Summary
Given the historical nature of theFinal Fantasyseries, it’s easy to see why fans have high expectations for every title in the series. Some of these JRPGs do justice to the franchise’s reputation, while others buckle under the weight of these expectations.
Along with this, there are rare instances wheresomeFinal Fantasygames end up surpassing all expectationsto become incredible titles that fans will have a great time with. These games should be celebrated because of their special nature and serve as an example to future titles in the genre that should also aspire to exceed expectations.
It’s a testament to the quality ofFinal Fantasy 10that this title somehow managed to surpass the exceedingly high expectations that fans had. SquareSoft needed to make a splash in the sixth generation of consoles, andFinal Fantasy 10was a resounding success.
The snappy turn-based combat and a story for the ages had turned it into the greatestFinal Fantasygame in the eyes of many, which is no mean feat. It’s also considered the peak of the series, since the franchise has struggled to find its identity ever since following the merger with Enix.
The much-maligned previews toStranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Originleft expectations criminally low for this title. The constant mentions of Chaos, coupled with what looked like uninspired combat, didn’t inspire confidence in this title at all.
Team Ninja took this as a challengeand released what is one of the best real-time combat systems fans can get their hands on. The robust job system keeps movesets fresh and engaging, while the refreshing twist on the narrative of the first game is a love letter to fans who harbor a deep love for this series.
Final Fantasyspinoffs have a pretty mixed reputation, but the series was still riding high on a wave of success back whenFinal Fantasy Tacticswas announced. Fans were worried about the switch to the turn-based strategy genre, but Yasumi Matsuno silenced critics withhis brilliant approach to combat design.
His expertise withTactics Ogrewent a long way in makingFinal Fantasy Tacticsone of the games in the franchise, spinoff or otherwise. The rich worldbuilding of Ivalice, the title’s compelling storytelling, and an intricate combat system ensured the runaway success ofFinal Fantasy Tacticsfar beyond what fans suspected.
It was easy to look atCrisis Coreas a shameless way to cash in on the hype ofFinal Fantasy 7, but these fans didn’t know about Hajime Tabata and his skill as a designer. He wasted no time in crafting a prequel that took on a real-time action approach andlet fans control Zack Fair, a character integral to Cloud’s growth in the series.
The story introduces several familiar and new characters while expanding on the lore of the series. All of this culminates in a tearjerking ending that madeCrisis Core: Final Fantasy 7a must-play and helped it stand miles ahead of the poorly-receivedDirge of Cerberus.
It’s easy to look atFinal Fantasyspin-offs with a bit of hesitation, which is why fans didn’t know how to react toType-0. It didn’t help that the game was set in the same universe asFinal Fantasy 13and only received a Japanese release.
It wasn’t until the release ofType-0 HDthat Western fans got to enjoy another incredibleFinal Fantasygame with Hajime Tabata’s fingerprints all over it. The action combat was simple yet satisfying, the large number of playable characters was fun to control, and the story had many emotional highs & lows that will leave fans crying at the end of a magical adventure.
Dissidia Final Fantasyis a fighting game that seemed a bit too ambitious for its own good. However, all players needed to do was interact with the combat system for a few fights to understand why this title became an instant classic in the eyes of many.
The combination of Bravery and HP attacks added a unique flair to the combat system. This, coupled with some amazing fan service that didn’t seem too cheap, makes bothDissidiaand the012expansion two of the bestFinal Fantasyfighting games on the PSP.
Final Fantasy’s amazing compositions make it perfect for a rhythm game. Still, expectations were tepid at best forTheatrhythm Final Fantasy, only for the game to let fans enjoy one of the most polished and charming games around.
It was a highlight on the 3DS and a title that more fans should check out ifthey love quality rhythm games. It’s easy to see why moreTheatrhythmgames were greenlit following this title’s success, allowingFinal Fantasyveterans to enjoy quality bits of fan service that weren’t cheap or phoned in at all.
The overly cute aesthetic ofWorld of Final Fantasymade it feel like a throwaway game in the eyes of many. However, it was only a given that a turn-basedFinal Fantasygame would have a unique mechanic to make combat feel fresh and engaging.
Stacking monsters to buff the partymade for a simple yet great way to refine the combat system. The charming aesthetics added to the feel-good nature of the experience, to the point where most players didn’t mind the slightly slow pace of the gameplay.
