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[ElFenomeno]

FF7 without a doubt.

 

[Garibaldi]

Depends on how familiar you are with the FF setting and the FF world, and especially the FF7 setting. If you haven't played FF games before, then it's easier to start with FF16 - it's a simple linear game that goes through pretty quickly. But I'll say right away that FF7-FF7R are objectively better games, but you'll have to buy two at once since they are connected by a plot, and if these are your first games in the FF7 universe, then it's better to start with Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion - since it's actually a prequel to FF7 and tells about how it all actually started and where the game's legs grow from. Because FF7 actually starts from the moment Crisis Core ends and the game kind of assumes that you know the events that happened there.

Although to be honest all three games are passable, and you are unlikely to ever replay them, the only difference is that in the case of FF16 you just need to buy one game and play through it, in the case of FF7, if you want to understand the world and the history of this world, you will actually have to buy 3 games.

Kinda disagree on the crisis core being required reading. We didn't have crisis core when the original FF7 was released and remake follows the overall arc of that fairly closely barring some changes I won't mention.

Crisis core for me is what it is. A prequel. It fleshes out the back story so you can better appreciate the world, Shinra, SOLDIER and Cloud. Playing it before experiencing the plot of FF7 does nothing but hinder the story of FF7 imo.

 

[Mayar]

Kinda disagree on the crisis core being required reading. We didn't have crisis core when the original FF7 was released and remake follows the overall arc of that fairly closely barring some changes I won't mention.

Crisis core for me is what it is. A prequel. It fleshes out the back story so you can better appreciate the world, Shinra, SOLDIER and Cloud. Playing it before experiencing the plot of FF7 does nothing but hinder the story of FF7 imo.

I've just had the experience several times when players don't know the world of FF7 and it's their first game, and they start with just FF7-FF7R, and then they went through СС FF7, and two of these people then immediately said that it would have been better if they had started with СС FF7, then the impressions of FF7 and FF7R would have been even better. Although, of course, you can go through СС FF7 after these games, but then it will no longer be perceived as a prequel, but as a way to fill in the holes in the plot and an addition to the lore of the game.

 

[Lucifers Beard]

FFVII Rebirth feels like an actual Final Fantasy game. FFXVI feels like a failed experiment.

XVI is 5 hours of absolutely peak 10/10 gaming, and 45 hours of boring monotonous bullshit.

I couldn't agree more on FFXVI. I loved the first few hours and then it did a 180 and was probably another 10 or so hours of horribly boring bullshit before dropping it.

I hear so many mixed things about Rebirth. I really want to give it a fair go, but I really didn't care for Remake despite trying to play it through twice. It was just so plodding and the mandatory filler was frustrating. I'm kind of feeling like it's going to be more of the same

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Go with 7 Remake + Rebirth, most I’ve enjoyed the series in decades

16 is just dull, I was absolutely bored to tears with it after the first few hours, completely soulless and drab experience

 

[Garibaldi]

I've just had the experience several times when players don't know the world of FF7 and it's their first game, and they start with just FF7-FF7R, and then they went through СС FF7, and two of these people then immediately said that it would have been better if they had started with СС FF7, then the impressions of FF7 and FF7R would have been even better. Although, of course, you can go through СС FF7 after these games, but then it will no longer be perceived as a prequel, but as a way to fill in the holes in the plot and an addition to the lore of the game.

Agree to disagree. In my opinion playing thru CC first utterly ruins the whole arc of Cloud's struggle thru the original. The mystery of his arc in the original is largely moot if you know of the previous explored in CC. It works far better as the hole filler imo.

Bit off topic tho and I don't want to spoil anything for anyone

 

[Griffon]

Play FF7 and forget FF16 ever existed.

 

[RobRSG]

Finish Remake plus the Yuffie DLC then go Rebirth and forget about FFXVI.

Best advice around.

 

[SenkiDala]

Start FF16 first. Self contained story, excellent voice acting and dialogue (by the far the best in the series) and excellent bosses. The final boss is probably my favorite in any game ever.

Remake is a trash game honestly.

I plat'ed the game and I don't even remember the final boss.

My least favorite FF ever, it's my favorite series but... Well, I'll be polite, I'll say it didn't "click" for me, I'm feeling nothing about that game, you'd tell me it's a random Ubisoft RPG game I'd believe it.

FFVIIR in the other hand... <3

 

[Shifty1897]

I really enjoyed FF16, but yes, FF7R is the correct answer here. I started replaying Remake last night and it really is on a level of quality you usually only see with first party studios.

 

[OGM_Madness]

Games like these ARE a commitment either way, because of the length.

Both titles are somewhat bloated, however, Rebirth was more fun for me and really enjoyed my time with it.

That said, I can’t imagine playing 4 hours of Remake saying “this sucks” and then being excited by Rebirth. So, if you want to enjoy Rebirth to the max, I do think a Remake play-through first is a must. (Remake is 30-40 hours + Rebirth 90+110 hours).

So, with the little I know, I recommend you play FFXVI first. The game is around 50-60 hours, but the first 3-5 hours are pretty cool and cutscene/story heavy. So, if you only play one game for 2-3 hours, the. FFXVI might make a better impression with the spectacle.

Afterwards, even if you skip Remake, Rebirth’s sense of scale might be more pronounced after playing the sometimes claustrophobic FFXVI.