thrills, pain, and friendship; but most importantly, affecting characters that you'll remember for years.

I finished the game a week ago and I just can't stop thinking about Trip and Monkey, especially Trip. As the female counterpart to your character Monkey, you develop an incredible bond with her, since you are her protector. She is of course designed to be beautiful and embody the "damsel in distress," but the developers also imbued her with intelligence, compassion, and a longing for companionship, all of which eventually penetrates Monkey's shell. Just as important, though, you bond with her because of the amazing, authentic performance of Lindsey Shaw, the actress who plays her, as she makes it all so real. The voice-acting and motion-capture animation (which captured the actors' facial expressions perfectly), combined with a fantastic script, create so many moments between Monkey and Trip, both tense and quiet, that I just can't stop thinking about them.

This ranks up there with Xenogears and Final Fantasy VII as having the most memorable characters I've ever come across. The developer of the game, Ninja Theory, deserves all the praise it has been getting. I really hope there is a sequel, but either way I will definitely be on the look-out for any other game Ninja Theory comes out with (they were hired by Capcom to do a re-boot of the "Devil May Cry" series).

---------
Addendum: To quickly touch upon the other aspects of the game, I'll simply say that everything fits together well.
--Fighting: Boss battles, in particular, are impressive for being inventive, tense and fun, but most importantly plausible - the developers deserve a lot of kudos for accomplishing this without making them huge, overblown spectacles.
--Pacing: The world they have created is also 100% believable, even without much of anything in the way of explanation - the characters are dumped in this post-apocalyptic world, and you are simply pulled forward by the great pacing of the game, with equal measures of fighting, platforming, and character development.
--Character development: While a lot of the character development is done through cut scenes, plenty of it is also interwoven brilliantly into the fighting and platforming, usually with you saving Trip, or Trip saving you.
2234538
I've been a Final Fantasy fan since I was 8 years old and my mother's boyfriend introduced me to first one on NES. Since then I've played every iteration and remake that has come out.

I was hesitant at first about playing FFXIV because of the initial launch and the idea that the things that made Final Fantasy such a great single player game couldn't be translated into a MMO. Fortunately I was mistaken and after purchasing the base game during a humble bundle sale I was hooked. I had an Amazon gift card I needed to use so I found this game card that I could use to continue my journey in Eorzia.

The code for the card was available instantly after ordering and I had no trouble entering into the Square Enix website.

If you play FFXIV and want an easy way to add more time, or if you know someone who plays it and want to make their life a little brighter this is a great way to do it.
3812956
Personally, this is my absolute favorite Final Fantasy game. I love the characters, the story, the gameplay, everything. I have played through this game so many times and every time I do, I learn something new.
467475
I loved this game so much its hard to stop playing it!  Definitely one of my favorite  FF titles.  The story was put together well.  After you beat it and the credits roll, you see how cloud became the main character in FFVII.  Overall, the battle scenes were great.  be prepared to mash the same button over and over again.  it is better than having to wait your turn though.  camera angles are not the best but not terrible either.  Great story, good voice overs for the characters.  I didn't like the way the summons were used.  its more like a slot machine and you don't get to pick which one and use it whenever you want.  The graphics were beyond brilliant.  You will not be let down there.  The short movies are very attention grabbing.  The power surges you can get during battle are AWESOME! your character can get way beyond the max energy level.  The side missions were a bit random, but was a great way to power up your character early.

overall, i was very impressed with this game.  a friend of mine brought it to work and i played it on break.  that was a bad move cause i needed more than 30 mins.  its easy to get wrapped up in this one.  loved it so much i went out and got my own psp so i can play it.  if you are any kind of FF fan, this is a must have for you collection!
3158955
I had to pick this one up just so I could display it along the Power Suit version that was released a few years ago, however, I ended up liking her a lot more than I was expecting!

Samus Aran is one of my favorite video game heroines and Super Metroid is still one of my top 10 games of all time, so as a long time fan I had to complete the set.

