Play Final Fantasy games in special order?

Hey!

I'm getting a DS in a couple days (Yeah, I'm a bit late, I know. Heh,) and I want to get at least one Final Fantasy game for it, but I haven't played any FF before.

Is there a special order the games need to (or should) be played in?

Also, the same with Zelda, can I (Should I) play Phantom Hourglass without having played any Zelda games before? (I know, I know, I'm one of the few...)

Thanks!

Edit: Plus, will I be able to understand the new Kingdom Hearts game coming out? I have played about half of Kingdom Hearts I on PS2, but I had to give it back to my friend before I could finish it. Thanks again for any suggestions. :D

For the FF's, it doesn't matter, they're entirely different games. I'd go with IV over III, just because its a better game.

Same with the Zeldas; PH is a special case, as its a spin-off/sequel to Wind Waker on the GC, but the game debriefs you on what happened in Wind Waker, so if you've played its console predecessor or not, it doesn't really matter.

Final Fantasy IV!!!!!! well if ur starting get chocobo tales.... XPedwardorito

Joke?

If you don't mind the simpler graphics (some people really seem to hate them) I'd try FF6 for the GBA first. It's got a fantastic story and is a bit less hardcore than the DS ones (3 is punishingly hard at times, with a fairly so-so plot, while 4 isn't as hard, though bosses need proper strategy, but it has a fantastic story).

And as everyone has already said, go for it with Zelda, you really don't need to know any backstory.

As for KH games I'm not sure. There was a GBA game that sat between the two main games, and it looks like the DS KH game is a spin off of Roxas story (he's the Nobody created when Sora became a Heartless AFAIK). Not sure if it will play into the plot significantly or not... details are sketchy...

As for KH games I'm not sure. There was a GBA game that sat between the two main games, and it looks like the DS KH game is a spin off of Roxas story (he's the Nobody created when Sora became a Heartless AFAIK). Not sure if it will play into the plot significantly or not... details are sketchy... dr_wadsy

Yeah, I have a lot of friends who have played all three Kingdom Hearts, so I know about Roxas and all that, I was just wondering whether it would really help to play I and CoM first.

Yea each Final Fantasy game has its own story line, but often share some of the same characters as the others. For example Cid is in every Final Fantasy game.... anyways though the only sequal is X and X-2 so unless your getting one of those, do not worry about a sequal ever. Hope I helped.XxShadowTongyxX

Just what shadow said. Only final fantasy 10-10/2 where the only games that continued from one game to another. Well final fantasy 4 and six are sort of connected with what happened with magic if you want to see it that way. I always loved cid in number 6 and 7 and 9.

I really don't see what's so wrong with playing the games in order. For Kingdom Hearts, play 1, then Chain of Memories for gba (heh if you can find it) and then start on 2. this will get you ready for the DS (and/or psp version) KH games, as it will be a while before they're released.

I'd also recommend the same thing for Final Fantasy games; just play 1 all the way to 12. It has nothing to do with story continuity, but it is nice to see how the series has progressed through its 20+ sum years, from graphics to story to gameplay and all that hubub. That's what I'm doing, and now I'm currently on FF 9, so only 10 and 12 left before I can anticipate 13 and Versus.

Of course it will be diffucult to secure FF 5 and 6 for gba so... good luck with that. You always have FF 3 and 4 for the DS to lean back on. (also get The World Ends With You and any other Square Enix title, I guarantee you can find something to like)