James I wanted to say I've been a fan for years and I wanted to say man thank you for taking control back of your IP - you listened to your fans and completely redeemed yourself IMHO - Merry Christmas Nerd!
@@gameshock2916 No, please do forget. Chrono Cross should be erased from history considering how poorly it continues the series. Like the Matrix sequels.
When I was 14, 1996, I spent the summer with my grandmother. One day when at Albertson's she allowed me to rent a video game. Not knowing what this game was about or even having ever played an rpg up to that point in life, we left the story with this in it's little rental case with the box art cut and fit into a vhs box. This is the game that I played nonstop that entire summer, renting it over and over again to try and finish it before I had to go home. I didn't beat it that summer and for a whole year and a half all I could think about was this game. So to my shock and awe for christmas that year I opened a present and inside was a vhs box with cut up artwork of Final Fantasy 3. She had bought the game from the rental store for me. I spent the next month or so just playing that and grinding every esper to completion for every character, finally beating it without much resistance from Kefka. Thank you nerd for bring back memories of my Nana, she passed in 2019. What I wouldn't give to go back and spend the summer with her instead of this game, but at least when I think back upon this game it gets me to think about my Nana.
Had that happened to me when I was playing an RPG on my GameBoy Advance. Batteries died and completely wiped everything. I still have the game but haven't touched it again over ten years later...
Here we are in the Summer of 2024, 30 years after this games release where it remains my favorite Final Fantasy game. I finally beat it in November 2014, and my dad died six months later, marking the beginning of my own world of ruin. How I miss the age of epics like these.
It’s fairly well known that the chemicals used to make the paints back then are well known now to cause brain damage. So part of the “inspiration” back then was from the brain damaging exposure to their paints.
@@C0ttageChees - nobody called Squaresoft "Square and Enix" back then. It was just "Squaresoft" and "Enix". Just like you can't tell the 60s generation that Spider-Man was a Disney character in the 60s back then or the 80s generation that Fox's "Predator" was a Disney movie back then, either. By that lkogic, anything could be a Disney property after it's been bougth out 250 years into the future.
Ff6 was better than them all in sheer quantity of S tier tracks Chrono trigger had amazing music too but ff6 just had more of it We lived in a golden age
Interesting thing about "dancing mad" which is the title of Kefka's theme music, is the fact that it changes with the battle, as his health wears down, tell eventually sounding less triumphant and more mournful. The game is truly a masterpiece.
@@benjaminzipperlen7962 No no, it's really the best ever :) So much skill to compose a masterpiece with clear omages to so many classical composers... and end it in a 7/8 + 8/8 rhythm which just FITs the antagonist so much? A true masterpiece.
James I've been watching you for years. Back at the dawn of the PS3, back before I had kids. Now, at 50, with 2 children in their teens, I cannot thank you enough for all the laughs, and enjoyment you have brought me. Thank you from every piece of my heart. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
@@backlogduty Do you got proof that this is Mike's footage? I know there have been two seperate recordings done for this video, as seen in the graphics quality, but I don't think we know if he did truely replayed the game.
What an incredible episode. Definitely felt the love in this one. I think James should do a couple more of these where the Nerd plays a game he loves, because the passion really came through. Best episode in a long while.
As a kid, the aerith death scene was the saddest. Now as a grown man, Cyan’s guilt nightmare/ flashback where he remembers how he was too stubborn and proud to loudly admit how much he loved his wife and child while they were still alive makes me literally weep.
One of the greatest and I would say undercooked by casuals This game was faaaar superior to 7 in my opinion Because it's from the bit age,most "fans" overlook it
It wasn't random. It happened if you tried to sketch someone that was invisible. On certain carts you could actually use the glitch to get more items. I once used it to get 99 Atma Weapon swords and other unique items. The glitch was later fixed in an updated version of the cart.
@@MarioSanchez-os3fv| If I read correctly, Relm's Sketch could occaionally miss against regular foes, and the glitch was because the game did not know how to handle Sketch missing.
This game got me through my parent's divorce and major depression in 1994. I became this game. I poured my sorrow into the game. Even now the Terra theme makes me cry...but a little happier everytime. And the world of ruin...yeh that hit me. I knew i had to mend this world somehow even if..."forever changed"...
It was an extra rainy year when FFVI came out. I remember being at a friend's house and the rainy weather of the town Zozo matching the outside perfectly. It's 30 years too late, but one thing to do is to make multiple saves in the hope that 1 of your saves survives an erase. I starting saving before entering a big area, like Kefka's castle, in case I needed that backup.
I still remember watching my cousin beating this as a 4 year old and thinking this has to be the best game I have ever seen. I remember forcing myself to learn how to read when FF 7 came out just so I could play it.
AVGN is aging like fine wine after watching for almost 17 years. This episode in tandem with the Contra episode brought me back to my childhood in the best way possible. Thank you for this gift James.
The game keeps track of the number of steps you've taken because some spells (blue magic or rages I believe) calculate damage based on it. If you have a high number of steps, those attacks will do considerably more damage.
@@mmoarchives2542 Limit Breaks game in this can only occur when a character is at critical HP and only when they use the attack command and even then, they are pretty rare. Step counter has nothing to do with it.
Where I grew up it was accepted that anyone could take the week of thanksgiving off from school to go deer hunting. One year back then I did all the paper work to get out of school to go deer hunting, but instead just sat in my bedroom and binged this game for three days. No regerts
These are, by far, my favorite videos of James. Where he goes back and relives these memories and shares them with us. These reviews always make me smile.
I just noticed that not only did Mike stream this (in six parts), but James directly ripped off the story about how he saved up and bought the game for 80 bucks from part one of Mike’s stream of this game. The only difference is that Mike said he bought it at Toys R Us and James claims he bought it at Kaybee Toys. This is unbelievable.
james is a movie fan not a games fan, all of the gaming anecdotes and stories are from mike you can tell that none of this happen to him because he tell the stories without details or very minimun details these are just generic gaming tales
I’ll always love listening to older gamers talking about their experiences with various games such as Final Fantasy back in the day as well as the reactions to the uniqueness of said games, their stories, characters, and music that would later become iconic and helped create the world of gaming. It’s so fascinating and insightful. It gives you a good reason why retro games should always be respected and preserved no matter how much time passes by and how much society and the world at large changes.
