This is about the Final Fantasy franchise. }}For the video game, see Final Fantasy (video game). Final Fantasy (disambiguation)
Final Fantasy
(???????????,
?
) is a media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is developed and owned by Square Enix (formerly Squaresoft). The franchise centers on a series of console role-playing games (RPGs), but includes motion pictures, anime, printed media, and other merchandise. The series began in 1987 as an eponymous video game developed to save Square from bankruptcy; the game was a success and spawned sequels. The video game series has since branched into other genres and platforms, such as tactical RPGs, portable games, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, and games for mobile phones.
Although most Final Fantasy
installments are independent stories with various different settings and main characters, they feature common elements that define the franchise. Such recurring elements include plot themes, character names, and game mechanics. Plots center on a group of heroes battling a great evil while exploring the characters' internal struggles and relationships. Character names are often derived from the history, languages, and mythologies of cultures worldwide.
The series has been commercially and critically successful; it is Square Enix's best selling video game franchise, with more than 85 million units sold, and one of the best-selling video game franchises. Second to Final Fantasy
among Square Enix franchises is Dragon Quest
. It was awarded a star on the Walk of Game in 2006, and holds seven Guinness World Records in the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2008
. The series is well known for its innovation, visuals, and music, such as the inclusion of full motion videos, photo-realistic character models, and orchestrated music by Nobuo Uematsu. Final Fantasy
has been a driving force in the video game industry. The video game series has affected Square's business practices and its relationships with other video game developers. It has also introduced many features now common in console RPGs and has been credited with helping to popularize RPGs in markets outside Japan.
|
FINAL FANTASY TICKETS
|
Titles
Games
The
first installment of the series premiered in Japan on December 18, 1987. Subsequent titles are numbered and given a story unrelated to previous games; consequently, the numbers refer more to volumes than to sequels. Many
Final Fantasy
games have been
localized for markets in North America, Europe, and Australia on numerous
video game consoles,
personal computers (PC), and
mobile phones. Future installments will appear on
seventh generation video game consoles; upcoming titles include
Final Fantasy XIII
,
Final Fantasy Versus XIII
,
Final Fantasy Agito XIII
,
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers
,
Final Fantasy Gaiden: The Four Warriors of Light
, and
Final Fantasy XIV
. As of March 2007, there are 28 games in the franchise;
[1] this number includes the main installments from
Final Fantasy
to
Final Fantasy XII
, as well as direct sequels and
spin-offs. Most of the older titles have been remade or re-released on multiple platforms.
Main series
ImageSize = width:200 height:500
PlotArea = left:50 bottom:10 top:10 right:0
DateFormat = yyyy
Period = from:1987 till:2009
TimeAxis = orientation:vertical order:reverse
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:1987
ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1987
Colors =
id:blue value:rgb(0,0,0)
id:red value:rgb(0.9,0.05,0.05)
# there is no automatic collision detection,
# so shift texts up or down manually to avoid overlap
Define $dx = 25 # shift text to right side of bar
# shift texts up or down when two have same year
Define $up = shift:($dx,1)
Define $dw = shift:($dx,-8)
PlotData=
bar:Games anchor:till color:green width:15 textcolor:blue align:left fontsize:S mark:(line,white) shift:($dx,-4)
from:1987 till:2009
at:1987 text:"Final Fantasy"
at:1988 text:"Final Fantasy II"
at:1990 text:"Final Fantasy III"
at:1991 text:"Final Fantasy IV"
at:1992 text:"Final Fantasy V"
at:1994 text:"Final Fantasy VI"
at:1997 text:"Final Fantasy VII"
at:1999 text:"Final Fantasy VIII"
at:2000 text:"Final Fantasy IX"
at:2001 text:"Final Fantasy X"
at:2002 text:"Final Fantasy XI"
# Don't add FF X-2 to the above chart. It is a sequel and not part of the main series
at:2006 text:"Final Fantasy XII"
# Don't add FF XIII and XIV to the above chart. They have yet to be released and the year is subject to change.
Three
Final Fantasy
installments were released on the
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).
Final Fantasy
was released in Japan in 1987 and in North America in 1990.
[2] [3] It introduced many concepts to the console RPG genre, and has since been remade on several platforms.
Final Fantasy II
, released in 1988 in Japan, has been bundled with
Final Fantasy
in several re-releases.
[4] [5] The last of the NES installments,
Final Fantasy III
, was released in Japan in 1990;
[6] however, it was not released elsewhere until a Nintendo DS remake in 2006.
The
Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) also featured three installments of the main series, all of which have been re-released on several platforms.
Final Fantasy IV
was released in 1991; in North America, it was released as
Final Fantasy II
.
[7] [8] It introduced the "
Active Time Battle" system.
