Review of the Final Fantasy series - a detailed history of the legendary JRPG. Key developers of the series choose the best Final Fantasy The best final fantasy
Oddly enough, this is the first ending not only on my list, but also in my gaming experience. One day I will tell you in more detail how this all happened, but now it makes sense to explain why this particular game got into it.
FFT has become one of my favorites tactical games and in general games for the first for a reason. After hours of hacking in Shining Force And Langrisser Hikari I really wanted something similar, but more complicated. Which is what I got. Made in many respects according to the pattern of the famous Tactics Ogre, the strategic Finale just didn't let me sleep. A bunch of classes, even more opportunities for leveling up and developing them, an intriguing plot and ideal difficulty - this is the recipe for a masterpiece TRPG. Moreover, it is so cool that you can even play as Cloud Strife in it. Yes, this, of course, is not his only cameo in games from Square Soft and now it’s already, but it’s damn great to take control of it again, although you’ll have to work hard for it to appear. And in general, you won’t be able to complete Tactics in a couple of evenings, like everyone else similar games here you need at least 50 hours, especially considering the flexibility of character progression and the fact that they can be loaded so much that you have to fatten up a new recruit on sidequests. Well, okay, this is still not a review, otherwise I’m already carried away. As for the world of the game, this is one of the unique situations in the series. Usually, each new part is a new universe, new heroes, new stories, but here there is a single universe, stretched over several games. Ivalice - became the scene of action at different times Vagrant Story , including Revenant Wings, and all three Finals with the postscript Tactics. Regular, Advance and A2. By the way, I would include them all in the list of the best, but I still like the first one more and I often remember it, largely thanks to the tattoo.
It turned out funny, in America many people know it as the third part from the times, but I only became acquainted with it during the first one. To be honest, this is the only 2D ending that I remember so well. It was here that the funniest antagonist in the series appeared, or rather, he himself would like to be one, but he is just a pompous octopus. Ultros is just burning. And each of his appearances is like his favorite comedian going on stage. You immediately realize that this is going to be fun. As for the main villain, there was no one cooler than him before! Kefka steals the show. He's almost like the Joker of the world. His dark humor, buffoonish outfit and absolutely manic behavior make him one of the most impressive characters in the series. In addition to the Krutan villains, it is worth remembering the stunning, slightly even dark setting, for once the beautiful summons, eidolons or, as they are called here, espers, and of course the plot and our heroes. The classic confrontation between a certain empire and rebels may now seem banal, but words cannot describe how it was all orchestrated. One of those rare cases when a handful of pixels makes you stay glued to the screen, as if watching an action-packed film, and the characters are written so well that it’s easy to immediately pick out a few favorites, but here there are more than ten.
The end of the first disc, where only the most insensitive player did not roar, is the most powerful emotional shock of all the games I have played. Plot-wise, this is one of the most powerful stories for me, and not only in the gaming industry. A game that I have played through more than once, which is not typical for this genre. It’s simply impossible to briefly tell why this is my favorite game. The combat system is more than classic, it had not yet set my teeth on edge, especially since it was my first such a big story game with such a well-developed world that after it I remember Phantasy Star and others with Sega Mega Drive 2 I just didn't want to. I generally consider the matter system to be the best idea in the series and it’s a pity that it didn’t take root anywhere else. Customization of weapons and equipment thanks to it is simply a bomb mechanic! Everything about this Finale is great. From the soundtrack and locations with a unique mood to the characters. Each of them is absolutely independent and could be the hero of some other game. They had enough background for some trilogy, although there was Dirge of Cerberus about Vincent and Crisis Cor e we were shown Cloud's backstory, and in the CG film Advent Children showed the world after the fall of one of the most terrible villains, Sephiroth. has no analogues, so its remake is for me the most anticipated game of recent years. The reinvention of new mechanics in the style of the fifteenth part into an unparalleled plot is really what is needed by modern players who are not ready to play several polygons on rendered backdrops for several dozen hours. Previously, it seemed like an overly beautiful picture, but now you can’t lure a young graphic artist like that. I’m really looking forward to it and am extremely optimistic that the remake is going to be released in episodes. Perhaps it will somehow be supplemented with events from Crisis Core, Last Order and some untold stories. It would be ideal to wait for it in 2017, since the game will be 20 years old.
Well, what could be more epic than the video clips from the seventh finale? Literally a few years later, in one of the computer clubs, I saw an amazing cut of videos for one of the Linkin Park songs, from which I was impressed to the point of goosebumps... Especially after I saw the logo there at the end Final Fantasy VIII.
Yes, the Battle of Balamb is just something! Seeing it on the monitor screen was one thing, but directly participating in it... Multiply by ten! I have never seen such amazing transitions from video to gameplay. All the endings have always been quite leisurely, but this one is more cutting than any modern sci-fi blockbuster! The game clearly doesn't need to be epic. But this part managed to stand out not only to them. Firstly, this is the first finale where the main leitmotif was romantic relationships. Squall and Rinoa are all just so purr-murr-murr that some may find it even cloying, but at that time the new part was clearly aimed at just the same spiritual young people as the heroes themselves. But this is by no means some kind of sob story, but just part of a grand adventure. The gameplay of the eight was also surprising, instead of the classic purchase of spells, all the skills have to be stolen, including summons, so in order to collect them all, as they say, you will need to climb all the corners of this amazing world and have a good rustle at the monsters you encounter. There were plenty of innovations in the game, but the most obvious was the visual style. Everything is much more realistic for their age, and the characters themselves have acquired a human appearance. No more chibiks either on the world map or in combat!
