Final Fantasy I and II (compilations)
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| Final Fantasy I•II | |
|---|---|
 Famicom boxart |
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| Developer(s) | SquareSoft TOSE (PS and GBA)[citation needed] |
| Publisher(s) | JP Square Co. (Famicom) JP Square Co. (PS) PAL Infogrames (PS) NA Square Enix (PS) Nintendo (GBA) |
| Series | Final Fantasy series |
| Platform(s) | Famicom, PlayStation, Game Boy Advance |
| Release date | JP February 27, 1994 (Famicom) JP October 31, 2002 (PS) PAL March 14, 2003 (PS1) NA April 8, 2003 (PS) JP July 29, 2004 (GBA) NA November 29, 2004 (GBA) PAL December 3, 2004 (GBA) |
| Genre(s) | Role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | PS: ESRB: T (Teen) OFLC: G8+ ELSPA: 11+ GBA: ESRB: E (Everyone) USK: Free for all OFLC: G8+ PEGI: 3+ |
| Media | JP 4 megabit cartridge (Famicom) JPPAL2x CD-ROM (PS1) NA 1x CD-ROM (PS) 128 megabit cartridge (GBA) |
SquareSoft's seminal console role-playing games, Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II have been rereleased several times in collective works which include both games.
Final Fantasy I•II is a compilation of two Square Co. console role-playing games for the Nintendo Family Computer: Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II. As both games had originally appeared on the Famicom, there were few substantial changes between the originals and the compilation versions. Final Fantasy I–II was the last cartridge Square released for the Famicom, in early 1994, and was released in a limited edition box including various bonuses, such as maps and hint books. The compilation was never officially released outside of Japan.
PlayStation versions of the two games were released in Japan in 2002 by Square. Each game was either sold separately, or combined in the form of the Final Fantasy I & II Premium Package (ファイナルファンタジーI・II プレミアムパッケージ Fainaru Fantajī Wan Tsū Puremiamu Pakkēji?), a special edition collection which included both games as well as three collector's figurines. This collection, without the special packaging and figurines, was next published as Final Fantasy Origins in Europe by Infogrames in 2003. Later in the same year, the two games were combined onto one disc and released in North America by Square Enix under the same name. It was the first time either game had been officially released in Europe, and the first time Final Fantasy II had been officially released in North America.
The PlayStation remakes were later put onto the same cartridge when they were ported to the Game Boy Advance as Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls (known as Final Fantasy I + II Advance (ファイナルファンタジーI・IIアドバンス Fainaru Fantajī Wan Tsū Adobansu?) in Japan). The port featured similar graphics / sound to the Playstation version (though slightly inferior due to the Game Boy Advance's capabilities). The Game Boy Advance version of Final Fantasy contains four extra dungeons featuring bosses from later Final Fantasy titles, plus a few gameplay tweaks (including an MP system and easier difficulty setting). This version of Final Fantasy II included an extra side-story after finishing the game but the overall gameplay was not altered from the PlayStation version.
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[edit] Changes and additions
[edit] Famicom
As Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II had originally been released for the Nintendo Entertainment System, very few changes were rendered from the original releases in the compilation version: a typographical error was corrected in Final Fantasy and two monster designs were subtly altered in Final Fantasy II. The first game basically borrows almost all of the graphical changes made to the English version (most notably the monsters "Beholder" and "Medusa", which use the altered sprite in subsequent remakes).
[edit] PlayStation
The PlayStation versions of the game were most similar to the WonderSwan Color remakes that were produced separately in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Other than minor changes to take advantage of Sony's superior hardware, such as a higher screen resolution which meant that the graphics in the PlayStation version were slightly more detailed, and the remixed soundtracks, the PlayStation versions were basically identical to the earlier WonderSwan versions. Both games have added CGI FMV cut scenes, and added content. It also includes art galleries of Yoshitaka Amano's illustrations.
As for the tomb at Elfheim (or Elf Land on the NES version), the tomb reads "Here lies Erdrick" on the American NES version of Final Fantasy I, a reference to the Dragon Warrior game. It reads "May Link rest in peace," on the American Final Fantasy Origins (reference to the hero of the Legend of Zelda series). It reads "May Erdrick rest in peace," on the PAL Final Fantasy Origins version. (Interestingly, the text referencing Link was only slightly changed in Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn Of Souls, even though that version was made for a Nintendo system. In the Dawn of Souls and PSP versions, it reads "Here lies Link.")
