The Final Fantasy series is the widest distributed RPG (role-playing game) of all time. It has seen titles on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), the Gameboy, the Super Nintendo, the Nintendo Gamecube, the MSX 2, the PlayStation, the PlayStation 2, the WonderSwan Color and the Gameboy Advance, as well as the PC and various mobile phones. It has recently been announced that future titles will appear on the Nintendo DS, Wii, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360.
In the mid-80s Square Co., Ltd were on the verge of bankruptcy. Hironobu Sakaguchi, a Square designer, was in the process of developing for the Famicom (the NES) the last game he would design before his retirement, and the last game his company would release - or so he thought, hence the title 'Final' Fantasy. In 1987 Final Fantasy I was released.
Final Fantasy I
The first instalment of the Final Fantasy series was released in Japan in 1987 and in North America in 1990 (Europe did not see the title until 2004), and has since then been remade for several different consoles. It is often packaged with its indirect sequel, Final Fantasy II. The game used the Class or Job system, featuring the use of the Fighter, Black Belt, Thief, Red Mage, White Mage and Black Mage. Such classes/jobs have become traditional in the Final Fantasy series.
Final Fantasy I tells the story of four Light Warriors chosen by the player to save the world from a time of darkness. This quest includes the use of four glowing crystals or orbs, each of which carry the power of the four elements: Earth, Wind, Fire and Water.
Final Fantasy II
Released in Japan in 1988 (and in North America and Europe in 2003), Final Fantasy II was one of the first story-intensive RPGs created. It also marked the creation of chocobos and the character named Cid, both of which would become signature marks of the Final Fantasy series, reappearing throughout. Like many of the early title sin the series, it has been re-released on the PlayStation and Gameboy Advance.
The story of the game follows four companions - Firion, Maria, Guy and Leon - who embark upon a quest first to defeat the evil Palamecia Empire, and then to save the world itself.
Final Fantasy III
This third title was released in Japan in 1990, yet it was completely reworked for release in 2006 for the Nintendo DS. This release is the first time the game has been seen outside of Japan, and features 3D graphics amongst other minor differences and general updates. It has been selling so successfully that Square-Enix are considering remaking and re-releasing other early Final Fantasy titles.
The game retains the original Class/Job battle system, but the number of jobs available to the player has been greatly increased, consisting of: Onion Knight, Warrior, Monk, Hunter, Knight, Thief, Dragon Knight, Viking, Karate Master, Mystic Knight, Ninja, White Mage, Black Mage, Red Mage, Scholar, Geomancer, Conjuror, Bard, Shaman, Warlock, Summoner and Sage. As well as being the first Final fantasy to feature class-specific skills, it is also the first to feature summons.
The heroes of the game fight to restore the balance of the four elements of the world.
Final Fantasy IV
The fourth title in the series marked the second release for North America - they received the title in November 1991, seven months after the Japanese release. It was the first Final Fantasy to be released on the Super Nintendo, and therefore boasted superior graphics and sound to its predecessors. It has been re-released on the PlayStation and the Gameboy Advance.
Final Fantasy IV is the first of the series to feature the Active Time Battle (ATB), which replaced the turn-based system. Despite this, as well as the presence of twelve playable characters, the gameplay of Final Fantasy IV is often considered the simplest.
The four elements, and crystals that contain their powers, once again feature as prominent to the storyline of this title. After Cecil Harvey, a Dark Knight of the monarchy of Baron, questions his King's motives in stealing the elemental crystals, he is stripped of his title. He then embarks upon a quest against his former lord.
Final Fantasy V
This title was released in Japan in 1992, originally for the Super Nintendo. Like so many of the early titles, it has been remade and released on other platforms - the PlayStation and the Gameboy Advance.
Once again, a prominent feature of the game is the Class/Job system, as well as the ATB. Another new invention was the super boss, an enemy extremely difficult to defeat but not necessary to complete the game. Final Fantasy V had two such enemies - Omega and Shinryuu.
Again, elemental crystals feature strongly in the game's plot, and the four playable characters (Galuf, Bartz, Reina and Faris) are destined to protect them.
Final Fantasy VI
This last Final Fantasy title for the Super Nintendo was released in 1994, and in Europe on the PlayStation in 2002. It was titled Final Fantasy III in North America, as it was the third title the country saw. A Gameboy Advance version was released in 2006.
The Class/Job system is abandonned in Final Fantasy VI, yet the ATB is retained. Customisation lies in assigning the playable characters with equipment such as armour and accessories. Characters can also learn spells through equipping 'magicite'. Each character has his or her specific ability that only he or she can use, for example, Celes has her 'Runic' ability; whilst on the Veldt Gau can leave the party to learn enemy skills; Relm can draw hostile replicas of enemies.