While all my friends were closing raids in full force Line Age 2 or World of Warcraft, the gamepad was itching to play something like that, but alas, I didn’t have a network adapter, and finding the eleventh final was extremely problematic, and then... It came out
Many people criticize the two for a mediocre plot and not the most charismatic Ashe, but here, although everything revolves around her, she herself is far from main character, so it didn't matter at all to me. Yes, again we have two warring countries and one poor unfortunate Dalmasca, which was not lucky enough to be in their way. The plot is purely political, but the game itself is much more serious than all previous ones. But that’s not why it made it onto my list of favorite finales. The gameplay is why I love this game! The combat combines all the best from the classic ATB system and typical MMORPG free movement with targets. There are no random encounters, all the enemies are at your fingertips, and again, running during a fight is not typical for numbered Finals. This was truly something new for me. I was especially surprised by the new leveling, somewhat similar to the development from the Tenth part, but here it is important to note the version called International Zodiac Job System, where you don’t just upgrade each hero the way the developers originally intended, but you can choose a completely different class for him, which I even managed to get out of the habit of over the years. Moreover, “New Game +” appeared here and a mode where characters do not gain experience at all, which is also very unusual for the series. By the way, the upcoming remaster is based on this edition, which is damn cool. The game even today looks very juicy and without any re-releases, and in the original edition you can kill it great amount hours not only for the story, but also for sidequests and tasks for the hunters' guild.
In general, there is more than enough content here, and with “Zodiac” there is even more. Good game, not only because it is the last game, within the framework of the story of the favorite parts of this series.
If you haven't heard of the Final Fantasy series by now, you probably live in... deep forest. But this is one of the pillars of the genre. It was she who gave us the protagonists' hairstyles sticking out in all directions, huge swords and epic battles with bosses. And while nothing compares to the original console experience, many of the games in the series have been ported to PC. So even if you don't have the desire to purchase a PS4, you can still enjoy one of the biggest franchises in the gaming industry.
10.Final Fantasy VI
9. Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age
What the game is about: The twelfth "Fantasy" tells the story of the orphan Vaan, who lives in a kingdom stricken by decline and dreams of becoming heavenly. His dream comes true when the young man manages to steal magicite from under the noses of two pirates, Fran and Balthir. Together they flee the kingdom and join the resistance fighting against the false king.
Merits: XII became the part that fans of the series missed, who loved the “ten” or were enthusiastically waiting for the thirteenth game. However, The Zodiac Age has a deep story and innovative gameplay that eventually evolved into the game we know from later games. The twelfth installment took the necessary risks that refreshed the series and allowed it to reach its current heights.
Two unique features: The "Gambit" combat system allows the player to perform certain character actions. The first attempt to add an open world combat system to the series instead of random skirmishes with opponents.
Fight or flight? Decide for yourself, fortunately the new combat system allows this. 
Well, who doesn't love pirates? Do you want to become one of the heavenly robbers? 8.Final Fantasy XIII
What the game is about: Like the sixth part, the thirteenth will tell us about Lightning Farron, a former military man who rebelled against the genocidal government. She meets other outcasts and together they form a kind of team, becoming the target of persecution by those in power.
Merits: XIII, or rather Lightning, has become the most recognizable figure from Final Fantasy for last years. It's like its own "Frozen" in the franchise - it was everywhere, even two sequels appeared. Despite its popularity, many gamers found the game's linearity to be a major flaw. Fans often mention "thirteenth" as the most worst game series, but it’s better to play it yourself and see whether it’s worth your attention or not.
Two unique features: The graphics in the game are magnificent without a doubt. The scale of battles has been reduced, which veterans of the series consider to be as casual as auto-combat, but for newcomers the game has become much easier.
Press X to win: The simplified combat system is ideal for those new to the series. 
Stunning graphics and spectacular views are one of the biggest advantages of FFXIII. 7.Final Fantasy IV
What the game is about: About Cecil Harvey and his air force, the Red Wings. Stripped of his rank, Cecil and his best friend Kain must stop Zemus and Golbez, who are plotting to destroy humanity.
Merits:“Four” came out quite a long time ago and found itself in the shadow of the heavyweight hits that followed it. But when it was ported to PC in the form, it showed everyone how underestimated it was. The PC version is a direct port of the DS remake of the game, which became one of those rare cases when both fans and critics unanimously praised all the additions and changes made to the game. The graphics matched the tone of the game, and the gameplay introduced the world to what would become the series' signature feature: the Active Time Battle system.
Two unique features: Do you like witty dialogues? Square Enix We tried our best and the “four” came up with a lot of hilarious phrases and situations. As a bonus, when it came out on the DS, the game got decent (for that time) 3D graphics.
FFIV's updated graphics were true to their time. 
The Four was known for its excellent dialogue, and the remake was not a disappointment. 6.Final Fantasy IX
What the game is about: The ninth part of the series took on a difficult task: it tried to weave thieves and theater into the plot. Zidane is a charming thief from the Tantalus troupe. They plot to kidnap Princess Garnet for ransom... eventually finding out that she herself is happy to escape with them from Queen Branagh.
Merits:“Nine” for quite a long time remained the leader among the games in the series on metacritic.com according to user ratings, losing only to Final Fantasy X / X-2 HD Remaster. You can often hear critics and fans calling it the best part. If you have not yet met its charming characters and beautiful world, it's time to do this.
Two unique features: The art for this game is unique to the franchise and fits perfectly with the aesthetic of the world in which all the action takes place. If the dramatic premise of "Nine" didn't bring out the child in you, I have bad news for you.