[9] Final Fantasy V
, released in 1992 in Japan, was first in the series to spawn a sequel: a short anime series titled
Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals
.
[10] [11] Final Fantasy VI
was released in Japan in 1994, but it was titled
Final Fantasy III
in North America.
[12]
The
PlayStation console saw the release of three main
Final Fantasy
games. The 1997 title
Final Fantasy VII
moved away from the
two-dimensional (2D) graphics used in the first six games to
three-dimensional (3D) computer graphics; the game features
polygonal characters on
pre-rendered backgrounds. It also introduced a more modern setting, a style that was carried over to the next game.
The
eighth installment was published in 1999, and was the first to consistently use realistically proportioned characters and feature a vocal piece as its theme music.
[13] Final Fantasy IX
, released in 2000, returned to the series' roots by revisiting a more traditional
Final Fantasy
setting rather than the more modern worlds of
VII
and
VIII
.
[14]
Three main installments, including one online game, were published for the
PlayStation 2 (PS2). The 2001 title
Final Fantasy X
introduced full 3D areas and
voice acting to the series, and was the first to spawn a direct video game sequel (
Final Fantasy X-2
).
[15] [16] Final Fantasy XI
was released on the PS2 and PC in 2002, and later on the
Xbox 360.
[17] [18] The first
massive multi-player online role-playing game (MMORPG) in the series,
Final Fantasy XI
also introduced real-time battles instead of
random encounters.
The
twelfth installment, published in 2006, also includes real-time battles in large, interconnected playfields.
[19] [20]
Final Fantasy XIII
is in development for the
PlayStation 3 and
Xbox 360, and will be released in 2009 in Japan, and in 2010 in North America and Europe.
[21] [22] It will be the flagship installment of the
Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy XIII
compilation.
[23] Also in development is
Final Fantasy XIV
, an MMORPG due for release in 2010 for the PlayStation 3 and PC.
[24]
Sequels and spin-offs
Final Fantasy
has spawned numerous spin-offs and
metaseries. Three Square games were released in North America with their titles changed to include "
Final Fantasy
":
The Final Fantasy Legend
and its two sequels. The games, however, are part of Square's
Saga
series and feature few similarities to
Final Fantasy
.
[25] Final Fantasy Adventure
is a spin-off that spawned the
Mana
series.
[26] Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
was developed for a United States audience, and
Final Fantasy Tactics
is a
tactical RPG that features many references and themes found in the series.
[27] The spin-off
Chocobo
series,
Crystal Chronicles
series, and
Kingdom Hearts
series also include multiple
Final Fantasy
elements.
[28] In 2003, the video game series' first direct sequel,
Final Fantasy X-2
, was released.
[29] Other spin-offs have taken the form of compilations—
Compilation of Final Fantasy VII
,
Ivalice Alliance
, and
Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy XIII
. In 2008, Square Enix released Final Fantasy IV: The After Years for the Mobile Phone in Japan and in 2009 for the WiiWare in North America.
Other media
Square Enix has expanded the
Final Fantasy
series into various mediums. Multiple
anime and
computer-generated imagery (CGI)
films have been produced that are based either on individual
Final Fantasy
games or on the series as a whole. The first was an
original video animation (OVA) titled
Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals
, a sequel to
Final Fantasy V
. The story was set on the same world as the game though 200 years in the future. It was released as four 30-minute episodes first in Japan in 1994 and later released in the United States by
Urban Vision in 1998.
[30] In 2001,
Square Pictures released its first feature film,
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
. The film is set on a future-
Earth invaded by
alien life forms.
[31] The Spirits Within
was the first animated feature to seriously attempt to portray
photorealistic CGI humans, but was considered a
box office bomb.
[32] [33] 2001 also saw the release of
Final Fantasy: Unlimited
, a 25 episode anime series based on the common elements of the
Final Fantasy
series. It was broadcast in Japan by
TV Tokyo and released in North America by
ADV Films.
[34] In 2005,
Final Fantasy VII Advent Children
and
Last Order: Final Fantasy VII
were released as part of the
Compilation of Final Fantasy VII
.
Several video games have either been adapted into or have had
spin-offs in the form of
manga and
novels. The first was the novelization of
Final Fantasy II
in 1989, and was followed by a manga adaptation of
Final Fantasy III
in 1992.
[35] [36] The past decade has seen an increase in the number of non-video game adaptations and spin-offs.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
has been adapted into a novel, the spin-off game
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
has been adapted into a manga, and
Final Fantasy XI
has had a novel and manga set in its continuity.
[37] [38] [39] [40] Two
novellas based on the
Final Fantasy VII
universe have also been released. The
Final Fantasy: Unlimited
story was partially continued in novels and a manga after the anime series ended.