The story features the fight of the playable characters (Terra, Celes, Relm, Strago, Shadow, Locke, Edgar, Sabin, Mog, Cyan, Gau, Setzer, Gogo, Umaru) against the evil Empire, and ultimately Kefka. They must protect the Espers, creatures of magic who are this title's summon equivalents, and restore the balance of the world.
Final Fantasy VII
Arguably the most popular of all the Final Fantasies, Final Fantasy VII has recently spawned a rush of related titles produced by Square-Enix. These include the CG film Advent Children and the games Before Crisis and Dirge of Cerberus among others. It was Square's first PlayStation venture, meaning a break from Nintendo, and was released in 1997. It was the first Final Fantasy to use 3D rendered graphics, and was voted by the Japanese Famitsu magazine as the second best game of all time after Final Fantasy X.
Final Fantasy VII retains many of the series' traditions, including the use of airships, a world map screen, chocobos, the appearance of a character named Cid, the ATB system, random encounters, super bosses, summons and the like. However, the battle system does restrict the player to only three characters, instead of the usual four. Instead of using the Class/Job system, Final Fantasy VII features the use of Materia, which levels up with AP (ability points) gained in battle to allow stronger spells to become accessible. Final Fantasy VII also features the Limit Break, a form of Final Fantasy VI's Desperation Move.
The story is one of the Final Fantasy series' most complex. In basic terms it tells the struggle of the playable characters (Cloud, Aeris - or Aerith in the North American version - Tifa, Barret, Red XIII, Cid, Cait Sith and the two optional characters, Yuffie and Vincent) against the poisonous and evil corporation Shinra Inc., however it also tells of Cloud's own identity crisis, the intentions of an ex-war hero named Sephiroth and the story of the Ancients, the survivors of the Planet.
Final Fantasy VIII
Square's second PlayStation venture premiered in 1999, and is the series' second best selling title after Final Fantasy VII.
Once again, this title includes most of the features associated with the series. However, although it retains the ATB, a new battle system is introduced - junctioning. Players can 'junction' GFs (Guardian Forces, or summons) to their characters, which allows them to have special abilities outside of battle (such as Enc-None, which eliminates random encounters, and Move/Find, which reveals hidden Draw and Save points) as well as during battle (such as the ability to summon a GF in combat and to steal items from enemies). It also gives them the ability to add magic acquired from Draw points or drawn from enemies to their statistics in order to enhance them.
The story features the fight of SeeD members against an evil sorceress, however there are various complxities in the plot.
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy IX was released in 2000 as Square's last title on the PlayStation. It was heavily influenced by the earlier titles, featuring the presence of a crystal, four characters in battle, characters having specific abilities according to their class and the influence of early Final Fantasty design, for example, the character of Vivi the black mage wears an oversized hat and blue clothing, and the only facial features visible are his large yellow eyes. This is how the job of the Black Mage was represented in early titles.
The ATB is once again retained in this title, however the Limit Break is replaced with Trance; when characters enter this Trance mode, which lasts a short period of time, they have access to character specific special abilities and their attacks are stronger. Summoned creatures are named Eidolons. Characters are able to learn abilities by equipping accessories.
Final Fantasy IX tells the story of the fight of Zidane, Princess Garnet, Vivi, Quina, Steiner, Eiko, Freya and Amarant against the tyrannical actions of the Queen of Alexandria, Brahne. In true Final Fantasy tradition, this escalates into a quest to save the world.
Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X was voted the most popular game of all time by the Japanese Famitsu magazine. It was Square's first PlayStation 2 title, and due to the international success of Final Fantasies VII, VIII and IX, was highly awaited. It was released in Japan and North America in 2001 and in Europe in 2002. The technological capabilities of the PlayStation 2 permit superior graphics as well as voice acting.
Final Fantasy X is quite different from the other more recent Final Fantasies in that it abandons the ATB, reinstates the turn-based battle system and completely discards the old EXP and AP method of levelling up, replacing it with the new Sphere Grid System. The Sphere Grid allows players to level up their players as they see fit, although it is not completely liberal, ie, before the black mage Lulu is able to reach any white magic or thief skills, she must first progress around her own part of the sphere grid which contains the black magic nodes. In addition, her original statistics are geared towards magic rather than strength, so even if she fills up the entire Sphere Grid, she will never be particularly good at physical attacks. The same is true for all characters and their specific attributes.
Another defining characteristic of Final Fantasy X is the world map. Players are unable to navigate around each and every corner of Spira, the world in which the game is set, and must go from place to place as the story dictates. Only when the airship is acquired can they explore fully, and even then only places of particular interest are accessible.
Final Fantasy X tells the story of the young summoner Yuna, who has taken it upon herself to rid the world of Spira of Sin, a monster who wreaks havoc every ten years. With her is Tidus, a young Blitzball star who is magically teleported from his city to her world. Together, with the help of the other playables (Auron, Lulu, Rikku, Wakka and Kimahri) they must deliver Spira from the threat of Sin forever.
