I’m doing this based on the anniversary date of the first game but I also wanted to make a post before 2012 ends. Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary is something amazing to talk about. The first Final Fantasy was released on December 18th 1987. That’s today!
The game has sold over 100 million units by 2011 , the 9th best selling game and 2nd best selling RPG in the world. 14 main titles and many spin-offs, prequels and sequels. The idea that the main planner called it that because it would be the last game he would create if it did not sell well is interesting.
Final Fantasy are conveyed to classic literature, world culture and ties to 20th century Japanese literature which I can see more of it now. The worlds have had some Eastern and Western influences and you can really see that if you take a look at Final Fantasy XII. Plots center on a group of heroes battling a great evil while exploring the characters’ internal struggles and relationships. Character names are frequently derived from the history, languages, and mythologies of cultures worldwide.
My first experience of playing Final Fantasy started back in 2004 when my sister’s best friend lent me Final Fantasy X. I thought it was a strange game to me but I still felt lured in by the plot and plus, the battle system is likable and similar to Pokémon if you ask me. I felt a bit misled thinking I was playing Yuna as the main character as there was no indication at the time I was going to play as Tidus. Anyways, I still think it is one of my favourite Final Fantasy games. Later on, I started playing FFX-2, FFXII and III. I would not have finished X-2 if I did not have my strategy guide because it was a struggle and a bore to complete. I am still in the middle of completing XII (thought it was great at the beginning but now it is dragging on) and III (good but man, if you delete your file you realise how many dungeons you have to go through again) which will be the last Final Fantasy games I will play.
I have watched the walkthroughs of FFIV (currently), FFIX, FFXIII and FFXIII-2. I’m still wondering whether I should give FFVIII a go again but I found the beginning very boring. I think FFIX needs more praise as one of the best in the series and FFIV (I viewed the DS version) is quite good but wow, never seen so many people sacrifice themselves in a game so much and then reappear! I admire the games and want to pitch my own idea for a main title game. Some of my favourite characters in the series are Bathlier, Lulu, Zack Fair, Lighting, Ashe and I am hoping when Versus XIII/FFXV comes out, Noctis will be on the list and what I imagine him to be. You should see a post on it soon. The connection theory of FFVII and FFX-2 sounds plausible and I remember when I took a look at FFVII and thought it was strange the company was called Shinra but I never took notice of Shinra (X-2)’s weird obsession with his projects and the Farplane.
Happy 25th anniversary Final Fantasy! I admire the series and each unique game with their own beautiful settings and interesting main party combinations.
What’s your experience with Final Fantasy, guys?
Nice post! My Final Fantasy experience started with Final Fantasy Tactics Advanced for the GBA, and I had to say, it was quite addicting. The level of magic and customization the game brought was unlike anything else I had played before (I started with Pokemon Red and some Mario games, and pretty much stuck with them ever since). I can’t say that I’ve played any of the core Final Fantasy games, and not even the MMO Final Fantasy games either, but the level of immersion that I’ve seen bests pretty much any other RPG out there in my opinion.
Heck, even mixing Final Fantasy with the world of Disney in the Kingdom Hearts series was quite fascinating; who knew Mickey could come in the same world as Cloud and co.? The level of graphic detail is pretty much what impresses me about Final Fantasy the most, and I’m sure that even though the series is in a bit of a rough spot these days, it can pick itself back up with future installments.
Hell! I would need the entire night to tell you about me and FF. Then let me tell you about the very first time. I had played FFVIII at a friend’s and decided it was awesome. I bought it the following day even though I had a test in Spanish class the following day. I played till late at night (which I had never done before). I was completely hooked by Triple Triad, I admired Squall (still do, actually), loved the summons… Well, from this day, Final Fantasy and JRPGs became the most important thing in my life. By the way, I got top marks in the Spanish test.
I’ve played most of the pre-Square Enix Final Fantasy games, but I’ve only ever finished IX, which happens to be my personal favorite. I think V is also very underrepresented throughout the franchise, which is a shame because it had a very happy-go-lucky and fun feel from its gameplay and environment.
Man, just talking about it makes me want to go and finish off these games for once!
Thanks for stopping by NyNyOnline. Very cool post. My first experience was with the very first Final Fantasy on the NES when it first came out. It was incredible- and by that, I mean, incredibly fun, incredibly dramatic, and incredibly hard, ha ha. I’ve finished every Final Fantasy since then except 13 and I’m almost at the end of that one. Have a great holiday season.
