Final Fantasy Origins

"Praise Square (how original is that?)!"

The Final Fantasy series, beginning in the late 80's, has had quite a following by diehard gamers and RPG fanatics alike. First appearing on the NES/Famicom, Square's incredibly successful series has been a tremendous influence to games of the same genre ever since. Though the original Final Fantasy was not exactly groundbreaking at the time of its release (at least I didn't think so) it did redefine RPGs and paved the way for some of the most popular video games in history.

Final Fantasy Origins, featuring the classic Final Fantasy and its successor, Final Fantasy II, provides a two-in-one experience for those of us who long for the old school days of yore. First ported to the Wonder Swan Color and then to the Playstation, many elements have been left untouched, but certain qualities have been given proper makeovers, and everything is pulled together quite well. Returning to its roots in original 2D glory, who could resist the appeal of these two excellent titles (yes, that ''excellent'' goes for FFII as well) that could very well bring back some of the best, yet possibly forgotten memories of gaming?

Final Fantasy: No name do-gooders try to save the world.

Story: 8/10

I never exactly fell in love with the vague storyline in FF1, but the plot was never what really kept me playing, it was generally the fun of the game itself. Of course, the story is still just as vague. Like its original incarnation, the story in FF1 is presented to you during the opening. The text in this port has been slightly altered, making the storyline more clear (for example: in the NES version it states that ''The Earth begins to rot'', but in this version it's ''The Earth begins to decay.'' I suppose they didn't want you to actually think the Earth was rotting like a corpse, but then again ''decay'' is just a nicer way of putting it. Also, the ''Orbs'' are now referred to as ''Crystals.'')

A prophecy tells of four warriors with crystals, known as the Light Warriors, who are the only chance for defeating the evil that is destroying the Earth and ''returning the light of peace to illuminate the world.'' You assume the role of these four warriors, thus the game begins. Your first objective is to select your team of warriors from a given set of six: Warrior (name changed from Fighter), Red Mage, Black Mage, White Mage, Monk (name changed from Black Belt) and Thief. Each character has his or her own special abilities, like the use of certain magic or very strong physical attacks. In addition, they also have their own special disadvantages, such as being heavily susceptible to physical or magical attacks. Unlike the many sequels, the characters in this particular game have no names other than the aforementioned words representing their battle characteristics. However, you are able to name them all in a similar way as naming your main character in many RPGs, so you can always pretend they’re Bob the Thief or Gertrude the White Mage... actually, scratch that last comment, only six letters are allowed...

Unfortunately, there are nonexistent backgrounds for each character, so finding out how they came to be who they are and what their purpose is other than being Light Warriors is impossible. Furthermore, they don't develop one bit as the game progresses. In fact, you don't find out much of anything in the game as you're saving the world, you only do what's expected of the characters. In all honesty, this is a game that should not be played for the story, and really the only game in the series that I can say that about. FF1 is more about battles and fun factor, which undoubtedly makes up for the lack of an interesting plot.

Gameplay: 9/10

Like the later editions to the series, or for that matter, every Final Fantasy title, the main thing you do in this game is battle. Battling is very important to you and your characters as it boosts your stats the more you do it. Like most RPGs, the battles are turn-based, meaning you and your opponents take turns attacking one another (why unfairly attack each other at will like normal when things are so much more fair this way?) One huge improvement in battles, and probably one of the first things you'll notice if you've played the original version, is Square's correction of the overly annoying ''let's hit the blank space'' move. You see, in the original NES version, if you commanded all your characters to attack the same enemy and one character defeated it before the rest had a chance to attack, the remaining characters would attack the same spot despite the fact that the enemy had already vanished due to death. This was quite a problem, mainly because your characters would then be attacked afterward by an enemy or enemies that could have already been defeated. Thankfully, that problem has been fixed, allowing any character that would have attacked a then fallen foe to go ahead and attack any remaining enemies. Battles go by much quicker now as well, with the absence of lengthy animations that were never really necessary. One may also notice that enemies in general have become a bit stronger than their previous versions.

Random battles occur frequently outside of towns and in dungeons, so you always have to be prepared. Within towns, you can purchase anything from weapons, to armor, to magic spells. Yes, in this game you don't ''learn'' spells by simply leveling-up, you buy them in stores. Per level, you can only learn a given amount of spells, so choose wisely. What's probably the most annoying feature in this game is the overwhelming lack of gil (the monetary currency in FF games.) You'll often find yourself throwing your characters into battle only to earn gil. While this is a good way to level up at the same time, it also makes buying things such as better weapons or much needed potions a real headache. You will earn gil from just about every battle, but the amount is practically nonexistent.