@@thejessycho I figured it was a holdover from the ultima games which is what Final fantasy was based on. Did the Nes final fantasies also keep track of your steps? Ultima btw was this old westen rpg on pc that inspired hironobu sakuguchi to make final fantasy and also inspired the guy who made dragon quest yuji hori.
@@littlebigcommentary I can't say for 2 and 3 NES(ogs were Japan only)but 1 and 4(SNES,) didn't do that. I have played the pixel remaster versions of 2 and 3 and I don't remember a step counter in those
I had a friend as a kid named Ransom. His Dad was a lawyer, and they lived in a mansion. I remember he had this game, and we, over the course of many months, played this game until the very end. I will never forget those hot summer days. This game is among my most wonderful childhood memories. I even played this one with more than one friend, but I never owned it. I should play it with my son. ❤
Final Fantasy VI has always been my favorite of the Final Fantasy series ever since I grabbed it by mistake from the video rental place. (I was meaning to grab a different Final Fantasy game and mistook VI for it.)
You know what I love about AVGN? After 20 years, James still finds ways to keep it fresh. A review of a great game in an awesome storytelling fashion. The nostalgia! I love it! Merry Christmas james!
@@ninjaturtle8444 I know Mike does a lot of the gameplay, he’s admitted that before and even credits him at the end. That’s not the point. The point is his commentary and storytelling making us nostalgic. We remember the fun times playing these games. When James makes videos of good games scattered in between the shitty ones is a great way to keep the series going after all these years
@@ValoelifyJames has said in the past he usually has Mike do the gameplay videos because he’s either just not good enough at these games to use his own gameplay, or because he’s focusing on putting the video and editing together so they’re saving time by splitting duties.
I know Uematsu says his favorite soundtrack is FFIX, which I totally agree with, but the audacity to make a song like Dancing Mad using a 16 bit system is totally bananas.
AVGN needs to cover more RPG genres in video games. He did it with Earthbound, but now he covered Final Fantasy and I feels like Super Mario RPG or Chrono Trigger shall be next.
Actraiser and Soul Blazer! Especially Soul Blazer! That was one of my absolute favorite hidden gem. More so than actraiser, but that gets talked about more often..
the step tracker thing is neat because Strago has an ability that is based on how many steps you have. I forget which one, but another has a sword whose atk is tethered to the amount of times you've escaped a battle. and ffvii has a guy that gives you a certain item based on the total sum of battles you've had that game. i love little features like that, you don't see it too often anymore tho
"and ffvii has a guy that gives you a certain item based on the total sum of battles you've had that game. i love little features like that, you don't see it too often anymore tho" This is the only way you can get the Level 4 Limit Break item for Aerith on Disc 1, and it's probably the hardest thing to accomplish in the game (the limit break is pretty OverPowered too)
so many firsts.... this game. It was an inflection point in gaming where we got a glimpse into the future of the art-form and it looked amazingly bright. cinematic cutscenes, character growth expressed through dialogue, adult themes of loss and even mature themes like suicide and nihilism were explored and all for the better. One of the few SNES games I go back and replay on occasion.
"Passion always comes through, in spite of limitations." GREAT way of summing up why those early Final Fantasy games were revered as the most epic of adventures despite the limited animations and graphics. I love this game to this day, and FF IV before it (ie. II lol).
back in the SNES cartridge days. I equipped Celes with Force armour and White Cape and zephyr cape. Made her have 99 magic blk/eva (cant recall which it was back then) it was a broken stat. basically made your character immune to almost everything. By kefka, she was blocking everything he threw at her.
@@primetimeedgetwitch3274 its true. Basic attacks, block. magic attacks, block. special attacks, block. with 99 magic Eva/Blk. you could not be touched. Was great.
For the step counter. Traveler (also called Step Mine) is a Lore spell for Strago that deals damage to a target equal to the number of steps the party has taken divided by 32.
@ninjaturtle8444 Yes, and? Mike always recorded lots of the game footage in the past for certain episodes. That's nothing new and doesn't take away anything from the episode. Was that supposed to be some kind of gotcha moment or insult to James? lol
@@ninjaturtle8444 Thats how Nerd episodes have always been lol James will occasionally play for the camera but most of the footage even in the old vids are always Mike
@georgiots1409 Final Fantasy 6 was the true pinnacle of the series in my opinion. The only old school JRPG that is still going very strong is Dragon Quest which I consider the #1 JRPG franchise at this point.
Seeing this quick play through brought back a lot of memories. When I bought this game in 8th grade, I came home every day for about 2-3 months and played it for hours after school. Seeing the ending after all that grinding and work was epic!
One of my strongest Christmas memories was getting FFIII, and going upstairs to my bedroom to play it. I was called to dinner during that epic epic opening and man was it hard to put that down to go get something to eat.
One of my favorite games. I have a save file with characters whose stats were boosted at level up by Game Genie codes (it required different codes for each character so I had to restart and input new codes before each character's level up). The Game Genie codes for this game were OP. One allowed you to encounter any possible enemy on the veldt including bosses. Another gave you random powerful drops at the end of the battle. A couple years ago I turned on my Super Mario World with the Game Genie attached to show my son what the Game Genie was like. I accidentally jiggled it and my save files from almost 30 years ago were deleted. I've been wary to do it with another game since.
I will never forget this game for two reasons, my best friend introduce me to it back in de 90s. It made the RPG genre my favorite ever since. Sadly my friend passed away in 2018.
I was having a really bad day today and just feeling depressed, etc. After that part about Celes and the "end" of the world, James' words really hit me. It's just what I needed to hear. Thank you, James. Merry Christmas.
I still get emotional hearing Forever Rachel and Celes' Theme, alongside the part at the end where Relm's theme goes into Shadow's and him choosing to stay because he thinks he has "gone too far to become her dad again".
Nerd I think "Dragon Warrior 7" for the PS1 would legitimately be a perfect game for the AVGN series. It's the definition of a criminally underrated game.
I played this game when I was in the 7th grade and I still find myself going back to it over and over again. It truly is a great game that pushed the SNES above and beyond it's limits. FF3 is the sole reason why I stood in line to purchase FFVII.
Seconded! This was truly something else, and not having played FF6 (or any other of the series, for that matter) I'm feeling the magic through the screen.
Agreed! I liked the wholesomeness and what felt like true nostalgia from James. And it's been a while since I actually laughed at any nerd stuff, "I finally beat final fantasy 3... or 6!"
