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Final Fantasy

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This article is about the franchise. For the first game in the series, seeFinal Fantasy(video game).For other uses, seeFinal Fantasy (disambiguation).

Final Fantasy
Genre(s)Role-playing
Developer(s)Square,Square Enix
Publisher(s)Square, Square Enix
Creator(s)Hironobu Sakaguchi
Producer(s)Hironobu Sakaguchi
Shinji Hashimoto
Yoshinori Kitase
Tetsuya Nomura
Naoki Yoshida
Artist(s)Yusuke Naora
Tetsuya Nomura
Shūkō Murase
Hiroshi Minagawa
Akihiko Yoshida
Roberto Ferrari
Composer(s)Nobuo Uematsu
Masashi Hamauzu
Junya Nakano
Hitoshi Sakimoto
Naoshi Mizuta
Mitsuto Suzuki
Masayoshi Soken
Yoko Shimomura
Masaharu Iwata
Hidenori Iwasaki
Ryo Yamazaki
Platform(s)
Various
First releaseFinal Fantasy
December 18, 1987
Latest releaseFinal Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail
July 2, 2024
Spin-offs

Final Fantasy[a]is afantasyanthologymedia franchisecreated byHironobu Sakaguchiwhich is owned, developed, and published bySquare Enix(formerlySquare). The franchise centers on a series of fantasyrole-playing video games.Thefirst game in the serieswas released in 1987, with 16 numbered main entries having been released to date.

The franchise has since branched into othervideo game genressuch astactical role-playing,action role-playing,massively multiplayer online role-playing,racing,third-person shooter,fighting,andrhythm,as well as branching into other media, including films,anime,manga,andnovels.

Final Fantasyis mostly ananthology serieswith primary installments being stand-alone role-playing games, each with different settings, plots and main characters, but the franchise is linked by several recurring elements, including game mechanics and recurring character names. Each plot centers on a particular group of heroes who are battling a great evil, but also explores the characters' internal struggles and relationships. Character names are frequently derived from the history, languages,pop culture,andmythologiesof cultures worldwide. The mechanics of each game involve similar battle systems and maps.

Final Fantasyhas been both critically and commercially successful. Several entries are regarded as some ofthe greatest video games,with the series selling more than185 millioncopies worldwide, making it one of thebest-selling video game franchisesof all time. The series is well known for its innovation, visuals, such as the inclusion offull-motion videosandphotorealisticcharacter models, and music byNobuo Uematsu.It has popularized many features now common in role-playing games, also popularizing the genre as a whole in markets outsideJapan.

Media

[edit]
Further information:List of Final Fantasy media

Games

[edit]
Main article:List of Final Fantasy video games

Thefirst installmentof the series was released in Japan on December 18, 1987. Subsequent games are numbered and given a story unrelated to previous games, so the numbers refer to volumes rather than to sequels. ManyFinal Fantasygames have beenlocalizedfor markets in North America, Europe, and Australia on numerousvideo game consoles,personal computers(PC), andmobile phones.As of June 2023, the series includes the main installments fromFinal FantasytoFinal Fantasy XVI,as well as direct sequels andspin-offs,both released and confirmed as being in development. Most of the older games have been remade or re-released on multiple platforms.[1]

Main series

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Release timeline
1987Final Fantasy
1988Final Fantasy II
1989
1990Final Fantasy III
1991Final Fantasy IV
1992Final Fantasy V
1993
1994Final Fantasy VI
1995–1996
1997Final Fantasy VII
1998
1999Final Fantasy VIII
2000Final Fantasy IX
2001Final Fantasy X
2002Final Fantasy XI
2003–2005
2006Final Fantasy XII
2007–2008
2009Final Fantasy XIII
2010Final Fantasy XIV (2010 video game)
2011–2012
2013Final Fantasy XIV
2014–2015
2016Final Fantasy XV
2017–2022
2023Final Fantasy XVI

ThreeFinal Fantasyinstallments were released on theNintendo Entertainment System(NES).Final Fantasywas released in Japan in 1987 and in North America in 1990.[2][3]It introduced many concepts to the console RPG genre, and has since been remade on several platforms.[3]Final Fantasy II,released in 1988 in Japan, has been bundled withFinal Fantasyin several re-releases.[3][4][5]The last of the NES installments,Final Fantasy III,was released in Japan in 1990,[6]but was not released elsewhere until aNintendo DSremakecame out in 2006.[5]

TheSuper Nintendo Entertainment System(SNES) also featured three installments of the main series, all of which have been re-released on several platforms.Final Fantasy IVwas released in 1991; in North America, it was released asFinal Fantasy II.[7][8]It introduced the "Active Time Battle"system.[9]Final Fantasy V,released in 1992 in Japan, was the first game in the series to spawn a sequel: a short anime series,Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals.[3][10][11]Final Fantasy VIwas released in Japan in 1994, titledFinal Fantasy IIIin North America.[12]

ThePlayStationconsole saw the release of three mainFinal Fantasygames.Final Fantasy VII(1997) moved away from thetwo-dimensional (2D) graphicsused in the first six games tothree-dimensional (3D) computer graphics;the game featurespolygonalcharacters onpre-renderedbackgrounds. It also introduced a more modern setting, a style that was carried over to the next game.[3]It was also the second in the series to be released in Europe, with the first beingFinal Fantasy Mystic Quest.Final Fantasy VIIIwas published in 1999, and was the first to consistently use realistically proportioned characters and feature a vocal piece as its theme music.[3][13]Final Fantasy IX,released in 2000, returned to the series' roots, by revisiting a more traditionalFinal Fantasysetting, rather than the more modern worlds ofVIIandVIII.[3][14]

