Summary
After hitting a chord with players following the release of the firstFinal Fantasy, Square never looked back. They turned this fledgling JRPG title into a franchise for the ages that is still churning out amazing games to this day.
The 90s were a time whenFinal Fantasyhit its stride, establishing several iconic recurring elements in the series that help everyFinal Fantasygame feel unique yet familiar at the same time. ModernFinal Fantasyfans who haven’t checked out the classic titles in the series are missing out on something truly special.
WhileFinal Fantasy 3may have made some questionable decisions regarding its job system, the game as a whole is incredibly important to the evolution of the series. It wasthe first time that summons were introduced in the series, which speaks for itself.
As long as players don’t mind some frustrating moments in an otherwise great game,Final Fantasy 3will be right up their alley. This old-school JRPG is more accessible than ever before, courtesy of thePixel Remastersthat are absolutely fantastic and a great way to help this game reach modern audiences, especially since the only other translated version of this game existed in the form of the 3D remake.
Final Fantasy 4’s story-driven approach was a huge part of what made the game so special. Not being able to configure party members was odd given the sheer number of playable characters in the game, but this party-switching mechanic wouldn’t arrive anyway until the sixth mainline entry.
What makes the game’s narrative so special is how the recurring elements of the game feed into the plot.Summons are more relevant than ever, and Cecil’s change in character is reflected by his job changing mid-way through the title, reflecting how the story and gameplay are tied together in a neat little bow.
Players who want to enjoy one of the best gameplay-driven titles in the series will love to giveFinal Fantasy 5a shot. The title is full to the brim with a litany of jobs that can be mastered and changed at any time.
This ensures that the gameplay remains fresh as players change the jobs of their party members constantly to help them acquire the best abilities possible. By the end, the simple Freelancer job will turn into a powerhouse that will let players run circles around Exdeath as they unleash a beatdown for the ageson this hateable antagonist.
Final Fantasy 8is unfairly labelled as the black sheep of the franchise, what with its poorly-implemented Junction system encouraging grinding and breaking the game if a player draws too many units of one magic. However, in many ways, this is precisely what makesFinal Fantasy 8special, since many fans like to take an overpowered party in combat and steamroll their foes.
The narrative has some questionable moments, butthe visuals of this title were groundbreaking back in the dayand will appeal to a player’s nostalgia. The Guardian Forces are a huge part of the game, with every summon being quite grandiose and adding to the visual flair in combat.
No one expected aFinal Fantasyspinoff with turn-based strategic gameplay to win over audiences, which is whyFinal Fantasy Tacticsdeserves all its plaudits. It’s set in the detailed world of Ivalice, ensuring that fans who love epic storylines with a ton of politics will love what this title has to offer.
The brilliant mind behindTactics Ogrebrought his expertise to this spinoff, developing a battle system that fans love to this day.Final Fantasy Tacticsis harder than the average game in the series, but worth checking out for players who want to witness the best game set in Ivalice for themselves.
The legacy ofFinal Fantasy 7speaks for itself. The title was so groundbreaking that it’s currentlyenjoying a remaketrilogy that gives players another reason to check out this masterpiece.
From the ambitious story to the iconic materia system, there are so many waysFinal Fantasy 7keeps fans engaged. It’s the most important game in the series and perhaps the first example of a AAA title that put a ton of money into its marketing and turned the franchise into a household name across Japanese shores.
By the time SquareSoft got to work onFinal Fantasy 6, they had become very adept at developing games on this engine. Realizing that they could make things bigger and better than ever, the company decided to split the game into two distinct halves.
This led to the creation of the World of Balance and the World of Ruin, setting the stage for an incredibleFinal Fantasygame that fans can’t stop raving about to this day. Thenonlinear gameplay in the World of Ruinwas groundbreaking back in the day and continues to wow fans with its scope and innovation.