[41] Two titles,
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
and
Final Fantasy: Unlimited
, have been adapted into
radio dramas.
Common elements
Although most
Final Fantasy
installments are independent, many themes and elements of
gameplay recur throughout the series.
[42] [43] Most titles feature recycled names often inspired from various cultures' history and languages including
Japanese,
Hebrew, and
Latin.
Examples include weapon names like Excalibur and Masamune—derived from
Arthurian legend and the Japanese swordsmith
Masamune respectively—as well as the spell names Holy, Meteor, and Ultima.
Beginning with
Final Fantasy IV
, the main series adopted its current logo style that features the same
typeface and an emblem designed by manga artist
Yoshitaka Amano. The emblem relates to a title's respective plot and typically portrays a character or object in the story. Subsequent remakes of the first three games have replaced the previous logos with ones similar to the rest of the series.
Plot and themes
200px
is typical of the series in that the heroes must retrieve several crystals to save the world from an ancient evil.
The central conflict in many
Final Fantasy
games focuses on a group of characters battling an evil, and sometimes ancient, antagonist that dominates the game's world. Stories frequently involve a
sovereign state in rebellion, with the protagonists taking part in the rebellion. The heroes are often destined to defeat the evil, and occasionally gather as a direct result of the antagonist's malicious actions.
[44] Another staple of the series is the existence of two villains; the main villain is not always who it appears to be, as the primary antagonist may actually be subservient to another character or entity.
The main antagonist introduced at the beginning of the game is not always the final enemy, and the characters must continue their quest beyond what appears to be the final fight.
Stories in the series frequently emphasize the internal struggles, passions, and tragedies of the characters, and the main plot often recedes into the background as the focus shifts to their personal lives.
[45] Games also explore relationships between characters, ranging from
love to rivalry.
Other recurring situations that drive the plot include
amnesia, a hero corrupted by an evil force, mistaken identity, and
altruistic suicide.
[46] Magical orbs and crystals are recurring in-game items that are frequently connected to the themes of the games' plots.
Crystals often play a central role in the creation of the world, and a majority of the
Final Fantasy
games link crystals and orbs to the planet's
life force. As such, control over these crystals drives the main conflict.
[47] The
classical elements are a recurring theme in the series related to the heroes, villains, and items.
Other common plot and setting themes include the
Gaia hypothesis, an
apocalypse, and conflicts between advanced
technology and
nature.
[48] [49]
Characters
In recent years, the series has featured several males with
androgynous or
effeminate characteristics.
[50] [51] [52] Character names are another recurring theme. Since the release of
Final Fantasy II
, including subsequent remakes of the original
Final Fantasy
, a character named Cid has appeared in different capacities: a non-playable ally, party member, and villain. Though Cid's appearance and personality differ between titles, the character is normally related to the in-game airships. Biggs and Wedge, inspired by two
Star Wars
characters by the same name, appear in titles as minor characters, sometimes as comic relief.
Recurring creatures include
Chocobos and Moogles.
Chocobo are large, often flightless birds that appear in several of the series' installments as a means of long-distance travel for characters. Moogles, on the other hand, are white, stout creatures resembling teddy bears with wings and a single antenna. They serve different capacities in games including mail delivery,
weaponsmiths, party members, and
saving the game. Chocobo and Moogle appearances are often accompanied by specific themes that have been arranged differently for separate titles.
Gameplay
thumb.
[53]
In
Final Fantasy
games, players command a party of characters as they progress through the game's story by exploring the game world and defeating opponents.
Enemies are typically
encountered randomly through exploring, a trend which changed in
Final Fantasy XI
and
Final Fantasy XII
. The player issues combat orders—like "Fight", "Magic", and "Item"—to individual characters via a menu-driven interface while engaging in battles. Throughout the series, the games have used different battle systems. Prior to
Final Fantasy XI
, battles were turn-based with the protagonists and antagonists on different sides of the battlefield.
Final Fantasy IV
introduced the "Active Time Battle System" that augmented the turn-based nature with a perpetual time-keeping system. Designed by Hiroyuki Ito, it injected urgency and excitement into combat by requiring the player to act before an enemy attacks, and was used until
Final Fantasy X
, which implemented the Conditional Turn-Based system.
[54] The new system returned to the previous turn-based system, but added nuances to offer players more challenge.
[55] Final Fantasy XI
adopted a real-time battle system where characters continuously act depending on the issued command.
[56] Final Fantasy XII
continued this gameplay with the "Active Dimension Battle" system.
[57]
Like most RPGs, the
Final Fantasy
installments use an
experience level system for character advancement, in which experience points are accumulated by killing enemies.