Three main installments, as well as one online game, were published for thePlayStation 2.[15][16][17]Final Fantasy X(2001) introduced full 3D areas andvoice actingto the series, and was the first to spawn a sub-sequel (Final Fantasy X-2,published in 2003).[18][19]The first massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) in the series,Final Fantasy XI,was released on the PS2 and PC in 2002, and later on theXbox 360.[20][21]It introduced real-time battles instead ofrandom encounters.[21]Final Fantasy XII,published in 2006, also includes real-time battles in large, interconnected playfields.[22][23]The game is also the first in the main series to utilize a world used in a previous game, namely the land ofIvalice,which was previously featured inFinal Fantasy TacticsandVagrant Story.[24]

In 2009,Final Fantasy XIIIwas released in Japan, and in North America and Europe the following year, for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.[25][26]It is the flagship installment of theFabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasyseries[27]and became the first mainline game to spawn two sub-sequels (XIII-2andLightning Returns).[28]It was also the first game released in Chinese andhigh definitionalong with being released on two consoles at once.Final Fantasy XIV,a MMORPG, was released worldwide onMicrosoft Windowsin 2010, but it received heavy criticism when it was launched, prompting Square Enix to rerelease the game asFinal Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn,this time to thePlayStation 3as well, in 2013.[29]Final Fantasy XVis an action role-playing game that was released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2016.[30][31]Originally aXIIIspin-off titledVersus XIII,XVuses the mythos of theFabula Nova Crystallisseries, although in many other respects the game stands on its own and has since been distanced from the series by its developers.[38]The sixteenth mainline entry,Final Fantasy XVI,[39]was released in 2023 forPlayStation 5.[40]

Remakes, sequels and spin-offs

[edit]
See also:List of Final Fantasy spin-offs,List of Square Enix mobile games,andCategory: Final Fantasy spin-offs

Final Fantasyhas spawned numerousspin-offsandmetaseries.Several are, in fact, notFinal Fantasygames, but were rebranded for North American release. Examples include theSaGaseries,rebrandedThe Final Fantasy Legend,and its two sequels,Final Fantasy Legend IIandIII.[41]Final Fantasy Mystic Questwas specifically developed for a United States audience, andFinal Fantasy Tacticsis atactical RPGthat features many references and themes found in the series.[42][43]The spin-offChocoboseries,Crystal Chroniclesseries, andKingdom Heartsseries also include multipleFinal Fantasyelements.[41][44]In 2003, theFinal Fantasyseries' first sub-sequel,Final Fantasy X-2,was released.[45]Final Fantasy XIIIwas originally intended to stand on its own, but the team wanted to explore the world, characters and mythos more, resulting in the development and release of two sequels in2011and2013respectively, creating the series' first official trilogy.[28]Dissidia Final Fantasywas released in 2009, afighting gamethat features heroes and villains from the first ten games of the main series.[46]It was followed by aprequelin 2011,[47]asequelin 2015[48]and amobile spin-offin 2017.[49][50]Other spin-offs have taken the form of subseries—Compilation of Final Fantasy VII,Ivalice Alliance,andFabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy.In 2022, Square Enix released anaction-role playingtitleStranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origindeveloped in collaboration withTeam Ninja,which takes place in an alternate, reimagined reality based on the setting of the originalFinal Fantasygame, depicting a prequel story that explores the origins of the antagonistChaosand the emergence of the fourWarriors of Light.[51][52]Enhanced 3D remakes ofFinal Fantasy IIIandIVwere released in 2006 and 2007 respectively.[53][54]The first installment of theFinal Fantasy VII Remakeproject was released on the PlayStation 4 in 2020.[55]The second and latest installment of the remake trilogy,Final Fantasy VII Rebirth,was released on the PlayStation 5 in 2024.[56]

Other media

[edit]

Film and television

[edit]
Final Fantasyin film and television
1994Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals
1995–2000
2001Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
Final Fantasy: Unlimited
2002–2004
2005Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Last Order: Final Fantasy VII
2006–2015
2016Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV
Brotherhood: Final Fantasy XV
2017Final Fantasy XIV: Dad of Light
2018
2019Final Fantasy XV: Episode Ardyn – Prologue

Square Enix has expanded theFinal Fantasyseries into various media. Multiple anime andcomputer-generated imagery(CGI) films have been produced that are based either on individualFinal Fantasygames or on the series as a whole. The first was anoriginal video animation(OVA),Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals,a sequel toFinal Fantasy V.The story was set in the same world as the game, although 200 years in the future. It was released as four 30-minute episodes, first in Japan in 1994 and later in the United States byUrban Visionin 1998. In 2001,Square Picturesreleased its first feature film,Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.The film is set on a futureEarthinvaded byalienlife forms.[57]The Spirits Withinwas the first animated feature to seriously attempt to portray photorealistic CGI humans, but was considered abox office bomband garnered mixed reviews.[57][58][59]

A 25-episode anime television series,Final Fantasy: Unlimited,was released in 2001 based on the common elements of theFinal Fantasyseries. It was broadcast in Japan byTV Tokyoand released in North America byADV Films.

