The Future Of Final Fantasy
"The History between Square and the US
Square began the Final Fantasy series back in 1987 with the self-titled "Final Fantasy" (or FF1 as it's referred to today); the title itself was ironic - Square was lacking in hits and this game could make or break them - it could be their final fantasy. As some of us who have been playing for a long time now know, the original FF1 put both Square and Nintendo on the map. FF1 also defined the RPG market, as we can tell from various games like "Legend of Legagia" and the many other clones out there (no offense, I love most of them!)
The Final Fantasy WE know, however, was released late. Final Fantasy 3 was already out in Japan by the time FF1 came out on our shores; beginning the long battle that still wages on today concerning why we get shafted and good games never come over here, and if they do they are years late. This would be a very large mistake for Nintendo, who was at the time Square's sole supporter. Final Fantasy 2 made its way to the SNES on November 1991. This would be Final Fantasy 4 in Japan - another sign of just how large the communication difficulties between Nintendo, Square, and its fans had become.
The tension between the fans and Nintendo/Square was always high. Japanese gamers had the pleasure of seeing the true Final Fantasy 2 and 3 that had several innovations that we would not see over here for a very long time, such as the job/class designations for characters and various other tidbits. For Square, in this author's opinion, it must have been very tense and frustrating to see so many gamers wanting to play their games but had a huge roadblock to get there.
Final Fantasy 2 in the US (FF4 in Japan) was a huge success. While it lacked the large sales in Japan (largely due to the fact that the US version was 'fixed' and had many features removed, as well as storyline alterations) it still proved to Square and Nintendo that the US gamer needed more. In the time that Final Fantasy 3 in the US would be released, Final Fantasy 5 would show up and dazzle Japanese gamers some more. It included some of the best graphics ever displayed on the Super Famicon (SNES) - and we would never get to see it.
Final Fantasy 3 in the US (FF6 in Japan) was a powerful mastery of storytelling. FF2 (FF4 in Japan) already set the requirement of a cohesive and winding story to trap the gamers with. FF3 (US) also had the largest amount of editing ever done (surprisingly, the story still moved very well) to a Final Fantasy game; serious mature topics like suicide and pregnancy never made their way over here. However, seeing as the age of the average gamer at the time being under sixteen, it wasn't that hard to see that editing would continue. FF3 also created the loose lead system, in which there was no real protagonist but a set of characters whose storylines mingle; you can call it the "Seinfeld" of FF. Once again, US gamers spoke - and made FF3 one of the best selling games, even today.
Obviously frustrated with the way things were going with Nintendo and seeing the huge technology within the Sony Playstation Square defected over to Sony, giving it a huge push and lead in the console games. Sony quickly saw the raw gaming fan base that Square had and immediately allotted close to $30 million for their next Final Fantasy title, Final Fantasy 7.
With Final Fantasy 7 US gamers and Japanese gamers finally had the same game, at the same time, at the same sequence. Well, not almost the same time - US saw FF7 after two months of the Japanese release, which was to tweak the game and edit the English grammar. With the final block between Square and its US fan base gone, FF7 featured a large amount of unedited story but a lot of things still wound up being edited due to time and budget restraints (like Aerith being able to come back later on - ARGGGGH!!!!! Why did you cut that out!?!). FF7 also marked the 'cinematic' debut of video games with the incorporation of CGI aided video sequences that were, at the time, breathtaking. Final Fantasy 7 did more than just impress the gamers; it once again had Square changing the face of RPGs as we knew them.
Many hardcore FF fans, however, rated final Fantasy 8 as a disappointment. Pixilated graphics and sometimes poorly rendered CGI gave many a heartache when comparing it to the FF7 of lore. The CGI graphics, however, were much longer, much intricate, and more or less the game was a movie. However, in terms of innovation, FF8 was no slouch. Sub-games were created with the character having to collect cards and play a style of 'war' that would match character cards versus other cards - in other words, the most NPC interaction a game has seen.
Now, Final Fantasy 9 has arrived. It has taken a step back to basics, back to the realm it started from. Get ready to witness the final game of the Final Fantasy series on the Playstation, the only way Square would have it - spoiler free and complete.
FINAL FANTASY:
Released in Japan for the Famicom in 1987. Released in the US for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990. Scheduled to be re-released in Japan for Bandai's Wonderswan Color, December 2000, with significant enhancements for the 16-bit system.