A positive thing for novice RPG or Final Fantasy gamers is the addition of a difficulty selection at the very beginning. Normal difficulty consists of the game set at the same difficulty as the original version. Easy, a new feature, is recommended if you're just now getting into the series. On Easy Mode, enemies require less hits to take down and deal weaker physical and magic blows as well. You also earn slightly larger amounts of gil for each battle... wonderful, beautiful gil. In this mode, enemies usually miss more, but unfortunately so do your characters. This isn't a big problem since both the enemies and your characters miss attacks as much as it is on Normal. Status effects directed at your characters, like poison and paralysis, seem to still be just as strong as always in both difficulty modes.

Dungeons in FF1 are mostly comprised of mazes that require you to do little or nothing to get through. The majority of your time spent within these walls will be fighting random battles, which occur almost every two to four steps rather than an average of eight or more outside (in my experience, that is.) Once you finally enter the boss chamber, which should take a very small amount of time to get to, you'll fight the head honcho boss (as if there was any doubt!)

Controls work essentially the same here and in the NES version. What some might find unfortunate is that you can't use the analog stick to move, most everything is limited to the control pad. However, being old school that does make things all the more nostalgic. When fighting, you have the choice of four commands: Attack, Magic, Items, and Flee. There is also an option for equipment, but you should really have that sorted out before ever engaging in battles. All are pretty much self-explanatory, but just in case: Attack allows you to perform a physical attack with your sword or similar weaponry, Magic causes your character to cast a spell, Items pulls up a menu of potions, antidote, etc that can be used on the spot, and Flee, mainly used as a last resort when you're getting pounded, lets your characters run for their lives. Flee does not always work and can't be used during boss battles.

If you've played the original version, then you'll quickly notice many of the small changes, yet most things have remained the same.

Graphics: 9/10

The graphics in FF1 are a large improvement over its 8-bit form. Everything is in beautiful 2D with a more polished look. Like all 2D Final Fantasy games, the view is at a constant overhead angle, just like such 2D games as Chrono Trigger and The Legend of Zelda. The battles, however, are placed on a single screen at a side view. Though it retains the look that made it a sight to behold on the NES, there are extra touch-ups that have been added:

While a very small amount of the landscapes in the overworlds remain in 8-bit form, most, including characters and towns, have made a nice transition over to more of a 16-bit look, like SNES sprites. The enemies you take on barely look any different than before, but they are a tad more detailed and clear. There are noticeable changes in a few characters, but they really are all for the better. The use of colors is amazing at best, making everything appear more ''light'' than the story suggests. What little animations there are still stay true to the original, as does the general feel of the game.

There are a few short movies that appear throughout the span of both games, all presented in full 3D. A welcome addition, because they all look spectacular yet don't distract or make either feel like a different game at all.

Sound: 10/10

The almost perfect music from the original (well, ''perfect'' for the NES era) has been reworked and sounds better than ever! All the tracks are the same, but have been taken up a huge notch to sound like something you would find in one of the better games on SNES or even Playstation (wow, imagine that!)

The music within towns is light with sort of a ''welcome home'' feel, even though no one has any clue where our young heroes actually live. The overworld music, some of the most memorable, has an ''I'm going to save the world!'' or ''I'm going to get my butt kicked!'' theme in all it's dramatic essence. The music within dungeons and during battles is slightly darker and more intimidating, yet remains recognizable as souped-up versions of the original themes. The battle music always reaches its climax at the end, when an even better sounding ''we won!'' track plays as your characters bounce up and down in joy. Now, rather than serving the same worn-out song during boss battles, you're given a small surprise: it's own music! Thank you, Square, thank you.

What little sound effects there are seem to be untouched, but I doubt they could sound any better than they were. Most of what you'll hear is attacks connecting with either you or enemies, varying in sounds depending on the attack.

Personally, I fail to see how any of the sounds could be any better. Any reaction you feel upon hearing the music or sound effects will be the right one for the mood that is present. Truly the sound is a masterpiece in its own right.

Replay: 8/10

Often, people are turned away from replaying a game simply because there's nothing to unlock, etc. In Final Fantasy, the whole reason for playing again is to relive the experience. If you enjoy the game, then you'll likely go through it again, which should be the main criterion for ever replaying a game. However, this is only the first half of what you'll get out of Final Fantasy Origins...

Overall Score for Final Fantasy: 8/10

Final Fantasy II: Nobody likes me, everybody hates me...

Truthfully, I never played this game back in the day, but I do regret it. Many fans of the series (and even some who aren't) label Final Fantasy II the worst of the lot. In some ways, it is. However, there are many strong points to this game that should make it worthy of your time.

Story: 8/10

As the game opens, you're greeted with a scene in realistic 3D (which soon switches to 2D) showing Firion, Gus, Maria and Leon running for their lives to escape a group of imperial soldiers, whom shortly after you're forced into an impossible battle against. Once you're defeated by the enemy, Firion wakes up in the Rebel's Hideout where he's reunited with his friends Maria and Gus... but Leon is nowhere to be found. Many people are in the same boat as you, with their homes destroyed and their families separated. Your enemy is the empire, and war is on the horizon...

