Final Fantasy (franchise)

Final Fantasy (ファイナルファンタジー, Fainaru Fantajī ^?) is a media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi and developed, distributed, and owned by Square Enix (formerly known as Squaresoft). The franchise centers on a series of fantasy and science fiction RPG video games.

The series began in 1987 with the eponymous video game, developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi as the last attempt in his career; hence the title: Final Fantasy (in Spanish, Final Fantasy). The game was a huge success and led to the development of numerous sequels and spin-offs. The video game series has been adapted to other genres, such as tactical RPGs, action RPGs, MMORPGs, musicals, and racing. Since then the series has spread to other media, including animated films, anime, print media, among others.

Although most of the installments in the series are their own stories with different characters and settings, there are certain recurring themes that define the franchise. Some of these themes include plot elements, character names, and gameplay mechanics. The plot usually consists of a group of heroes, usually young, who fight against a greater evil, while facing certain personal problems and exploring their personalities and relationships with other characters. Commonly the names of characters and settings come from different names of languages, cultures and mythologies around the world, as well as more recently from popular culture.

The series has been commercially and critically successful, is Square Enix's best-selling video game franchise, with more than 320 million units sold, and one of the best-selling video game franchises. He was awarded a star in the Video Game Walkthrough in 2006, and holds seven Guinness Records in the 2008 Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition. The series is well known for its innovation, visuals and music, including the inclusion of full-motion video., photo-realistic and character models, and music orchestrated by Nobuo Uematsu Final Fantasy has been a driving force in the video game industry, and the series has affected Square Enix's business practices and relationships with other video game developers.. He has also introduced many features now common to video role-playing games and has been credited with helping to popularize console-based role-playing games in markets outside of Japan.

It is the third longest-running video game franchise in history, second only to Mega Man and Super Mario Bros.

It made its first appearance on the Nintendo Famicom System, or the American version Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

Main series games

After the success of the first game, Square quickly began work on a sequel, Final Fantasy II, which featured completely different characters and settings, but with similar context and themes to its predecessor. This trend has continued in subsequent installments of the series, introducing a new world, and a new gameplay system with each edition of Final Fantasy. Many elements and themes would recur throughout the series, but there would be no direct sequel until the release of Final Fantasy X-2, in 2003 (after the merger with Enix, however, they have come to true sequels to the game become more and more frequent). In some ways, the Final Fantasy series has been a creative showcase for the developers at Square, and many elements originally introduced in the series have found their way into other company titles, most notably other licenses. such as Kingdom Hearts, SaGa and Seiken Densetsu.

Origin of name

In 1986, Square was on the brink of bankruptcy. At around the same time, designer Hironobu Sakaguchi began ambitious work on a new fantasy-adventure RPG game for the Famicom, inspired in part by Enix's popular game Dragon Quest (known in the US as Dragon Warrior). Sakaguchi had a plan to retire after the completion of the project if his work failed, so he named it Final Fantasy (although he himself later confirmed that the first name for the game was "Fighting Fantasy", but since it already belonged to a board game among other products of the same name, it was changed to "Final Fantasy" in English. Final Fantasy turned out to be far from Being either Squaresoft's or Sakaguchi's last video game, Final Fantasy reversed Square's misfortune and became the company's flagship franchise.

Common Elements

Most of the names in the series are based on different world cultures and mythologies, for example the swords Excalibur and Masamune- derived from Arthurian legend and the famous swordsmith, Masamune and places like Midgar and Nifelheim, coming from from Norse mythology.

Among the Series names of spells such as Sanctus, Meteo, Fulgor and Artema are recurring elements, not only in the game system but also as an important part of the story (an example in Final Fantasy VII where Holy and Meteor form a very important part). important part of the main plot).

Since Final Fantasy IV, the main series titles have adopted the same typeface and logo style designed by Yoshitaka Amano. This logo often represents a character, item, or story event of relevance to the game. The different remakes and conversions that have been made of the previous games have replaced the old logos with new versions designed by Amano.

Plot and Themes

The main conflict of Final Fantasy revolves around a group of characters fighting against an evil, usually ancient, that dominates the world.

