Final Fantasy II

"One of the more somber FF games, but it's not nessecarily a bad thing though"

INTRO: Okay, you may think I'm a crazy gal at first, but Mitora loves FFII and thinks it's one of the better entries in the FF series (FF7 is another one). Yes, it is a VERY different entry in the FF series indeed.

Shall we go on? I say ''Yes''!

STORYLINE: This FF game has to be the one with THE best storyine in it. An evil kingdom summoned a ''Jigoku Tamago'' (Hell Spawn, though it litterally translates ''Hell's Egg''. Weird o_o) to help them with ruling the world with an iron fist. Everyone in a typical town become Genocide victims after this Devil destroyed it. However, four youths escape from the town, only to run into nasty monsters and lose. However, they are saved by kind Empress Hiruda and the male white magician(!), Minyu.

The story starts here, but be warned off hand, this is NOT a springy happy game and best off, NO COMIC RELIEF IDIOTS!!!

CHARACTERS: Wow, what is this? A FF game with alot of character and *Mitora gasps* have nicely done characterization! I think I'm gonna faint!!! Hoo!!!

*Some one helps Mitora up from fainting*

Okay, the characters are actually well done and you can actually relate to them and start feeling for them when tragedy happens (which is very often).

GRAPHICS: A slight improvement over the first ''Final Fantasy'' game, but boy, do they use alot of red and earth colours. But I like the enemy sprites though. Rather detailed.

SOUND: Rather great music for a NES/FAMICOM game, though the sound FX leave little to the imagination, but what to you expect from a game made in 1988?

GAMEPLAY: Very good and challenging. Heh heh, if you like the SaGa games, you'll love this one. We get to take breaks from the whole ''Let's become a White Mage, Theif or Whatever'' class. And there is only leveling up on stats too, like the SaGa games, so there is no ''Characters reach Level number 1 or whatever''. And armor helps you out with how you may use your abillities as well. A nice fresh breath!

FUN: Even though it is a fun game, however, the replay value is not very high though, but that still does not ruin the game though.

CHALLENGE: VERY HARD. That is why I gave it a 8. This is not a easy FF game. Requires alot of thinking, but hey, it's still a fun game indeed, unlike a certain game made eleven years later *cough*FF8*cough*

OVERALL: Final Fantasy II was worth my while and had a very satisfying after taste and a very somber and powerful story. However, this game might not be for everyone, because of the high challenge, but to me, since I am a big SaGa fan, loved the challenge. Others may beg to differ though.

WOULD MITORA PURCHASE THIS GAME?: I did, but you may need to download it or find it at an Auction, because it is a rarity. Or better yet, if you loved the game (like I did), know Japanese and missed out the first time, import a WonderSwan colour and get this game.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 08/30/01, Updated 08/30/01