In 2005,Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children,a feature lengthdirect-to-DVDCGI film, andLast Order: Final Fantasy VII,a non-canon OVA,[60]were released as part of theCompilation of Final Fantasy VII.Advent Childrenwas animated by Visual Works, which helped the company create CG sequences for the games.[61]The film, unlikeThe Spirits Within,became a commercial success.[62][63][64][65]Last Order,on the other hand, was released in Japan in a special DVD bundle package withAdvent Children.Last Ordersold out quickly[66]and was positively received by Western critics,[67][68]though fan reaction was mixed over changes to established story scenes.[69]

Two animated tie-ins forFinal Fantasy XVwere released as part of a larger multimedia project dubbed theFinal Fantasy XVUniverse.Brotherhoodis a series of five 10-to-20-minute-long episodes developed byA-1 Picturesand Square Enix detailing the backstories of the main cast.Kingsglaive,a CGI film released prior to the game in Summer 2016, is set during the game's opening and follows new and secondary characters.[70][71][72][73]In 2019, Square Enix released a short anime, produced bySatelight Inc,calledFinal Fantasy XV: Episode Ardyn – Prologueon their YouTube channel which acts as the background story for the final piece of DLC forFinal Fantasy XVgiving insight into Ardyn's past.

Square Enix also releasedFinal Fantasy XIV: Dad of Lightin 2017, an 8-episode Japanese soap opera based, featuring a mix of live-action scenes andFinal Fantasy XIVgameplay footage.

As of June 2019,Sony Pictures Televisionis working on a live-action adaptation of the series with Hivemind and Square Enix. Jason F. Brown, Sean Daniel and Dinesh Shamdasani for Hivemind are the producers while Ben Lustig and Jake Thornton were attached as writers and executive producers for the series.[74]

Other media

[edit]

Several video games in the series have either been adapted into or have had spin-offs in the form ofmangaand novels. The first was the novelization ofFinal Fantasy IIin 1989, which was followed by a manga adaptation ofFinal Fantasy IIIin 1992.[75][76]Later years have seen an increase in the number of non-video game adaptations and spin-offs.Final Fantasy: The Spirits Withinhas been adapted into a novel, the spin-off gameFinal Fantasy Crystal Chronicleshas been adapted into a manga, andFinal Fantasy XIhad a novel and manga set in its continuity.[77][78][79][80]Sevennovellasbased on theFinal Fantasy VIIuniverse have also been released. TheFinal Fantasy: Unlimitedstory was partially continued in novels and a manga after the anime series ended.[81]TheFinal Fantasy XandXIIIseries have also had novellas and audio dramas released.Final Fantasy Tactics Advancehas been adapted into aradio drama,andFinal Fantasy: Unlimitedhas received a radio drama sequel.

Atrading card gamenamedFinal Fantasy Trading Card Gameis produced by Square Enix andHobby Japan,first released Japan in 2012 with an English version in 2016.[82]The game has been compared toMagic: the Gathering,and a tournament circuit for the game also takes place.[83][84]

Common elements

[edit]
Main article:Recurring elements in the Final Fantasy series

Although mostFinal Fantasyinstallments are independent, manygameplayelements recur throughout the series.[85][86]Most games contain elements of fantasy and science fiction and feature recycled names often inspired from various cultures' history, languages and mythology, includingAsian,European,andMiddle-Eastern.[87]Examples include weapon names likeExcaliburand Masamune—derived fromArthurian legendand the Japanese swordsmithMasamunerespectively—as well as the spell names Holy, Meteor, and Ultima.[86][87]Beginning withFinal Fantasy IV,the main series adopted its current logo style that features the sametypefaceand an emblem designed by Japanese artistYoshitaka Amano.The emblem relates to a game's plot and typically portrays a character or object in the story. Subsequent remakes of the first three games have replaced the previous logos with ones similar to the rest of the series.[86]

Plot and themes

[edit]
Final Fantasy Vis similar to the earlier games in the series, in that the heroes must attempt to retrieve crystals to save the world from an ancient evil.

The central conflict in manyFinal Fantasygames focuses on a group of characters battling an evil, and sometimes ancient, antagonist that dominates the game's world. Stories frequently involve asovereign statein rebellion, with the protagonists taking part in the rebellion. The heroes are often destined to defeat the evil, and occasionally gather as a direct result of the antagonist's malicious actions.[3][87]Another staple of the series is the existence of two villains; the main villain is not always who it appears to be, as the primary antagonist may actually be subservient to another character or entity.[3]The main antagonist introduced at the beginning of the game is not always the final enemy, and the characters must continue their quest beyond what appears to be the final fight.[87]

Stories in the series frequently emphasize the internal struggles, passions, and tragedies of the characters, and the main plot often recedes into the background as the focus shifts to their personal lives.[23][88]Games also explore relationships between characters, ranging from love to rivalry.[3]Other recurring situations that drive the plot includeamnesia,a hero corrupted by an evil force, mistaken identity, and self-sacrifice.[3][89][90]Magical orbs and crystals are recurring in-game items that are frequently connected to the themes of the games' plots.[87]Crystals often play a central role in the creation of the world, and a majority of theFinal Fantasygames link crystals and orbs to the planet'slife force.As such, control over these crystals drives the main conflict.[87][91]Theclassical elementsare also a recurring theme in the series related to the heroes, villains, and items.[87]Other common plot and setting themes include theGaia hypothesis,an apocalypse, and conflicts between advancedtechnologyandnature.[87][89][92]

Characters

[edit]
Further information:Character design of Final FantasyandTemplate:Final Fantasy characters

The series features a number of recurring character archetypes. Most famously, every game sinceFinal Fantasy II,including subsequent remakes of the originalFinal Fantasy,features a character namedCid.Cid's appearance, personality, goals, and role in the game (non-playable ally, party member, villain) vary dramatically, but two characteristics many versions of Cid have in common are being a scientist or engineer, and being tied in some way to an airship the party eventually acquires. Every Cid has at least one of these two traits.

