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[The Praiseworthy]

The Final Fantasy Franchise since 1997 has presented us plenty of one of the most memorable CG scenes in the industry... they were advanced technology wise, well directed and of course let's not forget the franchise trademark.. the beautiful music.

These CG scenes once you see them they will get stuck there in your mind forever because simply they were made that way.. I will present my top CG scenes in the series in not practical order.



Yuna Dance - Final Fantasy X

The first time we see the dance in spira is through Yuna... after Sin has attacked Kilika killing many it's up to Yuna to preform the dance to send their spirits to the farplane.

I remember seeing this scene for the first time in 2001... there was nothing like it, the depression it hold and the feelings of lose and pain and the look of burden on Yuna's face... the unforgettable sad music that gave me chills and felt like a real religion ritual to send the dead to their rest place... this scene captured that sense so damn well.. I don't think anyone who have played FFX have ever forgot about this scene.



Alexander vs Bahamut - Final Fantasy IX

Who else shouted GODDAMMIT the first time seeing this epic battle in the game?

FFIX is my 2nd favorite FF game and the PERFECT one of the franchise for a reason.. and that because it's a pure fantasy.. it really captured all the magic in the franchise and how it should have been done.

Sadly we are still waiting for a FF game to be made like IX.



Ending - Final Fantasy IX

The ending of FFIX is probably my favorite romantic scene of all gaming... after living in loneliness as a queen for a while because Zinade have been gone for some time, the two lovers has reunited in the most fitting way.. through the same play and in the same place that brought the two of them together.. talk about full circle.. after Zinade reveals himself on the stage Garnet start rushing through the crowds to him when she pump into someone and her heritage pendant breaks and drops on the ground... she stands there in a moment only to realize that nothing matters to her but Zidane.. she continue running toward him while taking her grown off her head and toss it aside and jumps into her lover's arms... she is giving up everything for him... now if that isn't a perfect ending to a true love story then I don't know what it is.



Intro - Final Fantasy VIII

Who haven't been blown away by this intro when he or she saw it for the first time in 1999?

The music... the fight between Squall and Seifer... the change of scenes... the ending when Squall and Riona hugs... this is the most perfection intro I've ever seen to a game, pure epicness enough said.



Aeris Getting Killed - Final Fantasy VII

For me.. this is the most shocking death scene I've ever seen in any media... did NOT see it coming and was NOT preparing myself for it, I though Aeris will just re-join the party and continue the journey... but to see my favorite character in the franchise getting killed like this suddenly... totally shocked me in 1997 and left a scare on the teenage me.

I still remember when a friend at mine in the school he starts playing the game after me... we were talking about the game and he was at the end of disc 1, the next day I was waiting for him to arrive and when he did I rushed to him and said ( did you finish Disc1? did you see what happened ) and he was like ( DO NOT TALK TO ME NOW... NO WAY THAT HAPPENED IMPOSSIBLE I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT) it was a very unforgettable dramatic moment in my life lol.



Sephiroth's Vengeance - Final Fantasy VII

After going made.. setting Cloud's hometown on fire and murdering many, Sephiroth give Cloud one unforgettable hate look then disappear into the flames in one of the most badass moments of any villains ever.



Zack's Death - Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII

If Aeris's death was the most shocking to me... Zack's is the saddest one for me.

We played FFVII and we knew he is going to die and how... but my god to relive the whole experience again like this and still get touched and moved even more, not any director could re-create a character death scene again and still success to move the player like this... seriously it was a very well made scene.



End of an Era - Final Fantasy XIV

How to end a unsuccessful MMORPG and shut down the servers to prepare for a another launch for a new version?

Destroy the old world and go off in a style in one of the most epic ideas in the industry and one of the best made CG scenes in the franchise.. serouisly SE made a great job by transform FFXIV from the old realm to the new.




For me... FFVII - FFVIII - FFIX - FFX had the most unforgettable CG scenes in the franchise... no matter how many years it pass or how many games I play.. these four games were really something special.



