A Collection of old writing about Final Fantasy

Writtern on ‎Tuesday, ‎December ‎8, ‎2009, ‏‎12:01:12 PM



On December 18th, 1987, Squaresoft released as their swansong for their company, "Final Fantasy".
20 years later it is THE name in Role Playing Games.
Some could argue that Dragon Quest is better in that it's the top RPG in Japan
But when you talk to anyone around the world about RPGs, the first to come to mind is Final Fantasy
To date there have been 12 instalments in the main series, including an Massively Multiplayer Online RPG
2 sub-series known as Crystal Chronicles & Kingdom Hearts
3 Expansion Projects known as Fabula Nova Crystalis, The Ivalice Alliance, & Compilation of Final Fantasy VII
Multiple remakes from Updated Graphics, Portablzation, to full on 3D
Multiple Manga Adaptations, a web comic, Original Video Animations, a full Anime Season, and two Full Leangth Feature Films
Over 1000 tracks of it's music and hundreds of fan remixes
Basically, Final Fantasy is the biggest current multi medium Video Game Franchise in history as it continues to expand


Now based off that intro you'd think that I'm a huge fanboy.
Truth is that, I have critizisms against it as well.
I don't like every Final Fantasy product out there
So let's go at it piece by piece, with each product.
Seeing as it's important for some to know, I'd like to note that my first Five FF games I played were FFVI, FFMQ, FFI, FFIV, & FFVII. But my first RPG was Shining Force
I have not played or read everything Final Fantasy, but I will still give an exerpt of my thoughts on it anyway.
I'd also like to note that I'm being honest by saying
I'm not that very good at video games because of my aphasia where my brain can't communicate as fast or cohearent as I'd like
Oh by the way, EXPECT SPOILERS ON EVERYTHING


Final Fantasy I
I had actualy not gotten far in this game untill this year when I took a serious stab at it.
I first played it when I was about 11-12 so around 1996-97 at my cousin's house and couldn't for the life of me figure it out.
I had gotten the Final Fantasy Origins remake to help complete my collection taking a few tries here and there.
This year though I took a true effort into it.
This game is actualy fun with the charge system and I think should be implimented again in a future handheld instalment in a FF game
The Monster Hotspots also provide challenge as you could face certain bosses multiple times if you wanted or were unaware
I'm always a sucker for Time travel and Garland's story revolves around that, bringing in a time paradox.
FFI does a good job implimenting a story involving 4 no name heroes with no backstory, so really the main story is either your own narritive outside the game or Garland's story
Final Fantasy I is deffinetly something all FF fans should try once
By the way for those wanting to know my group was
Warrior: Biggs
Warrior: Wedge
White Mage: Shiro
Black Mage: Kuro
I named the Warrior Twins after the Post-FF6 reacurring charecters
I was gonna name my White Mage Cid in honor of the famous Final Fantasy A+ Flash Animation but they already added a Cid in the game as the one who built the Airship. So I named it after the Japanese word for White
I finally named my Black mage after the Black Mage in the Final Fighting Fantasy Flash Series. Which they named it after the Japanese word for Black.


Final Fantasy II
This is a game I have not completed, but I have gotten halfway through
This game is deffinetly the Black Sheep of the entire Franchise, moreso than Mystic Quest and this is mainly because of the leveling system which is based on cause and effect.
To get an understanding, here's an example:
If you attack with a sword, your proficiantcy in using a sword is incressed
If you use Magic, your intelligence incresses
If your really low on health, it'll cost more to rest in a inn.
This is also the beggining in FF of cut scenes, temporary party members, and death of party members
The destruction of the dreadnought is a great moment in the game
The Party member that I remember most fondly is Josef, A family man who sacrifices himself to help stop the empire leaving behind his family without a father
The main Theme (the song that plays on the overworld) is also in my opinion the most deep track ever made in FF's history
Also, Gordon sucks as a fighter


Final Fantasy III
I have only demoed the Famicom version of the game and have not played the DS Remake
This is where we see the pattern to come in future instalments of FF in it's 3 Game Cycle
the first game where they put out the first game on a new system and is generaly the most liked initaly in the 3 Game Cycle with an exception (FFI, FFIV, FFVII, FFX)
The second game where they try out new things, it is generaly the least liked in the 3 Game Cycle again with an exception (FFII, FFV, FFVIII, FFXI)
The third is where they combine the previous two and make a very exceptional game pushing the power of the console to the max as the console breaths it's last breath, it's popularity in the 3 Game Cycle is varied (FFIII, FFVI, FFIX, FFXII)
FFIII takes the job system in FFI and the story progression of FFII and creates a great game in the series
The Multiple Job system makes the game fully customizable making the Famicom version like FFI where you either make your own backstory or rely on the NPC's stories around you.
The DS version though aparently adds a lot to the story with plotlines for the the now named Main Party
The idea of the balence of good and evil and the neccesity of that balence makes for a great thought provoking story and a great source for fanfiction using that element of a story, most notably the Final Fighting Fantasy Flash Series uses this story element and combines it with Ninja Movie action


