Welcome to Gaming Union's community event New Game Plus! Think of it like a video game bookclub; each week Unionites will all take on the same game and play through to a pre-determined checkpoint. It's just like playing a game normally, but plus the GU community! The idea of the feature is to encourage more in depth discussion about games in general but pushes people to focus on one title at a time. This can create a space where we can be more analytical or critical about storyline or game mechanics. No conversation topic is barred, but you must remember to do your homework to keep up with everyone else!

For our second season of New Game Plus, the Gaming Union community has chosen the next game to be the classic Final Fantasy I! The significance of this game and the impact it had on the JRPG genre is almost indescribable. Released in 1987, the original title in the now infamous series, Final Fantasy puts you in control of 4 Light Warriors who must save the world by collecting elemental crystals. There are plenty of dungeons to explore and battles to win as you travel across a huge world map with any mix of fighters, thieves and mages.

This is our first week! So grab your copy of the game and join in! Check out below for the guidelines to participate and for details of where our first checkpoint in the game will be! Make sure to come back regularly to let us know what you think of the game so far or read the opinions of like minded gamers.

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We're hoping to split FFI into five sections. This is Week 1.

The checkpoint which you need to play up to is:
Dock at Melmond.
Inside the following spoiler tags is a slightly more in depth description of all the locations you go through plus boss fights before you get to this point, just to dispel any confusion:

ALL DISCUSSION FOR WEEK 1 IN THIS THREAD.
Also if you need any clarification of the guidelines then please ask!
Have fun exploring, guys!

GUIDELINES
- You can play any version of this game! There are a fair few out there, so just choose one!
- A new thread will go up each Thursday telling you where the next check point is. All discussion for each section must go in the relevant threads. Previous threads will remain open to let people catch up and let the conversation continue.
- You MUST resist playing on past the scheduled check points. For these discussion threads to work we need to all be at the same point in the game. Besides, it's not in the spirit of this activity!
- Please don't post spoilers for things that haven't happened in the game yet. We love that you're enthusiastic about it, but some people will be playing for the first time.
- However, you CAN post spoilers for anything that happens within the given section of the game, so long as you use tags [ spoiler][/spoiler ] to protect those still playing through.
- Talk about anything and everything! Story is just one aspect, but if you love the music or hate the map, then speak up! Get a little more specific and in depth than usual!
- If you get hopelessly stuck, you're encouraged to say so in this thread as soon as you can, and I can guarantee that there'll be a whole bunch of people willing to offer up their strategies or tips.
- On the converse, feel free to challenge yourself if you've played the game a billion times before! Suggested challenges could be a Solo Run or a party of White Mages!
- Remember to HAVE FUN!

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good luck to everybody out there. I myself am getting myself set up on the PS1 version with my usual party of (no names have been chosen yet, but that's not important, is it?)

I have 2 tip videos that will come in handy for after the prologue (after you cross the bridge)

and when you reach Provaka

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Yes! I've been waiting for this. Hopefully I have time to play this over the weekend.

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Twitter: @DarrylGU

Well, I just wasted Garland. I also found out that (at least in the remakes anyways) if you walk away w/o talking to Sarah upon returning to the castle, she'll stop you LOL. I need to check that out in the original NES version, because I always talked to her before leaving, even in my very first playthrough when I was 11, and I hadn't discovered the internet or walkthroughs/strategy guides

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Looking forward to this NGP. I'll probably start it tonight. I'm thinking of playing a "no weapons" game this time, with a party of three black belts/monks and a white mage. It should be a bit of a challenge at the start, but I think it'll be fun.

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"Aren't you a little young to be a l'Cie?"
"Why yes, yes I am."

YES! Time for me to get this ***** down and out of the way XD

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Alright, I made it to the first checkpoint ^_^

My basic stats are as follows

Warrior (Zero) LV8
Red Mage (Page) LV8
White Mage (Holy) LV7
Black Mage (Blaze) LV8

The journey started out pretty straight forward for me, I blew through Garland, and the pirates were nothing (as usual). By the time I reached Elfhime, i did a little grinding, decided it was taking too long to get the cash I needed, so i played the slider puzzle (1st place time gives you 10000 gil, so that helps ^_^)
As I continued on, I had a small bit of a problem with my Black Mage dieing all the time (those following me on twitter might have read a few of my posts stating this). When I got to Astos, I lost my White Mage due to his Reaper attack (which instantly kills someone, and for me always seems to hit the first time he casts it, but misses most of the time afterwards). As per my usual, he didn't get to cast it a second time, and he fell hard.
In the end, I grabbed the TNT (or whatever it might be called in whatever version you play) and got the canal opened up so I could hit Melmond. Can't wait for next week ^_^

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I had been planning on having another run through of this game recently so this looks like the perfect opportunity. I've only played the PSP version so I think I'll give the NES version a go.

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(March 15, 2012 11:24:36 PM)Waldo Lang Schnitzeldong Wrote:  I've only played the PSP version so I think I'll give the NES version a go.

wow, another brave soul (the other being Sam) good luck

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(March 15, 2012 11:30:44 PM)Zero Wrote:  wow, another brave soul (the other being Sam) good luck

If I get in trouble I'll just do a bit of grinding. And I'm familiar enough with the game that I don't have to worry about getting lost or anything.

Anyway, I just started playing and stomped Garland's easily (as you do). I'm going with my standard fighter, thief, red mage, white mage party.

And I can confirm that you can leave the castle without talking to Sarah in the NES version.

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