Defend yourself, sir! The game is filled with funny and interesting scenes. 
Enjoy the wonderful atmosphere created by the magnificent work of artists and designers. 5.Final Fantasy X
What the game is about: Tidus is a blitzball star, the whole world lay at his feet... until the apocalypse happened. Rescued from a dying city, the young man found himself in the distant future, where he met the summoner student Yuna, whom he vowed to protect on her journey.
Merits: Who doesn't know the tenth part of Final Fantasy? It became the first game in the series to merit a sequel due to its popularity. The dialogue may not be the best, but the world and characters were interesting enough to warrant more.
Two unique features: Top Ten is full of mini-games and side quests that enhance player immersion. Final Fantasy X tried every possible way to bring the game to life, including breathtaking graphics.
That's where the real beauty is. Sometimes FFX is simply mesmerizing. 4.Final Fantasy VIII
What the game is about: Protagonist Squall Leonhart from the SeeD mercenary squad falls in love with the beautiful and passionate Rinoa Heartilly, but soon they are forced to save the very fabric of existence from the insidious Ultimecia.
Merits: A classic that improves on every aspect of the seventh installment. However, it received its share of negative reviews from gamers for focusing more on romance than adventure.
Two unique features: Unique to the series is the plot's focus on romance rather than adventure. The first Final Fantasy with realistic proportions and character art.
Hopeless romantics were glad to see a strong love story in FFVIII. 
No more corners and cubes. "Eight" was the first game in the series whose characters had realistic proportions. 3.Final Fantasy VII
What the game is about: I think most of you already know this, but just in case: Cloud Strife is a genetically enhanced mercenary working for the group AVALANCHE. When it turns out that Rufus Shinra kidnapped Aerith, and Sephiroth is alive, AVALANCHE decides to save the girl and stop her.
Merits: The seventh installment has the most cult status of any game on this list. Cloud Strife and Sephiroth are arguably the most recognizable characters in the entire franchise, and FFVII's plot contains some of the most famous twists in the entire gaming industry. While a remake is still looming somewhere on the horizon, it's time to get acquainted with this legendary story.
Two unique features: All the characters in "Seven" are very easy to remember and love. For all newbies, the game has a very funny dress-up scene. Don't thank me.
All the favorites are collected. If you don't know them yet, you will quickly fall in love with them. 
I envy those who are not yet familiar with the plot of FFVII, they have everything ahead of them. 2.Final Fantasy XV
What the game is about: Noctis Caelum is the heir to the throne of the Lucii. With three loyal squires, Gladiolus, Ignis and Prompto, the prince sets out on a journey to return magic crystal, which his family guarded, and the destruction of the evil that kidnapped him.
Merits: The latest part of the series, which also has the best gameplay. The plot can feel confusing at times, the character relationships and stunning open world design can be enough to get you moving the story forward. Make sure your PC can handle the game, it is quite demanding.
Two unique features: An open world where you can wander for hours, always discovering something new. Add to this excellent graphics and the atmosphere of a relaxed holiday with friends, and you have a great game that you want to return to again and again.
Adventure! The open world provides a wealth of different experiences.
1. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (FF Online)
What the game is about:, the setting of which is the continent of Eorzea. The player character must join one of the three Great Companies (Campaigns) to save Eorzea from the invasion of the Garlean Empire.
Merits: FFXIV got off to a rocky start in 2012, but the subsequent relaunch, which thoroughly changed the game, managed to please fans. Over the years, the game has repeatedly been included in the lists (and first places) of the best MMORPGs.
Two unique features: The player can choose gender and one of six available races. One of the best features of the game is the lack of need for alts. Want to change class? Just pick up a different weapon.
Ease of switching - to change classes, simply rearm.
Hironobu Sakaguchi and his bosses at Squaresoft finally ran out of steam in the 80s. 3D racing for the NES and clumsy game adaptations of Alien films for the MSX were no longer in demand. So they decided that they would release the last game, and if the public did not accept it, they would close the company. This is how it appeared. And it created a real sensation.
They not only gave new life mechanics from Dragon Quest, but also determined the development of Japanese RPGs for the next 30 years. The series became famous not only for its colorful enemies and stunning soundtrack, but also for the fact that each episode was a kind of experimental testing ground for new ideas and non-standard designs. Today the franchise is experiencing a mini-renaissance on PS4 and Xbox One, and in the meantime, we decided to compile a list of the 25 best Final Fantasy games.
Final Fantasy heroes are often royal warriors sent to save the world, accompanied by the genocide of monsters and the study of magic. What about the king? What is he doing all this time? Square tried to answer this question and presented gamers with a surprisingly good city-planning simulator in a well-known fantasy setting. Your task is to collect the items necessary to improve the kingdom, but the heroes you choose will have to find them. The gameplay here is not at all difficult, and expanding the city and training warriors is quite interesting. The game is made in a rich and bright style, and therefore spending time in it, watching how the virtual kingdom grows stronger, is a pleasure.
Final Fantasy became a series that showed the whole world that Japanese RPGs were in no way inferior in quality to their Western competitors (this happened after the release of parts for the PlayStation), but the road to this was a long one. Squaresoft built Mystic Quest from the ground up, simplifying the combination of rich adventure story and character development that was a big focus of the '80s. At the time, Mystic Quest seemed too simple compared to Final Fantasy 4. But today it looks like the best indie RPGs, like Cthulhu Saves the World, where the main features of the genre are minimized, and the emphasis is on visual style. The bonus is one of the most beautiful game soundtracks, written by Ryuji Sasai and Yasuhiro Kawakami.