I use the JP version of Final Fantasy 6 with a fan-made English translation patch applied. Way better translation and no graphic censorship. It really is one of the best ways to play it.
I love when James says "I've never seen anything like it before, and I've never seen it since", it's like he's an old wizard telling us of his journeys that we barely comprehend, but he is my hero, so I continue to listen
Every year for Christmas my old man would ask the guy at the video game store for the longest, most difficult game they had and on one got me this gem, greatest game ever!!
That's great! My father said we had to beat whichever game we had, 3 times, before we could get a new one. Took us forever to beat Mario Bros. three times, but we finally did it! The next game we got was Tetris... still playing it to this day.
unfortunately theres only a few masterpieces like this one. chrono trigger and link to the past are definitely in top 10 with this gem. the other final fantasies dont compare to this one in my opinion either (even with as much glory and hype 7 created, it still didnt live up to 6).
As much as I'd like to agree with you at this point I think a lot of us question whether James even played any of these games at all to begin with or just binged them for video content
@@aylictal I'd have to disagree FF14 is one of the best told stories I have ever played. The end of Heavensword, Shadowbringer, and Endwalker had me in tears. I know it is an MMORPG that takes hundreds of hours to complete but the story is on point.
Never played it but I really, reallllly enjoy these episodes where you dive into the story, meaning and significance of the game. It's more like a history lesson and a personal momento for the game rather than just playing it
You absolutely nailed this game. I live in Denmark and imported these games from the US because they weren't available in Europe. I spent the best days of my life with my older brother shedding tears to the soundtracks. He and I shared all the ups an downs and epic adventures of a ton of games - But the best ones were Zelda, Chrono Trigger and the masterpiece; FF6(3). I learned English on a level that was waaay beyond the norm for a 9-year-old just to play and understand the games. I covered most of the soundtrack as guitar-arrangements, simply because the music was something so special. My brother committed suicide recently - but I still persevere, with a heavy core memory and lesson that this game taught. Thank you for this Christmas present James - If you would ever let me, maaan I would love to be a guest on the couch and chew the fat on retro games :)
how do you make a review about a game that has been played and reviewed by every single retro video game fan and still make it insightful and unique? i have no clue, but you managed to do it. awesome work!
My friend renamed the characters names as his friends names, I was over watching him play after-school and was like YO you named (blank) Jason after me that is sooo cool. Made it so much more personal when anything happened to that character.
Whoa!? Was that Mike!? Please do more videos with Mike! You guys bring so much nostalgia and it just feels right with you two! Been watching you guys since 2009 and still binge watch all the older seasons! Keep up guys and Merry Christmas!!!!
this might be my favorite avgn episode ever made. less on the comedy side, and heavy on the nostalgia side, with it also being holiday themed. I grew up with this game, and watching him play and talk about it in such an epic way, takes me right back to those days. truly an awesome, epic, legendary episode, and proves that james can nail the slightly more serious reviews better than just about anyone.
I had always wanted to hear the opera scene done with real opera singers. I hadn't realized others wanted this too until recently, when I watched someone play through one of the re-releases of this game where they actually did that.
There is the Distant Worlds live concert series where they do that. I have seen it several times and heard both the Opera and Dancing Mad live. Amazing stuff.
I really love these sincere, sentimental videos. Not trying so hard to be The Nerd. Just seeing James in his natural element trying to make something meaningful. It was also really nice getting to see Mike in a video. I'm glad he's doing his own thing now and able to make himself his own top priority, but I hope he pops in at Cinemassacre every now and then. Merry Christmas everyone!
This FF is, in my opinion, the best written FF game. Virtually every character has a story arc and a motivation that is unique and understandable. It blends humor and emotion fantastically and the villain is the best in the series. Like AVGN said at the beginning of the video, you can't even really pick a main character. They're all main characters (except for GoGo and Umaro, and possibly Mog). EDIT: Also, the Atma Weapon music is probably my favorite track.
I played the "pixel remaster" a little while ago, and experiencing that opera scene fully orchestrated and voiced AND even in different languages (german is way better than I expected) was a blast!
The one thing I remember about him is if the artist girl (Relm? Rand? Can't remember her name) draws him, he surrenders instantly because he finally realizes he's a hideous monster.
One of my proudest moments as a kid: having my name printed in Nintendo Power as one of the people who beat Kefka with a full party of imps. You had to print out a 3x5 photo of it happening as proof and mail it in to them.
Haven't been impressed this much by an AVGN episode for years. Really like this more serious tone. It made me feel something deep and personal was shared. Thank you so much!
Man this one felt like a instant classic. Also we need more great games. Also the message of never surrender hits hard to me. This year missed my mom so it's rough.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Go to expressvpn.com/cinemassacre and find out how you can get 3 months of ExpressVPN free!
merry christmASSSSSSSSS
Please review Famicon and Advance wars series games as AVGN
Dear AVGN, I love you! That is all. (been watching since 2006)
James I wanted to say I've been a fan for years and I wanted to say man thank you for taking control back of your IP - you listened to your fans and completely redeemed yourself IMHO - Merry Christmas Nerd!
Merry Christmas, Nerd
🫂🫂
I cant wait till 2024 to hear about Chrono Trigger 😄
like he said... the other big one
@@MaisDennis Let's not forget Chrono Cross, the sequel to Chrono Trigger.
@@gameshock2916 No, please do forget. Chrono Cross should be erased from history considering how poorly it continues the series. Like the Matrix sequels.
Come back in 2045 for XENOGEARS.
Chrono cross pales in comparison to its predecessor
When I was 14, 1996, I spent the summer with my grandmother. One day when at Albertson's she allowed me to rent a video game. Not knowing what this game was about or even having ever played an rpg up to that point in life, we left the story with this in it's little rental case with the box art cut and fit into a vhs box. This is the game that I played nonstop that entire summer, renting it over and over again to try and finish it before I had to go home. I didn't beat it that summer and for a whole year and a half all I could think about was this game. So to my shock and awe for christmas that year I opened a present and inside was a vhs box with cut up artwork of Final Fantasy 3. She had bought the game from the rental store for me. I spent the next month or so just playing that and grinding every esper to completion for every character, finally beating it without much resistance from Kefka. Thank you nerd for bring back memories of my Nana, she passed in 2019. What I wouldn't give to go back and spend the summer with her instead of this game, but at least when I think back upon this game it gets me to think about my Nana.
