Final Fantasy (1987-)

• Developer: Square

• Publisher: Square

• Genre: Role Playing

• Designer: Hiromichi Tanaka,

  Akitoshi Kawazu,

  Koichi Ishii

• Composer: Nobuo Uematsu

Final Fantasy for the NES is a role-playing game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) in 1987 in Japan and 1990 in North America. It was created by Hironobu Sakaguchi as a fresh start for the company, following several commercial failures, and the title itself reflected Sakaguchi’s intention to make it his “final” game if it failed. The game was originally released on the Famicom in Japan and later ported to the NES for North American audiences. Over the years, it has been re-released on multiple platforms including the Game Boy Advance, PlayStation, and mobile devices, cementing its legacy as the start of one of the most enduring and influential RPG franchises in video game history.

The game’s story centers on four young Warriors of Light who embark on a quest to restore balance to the world by recovering four elemental crystals that have been darkened by evil forces. The narrative draws inspiration from high fantasy literature, including Western fantasy novels and role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, which influenced the party-based system and turn-based combat mechanics. The world of Final Fantasy includes diverse environments like forests, mountains, dungeons, and towns, each populated with townsfolk, enemies, and hidden treasures, creating a sense of adventure and exploration.

Gameplay features include turn-based battles, character classes such as Fighter, Thief, Black Belt, Red Mage, White Mage, and Black Mage, and an experience-based leveling system. Players manage inventory, equip weapons and armor, and utilize magic to overcome increasingly difficult enemies. Exploration is conducted via an overhead world map and dungeon screens, balancing strategy with the excitement of discovery. The soundtrack, composed by Nobuo Uematsu, is widely regarded as iconic, with memorable melodies that set the tone for exploration, combat, and storytelling, establishing Uematsu as a legendary video game composer.

Final Fantasy has no prequel, as it was the first game in the series, but it launched a franchise that has produced numerous direct sequels and spin-offs, including Final Fantasy II on the NES and many later entries across various platforms. Promotion for the NES release emphasized the game’s epic scope, intricate storyline, and innovative RPG mechanics, positioning it as a sophisticated alternative to simpler action titles. Reception was overwhelmingly positive, with critics and players praising its engaging combat, deep story, and expansive world, and the game is now recognized as a cornerstone of the role-playing genre and a landmark in video game history.

Images from MobyGames