[58] [59] [60] [61] Character classes, specific jobs that enable unique abilities for characters, are another recurring theme. Introduced in the first game, character classes have been used differently in each title. Some restrict a character to a single job to integrate it into the story, while other games feature dynamic job systems that allow the player to choose from multiple classes and switch throughout the game. Though used heavily in many games, such systems have become less prevalent in favor of characters that are more versatile; characters still match an archetype, but are able to learn skills outside their class.
Magic is another common RPG element in the series. It is generally divided into classes, which are organized by color: "White magic", which focuses on spells that assist teammates; "Black magic", which focuses on harming enemies; "Red magic", which is a combination of white and black magic, "Blue magic", which mimics enemy attacks; and "green magic" which focuses on 'buffing allies or 'debuffing' the enemy.
Other magic includes
summoning legendary creatures to aid in battle, and has persisted since
Final Fantasy III
. These creatures, often referred to as "Summons", have been inspired by mythologies from
Arabic,
Hindu,
Norse, and
Greek cultures.
Different means of transportation have appeared through the series. The most common is the airship for long range travel, accompanied by chocobos for travelling short distances, but others include sea and land vessels. Following
Final Fantasy VII
, more modern and futuristic vehicle designs have been included.
Development and history
Origin
thumb, creator of the
Final Fantasy
series|alt=A man sitting in a chair and speaking in a microphone
In the mid 1980s,
Square entered the Japanese
video game industry with simple
RPGs,
racing games, and
platformers for
Nintendo's
Famicom Disk System. Though a couple games were successful in North America, most were not popular and the company faced bankruptcy. In 1987, Square designer
Hironobu Sakaguchi headed development of a game to prevent the company's financial ruin. Sakaguchi chose to create a new fantasy role-playing game for the cartridge-based Famicom, and drew inspiration from popular fantasy games:
Enix's
Dragon Quest
, Nintendo's
The Legend of Zelda
, and
Origin Systems's
Ultima
series. As Sakaguchi planned to retire after completing the project, he named it
Final Fantasy
.
[62] [63] [64] Despite his explanation, publications have also attributed the name to the company's hopes that the project would solve its financial troubles.
[65]
The game indeed reversed Square's lagging fortunes, and it became the company's flagship franchise.
Following the success, Square immediately developed a second installment. Because Sakaguchi assumed
Final Fantasy
would be a stand-alone title, its story was not designed to be expanded by a sequel. The developers instead chose to carry over only thematic similarities to its predecessor, and some of the
gameplay elements, such as the
character advancement system, were overhauled. This approach has continued throughout the series; each major
Final Fantasy
game features a new setting, a new cast of characters, and an upgraded battle system.
Design
For the original
Final Fantasy
, Sakaguchi required a larger production team than Square's previous titles. He began crafting the game's story while experimenting with gameplay ideas. Once the gameplay system and game world size was established, Sakaguchi integrated his story ideas into the available resources. A different approach has been taken for subsequent titles; the story is completed first and the game built around it.
[66] Designers have never been restricted by consistency, though most feel each title should have a minimum amount of common elements. The development teams strive to create completely new worlds for each title, and avoid making new games too similar to previous ones. Game locations are conceptualized early in development and design details like building parts are fleshed out as a base for entire structures.
The first five games were directed by Sakaguchi, who also provided the original concepts. He served as a producer for subsequent games until he left Square in 2001.
[67] Yoshinori Kitase took over directing the games until
Final Fantasy VIII
,
[68] [69] [70] and has been followed by a new director for each new title.
Hiroyuki Ito designed several gameplay systems, including
Final Fantasy V
's
Job System,
Final Fantasy VIII
's
Junction System and the
Active Time Battle concept, which was used from
Final Fantasy IV
until
Final Fantasy IX
. Ito also co-directed
Final Fantasy VI
with Kitase.
Kenji Terada was the scenario writer for the first four games; Kitase took over as scenario writer for
Final Fantasy V
through
Final Fantasy VII
.
Kazushige Nojima became the series' primary scenario writer from
Final Fantasy VII
until his resignation in October 2003; he has since formed his own company, Stellavista. Nojima partially or completely wrote the stories for
Final Fantasy VII
,
Final Fantasy VIII
,
Final Fantasy X
, and
Final Fantasy X-2
. He also worked as the scenario writer for the spin off series,
Kingdom Hearts
.
[71]
thumb
artwork by
Yoshitaka Amano, who provided designs for much of the series.
Artistic design, including character and monster creations, was handled by Japanese artist
Yoshitaka Amano from
Final Fantasy
through
Final Fantasy VI
. Amano also handled title logo designs for all of the main series and the image illustrations from
Final Fantasy VII
onward.