Recently I reviewed her in detail on my YouTube channel (Avelier Plays), if anyone is interested.
1490565
Final Fantasy IX is definitely my favorite game on the ps1. I grew up playing the game and coming across the game while looking through my old pile of cds has brought me back to the good times. I am currently playing the game on a hdtv with a hdmi input, which is not the best setup for this game. The ps3 emulator has a smoothing option, but the images are definitely not as sharp as I remembered them to be on the ps1. Playing this game on the ps1 with a standard definition tv is the best setup out there.

In order to play this game on the ps3 without frustration, you have to lower the resolution and you must also create an internal memory card before any ps1 or ps2 game can be saved onto the harddrive. And you must turn smoothing on or else the pixelation gets unbearable. Also don't make the image fullscreen because the game was not designed with 16:9 on mind.

I think some of the 10-year-old reviews on Amazon do this game justice. It has a compelling story and great controls. The retro feel of this game is simply amazing if you want to relive your childhood. The Final Fantasy series may be up to its 14th installment as of when this review is written, but the old ones are still the best. What is so special about Final Fantasy IX is that it is set in the past with characters using swords and magic, and kingdoms are battling one another. It is what I imagine when I think of a fantasy world.

You can wait until a PSN download of this game is available, which I do believe will happen, or you can buy a ps1 copy. If you already have a copy, but you don't know where it is, I suggest you to rummage around for one afternoon because it is so worth it. The game may be cartoonish to some people, but that is what makes it so appealing in an unexplicable way. I have moved on since the ps1 and have played many shooters on the ps3, but I will not hesitate to put aside those graphically superior games to play Final Fantasy IX.
1706747
What a great look back into the world of FF7.  Certainly squareenix did not anticipate just how successful FF7 would be, and it is fortunate that they had so much in the game that could be looked more deeply into.  Dirge of Cerberus I think didn't work because they were straying too far from the interesting material that was within the original game.  Crisis Core is obviously about Zack who contrasts Cloud in that he had natural talent, and Zack was the hometown boy that was a huge success that inspired people.  Shinra in this world is mildly military, and its an interesting aspect of the world in this game.  We see the young and eager Zack mature and take the lessons from his predecessors and try to be the guy who leads by example.  Obviously the game goes where you expect if you've played FF7 (or watched it on YouTube) and naturally the big question those of us I knew who played it was "Then what happened?" and I think the game did an amazing job handling that.  The ending was a little disappointing in that the loose end they intentionally leave hasn't been, and probably won't ever be used, so why did they bother?
738085
I LOVED this game!

I remember playing the original Dragon Warrior back on the NES and it's amazing that this series has lasted so long.  All the familiar characters are there from drakees to wyverns to golems, and of course slimes.

The game allows you to use your Wii remote as your sword and shield, using slashing and stabbing motions to fight all the monsters of Avalonia.  It takes about 1 day to get your aim down, but once you learn to use the targeting feature, it's easy.

All in all, I spent about 40 hours beating the first version of the game (there's a 2nd version you can play after you defeat Xiphos) which made this game a great value in my opinion.

Can't wait for the next installment in this series!
481908
For those who grew up in the late eighties and early nineties, the Mega Man series on the NES was synonymous with the very concept of video gaming. Mega Man is an icon from the early years of the modern age of gaming, and is as famous and beloved as even the most revered video game idol of that era. Of course, the Mega Man name has continued to this day in various equally awesome forms (heck, in recent years, we've even gotten the incredible retro 8-bit sequels to the original series in the forms of 9 and 10!). However, it all started here.