Biggs and Wedge,inspired by twoStar Warscharacters of the same name, appear in numerous games as minor characters, sometimes as comic relief.[23][86]The later games in the series feature several males witheffeminatecharacteristics.[93][94]Recurring creatures includeChocobos,Moogles,andCactuars.[95]Chocobos are large, often flightless birds that appear in several installments as a means of long-distance travel for characters. Moogles are white, stout creatures resembling teddy bears with wings and a single antenna. They serve different roles in games including mail delivery,weaponsmiths,party members, andsaving the game.Cactuars areanthropomorphiccactiwithhaniwa-like faces presented in a running or dashing pose. They usually appear as recurring enemy units, and also assummoned alliesor friendlynon-player charactersin certain titles. Chocobo and Moogle appearances are often accompanied by specificmusical themesthat have been arranged differently for separate games.[3][23][86]

Gameplay

[edit]
Main article:Recurring elements in the Final Fantasy series § Gameplay

InFinal Fantasygames, players command a party of characters as they progress through the game's story by exploring the game world and defeating enemies.[3][87]Enemies are typicallyencountered randomlythrough exploring, a trend which changed inFinal Fantasy XIandXII.The player issues combat orders—like "Fight", "Magic", and "Item" —to individual characters via a menu-driven interface while engaging in battles. Throughout the series, the games have used different battle systems. Prior toFinal Fantasy XI,battles were turn-based with the protagonists and antagonists on different sides of the battlefield.Final Fantasy IVintroduced the "Active Time Battle" (ATB) system that augmented the turn-based nature with a perpetual time-keeping system. Designed byHiroyuki Ito,it injected urgency and excitement into combat by requiring the player to act before an enemy attacks, and was used untilFinal Fantasy X,which implemented the "Conditional Turn-Based" (CTB) system.[3][23][96]This new system returned to the previous turn-based system, but added nuances to offer players more challenge.[19][97]Final Fantasy XIadopted a real-time battle system where characters continuously act depending on the issued command.[98]Final Fantasy XIIcontinued this gameplay with the "Active Dimension Battle" system.[99]Final Fantasy XIII's combat system, designed by the same man who worked onX,[100]was meant to have an action-oriented feel, emulating the cinematic battles inFinal Fantasy VII: Advent Children.Final Fantasy XVintroduces a new "Open Combat" system. Unlike previous battle systems in the franchise, the "Open Combat" system (OCS) allows players to take on a fully active battle scenario, allowing for free range attacks and movement, giving a much more fluid feel of combat. This system also incorporates a "Tactical" Option during battle, which pauses active battle to allow use of items.[101]

Like most RPGs, theFinal Fantasyinstallments use anexperience levelsystem for character advancement, in which experience points are accumulated by killing enemies.[102][103][104][105]Character classes,specific jobs that enable unique abilities for characters, are another recurring theme. Introduced in the first game, character classes have been used differently in each game. Some restrict a character to a single job to integrate it into the story, while other games feature dynamic job systems that allow the player to choose from multiple classes and switch throughout the game. Though used heavily in many games, such systems have become less prevalent in favor of characters that are more versatile; characters still match an archetype, but are able to learn skills outside their class.[23][86][87]

Magicis another common RPG element in the series. The method by which characters gain magic varies between installments, but is generally divided into classes organized by color: "White magic", which focuses on spells that assist teammates; "Black magic", which focuses on harming enemies; "Red magic", which is a combination of white and black magic, "Blue magic", which mimics enemy attacks; and "Green magic" which focuses on applyingstatus effectsto either allies or enemies.[3][86][96]Other types of magic frequently appear such as "Time magic", focusing on the themes of time, space, and gravity; and "Summoning magic", whichevokeslegendary creatures to aid in battle and is a feature that has persisted sinceFinal Fantasy III.Summoned creatures are often referred to by names like "Espers" or "Eidolons" and have been inspired by mythologies fromArabic,Hindu,Norse,andGreekcultures.[86][87]

Different means of transportation have appeared through the series. The most common is the airship for long range travel, accompanied by chocobos for travelling short distances, but others include sea and land vessels. FollowingFinal Fantasy VII,more modern and futuristic vehicle designs have been included.[87]

Development and history

[edit]

Origin

[edit]
See also:Development of Final Fantasy (video game)andDevelopment of Final Fantasy II
A man sitting in a chair and speaking in a microphone.
Hironobu Sakaguchi,creator of theFinal Fantasyseries

In the mid-1980s, Square entered the Japanesevideo game industrywith simple RPGs,racing games,andplatformersforNintendo'sFamicom Disk System.In 1987, Square designerHironobu Sakaguchichose to create a new fantasy role-playing game for the cartridge-based NES, and drew inspiration from popular fantasy games:Enix'sDragon Quest,Nintendo'sThe Legend of Zelda,andOrigin Systems'sUltimaseries.Though often attributed to the company allegedly facing bankruptcy, Sakaguchi explained that the game was his personal last-ditch effort in the game industry and that its title,Final Fantasy,stemmed from his feelings at the time; had the game not sold well, he would have quit the business and gone back to college.[106][107][108]Despite his explanation, publications have also attributed the name to the company's hopes that the project would solve its financial troubles.[107][109]In 2015, Sakaguchi explained the name's origin: the team wanted a title that would abbreviate to "FF",which would sound good in Japanese. The name was originally going to beFighting Fantasy,but due to concerns over trademark conflicts with theroleplaying gamebook series of the same name,they needed to settle for something else. As the English word "Final" was well-known in Japan, Sakaguchi settled on that. According to Sakaguchi, any title that created the "FF"abbreviation would have done.[110]