Mainly the scenarios that arise are that of a nation in rebellion and the main characters form a large or lesser part of that rebellion (the Returners in Final Fantasy VI and AVALANCHE in Final Fantasy VII). In the first installments, the heroes are destined to save the world as part of a prophecy, later the heroes come together for different reasons usually caused by the main or current antagonist.

Another tradition of the series is the inclusion of 2 villains. Usually, the first villain doesn't end up being the final antagonist, but rather another character that served the first villain (Kefka in FFVI) or even a previously secondary character who betrays the heroes.

The stories mainly emphasize the internal problems of the main characters (including some villains), their passions, relationships with other characters, themes such as friendship, rivalry, and love.

One of the most present elements in the Final Fantasy series are the Crystals, which form a very important part of the stories and scenarios, mainly from the first installments, usually the crystals are part of the life force of the planet and They are possessors of powerful magic, which allow humans to use powers. Various antagonists throughout the series have attempted to seize the power of crystals for world domination (most recently in FFXV).

Recurring characters

Although the main installments of the Final Fantasy series change the settings, certain character archetypes prevail. The most recurring character in Final Fantasy and one of its most iconic elements is a character named Cid. Although the role of these characters varies, they are usually united by certain elements, for example all the Cid are more adult and wise characters, they are mainly scientists or engineers, normally in charge of building the means of transport in the game (such as airships).

Other characters like Biggs and Wedge (whose names come from supporting Star Wars characters) appear in different games as tertiary characters.

The Chocobos and Moogles are characters that have become the mascots of Final Fantasy, it could even be said that they are the mascots of the Square Enix company, along with the Slimes of Dragon Quest (by Enix).

Chocobos are large, usually yellow birds that serve as a means of land transportation and Moogles are white creatures similar in appearance to a white teddy bear with bat-like wings and an antenna on their head that ends in a red ball. or a red crystal.

Design

From the first Final Fantasy game to Final Fantasy VI, the art design, including monster and character design work, was handled by renowned Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano. After Amano's departure, he was replaced by Tetsuya Nomura, who continued to work on the series until Final Fantasy X, except for Final Fantasy IX, where the design of the characters was handled by Shukou Murase, Toshiyuki Itahana, and Shin Nagasawa. Akihiko Yoshida, who served as character designer for Final Fantasy Tactics, as well as Vagrant Story and the hit Final Fantasy XII. In October 2003, Kazushige Nojima, the main scenario writer for the series, resigned from Square Enix to create his own company, Stellavista. He wrote all or part of the stories for Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy X, and Final Fantasy X-2. Square Enix continued to commission Nojima and Stellavista to develop the story and settings.

Music

Nobuo Uematsu, composer of much of the soundtracks of Final Fantasy

Nobuo Uematsu was the main composer of the music for the Final Fantasy series until his resignation from Square Enix in November 2004. His music has played a large part in the franchise's popularity Final Fantasy. One of Uematsu's most recognized themes is One Winged Angel, a theme used in the battle against Sephiroth, antagonist of Final Fantasy VII and also used in the game Crisis Core and the film Advent Children. At the 2004 Summer Olympics, the American synchronized swimming duo of Alison Bartosik and Ana Kozlova won the bronze medal for their performance to music from Final Fantasy VIII. Uematsu was also involved with the rock group Black Mages, with whom he has released three albums of Final Fantasy tunes. Other composers who have contributed to the series include Masashi Hamauzu and Junya Nakano.

As of 2004 there have already been two successful Final Fantasy concert performances in Japan. The final music soundtracks for Final Fantasy are also becoming increasingly popular among Western fans and have even been performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. On November 17, 2003, Square Enix U.S.A. launched an America Online radio station dedicated to music from the Final Fantasy saga, initially playing full tracks from Final Fantasy XI plus some samples from Final Fantasy VII to Final Fantasy X. Many video game websites and MIDI files offer music pieces from Final Fantasy.

The music from Final Fantasy was performed for the first time outside of Japan as part of a symphonic series of video game music concerts in Germany. However, due to overwhelming demand, and the great success of the first Final Fantasy concert performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on May 10, 2005, the a tour called Dear Friends: Music From Final Fantasy (Dear Friends: Music from Final Fantasy), beginning in February 2005. The soundtracks of Final Fantasy have also been added to the iTunes music catalog.