Final Fantasy IV
I finaly beat this game, this year. Long treck too with my save being first started in 2001.
Restarting the 3 Game cycle with a new system and in the US a wrong name, IV takes the new found power in Audio and visual and creates a great narative much in line of the previous FFII.
This is also the only game in the series to have a maximum party of 5, and in the GBA remake an available party of 10
The Active Time Battle System is introduced here and it becomes the trademark of Final Fantasy's Fighting System with it even being implimented into current MMORPGs
The story's great too, and it starts to show why video games are a better medium at telling a story than movies are by having well over the normal run time of a movie in gameplay. Even if you were to combine the three Lord of the Rings Movies in their extended Editions it would only equal out to about 12 hours which is miniscule compared to the 40 hours of gameplay in mondern RPGs
The main difference other than gameplay is it's pacing, allowing the player to inact his/her own scenes in their mind that coincide with the game and make it plausible in those level building times.
For example, a conversation that a party would have by campfire and the relationship building from that, coinsiding with the fact that you used a tent and saved your game.
Alo, the Celectic Moon CD is the best soundtrack release in FFIV's library
This game truely was the mark of things to come in Final Fantasy and you should definetly check out the upcoming DS Remake


Final Fantasy IV: The After - Return to the Moon
This was just recently announced. (I found out after I wrote all this)
It will be for Mobile Phones only and apparently it will involve the decendent of Cecil, Theodore.


Final Fantasy V
I beat the Fanlated version of the game and I eventualy want to get the handheld version
This is also my #3 favorite Final Fantasy Game of all time
Cooperative with my love of Time Travel stories are Multi Dimensional Stories and this game does it well
The Job system is perfected here and all other FF games that use a job system draw from this game the most. Most noteably, the Multi-Classing that took it's inspiration from D&D games that use Multi-Classing
This game is also great in that it provided the later Sprite Comic Community many outfits to draw ideas from for Sprite Customizing
This is also the start of the carear of the bane of old school only FF gamers, Tetsuya Nomura, who did some monster designs in this game and now is in charge of the entire FF Franchise
Yoshitaka Amano's best concept art in my opinion is for this game.
A lot of noteables in this game, as this is also the game that first has in FF Series history a long term party member die and cannot be revived, that being one of the original warriors of dawn, Gaulf.
The story is greatly presented and makes you care about the main 4 and with the aformentioned plot twist brings everything together in a neat package.


Final Fantasy V: Legend of the Crystals
This is where we deviate for a bit, I must make note here that I'm starting with the main series and it's ammendmums and then moving to the spinoffs, so sequals and compilations come first and I consider this 4 Part OVA a sequal.
This OVA was made by the Animation company Madhouse who also did Metropolis, Tokyo Godfathers, & Final Fantasy VII: Last Order.
They have a very discint style with fluid animations and works well with the Final Fantasy style in the same viegn as Nomura's Concept Art
I had first seen this as a rental from the suggestion of my sister, made a VHS copy and wore it out by playing it too many times as I loved this OVA. I eventualy got the VHS Box Set on eBay and made a Homebrew DVD Copy.
The use of the previous story while opening up the closed book, by putting it in 4 Parts closes it back up very nicely.
The refrences are used nicely (Sans the featherless Chocobos) and Mid making a Ghostly return along with Cid's gooey presence actualy never feels forced and makes sence within the universe.
All in all, this does a better job than Advent Children of building a story without making unnecisary plotholes.