Tetsuya Nomura was chosen to replace Amano because Nomura's designs were more adaptable to 3D graphics. He worked with the series from
Final Fantasy VII
through
Final Fantasy X
;
for
Final Fantasy IX
, however, character designs were handled by
Shukou Murase, Toshiyuki Itahana, and Shin Nagasawa.
[72] Nomura is also the character designer of the
Kingdom Hearts
series,
Compilation of Final Fantasy VII
, and the upcoming
Fabula Nova Crystallis: Final Fantasy XIII
.
[73] Other designers include Nobuyoshi Mihara and
Akihiko Yoshida. Mihara was the character designer for
Final Fantasy XI
, and Yoshida served as character designer for
Final Fantasy Tactics
, the Square-produced
Vagrant Story
, and
Final Fantasy XII
.
[74]
Graphics and technology
The first titles on the NES feature small
sprite representations of the leading party members on the main world screen because of graphical limitations. Battle screens use more detailed, full versions of characters in a side-view perspective. This practice was used until
Final Fantasy VI
, which uses detailed versions for both screens. The NES sprites are 26
pixels high and use a
color palette of 4 colors. 6
frames of animation are used to depict different character statuses like "healthy" and "fatigued". The SNES installments use updated graphics and effects, as well as higher quality audio than in previous games, but are otherwise similar to their predecessors in basic design. The SNES sprites are 2 pixels shorter, but have larger palettes and feature more animation frames: 11 colors and 40 frames respectively. The upgrade allowed designers to have characters be more detailed in appearance and express more emotions. The first title includes
non-player characters (NPCs) the player could interact with, but are mostly static in-game objects. Beginning with the second title, Square used predetermined pathways for NPCs to create more dynamic scenes that include comedy and drama.
[75]
In 1995, Square showed an
interactive SGI technical demonstration of
Final Fantasy
for the then
next generation of consoles. The demonstration used
Silicon Graphics's prototype
Nintendo 64 workstations to create 3D graphics.
[76] Fans believed the demo was of a new
Final Fantasy
title for the Nintendo 64 console; however, 1997 saw the release of
Final Fantasy VII
for the Sony
PlayStation.
[77] The switch was due to a dispute with Nintendo over its use of faster and more expensive
cartridges, as opposed to the slower, cheaper, and much higher capacity
compact discs used on rival systems.
[78] Final Fantasy VII
introduced
3D graphics with fully
pre-rendered backgrounds.
[79] It was because of this switch to 3D that a
CD-ROM format was chosen over a cartridge format.
[80] The switch also led to increased production costs and a greater subdivision of the creative staff for
Final Fantasy VII
and subsequent 3D titles in the series.
thumb
Starting with
Final Fantasy VIII
, the series adopted a more
photo-realistic look.
[81] [82] Like
Final Fantasy VII
,
full motion video (FMV) sequences would have video playing in the background, with the
polygonal characters composited on top.
Final Fantasy IX
returned briefly to the more stylized design of earlier games in the series. It still maintained, and in many cases slightly upgraded, most of the graphical techniques used in the previous two games in the series.
Final Fantasy X
was released on the
PlayStation 2, and used the more powerful hardware to render graphics in real-time instead of using pre-rendered material to obtain a more dynamic look; the game features full 3D environments, rather than have 3D character models move about pre-rendered backgrounds. It is also the first
Final Fantasy
game to introduce
voice acting, occurring throughout the majority of the game, even with many minor characters.
This aspect added a whole new dimension of depth to the character's reactions, emotions, and development.
[83]
Taking a temporary divergence,
Final Fantasy XI
used the PlayStation 2's online capabilities as an
MMORPG.
[84] Initially released for PlayStation 2 with a PC port arriving 6 months later,
Final Fantasy XI
was also released on the
Xbox 360 nearly four years after its original release in Japan.
[85] This was the first
Final Fantasy
game to use a free rotating camera.
Final Fantasy XII
was released in 2006 for the PlayStation 2 and uses only half as many polygons as
Final Fantasy X
in exchange for more advanced textures and lighting.
[86] [87] It also retains the freely rotating camera from
Final Fantasy XI
.
Final Fantasy XIII
was shown at
E3 2006 and will make use of
Crystal Tools, a middleware engine developed by Square Enix.
[88] [89]
Music
The titles in the series feature a variety of music, but frequently reuse themes. Most of the games open with a piece called "Prelude", which has evolved from a simple, 2-voice
arpeggio in the early games to a complex, melodic arrangement in recent installments.
Victories in combat are often accompanied by a victory fanfare, a theme that has become one of the most recognized pieces of music in the series. The basic theme that accompanies Chocobo appearances has been rearranged in a different musical style for each installment. A piece called "Prologue" (and sometimes "Final Fantasy"), originally featured in the first game, is often played during the ending credits.