While the music in the games offers a wide variety, there are some frequently reused themes. Sets often open with a piece called Prelude, which is actually based on one of Bach's preludes. It consists of a simple arpeggio theme in the early games, with the addition of new melodies in the more recent games.

The battle sequences that end in player victory in the first ten titles in the series were accompanied by a victory fanfare that used the same nine-note sequence, and this has become one of the most recognized musical themes referring to the Final Fantasy saga. It should be noted that Final Fantasy X-2 broke that tradition of victorious fanfare by being another and coinciding with the resignation of Nobuo Uematsu. Later in Final Fantasy XII that song was used again. Other memorable sounds include the Chocobos theme, the Moogle theme, and a piece originally called "Ahead On Our Way" ('Forward on our way') in Final Fantasy I, which was actually the opening theme and is actually used during the end credits of the game and is referred to as & #34;Foreword". Its name has recently been changed again, calling itself "Final Fantasy".

It is also important to mention within the music the participation of famous Japanese musicians such as Koda Kumi with his theme Real Emotions (Real Emotions) at the opening of Final Fantasy X-2 and Camui Gackt with his Redemption theme in the opening of Final Fantasy Dirge Of Cerberus.

Graphics and Technology

The 8-bit and 16-bit generations

Hironobu Sakaguchi, creator of the saga Final Fantasy

Final Fantasy began on the Nintendo Family Computer (also known as the "Famicom", and internationally known as the Nintendo Entertainment System) console in 1986, being re-released on the WonderSwan consoles, PlayStation and Game Boy Advance in the years 2000, 2003, and 2004 respectively.

It was followed by two sequels, Final Fantasy II (also re-released for WonderSwan, PlayStation, and Game Boy Advance worldwide in 2000, 2003, and 2004 respectively) and Final Fantasy III (released in Japan only). Due to the limitations of the first systems, the sprites of the main characters were rendered on the main screen without much detail, while on the battle screens, more detailed and more complete versions of all the characters would appear. characters in a side view perspective. This was improved in the remakes that came out years later, especially in the PlayStation version, which improved the graphics, sound, and added an excellent FMV intro quality. Later becoming a complete adaptation of the FF IX style using the Nintendo DS

The same basic system (except for the ATB system) was reused for the Super Famicom (known internationally as the Super Nintendo Entertainment System) versions in the next three games, Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy V, and Final Fantasy VI. These games used more up-to-date graphics and effects, as well as higher-quality music and sound than the previous games, but were in some ways very similar to their predecessors in terms of basic design.

The text of the Japanese versions of the early Final Fantasy games was made up of kana characters only. Therefore, much of the dialogue was simply lumped together text, making it especially difficult for older players and foreigners learning Japanese to understand. Finally, in Final Fantasy V, games began to use kanji. This would continue to evolve in Final Fantasy VI, and the trend would continue to make games much more erudite.