Magic times, beautiful memories...
Sorry to hear about your loss...
And I did the same, grinded every character with every spell/dance/enemy move/99 level
Don't regret what you did with that Summer. Your nana probably loved every second of watching you enjoy the game she rented for you.
oh man, now I miss my grandma too
That was a beautiful story. I’m not crying, I’m cutting up onions for my gumbo.
No matter what age, or how many responsibilities you have. A 60 hour save being corrupted would make anyone freak out.
Had it happen to me with FFVIII!
Had that happened to me when I was playing an RPG on my GameBoy Advance. Batteries died and completely wiped everything. I still have the game but haven't touched it again over ten years later...
I dont feel so bad about my glitch now. I had just killed Kefka, and the game froze. So i completed the game, but never saw end credits.
@@Someinsanegenuis that honestly woulda killed me lol
While I will disagree that they are the best, I think his angry videos are the best, I do enjoy his videos about things he enjoys almost as much haha!
Here we are in the Summer of 2024, 30 years after this games release where it remains my favorite Final Fantasy game. I finally beat it in November 2014, and my dad died six months later, marking the beginning of my own world of ruin. How I miss the age of epics like these.
Such memories man...i was born in 82 ..sorry for your loss
@@26MECH 82 as well, it took until mass effect to finally find a game that came close to the old classics.
Same, 82 boys. Loved this game, nostalgia is an understatement
@@Yattayatta82! FTW!
@@inglouriousmofo82! 🤘🏻
Uematsu composing the FFVI sountrack on a 16-bit chip is like finding out that Michelangelo did the Sistine Chapel with crayons
100%. I still pull up the sound-track when playing Survival games and use it as my gaming musical score. Almost every song is a masterpiece.
Well said
No it's not. Great OST though.
It’s fairly well known that the chemicals used to make the paints back then are well known now to cause brain damage.
So part of the “inspiration” back then was from the brain damaging exposure to their paints.
Jeremy jahns 😊
90's Squaresoft games had such amazing soundtracks.
Chrono Trigger is my favorite, but they're all fantastic.
Nobuo Uematsu, Yasunori Mitsuda, and Yoko Shimomura are all goated.
Can I throw Terranigma in here since it's by Enix? Future Square =]
@@C0ttageChees - nobody called Squaresoft "Square and Enix" back then. It was just "Squaresoft" and "Enix". Just like you can't tell the 60s generation that Spider-Man was a Disney character in the 60s back then or the 80s generation that Fox's "Predator" was a Disney movie back then, either. By that lkogic, anything could be a Disney property after it's been bougth out 250 years into the future.
Ff6 was better than them all in sheer quantity of S tier tracks
Chrono trigger had amazing music too but ff6 just had more of it
We lived in a golden age
Interesting thing about "dancing mad" which is the title of Kefka's theme music, is the fact that it changes with the battle, as his health wears down, tell eventually sounding less triumphant and more mournful. The game is truly a masterpiece.
Dancing mad Is one of the best songs ever made for a video game
@@benjaminzipperlen7962
Yes!Yes!Yes!
Some people even call it the Final Fantasy equivalent of Dance Of Illusions from Castlevania
@@benjaminzipperlen7962 No no, it's really the best ever :) So much skill to compose a masterpiece with clear omages to so many classical composers... and end it in a 7/8 + 8/8 rhythm which just FITs the antagonist so much? A true masterpiece.
Losing a save file that you put 60, 70, 80+ hours out of nowhere is an experience I can unfortunately relate to all too well...
I don't care if he's supposed to be the ANGRY video game nerd. The episodes where James talks about games he likes are always the best
Yes they are.
I felt a lot of anger. I also felt a lot of healing lol.
Even the angriest of nerds still have joy in them
Angry nerds are humans after all, even them can love ❤
I agree, the bad games are funny but we have seen them so much I like just hearing him do his old video game memories and stories
James I've been watching you for years. Back at the dawn of the PS3, back before I had kids. Now, at 50, with 2 children in their teens, I cannot thank you enough for all the laughs, and enjoyment you have brought me. Thank you from every piece of my heart. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
a bit ott but ok.
How many pieces of heart did you collect? lol
@@plasmaastronaut I appreciate your positivity and poor spelling. ;)
@@propheinx2250 Nicely played.
@@backlogduty Do you got proof that this is Mike's footage? I know there have been two seperate recordings done for this video, as seen in the graphics quality, but I don't think we know if he did truely replayed the game.
What an incredible episode. Definitely felt the love in this one. I think James should do a couple more of these where the Nerd plays a game he loves, because the passion really came through. Best episode in a long while.
I agree, but I think it should be once in a while, to make that concept feel fresh.
Except Mike Matei played this not James. It's all Mikes passion.
As a kid, the aerith death scene was the saddest.
Now as a grown man, Cyan’s guilt nightmare/ flashback where he remembers how he was too stubborn and proud to loudly admit how much he loved his wife and child while they were still alive makes me literally weep.
Top 10 saddest anime deaths
An AVGN based on one of the greatest games ever. Thanks for the Christmas present, James
when based meets based we all win
copiar y pegar comentario Thank you @Dayman90
One of the greatest and I would say undercooked by casuals
This game was faaaar superior to 7 in my opinion
Because it's from the bit age,most "fans" overlook it
I think FF6 is the least best game in the series. FF7-FF10 is the only one worth playing.
@@Sparrows1121have you even played 6
For those wondering, the glitch happens in the SNES version randomly from using Realm's sketch ability.
Thank goodness I rarely used Realm, then!
@@Narrator007, same. I never used her or Gau.
...sketchy
It wasn't random. It happened if you tried to sketch someone that was invisible. On certain carts you could actually use the glitch to get more items. I once used it to get 99 Atma Weapon swords and other unique items. The glitch was later fixed in an updated version of the cart.
@@MarioSanchez-os3fv| If I read correctly, Relm's Sketch could occaionally miss against regular foes, and the glitch was because the game did not know how to handle Sketch missing.
This game got me through my parent's divorce and major depression in 1994. I became this game. I poured my sorrow into the game. Even now the Terra theme makes me cry...but a little happier everytime.
And the world of ruin...yeh that hit me. I knew i had to mend this world somehow even if..."forever changed"...
