Final Fantasy: PS2 vs GameCube

[OnyxCougar]

OK, now I know there's a consoles thread but it's got 511 posts, and I don't wanna wade through it all. So here's the situation:

I had a PS1 years ago, and my first encounter with Final Fantasy was installment 7. I fell in love and bought (and beat) 8 and 9. I've since lost the PS and games in the move.

Then the money grubbers put FFX on PS2 and I've played some of it, and although I'm not terribly impressed, I was fully planning on buying the PS2 just for FFX and FFX-2. Since I know PS2 is backward compatible, I've purchased FF 7, 8, and 9 already (on sale) and was sweating how to afford $300 for the PS2, FFX and FFx-2 before the boys got here for Christmas. (FF7 is Bryans, FF8 Justins' Christmas and FF9 Justin's Birthday present.)

I was talking to my ex (Mark) and told him the situation and he told me unequivocably, DON'T get the PS2, get Game Cube, because FF:Crystal C(something) is coming out on the Game Cube and the game cube is Cheaper than the PS2. He said the GC also has better games.

Now, the problem is this: I have 3 PS1 games wrapped and ready for giving. PS2 is $179 here(no game, no extra controller, no memory card) and PS1 is $60 (with 2 memory cards). Game Cube is $79 for the console only.

However... FF:CC doesn't come out until February or so, AND in addition to the GC and FF:CC, I'll need 4 Game Boy Advances (at $100 each, 1 for each member of the family because FF:CC is multiplayer) PLUS god knows what else.

So. What do you guys think I should do? My current leaning is to buy the PS1 and get older RPG games (and replay Legend of Dragoon because I LOVED it) and Chrono Cross and stuff like that, which makes the current gifts relavant (and cheap, which is important.) and scrap ever playing FFX or FFX-2. THEN, in the summer, when the boys move in, get the Game Cube and buy the rest of the crap one piece at a time. (I was looking today and GBA has Yugioh and Pokemon and a bunch of other games I think J + B would LOVE.)

So what do you think? Is there something I don't know/haven't considered?

[wolf]

The GameCube, while a lot of fun ... and home of Zelda/Windwaker ... is the odd system out. Because it uses the minidiscs, it doesn't double as a cd or dvd player. The game library is significantly weak compared to both PS2 and Xbox. All PS1 games can be played on the PS2, which is what gave it the advantage for me. Xbox has the better graphics engine, but I find this to be outweighed, again, by the variety of games available for the PS2 platform.

And another thing ... Nintendo is already developing their NEXT system (G5, i think they are calling it) and it is uncertain whether it will be play GC discs. So far, Nintendo has NOT been good about backsupporting their old systems, even while promising an adapter cartridge or expansion cartridge or somesuch ... the N64 transfer pak only allowed you to play specified GameBoy programs, like pokemon, if you bought Pokemon Stadium, or would transfer some data/special stuff between 64 and Game Boy Versions ... like Mario Tennis. It was SUPPOSED to work like the SNES gameboy adapator, which allowed you to play any GB cart on the tv screen, added false color as necessary, etc. An SNES adaptor had been promised for the N64 which never materialized.

(and I'm someone who up until the PS2 had always bought Nintendo).

[insoluble]

it's all about snes emulators and FF3 -6(american) And Tactics on PS1 rocks.

My favorite ps1 was 9 though - retro charachters are cool.
From what I read about the cube version - it's a bit of a departure from standard FF SOP. So overall I would say play the old ones first, then get the PS2.

Although I think the PS1 idea is good as well - just make sure you get tactics.

[vsp]

Your ex is out of his mind. There are reasons to buy a GameCube, but the FF series is not one of them.

FF: Crystal Chronicles is a significant departure from the "main" FF series. It may end up being a good game, but it's definitely not a CGI-heavy RPG epic like the FF games that you've enjoyed. If you're going to buy a GameCube, do it because you really, really enjoy the "franchise" titles (Mario, Metroid, Zelda, Mario Kart, etc.), not for a wild card that won't be out until well after Christmas.

(EDIT: I bought a Cube for my wife several months ago, but for a different reason... shoot-the-zombie games (Eternal Darkness, Resident Evil, Resident Evil Zero), which she loves. Depending on how old your kids are and how you feel about violent entertainment, those exclusives may not be as attractive.)

That said, there are _tons_ of quality games available for the PlayStation family, particularly when it comes to RPGs.

PS1:
Final Fantasies 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
Final Fantasy Tactics (an awesome strategy RPG).
Chrono Trigger.
Chrono Cross.
Star Ocean: The Second Story. (Huge recommendation.)
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment. (Likewise.)
Arc the Lad Collection.
Dragon Warrior VII.
Grandia.
Legend of Legaia.
Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete.
Lunar 2: Eternal Blue.
Monster Rancher.
Monster Rancher 2. (Massive recommendation. It's not Pokemon -- it's a hundred times better.)
Suikoden.
Suikoden II.
Thousand Arms.
Valkyrie Profile. (Very nice.)
Wild Arms.
Xenogears.

Right there is an _assload_ of good-to-great PS1 RPGs, most of which can be found at significant discounts from their original prices, and I could throw in a few more like Breath of Fire 3 & 4, Chocobo's Dungeon 2, Legacy of Kain and Legend of Mana to round things out.

PS2: ALL of the above, plus:
Final Fantasy X, X-2, XI, XII, and whatever follows those in the "main" series.
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness (an AWESOME strategy RPG).
Wild Arms 3.
Legaia 2: Duel Saga.
Monster Rancher 3 and 4.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms 7 & 8.
Grandia 2 and Grandia Xtreme.
Suikoden III.
Xenosaga.
Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land (old school!)
Star Ocean: Til The End Of Time (coming next Feb).

And that's just the GOOD ones. Shall I list the mediocrities as well?

Now, when it comes to RPGs, here's the Cube's entire library:
Skies of Arcadia Legends.
Phantasy Star Online.
FF: Crystal Chronicles (next year).
A Paper Mario RPG (next year).

Enough said?

As for system choice, I lean towards the PS2 over the PS1, for the obvious reasons -- the game library is bigger and newer, and will keep growing (whereas the PS1 is essentially done). You have PS2-compatible games already (the FFs); get a PS2 to go with them. Leave yourself the option to get FF X and beyond down the road sometime. If you want cheap add-ons for your own (or their) amusement, Star Ocean: The Second Story and FF Tactics are both right there at under $20, or there are the FF compilations if you can find them at a reasonable price.

If you're really strapped for cash, a PS1 will do, but you're essentially be paying that $60 over again when you buy the PS2 down the road (and when the latest and greatest FF is on it, you know you're going to want to.)

By the time you're done playing all of that, used Cubes may be down to fifty bucks. (They're already at $89 used, and that was BEFORE the recent price drop.)

Addendum: I hated hated hated Zelda: The Wind Waker, and took it back before my rental period was up. Your mileage may vary.