Here's an objective opinion: everything that Final Fantasy 13 was criticized for at one time is also present in the most beloved parts of the series. Final Fantasy 4 and 10 have the same lack of exploration, Final Fantasy 8 has the same weak storyline, and Snow and Serah are just as annoying as Yuffie. Someone should have said it. The biggest drawback of Final Fantasy 13 (and, apparently, the root of its dismal reputation) is that we were presented with an extremely cold world.
The world of Cocoon and Gran Pulse is as cold and heartless as the crystals that fill it, and the team of rogues we control is in no hurry to reveal all its secrets so that we can understand how it turned into what we see on the screen . But if we accept the alienated atmosphere of Final Fantasy 13, then we immediately see a fascinating science fiction with magnificent scenery, best job composer Masashi Hamauzu, and an incredible ending that makes you rethink everything that happens. An excellent combat system, the full potential of which, alas, could not be realized in this project, found a second life in parts 13-2 and Lightning Returns.
Final Fantasy cannot be perceived without its soundtrack. And the series gained its popularity partly because of its stunning orchestral musical accompaniment. From the very first seconds of the game we are greeted by a melody that sets the right mood. For example, the famous "Prelude", written by Nobuo Uematsu, combines the subtle thoughtfulness and pretentious spirit that is generally characteristic of the entire Final Fantasy franchise. In Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call, music comes to the forefront, becoming the focus of the gameplay.
The mechanics of the game are quite simple: using the 3DS stylus, we perform a series of movements, assembling a team of classic FF heroes and releasing them into the thick of things. Like the original Theatrhythm, Curtain Call features iconic scenes for the series where players must defeat monsters with the power of music. The first Theatrhythm featured big-name tunes like One-Winged Angel and Melodies of Life, while Curtain Call's musical repertoire expanded to include a more eclectic selection of compositions.
In Crisis Core, the developers promised to clarify the vague story of Sephiroth, Cloud, Iris and Zack Fair from Final Fantasy 7. They did not succeed in this completely, since in this game for PSP (and one of the best on this platform) the plot was presented in the same vague way, as in the previous part. However, the game cannot be denied visual beauty and unique and exciting action.
As Zach, we slash monsters and robotic soldiers with a huge sword, but the highlight here is the magic skill system, which allows you to mix skills and get completely new ones. In addition, from time to time appears on the battlefield slot machine and enhances the hero’s attacks. It sounds stupid, but in practice it looks great. Just like Final Fantasy 7 itself.
The Nintendo Wii platform, with its weak power and awkward controller, is not exactly the console you'd expect to see in Final Fantasy. But the series embarked on further experiments and gave birth to interesting spin-offs. The best of them is deservedly considered Crystal Bearers - an action-RPG with a partially open world and a pretentious protagonist in a fur jacket and with telekinesis. The story of an outcast who suddenly becomes a hero is by no means new - the plot in Crystal Bearers can safely be called passable, but at the same time the game captivates with its steampunk style and excellent graphics by Wii standards. It is noteworthy that it ends with a thank you note handwritten by the director of the project. It’s not perfect, but it’s made with love, and you can’t help but notice it.
From the very first parts, Final Fantasy looked more mature than its source of inspiration - Dragon Quest. Creepy monsters, detailed character drawings and rich musical accompaniment a far cry from the big-eyed slugs and upbeat tunes of Dragon Quest. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance was aimed at teenagers, but at the same time remained true to the given style. The plot is based on the fact that ordinary schoolchildren find a book called Final Fantasy and find themselves inside a fictional world.
Now, under your control, they will have to create armies, upgrade individual units and organize large-scale strategic battles on colorful maps. In addition, we are presented with a story about a man growing up, about how he copes with poverty, bullies and school problems. The game also introduced interesting mechanics that force players to change their strategy over and over again. Each fight is watched by a judge who sets certain restrictions (do not use magic, use only healing items, etc.), which introduces a pleasant element of surprise.
Final Fantasy 11, even in 2017, remains on the list of the most popular MMOs. Loyal fans are not stopped even by the fact that today there are already quite a few games that feature a more convenient system of group quests, like the same Final Fantasy 14. It’s all about the art style of Final Fantasy 11. Muted color palette, memorable design of numerous races and leisurely The pace of the game allows you to deeply penetrate the virtual world - even the venerable WoW and Everquest cannot offer this. At first glance, it doesn't look much like classic Final Fantasy, but the atmosphere is exactly what you need.
The system of professions has firmly taken root in RPG genre. This usually means the ability to choose a class or type for your hero, which will open access to a tree of upgradeable skills - a simple and understandable RPG mechanic that allows you to customize your character. It’s interesting that it originated in this NES game.
Here the series returned to its story-driven roots with Final Fantasy 2 and delivered an archetypal story of good versus evil, complete with great music and beautiful visuals. What made her stand out was the opportunity to choose professions and develop relevant skills. In 2006, a remake of Final Fantasy 3 was released for the DS, and later it was ported to PC and mobile platforms, but the NES version, for all its inconveniences, had a special charm, which, alas, could not be recreated.
16. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Many of the Final Fantasy games (from 1 to 15) focused on the interactions between four heroes. In this slightly strange spin-off for the Gamecube, Square shifted the focus to interaction between four real players. The result was quite difficult game about dungeon exploration, which required four joysticks (or four consoles Game Boy Advance), but at the same time offering an unprecedented co-op mode. Of course, by modern standards, “unprecedented” is too strong a word, but anyone who has played Crystal Chronicles with friends will agree with this description. In addition to its innovative gameplay, Crystal Chronicles featured wonderful Celtic motifs and beautiful rural landscapes.