CD/DVD Generations

• In 1997 the launch occurred Final Fantasy VII for PlayStation and not for Nintendo 64 as previously believed. The characters, as well as the battle scenarios of the game, were made in 3 dimensions, with fully pre-released funds. Final Fantasy VII was also the first game Final Fantasy in using video sequences, part of the reason the game used three CD-ROMs. These FMVs were sometimes characterized by mixing the video with the models of the characters generated by the console engine. The design of the characters changed in the case of being part of the FMV, as they appeared with a more natural, higher and undeformed proportion, with a Japanese sleeve style.
• The spinoff Final Fantasy Tactics: It was released shortly after Final Fantasy VIIusing new account sprites to represent the characters. The designers saw no need to fully use 3D graphics as the interface was an air perspective and the action was controlled by drop-down menus.
• From Final Fantasy VIII: the saga adopted a more realistic aesthetic, with a much more stylized character design. Some of the video sequences used were based on a technique in which the video was shown in the background while the characters were polygons in top layers, thus allowing them to be controlled and moved during the video sequences themselves.
• Final Fantasy IX: He briefly returned to the design superdeformed (heads and extremities with a much higher proportion than normal) of the first games of the saga as homage to the entire saga trajectory so far, but maintained most of the graphic techniques used in the two previous games.
• Final Fantasy X: It was the first generation of 128 bits and released for PlayStation 2, making use of the most advanced hardware for render certain sequences in real time, instead of showing it as pre-released video. In addition, instead of using 3D models moving in pre-released funds, the environments shown in the game were completely in 3D, giving it a much more dynamic view although without offering a total freedom of movement of camera. Thanks to the enormous success of the game and the precarious situation in Square, the development of the first direct sequel of a FF is approved, Final Fantasy X-2which used the same graphic engine Final Fantasy X, and maintained a very similar aesthetic. Even, it should be noted that from this handover of the saga, thanks to the use of a large storage unit such as the DVD, it could include the double of the dialogues, appearing for the first time in the entire saga the voices of the characters.
• Taking advantage of the potential of its merger with Enix, the new Square Enix develops a spin off of the main series called Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles for Nintendo console (Gamecube). He was quite far away in playability and plot of what comes to be a numbered FF, abandoning complex stories, computer-made video sequences and shift battles, to open step to action between four players with their GBA. This first Crystal Chronicles has served as the beginning of a planned saga to continue in Wii and Nintendo DS, correcting the problems of the original.
• Final Fantasy XII: Also for PlayStation 2 console, it was released in Japan on March 16, 2006, and in America it was on October 31, 2006. Final Fantasy XII uses only half of polygons used in Final Fantasy X in exchange for using more advanced textures and lighting. This also allows the game to use a free rotation camera. The game system has varied, so that the battles are no longer random and it is possible to recognize the enemies in the territory, making it possible to avoid combat. The world in which history is set is Ivalice, the same as the chapter Final Fantasy Tactics. There are also other similarities with that chapter, such as the possibility of choosing the armament and skills of each protagonist, which results in a much more tactical combat system than its predecessors, although enemies are also more difficult to abate. The majesty and thoroughness of the scenarios make it the FF with the best atmosphere of 128-bit generation.

BD Generations

• Final Fantasy XIII: It is a RPG developed by Square Enix, which was released exclusively for Sony PlayStation 3 in Japan on December 17, 2009, and which was released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in the West on March 9, 2010. His first appearance was in the E3 2006, where the game was characterized by showing a futuristic world. The main cast consists of six characters: a woman, code name Lightning, the protagonist, who carries a weapon with sword and gun functions; Snow Villiers, a young man with blonde hair; Oerba Dia Vanille, who carries a kind of whip; Sazh Katzroy, a man of black and middle-aged race; Oerba Yung Fang, a mystery girl and a branded hair.

Motomu Toriyama (Director of Final Fantasy X-2) returns as director for this game. According to Yōichi Wada (President of Square-Enix), the story focuses on "those who resist the world." Final Fantasy XIII and the other Fabula Nova Crystallis games take place in the same universe, but not directly related.

• Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn: It is the continuation of Final Fantasy XI as to the MMORPG game mode. His first version, Final Fantasy XIV 1.0, was launched for PS3 (only in Japan) and PC on September 21, 2010 worldwide. Not having much success was totally redesigned coming out in the light as Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn 2.0 on 27 August 2013 worldwide, both for PC and PlayStation 3 and also for PlayStation 4 and Steam in April 2014. As in deliveries Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XII There are no random combats and the enemies can be seen in the field by being avoided. Another novelty is the method used to run any action in the PlayStation 3 version, where you can customize the buttons to your liking in various button combinations. Each set of combinations can store up to 16 actions, which are used by holding down R2 or L2 and pressing the desired action key, and there are up to 8 different sets can be switched from one to another by holding the R1 button and pressing any of the 8 buttons of the command (cruceta, X, circle, square and triangle) giving the possibility to have a total of 128 combinations of the thousands of actions possible. On the other hand, as of 17 December 2013, the first major update was released, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Awoken 2.1 with which several new developments were added: the continuation of the main story "A Realm Awoken", the return of Hildibrand, the purchase and design of land and houses by auction, which includes the possibility of breeding chocobos among other things, Wolves' Den that is a sand to fight between two teams of characters, treasure hunting, the missions of the tribes of beasts, the Duty Roulette that allow to make different missions randomly, combats against powerful monsters, the stethist to change look to the character and new dungeons among which is the crystal tower where known enemies of the Final Fantasy III.
• Final Fantasy XV: is an ARPG genre video game developed by Square Enix, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Along with Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy XIII-2, Final Fantasy Type-0 and Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, is part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis project: Final Fantasy. Final Fantasy XV was called during its early stages of development Final Fantasy Versus XIII (fainaru Fantajī Verusasu Sātīn) But it ended up becoming the fifteenth delivery of the saga. The game was released on November 29, 2016.