Here are some Honorable mentions:

Opening - Final Fantasy VII

Aeris Burial - Final Fantasy VII

Midgar Shuts down - Final Fantasy VII

Ending - Final Fantasy VII

The Dance - Final Fantasy VIII

Riona in space - Final Fantasy VIII

Laguna proposal - Final Fantasy VIII

Vivi Witness death for the first time - Final Fantasy IX

Rushing through the gate - Final Fantasy IX

Zidane rescue Dagger - Final Fantasy IX

The Spring - Final Fantasy X

Ending - Final Fantasy X

1000 Words - Final Fantasy X-2

Return to Cocoon - Final Fantasy XIII

I can't mention them all... if some great memorable CG slipped from me please mention them in this thread fellow gafers

 

[Cert.in.Death]

A few additions to an already good list:

FFIX - Flight from the Black Mage (Disc 1)
FFIX - Garnet's Vision (Disc 2)
FFX - Rescue Mission

EDIT: One more addition

FFIX - End of Disc 2, Showdown between Kuja and Brahne (multiple scenes)

 

[Meowster]

Final Fantasy VIII basically has the GOAT opening and ending. The ending always makes me let out a tear or two. Final Fantasy X's evil ending has the same effect too. Square barely had any good CG for XIII other than the opening but XIV's End of an Era still gets me pumped.

 

[adamsapple]

Final Fantasy 8's intro blew my early teenage mind when I first saw it, but as a whole, FFIX's ending is still one of the most satisfying things I've ever come across in a video game.

 

[Bladenic]

Not my favorite but personally I do love the Real Emotion opening in X-2.

I used to love the return to Eden and the arrival to Gran Pulse in XIII when first playing, but upon rematches, the Eden return is pretty terribly directed with lots of Michael bay cuts and the arrival is alright.

 

[Pinky]

I can't stand VIII, but that intro is incredible!

 

[Meowster]

But yeah, I agree with your first choice, Yuna performing the sending really does feel like the most "iconic" for it's usage of the CG. I was a kid then but I remember all my friends being so imperased with that cutscene.

 

[ChackanKun]

Zack's death ... :'(

Crisis Core was freaking amazing.

 

[The Last One]

Final Fantasy XIII has many good ones too. My favorito is the arrival in Pulse.

 

[Nakho]

It's crazy how much better are the graphics, both in-game and cutscenes, in FF VIII compared to FF VII. It's like they're in different consoles altogether.

 

[2+2=5]

Zack's death ... :'(

Crisis Core was freaking amazing.

I agree

 

[el87]

I used to VHS these to be able to watch whenever I wanted.

 

[firelogic]

Squall rescuing Rinoa at the Sorceress Memorial when she stumbles out and falls into his arms.

 

[the_sun_king]

Final Fantasy VIII basically has the GOAT opening and ending. The ending always makes me let out a tear or two.

I like you.

 

[Count of Monte Sawed-Off]

Pretty good selection. They did some amazing work, back in the day. While FF12 is, for the moment, my favorite FF, the CG movies in it weren't very memorable. Well, I did like the opening, but it doesn't really compare with what came before.

 

[Carlisle]

There's so many great ones, but only a few are truly iconic and can probably be recognized by people who haven't even played the games:

FFVII:
Intro
Aeris's Death

FFVIII
Intro
Dance Scene
[Edit] Sorceress Parade/Assassination Plot

FFIX:
Tantalus Intro Play Escape
Alexander vs Bahamut

FFX:
Yuna Dance
Ending
The Spring

 

[Garlador]

I'm a huge fan of the opening CG for the DS remake of FFIV.

It's what I dreamed Final Fantasy games would ultimately look like.

The intro to FFVIII is also flawless, even if the game itself never lives up to it.

 

[LegendofDragoonLives]

FFX's ending is so fucking good. One of the best fictional fullstop.

 

[silva1991]

Yuna's dance for sure. so good and memorable.

 

[kromeo]

FFVIII
Intro
Dance Scene

You forgot the assassination scene

 

[Crankshaft]

That moment when Vivi unleashes his power on the Black Waltz is one of my favorite FF moments of all time.

 

[Transistor]

End of an Era. God damn that video. I never even played XIV before that and even then it made me so god damn emotional. Square is god damn king of CG scenes

 

[Carlisle]

You forgot the assassination scene

Ah yeah good call. That whole Sorceress Parade/Assassination plot section was pretty iconic too. Several CG scenes there.