Final Fantasy 15 was in development for about 10 years and was supposed to be a new milestone in the history of the series, and therefore huge expectations were placed on it, which were simply unthinkable to meet. But the authors managed to do the impossible: they smartly updated the Final Fantasy series and made the game equally attractive to both loyal fans and curious newcomers. The story in Final Fantasy 15 follows the same principles as most previous games: there are a lot of subplots that are only partially revealed and a convoluted backstory.
This was compensated by a huge open world, the actions in which perfectly revealed the relationship between the four heroes, which included Ignis, Gladiolus, Prompto and Prince Noxtis. Taking control of this colorful group, we embark on an exciting adventure into a world where mountain-sized turtles and warlike ghosts of kings are just everyday life.
Final Fantasy 10 not only set the direction for the series, but was also a first in many ways. The first game in the franchise for the PlayStation 2, the first numbered part without the participation of composer Nobuo Uematsu, and the first part where text explanations were replaced by high-quality voice acting. Today the game feels awkward, the levels feel cramped, and the characters' movements feel unnatural.
And it’s still just as difficult to understand the story of a charismatic athlete who falls in love with a doomed sorceress in a strange tropical archipelago. But this whimsical atmosphere is beautiful in its own way, thanks in no small part to Tidus and Yuna with their obsequious laughter. With characters that are quite possibly just a figment of the hero's imagination, Final Fantasy 10 itself feels like one long dream. Not every game dares to be so unconventional.
Final Fantasy 5 expanded upon the core job system of Final Fantasy 3 in a rather original way. More than 20 professions have appeared here - from traditional (Warrior, Light or Dark Mage) and creative (Dancer, Chemist, Ninja) to very funny (Geomancer, Mime). What about the Freelancer profession, which allows you to combine any skills and create completely new classes. This is a great example of a creative approach to creating an RPG. But don't expect a deeply written story. The game has a pink-haired captain of indeterminate gender, and only because of him can the game be forgiven for all its plot flaws.
Final Fantasy 10-2 is often criticized for being too casual with its setting. She really is quite stupid, because here the already narrow-minded Rikku becomes even more reckless, and he is accompanied by newcomer Payne and the seductive beauty with a gun Yuna, who was clearly inspired by “Charlie’s Angels”
Continuing the story of Final Fantasy 10, 10-2 brings three things the original lacked: a sense of humor, a steady pace of storytelling, and an interesting combat system. And although your squad consists of only three people, the game has not lost its inherent drive, thanks to the Dress Spheres mechanic, which allows you to fully enjoy the features of each class. And the game itself looks more gamer-friendly than the previous part. Of course, getting the true ending here is quite difficult, but otherwise it's fun and exciting adventure.
A sudden victory in the last seconds of a match is exactly the case in Final Fantasy 14. At first, gamers were faced with a terrible and buggy game, which even the head of the development team called a complete nightmare. However, an updated version called Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn saved both the series' reputation and Square-Enix's financial position. And we have to admit that the game was a success. There is a diverse set of classes that you can easily switch between, the combat system is intuitive, and virtual world absorbed all the recognizable features of the series.
But the best thing, of course, is that you can choose your own playing style. There are as many as 5 types of missions, each of which fits a particular style - from group quests to mindless grind. The customization possibilities are also extensive. Threw away the ax and picked up the bow? Your Marauder will smoothly turn into an Archer. A Realm Reborn offers a world in which any player would feel comfortable and would like to explore it for as long as possible. And the Heavensward update brings tons of fresh content to the already great Final Fantasy 14.
Final Fantasy spin-offs are quite unique, especially the first one. The Game Boy game, originally titled Final Fantasy Gaiden: Seiken Densetsu, served as inspiration for the Secret of Mana series. While this action-RPG has more in common with the Zelda games than the old Final Fantasy games, it manages to retain the spirit of the source material. At the same time, Final Fantasy Adventure became the debut for Yoshinori Kitase, who later led the development of parts 6, 7, 10, 13 and 15.
As in the games listed above, Adventure has an element of surprise. Gladiator arenas here can suddenly give way to vampire mansions. And in the setting, the ideas of stoicism are clearly visible. Even on the miniature Game Boy, Kitase's emotional style is immediately apparent. The game was re-released several times, including on Vita and iPhone, but the original remained unsurpassed.
The plot of Final Fantasy 8 is unusual, to say the least. In the future, a certain witch appeared who set out to take control of reality, compressing the entire time continuum into a single moment. Only schoolchildren can stop her, but they are tormented by dark memories. Why? Because powerful gods live in their minds. But even with this degree of delirium, the story turned out to be fascinating.
Squall Leonhart and his heroic friends really look like teenagers fighting against a force far superior to them, and they are characterized by all the qualities typical for their age: sullenness, maximalism and sometimes illogical actions. The series itself is known to often play on teenage angst. And this is one of those cases when they fit perfectly into the storyline.
Ideally, this game should have been called Final Fantasy 13. (The original Final Fantasy 13 should have been released as a prequel a couple of years later and called Final Fantasy 13-0). The action here takes place many years after the events of the original, and the old characters are hardly recognizable. Lightning Returns is one of the most bizarre and at the same time touching games in the series. The story tells of a dying universe where most of the physical world has disappeared and for the past 500 years no one has died of old age.