Final Fantasy VI
The crecendo of the 1st half of the series and the best way to end the Revived Generation of Gaming as the Future of gaming is brighter
This is the culmination of all that was done previous, combining all the best qualities and creating the penultimate RPG for the time and some would argue of all time.
This is my Number 1 favorite Final Fantasy of all time, my like of it however does not coincide of what it is, as unlike the majority I look at things not as "My Favorite = The best there is and that's it" but I try my best to look at it objectivly and I will point out the faults
The game has the first and so far only Female Lead in FF history apparently untill FFXIII comes out.
There are 14 Main Playable Charecters and 15 more temporarily, each of the main party members have a part in the game that develops their backstory at least once and some will pluck your heartstrings.
But there is where some of the problems lies, because there are so many not everyone gets a fair shot and some leave a lot of their stories open, such as Shadow's and Relm's relationship.
The battle system is based on the Esper system, each Esper you get allows for the user to gain knowledge of magic when equiped. The problem is that you could have everyone know everything and makes the team seem like a bunch of "Copypasta Avatars", the saving grace though is that each charecter has a unique ability that is used for them only. Such as Sabin's Blitz, Umaro's Bezerk, GoGo's Mimic, or Terra's Morph.
The Finale is epic as well, with an around 30 min ending that doesn't close everything but leaves you satisfied.
Here's to hoping a 2D portable sequal.


Final Fantasy VI SGI
This was the 3D demo shown at Sigraph 96. I have seen it and in the YouTube age, you should have too.
This was unique in that the game was played with a mouse, which would make one think it would be a great Wii Shop Channel Download.
I personaly wouldn't want a 3D FFVI, I feel it's style just wouldn't be able to work in 3D. So if they do make a sequal I'd want it to be either a 2D Game or a OVA Adaptation done by Madhouse


Final Fantasy VII
I have not completed this game, only up to the Monster Wall. The game has been set as the Face of the franchise for so long that I know the story.
This is without a doubt, the most popular FF Game of all time. This however is on the lower tier of my favorite FF games, that doesn't mean I hate it though, in fact I enjoy the overall story. Plus One Winged Angel & Water are some of the best tracks in Final Fantasy
Some old school fans will point out that FF VII's story is very similar (Almost C&P) to FF VI in thus ripping it off. However every story has been retold many times, only the names change.
The thing that set it apart from the previous FFs is the abbandonment of the medival structure that FF hinged on since inception and put it in a Steampunk/Earth Sucking Future type setting and was certainly a great change of pace.
The Materia system took the elements before it and set it to a new style of having the Materia themselves gaining EXP unlocking abilities insted of having the party members gain powers individualy.
What sets FFVII apart from those previous was it's structure, it was able to put everything together to apeal to the mass audience and believe it or not old school fans but that is and should be the main goal for Square-Enix or any company over having a well structured story. It's what makes Transformers, Dragonball Z, & Naruto so popular.


Final Fantasy VII: Before Crisis
This is the Cell Phone Prequal to FFVII. I have not played this but have read parts of a fanlated script and plan to read it fully.
This game is about the beginings of the Turks and helps expand the individualy storylines that couldn't be fit in a normal game. Like Rude & Reno's past, Sephiroth's Legacy, and the such.
The gameplay is done in the style of turn based MP gameplay, much like the GBA rendition of FFI but with summons.
The detriment against it is that A: It's on Cell Phones only, and B: Japan Only. The only way it would work in the US is if it was an unlockable in a Square-Enix Game, and would be most likey the selling point.


Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core
I have not played this game, mainly because I don't have a PSP
This is an Action RPG that expands the story of Minor Major Charecter, Zack.
Sounds fun.


Final Fantasy VII: Last Order
This is an OVA done by the Animation Studio, Madhouse. Who also did the previous Final Fantasy V: Legend of the Crystals. I have seen this.
This OVA is about two flashbacks, the Neiblem Burning Inccident, and Zack & Cloud's Escape.
The animation is well done and shows why Madhouse is one of the best Animation Studios out there.
The problem is that though it does some Non-Cannon Retconning which is fixed in the Crisis Core game which was released later.
Overall though, more OVAs of FF should be done in this same style.


Ehrgeiz: God Bless The Ring
Not Officialy a FF game, but has numerous FFVII charecters. I have not played this game, but it being a fighting game without a story mode it doesn't matter.
Nothing really to add to the FFVII story unless it does get RetConned into the Compilation of FFVII then you can add the other Fighters into the FFVII World.


Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
The most successful Animation that Square-Enix has done, which isn't saying much considering the sales of the others. I have seen it at it was the driving force of me doing research on FF's story due to the confusing storyline in Advent Children.
Let me say this upfront, there's a reason they made the Reminence of Final Fantasy VII. Because anyone who has not played the game or done research would be completely lost.
The story does nothing to close any previous storylines and actualy makes more storylines left open. Great CG Animation though.
Also, "Dilly Dally Shilly Shally" is the worst line EVER


Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerebus
I have not played this game and have not reasearched the storyline, but from what I hear, I'm not missing much.
This is a 3rd person shooter starring Vincent, and so far is the last part in the FFVII storyline.
This game is notorius for having a bad engine, which is unfortunant.

