Final Fantasy I

[Stephen Speicher 0]

Game suggested for rating by Patrick.

[PRN 0]

I first played this game about 15 years ago. It is in my view the best game ever made for the first Nintendo system, the NES.

It was a fantasy game, but a very well-done one.

The plot and setting were pretty amazing. Four warriors set out to save the world from a time-traveling evil power that continually plunges the world into chaos every two thousand years. The strange thing is that this was in a low-tech medieval setting, at least for most of the game.

There was a sailing ship one could take after defeating a group of pirates, as well as an ancient airship one could find buried in the desert (left over from a long lost advanced civilization).

One thing I really liked about this game was the freedom I had. I could choose my characters names, actions, and equipment. Everything was up to me. I do not like games as much that do not have this total freedom. Much of the fun I had was meticulously making sure everything was just how I wanted it. Sadly, all of the sequels to this game I have tried lacked this element of freedom.

There was also a reference to the ancient theory of the four elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. This reminded me of the Ionian physicists of ancient Greece who originated the theory. Had the game designers heard of them?

There was even an ancient lost civilization similar to the ancient Greeks with one exception—their technology. While most of the game was set in a fantasy/medieval world, this civilization had mechanized war machines, nuclear weapons, robots and space travel. But they also wore togas and lived in a city with ancient Greek architecture. It was this civilization that had created airships. I found it interesting that the game designers would create such a civilization. I think on some level, in their own minds, they must have linked ancient Greek civilization to mastery over nature. For a video game, I think that is unusual.

The music was also very good. So good, in fact, that many orchestral versions of it have been made. The composer was Nobuo Uematsu: ( http://www.nobuouematsu.com/ ). I still listen to his work to this day.

[stellavision 0]

I enjoyed this game immensely as a teenager, and even through college. There were hundreds of secrets to discover, and even once you finished the game you could start over with a different set of characters and find your way to different armor, weaponry, etc.

I only wish I hadn't bought the Nintendo Power guidebook! It would have been much better to discover where everything was and which weapons worked with which player on my own.

[Jason Fowler 0]

I must say that this game was ground breaking and, at the very least, provided many ideas that would be tweaked and refined in later RPGs up to the present day. For me, the 2 most influential console RPGs in history are Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy. I gave this one a 10.

I agree that the music is very good, despite the fact that sound in general on that platform was not so good. Final Fantasy 2 and Chrono Trigger on the SNES have good music as well.

Interestingly enough, there were 3 Final Fantasy games for the NES, but only the first one was released in America and in English.

[darren 0]

For me, the 2 most influential console RPGs in history are Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy.

I just had a flashback to my childhood, spending hours in front of the tv jamming down the A button to work up enough experience points to beat the Dragon Lord. Because, you know, you can't beat him until you get to level 20.

When I have kids, I think I'm going to limit the time they spend playing video games.

[Carlos 0]

The music was also very good. So good, in fact, that many orchestral versions of it have been made. The composer was Nobuo Uematsu: ( http://www.nobuouematsu.com/ ). I still listen to his work to this day.

As a very delayed response to this, I have to heartily agree. I own both the Final Fantasy VII and VIII Soundtracks; both are enormously good, and enormously long (VII is 4.5 hours, VIII is 3.9 hours; so 8.4 hours total of sheer goodness! ) Nobuo Uematsu really is a startlingly impressive composer

Also: if you enjoy good video game music, Koji Kondo, the composer for the Legend of Zelda series, has produced numerous orchestrated soundtracks. I have the Ocarina of Time Orchestrated Soundtrack and it is absolutely beautiful

[PRN 0]

Thanks for the information, Carlos.

I'll look into Koji Kondo.

[dondigitalia 0]

I first played this game around the same time you did, Patrick. The Final Fantasy series has been my favorite for a very long time. With the exception of Final Fantasy X-2, which I didn't like at all, and 12, which I haven't played, every game in the series is a masterpiece.

For the past few years, I've been playing Final Fantasy XI Online, which is Square Enix's MMO spinoff from the series.