Hmm... Rebels vs. Empire, sounds sort of like Star Wars, does it?

Unlike FF1, FF2's story does become more in-depth as the game goes on. Unfortunately, your characters don't. All that's really known about them is given to you through the dialogue at the beginning, and it isn't much. Still, the story is probably one of the darkest in the series and is sure to hold your interest.

Gameplay: 6/10

If there was ever a reason for someone to not enjoy this game, this would be it. The way the game is played has been altered in terms of leveling-up and, depending on the way you look at it, this can be a good thing or a terrible mistake on Square's part. Much of the game remains the same as its predecessor, but some new features deserve being pointed out:

To level-up, you no longer require experience points... in fact, there are none to be earned. Unlike FF1 and the following Final Fantasy games hereafter where leveling-up happens after gaining a certain amount of experience to boost your parameters, the system in FF2 takes more of a literal approach, a very literal approach. To increase the amount of a things such as HP, MP or strength, you must either use or be the victim of a move associated with such parameters. For example: in order to increase your HP, you must take a good amount of damage in battle. Frankly, you must be pummeled. To increase your magic power, you must cast an ample amount of spells. This method does become tedious after a short while, and furthermore becomes just plain irritating in later battles.

Weapons can now be leveled-up as well, or at least the skill your character has in using them. The more you use a certain weapon (like sword, bow or axe for example), the stronger your character will become when using it and the more damage the weapon will cause. Switching to a different type of weapon, like bow to sword, will require you to start from scratch and level that weapon to suit your needs. Magic is leveled-up in quite the same way the more you use it, and the higher it levels, the more MP your character will need to cast spells. Much like FF1, magic spells are still purchased in shops around towns. All spells will need to be used frequently in order to become strong enough to be effective.

Another change is the ''jobs'' given to characters, like Red Mage or Thief in FF1. Your characters can now learn any skill depending on the time put into leveling towards it. This is actually a positive change as there are no restrictions to what spells your characters can cast or what attacks they can perform. There's a catch though: customizing your characters and leveling them up into an unstoppable team is likely to take many hours. The overall game is one of the most challenging in the series, so spending a greater amount of time in battles than actually playing through the game itself is almost inevitable.

The in-battle format remains the same as the previous game, only ''items'' is now listed under ''equip'' in the battle command menu. Almost all battles happen randomly, but seem to occur even more often. Sometimes, much to the displeasure of many including myself, you'll walk into a random battle where you're put up against enemies that are impossible for you to defeat in your current state. This doesn't happen only in later portions of the game, it can happen near the very beginning when your characters are still fairly low-level. If by chance you haven't saved before walking into such an unsuspecting death trap, you'll most likely suffer a game over immediately. Why were these battles thrown into such early areas? I wish I knew...

Gil, the elusive money, is somewhat easier to earn in FF2. Unfortunately, items are all the more expensive. Once again you'll be throwing yourself into battles in a desperate attempt to purchase a much needed item. Phoenix Down, a revival potion as well as one of the more expensive goodies, is probably nothing you'll pick up soon due to the high prices. Fortunately, the time spent in battles is more than enough to collect large amounts of gil... if you have the patience.

Graphics: 9/10

The graphics, while in beautiful 2D, are virtually indistinguishable from those of FF1, but this, of course, isn't a BAD thing. Most of the overworld looks much the same, with mountains, lakes, forests and towns scattered here and there. The sprites are 16-bit and look just as detailed, if not a bit smaller than they should be. There's a wide range of colors used throughout each area, and the look of the battles remains almost identical.

As I said before, I never played this game in its original form, but as it stands this version looks much better than how I imagine it did on the NES.

Sound: 8/10

Similar to the comparison of the graphics, the music is presented in an ensemble of instruments just like the first game. Assuming that each song is an updated version of the original track, all are very well done and fit the mood given. The battle music is in the same style and the overworld and town themes are nicely composed. As enjoyable as the music is, it doesn't give the same effect as that of FF1. This doesn't mean it's of lesser quality, it just doesn't really shine in any particular area.

The sound effects are few and far between, mainly coming up in battles. There is really no difference between them here than in FF1, so if you play through the first game first then you'll already know what to expect.

Replay: 5/10

This is a good game, or at least I'm one of the proud few who thinks so. Despite this, the game drags on for a very long time because of the leveling system. Because of that, you won't want to come back to this game for a long while unless you have plenty of time to kill. Thankfully the leveling system was changed back to its original form by FFIII/VI, but if you can forgive the one here then you might find that it's a fun game worth a second look.

Overall Score for Final Fantasy II: 7/10

Overall (both games): 8/10

If you are a fan of the series and missed these two titles, then do yourself a favor and hunt this game down. If you're just getting into the series, what better way to start? Even if you played or even own both original versions, this is still a worthy purchase if you can find it cheap. Final Fantasy Origins, as a two-in-one game, deserves a spot in every RPG gamer's collection.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 08/22/03