Compilation of Final Fantasy VII
Overall of the Compilation. For fans of FFVII, they will enjoy it. For regualr FF fans, it's okay, everyone got their favorites and this might not be it.
The whole reason why FFVII was picked to do an expansion was becasue it was the most popular and also because Nomura who currently is heading Final Fantasy did the concept art for FFVII.
Let's hope they pay enough attention to the other games in the Main series as muchas they did this.


Final Fantasy VIII
I have not beaten this game, not even close to beating the first disk as the battle system is too annoying for me.
Having that preset in mind, know that I only have a general idea of what the story is about. But I must make note that I have seen the ending as I had pushed a friend to beat it while I was there since he didn't have to do anything except beat the final boss.
To my understanding this game was actualy made to appeal to fans of Anime High School dramas, and given the art direction and presentation, it's evident.
The Draw Battle System to some is one of the most annoying in the FF series, right next to FFII, and as said before was the stopping point for me.
I will say though the models, the artwork, the FMVs, & the music are great. In fact one of my favorite scenes in Final Fantasy happens in this game where you fight on the rope on this hover vehicle, save Rinoa, and see the grand battle scene on the ground in the background.


Final Fantasy IX
I have played this game and only got to the second disk before becoming too frustrated. Not a knock on the battle system, but the difficulty.
Considered the Black Sheep of the PS1 FF Family, for going with the Deformed style done previously. Which I guess is to be expected to be hated considering the impressive visuals we got in FFVIII.
This is also thought of as the Refrence FF Game as it constantly refrences previous FF games such as Cloud & Squall's names, Josef's story, & the Four Fiends.
That's mostly because it was originaly supposed to be a spinoff game and the next instalment (X) was supposed to be IX.
This game is in my opinion, the better of the PS1 FF Family. As in the 3 Game Cycle, it was able to take elements from VII & VIII and make a great game pushing the PS1 to it's limits.


Tetra Master
This is an online version of the Card Game in FFIX, I had previously played the prototype before the subscription fee.
Here's to hoping some intelligent person will make a flash version of the game.


Final Fantasy X
I have beaten this game and even went through the much hated Blitzball.
Restarting the cycle again, this time on the PS2 with the story and concept of the original FFIX.
The almsot seemless transitions of FMVs to Realtime was a big deal at the time as was the addition of VOs (Voice Overs).
The Battle System is well done and somewhat realistic by being able to use anyone on your team at the time but only able to fight with three at a time. The Summors system is well done as well
This game suffers though from the "Copypasta" syndrome with the Grid Experence system allowing anyone to learn anything, making the only thing serperating the party members are the weapons used, the overdrives, and their personalities/backstories.
The battle with Jecht near the end is very memorable. But the Final Boss is too easy with a Zombify weapon or power + Pheonix Down.
The ending closed things up nicly but it got cracked open again...


Final Fantasy X-2
I've beaten this game, but I don't really like this game that much.
Let's get the good out of the way. The game uses the Job system very well, plus as a fan of Tokusatsu I like the transformation sequences and that you can do it at anytime, even in battle. The fight song "YuRiPa Battle 1" is one of my favorite fighting themes.
However, it doesn't make up for the almsot complete RetCon of everything in the previous game and leaving so much more open. Yuna's personality is completely different and almost makes you think that it isn't Yuna at all (And that's partialy true) and it takes away from the likeability of the series.
The International Version also made the unprecidented cannon story in that FF VII's World & FF X's World are connected through the charecter of Shin-Ra. The story is that Shin-Ra after X-2 took the energy from the Farplanes and tried to make it a Power Source, he failed. His decendents later were able to make a spaceship and flew to FF VII's world and were able to use the Planet's Energy there and created a Company using that power and named it after the Pioneer in the technology, Shin-Ra.
The makes the idea that even though every installment in the FF Franchise is different, they are all in the same universe, just on different planets.


Final Fantasy XI
I haven't played this game, but have made a Homebrew VCD of AMVs, but I hope to get some playthrough footage sometime to put on a DVD.
I hope that eventualy there will be an easier and free way to play this game so everyone can enjoy. But I think an offline adaptation would be well suited in the style of FFI.
There is an official Webcomic being done and there have been numorus journals of people's adventures which is what this instalment is all about, the multiple people's individual stories.
I appuald though the dedication of the players in FFXI.