Final Fantasy X-2
Final Fantasy X-2 is Square-Enix's first Final Fantasy title, and also the first direct sequel. It was released on the PlayStation 2 in 2003/2004.
Despite being a direct sequel to Final Fantasy X, this game shares very little with its predecessor. The locations and characters are the same, yet the gameplay has been completely transformed. The battle system resorts back to the ATB and the EXP/AP method of levelling up. The Class/Job system makes a welcome return through the use of Dress Spheres, which the character can acquire and level up with. Each Dress Sphere has different abilities that can be mastered, and each character has an ultimate Special Dress Sphere. The difference in the play of the game is also down to its new composers.
The way in which players progress through the game is also significantly different. Whereas in previous titles sidequests had little significance, in Final Fantasy X-2 they are prominent. It is possible to complete the game without embarking upon any sidequests, yet doing so would mean missing out on over 50% of the game. If a player finishes the game with less than 100%, the 'special ending' is inaccessible. The game can also be repeated with all items and Dress Spheres gained the first time round.
The game itself tells the story of Spira two years on from the events of Final Fantasy X. Yuna, upon finding a sphere that shows images of the lost Tidus, has been prompted to join a group of sphere hunters in her quest to find him. Accompanied by Rikku and her new friend Paine,
she soon finds herself caught up in a quest to save Spira once again, this time from a deadly machina called Vegnagun.
Final Fantasy XI: Online
The first online Final Fantasy was released in japan in 2002, yet it did not reach North America and Europe until 2003 and 2004 respectively. It has been released on various platforms and several expansion packs have also been made.
Final Fantasy XI: Online features a heavily modified Job system that echoes the tradition of the early titles of the series. The game makes it essential to team up with other characters in order to advance the storyline. It also features an item synthesis system.
The game itself is set in the land of Vana-diel, which is made up of several countries and regions named after summon creatures from other Final Fantasy titles. A player is required to choose a region in which to begin adventuring, and then to choose a race from the following: Hume, Elvaan, Tarutaru, Galka and Mithra. There are an extensive number of subplots and quests on which to embark when playing Final Fantasy XI: Online, yet there are only eight main plots. These are those of: San d'Oria, Bastok, Windurst, Zilart, Dynamis A & B, Chains of Promathia and Treasures of Aht Urghan.
Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy XII was released in Japan and North America in 2006, and reached the PAL format on the 23rd of February 2007. It is the last title on the PlayStation 2. It received a perfect 40/40 score in the Japanese Famitsu magazine, one of only six games to do so.
The gameplay of Final Fantasy XII feels similar to that of Final Fantasy XI: Online - the battle syetms have their similarities. The combats take place in the realtime screen, rather than a special battle screen used by the other Final Fantasies. It is often wrongly thought that this eliminates random encounters. The ATB and turn-based battle systems are both rejected this time around. Instead, Final Fantasy XII uses a system by which players select character actions but must wait for a Wait Time Guage to fill before those actions are carried out. In addition, the 'Gambit' system of artificial intelligence has been introduced. Whilst the player is not controlling the other two party members, they will perform actions according to a pre-determined system called 'Gambit'.
The method of levelling up in Final Fantasy XII is similar to the Sphere Grid of Final Fantasy X - players activate nodes - or 'licences' as they are known - on a Licence Board made up of abilities such as Steal; magic; the ability to use certain weapons, armour and accessories; Quickenings (character specific special attacks); summons; and status increasing licences such as +100 HP. Licences are bought using LP (licence points) gained in battle.
The game itself takes place in the world of Ivalice, and in particular the city-state of Dalmasca that has been occupied by the Archadian Empire. A chance meeting between the young orphan Vaan and Princess Ashe, the leader of Dalmasca's resistance against Imperial occupation, is to change history forever.
Final Fantasy XIII
Very little is known about the latest Final Fantasy instalment other than it will be on the PlayStation 3 and will have three games associated with it; possibly in much the same way as the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII. These games will be collectively known as Fabula Nova Crystallis.The screenshots released at E3 2006 feature a strong and pretty young woman - whose name is thought to be 'Lightning' as it appears at the bottom of every battle screenshot even when she is casting a fire spell - fighting with some soldier-esque figures and looking very forlorn. Nothing is yet known about the plot of this game.
Other Final Fantasy video game instalments
Final Fantasy Adventure
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
Final Fantasy Legend I
Final Fantasy Legend II
Final Fantasy Legend III
Final Fantasy Tactics
Final Fantasy Tactics Advanced
Final Fantasy Tactics: Shishi Sensou
Final Fantasy Tactics: A2
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates
Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus
Final Fantasy VII: Before Crisis
Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
Final Fantasy Agito XIII
Final Fantasy Versus XIII