The game indeed reversed Square's lagging fortunes, and it became the company's flagship franchise.[58][107]Following the success, Square immediately developed a second installment. Because Sakaguchi assumedFinal Fantasywould be a stand-alone game, its story was not designed to be expanded by a sequel. The developers instead chose to carry over only thematic similarities from its predecessor, while some of thegameplayelements, such as the character advancement system, were overhauled. This approach has continued throughout the series; each majorFinal Fantasygame features a new setting, a new cast of characters, and an upgraded battle system.[5]Video game writer John Harris attributed the concept of reworking the game system of each installment toNihon Falcom'sDragon Slayerseries,[111]with which Square was previously involved as a publisher.[112]The company regularly released new games in the main series, but the time between the releases ofXI(2002),XII(2006), andXIII(2009) were much longer than previous games. FollowingFinal Fantasy XIV,Square Enix releasedFinal Fantasygames either annually or biennially. This switch was to mimic the development cycles of Western games in theCall of Duty,Assassin's CreedandBattlefieldseries, as well as maintain fan-interest.[113]

Design

[edit]
See also:Category: Final Fantasy designers

For the originalFinal Fantasy,Sakaguchi required a larger production team than Square's previous games. He began crafting the game's story while experimenting with gameplay ideas. Once the gameplay system and game world size were established, Sakaguchi integrated his story ideas into the available resources. A different approach has been taken for subsequent games; the story is completed first and the game built around it.[114]Designers have never been restricted by consistency, though most feel each game should have a minimum number of common elements. The development teams strive to create completely new worlds for each game, and avoid making new games too similar to previous ones. Game locations are conceptualized early in development and design details like building parts are fleshed out as a base for entire structures.[85]

The first five games were directed by Sakaguchi, who also provided the original concepts.[87][115]He drew inspiration for game elements from anime films byHayao Miyazaki;series staples like the airships and chocobos are inspired by elements inCastle in the SkyandNausicaä of the Valley of the Wind,respectively.[116]Sakaguchi served as a producer for subsequent games until he left Square in 2001.[87][115]Yoshinori Kitasetook over directing the games untilFinal Fantasy VIII,[117][118][119]and has been followed by a new director for each new game.Hiroyuki Itodesigned several gameplay systems, includingFinal Fantasy V's "Job System",Final Fantasy VIII's "Junction System"and the Active Time Battle concept, which was used fromFinal Fantasy IVuntilIX.[87][117]In designing the Active Time Battle system, Ito drew inspiration fromFormula Oneracing; he thought it would be interesting if character types had different speeds after watching race cars pass each other.[120]Ito also co-directedFinal Fantasy VIwith Kitase.[87][117]Kenji Teradawas the scenario writer for the first three games; Kitase took over as scenario writer forFinal Fantasy VthroughVII.Kazushige Nojimabecame the series' primary scenario writer fromFinal Fantasy VIIuntil his resignation in October 2003; he has since formed his own company, Stellavista. Nojima partially or completely wrote the stories forFinal Fantasy VII,VIII,X,and its sequelX-2.He also worked as the scenario writer for the spin-off series,Kingdom Hearts.[121]Daisuke Watanabeco-wrote the scenarios forFinal Fantasy XandXII,and was the main writer for theXIIIgames.[122][123][124]

Final Fantasy VIartwork byYoshitaka Amano,who provided designs for much of the series.

Artistic design, including character and monster creations, was handled by Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano fromFinal FantasythroughFinal Fantasy VI.Amano also handled title logo designs for all of the main series and the image illustrations fromFinal Fantasy VIIonward.[115]Tetsuya Nomurawas chosen to replace Amano because Nomura's designs were more adaptable to 3D graphics. He worked with the series fromFinal Fantasy VIIthroughX,then came back forXIII,and for the basic design ofXV.[87][115]ForFinal Fantasy IXcharacter designs were handled byShukō Murase,Toshiyuki Itahana, and Shin Nagasawa.[125]ForFinal Fantasy XV,Roberto Ferrari was responsible for the character design. Nomura is also the character designer of theKingdom Heartsseries,Compilation of Final Fantasy VII,andFabula Nova Crystallis: Final Fantasy.[126]Other designers include Nobuyoshi Mihara andAkihiko Yoshida.Mihara was the character designer forFinal Fantasy XI,and Yoshida served as character designer forFinal Fantasy Tactics,the Square-producedVagrant Story,andFinal Fantasy XII.[43][127]

Graphics and technology

[edit]

Because of graphical limitations, the first games on the NES feature smallspriterepresentations of the leading party members on the main world screen. Battle screens use more detailed, full versions of characters in a side-view perspective. This practice was used untilFinal Fantasy VI,which uses detailed versions for both screens. The NES sprites are 26pixelshigh and use acolor paletteof 4 colors. 6frames of animationare used to depict different character statuses like "healthy" and "fatigued". The SNES installments use updated graphics and effects, as well as higher quality audio than in previous games, but are otherwise similar to their predecessors in basic design. The SNES sprites are 2 pixels shorter, but have larger palettes and feature more animation frames: 11 colors and 40 frames respectively. The upgrade allowed designers to have characters be more detailed in appearance and express more emotions. The first game includesnon-player characters(NPCs) the player could interact with, but they are mostly static in-game objects. Beginning with the second game, Square used predetermined pathways for NPCs to create more dynamic scenes that include comedy and drama.[128]