Final Fantasy Tactics
This game is too hard for me.
From what I've heard though I do apreciate the deep storyline.
What makes it hard is it's difficulty and leveling system which includes a Leveling Down ability.


Vagrant Story
This game was RetConned into the Final Fantasy family after the announcement of the Ivalice Alliance Project, making it the first non-FF game to be FF Cannon.
This is an Action RPG with a Weapon Customizing System, which is pretty cool.
I eventualy wanna try it


Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
I have beaten this game, 3 times fully through. This is my #2 favorite FF game of all time.
What bogged down FFT was simplified here, and while some may hate this game for that, it's what made the game for me. Some may also not like it for it not being a "True Sequal" to FFT, but they never said it was.
The use of the Jagds were most likely inspired by the Fire Emblem series. Where in FE, if one of your party members die, they die permanetly unless you restart the chapter. The Jagd Areas work the same way, in that if a party member dies and you didn't bring him back to life before the battle ends, he's gone. You can even do this with a Major Party member in Montblanc, all his lines will be subbed by the Pub Owner or another Minor Party Member.
This is also the first time where if you follow the story carefully, you are actualy playing the role of the antogonist the entire time, even if he has the greatest of intentions. Taking his friends out of paradise because it isn't real is such a dick move. But can really be explained with this picture.


Final Fantasy XII
This game's Battle System is venomly hated by most FF Fans for it going MMO insted of the old system.
This game pushes the power of the PS2 to the extreme, creating someof the best looking Realtime graphics ever. The Voice Acting is tremendos and really adds to the feel of the game.
Concluding the 2nd Chapter of Final Fantasy itslef, it went out on a high note and I look foward to playing it.


Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
This is the sequal to FFXII and is the first time that FF uses the RTS system that gained great popularity on PC and looks like it works well with the touch screen.
This is also the first time that a sequal is cross-companied of having the Prequal FFXII on a Sony system and the sequal on a Nintendo System.


Final Fantasy Tactics A2
This will be the sequal to FFTA and will be set behind FFXII in terms of timeline.
Supposedly it follows the system from the original FFTA.


Ivalice Alliance
Overall IMO, this is a better project than Comp of FFVII. As it involves seperate stories that are now being woven together, which is much better than trying to expand an already established storyline.


Final Fantasy XIII
Boo for promoted as Real Time Engine when really it's just a prerendered cutscene.
Yay for having something different by having a female lead.


Final Fantasy Verses XIII
This is supposedly gonna be a more realistic version of Kingdom Hearts with some elements of a third-person shooter similar to Dirge of Cerberus.
Also this will be the darkest Final Fantasy yet, apparently.


Final Fantasy Agito XIII
This will be on Mobile Phones only.
Boo, you could at least pretend to care about the International audience S-E, we like having a complete story too.


Fabula Nova Crystallis
This may be the best project as it's set from the begining as being connected so there should be no plotholes (Let's Hope). Also due to the sales of the PS3, S-E may eventualy port this series over to other consoles once the current Sony Contract ends.


Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
I gonna take a serious crack at this in 2008, I do have the GCN-GBA Link Cable and a GBA.
Because of the excusivity of S-E's contract with Sony, The big N just then at the time using discs insted of cartridges, and idea from a big wig. S-E made a short lived 2.5 Party Development studio to get around their contract and make this game for the Nintendo Gamecube.
The BGMs are great in this game with a real celtic flow giving the game an old time but familier feel. Renicance Fairs lovers will love this game for it's presentation.
Using a simple Mana system, this game gives more of a MMO Lite feel than anything else in terms of gameplay. The only thing keeping the game back from being big was the GBA Conectivity, it frankly would have been better if they made a pack in controler that had a GBA screen.


Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates
This will be a portable version of the CC style of gameplay using Nintendo's Wi-Fi Conectivity on the DS.


Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers
Supposedly gonna be a Single player version of the original CC gameplay on the Wii


Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Little King and the Promised Country
Will be the first big name for the Wii's Wii Ware Original Games with online play.
Will be aparently a contry-building simulation along the lines of Sim City


Crystal Chronicles
This is really the first time that a FF Gaiden game asivwere can legitimetly become a continuing series.
With 4 Instalments under it's belt, let's hope the CC series can continue on with a longevity as the Main Series.