 

[Pejo]

The Alex vs. Bahamut fight is the first one I always think of when I think of FF CG scenes. It was just so damn epic and unexpected the first time.

Also, for me personally, I love watching the video of Sapphire Weapon attacking Junon. That was a major Holy Shit! moment in FFVII. The scale and scope of FFVII is just so damn good. Man that game really kept on giving. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayA5wS7sL6I

 

[firelogic]

You forgot the assassination scene

The Ragnarok forcing it's way through the Lunatic Pandora's shield is pretty badass. Also the scene right after Squall rescues Rinoa hanging off of Balamb Garden and they're running through a battlefield. Rinoa/Squall are in-game and the rest is CG.

 

[laoni]

End of an Era was what got me interested in A Realm Reborn and I signed up for the beta test relatively soon after from memory.

 

[Transistor]

Galbadia Garden attacking Balamb Garden in FFVIII. That whole scene was fucking amazing.

 

[MoogleWizard]

FFVIII ending > FFVIII intro > FFXIV End of an Era > all CG cutscenes in video games

 

[Buttons]

For me it's the extended version of End of an Era in FFXIV. Flames of Truth.

That one is a few minutes longer and actually shows what happened to Louisoix and Bahamut.

https://youtu.be/1xOOFCltZuc

Other than that, the FFVIII intro still gives me goosebumps and in FFXI the airship chase scene where Vivi blasts the Black Waltz with Fire. Also Bahamut vs. Alexander in FFXI.

 

[ZenTzen]

Zack's Death - Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII

If Aeris's death was the most shocking to me... Zack's is the saddest one for me.

We played FFVII and we knew he is going to die and how... but my god to relive the whole experience again like this and still get touched and moved even more, not any director could re-create a character death scene again and still success to move the player like this... seriously it was a very well made scene.

this scene is pretty memorable to me on how shitty it is and how it completely goes against how his death is supposed to be presented and how sakaguchi wanted death to be shown to players, as in a quick and tragic event, where there was no time for farewell, and if you think about it all deaths in FFVII are like that, the Avalanche members, president Shinra, Aerith, clouds mon, tifas dad, etc., in OG FF7, Zacks death is pretty brutal, Zack in a moment of weakness and concern for his friend, he is caught off guard and shot while checking up on cloud and then brutally gunned down in front of him, which is then followed by the shinra soldiers leaving cloud there as a non threat, you're supposed to feel bad about his death and the brutality on how he was murdered, instead, we have an over dramatized sequence, with a final stand, a crappy you mah legacy speach and being lifted to the heavens for maximum cringe, where you are left thinking, how sad, hes dead, but its ok, he said his farewells and his now content with his life, fuck that

Spoiler

how i wish i could change that ending to better represent his original death, but the worst part is that this is probably the version they'll go with for the remake

the only good part of this whole sequence was clouds scream on the realization that his dear friend is dead

 

[Byvar]

End of an Era is my favourite. Uematsu really outdid himself with Answers, it's one of my favourite FF songs.
But all of the ones in the OP are really good, my other favourites being the CGI scenes in FFIX and FFX.
Another one that I really like is this from the FF6 PS1 port: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqPjWsrHnSs
It really shows how great FF6 could look in 3D, and I love how they kept the dreamy opera song playing in the background even during the action scenes. It's quite a well-directed piece of animation that evokes nostalgia by summarizing a few of the memorable moments of the game.

There's also stuff like this:
FF4 DS/PSP opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMOUJcPfU6w
FF3 DS/PSP opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Etyu3LuwHU
You don't see character designs and environments like this in newer games, except FFXIV, but that's an MMO and doesn't even come close to the feelings evoked by these CGI openings. This really makes me wish for a classic FF with modern 3D graphics, where we could explore all these fantastical places in a fully ope world.

Finally, I've also discussed how well-directed the Versus XIII scenes we saw were before and how great the musical direction was, so I won't go in detail about that again.

 

[Kyougar]

FFVIII:

- Intro
- Dance
- attack on Dollet (really set the expectation of what kind of story this is in the first disc)
- Assassination
- Battle of the gardens (a really intense mix of battles and CG after CG and battles while in a CG!)
- Ragnarök
- ending

FFX:
- Intro
- Spring kiss
- crashing the weddding
- Sin versus the military

FFX-2
- Intro
- 1000 words

FFXII:
- Intro

FFXIII
- Shiva Battle in the arena

FFXIV:
end of an era (fucking a-tier)


As the later games got fewer graphical differences between CG and Gameplay, the CG didnt feel so special anymore. It was a treat to get to a CG in FFVIII or FFX so they are more memorable.

