The Best and Worst of Final Fantasy Mini-Games?
I felt like covering this section with two questions in one. I have seen a lot of mixed reaction on some mini games, whereas others have stood out. Below are three lists of what I believe to be the Best and Worst of Final Fantasy from my own experiences. The third list will be honorable mentions, usually those mini games that you either love, or hate with a passion. Of courxe I will try to be unbiased and take what you all said into account, but I might have to express my absolute love for some games.
BEST
- Moogle Party! (FFVI) - I played FFVI a number of years ago and never cleared it, but I managed to find time to clear it on a emulator the other year. Having multiple parties full of moogles is something which really sticks in my mind. FFVI doesn't really have mini-games, but still, it incorporated itself into the main storyline, and you got take their gear, which is nice.
- Crazy Motorcycle (FFVII) - Ok I am definitely biased on this one, how can anyone not like this mini-game? It may not be super rewarding, it may not last very long, but the adrenaline of getting into Wonder Square, jumping on that bike, and trying to beat your high score?
- Snowboarding (FFVII) - Very similar to the motorbike yet, the game had many different paths you could snowboard down, and I just loved doing Time Trial on the hardest level. How many of you managed to get "Super" on each time trial? I know I did, and although it could be frustrating at times, the reward of seeing "Super" at the end made up for it.
- Speed Square Rollercoaster (FFVII) - At first I never liked this game, simply because I sucked at it. Then I actually tried to get Parasol and Flayer for Aeris and Cid, and after watching a youtube video where somebody smashed 5k points, I was able to see where I was going wrong. Regardless of seeing what I had to do, it was still a challenge, and that is something which a lot of mini-games don't do, and that is really challenge your patience and focus.
- Chocobo Racing (FFVII) - No other game has managed to create Chocobo racing like FFVII, enough said.
- Rufus mini-game in Junon (FFVII) - With the many mini-games that FFVII has, this one always sticks out in my mind because of the story behind it. Being dressed up as a solidier, following commands to impress the almighty Rufus, one of the main bad guys, it is a really funny game to do, especially the first few times you do it. The game takes a few tries to get used too, but when you do, you still need to focus and make sure you hit the right buttons. Getting a nice reward for your troubles is always welcome too. Force Stealer anyone?
- Chocobo Hot N' Cold (FFIX) - This helped to bring Chocobos back into the limelight after a very poor showing in FFVIII. It was also extremely rewarding, and if you wanted to get some of the best things in the game, along with fighting the hardest boss in the game, you had to do this game. Some people may have hated it, but I personally think it was the greatest mini-game since FFVII. Also having a flying chocobo? No other Final Fantasy has a flying chocobo that you can actually ride, and this mini-game gives you it.
WORST
- Squat Thrusts (FFVII) - One of the strangest games in any FF is this one. Why would a guy like Cloud, ever want to compete over a wig by doing squat thrusts? The game was very easy once you got the rhythm, and the reward was absolutely useless unless you wanted to see Don Corneo almost molest you in his bedroom.
- Parade in Jeuno (FFVII) - I just hate this part of the game. I could never get it right, it would go by so quickly and after passing it and getting something useless, I would not want to waste my time to repeat it over and over. I did eventually manage to get the technique down, but did I enjoy doing it? Not really.
- Super Dunk (FFVII) - So you throw a ball into a hoop, so you can throw a ball into a hoop, so you can throw a ball into a hoop? And for what? Does anyone actually enjoy that game? I would be very surprised if anyone did.
- 3D Battler (FFVII) - This is quite fun at first, til you realize just how stupidly unfair it is. A hell of a lot of luck is involved, there is no real method to getting through the levels, and I bet a lot of players never made it to the last stage. I think I only ever did it once ever, and that must mean I am extremely lucky.
- Mog Game (FFVII) - The first time, you might have appreciated this little story, specially when you figured out how to complete it. Even then, this mini game took a long long time, and after you seen it once or twice, it has absolutely zero replay value.
- Chocobo forests (FFVIII) - Could not stand doing this after the glory that was FFVII Chocobos. My father cleared FFVIII over thirty times (yes he counted them) and stated it was definitely one of the most annoying parts of the game.
- Tetra Master (FFIX) - It had so much potential, it had a rule system where games could be more complex then the FFVIII card game, but what made it suck so much??? It give you absolutely no rewards. FFVIII cards were overpowered, to the point that anyone who wanted to make the game easier, would have to play cards, whereas in FFIX, it was the complete opposite. Disappointing.
- Jump Rope (FFIX) - Extremely frustrating game, managed to complete it once, never tried again. End of Story.
- Lightning Dodge (FFX) - So you dodge a lightning bolt, over and over and over and over again? Someone was smoking something bad at SquareEnix when they though of that one.
- Butterfly hunt (FFX) - Another incredibly annoying game, that you can't do very well in because of how stupidly easy it is to miss those butterflies. It makes you wonder if SquareEnix actually test these mini-games.
- Blitzball Manager (FFX-2) - No! You have a decent enough mini-game in FFX where you actually play the matches, and turn it into a football manager type game??? That decision is so special on so many levels that I will have to stop here before I rant.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
I didn't want to put certain games into the Best or Worst categories because of just how diverse peoples opinions are, and I can understand why.
- Fort Condor (FFVII) - This game was ultimately, way too easy, but I enjoyed doing it. It was pretty rewarding, but it could also be repetitive. It's one of those games you do all the time, or only when you want the Phoenix materia.
Triple Triad (FFVIII) - By far the most dominant mini-game of any Final Fantasy, due to the fact that it completely over powers your party if you know what to do. Also some of the conditions required to get certain cards are ridiculous, and you would never figure it all out unless you read a walk through. My father (the one who cleared it over thirty times) would collect every single card, every single time. I got tired of hearing the music, but I can see why anyone would absolutely love/hate the game.
- Cloister of Trials (FFX) - I find this conflicting for me personally. I like to have to a challenge to receive a Summon, but to do all those trials for every single one? I don't know, it was different for sure, but was it any fun??
- Blitzball (FFX) - Another love/hate game where players would play it to death, or completely ignore it. I managed to get a team with levels over 70, then got bored with the whole thing, as I could score goals when Tidus was next to my own goalkeeper. Yes, the game is easy, and it just becomes more and more easy and tedious, but its pretty rewarding. I can understand the mixed reaction.
- Sphere Break (FFX-2) - I probably enjoyed this mini-game more then FFX-2 itself. The game was pretty well thought out, but because the game was on FFX-2 and not FFX, its probably been overlooked by many. Also anybody who hates math, well I can understand why you stay away from this.
And that is all I can say. Any other games not mentioned is because 1) I played them but didn't love/hate them enough 2) I never played them, Or 3) I played them such a long time ago and can't remember them.