Final Fantasy
Originally released: 1987 (Japan) 1990 (US)
Platforms: NES, MSX, WonderSwan Color, PlayStation, Gameboy Advance, PlayStation Portable, Virtual Console, iPhone/iPod Touch
The very first Final Fantasy was initially released on the NES in 1987 but has appeared on multiple consoles in multiple iterations since then, most recently on the iPhone. You played as the four Warriors of Light, who the player both named and selected from a variety of classes, including Warrior, Monk, Thief, White Mage and Black Mage. The story involved the collection of four crystals and featured a surprising time travel twist, while the game itself laid down many of the conventions that would become a staple of the series. Understandably the gameplay in Final Fantasy is fairly basic compared to later games in the series, but importantly this was the title that set up the core dynamic of turn-based attacks, magic and items. Final Fantasy is also the only game in the series to not feature the iconic Chocobo, though a Cid mention was retconned into the game for the GBA Dawn Of Souls remake. Though the older versions of Final Fantasy are rather hard on the eyes, the modern remakes look great and showcase gameplay that, though simple, has aged quite well.
Kickin' it old school.
Final Fantasy II
Originally released: 1988 (Japan) 2003 (US)
Platforms: NES, WonderSwan Color, PlayStation, Gameboy Advance, PlayStation Portable, iPhone/iPod Touch
There was every intention for Final Fantasy II to be released in North America as the original game had been, but this plan never materialised. This lead to what was actually Final Fantasy IV being released in the US as Final Fantasy II later on, with the real Final Fantasy II not being released until the Final Fantasy Origins compilation on PlayStation released in 2003. Final Fantasy II was notable for being the first game in the series to feature a full cast of hero characters, with the three main characters being Firion, Maria and Guy, with a range of characters filling the role of fourth party member. As is often the template for stories in this series, these three rambunctious youths are taking on an empire, headed by the evil Palamecia, while searching for Maria’s brother Leon. Final Fantasy II was unique for not having a traditional levelling system. Instead party members increased their strength by frequent use of their abilities. Final Fantasy II was also the first in the series to feature the beloved Chocobo. Like the first game, Final Fantasy II has been remade several times, with the GBA and PSP versions standing out as the best.
The PSP remake offered up gorgeous reinterpretations of the sprites.
Final Fantasy III
Originally released: 1990 (Japan) 2006 (US)
Platforms: NES, Nintendo DS, Virtual Console
Final Fantasy III is an unusual entry in the series in that it wasn’t at all internationally released until the Nintendo DS remake of 2006. The PlayStation compilations Origins (I and II) Anthology (IV and V for Europe, V and IV for US) skipped over it completely, making it the only numbered Final Fantasy to not appear on a Sony platform in one form or another. Final Fantasy III introduced Moogles and Mogs to the series, as well as command moves like Summon, Steal and Jump, which would reappear throughout the rest of the series. Originally, Final Fantasy III moved back to the format of the first game, in that it featured protagonists without individual identities. However, the DS version of the game retconned names and back stories for the characters. Another similarity to the original Final Fantasy was the return of the four crystals motif, which would reappear frequently in the early games of the series, as well as the Crystal Chronicles spin-off. Final Fantasy III also introduced the Job system – party members would start out as Onion Knights (Freelancers in the remake) and would have access to more specialised roles, like Thief, Dragoon or Red Mage, as they progressed through the game.
Dragons: Final Fantasy has them.