This collection contains Mega Man 1-8. One through six were on the Nintendo Entertainment System, 7 was a Super Nintendo title, and 8 was on the playstation. All of them are virtual platforming run-and-gun perfection. The classic, non-linear formula of choosing between eight robot masters, traversing their uniquely designed levels full of enemies and death traps, and then engaging in epic duels with said masters really has not aged a bit since its introduction nearly 25 years ago. The whole dynamic of getting a special attack for Mega Man's repitoire stolen from vanquished bosses and then using them against other bosses who are weak against specific weapons is so addicting and dynamic. It's amazing how well it has held up. These games are timeless. It's also interesting to see the progression of refinement of the series over its history. It is worth noting that this series earns its reputation for being hard as nails. It doesn't get a whole lot more hardcore than Mega Man, and the satisfaction you'll get from finally completing a task that took you multiple tries and lots of times practicing and memorizing patterns is truly exhilarating. In addition to the perfect gameplay, you also get the charming story behind Mega Man to entertain you, some genuinely classic art design that hearkens back to a classical era of anime entertainment, and the absolutely incredible soundtracks that turned the term "chiptunes" into an art form. Yes, this is an incredible package.

Also included are many bonuses such as concept art, interviews with the creators of Mega Man, and various other little additions. The Xbox version has the bonus content of both the Gamecube and PS2 version of the collection, making it the definitive one to get, if you don't mind the controller. It works pretty well, from my experience. You also get a turbo fire button, which is certainly helpful in certain situations in gameplay, if you don't mind breaking the "true classic" experience. Also included are two arcade fighting titles that have never really seen the light of day here. They're quite fun, recreating classic Mega Man boss battles with much higher graphical prowess than the NES could afford.

Some of my earliest gaming memories are of beating down the minions of the nefariousness Dr. Wily. This collection was a nostalgic dream-come-true for me, but in all honesty, these games have truly retained their freshness despite the obviously aged systems they were designed for. Personally, I find the 8-and-16-bit systems to be incredible charming today, so the sounds and visuals don't bother me a bit. What is amazing is that the gameplay is just as amazing as it was when Mega Man 2 came out and changed the gaming world forever, or when 3-6 refined and expanded that gameplay further, or when 7 made it a 16-bit series, or when 8 was able to utilize the power of optical media on the PSX in 1996. Mega Man is just a wonderful franchise in gaming. It encompasses the very spirit upon which gaming itself was founded, making it not only one of the greatest series in the golden age of video gaming, but of all-time. Buy this collection, transport yourself to the time of 20XX, and fight the epic battle of a young robot boy hero named Rock against the sinister evil of Dr. Wily.
4181069
I love it when companies re-release classic games on newer systems for those of us who grew up with them and like to walk down memory lane, and FF Chronicles collects 2 great games in one. I have many blissful memories of playing FF 4 (2 at the time) when I was much younger and it was newly released. My obsession with Final Fantasy started with number 1, and was established without doubt after playing 2. It is a phenomenal, albeit very dated game. The characters and storyline are among the best in FF history, and the gameplay (though straightforward) remains very fun. The graphics and sound of the game were top notch when released. The graphics remain very colorful and appealing even now, and the music is good if rather "cheap" sounding compared to modern games. I sometimes wish they would have spiffed these games up a bit (improving the instrumentation of the music, adding some bonus features, etc.), but I can also respect getting the games in their original form without alteration (except for the CG scenes, of course).

That is one area of major disappointment for me, the CG movies they added to FF 4. They exhibit the worst graphics I have ever seen on the PS1. A big disappointment, especially coming from the masters at Square. It looks like someone with no experience just threw them together at the last minute. I would rather they just not added them. Furthermore, I wish they could have maybe spliced them into the game instead of just having them at the beginning and end. That really misled me.

Still, a great, faithful remake of a wonderful game from the days of old.

I never played Chrono Trigger on the SNES, so it was a new experience for me, and I did wish once playing it that I had played it in my youth, as it is a phenomenal game that, although I enjoyed it, I would have appreciated much more when I was younger. Great graphics for the time, and about the best music I've ever heard in a video game. The story and game play really pull you in, and the world is one, like any great fictional place, where you find yourself wishing you could just become part of it.