My parents also divorced in 1994 and I also put my heart into it as a result.
the opera song still gets me
Sympathies.. mine for divorced in 96. Ahh, the 90s
So sorry to hear that, but glad you got through it. 🙏🏿 Brothers in FFVI.
Oof, I feel you. My parents split up in '93, and my drug of choice was Secret Of Mana.
It was an extra rainy year when FFVI came out. I remember being at a friend's house and the rainy weather of the town Zozo matching the outside perfectly.
It's 30 years too late, but one thing to do is to make multiple saves in the hope that 1 of your saves survives an erase. I starting saving before entering a big area, like Kefka's castle, in case I needed that backup.
I think the problem though was that all of his saves were deleted.
I loved this game so much. I got my HS orchestra teacher to play Kefka's theme at one of their concerts.
Dancing Mad... classic
Dancing mad isn't kefkas theme, although kefkas theme is featured in it
wow! amazing
@@leob4403 eeww
@@leob4403His orchestra teacher.
he said that
I still remember watching my cousin beating this as a 4 year old and thinking this has to be the best game I have ever seen. I remember forcing myself to learn how to read when FF 7 came out just so I could play it.
Well, I pretty much learned English to be able to understand everything FFVI as a teen back in the days and it was totally worth it.
@KingC89 lame
@ncapone87 because FF7 was absolute dogshit compared to FF6, and yet people praise it all day long as the best FF, those whom never played 6
Nobuo Uematsu is the John Williams of video games!!! I still cry watching the end....just perfection.
You hit the nail on the head. The amount of tracks he created is insane.
The music in the pixel remaster makes it even better
Stoo crying you possy
Aerith's Theme is a real tearjerker as well. Never fails.
I have played FF1 up to X. Each one has amazing ost
This entire game. Kefka's theme. The opera scene... this game is, SO nostalgia. Thank you for doing it justice.
Nostalgic 😢
AVGN is aging like fine wine after watching for almost 17 years. This episode in tandem with the Contra episode brought me back to my childhood in the best way possible. Thank you for this gift James.
The game keeps track of the number of steps you've taken because some spells (blue magic or rages I believe) calculate damage based on it.
If you have a high number of steps, those attacks will do considerably more damage.
incorrect, steps is how you regain magic power and limit breaks
Strago’s Step Mine Lore spell.
@@mmoarchives2542 Stick with your MMO's. You're out of your depth in this conversation.
After all these years, there’s still things I didn’t know about FFIII. Wow. I even recently watched a “10 things you didn’t know about FF6” video.
@@mmoarchives2542 Limit Breaks game in this can only occur when a character is at critical HP and only when they use the attack command and even then, they are pretty rare. Step counter has nothing to do with it.
Where I grew up it was accepted that anyone could take the week of thanksgiving off from school to go deer hunting. One year back then I did all the paper work to get out of school to go deer hunting, but instead just sat in my bedroom and binged this game for three days. No regerts
Man I'm jealous. If my parents would have let me take the week off school to do play games I would have 100%
You grew up in Wisconsin, didn't you.
@@user-vf3ey6ej4k Busted. :D
We got that too in michigan
Regerts
The "winter break type of game" hit me right in the childhood. I remember my winter breaks and summer vacations playing memorable games like this.
Possibly one of the greatest intros in gaming history with the mechs walking through the snow
Mode 7
@@law35penn Mode 7 has little to do with the scene's atmosphere, it's the music that pushes it.
Can't forget the excellent music too.
As great as the music is, Mode 7 has a lot to do with it also
The credits themselves are an understated touch, too. The lack of them in the PC and mobile Pixel Remaster hurts the atmosphere a lot
These are, by far, my favorite videos of James. Where he goes back and relives these memories and shares them with us. These reviews always make me smile.
I just noticed that not only did Mike stream this (in six parts), but James directly ripped off the story about how he saved up and bought the game for 80 bucks from part one of Mike’s stream of this game. The only difference is that Mike said he bought it at Toys R Us and James claims he bought it at Kaybee Toys. This is unbelievable.
Would be nice if these were James's memories and not Mikes
@@Absquatulayou mean these are Mike's memories??
@@Absquatula actually? Podcast info? Still, it’s a nice story.
james is a movie fan not a games fan, all of the gaming anecdotes and stories are from mike you can tell that none of this happen to him because he tell the stories without details or very minimun details these are just generic gaming tales
I’ll always love listening to older gamers talking about their experiences with various games such as Final Fantasy back in the day as well as the reactions to the uniqueness of said games, their stories, characters, and music that would later become iconic and helped create the world of gaming. It’s so fascinating and insightful. It gives you a good reason why retro games should always be respected and preserved no matter how much time passes by and how much society and the world at large changes.
well said
hear hear
Setzer's ship is The Blackjack. The Falcon is Darill's ship which you get in the WoR.
The step counter is useful. Strago has a lore spell called "step mine" that does damage based on the number of steps you take in the game
thank you for saying something. i was so triggered by that
@@thejessycho I figured it was a holdover from the ultima games which is what Final fantasy was based on. Did the Nes final fantasies also keep track of your steps? Ultima btw was this old westen rpg on pc that inspired hironobu sakuguchi to make final fantasy and also inspired the guy who made dragon quest yuji hori.
@@littlebigcommentary I can't say for 2 and 3 NES(ogs were Japan only)but 1 and 4(SNES,) didn't do that. I have played the pixel remaster versions of 2 and 3 and I don't remember a step counter in those
Ive gone all these years and decades of playing ff3 without knowing what step mine was.
@@snickle1980 in other translations it's called "traveler". A couple of monsters use it but all I can remember right now is Tonnberries
I had a friend as a kid named Ransom. His Dad was a lawyer, and they lived in a mansion. I remember he had this game, and we, over the course of many months, played this game until the very end. I will never forget those hot summer days. This game is among my most wonderful childhood memories. I even played this one with more than one friend, but I never owned it. I should play it with my son. ❤
DEFINITELY PLAY THIS WITH YOUR SON! What a great idea!!!
Was this friend's middle name "River City?" 😂
@@bryansansone3301 lol that's exactly what I used to think of when hearing his name..he had no idea about river city ransom.
Totes thought was going to keep rhyming! Lol
"Passion always comes through in spite of limitations" is one of the best things I've heard
FF6 has more content than most games currently. Which is amazing. It still blows my mind how much they fit into that cartridge.