Although
leitmotifs are common in the more character-driven installments, theme music is typically reserved for main characters and recurring plot elements.
160px, composer of most of the
Final Fantasy
soundtracks
Nobuo Uematsu was the chief
music composer of the
Final Fantasy
series until his resignation from Square Enix in November 2004.
Other composers include
Masashi Hamauzu and
Hitoshi Sakimoto.
[90] [91] Uematsu was allowed to create much of the music with little direction from the production staff. Sakaguchi, however, would request pieces to fit specific game scenes including battles and exploring different areas of the game world.
[92] Once a game's major scenarios were completed, Uematsu would begin writing the music based on the story, characters, and accompanying artwork. He started with a game's main theme, and developed other pieces to match its style. In creating character themes, Uematsu read the game's scenario to determine the characters' personality. He would also ask the scenario writer for more details to scenes he was unsure about.
[93] Technical limitations were prevalent in earlier titles; Sakaguchi would sometimes instruct Uematsu to only use specific notes.
It wasn't until
Final Fantasy IV
on the SNES that Uematsu was able to add more subtlety to the music.
Reception
Overall, the
Final Fantasy
series has been critically acclaimed and commercially successful, though each installment has seen different levels of success. The series has seen a steady increase in total sales; it sold 45 million units worldwide by August 2003 and 63 million by December 2005.
[94] [95] As of July 7, 2008, the series has sold over 85 million copies worldwide.
[96] Its high sales numbers have ranked it as one of the
best-selling video game franchises in the industry; in January 2007, the series was listed as number three, and later in July as number four.
[97] Several games within the series have become best-selling titles. At the end of 2007, the seventh, eighth, and ninth best-selling RPGs were
Final Fantasy VII
,
Final Fantasy VIII
, and
Final Fantasy X
respectively.
[98] Final Fantasy VII
has sold more than 9.5 million copies worldwide, earning it the position of the best-selling
Final Fantasy
title.
[99] Within two days of
Final Fantasy VIII
's North American release on September 9, 1999, it became the top-selling video game in the United States, a position it held for more than three weeks.
[100] Final Fantasy X
sold over 1.4 million Japanese units in pre-orders alone, which set a record for the fastest-selling console RPG.
[101] Final Fantasy XII
sold more than 1.7 million copies in its first week in Japan.
[102] By November 6, 2006—one week after its release—
Final Fantasy XII
had shipped approximately 1.5 million copies in North America.
[103]
Critical response
The series has been praised for the quality of its visuals and soundtracks.
It was awarded a star on the
Walk of Game in 2006, making it the first franchise to win a star on the event (other winners were individual games, not franchises). WalkOfGame.com commented that the series has sought perfection as well as been a risk taker in innovation.
[104] In a 2008 public poll held by
The Game Group plc,
Final Fantasy
was voted the best game series, with five titles appearing in their "Greatest Games of All Time" list.
[105] IGN has commented the menu system used by the series is a major detractor for many and is a "significant reason why they haven't touched the series."
The site has also heavily criticized the use of random encounters in the series' battle systems.
[106] [107] IGN further stated the various attempts to bring the series into film and animation have either been unsuccessful, unremarkable, or did not live up to the standards of the games.
In July 2007, UK-based
Edge
magazine criticized the series for a number of related titles that include the phrase "
Final Fantasy
" in their titles, which are considered to be not of the same quality as previous titles. It also commented that with the departure of
Hironobu Sakaguchi, the series might be in danger of growing stale.
Many
Final Fantasy
games have been included in various lists of top games. Several games have been listed on multiple
IGN "Top Games" lists.
[108] [109] [110] [111] Eleven games were listed on ''
Famitsus 2006 "Top 100 Favorite Games of All Time", four of which were in the top ten, with
Final Fantasy X
and
Final Fantasy VII
being first and second, respectively. [112] The series holds seven Guinness World Records in the
Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2008
, which include the "Most Games in an RPG Series" (13 main titles, 7 enhanced titles, and 32 spin-off titles), the "Longest Development Period" (the production of
Final Fantasy XII
took five years), and the "Fastest-Selling Console RPG in a Single Day" (
Final Fantasy X
). [113] The 2009 edition listed two titles from the series among the top 50 consoles games:
Final Fantasy XII
at number 8 and
Final Fantasy VII'' at number 20.
[114]
Several individual
Final Fantasy
titles have garnered extra attention; some for their positive reception and others for their negative reception. Despite the success of
Final Fantasy VII
, it is sometimes criticized as being overrated. In 2003,
GameSpy listed it as the 7th most overrated game of all time, a comment echoed by
IGN.