Also, in contrast to FF 4, I really enjoyed the CG movies they added. They are in the anime style by the guy who did Dragonball Z, are spliced into the game at the appropriate parts,  and are really very good.

I am disappointed however, as many others on here have stated, that this game has painfully long load times that really decreased my enjoyment of the game. Every time you get into a battle or bring up the status screen, there is about a 3-5 second wait, which may not seem like a big deal, but believe me, it gets annoying real fast. Still, if you're patient, it is a good game.

I find myself wishing that they had released FF 3 on this compilation instead of Chrono Trigger, though. I mean, it is FF Chronicles. If they had put 3 on here, we could have had the entire FF series on the PS. As it is, 3 will likely never be available in a form I'm willing to acquire and play, and thus it will eternally remain a hole in my FF experience. If they had put FF 3 on here, maybe they could have done another 2 disc compilation with Chrono Trigger and Secret of Mana. Now that would have been awesome.

Sadly, I can only give this 4 stars overall, and thats me being realistic as opposed to overly nostalgic. They are both great, classic games, and I'm glad to have them, and I did enjoy them. But, this collection is flawed in several ways that just a little bit more work from Square could have prevented, and made this truly worthy of 5 stars.
3273734
Little changes sometimes go a long way.
Final Fantasy is the role-playing series that put Squaresoft on the map, and put Sony at the top of the console world.  There is a reason for this, the games are so much fun.  Like the former Final Fantasies, FFX puts the player in the lead of a group of motley characters as they embark on an epic story, one that usually deals with deceit, war, politics, and overcoming great evil.  This series is more focused than RPGs you find on your computer - freedom to choose your characters and path is replaced with a tight, emotionally engaging story that often takes you to amazing places and unbelievable circumstances.
New to the endless battles is the option to use any character in your party, with Active-time gauge to force your decision.  This allows battles to be more strategic and thus more engaging, and special skills like Mug and Green Magic, which I rarely used in past games, as now easily available in every battle.
The plot for this FF is the great, and most importantly, it refreshs the old repeatative themes of Final Fantasy and makes them seem new all over again, mainly by creating some wonderful characters.  These characters are my favorites of the whole  series, and came to life thru some great voice acting.  Much of the childish themes that really annoyed me in the earlier games have been replaced by some outstanding performances by older voice actors, and for the first time, some genuinely funny humor has been added to the game.
Most locations are 3D, although there are still a few flat picture backgrounds, but they don't distract too much.  The worldmap has been replaced by 3D "roads" for you to traverse.  I found this to be a pain, as it makes the game very linear compared to older FFs.  Side quests seemed kinda tame, although Blitzball is very fun, a mini-sports simulator, complete with franchize mode.
Overall, the best game on the Playstation 2.  Buy it today.
4756372
Final Fantasy XIII is probably the best Final Fantasy since the PS1 era, and probably since IV.  Main characters do not come across as inherently dislikable (I'm looking at you, Tidus...), and I really love several; Snow and Sazh in particular are really fun.  While "emo" characters are frequently causes for irritation amongst players, the only characters fitting that descriptor have good reason to be so, although I find the term itself to be outdated/overused.
Gameplay seems overwhelming/complicated at times, but it isn't hard to get the hang of it.  The game spreads out tutorials as you go, not overwhelming you with things all at once.  This has the problem, however, of keeping you from doing certain things for a while, like changing who is in your party, but it's not as much of a problem as it might be.  One major improvement from XII is that there isn't really any time needed for forced grinding; if you have trouble with a boss fight, you probably aren't using the right strategy.  In battle, you only control one person in your three person party.  As you battle, you can change your group dynamic with the "Paradigm" system; each character has various "roles" (classes) that you can place in sets that go together.  These Paradigms are basically what would happen if you mixed XII's Gambit system and X-2's Job system, and took a bunch of the big kinks out of them (especially regarding A.I.).  These roles vary between characters, as characters learn abilities at different times.  For example: Lightning starts out with the Commando (fighter) and Ravager (mage) roles.  She learns powerful abilities more quickly in Commando than most characters, while Sazh learns powerful Ravager abilities more quickly than Lightning.
I cannot recommend this game strongly enough to fans of the Final Fantasy series who are interested in a fresh change of pace in the series;  I wish I could spend more time talking about it, but I've probably gone on too long as it is.  Check it out, at least as a rental (you won't get very far; this game is FREAKING LONG!).
1631148
Disclaimer:  I have not completed the game yet.  Any reviews I have read specifically address issues with the later part of the game.  I'm only up to Chapter 3 as of yet and its fantastic.

