Series Final Fantasy – The flagship of the publisher Square Enix and Jrpg genre in general. Her story is very diverse: at first, every new part represented the new world and plot; Then, in the zero, a series of sequels and spin-offs went. Now the drought period has come: over the past five years, only one failure game and one large RPG has come outside of mobile phones – and that remake. Square Enix decided to score an empty release schedule of all varieties with remasters: improved versions of parts from the 7th to the 12th, and even niche, came out on all platforms Crystal Chronicles Updated the support of the online. Having finished three-dimensional releases, Square Enix took up two-dimensional classics: some parts were previously reprinted, but some were converted into 3D, while others had a catastrophically ugly picture. Within the framework of the collection Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster , The currently published on PC and mobile devices, all six classical issues finally acquired a single type and set of features – but at the same time lost the content that was present in earlier reprints.
Let's first talk about what unites all parts of the remister. Firstly, this, of course, is graphics made in fundamentally large pixels without smoothing. Kazuko Sybuya was responsible for the art design-it was she who adapted the arts of Yositaki Acamo into the spindle of low resolution from the first part of the series. The characters look completely peanuts, but they have minimal expressiveness; The scenery was noticeably prettier, especially combat. Remaster developers tried to preserve the pixel style of the original sources, but the technical restrictions on the old platforms did not restrain them anymore, so the picture turned out to be modest, but not quite primitive. However, not everyone will like pixel art in general: many players are sad that the “finals” were left without beautiful sprites in HD.
The choice of fonts is another extremely controversial element of remasters. One thing is good: they are not so difficult to replace
Secondly, the music received a new arrangement under the supervision of the legendary composer Nobuo Wematsu. The first three parts were constrained by both memory volumes and the NES audio chip, so https://betmaster-casino.co.uk/ in remasters their melodies gained polyphony and duration so necessary for them. With SNES, not everything is so unambiguous: there the music sounded quite well there, and the orchestral versions of remasters are sometimes very noticeable from the original sources. So, as with graphics, the new thing came to an amateur.
The scene in the opera from FF6 has changed most of all: she received a production in the spirit of Octopath Traveler and voice acting in several languages
Thirdly, it became much more convenient to play: there was an opportunity to run (there were no before it before), move diagonally and persist at any time (and the game itself helpfully makes autosa so that you lose less time with the defeat). But, perhaps, the most important thing is the function of the autoboy, which makes the characters repeat the last action until you order them to stop. Given how many identical battles were in the old parts of the FF, the ability to turn for a time a window with a game and do something, while the heroes and monsters areol-minded, it is difficult to overestimate. It is not enough only the opportunity to turn off the battles in general and to speed up the process by 2-4 times, which has long been implemented both in emulators and in modern reprints of three-dimensional parts.
Another invaluable help is a map of the area that can be opened at any time. The mini-card in the corner of the screen is also extremely convenient
Fourthly, pleasant little things appeared that did not affect the gameplay: the gallery of the arts of the Yosydiyak, the bestiarium, the musical player and achievements. Achivka for the most part boring (in the spirit of “Fill all the bestiary” and “Open all the chests in the game”), but this is at least something.
Finally, all parts received a translation into many languages, including Russian. For most classic FF issues, this is the first official Russian localization, and it is very worthy. The language is alive, the jokes work, the terms are translated quite clearly. There are some roughnesses, but in general it is almost exemplary adaptation.
It is thanks to localization and amenities that the Pixel Remaster collection and I would like to recommend to everyone who wants to get acquainted with the early parts of the series or to refract them. However, it is not possible to call them ultimatic versions of each of the parts: in their other reprints, content was added, which is not in the novelties. Let's talk about this on the example of each of the parts-and at the same time we will analyze which of them deserve attention in the 2020s.
The first part Final Fantasy There was a pen of the pen: inexperienced developers were inspired by Western RPG and success Dragon Quest and blinded something and low -ended, and devoid of a clear plot from the stamps. He there, however, made himself felt only in the tie and interchange. At first, a four faceless heroes defeats the proud Knight of Garland, who stole the princess and wants to get the whole kingdom as a ransom, and in the final it turns out that Garland went into the past, became a demon chaos and lay damage to the future to always reborn in a temporary loop. There was no sense in this, but this did not prevent the developers of spin-features from using this underheless as the basis for their plots: it was done and fighting Dissidia Final Fantasy, And now a closed mobile phone Mobius Final Fantasy, And the future Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin.
Preparation for the passage of Stranger of Paradise is perhaps the main reason to refer to the first Final Fantasy: otherwise, besides historical value, there is absolutely nothing to find in it. The JRPG genre has not yet gained its main features, and all that we are used to appreciate the Japanese role -playing, in the first “finale” there is no mention – except, except, perhaps, a step -by -step baton. The role system is actually absent here: at the beginning of the game, we choose classes for four heroes – and in the future we can once improve these classes. It is impossible to change them, and the player's control over pumping is limited to the choice of spells for magicians. The same classes that practice close battle are doomed to choose the “Attack” team: they have no skills. In Pixel Remaster, the first “final” is becoming an auto -battler.