FINAL FANTASY II:
Released exclusively in Japan for the Famicom in 1988. Scheduled to be re-released in Japan for the Wonderswan Color in 2001 with significant enhancements for the 16-bit system.
FINAL FANTASY III:
Released exclusively in Japan for the Famicom in 1990. Scheduled to be re-released in Japan for the Wonderswan Color in 2001 with significant enhancements for the 16-bit system.
FINAL FANTASY IV:
Released in Japan for the Super Famicom in 1991. An 'easy version' was released in the US as "FINAL FANTASY II" for the Super Nintendo later that year. Re-released exclusively in Japan for the PlayStation. Later included in "FINAL FANTASY Collection".
FINAL FANTASY V:
Released in Japan for the Super Famicom in 1992. Re-released in Japan for the PlayStation, March 1998. Later included in "FINAL FANTASY Collection". Released in the US for the PlayStation included in "FINAL FANTASY Anthology".
FINAL FANTASY VI:
Released in Japan for the Super Famicom in 1994. Released in the US as "FINAL FANTASY III" for the Super Nintendo later that year. Re-released in Japan for the PlayStation, March 1999. Later included in "FINAL FANTASY Collection". Released in the US for the PlayStation included in "FINAL FANTASY Anthology".
FINAL FANTASY VII:
Released in Japan for the PlayStation, January 1997. Released in the US, September 1997. Re-released exclusively in Japan as "FINAL FANTASY VII International", October 1997. Released for the PC, June 1998.
FINAL FANTASY VIII:
Released in Japan for the PlayStation, February 1999. Released in the US, September 1999. Released for the PC, January 2000.
FINAL FANTASY IX:
Released in Japan for the PlayStation, July 2000. Released in the US, November 2000.
THE FUTURE OF FINAL FANTASY
FINAL FANTASY X:
In development, scheduled to be released in Japan for the PlayStation2, early Spring 2001. Expected to utilize Square's PlayOnline web service for a new online Strategy Guide/Hint feature.
FINAL FANTASY XI:
In development, scheduled to be released simultaneously in the US and Japan for the PlayStation2, Summer 2001. Also in development for Microsoft's X-box. Gameplay is expected to be entirely online, utilizing Square's PlayOnline web service.
FINAL FANTASY THE MOVIE:
In production, planned to be released Summer 2001.
OTHER FINAL FANTASY TITLES
FINAL FANTASY LEGEND:
US version of "SaGa", released for the Nintendo Game Boy in 1990.
FINAL FANTASY LEGEND II:
US version of "SaGa 2", released for the Nintendo Game Boy in 1991.
FINAL FANTASY LEGEND III:
US version of "SaGa 3", released for the Nintendo Game Boy in 1993. In Japan the SaGa series continued as "Romancing SaGa" for the Super Famicom and eventually returned to the US as "SaGa Frontier" for the PlayStation.
FINAL FANTASY ADVENTURE:
US version of "Seiken Densetsu", released for the Nintendo Game Boy in 1991. The second chapter of Seiken Densetsu was released in the US as "Secret of Mana" for the Super Nintendo and the latest chapter, "Legend of Mana", was released in the US for the PlayStation, June 2000.
FINAL FANTASY MYSTIC QUEST:
Released in the US for the Super Nintendo in 1992. Released in Japan as "FINAL FANTASY USA - Mystic Quest" for the Super Famicom in 1993.
FINAL FANTASY TACTICS:
Released in Japan for the PlayStation, June 1997. Released in the US, January 1998.
FINAL FANTASY COLLECTION:
Released exclusively in Japan for the PlayStation, March 1999. Includes "FINAL FANTASY IV", "FINAL FANTASY V" and "FINAL FANTASY VI".
FINAL FANTASY ANTHOLOGY:
Released exclusively in the US for the PlayStation, October 1999. Includes "FINAL FANTASY V", "FINAL FANTASY VI" and a special compilation CD featuring music from both games.
FINAL FANTASY ET CETERA
CHOCOBO'S MYSTERIOUS DUNGEON:
Released exclusively in Japan for the PlayStation, December 1997.
CHOCOBO'S DUNGEON 2:
Released in the US for the PlayStation, December 1999.
CHOCOBO RACING:
Released in Japan for the PlayStation, March 1999. Released in the US, August 1999.
EHRGEIZ:
Released in Japan for the PlayStation, December 1998. Released in the US, May 1999. A fighting game/RPG hybrid with "FINAL FANTASY VII" characters Cloud Strife, Tifa Lockheart and Sephiroth guest appearing as selectable fighters.
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