I've been playing RPGs for over twenty years now.  My first was the original Final Fantasy for the NES.  This game offers fresh ways to play what is a long standing genre and yet brings back many fond memories.

There are plenty of other reviews of this game elsewhere, but for somebody that considers FF1, FF4 and FF6 to be the greatest games of all time I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful game.
4132833
I'm looking forward to playing these classic PS2 games again.  Just started a game and I got all warm and fuzzy with returning memories of the first time.
1256284
I'll make it brief. The game is by far the best Final Fantasy for the Playstation and the second best in the nine game series (fans will remember FF6). In honor of FF7, super attacks, called Trance, have been brought back. Basically if the enemy beats on you enough you become super powerful for about two or three turns. The music is absolutely beautiful. Nobuo did an excellant job. The graphics are nice eye-candy and are only rivaled by the beautiful CG animations. The characters are very innovative as well. You can have a black mage, a guy with a monkey tail (why does he have that anyway), or a big freaky-looking guy with red hair, to name three. Abilites and spells are gained from pieces of armor and weapons. The same piece of armor can also hold three different abilities for three different characters making it important to figure out who gets what when. Another good idea as it keeps your characters from becoming god-like very quickly. To all those who liked the old !school version of Final Fantasys, who could like the modern ones all that much, 1-6 will enjoy the nostalgia of this game. I, for one, can only hope that SquareSoft keeps with this idea and keeps the series from becoming more Sci-Fi than medieval. Anyway, I can't say that there is anything negative about this game. So why are you still reading this. Buy it now, Amazon seems to never run out of this game and I'm surprised that it hasn't become a greatest hit yet.
3856009
There are some elements in FFX that I find fantastic and hope that will be recycled for future games in the series. For example, the sphere grid, you can actually choose what you want your characters to be! For example, Yuna starts out as a white mage and summoner, but eventually (you need to wait a bit and get certain spheres to accomplish this) you can turn her into a black mage and/or thief, it all depends on how much time you choose to involve in the game. Another thing I loved, the aeons. Unlike past FF's, your not watching some animation of your summoned beast attack, you control it just like you would your characters, and can also teach them abilities and attributes. I like being able to switch my characters in the middle of battle though I agree with other viewers that the side quests are too few or too hard, and the final boss itself is simple. As for length, it FEELS very short and rushed, but I looked at the timer the other day and realized that I had been playing for 80+ hours. The voice acting is terrible (I finally just put the television on mute) and I was completely disdainful of the characters. You also can't fly around in the airship anymore, something that I had always loved. Instead you are presented with a list of places to go and *poof* your there. Replay value also stinks. Personally, I think your better off renting it for a couple of weeks and making your choice from there.
664405
This is the RPG I was waiting for on Xbox 360. In a sea of western RPGs and a few J-RPG failures, this is the one that throws us back to the likes of early Final Fantasy games. That's mostly thanks to the creator of Final Fantasy being the head of development for this game. Oh and guess what? He also brought along Nobuo Uematsu for the music. This game has an excellent story, engaging characters, a familiar turn-based battle system with timed physical attacks, and a world that will immerse you. The only reason I'm giving this game four stars rather than five is because it doesn't bring enough new things to the table outside of the Immortals' learning system (which I absolutely love). I'd give it a 4+ if Amazon would let me.

If you want an old school experience on a nextgen console, this is the game for you.