In 1995, Square showed aninteractive SGI technical demonstrationofFinal Fantasy VIfor the thennext generation of consoles.The demonstration usedSilicon Graphics's prototypeNintendo 64workstations to create 3D graphics.[128][129]Fans believed the demo was of a newFinal Fantasygame for the Nintendo 64 console. 1997 saw the release ofFinal Fantasy VIIfor the Sony PlayStation.[129][130]The switch was due to a dispute with Nintendo over its use of faster but more expensivecartridges,as opposed to the slower and cheaper, but much higher capacitycompact discsused on rival systems.[131][132]VIIintroduced3D graphicswith fullypre-renderedbackgrounds.[131][133]It was because of this switch to 3D that aCD-ROMformat was chosen over a cartridge format.[131][134]The switch also led to increased production costs and a greater subdivision of the creative staff forVIIand subsequent 3D games in the series.[85]

Final Fantasy VIII,along withVIIandIX,used pre-rendered backgrounds.

Starting withFinal Fantasy VIII,the series adopted a more photo-realistic look.[135][136]LikeVII,full motion video(FMV) sequences would have video playing in the background, with the polygonal characters composited on top.Final Fantasy IXreturned to the more stylized design of earlier games in the series, although it still maintained, and in many cases slightly upgraded, most of the graphical techniques used in the previous two games.[136]Final Fantasy Xwas released on the PlayStation 2, and used the more powerful hardware to render graphics in real-time instead of using pre-rendered material to obtain a more dynamic look; the game features full 3D environments, rather than have 3D character models move about pre-rendered backgrounds. It is also the firstFinal Fantasygame to introducevoice acting,occurring throughout the majority of the game, even with many minor characters.[19]This aspect added a whole new dimension of depth to the character's reactions, emotions, and development.[19][137]

Taking a temporary divergence,Final Fantasy XIused the PlayStation 2's online capabilities as an MMORPG.[138]Initially released for the PlayStation 2 with a PC port arriving six months later,XIwas also released on the Xbox 360 nearly four years after its original release in Japan.[139]This was the firstFinal Fantasygame to use a free rotating camera.Final Fantasy XIIwas released in 2006 for the PlayStation 2 and uses only half as many polygons asFinal Fantasy X,in exchange for more advanced textures and lighting.[140][141]It also retains the freely rotating camera fromXI.Final Fantasy XIIIandXIVboth make use ofCrystal Tools,amiddlewareengine developed by Square Enix.[142][143]

Music

[edit]
Main article:Music of the Final Fantasy series
Nobuo Uematsu,primary composer for the series

Final Fantasygames feature a variety of music, and frequently reuse themes. Most of the games open with a piece called "Prelude", which has evolved from a simple, 2-voicearpeggioin the early games to a complex, melodic arrangement in recent installments.[23][86][108]Victories in combat are often accompanied by a victoryfanfare,a theme that has become one of the most recognized pieces of music in the series. The basic theme that accompanies Chocobo appearances has been rearranged in a different musical style for most installments. Recurring secret bosses such as Gilgamesh are also used as opportunities to revive their musical themes.

A theme known as the "Final Fantasy Main Theme" or "March",originally featured in the first game, often accompanies the ending credits.[86]Althoughleitmotifsare common in the more character-driven installments, theme music is typically reserved for main characters and recurring plot elements.[58]

Nobuo Uematsuwas the primary composer of theFinal Fantasyseries until his resignation from Square Enix in November 2004.[58]Other notable composers who have worked on main entries in the series includeMasashi Hamauzu,Hitoshi Sakimoto,[144][145]andYoko Shimomura.Uematsu was allowed to create much of the music with little direction from the production staff. Sakaguchi, however, would request pieces to fit specific game scenes including battles and exploring different areas of the game world.[146]Once a game's major scenarios were completed, Uematsu would begin writing the music based on the story, characters, and accompanying artwork. He started with a game's main theme, and developed other pieces to match its style. In creating character themes, Uematsu read the game's scenario to determine the characters' personality. He would also ask the scenario writer for more details to scenes he was unsure about.[147]Technical limitations were prevalent in earlier games; Sakaguchi would sometimes instruct Uematsu to only use specific notes.[146]It was not untilFinal Fantasy IVon the SNES that Uematsu was able to add more subtlety to the music.[128]

Reception

[edit]

Overall, theFinal Fantasyseries has been critically acclaimed and commercially successful, though each installment has seen different levels of success. The series has seen a steady increase in total sales; it sold25 millionunits by 1999,[148]and reached100 millionunits in 2011.[149]By June 2023, the series reached cumulative global physical and digital sales of 185 million units.[150]

Several games within the series have become best-selling games. At the end of 2007, the seventh, eighth, and ninth best-selling RPGs wereFinal Fantasy VII,VIII,andXrespectively.[151]The originalFinal Fantasy VIIhas sold over 14.4 million copies worldwide,[152][153]earning it the position of the best-sellingFinal Fantasygame.[154]Within two days ofFinal Fantasy VIII's North American release on September 9, 1999, it became the top-selling video game in the United States, a position it held for more than three weeks.[155]Final Fantasy Xsold over 1.4 million Japanese units in pre-orders alone, which set a record for the fastest-selling console RPG.[151][156]The MMORPG,Final Fantasy XI,reached over 200,000 active daily players in March 2006[157]and had reached over half a million subscribers by July 2007.[58]Final Fantasy XIIsold more than 1.7 million copies in its first week in Japan.[158]By November 6, 2006—one week after its release—XIIhad shipped approximately 1.5 million copies in North America.[159]Final Fantasy XIIIbecame the fastest-selling game in the franchise,[160]and sold one million units on its first day of sale in Japan.[161]Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn,in comparison to its predecessor, was a runaway success, originally suffering from servers being overcrowded,[162]and eventually gaining over one million unique subscribers within two months of its launch.[163]