[115] [116] Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII
shipped 392,000 units in its first week of release, but received review scores that were much lower than that of other
Final Fantasy
games.
[117] [118] [119] A delayed, negative review after the Japanese release of
Dirge of Cerberus
from Japanese gaming magazine
Famitsu
hinted at a controversy between the magazine and Square Enix.
[120] The MMORPG,
Final Fantasy XI
, reached over 200,000 active daily players in March 2006
[121] and had reached over half a million subscribers by July 2007.
Though
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
was praised for its visuals, the plot was criticized and was considered a box office bomb.
[122] Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
for the
GameCube received overall positive review scores, but reviews stated that the use of
Game Boy Advances as controllers was a big detractor.
[123]
Impact and legacy
The
Final Fantasy
series and several specific games within it have been credited for introducing and popularizing many concepts that are today widely used in console RPGs.
The original title is often cited as one of the most influential early console RPGs, and played a major role in legitimizing and popularizing the genre. Prior to the series, RPGs featured one-on-one battles against monsters from a
first person perspective.
Final Fantasy
introduced a side view perspective with groups of monsters against a group of characters that has been frequently imitated.
Final Fantasy II
was the first sequel in the industry to omit characters and locations from the previous title.
Final Fantasy VII
is credited with allowing console role-playing games to find a place in markets outside Japan.
[124] [125]
The series' success affected Square's business on several levels. The financial success of the first game saved Square from bankruptcy, while the commercial failure of
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
resulted in hesitation and delays from Enix during merger discussions.
Square's decision to produce games exclusively for the Sony PlayStation—a move followed by Enix's decision with the
Dragon Quest
series—severed their relationship with Nintendo.
Final Fantasy
games were absent from Nintendo consoles, specifically the Nintendo 64, for seven years.
Critics attribute the switch of strong third-party titles, like
Final Fantasy
and
Dragon Quest
games, from the Nintendo 64 to the PlayStation as one of the reasons behind the systems' decline and success, respectively.
The release of the Nintendo GameCube, which used optical disc media, in 2001 caught the attention of Square. To produce games for the system, Square created the
shell company The Game Designers Studio and released
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
, which spawned its own
metaseries within the main franchise.
Final Fantasy XI
's lack of an online method of subscription cancellation prompted the creation of legislation in
Illinois that requires internet gaming services to provide such a method to the state's residents.
[126]
The series' popularity has resulted in its appearance and reference in numerous facets of popular culture like anime, TV series, and
webcomics.
[127] [128] [129] Music from the series has permeated into different areas of culture.
Final Fantasy IV
's "Theme of Love" was integrated into the
curriculum of Japanese school children and has been performed live by orchestras and metal bands.
[130] In 2003, Uematsu became involved with the
The Black Mages, a rock group independent of Square that has released albums of
arranged Final Fantasy
tunes.
[131] [132] Bronze medalists Alison Bartosik and Anna Kozlova performed their
synchronized swimming routine at the 2004 Summer Olympics to music from
Final Fantasy VIII
.
Many of the titles' official soundtracks have been released for sale as well. Numerous companion books, which normally provide in-depth game information, have been published. In Japan, they are published by Square and are called
Ultimania books.
[133] [134] In North America, they take the form of standard
strategy guides.
References
- GDC 2007: The Long Development of Final Fantasy XII
- Final Fantasy - Release Summary
- The Main Final Fantasies
- Final Fantasy II - Release Summary
- Final Fantasy Retrospective Part II
- Final Fantasy III - Release Summary
- Final Fantasy II (SNES) - Release Summary
- Final Fantasy II instruction manual
- Final Fantasy Chronicles
- Final Fantasy V - Release Summary
- Gaming to Anime: Final Fantasy VI
- Final Fantasy III (SNES) - Release Summary
- Final Fantasy VIII - Release Summary
- Final Fantasy IX - Release Summary
- Final Fantasy X - Release Summary
- Final Fantasy Retrospective Part VII
- Final Fantasy XI - Release Summary
- Final Fantasy Retrospective Part VIII
- Final Fantasy XII - Release Summary
- The Evolution of Final Fantasy
- E3 2008: Final Fantasy XIII Coming to Xbox 360
- Square Enix fast-tracking FFXIII localization - Report
- Famitsu with More on Fabula Nova
- E3 2009: Final Fantasy XIV Online Coming to PS3 and PC
- Final Fantasy Retrospective Part XI
- Final Fantasy Retrospective Part X
- Final Fantasy Retrospective Part IX
- Tetsuya Nomura Interview
- Final Fantasy X-2 - Release Summary
- Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals (OAV)
- Overview over ''Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within'' reviews
- Final Frontiers
- Square-Enix Gives Chrono Break Trademark Some Playmates
- Final Fantasy: Unlimited (TV)
- ???????????2 ?????
