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Since its inception, the series has branched out into portable games, action spin-offs, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game, and even games for mobile phones. Originally, each new Final Fantasy game introduced to players an entirely new world, storyline, and set of characters. However, since Final Fantasy II the games have each shared a number of minor traits that fans have come to look for. For instance, there has always been a character named Cid, who is usually connected to flight, whether as a pilot or engineer (though he has also been known as a political figure from time to time). Chocobos appear frequently in most Final Fantasy stories, and are usually used as mounts for the player. The teddy bear-like moogle is also very common to Final Fantasy games.
More recently, Square Enix has begun to extend the most popular Final Fantasy games beyond their initial release. Characters from numerous Final Fantasy games have made appearances in games like Kingdom Hearts and Ehrgeiz. Several specific main series games have also received direct sequels or spin-offs which often occupy different genres. Final Fantasy X saw a sequel, the appropriately titled Final Fantasy X-2, which directly continued and concluded the original game's storyline. Meanwhile, the wildly popular Final Fantasy VII has seen numerous related releases, including the PSP action RPG Crisis Core, the PlayStation 2 third-person action game Dirge of Cerberus, and even a mobile game released only in Japan called Before Crisis. In a similar vein, the upcoming Final Fantasy XIII is already being planned not just as a sequel but an entire platform unto itself, with an action spin-off, Final Fantasy Versus XIII, and Final Fantasy Agito for the PSP.
The original NES/Famicom Final Fantasy introduced many of the common elements of console role-playing and helped popularize the genre in the late 1980s. Beyond the random battles and experience points typical to almost all RPGs, the first Final Fantasy laid down some aspects of the Final Fantasy franchise in particular that persisted throughout numerous subsequent installments. The story story takes place in a world where four elemental orbs control the forces of nature--earth, fire, wind, and water--but the orbs turn black and the forces go out of control. Four warriors come together to journey across the land in a quest to vanquish the monsters that have overrun the land and restore the orbs to their former splendor, saving the world form peril. Many Final Fantasy games have relied on these four elements as an essential device in their storylines.
Some of the most important games in the franchise have added specific new mechanics or storytelling techniques.
Square-Enix's most famous franchise is, despite the title, still going strong after more than 20 years.
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Sub-franchises:
Final Fantasy Tactics | Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles | Chocobo | Final Fantasy Fables | Compilation of Final Fantasy VII | Ivalice Alliance | Fabula Nova CrystallisRelated franchises:
Kingdom Hearts | Itadaki Street | Dragon Quest | ManaOverview
Final Fantasy is Square Enix's longest running and most popular role-playing franchise. First premiering on December 18, 1987 with the original Final Fantasy, it has only increased in popularity over the last 20 years. The first Final Fantasy was created by Hironobu Sakaguchi and was planned as a last-ditch attempt at success in the game industry (hence the title). Inspired by Enix's Dragon Warrior, he took the last of Square's money and developed the game. It sold 400,000 units, kicking off what has become one of the best-selling video game franchises in history. This series has had several spin-offs, some of which are Final Fantasy Adventure (which went on to become the Mana series), Final Fantasy Tactics, a series of turn-based strategy RPGs, and even several games starring the Final Fantasy mascot, the cute, ostrich-like chocobo.
FFI 20th Anniversary Edition
More recently, Square Enix has begun to extend the most popular Final Fantasy games beyond their initial release. Characters from numerous Final Fantasy games have made appearances in games like Kingdom Hearts and Ehrgeiz. Several specific main series games have also received direct sequels or spin-offs which often occupy different genres. Final Fantasy X saw a sequel, the appropriately titled Final Fantasy X-2, which directly continued and concluded the original game's storyline. Meanwhile, the wildly popular Final Fantasy VII has seen numerous related releases, including the PSP action RPG Crisis Core, the PlayStation 2 third-person action game Dirge of Cerberus, and even a mobile game released only in Japan called Before Crisis. In a similar vein, the upcoming Final Fantasy XIII is already being planned not just as a sequel but an entire platform unto itself, with an action spin-off, Final Fantasy Versus XIII, and Final Fantasy Agito for the PSP.
Final Fantasy I
Main article: Final FantasyThe original NES/Famicom Final Fantasy introduced many of the common elements of console role-playing and helped popularize the genre in the late 1980s. Beyond the random battles and experience points typical to almost all RPGs, the first Final Fantasy laid down some aspects of the Final Fantasy franchise in particular that persisted throughout numerous subsequent installments. The story story takes place in a world where four elemental orbs control the forces of nature--earth, fire, wind, and water--but the orbs turn black and the forces go out of control. Four warriors come together to journey across the land in a quest to vanquish the monsters that have overrun the land and restore the orbs to their former splendor, saving the world form peril. Many Final Fantasy games have relied on these four elements as an essential device in their storylines.
Notable Games
- Final Fantasy II introduced chocobos and Cid.
- Final Fantasy III implemented the job system (which lets party members learn special abilities associated with specific jobs), summoned monster attacks, and introduced the moogle.
- Final Fantasy IV debuted the " active time battle" system, which causes battles to proceed in a quasi-real-time fashion. Many other RPGs have adopted a form of the ATB.
- Final Fantasy V was the first game to introduce the trademark job system that would appear in multiple other final fantasy games.
- Final Fantasy VI was the first in the series to have more characters than the player could fit in their party, and introduced a number of radical jobs for each individual character. It's often argued that this is among the best in the series.
- Final Fantasy VII was the first game to use 3D character models, pre-rendered backgrounds, and lavishly produced CG movies.
- Final Fantasy VIII took the series in a radical new direction, essentially eliminating the need for shops, and introducing the Junction system.
- Final Fantasy IX was a "return to form" for the series, going back to series roots.
- Final Fantasy X introduced fully 3D real-time backgrounds and character voice acting.
- Final Fantasy X-2 was the first direct sequel in the series.
- Final Fantasy XI was the first and so far only MMORPG in the series, and still enjoys a modest playerbase today.
- Final Fantasy XII is so far the only main series game to take place in a previously established world (that of Final Fantasy Tactics' Ivalice).
- Final Fantasy XIII is latest upcoming installment in the series, being its first single-player focused entry to see release on a Microsoft console.
- Final Fantasy XIV is the upcoming successor to Final Fantasy XI as the second massively multiplayer title in the series.
Final Fantasy games
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| Name: | Final Fantasy |
| Total games: | 68 games |
| First game: | Final Fantasy |
| Aliases: | FF |
Favorite Franchise's
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Favorite Franchises
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a list of 3 items by JeanM
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Leviathan first in Final Fantasy II |
22
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Bahamut first in Final Fantasy |
22
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Ifrit first in Final Fantasy III |
21
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Odin first in Digital Devil Monogatari: Megami Tensei |
17
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Shiva first in Final Fantasy III |
16
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Carbuncle first in Final Fantasy III |
15
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Cloud Strife first in Final Fantasy VII |
14
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Omega Weapon first in Final Fantasy V |
13
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Ixion |
11
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Sephiroth first in Final Fantasy VII |
9
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| See all » |