What a way to cap off the end of the year by playing my favorite Final Fantasy games of all time. Thank you, Nerd
Same here.
Final Fantasy VI has always been my favorite of the Final Fantasy series ever since I grabbed it by mistake from the video rental place. (I was meaning to grab a different Final Fantasy game and mistook VI for it.)
VI needs the full remake treatment.
One of my favorites too. I got it on Christmas Eve back in the day, so this is perfect.
Best game
You know what I love about AVGN? After 20 years, James still finds ways to keep it fresh. A review of a great game in an awesome storytelling fashion. The nostalgia! I love it! Merry Christmas james!
James didn't even play the game. All the footage is from when Miike streamed it about a month ago.
@@ninjaturtle8444 Go touch some grass.
@@ninjaturtle8444 How can you know that for sure? You can't.
@@ninjaturtle8444 I know Mike does a lot of the gameplay, he’s admitted that before and even credits him at the end. That’s not the point. The point is his commentary and storytelling making us nostalgic. We remember the fun times playing these games. When James makes videos of good games scattered in between the shitty ones is a great way to keep the series going after all these years
@@ValoelifyJames has said in the past he usually has Mike do the gameplay videos because he’s either just not good enough at these games to use his own gameplay, or because he’s focusing on putting the video and editing together so they’re saving time by splitting duties.
I know Uematsu says his favorite soundtrack is FFIX, which I totally agree with, but the audacity to make a song like Dancing Mad using a 16 bit system is totally bananas.
Uematsu is an Excalibur 2 in FF9, just the best.
AVGN needs to cover more RPG genres in video games. He did it with Earthbound, but now he covered Final Fantasy and I feels like Super Mario RPG or Chrono Trigger shall be next.
And I'll say Paper Mario, Next
Actraiser and Soul Blazer! Especially Soul Blazer! That was one of my absolute favorite hidden gem. More so than actraiser, but that gets talked about more often..
Megami Tensei for the Famicom.
I need his groin going through his jaw from the sheer assholery crammed in an RPG cartridge
I HATE TOXIC FANDOM!!!!!!!😠😡😤
Chrono Trigger....
the step tracker thing is neat because Strago has an ability that is based on how many steps you have. I forget which one, but another has a sword whose atk is tethered to the amount of times you've escaped a battle. and ffvii has a guy that gives you a certain item based on the total sum of battles you've had that game. i love little features like that, you don't see it too often anymore tho
it's stepmine
You mean the chicken knife, and it's FF5 not 3/6
Step Mine!!!
"and ffvii has a guy that gives you a certain item based on the total sum of battles you've had that game. i love little features like that, you don't see it too often anymore tho"
This is the only way you can get the Level 4 Limit Break item for Aerith on Disc 1, and it's probably the hardest thing to accomplish in the game (the limit break is pretty OverPowered too)
@@teecakes she was too strong to be left alive xD
so many firsts.... this game. It was an inflection point in gaming where we got a glimpse into the future of the art-form and it looked amazingly bright. cinematic cutscenes, character growth expressed through dialogue, adult themes of loss and even mature themes like suicide and nihilism were explored and all for the better. One of the few SNES games I go back and replay on occasion.
"Passion always comes through, in spite of limitations." GREAT way of summing up why those early Final Fantasy games were revered as the most epic of adventures despite the limited animations and graphics. I love this game to this day, and FF IV before it (ie. II lol).
The Nerd deserves a win every now and then, and there's no better way than with this masterpiece of the 16-bit era. Awesome episode!
As usual, the best Cinemassacre content comes from James talking about the stuff that's really important to him.
Yes, I love hearing Mike's thoughts and seeing his gameplay
Come on guys..Mike literally played this on Twitch last month lol
ofcourse he did...@@ScribbleNuts
That's an OOF
He ain’t angry. It’s in the name!? Pass.
I'll never forget begging my mom to go to my friends place to see what happens next in the story. Best memories ever.
Except Mike Matei is the one who played this. James isn't a gamer.
@@Mephianse81cool
@@Mephianse81who cares?
@@Mephianse81how is that even relevant to the OP? 😂
@@poindextertunes pretty sure someone deleted a conment
back in the SNES cartridge days. I equipped Celes with Force armour and White Cape and zephyr cape. Made her have 99 magic blk/eva (cant recall which it was back then) it was a broken stat. basically made your character immune to almost everything. By kefka, she was blocking everything he threw at her.
Did the same. Force shield, force armor, made you immune to magic damage. You become unstoppable. Haha
@@primetimeedgetwitch3274 its true. Basic attacks, block. magic attacks, block. special attacks, block. with 99 magic Eva/Blk. you could not be touched. Was great.
One of my favorite games from when I was 13-14 that I coincidentally couldn't finish until I was an adult. What an awesome video to an awesome game.
I genuinely can't believe that AVGN is 20 years old next year😵💫
i can..i am 40 now...
Should bring Mike back for a 20th anniversary special video. And keep him there.
Does avgn existed before UA-cam??
Yes, way before actually
@althaf198 Yea you used to have to go on his website to watch videos. This was before I even knew anything about UA-cam
For the step counter. Traveler (also called Step Mine) is a Lore spell for Strago that deals damage to a target equal to the number of steps the party has taken divided by 32.
15:40 considering how often you got blocked in the overworld, having your party snake around would probably be a nightmare.
What a great episode. Another freaking classic. It was cool to see Mike back in a skit. It makes it feel even more nostalgic.
James didn't even play the game. All the footage is from when Miike streamed it about a month ago. The more you know!
@ninjaturtle8444 Yes, and? Mike always recorded lots of the game footage in the past for certain episodes. That's nothing new and doesn't take away anything from the episode. Was that supposed to be some kind of gotcha moment or insult to James? lol
@@ninjaturtle8444OMG
@@ninjaturtle8444 Thats how Nerd episodes have always been lol James will occasionally play for the camera but most of the footage even in the old vids are always Mike
The "christmas episode" of AVGN is now a tradition every year for me. Thank you for that
"Now?" He's been doing them for almost 20 years lol
I didn't play this game until after FF7. As much as I enjoyed 7 I enjoyed this game even more. It's a work of art.
FFVI always better than ff7, but u not rdy for this conversation...
@georgiots1409
Final Fantasy 6 was the true pinnacle of the series in my opinion. The only old school JRPG that is still going very strong is Dragon Quest which I consider the #1 JRPG franchise at this point.