In an attempt to save as many people as possible before the universe finally ceases to exist, we play as Lightning, who has the ability to turn back time, but is also tormented by fears and doubts about her mission. Typically, Final Fantasy kept the sci-fi somewhere around the " Star Wars“, but in Lightning Returns this aspect has acquired a rather deep philosophy, which is good news. And reducing the playable characters to one hero allowed the game to concentrate on developing the combat system. Echoes of the Dress Spheres mechanics are also noticeable - Lightning uses different costumes in battle that affect her skills, and local battles look much more dynamic than in Final Fantasy 13
Even before the release of Final Fantasy 9, the developers noted that this would be a kind of return to the roots, to the spirit of the very first part for the NES. Thanks to Nobuo Uematsu, we will remember the classic for a long time dark magician in a pointed hat and a devilish sparkle in his eyes. Looking back, it is worth recognizing that Final Fantasy 9 turned out to be extremely original.
It, of course, had the usual sword fights and magic, but it was the story about outcasts who found a family in each other, and the sincere presentation that was compelling. Long loading screens and low screen resolution scared many people away from the game at one time, but the recent re-release for PSN (and the version posted on Steam), where these problems are fixed, is definitely worth a look.
Not every modern gamer will be able to beat Final Fantasy 1 and 2. The NES versions have an unfriendly design, are full of bugs and require frequent grinding through the levels. Their re-releases for Game Boy Advance and PSP, on the contrary, are too easy to complete, but this does not make them ideal. The perfect balance between gameplay that can challenge the player and its elegance is achieved in Final Fantasy Origins for PS1. Straightforward, yet challenging, the game retains the best of what we've seen in the series.
It's certainly not much like the original, where we had to wander through dungeons in an attempt to defeat a powerful evil warrior, but it did have an amazing opening scene. Origins also includes the memorable, if somewhat harsh, experience system from Final Fantasy 2, which requires the player to deal damage to himself to level up his defense stats.
This Super Nintendo game is notable for marking the series' transition from a focus on character development to a complex narrative structure. And this transition to Final Fantasy 4 looks very organic. The story itself is the perfect combination of classic plot devices and the signature strangeness of everything that happens. An Imperial soldier, unable to tolerate the cruelty of his leaders any longer, gathers a group of brave warriors and marches against the forces of evil; nothing unusual, right?
Eventually, this group ends up from an ephemeral world full of spirits to spaceship in the shape of a whale. Add in familiar level design (lots of dungeons) and dissimilar heroes with different skills and well-written personalities, and you get a 1991 RPG that still holds up well to this day. The 3D remake for Nintendo DS is an example of high-quality and hardcore JRPG, but the best re-release was the version for the Game Boy Advance, which adds a lot of new features to the original SNES content.
It's hard to believe, but Final Fantasy Tactics is perhaps the most serious and intricate Final Fantasy out there. The story of two soldiers who grew up together and find themselves in the middle of a massive military conflict introduces us to a villain who is a thinly disguised metaphor for the Catholic Church, as well as a messiah who in reality turns out to be an equally cruel being who wants to enslave humanity. Positive, isn't it?
But such a plot is perfect for the intense battles that unfold in Tactics. The army here has been gathering for years, and leveling up specific heroes in different directions can take several gaming decades, but this is what is memorable. This game takes the core elements of Final Fantasy - drama and combat - and elevates them to the extreme. War of the Lions, a remake that first appeared on the PSP, turned out even better thanks to spectacular cutscenes and the appearance of Balthier from Final Fantasy 12.
Many fans at one time did not appreciate Final Fantasy 7 - they were scared off by the redundancy of the game in everything. It manifested itself in characters with crazy hairstyles, overly huge swords, the main story, which in fact turned out to be only a small part of an even larger story, and much more. But if we look at it impartially, we can see how ambitious she really was. Series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi and producer Yoshinori Kitase tried to make a game about the very nature of life and fit everything possible into the gameplay.
Environmentalism is mixed with natural slapstick, menacing werewolves, alien invaders, bartenders wearing cowboy hats and wielding kung fu, Frankenstein-like gun monsters, and talking stuffed cats that can summon huge dragons. But this is not even half of everything we saw in the game. Yes, sometimes Final Fantasy 7 gets lost in its exuberance and doesn't really reveal the dramatic moments. But this happens surprisingly rarely, and such moments are forgotten almost immediately. The Final Fantasy 7 Remake recreates the visuals of the original, but that amazing spirit in its madness remains in the old Final Fantasy 7.
The influence of Star Wars on Final Fantasy is noticeable even to the untrained gamer. From minor characters named Biggs and Wedge to overarching themes like the conflict between spiritual pacifism and technological aggression, you can always find a bit of George Lucas in Sakaguchi's work. And if Final Fantasy 2 only modestly borrowed elements from the first part of the space saga, then Final Fantasy 12 is a natural game remake of A New Hope.
An evil empire captures a young princess with a magical bloodline. And a young and naive idealist teams up with a charismatic gold hunter (but also a kind fellow) and his tall alien partner. The militaristic government of the evil empire is controlled by supernatural forces, and the main characters must destroy powerful weapon bad guys. And the army of the empire consists of soldiers in round helmets and with rather funny swords.
At one time, “Star Wars” became a reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s film “Three Scoundrels at the Hidden Fortress,” and Final Fantasy 12 in its own unique sense reimagines an already well-known science fiction classic. Here, reworked RPG mechanics also appeared, where it is now necessary to combine the actions of characters, and not act alone. Final Fantasy 12 continues to be a success, attracting all Star Wars fans who are interested in looking at a familiar story from a new angle.
“I believe that action games, for example, rely on the player's instincts, while RPGs rely on reason and logic,” said producer Yoshinori Kitase in an interview with Edge Magazine about the creation of Final Fantasy 6. “What made the Final Fantasy series so innovative was thanks to the emotional component, which was presented both through the plot drama and through other game elements. It seems to me that in the sixth part this became especially obvious.