Kingdom Hearts
Beat it. It's like Peanut Butter & Chocolate, who knew that S-E & Disney would mesh so well?
I had at one point gotten stuck at Cerebus but eventualy passed it. my most memorible fight was against the guy from Fantasia, great scene.
The Battle system was fine but the series is mainly a Button Masher Action RPG and I guess is the most successful one to date.


Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Demoed the game. This was the first GBA game to have full pre rendered FMVs, which was astonding at the time for a portable system.
This was also remade in 3D for the Final Mix release of KH2, which so far has been only released in japan, which is unfortunante and another cases of Japan Exclusivity, I certainly hope it doesn't take as long as it took for us to get FFIII.
This game also the first to be a Card System Button Mashing Action RPG or CSBMARPG.


Kingdom Hearts 2
Haven't played it but is said to have a great story and I have purposly avoided major spoilers to play it eventualy.


Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days
This game is part of the KH Mobile Trio with the other KH games below.
Pronounced as "Kingdom Hearts Three-Five-Eight Days over Two" this one will be on the Nintendo DS and will star Roxas during the time after Sora entered the deep sleep


Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep
As part of the afformentioned KH Mobile trio, this one will be on the PSP that focuses on Terra, Ven, and Aqua, characters introduced in Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix.


Kingdom Hearts: Coded
The last of the KH Mobile Trio for Mobile Phones that focuses on King Mickey


Kingdom Hearts Series
This series is starting to be touted as better than the main Series by some, which can be argued.
I hope that eventualy we'll start seeing more influences of Final Fantasy in future installments insted of mostly Disney.


Final Fantasy Unlimited
I had first seen this series in it's fansubbed form and loved the Voice Acting. I had eventualy gotten the Box Set from ADV Films and was severily dissapointed with some of the choices for the repeated lines in the series, especialy the Soul Gun Summonings.
It's unfortunate that it wasn't popular as I liked the presentation and even more unfortunate in that it's rarely known there was a PC game based on this series released in Japan and there is absolutely no info on the internet about it.


Chocobo Series
The series works for being a way to prototype some ideas for future instalments of the FF Series.


Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
I have beaten this game and I don't care what anyones says that this game is terrible, this is a great game with very simple gameplay and should not be shunned because of it.
This game also has my favorite fighting themes in any Final Fantasy. I prefer it in repeat listenings over One Winged Angel.
The "The End" screen is great too.


Final Fantasy The Spirits Within
I saw this in the Movie Theatre and believe it or not, I like this story over the entire Compilation of Final Fantasy VII. Flame Me if you want.
The music is great and sets the mood well, it should have gotten an award for breakthrough technology in application of movies. This came out before Shrek BTW.
Plus, who doesn't like Thriller.


Dissida Final Fantasy
This will be a fighting game in the same veign as the Super Smash Bros by taking various stars of the FF series and having them duel it out. Let's hope it does well enough for future instalments and hopefully a broader release than just the PSP.



I know these aren't officialy part of the series but they are so well done that they have to be mentioned

Final Fighting Fantasy
This is an Flash Animation Series by SplashKat that has been going on for 7 years And still has not finished due to real life responsibilities.
This series uses the same idea from FFIII of the need for balence between Good and Evil and the neccisty of that. So in turn, some good guys become bad guys and the two sides go at war to appease the World's need for balence.
This series only uses charecters from FFI-VII & one from Tactics. Also if a charecter had died in the game, they can't be used in the Series. Plus, there is only 1 Pheonix Down and that was already used.
FFF is famous for involving great animation with Trance Music, and it melds really well together setting the mood for the Chapters.
With only 2 more chapters to go, and installments coming within the window of years insted of months. Old fans have mostly moved on, but there are still fans coming back to the website every now and then to see if there's an update if the series will ever get finished.


Final Fantasy A+
This is possibly the greatest FF Flash in the short history of the Internet and Flash Animation. Done, humoresly enough, as a school project for his Japanese Language class.
The Flash takes FFI's presentation and choice of charecters, combined with the many reapearing faces of Final Fantasy. Such as Moogles, Chocobos, Summons, and more.
The names are clever too for the three protaginists. The Warrior Pensuke (Pen + Sasuke), the Black Mage Atticus (Abbacus), and the White Mage Cid (Gotta have a Cid).
No sequals, just a stand alone project. By the way, he got an A+ for the project.



Final Fantasy as a whole
As I stated in the begining, this is a very influential series that has helped mold many of the minds of the Console Gaming Generation.
While the quality has been very high to very low, from loved by many to hated by many, but it's all about if you enjoyed the game and cannot deny that Final Fantasy is one of the biggest names in gaming along the lines of Mario.