The plus is that Remaster is not only more convenient, but also simpler than the original: there are strong attending potions and resurrecting objects. However, the balance in the game is still no good: a team of warriors receives little damage thanks to good armor and quickly tramples all enemies into the mud. A good illustration of how the first Final Fantasy is broken is the fact that characters with the same level, class and equipment can apply the same move on the same enemy as a single -sized and several hundred.
Total : Thanks to the remaster, you can now go through the first Final Fantasy. But there is not much meaning in this.
Alternative versions : in the collection Dawn of Souls Four additional dungeons appeared for GBA, and in Final Fantasy Anniversary For PSP, the fifth was added to them. Without them, no endheim in the first Final Fantasy. But is it needed with such a fight?
The second part of Final Fantasy took a huge step forward: its significance for the genre is difficult to overestimate. It was here that the plot saturated with the character arches, unexpected turns and heroic self -sacrifice appeared for the first time for the first time. Yes, the story itself was insanely banal and secondary: the plot about the confrontation of the rebels and the empire was literally borrowed from "Star Wars". But at the same time, the script is very well thought out, there are no obvious holes or sagging – this is a large and holistic adventure from the beginning to the end. Something is constantly happening in the plot, and simple NPCs react to events around, actively discussing them.
Alas, play Final Fantasy II Very difficult. The dungeons are long, confusing, full of vile impudence, and the battles every five steps are incredibly tiring – this part is especially not enough cheats. Closer to the second half of the passage, enemies begin to abuse negative status effects: if at least one of them is lucky, all your heroes can go crazy and kill each other. Autosas and the ability to sign up at any time somewhat soften the pain, but do not completely relieve it.
The pumping system does not help. There are no classes, and the builder is free to build a builder for himself. In theory. As planned, the character improves his characteristics that he uses during the battle: he lost a lot of health – he pumped his maximum reserve, beat with physical attacks – strength increased, and so on. In fact, you can tell the attending spell 5-6 times per battle and not get any growth to the corresponding characteristic. Here you can not be confident either in your own damage or in pumping – in general. And this fundamental problem of the combat system Remaster did not solve in any way.
Total : even with all the improvements of remister in Final Fantasy II to play hard. The main reason to do this is a very strong script by the standards of the 1988 console games.
Alternative versions : The Dawn of Souls collection for GBA added a new script dedicated to the dead heroes to the game, and the anniversary publication for PSP is a few more dungeons. There is no other endtenta in the game. However, there are great chances that you will be tired of her to the finale.
Protagonists are so flashed that they answer in chorus. In the remaster, their replicas are highlighted in blue so that the player does not confuse
The third part again made a steep turn: after the second with her holistic through plot, she offered a set of sketches weakly connected with each other. Here, as in the first part, a four nameless and completely empty characters travels around the world, getting involved in new and new stories resembling all kinds of fairy tales. Either the genie is clinging to the village, then the lord of the dragons abducts the heroes and brings them to the nest to his “chicks”, then the fourth has to decrease to return an important artifact that the rat stolen in the den. The main plot “wakes up” closer to the end of the game, but he also does not have enough stars from the sky.
In the role system, the third part also undertook to develop the laid in the first: it was impossible to change the selected professions, but here it is already possible – and this is the main thing that would have to be done here. Two dozen grades are given a choice, each with its own characteristics and some one skill that can help out in a specific situation. True, this system does not give any special depth or flexibility: in order for the profession to be effective, it needs to be pumped first, which means that you will either use the plus minus the same team composition, or grind.
And also Final Fantasy III Known to the end of its prohibitive complexity: its developers themselves admitted that they overdo it. Moreover, this complexity was achieved not by terrible status effects, as in FF2, but with a crooked balance and huge damage from the final bosses, which made the uniform grind. I was not able to check it personally, but judging by the large number of Steam players who received an achievement for the passage of remaster, this problem was solved in it. It seems to be the lightest version of FF3 – and good.
Total : Remaster makes the passage a little easier than in previous versions, however, Final Fantasy III has virtues.
Alternative versions : The three -dimensional version of the game was released on DS, PSP and PC (it is called in Steam: Final Fantasy III (3D Remake) ). She looks prettier (although, again, a matter of taste), and the faceless heroes in her gained some kind of identity and background. Closer to the middle of the plot, however, their individuality is erased. The combat system was fraught, but instead of fixing, the developers of the 3D-radiation simply broke it in another way. Additional Content of the 3D Remeice is insignificant.
The fourth "final line" marked the transition of the series to a new generation-16-bit SNES. In this regard, the developers received more opportunities for setting the scenes – and, as a result, intended to make a blockbuster out of the game. Take FF2 and multiply in two: more events, more turns, betrayal and self -sacrifice. But only, unlike FF2, no one really thought about the integrity and sanity of the narrative. The good half of the plot decisions causes bewilderment – especially those trying to be dramatic. In addition, by increasing the scope, the narrative did not add in the depths: all difficult situations are resolved by a pair of replicas, and the plot flies further to new events. The fact that begins as the desertion of the commander, dissatisfied with the tyranny of the king, soon turns into a race for crystals that decide the fate of the world. Heroes are on the entire surface of the planet, then on an equally extensive underground map, and in the end he completely throws it to the moon.