While the original version of Final Fantasy I has only one save slot and the WonderSwan Color version has only eight, the Final Fantasy Origins and PlayStation Portable versions have as many save slots as the player has available through PlayStation memory cards. The GBA version only has three save slots.
[edit] Game Boy Advance
Both games were faithful in content to the original NES versions, and the package, while graphically similar to the WonderSwan Color adaptation of the first game, also contains the Bestiary feature, which allowed the player to view images and statistics of enemies that they had defeated in both games, and which first featured in the PlayStation package.
However, the package lacked the ability to choose between easy and normal games as was available in Final Fantasy Origins, although not in the original. Many reviewers complained that the first game appeared to default to "easy", making the heroes level-up much more easily and rendering enemies much easier to defeat, especially in comparison with the NES original. Many items were cheaper, the party began with more money, and defeating enemies brought greater rewards. Others praised the reduced difficulty level, saying that the high difficulty level (especially in comparison to later titles) was its primary weakness. In Final Fantasy II, magic degrading as physical strength grew and vice versa was removed; unlike the changes to Final Fantasy I however this was generally better received among players. Another thing that was added to both games is the ability to save the game at any point out of battle, and later resume from that same point, while the originals only allowed this under certain conditions. This was not a feature in Final Fantasy Origins or the original versions of the games. One detrimental change of the game however, is that while in the NES version of the game there were two Blood Swords, there is only one in the GBA remake.
Final Fantasy I also featured four extra dungeons known as the "Soul of Chaos" dungeons. These dungeons are accessible by restoring power to the Crystals by defeating each of the Elemental Fiends; the death of each Fiend unlocks a dungeon terminating in a selection of four bosses each from Final Fantasy III, IV, V, and VI.
Final Fantasy II featured a completely original feature found in none of the previous remakes. Once completed, a bonus storyline entitled Soul of Rebirth would be accessible to the player, featuring a number of characters who had been killed off during the course of the main story. The game only features four areas and most of the time will be spent training up for a second encounter with the last boss. An Ultima tome can be achieved but it requires the killing of the extremely powerful Ultima Weapon.
Additionally, the airship parts in both use Mode 7.
[edit] Audio
The soundtracks of the PlayStation compilation have been enhanced to Final Fantasy IX quality from their original NES or WonderSwan Color representations. The games have both undergone gameplay streamlining. The Final Fantasy Origins versions of Final Fantasy I and Final Fantasy II are based on the Bandai WonderSwan Color versions. The upgraded soundtrack for Final Fantasy I was arranged by Nobuo Uematsu, while the upgraded soundtrack for Final Fantasy II was arranged by Tsuyoshi Sekito, the music composer for Brave Fencer Musashi. The tune "Battle Scene 3" from the original Final Fantasy II has been removed for the remakes. Instead, a new boss fight song is present. The soundtrack for the Game Boy Advance version is essentially the same as the PlayStation version.
[edit] Reception and criticism
Most reviewers applauded Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls as one of the most successful retro packs of recent years, lauding the enhanced graphics, features and gameplay.[1] Others believed that the games had aged badly and listed the changes in difficulty as a major weakness of the package. GameSpot awarded the package 7.2 out of 10, stating that "though each game is showing its age a bit, the combined package is still worthwhile for old-school RPG fans and patient neophytes."[1] It was rated the 76th best game made on a Nintendo System in Nintendo Powers Top 200 Games list.[2] IGN rated the game at 8.5, saying that the games play "brilliantly" even years after their initial release.[3] Gamespy called the gameplay "primitive" by Gameboy Advance standards, but held up remarkably well and was still lots of fun.[4] The Playstation release was given a 9.0, or "Outstanding", citing the extensive improvements made to the games and the many new options added to them. [5]
[edit] References
- ^ Bethany Massimilla (December 1st, 2004). Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls. gamespot.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-10.
- ^ “NP Top 200”, Nintendo Power 200: 58-66, February 2006.
- ^ Jeremy Dunham (November 30th, 2004). Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-02-10.
- ^ Darryl Vassar (December 1st, 2004). Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls (GBA). Gamespy. Retrieved on 2008-02-10.
- ^ Jeremy Dunham (April 15th, 2003). Final Fantasy Origins. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-02-10.
[edit] External links
- Final Fantasy Origins official site
- Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls official site
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