Gaming Final Fantasy Origins Impressions

[Semjaza]

Now first of all this game [b]is not out yet[/b]. How did I get it? Let's just say I'm special :). Don't bother hunting it out at the store just yet!

I'm going to try to avoid writing super long winded impressions (ala Dark Cloud 2) and just get down to the new and fixed up stuff.

In Japan Bandai had a system called Wonderswan Color. It was meant to compete with the Gameboy, but just recently Bandai said they were giving up on it (Square is releasing FF3 on it anyway). Square did ports of FF and FF2 from the Famicom (NES), but fixed up the graphics.

Origins is a port of these with some new additions... As such the graphics aren't amazing. They are certainly better than the NES games, but I don't think they are much better than FF4's graphics. There has been some FMV added, but like Chronicles it only is used before you start the game, and never again. Still, it looks rather nice.

I'll divide my thoughts into each game. The main menu just lets you pick FF1 or FF2 and is nothing special.

[u][b][i]Final Fantasy[/b][/i][/u]

First of all, loading is NOT bad in this game. I complain about the loading in Chronicles constantly, and this game doesn't seem to have as much of a problem. Yay!

I don't know how many have played the original on the NES, but let's just say it's a pain in the *** to play through. Even I don't like dealing with its slow pace and rather difficult gameplay. However, lots of things have been fixed up that make it a lot more enjoyable.

When you start the game you get to choose your 4 character types like expected. It's basically the same except for two things.

1.) You are allowed 6 characters for your name instead of 4 like in the original.
2.) The Black Belt is now called a Monk.

Then the game starts.

First thing you'll notice are the graphics. They are very familiar, but still much better. Of course they are still rather dated, and like I said barely beat FF4 (if even that). The colors seem a bit darker than I would have liked as well.

The second thing is the sound. The sound was reworked for the PSX versions compared to the Wonderswan Color ones and it's freaking excellent. I loved the music in the original game, and it almost sounds orchestrated in this game. If it's midi I'll be really surprised, because in that sense it sounds far better than the other PSX FF games which were obviously midi. The town theme seems to be played on a real guitar too, which was cool.

As you'll notice when you meet the King, the important characters have a bit more animation then they used to. There are now little emoticons that characters show when something happens, and they even show the King their crystals when he asks.

Upon entering Cornelia I noticed a few other things that I was happy about. The translation is very simliar which is nice for nostalgia, but still noticably improved. The layout is exactly the same though.

When buying weapons it shows you in an obvious way who can use what, and whether or not it will benefit you. The BIGGEST improvement is being able to order more than one thing at a time... Even in the item shop. The original would only let you buy one potion at a time, despite you being able to hold tons and it was a big pain. Now you can just get as many as you like, just as in the other FFs. I was extremely happy about this.

There is also a new option in your menu called "Memo." IT basically lets you save anywhere, which is great. It's not a real save though... as when you load it, it will be deleted. It's just meant as a safety.

And the BEST BEST thing? If you tell all your characters to attack the same monster, they won't keep attacking it even after it dies. This is great, as that was my biggest problem with the original! Lets all say yay for Square!

In fights, the game uses different sprites for some reason. They are still super-deformed, but are a not as cartoony and are quite a bit more beefed up. They are simliar to those in FF6 I suppose. The backgrounds are a lot better thankfully.

There are also apparently lots of extra things to unlock, much like Chronicles, where each game had an art gallery and such. From the looks of it, these games have far more though.

The game also has an Easy Mode, but I've not tried it. I've heard i was babyishly simple though.

[u][b][i]Final Fantasy 2[/b][/i][/u]

I've not played this that much yet. I have played some of the ROM so I know a bit about it.

Same deal with sound and graphics. The biggest difference with this over the first is that there is actually character interaction and it is done well enough without tons of sappy drama to ruin it.

It has the Memo option and all that as well. You don't get to create your own characters, but you start with 4 and are allowed to name them whatever you please. They all have nice little Amano art in the menus :). The fights and options and controls and everything else are basically the same as in the FF stuff I wrote.

The other cool addition that this has over the first FF (it was in the original Famicom version, but still neat) is that if an important character says something of importance, you can pick "Memorize" from a menu. From then on you can choose "Ask" when you talk to someone to get more information on it. It gives the game a nice little touch I think. There is also an "Item" option as well. I wouldn't mind this returning in the new FF games personally.
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Last thing to mention is that the game uses the vibration of the dual shock, but sadly not the sticks.