Seeing this quick play through brought back a lot of memories. When I bought this game in 8th grade, I came home every day for about 2-3 months and played it for hours after school. Seeing the ending after all that grinding and work was epic!
So happy to see Mike back on an Avgn episode! 🤩
This realy felt like one of the ogs. Beating Mike in a costume will never get old!
Edit: Oh and the mandatory Zelda comparisons! FUCK YEAH!
Was Mike Santa?
@@benbob4038for sure
@@benbob4038Really?
Sure wasn't expecting a new AVGN this late at night, but I'll take it!
It's morning here
It’s early in the morning here! 🙂
IKR?
Welcome to the world of timezones!
Just take it and love it
One of my strongest Christmas memories was getting FFIII, and going upstairs to my bedroom to play it. I was called to dinner during that epic epic opening and man was it hard to put that down to go get something to eat.
You got FF6, not 3
@@Lanoman123 It was III
One of my favorite games. I have a save file with characters whose stats were boosted at level up by Game Genie codes (it required different codes for each character so I had to restart and input new codes before each character's level up). The Game Genie codes for this game were OP. One allowed you to encounter any possible enemy on the veldt including bosses. Another gave you random powerful drops at the end of the battle.
A couple years ago I turned on my Super Mario World with the Game Genie attached to show my son what the Game Genie was like. I accidentally jiggled it and my save files from almost 30 years ago were deleted. I've been wary to do it with another game since.
So basically, that was the catalyst to years of being the Angry Video Game Nerd, thank you Final Fantasy "III", thank you.
Terra’s Theme is the single greatest video game piece ever composed. No other melody has ever sounded so hauntingly nostalgic
I love this song so much.
Theme of Love from Final Fantasy 4 is up there as well.
So is Shadows and Celes's theme, but honestly every track in this game is amazin!
What about dancing mad?
The crazy thing is you could say that about SEVERAL pieces of music in this game. Uematsu truly is a genius.
I will never forget this game for two reasons, my best friend introduce me to it back in de 90s. It made the RPG genre my favorite ever since. Sadly my friend passed away in 2018.
Sorry for your loss.
Sorry for your loss
How did he pass
They will always live on in your memory, carry them with you always.
Corona
there are so many "secret" cut scenes in this game if you backtrack and explore previous areas after each cut scene. ALWAYS reexplore
I was having a really bad day today and just feeling depressed, etc. After that part about Celes and the "end" of the world, James' words really hit me. It's just what I needed to hear. Thank you, James. Merry Christmas.
Nobody cares bro
hope you're doing alright bro.
@@Ian-Omegastuff it
I still remember Christmas break in 9th grade, 1994, as the greatest ever, thanks to this game. Thanks for letting me relive this amazing memory!
I remember crying legit tears after the opera scene back in the day. It's still a top 5 gaming moment of mine.
I still get emotional hearing Forever Rachel and Celes' Theme, alongside the part at the end where Relm's theme goes into Shadow's and him choosing to stay because he thinks he has "gone too far to become her dad again".
I cried legit tears watching this video. The music hits as hard as the character development.
@@cpt_bill366is this a competition for who can cry the most? 😂
Nerd I think "Dragon Warrior 7" for the PS1 would legitimately be a perfect game for the AVGN series. It's the definition of a criminally underrated game.
This game blew me away. So much better than any game I had played to date. Beautiful and with an amazing score.
Final fantasy II, better
This game is trash that’s why it’s on SNES and not ps5
THIS GAME JUST BLEW ME TOO 👅 😛 😝 😜 😋 🤑 👅
Eh there were a few 16-bitters I preferred. But this one was still pretty up there.
@@COMRAYDEVITOya goofball
I played this game when I was in the 7th grade and I still find myself going back to it over and over again. It truly is a great game that pushed the SNES above and beyond it's limits. FF3 is the sole reason why I stood in line to purchase FFVII.
Easily the best episode in years, if not ever. Thanks for everything, James.
Seconded! This was truly something else, and not having played FF6 (or any other of the series, for that matter) I'm feeling the magic through the screen.
Why because he went soft and did casual game review?
what? i mean its fine but what makes this the best? ..you seriously think this tops it all?
@@syok1107he had too much coffee that day.
Agreed! I liked the wholesomeness and what felt like true nostalgia from James. And it's been a while since I actually laughed at any nerd stuff,
"I finally beat final fantasy 3... or 6!"
I use the JP version of Final Fantasy 6 with a fan-made English translation patch applied. Way better translation and no graphic censorship. It really is one of the best ways to play it.
I love when James says "I've never seen anything like it before, and I've never seen it since", it's like he's an old wizard telling us of his journeys that we barely comprehend, but he is my hero, so I continue to listen
FF6 is just one of those games you play, and you just never forget the experience.
@@LordMalice6d9100%
@@uberqwerty1 There are very few video games I have ever played that stick in my mind long after I have completed playing them.
Every year for Christmas my old man would ask the guy at the video game store for the longest, most difficult game they had and on one got me this gem, greatest game ever!!
That's great!
My father said we had to beat whichever game we had, 3 times, before we could get a new one. Took us forever to beat Mario Bros. three times, but we finally did it!
The next game we got was Tetris...
still playing it to this day.
@@rokko_fablewhen you have a savage parent but growing things turn different
James I think we all want these kind of reviews for the future of the channel. Go through the masterpiece games that we all love and give your take.
unfortunately theres only a few masterpieces like this one. chrono trigger and link to the past are definitely in top 10 with this gem. the other final fantasies dont compare to this one in my opinion either (even with as much glory and hype 7 created, it still didnt live up to 6).
As much as I'd like to agree with you at this point I think a lot of us question whether James even played any of these games at all to begin with or just binged them for video content
Why not. Across all systems from the last millennium there are easily 25 games which are absolutely amazing.
@@aylictal I'd have to disagree FF14 is one of the best told stories I have ever played. The end of Heavensword, Shadowbringer, and Endwalker had me in tears. I know it is an MMORPG that takes hundreds of hours to complete but the story is on point.
@@wraith313 He's mentioned his love of FF6 many times over the years in multiple videos.
Top rpgs needed reviewed nerd. Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy 7
Super Mario RPG
Secret of Mana
Starocean
Chrono Cross.