Gameplay in Final Fantasy IV changed strikingly. Firstly, the ATS system made its debut, replacing purely step-by-step battles of the previous units. Now the essence of the moves is determined by the filled scales of each of the characters, and the battles go almost in real time – know time to distribute commands to those who are ready to act. Secondly, each hero is unique in terms of his military skills. On the one hand, this gives them individuality, on the other, there is no customization of skills, as well as control over the composition of the party. Thirdly, since the player’s team is fixed, almost every boss requires a special approach, a specific tactic using your heroes. This, again, is good and not very. Such battles are remembered, but there is no point in recalling the game: every time everything goes exactly one scenario. Fortunately, at least the scale of the grind of grind, which at the end of the original was actually inevitable in the remaster, decreased.
Total : Final Fantasy IV is a rather weak game, but important for history (in the USA it has become the first JRPG for the whole generation of players). The problem of her remister is that he is too close to the source and fades against the background of previous reprints of the game.
Alternative versions : FF4 also has a three -dimensional remake for DS and PC. He made much more for the game than a similar FF3 remake: Kitszen had an intelligent production and excellent voice acting, the characters have a customization of skills. Even the function of the autoboy is! So everyone who is more like three -dimensional graphics, you can safely recommend a remake. For the rest, there is an improved two -dimensional version for GBA and PSP: it also has an autobah, and you can also change the composition of the batch! Endheim was added to the appendage there in the form of a pair of new dungeons. As a result, both alternative versions of FF4 can offer more than Pixel Remaster.
The fifth release of the series, like the previous odd ones, makes a gameplay about the plot than on the plot. However, the story begins quite cheerfully and even with humor. Tramp, Princess, Pirate and Grandfather with a broken memory wander around the world, trying to save the unfortunate crystals-all this is perceived as a vigorous adventure Road Muy in the spirit of the same FF3. But after the first third of the game, a serious confrontation of the villain begins – again with ridiculous self -sacrifice and other dramatic attempts. Scriptwriters abuse uniform scenario moves, one another worse. In general, for the sake of history, playing FF5 is not worth.
But in terms of gameplay, she took a good step forward, taking the system of professions from FF3 as a basis and improve it properly. Now pumping professions opens up access to new skills, one of which can be equipped, playing after another class. And this already gives a pretty good scope for customization of his team, allowing you to try different approaches with repeated passages.
Finally, the fifth is quite extensive and diverse in terms of content. There are a lot of unique and memorable dungeons and bosses: playing in Final Fantasy XIV They will be surprised to learn how many representatives of her bestiaria were borrowed from Final Fantasy V. In a word, there is where to walk around.
Total : Final Fantasy V is definitely the best of the first five parts, but it can still be recommended only to those who are interested in the classic JRPG-gimplem.
Alternative versions : reprint for GBA added several new professions, dungeons and bosses. Without them, the endheim-content in the game is quite scarce, but the passage itself is quite long and rich, so the loss is small.
It is difficult to describe that step forward that the Final Fantasy series did in the sixth part. In the schedule – springs have doubled in size, becoming much more expressive. In music – the title theme of Terra and the final epic Dancing Mad are still considered one of the best creations of Nobuo Wematsu. In the amount of content – here it is enough for two games at least – and in its quality.
Final Fantasy VI tells the stories of many characters, constantly jumping from one to another, and as a result pays attention to the good ten heroes, each of whom has its own story, its own skeletons in the closet. At the same time, a good tragedy is often replaced by an absurd comedy: the journey of heroes around the world is filled with unpredictable crazy events. Final Fantasy VI does not get tired of surprising the fantasy of its creators, and to amuse, and try to the core to the depths of touching moments.
In terms of gameplay, the sixth part took all the best from the previous. Here the heroes have a pronounced identity, but at the same time each of them is free to learn any magic. Yes, and the range of fighters is vast: as many as 14 pieces. So the approaches to various game situations can come up with a lot. For nothing that the whole second half of the game here is non -linear, that for jrpg it is very atypical.
Total : Final Fantasy VI is one of the few games of the first half of the 90s, which to this day I want to recommend to pass through everyone who is generally interested in this genre.
Alternative versions : reprint for GBA added four called monsters and two ending with superbasses. However, their loss is not so critical: Endheim Contain here is plenty of.
Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is a good reprint of the classic parts with excellent localization and very necessary convenience; It's a pity that the disconnection of random battles was not brought. In most cases, these remasters are the best way to get acquainted with the first "finals". Is it worth it to do it? If you are not sure, try starting with Final Fantasy VI and go back in chronological order. If a sixth part of you hooks you, then perhaps the rest will like it, and if you still want to quit this venture halfway, at least you have already passed the best of the classic issues of Final Fantasy.