In this game we finally managed to fully realize our plans.” More than 20 years have passed since the release of the last Final Fantasy for the Super Nintendo, and it remains the only one in the series where all the disparate elements inherent in the franchise are flawlessly brought together. There are a lot of playable characters here, even by modern standards - 14 (some of them are hidden), and each is a deeply developed personality. They are all connected by a beautifully written story line, which tells the story of a madman who destroyed the very fabric of reality.
And our heroes will have to try to restore it. The tiny characters turned out surprisingly realistic, and through their interaction simple methods quite complex problems are presented. Aside from an excellent port for the Game Boy Advance and a terrible version for PC and mobile platforms, this is the most reluctantly exploited Final Fantasy. There are no sequels or 3D remakes. This is not surprising; why improve the ideal?
The reasons for this sad misunderstanding are quite understandable - almost all the games in the series were released only on consoles, they did not have Russian localization, and in general the JRPG genre is not popular in the CIS countries.
But in vain, because the best parts of Final Fantasy proved to the whole world back in the 90s that video games can be not only entertainment, but a real work of art.
Classic 2D era
The first part of the series was released back in 1987. The gameplay of Final Fantasy was based on the first parts of the Ultima series, where it first appeared open world, leveling and dialogues. In general, an RPG in the sense we are all familiar with. But Final Fantasy also introduced a number of its own innovations: a party combat system and the ability to use vehicles to travel around the world.
By the way, the name “Final Fantasy” was given to the series for a reason. In the late 80s, Square Enix was not the most successful game developer and was on the verge of closure. Therefore, Final Fantasy was positioned by the creator of the series as the studio’s last game, the last fantasy, the last attempt to express itself to the whole world.
A year after the release of the first part, Final Fantasy 2 was released, with completely different characters, plot and universe. It is the lack of connection between the various parts of the series that is the hallmark of the entire Final Fantasy. So, if you start playing, for example, the game Final Fantasy XV, then you do not need to know anything about the previous parts of the series. In the third part, released in 1990, a system of professions was added, which made it possible to change the class of the main character of the game several times during the passage.
Final Fantasy IV introduced a complex, character-driven story and an innovative combat system to the series, the fundamentals of which are still used in almost all modern JRPGs. The next 2 parts were not innovative and brought only cosmetic changes to the series, like secret bosses and the ability to activate a special attack in battles when the player has minimal health left.
Golden 3D era
Final Fantasy VII made a real splash in the world of electronic entertainment in 1997. The game made the most of the technical capabilities of the PlayStation and impressed with excellent 3D graphics and beautifully drawn two-dimensional backdrops, as well as incredibly detailed CGI videos.
But this is all minor stuff; what really made the game great was the dramatic story and the amazing music by Nobue Uematsu, who popularized the genre of soundtracks for computer games. The success of the game was so great that in 2015, to the wild delight of the audience, the Japanese announced the development of Final Fantasy VII Remake - a complete remake of the original game.
Two years later, Final Fantasy VIII was released, which did not bring significant revolutions, but was remembered by fans of the series for its intricate and melodramatic plot with a touching love line.
Final Fantasy IX was released in 2000 and, despite not the best sales and strange cartoon style of drawing characters, is considered one of the most important parts in the series. Today, none of the top best games of all time can do without the 9th part of Final Fantasy, and all thanks to the traditionally high-quality plot and interesting gameplay.
Japanese developers have some kind of superhuman efficiency, because the very next year they introduced the revolutionary Final Fantasy X, which again brought the series to the top of the gaming Olympus. Stunningly beautiful pre-rendered screensavers coexisted with finally fully three-dimensional graphics, which even today look quite good. And, of course, a tear-jerking and confusing plot - these are the main reasons that ensured the game sold 12 million copies.
Modern era: a shadow of former greatness
Square Enix, inspired by the success of the tenth installment, decided to develop the series not in depth, but in breadth, creating an entire multimedia Final Fantasy universe. Which, of course, affected the quality of the numbered games in the series. One could already smell something was wrong when in 2001 the Japanese decided to conquer Western cinema and released the film Final Fantasy The Spirits Within. Unfortunately, the film had nothing to boast of other than impressive graphics and failed at the box office.
The next failure was Final Fantasy XI, which quite unexpectedly, instead of a memorable solo journey, became a passable online game. This is not what fans of the series were expecting.
This was followed by a series of middling spin-offs and Final Fantasy X 2, the first direct sequel in the series' history. The game sold well, but was received negatively by gamers due to its frivolous plot and minimal innovations.
In 2006, after a difficult five years of development, the developers finally presented to the world new part series – Final Fantasy XII. To the delight of many fans, the sequel turned out to be almost on par with the previous parts of the series, and many gaming publications even called Final Fantasy XII the best game of the year. Among the shortcomings are a simple plot, as by the standards of the series, and outdated graphics.
The next project in the series was Final Fantasy XIII, which was visually impressive and promised to shake up the series, bring it fresh breath and new fans. Unfortunately, the game shell was indeed beautiful, but the content turned out to be rotten and secondary.
And as if the thirteenth part was not enough, the Japanese decided to finish off the reputation of their own series by releasing the passable Final Fantasy XIV in 2010. This was the second online game in the series, which is remembered simply for its idiotic system of gaining experience and numerous bugs. Fortunately, Final Fantasy 14 has improved significantly over the past 8 years, and now it does not seem such an ugly duckling compared to its famous predecessors.