The series has received critical acclaim for the quality of its visuals and soundtracks.[58]In 1996,Next Generationranked the series collectively as the 17th best game of all time, speaking very highly of its graphics, music and stories.[164]In 1999,Next Generationlisted theFinal Fantasyseries as number 16 on their "Top 50 Games of All Time", commenting that "by pairing state-of-the-art technology with memorable, sometimes shamelessly melodramatic storylines, the series has successfully outlasted its competitors [...] and improved with each new installation".[165]It was awarded a star on theWalk of Gamein 2006, making it the first franchise to win a star on the event (other winners were individual games, not franchises). WalkOfGame.com commented that the series has sought perfection as well as having been a risk taker in innovation.[166]In 2006,GameFAQsheld a contest for the best video game series ever, withFinal Fantasyfinishing as the runner-up toThe Legend of Zelda.[167]In a 2008 public poll held byThe Game Group plc,Final Fantasywas voted the best game series, with five games appearing in their "Greatest Games of All Time" list.[168]

ManyFinal Fantasygames have been included in various lists of top games. Several games have been listed on multipleIGN"Top Games" lists.[169][170][171][172][173][174]Twelve games were listed onFamitsu's2006 "Top 100 Favorite Games of All Time", four of which were in the top ten, withFinal Fantasy XandVIIcoming first and second, respectively.[175]The series holds sevenGuinness World Recordsin theGuinness World Records Gamer's Edition2008,which include the "Most Games in an RPG Series" (13 main games, seven enhanced games, and 32 spin-off games), the "Longest Development Period" (the production ofFinal Fantasy XIItook five years), and the "Fastest-Selling Console RPG in a Single Day" (Final Fantasy X).[151][176]The 2009 edition listed two games from the series among the top 50 consoles games:Final Fantasy XIIat number 8 andVIIat number 20.[177]In 2018,Final Fantasy VIIwas inducted as a member of theWorld Video Game Hall of Fame.[178]

However, the series has garnered some criticism.IGNhas commented that the menu system used by the games is a major detractor for many and is a "significant reason why they haven't touched the series".[23]The site has also heavily criticized the use of random encounters in the series' battle systems.[179][180]IGNfurther stated that the various attempts to bring the series into film and animation have either been unsuccessful, unremarkable, or did not live up to the standards of the games.[11]In 2007,Edgecriticized the series for a number of related games that include the phrase "Final Fantasy"in their titles, which are considered inferior to previous games. It also commented that with the departure ofHironobu Sakaguchi,the series might be in danger of growing stale.[58]

Several individualFinal Fantasygames have garnered extra attention; some for their positive reception and others for their negative reception.Final Fantasy VIItoppedGamePro's"26 Best RPGs of All Time" list,[181]as well as GameFAQs "Best Game Ever" audience polls in 2004 and 2005.[182][183]Despite the success ofVII,it is sometimes criticized as being overrated. In 2003,GameSpylisted it as the seventh most overrated game of all time, while IGN presented views from both sides.[184][185]Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VIIshipped 392,000 units in its first week of release, but received review scores that were much lower than that of otherFinal Fantasygames.[186][187][188]A delayed, negative review after the Japanese release ofDirge of Cerberusfrom Japanese gaming magazineFamitsuhinted at a controversy between the magazine and Square Enix.[189]ThoughFinal Fantasy: The Spirits Withinwas praised for its visuals, the plot was criticized and the film was considered a box office bomb.[57][58][59][190]Final Fantasy Crystal Chroniclesfor theGameCubereceived overall positive review scores, but reviews stated that the use ofGame Boy Advancesas controllers was a big detractor.[130][191]The predominantly negative reception of the original version ofFinal Fantasy XIVcaused then-president Yoichi Wada to issue an official apology during a Tokyo press conference, stating that the brand had been "greatly damaged" by the game's reception.[192]

Rankings and aggregators

[edit]

Various video game publications have created rankings of the mainlineFinal Fantasygames. In the table below, the lower the number given, the better the game is in the view of the respective publication. By way of comparison, the ratings provided byFamitsumagazine and the review aggregatorMetacriticare also given; in these rows, higher numbers indicate better reviews. Note thatMetacriticratings up untilFinal Fantasy VIIlargely represent retrospective reviews from online websites years after their initial release, rather than contemporary reviews fromvideo game magazinesat the time of their initial release.

Publication I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV
Retro Gamer(2004)[193] 2 1
GamePro(2008)[181] 1 2
Stuff(2008)[194] 2 1
Empire(2009)[195] 1 2
Jeuxvideo(2011)[196] 3 2 1
Kotaku(2013)[197] 10 11 8 3 5 1 4 6 2 7 9 12
Popular Mechanics(2014)[198] 2 1 3
Slant Magazine(2014)[199] 3 1 4 2
Den of Geek(2016)[200] 14 17 6 5 9 1 3 10 4 2 8 7 15 11
VentureBeat(2016)[201] 12 14 13 10 3 2 5 9 1 7 15 4 11 8 6
Famitsu(2017)[202] 9 8 7 1 11 5 3 2 6 4
GamesRadar+(2022)[203] 17 7 13 2 1 10 8 14 18 3 21 4 15
Game Informer(2018)[204] 4 3 1 2 5
IGN(2018)[205] 7 12 8 4 5 1 6 11 3 9 2 10
Polygon(2018)[206] 14 15 12 4 3 1 8 5 6 10 11 2 13 7 9
Rock, Paper, Shotgun(2018)[207] 7 8 3 1 4 2 6 5
VG247(2018)[208] 9 4 3 2 5 1 8 6 10 7
Digital Spy(2019)[209] 12 13 10 6 7 4 3 11 2 1 5 8 9
Digital Trends(2019)[210] 13 15 11 6 9 1 7 2 5 3 10 4 12 8 14
NHK(2020)[211][212] 24 18 12 8 6 3 2 7 4 1 9 15 14 5 10
TV Asahi(2021)[213] 8 7 4 3 1 10 5 2 9 6
Famitsurating (out of 40)[214] 34[215] 35 36 36 34[216] 37 38 37 38 39 38 40 39 39[217] 38[218]
Metacriticrating (out of 100)[219] 79 79 77 85 83 92 92 90 94 92 85 92 83 83[220] 85[221]

