Hi there! Join me for an epic journey through the 35-year history of one of gaming‘s most legendary franchises – Final Fantasy. Whether you‘re a longtime fan or just discovering these seminal RPGs, this guide has something for you! Let‘s dive in…
Final Fantasy 101
Chances are you‘ve heard the name "Final Fantasy" even if you‘ve never played. It‘s that cultural phenomenon from Japan with wondrous fantasy kingdoms, anime-style heroes, and sweeping musical themes.
Fun fact: despite the name, creator Hironobu Sakaguchi intended the first Final Fantasy in 1987 to be his last game ever! Luckily it became a hit instead, saving developer Square from financial ruin.
Since then, the core series has spanned 15 mainline titles and sold a staggering 144 million units. It‘s Square Enix‘s crown jewel franchise, consistently setting new boundaries for RPG storytelling, graphics and scope.
So What Is Final Fantasy Anyway?
At its core, FF blends fantasy and sci-fi worlds where players guide parties of heroes to defeat approaching evil empires and menaces. Epic quests, engrossing combat systems, lovable characters and soaring musical score captivate for hundreds of hours.
While many elements recur – summons like Ifrit or Shiva, recurring creatures like Chocobos and Moogles, materia orbs – each entry features completely new universes with distinctive visual styles.
This creative freedom keeps the series fresh even decades later!
Now let‘s chart FF‘s origins and evolution across its storied history…
Where It All Began (1987-1994)
After unsuccessful projects like 3D WorldRunner and Rad Racer in 1987, Hironobu Sakaguchi proposed to Square‘s president a grand fantasy RPG as his final game before resigning. Luckily history had other plans!
Final Fantasy (1987 NES)
Selling over 400,000 copies in Japan, this MSX-inspired game surprised everyone. Its side view battles, character classes and Secret Sound experiments laid vital foundations.
Final Fantasy II (1988 Famicom)
Diverging from tradition, FF2 employed an activity-based progression system with keyword prompts instead of levels. This bold shakeup alienated some fans upon its 1988 Japan debut.
Final Fantasy III (1990 Famicom)
Introducing the famed Job System andFlexible Memory system, FF3 let players fully customize a party of four‘s abilities. This innovative flexibility sold 1.4 million copies in Japan and became a mainstay.
Final Fantasy IV (1991 SNES)
Known as Final Fantasy II in the West, this 1991 SNES game wowed with lush visuals and a stirring focus on character driven narrative. It established FF as storytelling pioneers with its twisty plot of betrayal and sacrifice.
Final Fantasy V (1992 SNES)
While not as successful abroad, FFV continued expanding the tactical Job System from FF3 including new classes like Necromancers and Gladiators.
By 1994, FF cemented itself as Square’s banner franchise, pulling the company out of financial straits through imagination and innovation. Next we‘ll see how it became a global phenomenon!
The Global Sensation (1997-2009)
While hardly obscure with 10 million units sold, Final Fantasy exploded into a worldwide cultural sensation thanks to some savvy PlayStation era reinventions…
Final Fantasy VII (1997 PS1)
The 1997 PS1 classic transported players to the cyberpunk metropolis Midgar and its rebel cause against corporate overlord Shinra. FFVII enraptured with its emotive 3D visuals and tragic plot twists, becoming the 2nd best selling PS1 game ever (over 11M).
Final Fantasy VIII (1999 PS1)
FFVIII shifted realism with a modern romantic twist focused on Sulia academy mercenaries Squall and Rinoa. Boosted by clever junction systems and card collecting quests, FFVIII moved a whopping 8.6 million copies on PS1.
Final Fantasy IX (2000 PS1)
A nostalgic throwback to FF‘s roots after VII and VIII‘s radical reinventions, FFIX dazzled with charming chibi 3D graphics and a whimsical medieval story earning critical acclaim.
Final Fantasy X (2001 PS2)
The 2001 PS2 console debut pushed cinematic storytelling and graphics into new territory. Within four days it became the fastest selling Final Fantasy chapter ever, cementing PS2 as a must-own system.
Final Fantasy XI (2002 PS2/PC/X360)
The first MMORPG entry in 2002, FFXI blew minds by enabling cross-platform play between PS2 and PC gamers with its sprawling bygone fantasy realm Vana’diel.