 

[Ralemont]

End of an Era got me to buy A Realm Reborn having never played OG FF14, so I gotta go with that. What a brilliant way to reboot a failed game.

 

[The Praiseworthy]

I used to VHS these to be able to watch whenever I wanted.

I used to do the same thing XD

Oh the time when there was no youtube... can't believe I lived in such a time before lol.

 

[Aureon]

IX's rush into lindblum takes the cake.

Year after year, though, i'm still thinking FFX is unparalled in building a non-tolkienesque fantasy world.
The attention at how they're a different people, with different customs, shaped by the terror that is Sin, is incredible.

 

[Zomba13]

Really good picks in the OP. While it's still pretty new compared to some of the others, I think End of an Era is the best and will go down as most memorable to me. Sadly I wasn't there when the servers went down and the cutscene played originally, but just knowing the story, that it wasn't just an intro for the reboot to explain stuff but was actually the ending cutscene from 1.0 that actually played when Dalamud actually fell and actually destroyed the servers while people actually were in the actual zone in the cutscene just makes it amazing. It looks visually awesome and it has so much context to it.

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

Love the ending of IX and the music that plays along with it perfectly imbues with each action in that scene.

 

[The Praiseworthy]

While it's still pretty new compared to some of the others, I think End of an Era is the best and will go down as most memorable to me

End of Era is the most memorable CG scene in the franchise since Crisis Core's ending.. they are doing such amazing job with FFXIV treating it like an old classic one.

 

[Wazzy]

Final Fantasy VIII's Intro, Dance scene and Ending are my favourite CG scenes in the series. The ending is especially gorgeous and emotional with the wonderful Ending Theme playing.

X's Ending is great as is X-2's Opening. Oh and VII's big death scene is obviously one of the most memorable.

 

[CarJeter]

I also thought Type-0 "Battle of Judecca" was pretty good.

 

[Aters]

FFIII DS intro nailed that sense of adventure of old school JRPGs. My secret favorite.

 

[Kev Kev]

I used to do the same thing XD

Oh the time when there was no youtube... can't believe I lived in such a time before lol.

Kind of hard to believe YouTube has only been around since 2005.

I remember as a teenager I used to download FF montages and cutscenes. I must have had 40 or 50 different files in that folder and watched them all the time.

Burning of Nibelheim, Sephiroth standing in the fire all evil looking, is probably the most iconic FF scene for me.

 

[The Praiseworthy]

I remember as a teenager I used to download FF montages and cutscenes. I must have had 40 or 50 different files in that folder and watched them all the time.

I used to do this as well... I had a folder with most of the FF CG scenes and I used to watch them and make videos out of them using Movie Maker, hahaha the old days XD

 

[Vital Tundra]

It's actually Aerith. But I like FF14s ending/intro.

 

[Canucked]

I really liked the opening of the original FFXIV

http://youtu.be/ag2cRTU-Og8

 

[Alo0oy]

Yuna and Tidus kissing/Spring scene most likely. Followed by Aerith's scene.

 

[Ochibi]

Lightning Returns CGI ending is pretty good

 

[Croyles]

The Alex vs. Bahamut fight is the first one I always think of when I think of FF CG scenes. It was just so damn epic and unexpected the first time.

Also, for me personally, I love watching the video of Sapphire Weapon attacking Junon. That was a major Holy Shit! moment in FFVII. The scale and scope of FFVII is just so damn good. Man that game really kept on giving. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayA5wS7sL6I

How come the music is missing in that video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD1ynv-OHL4

 

[Rainy]

The scene when they invade Bevelle in FFX ranks highly for me. I think it was because I was stuck on Evrae for the longest time. And the kiss scene was great too.

Besides that FF8's intro is up there.

 

[The Praiseworthy]

How come the music is missing in that video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD1ynv-OHL4

The whole section of this part of the game was really great and make you on the edge of your couch.... can't imagine how epic this would turn out to be in the remake.