Gameplay

Game Screens

Games typically have several types of screens, or modes of interaction, broadly categorized as:

• Country screens - These are where the main interaction between the characters occurs, and in fact it is where most of the exploration of the world occurs. Most of the dialogue occurs mostly on these screens. Final Fantasy VII marked the point where Final Fantasy would have more realistic computer graphics, while Dragon Warrior stayed with the animated graphics style. Before Final Fantasy VII, the games were pseudo orthographic, with a simple 2D engine. Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIIIand Final Fantasy IX They used pre-rendered and pre-painted funds with 3D models placed in top layers. Final Fantasy X He used an open field screen completely in third dimension, which allowed rotating the camera angle even when the characters were moving.
• Battle screens - Battles occur in a different type of screen (or sand), usually with a change in the scale and with a "arena" that normally represents generically where the battle is taking place in the game (e.g., a random battle in a desert unfolds a context of the desert). The most relevant battles (compared to the battle against random monsters) can have a battle fund specially designed for this scene, however in Final Fantasy VII and later versions, these screens are completely in 3D, using versions of the highest resolution characters, but very restricted in size. Final Fantasy XII It will remove the "scenarios of battle": the combat sequences will occur on the main field screen.
• World screen - a very low scale screen is used to symbolize the large travel distances that otherwise would take a long time to represent. These are usually not on a scale, as a character may seem the size of a small mountain. Relatively it occurs very little plot of history on these screens, but they are a entertaining mode of exploration however later suppressed this type of screen in delivery Final Fantasy X and after it.
• Shorts or intermediates - These scenes are mini non-interactive films that usually show the advance of the plot. They can or may be pre-rendered videos (FMV), or they can be executed with the same graphic engine as field screens. In some cases, pre-rendered video is photo mounted with real-time rendering graphics of field screens (full motion video-3D). From Final Fantasy XThe characters have been able to have a voice on this screen.
• Menu screen - This screen is used to navigate the status of characters, equipment, magic, etc. This screen is usually a very simple blue table, with a pointer (wrapped hand) to select the options. In some games, you give the option to change the color or texture of the tables. Games often offer several minigames with their own graphic engines.

Battle System

Final Fantasy used many gameplay elements from its main rival, the Dragon Quest series. As such, Final Fantasy uses a menu-driven, turn-based battle system. Most of the games in the series use an experience level system for character development (although Final Fantasy II, Final Fantasy X and "Final Fantasy Fantasy XIII" did not use it), and a score-based system for applying magic spells (however Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy III and Final Fantasy VIII used different modes). Most of the games in the series (starting with Final Fantasy III) offered a variety of "special commands", in addition to the traditional commands: "attack", "defense", "magic", "use item", and "flee", such as the ability to steal items from enemies, or the execution of a jump attack. These special attacks are often integrated into the "job system", which has appeared in several games in the series and spin-offs (Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy V, Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, and Final Fantasy X-2).

From Final Fantasy I to Final Fantasy III they offered a traditional turn based system for battles. The player would determine all battle commands at the start of each round of combat, which would then be performed based on each character's speed. Beginning with Final Fantasy IV, and continuing through Final Fantasy IX (and reinstated in Final Fantasy X-2), the & system was used. #34;battle in continuous time" (BTC) or "Active Time Battle" (ATB). The ATB system was played in semi-real time, and assigned each creature in combat a time bar. When a character's specific time bar was filled, the character would act, and the time counter would reset. Generally, each of these games featured both "active" and "standby": when the "standby" was chosen, then all time bar activity would pause whenever the player used a sub-menu to choose an enchantment, item, or special attack.

Final Fantasy X abandoned the ATB system in favor of the "variable turn-based battle" (BTV) or "conditional turns battle" (CTB). In the CTB system, they would rank each creature in battle based on their speed. Since this rank is displayed on the screen during battle, it is possible to know when a character or an enemy will have their turn in combat, and therefore battles can be planned in advance. The CTB system is always in standby mode, without offering any time bar.

Final Fantasy XI featured the "real-time battle" (BTR) or "real time battle" (RTB), which is similar to the one used by the game EverQuest. When targeting an enemy, a character would automatically perform basic physical attacks unless instructed by the player with other menu-based commands.

Final Fantasy XII will adopt a similar combat system to Final Fantasy XI, called the "active dimension battle" (BDA) or "active dimension battle" (ADB). The system is very similar to the RTB system in that characters are free to move around during battle, and after selecting a monster, the character automatically performs basic attacks. However, there is also an ATB-like time bar that shows when a character can act, as well as the "active" and "waiting". Unlike previous games, battles in Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XII occur on the field screen, without having a separate combat screen. The gambit system is also introduced: a list of pre-established orders, fully customizable, so that the characters automatically perform certain actions when given certain situations. Since with the ADB system the battles are much faster than in other installments, the automatic reactions of the characters are very necessary for success in combat, and in its proper configuration we find a new strategic component. Another big change is that once the main group has been taken down, the relief characters can be used to continue the battle. This allows developers to increase the difficulty of enemies without affecting the gameplay.

Final Fantasy XIII has the "Command Synergy" system, which modifies the "ATB" bar, with the possibility of using more commands to fill the time bar, called the "optimum" and start attacking although here you can only see the main player's bar (a team of 3 characters is chosen from the 6 selectable) and now only one character is controlled by controlling the other 2 (in a rather intelligent way, but always using the most basic logic), this system has many improvements, up to 6 action command spaces can be used, but a command can become as big using 6, 5, 3, 2 and 1 spaces, and also as in previous installments with this system there are abilities to rush, stop or delay the bar (hurry, stop or petra, respectively).

In the Final Fantasy Record Keeper mobile game, the "ATB" classic, instead of the "Command Sinergy" system.

Final Fantasy XIV was the second MMORPG game, and it reintroduced the real-time combat system from Final Fantasy XI, making it more immersive to play. With some obvious changes compared to Final Fantasy XI, and after an exhaustive review of commands and movement speed as a result of the failure that turned out to be the first version of the game, Final Fantasy XIV: A Real Reborn managed to improve the gameplay. Combat is noticeably more dynamic and fast-paced, but without being rushed.

Final Fantasy XV took a notable leap forward in terms of gameplay. The combat system of this installment is more similar to the one seen before in the Kingdom Hearts saga, much faster and more dynamic than in previous installments, and almost bordering on hack n' video game slash like Devil May Cry. The game is focused more on action; gameplay that would be taken up in the adaptation of Final Fantasy VII. For Final Fantasy XV, the player makes use of a button to execute most of Noctis's combos and abilities, such as Lux Impetus or Lux Itineris. However, there is still the Magic and Items menu, accessible in each fight, as well as the possibility of changing weapons that grant improvements and effects for each moment of a confrontation. One of the advantages of this new combat system is that, despite being real-time focused on non-stop action, it also offers a tactical interface that pauses the game to focus attacks on a single opponent and think about better moves. However, this interface is temporary and the fights will not be able to be executed in this way in their entirety.

As seen in the Final Fantasy XVI teaser trailer, which will be released at some point on PC and PS5, the battle system resumes the action in real time, and this time the doses of mobility and action will increase. The trailer offers us a more dynamic action than in Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy XV, to be almost entirely a hack n' slash. The aerial combos and long chains of attacks combined with magic are thanks in large part to the fact that the combat director of games like Devil May Cry 5 and Dragon's Dogma, Ryota Suzuki, recently joined Square-Enix.

Reception

Criticism

Although the series is very popular, it is not without its critics. Some accuse it of having a story with a rigid and often linear structure (excessive use of video animations) due to lack of interactivity, and lack of originality. But this linearity, according to other fans, is what makes the story more interesting. The most criticized are the most recent versions, after Final Fantasy X. The defenders of these games often argue that the negative receptions can be attributed to nostalgia, although this is disputed, since although it is true that the most contemporary games in time have been more complex, it is somewhat known that they have passed unnoticed, while the games prior to Final Fantasy X-2 have constituted milestones in the history of RPGs of the time, so it is easy to attribute greater playability to the new games, than understood in terms of the present is insufficient, something that did not happen with the old issues of the saga, which were an innovation in the RPG game market of its time (aiming above all at Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII and Final Fantasy IX).

Many longtime fans of the series blamed a degradation in design quality on designer Yoshitaka Amano's departure after Final Fantasy VI. Tetsuya Nomura, who has been in charge of character designs for most of the series since Final Fantasy VII, has been criticized by Amano's fans, especially those who feel that Nomura's designs seem too juvenile when compared to Amano's work. Similar complaints have begun to surface about the departure of the series' composer, Nobuo Uematsu. Final Fantasy XII does not have either Amano or Nomura as character designers, instead it features Akihiko Yoshida as the main designer.

Each game takes a different approach in terms of gameplay and story. This keeps the series feeling like there are no true sequels, so fans of a certain game in the series may not like other games in the series. Of the more recent versions, Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy X-2 have been singled out most often for criticism: Final Fantasy XI for switching to an MMORPG format and Final Fantasy X-2 for its status as the first direct sequel to a Final Fantasy game.

Despite all these points, this saga continues to be one of the most valued sagas by the specialized press. Virtually all the installments belonging to the main digital saga, except perhaps Final Fantasy XI, have received great scores, on a par with the best games on their respective consoles. Specifically, the penultimate installment so far, Final Fantasy XII, received a perfect score of 40/40 in the Japanese magazine Famitsu, the most valued in the world of video games. There has also been unanimity in the rest of the markets, both North American and European, who have not hesitated to describe it as one of the best PlayStation 2 games, and possibly the best installment of this series since Final Fantasy X.

Sales

• 12/07/87 Final Fantasy I: 2,490,000 units
• 17/12/88 Final Fantasy II: 1,730,000 units
• 27/04/90 Final Fantasy III: 3.801,000 units
• 19/06/91 Final Fantasy IV: 4.453.112 units
• 06/12/92 Final Fantasy V: 3,072,000 units
• 02/04/94 Final Fantasy VI: 4.002,000 units
• 31/01/97 Final Fantasy VII: 16.080.000 units
• 11/02/99 Final Fantasy VIII: 8,864 000 units
• 07/07/00 Final Fantasy IX5,761,000 units
• 19/07/01 Final Fantasy X: 8.005.113 units
• 13/03/03 Final Fantasy X-27.003,000 units
• 16/05/02 Final Fantasy XI: 3.515,000 Units
• 16/03/06 Final Fantasy XII: 5.296,000 units
• 17/12/09 Final Fantasy XIII: 7.700.000 units
• 15/12/11 Final Fantasy XIII-2: 3.555.550 units
• 23/11/13 Lightning Returns Final Fantasy: 1,007,000 units
• 29/09/13 Final Fantasy XIV: 10,210,431 units
• 29/11/16 Final Fantasy XV: 8,100,000 units

Adding all the chapters of the saga, more than 400 million copies of the Final Fantasy games have been sold worldwide, making it one of the best-selling video game franchises in history.

Acknowledgments

In 2012 Forbes magazine included the soundtrack of the Final Fantasy saga in the list of the twelve best video game soundtracks of all time.

In music

Mitsuruggy's album "Final Fantasy" It's a tribute to the franchise.

Video games & Contents

Main series

Crystal Chronicles Saga

• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (2003 - GameCube)
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates (2007 - Nintendo DS)
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King (2008 - WiiWare)
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time (2009 - Wii and Nintendo DS)
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord (2009 - WiiWare)
• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers (2009 - Wii)

Tactics Saga

• Final Fantasy Tactics (1997 - Playstation)
• Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (2003 - GameBoy Advance)
• Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (2007,Nintendo DS)

Legend Saga

• The Final Fantasy Legend (1989)
• Final Fantasy Legend II (1990)
• Final Fantasy Adventure (1991)
• Final Fantasy Legend III (1991)

Other games

• Final Fantasy Mystic Quest (1992 - SNES)
• Chocobo Racing (1999 - Playstation)
• Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo such (2006)
• Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon (Wii) (2007)
• Crystal Defenders (2008)
• Crystal Defenders: Vanguard Storm (2009)
• Dissydia: Final Fantasy (2009 - PSP)
• Final Fantasy The 4 Heroes of Light (2010 - Nintendo DS)
• Final Fantasy Type-0 (2011)
• Theatrythim Final Fantasy (2011)
• Dissidia Duodecim: Final Fantasy (2011 - PSP)
• Final Fantasy Dimensions (2012 - IOS/Android)
• Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade(2012 - IOS/Android)
• Final Fantasy DIMENSIONS (2012 IOS/Android)
• Pictologica Final Fantasy (2013 IOS/Android)
• Final Fantasy All the Bravest (2013)
• Final Fantasy Explorers (2014 - Nintendo 3DS)
• Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call (2014)
• Final Fantasy Record Keeper (2015 - IOS/Android)
• Dissydia: Final Fantasy (2015 - Arcade, TBA - PS4)
• Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius (2016 IOS/Android)
• World of Final Fantasy (2016 - Vita/PS4)

Reissues and New Versions

• Final Fantasy Anthology (1999 - Playstation) includes Final Fantasy V and Final Fantasy VI. (US version)
• Final Fantasy VI (1999 - Playstation)
• Final Fantasy Chronicles (2001 - Playstation) includes Final Fantasy IV and Chrono Trigger (US version)
• Final Fantasy Anthology (2002 - Playstation) includes Final Fantasy IV and Final Fantasy V(European edition)
• Final Fantasy Origins (2002 - Playstation) includes Final Fantasy I and Final Fantasy II.
• Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls (2004 - GBA) includes Final Fantasy I and Final Fantasy II.
• Final Fantasy IV Advance (2005 - GBA)
• Final Fantasy V Advance (2006 - GBA)
• Final Fantasy VI Advance (2006 - GBA)
• Final Fantasy III, 3D Adaptation (2006 - DS, 2011 - IOS, 2012 - Android, 2012 - PSP, 2013 - Ouya, 2014 - PC)
• Final Fantasy IV, 3D Adaptation (2007 - DS, 2012 - IOS, 2013 - Android, 2014 - PC) Adaptation
• Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions (2007 - PSP, 2011 - IOS and Android)
• Final Fantasy I. Anniversary Edition. (2007) remake
• Final Fantasy II. Anniversary Edition. (2007) adaptation
• Final Fantasy IV: The After Years(2008 -WiiWare, 2015 - PC)
• Final Fantasy I, HD Adaptation (2010 - IOS, 2012 - Android)
• Final Fantasy II, HD Adaptation (2010 - IOS, 2012 - Android)
• Final Fantasy IV Complete (2011 - PSP)
• Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster (2013 - PS3, Vita, 2015 - PS4, 2016 - PC)
• Final Fantasy V, HD Adaptation (2013 - IOS and Android, 2015 - PC)
• Final Fantasy VII (Relaunch on Steam) (2013)
• Final Fantasy VIII (Relaunching on Steam) (2013)
• Final Fantasy VI, HD Adaptation (2014 - IOS and Android, 2015 - PC)
• Final Fantasy IX (Relaunch on Steam) (2016)
• Final Fantasy Type-0 HD (2015 - PC, PS4 and Xbox One)
• Final Fantasy VIII Remastered (2019 - PS4, Xbox One, Switch and Steam)
• Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020 - PS4)
• Final Fantasy XVI (2023 - PS5)
• Final Fantasy I, Pixel Remaster (2021 - IOS, Android, Steam)
• Final Fantasy II, Pixel Remaster (2021 - IOS, Android, Steam)
• Final Fantasy III, Pixel Remaster (2021 - IOS, Android, Steam)
• Final Fantasy IV, Pixel Remaster (2021 - IOS, Android, Steam)
• Final Fantasy V, Pixel Remaster (2021 - IOS, Android, Steam)
• Final Fantasy VI, Pixel Remaster (2022 - IOS, Android, Steam)