By the Numbers
- Over 100 million units sold
- Over $10 billion total franchise revenue
- 7 Guinness World Records including "Fastest Selling RPG in 24 hours" (FFXV)
Propelled by ambitious reinventions and cinematic technical leap on PlayStation, Final Fantasy was now a premier gaming juggernaut worldwide.
Which fantastic chapter is YOUR favorite from this era? For me, it‘s a toss up between the cyberpunk tragedy of FFVII and the whimsical charm of FFIX!
Now let‘s catch up on the modern era…
Modern Blockbusters (2006-Future)
Blurring the lines between games and cinema, Final Fantasy continues breaking new ground with each ambitious installment…
Final Fantasy XII (2006 PS2)
Set in the grand Star Wars-inspired world of Ivalice, FF12 pioneered the real-time Gambit system and sweeping open world environments.
Final Fantasy XIII (2009 PS3/X360)
Launching on PS3 and Xbox 360, FFXIII opted for sleek sci-fi visuals and furious real-time combat complemented by gorgeous animations courtesy of Advent Children animator Toshiyuki Itahana.
Final Fantasy XV (2016 PS4/XBO)
After a troubled 10 year development, FF15 finally brought the franchise into open world territory with a road trip buddy adventure centered on Prince Noctis. It adopted real-time battles and driving gameplay to modernize classic structures.
Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020 PS4)
At last, FFVII received the big budget ground-up overhaul fans craved. This Part 1 retells Midgar with meticulous world building, tactical real-time/menu hybrid battles and jaw dropping Unreal 4 visuals.
What‘s Next?
All eyes look ahead to Summer 2023 when Final Fantasy XVI arrives exclusive to PlayStation 5 consoles. Trailers tease a medieval political struggle in the realm of Valisthea, with a Ceremonial Transfer ritual that anoints Dominants as living deific proxies.
Longtime series veteran Hiroshi Takai heads as director, promising an epic grounded in FF lore aimed at captivating modern audiences. If anyone can balance tradition and reinvention, it‘s Takai so hopes run high!
Given how each era propels FF to new heights through creative spark, I can‘t wait to see the new directions this legendary franchise journeys next!
Which modern era Final Fantasy is your personal favorite? For me that atmospheric world of FFXII has always stuck out as magical and unique!
The Legacy
With over 35 years of cherished history across 15 entries plus spin-offs, it‘s safe to say Final Fantasy leaves an unmatched legacy on par with gaming legends like Mario or Zelda.
Beyond sales records and critical acclaim lies cultural sway – FF soundtracks from Nobuo Uematsu remain etched into gamer consciousness. Its anime female leads like Terra (FFVI), Aeris (FFVII) or Yuna (FFX) left indelible impressions. Who didn‘t dream of riding yellow chocobos into the sunset?
More meaningfully, Final Fantasy awakened worldwide fandom translating role playing mechanics into emotionally resonating phenomenons. As director Motomu Toriyama described regarding FFX in 2001:
"It has fantasy components…But the emotions are real. In searching for fantasy, Final Fantasy ultimately becomes reality."
The numbers concur – each title easily sells millions as fans emotionally invest across ling playtimes. This rapport pays off with lifelong positive memories.
As player Brandy recalls about her first Final Fantasy:
"I spent an entire summer completely obsessed after a friend showed me FF8 back in 2000. It completely whisked me away from real life stresses for months on end. I‘ll never forget that gift which made me a lifelong fan."
Beyond just playing, countless developers cite early Final Fantasy adventures as their big career inspirations. Luminaries like Metal Gear‘s Hideo Kojima, NieR‘s Yoko Taro and fellow FF legend Yoshinori Kitase echo how FFVI and FFVII influenced their creative paths and storytelling styles.
By sparking grand curiosities and emotions within legions worldwide, the fruits of Final Fantasy‘s imagination reshape gaming itself year after year. And for that reason alone Square Enix‘s masterwork carved an unimpeachable legacy for the ages.
So what does Final Fantasy mean to you? I‘d love to hear your favorite memories and moments from this legendary franchise! For me, it‘s always about nostalgically humming along to the music while embarking toward new virtual adventure…