Wow, 25 years today. I remember playing the original FF1 for the NES as a kid. It was a gift for my 10th birthday and was one of my favorite games as a kid. It wasn’t as polished as later games but going through the old Marsh Cave and barely surviving was an old rite of passage. Lots of fun.
I like FF9 a lot but I like FF7′s character development and cyber-punk feel more. Both are awesome games though.
Here’s to 25 more.
Sadly, the series has gone downhill since the good ole days. I really wish they’d take it back to the roots of it all. If anything, maybe this Agni’s Philosophy tech demo we saw earlier this year can be a start of something new… Oh, btw, I found you through your comment on my blog. You’re pretty cool
My first encounter with Final Fantasy was during college! I grew up on the “Sega Genesis does what Nintendont” side of the aisle and so I was more of a Phantasy Star kid. However for reasons that I don’t quite remember, I had quit videogames. I was walking past a dormroom and saw on someone’s shelf that legendary FF7 box. On the back it said, “Quite possibly, the greatest game ever made.” It shook me. So I asked people inside, “Is that game really that good?” They replied, “YES.”.
So, I bought a Playstation and bought FF7 and it turned out to be the greatest RPG I have ever played. It still is, although Mass Effect 2 is right up there in my mind. It got me back into videogames. After that I played Final Fantasy Tactics, which I believe to be the best SRPG ever made, although Xcom:Enemy Unknown sits right next to it.
I was completely caught up with FF8, and was addicted to Triple Triad. FF9 let me down a bit…wasn’t fond of the music or graphics or style or the card game, but I still played it through.
I thought FFX would be the epic, and compared to JRPGs today, it is. But it was nothing compared to 7, 8 and 9. I think I’ll pick up the Vita version just to bring back memories whenever it comes out.
I spent large portions of my life on FFXI, and through that game I still have some of my best friends.
I couldn’t finish FFXII. Honestly, because it got too easy and the story was blah.
Final Fantasy 13? Sorry…I tried multiple times to finish it but there are way too many gameplay flaws. I haven’t even tried FF13-2.
So, for a time, Final Fantasy was the reason I played videogames. It’s not anymore, sadly…and I await the day when it becomes that reason again.
12
Awww :/ not even one game now makes you want to play again?
I’m trying! I really am! But all I get is things like “Lightning Returns”….sigh. Still, I will never forget what the old FFs did to my gaming and I will keep on waiting… Maybe one day FF Versus will come out…. —12
I started out with Final Fantasy VII as it was the first title in the series to see a release here in the UK. I fell in love with the series immediately. I have a fairly sizable FF collection (games, art books, soundtracks, models… hell, a friend even bought me a Moogle plushie!), and I recently got to attend my first Distant Worlds concert.
I completely agree with your comment that IX needs a bit more love – it’s one of my favourites, along with IV, VII and X. And I love that characters nobly sacrifice themselves in IV only to reappear a while later
I’d be hard-pressed to pick favourite characters, but Cecil and Yuna come to mind.
Happy 25th birthday, Final Fantasy. Here’s to 25 more years.
25 years has been that long. Man, how time flies!
I started this series with FFVII and never looked back. It redefined the RPG genre for me, and up to now the Final Fantasy series is my standard for any RPG game that comes out.
Among all the FFs, FFVII is my ultimate favorite. I was way back in grade 6 and I’ve played the game for more than 20+ times! Talk about addiction.
Right now, I’m currently playing FFXIII, the reason why I got a PS3 in the first place lol And I’m having fun!
More power to Final Fantasy
Ff13 isnt any good to me. I started out with ff7 when i ws a child and since then i got hooked,
Thanks for your reply on my post!
I’ve never really been a fan of the games until recently (got XIII and XIII-2 as a gift). Even now, I’ve not a fan of the games as the ones I have played didn’t appeal to me much. Graphics and OSTs are beautifully done, although some of the voice-acting is annoying and the gameplay is repetitive, even if the cut scenes and story are to be adored (just takes too damned long to get to them).
Nonetheless, I still do love the orchestral arrangements of the soundtracks from the series and continue to do so to this day. Some of my friends tell me that I should really play the game in order to fully appreciate the music. Maybe….
Though for now, I can comfortably say that I appreciate Uematsu-san’s compositions a lot.