Final Fantasy
From FFOWA Wiki
This page is about the series as a whole. For the first game in it, which was simply called Final Fantasy, go to Final Fantasy I.
Final Fantasy, as a game series, was conceived in the late 1980s as a last-gasp project for struggling company Square. Taking inspiration from RPGs such as Dragon Quest, its gameplay won acclaim from many RPG and gaming fans in Japan on its release in 1987; subsequently, the game was released in the USA to similar sentiments. The success of Final Fantasy saved Square from liquidation, and a sequel, Final Fantasy II, was released the next year. From there, there have been regular releases of Final Fantasy games and several spin-off titles as well.
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Inspirations of Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy was inspired by the RPGs of its time, such as the Dragon Warrior series mentioned above.
Continuations Through the Series
Each numbered Final Fantasy game is complete within itself. They do not happen in the same world and do not have connected plots (with the exception of the FFX/FFVII connection, and Ivalice). When there are direct sequels, they don't get new numbers. For example, the sequel to FFX was FFX-2, not FFXI. The direct sequels and prequels to FFVII all have "Final Fantasy VII" in their names.
Final Fantasy games are a series because many things in them stay similar. Here are some examples of things seen in several, if not all, of the games:
- The setting is usually the typical pseudo-middle-ages fantasy setting, with some slight steampunk elements.
- The plot and gameplay revolve around magic (divided into elements and colors/types) and summon monsters.
- Many of the creatures, especially moogles and chocobos are the same from game to game.
- Some names are reused. There is almost always a character called Cid, and you can often count on him to provide you with an airship at some point.
- About halfway through the plot, your party will aquire an airship.
- The two game modes, field (walking around talking to NPCs and picking up objects) and battle (using menus to tell your characters how/when to attack enemies) are quite similar throughout the series.
- There is often a cycle of souls living and then returning to the planet with the knowledge they've gained in life. That body of souls and memories manifests itself as the source of magic, and is a harnessable energy. Basically, see mako and apply to other games.
Final Fantasy in Popular Culture
Considering that Final Fantasy is a popular video game in such countries as Japan, Mexico and Rwanda, the name has also been used for other popular creations. You may or may not have heard of these.
General Electric released a telepathic modulator named "Final Fantasy". It was a metal helmet that was supposed to make your thoughts come to life. Tragically, it just delivered eighty million volts of electricity through the user. It claimed sixteen lives before being taken off the market.
Famous cookie maker, Otis Spunkmeyer, released their brand of cookie named "Final Fantasy" in 1992. It was pulled off the shelves after twelve children died after consuming these sweet treats. After numerous and extensive laboratory tests, it was concluded that the cookies were laced with LSD.
"Final Fantasy" is also the name of Nick Berg's unreleased memoir. Rumor has it that dreams of swimming in the blood of seventy-two virgins fill the chapters.
Graphics of Final Fantasy
They started out 2D and got shinier. This section is a stub. Feel free to expand upon it. Or anything else, really. kthnx.
| Oh, shut up! I made it look like that on purpose. |
| This article has been flagged as needing (or greatly benefiting from) the following image(s): -a screen from a 2D FF game. -an in-game screen of a PSX FF game. -a screen from a PS2 FF game. -a picture from an FMV. |
This Final Fantasy-related article is not a stub, but feel free to help FFOWA by expanding it anyway.