Legacy

[edit]

Final Fantasyhas been influential in the history of video games and game mechanics.Final Fantasy IVis considered a milestone for the genre, introducing a dramatic storyline with a strong emphasis on character development and personal relationships.[222]In 1992,Nintendo'sShigeru Miyamotonoted the impact ofFinal FantasyonJapanese role-playing games,statingFinal Fantasy's "interactive cinematic approach" with an emphasis on "presentation and graphics" was gradually becoming "the most common style" of Japanese RPG at the time.[223]Final Fantasy VII,having been the first title of the series to be officially released in the PAL territories of Europe and Oceania, is credited as having the largest industry impact of the series,[131]and with allowing console role-playing games to gain global mass-market appeal.[224]VIIis considered to be one of the most important and influential video games in the series.[225][226][227][228]

The series affected Square's business on several levels. The commercial failure ofFinal Fantasy: The Spirits Withinresulted in hesitation and delays from Enix during merger discussions with Square.[59][108]Square's decision to produce games exclusively for the Sony PlayStation—a move followed by Enix's decision with theDragon Questseries—severed their relationship with Nintendo.[3][130]Final Fantasygames were absent from Nintendo consoles, specifically the Nintendo 64, for seven years.[114][131]Critics attribute the switch of strong third-party games like theFinal FantasyandDragon Questgames to Sony's PlayStation, and away from the Nintendo 64, as one of the reasons behind PlayStation being the more successful of the two consoles.[3][130][134]The release of the Nintendo GameCube, which used optical disc media, in 2001 caught the attention of Square. To produce games for the system, Square created theshell companyThe Game Designers Studioand releasedFinal Fantasy Crystal Chronicles,which spawned its ownmetaserieswithin the main franchise.[41]Final Fantasy XI's lack of an online method of subscription cancellation prompted the creation of legislation inIllinoisthat requires internet gaming services to provide such a method to the state's residents.[229]

The series' popularity has resulted in its appearance and reference in numerous facets of popular culture like anime, TV series, andwebcomics.[230][231][232]Music from the series has permeated into different areas of culture.Final Fantasy IV's "Theme of Love" was integrated into thecurriculum of Japanese school childrenand has been performed live by orchestras and metal bands.[233]In 2003, Uematsu co-foundedThe Black Mages,aninstrumental rockgroup independent of Square that has released albums ofarrangedFinal Fantasytunes.[234][235]Bronze medalistsAlison BartosikandAnna Kozlovaperformed theirsynchronized swimming routine at the 2004 Summer Olympicsto music fromFinal Fantasy VIII.[151]Many of the soundtracks have also been released for sale. Numerous companion books, which normally provide in-depth game information, have been published. In Japan, they are published by Square and are calledUltimaniabooks.[236][237]

The series has inspired numerous game developers.FablecreatorPeter MolyneuxconsidersFinal Fantasy VIIto be the RPG that "defined the genre" for him.[238]BioWarefounderGreg ZeschukcitedFinal Fantasy VIIas "the first really emotionally engaging game" he played and said it had "a big impact" on BioWare's work.[239]The Witcher 3senior environmental artist Jonas Mattsson citedFinal Fantasyas "a huge influence" and said it was "the first RPG" he played through.[240]Mass Effectart director Derek Watts citedFinal Fantasy: The Spirits Withinas a major influence on the visual design and art direction of the series.[241]BioWare senior product manager David Silverman citedFinal Fantasy XII's gambit system as an influence on the gameplay ofDragon Age: Origins.[242]Ubisoft Torontocreative director Maxime Beland cited the originalFinal Fantasyas a major influence on him.[243]Media Molecule's Constantin Jupp creditedFinal Fantasy VIIwith getting him into game design.[244]Tim Schaferalso citedFinal Fantasy VIIas one of his favourite games.[245]

TheFinal Fantasyfandomincludes large fan organizations like Final Fantasy Union. In 2023, Final Fantasy Union collaborated with British indie publisherLost in Culton the sixth volume of the imprint's art journal,Lock-On,which focused on the art ofFinal FantasyandLegend of Zeldaand featured an exclusive cover illustration of Terra Branford by Yoshitaka Amano alongside interviews with Hironobu Sakaguchi, Nobuo Uematsu, and Matt Mercer.[246]

In October 2007, a fan-madeweb seriesof CG action films calledDead Fantasywas created by late web-based animator and writer,Monty Oum.Dead FantasyfeaturedFinal Fantasycharacters competing againstDead or Alivecharacters inbattle royale-stylebrawls.[247][248][249]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^Japanese:ファイナルファンタジー,Hepburn:Fainaru Fantajī

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