Hope you see this list James
Never played it but I really, reallllly enjoy these episodes where you dive into the story, meaning and significance of the game. It's more like a history lesson and a personal momento for the game rather than just playing it
The Earthbound episode makes me feel the same way.
Nah, I can read the Wikipedia article by myself
@@jr1noontrera911That episode got me to play earthbound and get back into playing video games!
Greatest soundtrack of any game. “Forever Rachel,” “Spinach Rag,” “Dancing Mad,” and the list goes on. Masterful stuff.
Dancing Mad is the best song ever made. It always brings shivers down my spine and evoke deep emotion.
It wasn't played in entire series of fully orchestrated live concerts for nothing.
The song in the magitec factory bangs and bangs and bangs
You absolutely nailed this game. I live in Denmark and imported these games from the US because they weren't available in Europe. I spent the best days of my life with my older brother shedding tears to the soundtracks. He and I shared all the ups an downs and epic adventures of a ton of games - But the best ones were Zelda, Chrono Trigger and the masterpiece; FF6(3). I learned English on a level that was waaay beyond the norm for a 9-year-old just to play and understand the games. I covered most of the soundtrack as guitar-arrangements, simply because the music was something so special. My brother committed suicide recently - but I still persevere, with a heavy core memory and lesson that this game taught. Thank you for this Christmas present James - If you would ever let me, maaan I would love to be a guest on the couch and chew the fat on retro games :)
My condolences 🙏
Glad to hear you found strength despite such a loss. 😢
Sorry for your loss 😢
Sorry for you loss 😢
Sorry man
how do you make a review about a game that has been played and reviewed by every single retro video game fan and still make it insightful and unique? i have no clue, but you managed to do it. awesome work!
Please keep taking us back to the past to games you loved. This is also AVGN material
It’s been decades since I played this game, yet hearing the music again still instantly brings me to the verge of tears.
Terra’s Theme 😭
Wimp
Ok nevermind now I'm crying too
@@Blernster 😂
Hits you right in the feels, when times were so much simpler
"Passion always comes through, in spite of limitations." Well put.
My friend renamed the characters names as his friends names, I was over watching him play after-school and was like YO you named (blank) Jason after me that is sooo cool. Made it so much more personal when anything happened to that character.
Loved this
I used to do that in FF9. Zidane was named about my best friend, I named myself on Vivi (which for me is the most beautiful character ever) it's cool!
Whoa!? Was that Mike!? Please do more videos with Mike! You guys bring so much nostalgia and it just feels right with you two! Been watching you guys since 2009 and still binge watch all the older seasons! Keep up guys and Merry Christmas!!!!
The ending always makes me shed a tear. What a game.
I can't believe 12 years later, I'm still rewatching this guy's videos. The best friend I've never met.
this might be my favorite avgn episode ever made. less on the comedy side, and heavy on the nostalgia side, with it also being holiday themed. I grew up with this game, and watching him play and talk about it in such an epic way, takes me right back to those days. truly an awesome, epic, legendary episode, and proves that james can nail the slightly more serious reviews better than just about anyone.
I’ve watched it three times in full, truly one of the best episodes in his career
I had always wanted to hear the opera scene done with real opera singers. I hadn't realized others wanted this too until recently, when I watched someone play through one of the re-releases of this game where they actually did that.
There is the Distant Worlds live concert series where they do that. I have seen it several times and heard both the Opera and Dancing Mad live. Amazing stuff.
@@SomeRPGFan pixel remaster does it too
Theres also the OCRemix version aswell. Its part of thier FF6 Balance and Ruin album.
I really love these sincere, sentimental videos. Not trying so hard to be The Nerd. Just seeing James in his natural element trying to make something meaningful. It was also really nice getting to see Mike in a video. I'm glad he's doing his own thing now and able to make himself his own top priority, but I hope he pops in at Cinemassacre every now and then.
Merry Christmas everyone!
It's hard to explain the feeling of awe from that game back then, how amazing and special it was, but you did it perfectly.
bot
Troll
He's a master at breaking down the flood of emotion brought on by bad and great games.
Chrono Trigger will always be the greatest video game to me. Everything about it is perfect.
One of the greatest games ever made. Beautiful music. Beautiful story. Beautiful characters. It remains in my heart to this day.
It’s crazy he can still make amazing videos like 20 years after he started.
That cracking sound that starts when you defeat a boss is such a relief
im so happy mike is still part of this channel, the skits you guys do are legendary
This FF is, in my opinion, the best written FF game. Virtually every character has a story arc and a motivation that is unique and understandable. It blends humor and emotion fantastically and the villain is the best in the series. Like AVGN said at the beginning of the video, you can't even really pick a main character. They're all main characters (except for GoGo and Umaro, and possibly Mog).
EDIT: Also, the Atma Weapon music is probably my favorite track.
I played the "pixel remaster" a little while ago, and experiencing that opera scene fully orchestrated and voiced AND even in different languages (german is way better than I expected) was a blast!
Ultros deserved a mention, he's such a funny villain. FF6 is incredible, its soundtrack is timeless
The one thing I remember about him is if the artist girl (Relm? Rand? Can't remember her name) draws him, he surrenders instantly because he finally realizes he's a hideous monster.
Name a better duo than Ultros and Chupon, I'll wait
Ultros is my favorite FF villain. He has so much personality
@@chemicals8582then he becomes a receptionist!
One of my proudest moments as a kid: having my name printed in Nintendo Power as one of the people who beat Kefka with a full party of imps. You had to print out a 3x5 photo of it happening as proof and mail it in to them.
Niceeee!
Haven't been impressed this much by an AVGN episode for years. Really like this more serious tone. It made me feel something deep and personal was shared. Thank you so much!
Cmon be real this is terrible
@@magickmarck terrible opinion alert
@@magickmarcknah
I agree completely, this was a magical episode
Felt the same. Got emotional.
Man this one felt like a instant classic. Also we need more great games.
Also the message of never surrender hits hard to me. This year missed my mom so it's rough.
Sorry for your lost, i lost my Mother to COPD earlier in the year.
My deepest condolences! Very sorry for your loss Alejandro!
A nostalgia bomb I didn’t know I needed today. One of the greatest games of all time. Great tribute!
and thanks to emulation software, you can play the original snes game on windows
30:31 this gave me goosebumps, I totally get that reaction. Infinitely memorable 😮