- ?????? ???????????3?? 3
- Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (Mass Market Paperback)
- FF Crystal Chronicles Goes Comic
- ???????????11 ????
- Final Fantasy XI T-1
- Final Fantasy: Unlimited To End at 26
- The Art of Game Worlds
- Final Fantasy Series
- Final Fantasy Retrospective Part XIII
- Japan pop!
- Interivew with Yoshinori Kitase and Tetsuya Nomura
- FFXIII Interview: Nomura, Kitase, Hashimoto and Toriyama
- Videogames and art
- This Great Fantasy Interview
- Project Sylpheed Review
- Ten Gaming Clichés
- Final Fantasy XII Q&A
- {{US patent reference| number = 5390937| y = 1995| m = 02| d = 21| inventor = Hironobu Sakaguchi and Hiroyuki Itou| title = Video game apparatus, method and device for controlling same}}
- (Never the) Final Fantasy
- Final Fantasy X (PS2) Reviews
- Final Fantasy XI
- Final Fantasy XII Official Strategy Guide
- Vintage Games
- Final Fantasy Anthology Official Strategy Guide
- Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania
- Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania Omega
- An Introduction to Square-Enix
- Final Fantasy Retrospective Part I
- Sakaguchi discusses the development of Final Fantasy
- The History of Final Fantasy: Introduction
- Ultimate History of Video Games
- Staff Spotlight
- Final Fantasy III (SNES) - Tech Info
- Final Fantasy VII - Tech Info
- Final Fantasy VIII - Tech Info
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl Storyline Penned By Final Fantasy VII Writer
- Final Fantasy IX - Tech Info
- The Hot 100 Game Developers of 2007
- Final Fantasy XI Tech Info
- Final Fantasy Retrospective Part IV
- Related Final Fantasies
- State of the RPG: GameCube
- 10 Years of PlayStation Through the Eyes of PSM
- Final Fantasy VII (PS1) - Review
- Nintendo 64 Week: Day Two
- Interview with ''Final Fantasy VIII'' developers
- Final Fantasy Retrospective Part VI
- Behind The Game The Creators
- Final Fantasy XI -- Big Plans, Big Money
- Shippin' Out 4/17-4/21: Final Fantasy XI Online, Brain Age
- Final Fantasy XII (PS2) Previews
- Final Fantasy XII - Preview First Look
- E3 06: Square Enix announces trio of Final Fantasy XIII games
- GDC08: Square Enix unveils Crystal Tools engine
- Artist: ????
- Artist: ???
- A Day in the Life of Final Fantasy's Nobuo Uematsu
- Nobuo Uematsu: The Man Behind The Music
- Square Enix U.S.A. announces details for Final Fantasy XI
- (Official Xbox Magazine press release) Playable Beta Disc for Xbox 360 Console to be included with February 2006 Issue
- Square Enix announces Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes
- Nintendo holds key to franchise longevity, profitability
- Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2008
- Square Enix Announces Release Date of Final Fantasy VII Advent Children
- Final Fantasy VIII Tops Videogame Charts
- Final Fantasy X Sells Like Crazy; World Not Shocked
- Japanese Sales Charts, Week Ending March 19
- Square Enix Announces Record Shipment With Final Fantasy XII
- 2006 Walk of Game Inductees
- Greatest Games Results
- IGN: Final Fantasy VIII Review
- IGN: Final Fantasy IX Review
- IGN's Top 100 Games
- IGN's Top 100 Games
- Top 99 Games of All Time: Readers' Pick
- The Top 25 PS2 Games of All Time
- Japan Votes on All Time Top 100
- Record Breaking Final Fantasy Series heads to The Record Breaking Nintendo DS
- Guinness World Records 2009 Gamer's Edition
- 25 Most Overrated Games of All Time
- Is Final Fantasy VII Overrated?
- Top 10 Weekly Software Sales (January 23 - January 29, 2006)
- Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII Reviews
- Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII (ps2:2006): Reviews
- Famitsu Digs Into Dirge of Cerberus
- GDC: Creating a Global MMO: Balancing Cultures and Platforms in Final Fantasy XI
- Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
- Reviews: FF: Crystal Chronicles
- Final Fantasy Retrospective Part V
- 'Dirge of Cerberus' defies expectations, for better and worse
- Guinness World Records 2009 Gamer's Edition
- Japan Pop!: Inside the World of Japanese Popular Culture
- Robot Chicken pokes fun at Final Fantasy
- Adventure Log
- Final Fantasy Retrospective Part III
- Nobuo Uematsu's Profile
- The Black Mages -Darkness and Starlight
- Final Fantasy X Ultimania Guide
- Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania