Final Fantasy Series
The Final Fantasy series is a science fiction and (obviously) fantasy franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi and developed by Square Enix (formerly Square). The first game came to life in 1987 in Japan and in 1990 in North America on Nintendo Entertainment System – NES (then remade for other systems afterwards), followed by many other successful titles in later years.
Every Final Fantasy chapter has a stand-alone plot with different characters, although they all have elements and names in common. Final Fantasy is certainly the most popular franchise ever created by Square Enix and can be classified as RPG. It also includes spin-offs, animated episodes and CGI movies.
In 2001 Square Pictures released a feature film called Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, not related to any of the stories portrayed in the games.
We also got a separate gaming franchise, Kingdom Hearts, where Final Fantasy characters meet Disney princesses, heroes and villains in particular situations. A beautiful crossover set in a new and immersive world. Sadly we can only play this series on Sony Playstation and Xbox 360, since they never worked on a PC port and are currently developing a PS4 and Xbox One exclusive again.
Final Fantasy Dissidia is another crossover released in 2008 on Playstation Portable, where all the main characters in the series meet in a different dimension (a sort of AU).
Here’s a list of FF games actually ported on Windows:
Final Fantasy III: Originally created for Nintendo in 1990, then released for other consoles and finally Microsoft Windows in 2014.
Final Fantasy IV (also known as Final Fantasy II for its initial North American release): Published in 1991 on NES, arrived on Playstation, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, mobile, PSP (with a final collection in 2011, also including the sequel Final Fantasy IV: The After Years and a new creation, Final Fantasy IV: Interlude, set between the two), then on PC in 2014.
Final Fantasy V: Medieval-fantasy RPG released in 1992 on Nintendo in Japan and then ported on Sony Playstation with minor differences in 1998. Ported on other consoles, mobile and Windows last year.
Final Fantasy VI (also known as Final Fantasy III for its initial North American release): RPG set in a fantasy world with a technology level equivalent to that of the Second Industrial Revolution, which saw the light in 1994 on NES. Subsequently Square ported it on Playstation, Game Boy Advance, mobile and on PC in 2015.
Final Fantasy VII: With no doubt the best title in the series, released in 1997 on Playstation, on Personal Computer in 1998, in 2012 for the updated OS, mobile and then on PS4 as a sort of remastered edition.
This game has different sequels, prequels and animated spin-offs.
Final Fantasy VII: Before Crisis is a mobile game made in 2004 and it takes place six years prior to the events of Final Fantasy VII. Dirge of Cerberus came out on PS2 in 2006, set three years after the original Final Fantasy VII and one year after the CGI movie Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (released in 2005 and remastered on Blu-Ray Disc in 2009 with new sequences and better graphics).
In 2007 Square Enix released a PSP version called Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core, and it’s set right before the events of Final Fantasy VII.
A few years ago, Square Enix published a PS3 tech demo trailer for Final Fantasy VII, which basically was the original opening with next gen graphics. The excitement of the fans who were expecting a PS3 remake sadly died right after, when they realized it was not going to happen at all. In 2015, however, they officially announced a PS4 remake with a brand new trailer. The release date is sadly not available yet.
Final Fantasy VIII: Released in 1999 after two years of development on Playstation, in 2000 they ported the game on Microsoft Windows-based Personal Computer and released it again in 2013 for the modern version of Windows.
It is also now available on the Playstation Store for PS3, PSP and PS Vita.
Final Fantasy IX: Released in 2000, it is the last to debut on the original Playstation console. In 2010, it was re-released as a PSone Classics title on the PlayStation Network. The game introduced new features to the series like the “Active Time Event”, “Mognet”, and a unique equipment and skill system. This year they finally released it on Microsoft Windows as well.
Final Fantasy X: Published in 2001 on Sony Playstation 2 and it is actually the first title in the series to use fully rendered characters and areas (the gameplay was previously in flat 2D and low quality, pixelated graphics) and to introduce voice acting during CGI cutscenes. On 2013 the game arrived on PS3 and PS Vita, then a remastered version was created for PS4 in 2015 and it finally got a PC port recently this year.
A direct sequel, Final Fantasy X-2, was released in 2003 on PS2 and again in 2004 with an additional sequel called Last Mission. In 2013 the game became available for PS3, in 2015 they included it in the HD Remastered collection for PS4 along with FFX, released afterwards on PC in 2016.
Final Fantasy XIII: The first game of the series showing off high quality graphics and more detailed textures, released in December 2009 in Japan and March 2010 worldwide, on PS3 and Xbox 360. It got a PC conversion in 2014 and a mobile version in 2015.
Final Fantasy XIII is also the beginning of a whole new trilogy, followed by Final Fantasy XIII-2 (2011, PS3 and Xbox 360. 2014, PC. 2015, iOS and Android) and Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII (2013, PS3 and Xbox 360. 2015, PC. 2016, iOS and Android).
Final Fantasy Type-0: Released in 2013 on PSP and in 2015 on PS4, Xbox One and PC.
The game also got the spin-off Agito, released only for mobile in 2014.
Type-0 is part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis collection along with Final Fantasy XIII and the upcoming Final Fantasy XV.
Final Fantasy XIV: Online (A Realm Reborn): The second MMORPG in the series, released in 2010 on PC.
Final Fantasy XV (previously known as Versus XIII and announced as a PS3 exclusive with a teaser trailer in 2006): Released In September 2016 for PS4 and Xbox One. The PC version for this game came later on in March 2018 followed by the awated Mod Organizer for custom made outfits and whatnot, which sadly remains full of bugs and incomplete.
How many Final Fantasy games have you played and which one is your favorite? 😀
