Final Fantasy Anthology

"The best game ever! (Hello, taglines making their 666th appearance)"

Game Play-
10/10

Final Fantasy Anthology is a compilation of two classic Square Role Playing Games. Final Fantasy Anthology includes Final Fantasy V (Never Released In The USA) and Final Fantasy VI (Released On The Super Nintendo As Final Fantasy III). On the outside shell, Final Fantasy Anthology may just look like two average Role Playing Games in a compilation. If you thought that, boy are you so wrong.

Final Fantasy V has the most unique system in a Role Playing Game ever. Final Fantasy V has the Job/Classes system, which is a heck of a lot of fun. Final Fantasy VI has the Relic system and the Esper system, which is so much fun, you will just sit in your room all day with your hands molded to fit the shape of the Playstation Dual Shock Controller.

The battle system is excellent, the creativity in Final Fantasy V and VI is through the roof. The games are in fact, the best in the series. Yes, VI was better than VII, do not send me mail asking why. (If you do, I'll leave you a little ''surprise'' on your doorstep) Each of the characters in Final Fantasy VI develop their own individual personality. Yes, all fourteen ****ing characters. Final Fantasy V does not have that effect. With only five characters, I think Square could have done a little better.

In FFV, the Job System is this. You get crystal shards after each crystal explodes. These shards give you classes, such as Lancer, White Mage, Black Mage, Summoner, and so on. You get Ability Points after each battle. These ability points will eventually let you learn an ability relative to your current class. The Esper System in FFVI is this. At a point in the game, Espers give you their powers in the form of Magicite. You get AP in battles and after you get enough APs, you learn a spell from that Esper.

Graphics-
10/10

Yes, the graphics are where Final Fantasy Anthology lacks the most, believe it or not. What bugs me with Final Fantasy V is that the characters are twice as big on the battle screen then they are on the overhead map. Whereas, in Final Fantasy VI, the screen does not have the problem. Enough with that, lets go on to screens, towns and characters.

The character classes in Final Fantasy V are VERY creative and imaginative. The characters in Final Fantasy VI are very creative and have their own distinctions. The towns in Final Fantasy V look the same. Whereas in Final Fantasy VI, the towns each look different. The backgrounds in Final Fantasy VI are breathtaking.

Square really did take advantage of the Super Nintendo for this game, if only they improved them for the Playstation. But I think that Final Fantasy VI had the best graphics on the Super Nintendo. Yeah, I think they are better than Chrono Trigger's.

Audio-
10/10

The audio in Final Fantasy V is good. That is all I have to say about Final Fantasy V in this subject. There is too much to talk about with Final Fantasy VI's soundtrack. I believe that the soundtrack in Final Fantasy VI is literally, the best soundtrack ever composed for a video game. I am serious about this, folks. I am not taking back my words. Each wonderfully composed soundtrack in Final Fantasy VI matches its scenery and predicament PERFECTLY. There is not a better way to do the music. It is the most fast paced, peaceful, and beautiful music you will ever hear in your life. Square also included a CD in the game that contains some music from the games. They totally gypped us on this. They left off all of the good music. The Gilgamesh theme, the Atma Weapon theme, the Fire-Ship theme.

Enjoyability-
10/10

These are two of the greatest things ever. If you like,....stuff, then you'll like this. The best games ever have received a facelift, and translate well onto the Playstation. They play smooth and they have no major problems whatsoever.

Score-40/40

Overall-
10/10

Anyway, if you can find this game on Playstation, GET IT. This is a must have game for anyone. Heck, buy a Playstation just for this game. Everything is improved over its Super Nintendo predecessor. There are new Full Motion Video's, and secret modes to unlock in Final Fantasy VI. If you can't find this game on Playstation, get Final Fantasy III on Super Nintendo. The problem? No Final Fantasy V, and Hollywood Video way overcharges for this game. 35 bucks for Final Fantasy III. It is cheaper in Playstation. Remember these two words. MUST BUY.

Street Price-$39.99

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 12/20/00, Updated 05/20/02