Overall, I think it's worth getting if you want to know where the series started. Many may be turned off by FF's lack of character development and unrelenting dungeons at times... But FF2 is far better and stood the test of time rather well. I'd say it's worth the $30 it will retail for just for that game.

[Guest Zeh]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Semji [/i]
[B]The second thing is the sound. The sound was reworked for the PSX versions compared to the Wonderswan Color ones and it's freaking excellent. I loved the music in the original game, and it almost sounds orchestrated in this game. If it's midi I'll be really surprised, because in that sense it sounds far better than the other PSX FF games which were obviously midi. The town theme seems to be played on a real guitar too, which was cool.[/B][/QUOTE]

[color=003399]FF's music is by far my favorite (game) music, apart from CT, of course.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Semji [/i]
[B]Lets all say yay for Square![/B][/QUOTE]

[color=003399]yay!!!


Seriously though, how'd you get it? I didn't think they'd beta test it or anything....

I have my clock set for April 8th, and the money too.... i really can't wait.[/color]

[Semjaza]

I'm surprised no one else really cares lol. I've played more of the game, so if you have some specific question just ask it.

[Guest Zeh]

[color=003399]maybe nobody wants to read that much o_O ([size=1]silly people...[/size])

But i do have a question about FF2, are the characters already set classes, or can you change them? [/color]

[Nerdsy]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Semjaza Azazel [/i]
[B]I'm surprised no one else really cares lol. [/B][/QUOTE]

[COLOR=deeppink]Well, what exactly is there to say? :P


I'm really only curious about the small story that pops up at the beginning of FFI, when you first cross the bridge. Is it possible to skip that in Origins? I always found that annoying.[/COLOR]

[Semjaza]

Well, we manage to talk about games none of us has. I thought it would be nice for once to talk about a game that one of us has some experience with. It's not as if no one here is interested in this game. Hell, I'm sure most of you won't get to play it til it releases in April at the earliest heh.

Now that I'm farther in the game, it's obvious much of the music is midi. The town theme still doesn't seem like it though. Regardless, the music is quite good.

There is also a clock and a step counter in the menus, just like FF6. Money is now referred to as Gil, instead of Gold.

In FF1, f you cast a spell on a party member, and they die before it's cast... It will be cast on their dead body. Cure is an example of this. I mention it only because I don't remember this being the case in the newer games.

Some monster names are different from what I remember too.

One last thing I noticed. Holding down Circle lets you run now. Walking is not a pain like it used to be heh. Doesn't work on the map though.

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Tasis - In FF2, there doesn't seem to be a class system. At least at the start. The characters are specific things and look specific ways. All you can do is change their names... If there is a way to change their abilities later in the game, I do not know yet.

Nerdsy - That little scene is still in the game, and no you cannot skip it. I always liked it though, because I feel that's the best song in the series :)

[Nerdsy]

[COLOR=deeppink]I have a few more questions about FF1. Nothing to big, you pretty much answered most of the questions I would have in your first post.


Is there a System File, like they had in FF6 and Chrono Trigger, in either FF1 ir FF2?

Are either games two player?


I think I had another question, but I don't remember it.[/COLOR]

[Semjaza]

I have no idea what you mean by system file, as I own the SNES versions of both of those games... so I never bothered playing much of the PSX versions (which had horrible loading that I couldn't deal with).

If you could tell me what it is... I'll check.

Neither of the games seem to have that two player battle option like FF6 did from what I've seen so far.

[Nerdsy]

[COLOR=deeppink]Well, a System File is a thing where you can veiw extras from the game, like Cinemas, Music, or a Beastiary. Something like that.

EDIT: Oh, yeah, and you get it after you beat the game.[/COLOR]

[Semjaza]

Ah. I know what you're talking about now.

It seems to be set up differently in this game. When you go into Config in the menu, you can select Collection. I'm playing FF2 right now, and the 3 selections in there are Bestiary, Item Collection and Art Gallery.

The Bestiary is useful for obvious reasons. Item collection itself is rather useful too, because it lets you see how many items are hidden in each town, how many you've found and what they were.

They seem to fill up as you find things... so the bestiary is added to everytime you fight a new monster, and so on.

Few other things... The loading is now officially getting on my nerves. If you could handle the loading of FF6 on PSX, then you'll be fine. I personally can't lol.