Here we are at the final part of our tour through the history of the most famous Japanese video game series. Final Fantasy XV managed to visit production hell, change the name, several scripts, one game development director... And now the continuation of the cult series is before us. Let's be honest, FFXV still doesn't quite live up to the heights of Golden Era gaming, but it's still a quality, enjoyable, hundred-hour adventure.
For newcomers to the series who have not yet decided on purchasing the game, we have written.
In honor of this grand event, we asked the people involved in the development of the games of the cult series the most important question: “Which Final Fantasy do you love most?”
It might seem like a simple question, but serious debates are flaring up around it.
Akihiko Matsui – combat system designer for FFIV, FFV, FFXI, FFXIV
Best game: Final Fantasy II
Why: The character development system provides great freedom, and the fascinating dramatic plot does not allow you to remain indifferent. Even after all these years, it's still a masterpiece. It's probably fair to say that Final Fantasy II is the reason the series didn't become a series of smaller developments. And it was because of her that I decided to connect my life with game development.
Akitoshi Kawazu – designer of FF and FFII, producer of FFXII and the FF Crystal Chronicles series
Best game: Final Fantasy V
Why:[It has] the best combat system.
Hajime Tabata – Director of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy, FF Type-0, FFXV
Best game: Final Fantasy
Why: You are simply thrown into the world, but over time you begin to learn its history. And then the title appears on the screen accompanied by beautiful music. Style gameplay and the direction of this moment is the starting point of the entire Final Fantasy. After I had the chance to work on the license plate myself, I understand this more clearly than ever.
Hiroaki Kato – Head of Development, FF Tactics Advance, FFXII
Best game: Final Fantasy Tactics
Why: The world of Ivalice and the work system are simply incredible!
Ichiro Hazama – Dissidia FF project manager, producer of Dissidia 012 FF and Dissidia FF NT
Best game: Final Fantasy VI
Why: The graphics using sprites are beautiful and unique and the music is simply amazing. We all know she's the best. The story of each character is written in the smallest detail. The overall level of accuracy is taken to an unattainable height. It was this game that made me look for a job at Square.
Motomu Toriyama – director of FFVII, director and writer of FFX, FFX-2, FFXII, FFXIII, FFXIII-2, Lightning Return: FFXIII
Best game: Final Fantasy XIII
Why: Lightning, the strongest heroine, can cope with any enemy.
Naoki Yoshida – producer and director of FFXIV
Best game: Final Fantasy III&Final Fantasy VII
Why: Instead of choosing the best game, I'll name the ones that had the biggest impact on the series. Final Fantasy VII influenced every aspect of it, from its graphics to its universe, character design, and level of content. This game is comparable to an MMORPG. It has absolutely everything.
As for Final Fantasy III, I consider it a masterpiece in terms of experience. In it, in their original state, those systems appeared that were further developed - the work system and the real-time combat system. I think these two Final Fantasy titles underpin everything that follows. I am happy to work on games that develop the ideas of that time, and I thank everyone for supporting the series!
Shinji Hashimoto – producer of FFVII and FFXV, executive producer of FFIV, FFV, FFXIII, FF Type-0, FFXIII-2, FFVII Remake
Best game: Final Fantasy
Why: Even though my participation in the fate of the series began only with Final Fantasy VII, when I think about its origins, the very first part immediately comes to mind. This marked the beginning of a long journey towards the 30th anniversary. Warriors of light, they are simply unforgettable.
Takashi Katano – Lead Programmer for FFX, FFXII, FFXIII, FFX/X-2 HD Remaster
Best game: Final Fantasy V
Why: The system is so amazing and hilarious that I spent many hours in the game just for it.
Takashi Tokita – director of FFVII, producer of FF Dimensions
Best game: Final Fantasy IV
Why: The best Final Fantasy? How difficult it is... I have not played all parts of the series, but if I have to choose one, I will say Final Fantasy IV. And not even because it was with this game that my work in the company began, but because it was it that set the foundations for my tastes in games. Light, darkness, meetings and alliances - this became the main thing. I'm happy that I had the opportunity to create Final Fantasy IV: The After Years.
Takeo Kujiraoka – combat designer for FFXIII and FFXIII-2, director of Dissidia FF NT
Best game: Final Fantasy X
Why: After completing the passage, I was sad and worried for three days. This was the first Final Fantasy game to have voice acting, and to me the execution was immediately flawless. It was also the first game in which I spent more than a hundred hours (and that eventually tripled when I completed the main story). I have studied absolutely all the materials that are in it.
Toshiyuki Itahana – designer of FFIX, FFXI, FF Crystal Chronicles
Best game: Final Fantasy IX & Final Fantasy XIV
Why: Final Fantasy IX was the most memorable game in the series for me because it had a profound influence on my approach to design. And as a gamer, I choose Final Fantasy XIV. I don’t think there is another game in the MMO genre where the hero would resonate with me in the same way, where I would consider the characters my friends and would enjoy every new meeting. It seems to me that I live in this world and, together with other warriors of light, create its history.
Yoshinori Kitase – director, writer and director of FFV, FFVI, FFVII, FFVIII, FFX, producer of FFXIII, FF Type-0, FFXIII-2, Lightning Return: FFXIII, FFVII Remake
Best game: Final Fantasy V
Why: I love all the Final Fantasy games, but this time I'll say Final Fantasy V. It was the first game in the series that I worked on. In it, the system of work and abilities found its complete form!
By the way, if you and your friends are also arguing about the best Final Fantasy, from today Dissidia Final Fantasy NT will help you decide once and for all who is stronger.
