Final Fantasy Origins

"Another good re-release from Square"

First off, I just wanted to remind everyone that any game rated 5 or above is a game worth playing. Average is playable. Moving on. . .

Final Fantasy Origins was a long awaited, long expected re-release of Final Fantasy I and Final Fantasy II. Both these games were revolutionary for their time and many aspects in later RPG's were taken from these two games. These games bring a sense of nostalgia to all the ''old school'' gamers, and a great new experience for all of those who have yet to play these two games. On to the ratings!

Gameplay - 9
Overall these games offer great gameplay which entertains for over one hundred hours. Square also fixed the loading times that the other FF remakes suffered from.
Final Fantasy I- Any problems that people had with the NES release of this game were fixed. The battle system no longer registers as ''ineffective'' if you select to attack an enemy that has already been killed. Also, the addition of a dash command helps to keep the action going (as many of us need these days). The addition of an EASY mode also added more variation to the gameplay and allowed for almost two games within this game. The option to revert all of these settings to their original NES form also allows for the true nostalgic gamer to continue on his quest the way it used to be. The battle system is so variable that you should be able to set it the way you want for a more enjoyable gaming experience.
Final Fantasy II- The gameplay in this amazing title is confusing at first. The level gaining system is completely stat based. Stats are increased by use, a system not seen in many other games. This is a big change from the D&D based system in FFI. The gameplay isn't quite as smooth as in FFI due to a few factors. The first being the keyword system where you must learn key phrases and then ask other people about them. It takes a little time to get used to but the changes in this game are great. It will keep you wishing there was more after its over.

Story- 7
The stories in these games aren't quite as deep as more recent RPGs. For their time however the stories are extremely deep and you can see elements that other RPGs drew from these early titles.
Final Fantasy I- A story that seems linear but allows for the player to go in almost any order they really want to. The story has enough there to keep you interested, but at some parts, the story is hard to follow and the player finds himself exploring the map looking for the next place to go.
Final Fantasy II- A much improved and more involved story than any other RPG of its time and a VAST improvement over FFI. The story in the game keeps the player interested almost more than the gameplay, a thing that is rare even in today's RPGs. This is where most of the 7 points I gave this game come from. It also is more interesting because it is a story that the US players have never experienced.

Audio- 8
Square, once again, outdoes its self and make an amazing soundtrack. The tweeking they did with these game has brought it up to CD quality sound. I found myself humming the tunes of Final Fantasy Origins as I was in class, driving, and even while doing my homework. I once went to sleep with the game on in the background to help me sleep.

Graphics- 6
The graphics are improved in both games and are enhanced and are amazing, for their time. Unfortunately that time was 10 years ago so I couldn't give the graphics above a 6. The opening cinemas are amazing and its definitely cool to see Amano's artwork. Any fans of the FF series should get the game just for these videos.

Replay Value- 10
These two games can be played for hundreds of hours and easily more than three times without being the slightest bored. Here's why:
Final Fantasy I- The 6 character classes can be used in many different combinations. From all Warriors to attempting to complete the game with a lone White Mage. . . the name of this game is variations. There are also many different ways to go about completing quest and the order that you do them in. Between the characters and the often times open story, this game is the king of replay. I've beaten it probably 10 times myself.
Final Fantasy II- This game brought a new story before me. Even after playing through it twice I found myself wishing to go through a third time. There are many MANY things to do, all of which you can't complete in just one run through. Teaching characters to be skilled with different weapons and magics allows for more variations than I can even think of. The possible combinations are endless and it is exciting to think what all would be like.

And now what we've all been waiting for:

FINAL RATING- 8/10
A great game that will keep you coming back for more. Interesting sounds keep you entertained while dungeon crawling while the gameplay and battles keep you entertained. Buy this game! If you rent it you'll just have to go buy it afterwords because you'll be addicted.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 04/17/03, Updated 04/17/03