Official Website

Platform: Playstation

Genre: RPG

Number of Players: 1
 

Square Enix has undertaken the task of presenting a new face for the oldest versions of their famous franchise, and the combined result of their effort is Final Fantasy Origins.  This release contains the first two games of the series, and certainly holds a few surprises for both old veterans and those who have never held an original NES controller.

When Final Fantasy was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in Japan in 1987, it was a title to either make or break Square.  Its name likely has something to do with the fact that the company had one final chance to succeed in a tough market.  Ironically, it became anything but "final", spawning a remake at regular intervals for nearly 20 years.

Final Fantasy is a name that has undergone many changes from it's first incarnation on the NES.  However, within each story are elements that never change:  the struggle of good versus evil, a small group of people forced to band together against that evil, and a story that unfolds through battle and discovery.

The first thing that one notices on starting the game is the white title screen has recently come to define Squaresoft's products.  Selecting either game yields a very pretty CG intro, one of the many additions to the games.  Other additions include an instant (but temporary) ram-save feature; art galleries, bestiaries, and CG story scenes.

Having seen but never played the original games, I was still surprised by the graphics.  NES graphics were 8-bit, and paled in comparison to my first blissful encounter with the series: Final Fantasy 3 (VI in Japan).  I admit I did a double take when I saw the first actual game screens.  Her we find something to rival the Super Nintendo's ability, completely redone in 16-bit (or better) splendor.

The music is simply excellent, improving on the original and fitting the mood at each opportunity.  The famous battle music is intact, and will likely go down in history as the second most recognizable role playing game score, right after the title screen song.  It can get quite old considering the frequency and length that you will hear it.

The first game gives you the option to select four heroes from set classes, and without much introduction you find your party in possession of crystals that mark them as heroes from a prophecy.  You begin by saving a princess, and from there you go on a series of quests that lead you to the final battle.  With few actual options or forks in the tale, the game is reminiscent of Phantasy Star, with much better gameplay, graphics, and sound.  The story is unremarkable in its scope and detail, but truly a classic that shouldn't be overlooked by fans of the series.

More interesting in terms of story and gameplay is Final Fantasy II, which  has not been released on American shores until this title.  The action filled intro begins with the heroes' homes and family destroyed by fire, with menacing dark knights in pursuit.  You are thrown into the battle and the story at once, and quickly realize that you can't win.  Owning two-digit hit points for each character, you are all hit for three digit amounts before you can do any damage.  All part of the story, but very effective at getting you involved from the start.

With the development of the story we see the plot twists and emotional surprises that have become the trademark of the series.  A friend becomes an enemy, a jail-break is made, trust is gained and broken, and epic battles are fought.

While the plot develops, you have the ability to carefully develop your characters abilities.  When you use a weapon or a spell, you become better at it, creating a custom feel to each party member.  This alone adds a great deal of enjoyment to what could otherwise be a rush to press the attack button enough times to see the story unfold.

When it comes to these early role-playing games, you need a great deal of both time and patience to see your character through the countless random encounters required to gain levels.  This is great for students on summer vacation or adults who can put life on hold, but is a serious (around 50 hours altogether) time commitment.  Perhaps it's a sign of aging, or maybe just an evolution of interests, but the reward doesn't always seem equal to the investment of sheer time.

Regardless of your available time, what we have here is a compilation that will delight those with the time to play through those random battles, and a treasure for North American gamers who could never play Final Fantasy II until now.  Remastered with loving care, these games are sure to be included in the collections of both fans and newcomers to the legend that is Final Fantasy.

-scott-