Final Fantasy IV
Originally released: 1991 (Japan, US)
Platforms: SNES, PlayStation, WonderSwan Color, Gameboy Advance, Nintendo DS, Virtual Console
As mentioned before, Final Fantasy IV was originally released in the US under the banner of Final Fantasy II, and it wasn’t until the Gameboy Advance version released in 2005 that it was released internationally with its correct numbering. Final Fantasy IV was the first in the series to incorporate Square’s Active Time Battle system, where fighting remained turn-based but took place in real time, meaning the battle carried on even while you were inputting commands. This made battling a much more kinetic and suspenseful affair. Trying to desperately locate a potion or phoenix down from your inventory while your party was being decimated was quite different to the enemy politely waiting for you to find the correct item. Though Final Fantasy IV once again revolved around the four crystals motif, it was also the series’ first serious stab at storytelling. Characters like Cecil Harvey, dragoon Kain Highwind and the villain Golbez are remembered fondly and featured in a plot that was rather complex and featured several twists. This would set the trend for the stories in future games. Final Fantasy IV also recently received a very rare thing in the Final Fantasy series: a direct sequel. Final Fantasy IV: The After Years is the only direct sequel other than Final Fantasy X-2, and has been released as a WiiWare title. Final Fantasy IV also received a complete DS remake.
Keep an eye out in FFXIII for a reference to two of the characters here.
Final Fantasy V
Originally released: 1992 (Japan) 1999 (US)
Platforms: SNES, PlayStation, Gameboy Advance
Final Fantasy V brought back not only the four crystal motif but also the Jobs system from Final Fantasy III. This time however, experience points and Job levelling were separated into different realms. This time around, abilities learned in one job could be carried over to another, allowing for much more depth in how you shaped your four-character party. Final Fantasy V also introduced aspects like recurring mini-bosses and the appearances of the (incredibly cool) character Gilgamesh. It also brought in ‘super bosses’ which would become a staple of Final Fantasy games to come. These were enemies so strong not even a maxed out party could take them on and hope to survive without a decent strategy behind them. The original Super Famicom (SNES) version of Final Fantasy V was never released in America because it was supposedly not accessible enough to the average gamer, due to the increasingly complex RPG elements of building and developing characters. There were plans to release it as Final Fantasy Extreme, which would be aimed at hardcore gamers for whom the extra difficulty wouldn’t be an issue, but these plans never materialised. It was however eventually released in the form of Final Fantasy Anthology, and later ported to the Gameboy Advance.
GILGAMESH!
Final Fantasy VI
Originally released: 1994 (Japan, US)
Platforms: SNES, PlayStation, Gameboy Advance
Final Fantasy VI is widely regarded by many as one of the best, if not the best, games in the entire series. This game really marked a large turning point for the franchise and was easily the most ambitious title in the series yet. Due to the odd numbering system referred to earlier, Final Fantasy VI arrived on American shores as Final Fantasy III. Confusing, huh? Final Fantasy VI lifted the bar significantly in terms of both storytelling and gameplay. It sported a huge cast of main characters (14!) and a labyrinthine storyline. Final Fantasy VI was really the first in the series to build a steampunk setting where magic and technology both clashed and combined. This would become a trend that has been woven through the series since. As always, the characters were battling against an empire (unimaginatively called The Empire) as they try to crush peace. Behind the chaos was the hugely memorable and delightfully insane Kefka, who remains one of the most beloved Final Fantasy villains to date. The protagonists were great too, with characters like Terra, Locke, Edgar and Sabin bringing the hero archetype to a new level, while characters like Cyan, Celes, Setzer and Shadow had a depth and complexity never before seen in video game characters at the time. In terms of gameplay, the Job system was more or less implemented into the characters themselves, with each party member coming with their own specialisations (Locke was a Thief, Gau was a Blue Mage, etc). Espers – the summonable creatures that have appeared throughout the series in different forms – play a crucial role in both gameplay and story. Party members could be paired with Espers or Magicite to learn new abilities, allowing players to either diversify a party members repertoire or focus on improving their default role. Final Fantasy VI was a truly superb game that will be remembered not only as one of the best Final Fantasy games, but one of the best video games in general.
The blue fight menu was long a Final Fantasy staple.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our look at Final Fantasy through to Final Fantasy VI. Stay tuned for the second part of this feature, in which we’ll be taking a look at the series from Final Fantasy VII to Final Fantasy XII, as well as the numerous spin-off titles and other games that have been spawned under the Final Fantasy banner.
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