Disclaimer: This article is written as a collaborative effort between Brian Ross & Matthew Zubritsky. Remember these are the most memorable things as we saw them and due to localization problems that exist with Final Fantasy II, III, and V, those games often probably won't be held as in high regard as they deserve. We do wish that they could be remade as powerfully as Final Fantasy Tactics was for the PSP. We also primarily stuck to the core games, Final Fantasy I - XII, to keep things as simple as possible. Be wary of spoilers from this point forward.

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Brian Ross: Today is the final day of Final Fantasy Week here at Eye of the Vortex and instead of a top 10 list, we're going to rank every single core Final Fantasy game. It'll include each and every tile from Final Fantasy through Final Fantasy XII, as well as Final Fantasy Tactics. We felt that Tactics while not a numbered game, earned its place in the Final Fantasy series ranks.



BR: Final Fantasy II is one of the least played Final Fantasies - at least outside of Japan. The game was originally released on the Nintendo and never made it overseas until the PSP/GameBoy Advance generation. It is a remarkable break from most Final Fantasy games as it features absolutely no classes and a highly unique system. In FFII, you don't level up, but gain stats and abilities as you use them. Using a sword will increase your sword proficiency, taking physical damage your HP, etc. Characters started down a particular path, but you could truly make them whatever you wanted.

Overall, the story was uninspired and seemed very similar to the limited narrative of Final Fantasy. However it did introduce characters and as a result truly began to define the Final Fantasy universe. Chocobos appeared - albeit far different than other incarnations - and it was the first game to feature Cid. The story is eerily similar to Star Wars, although Emperor Mateus is definitely one evil son of a bitch.



BR: For the record, I loved Final Fantasy XI. I hated how grinding it was, but still to this day consider it the greatest technically designed MMORPG ever made. I fully plan on playing the next generation of FFXI when FFXIV releases this later this year. Being a MMORPG makes this game stand out from the rest of the series in a negative way though. While it does feature a central quest story, it is nothing to write home about as it is just a collection of disjointed episodes and often times the story was lost in the MMORPG elements.

What made this game really cool was finding and discovering the Final Fantasy elements. Hunting down Tonberries in the jungle, trying to catch a peek at a Behemoth, taking on the ultra crazy Malboros or simply riding a Chocobo for the first time. The job system was powerful and there was a prestige to certain classes that were very difficult to attain. Summonsers in particular for a long time were only for the best of the best. Finding people that were powerful Ninjas, Beastmasters, or Summoners was always exciting as they were few and far between due to the skill and time investment they required to merely function.

Final Fantasy XII is still alive to this day and if you want to play the most rewarding and challenging MMORPG I've ever played by all means go for it. Just be aware there are severe balance issues and no real PvP.



Matthew Zubritsky: Recently released in the USA on the Nintendo DS, you could not play this game without using an emulator before it came out. This game achieved many milestones that have become staples in the Final Fantasy series. Moogles, Summons, and Job classes to name a few. There is not much of a story to discuss here except that an evil has taken over the land and you, as the Warriors of Light, must stop it.

While lacking in the story department, the game play more than makes up for it. You have the ability to customize and create almost endless party makeups. What also makes this a great game is the challenge, if your party is not leveled, geared or the classes are not quite right then it makes for a very challenging game.



BR: The only reason the original is so low on the list is because of its absolute lack of defining Final Fantasy elements. The creatures aren't iconic to the series, 95% of the characters don't have names, and the story really just acts to point you in the right direction. Rescue the princess, fight pirates for a boat, get a crystal, blow up some rocks...etc, etc. There wasn't a whole lot of inspired stuff going on here, but then again it was one of the first RPGs.

What makes it memorable though is that it is the original. Even though the universe was partially borrowed from Dungeons & Dragons for this title, it did lay many foundations for things to come - the Crystals, Airships, the Fiends, etc. For non-Japanese it was the only Final Fantasy at all on the Nintendo. If you wanted an RPG you either replayed Final Fantasy or popped in Dragon Warrior. Other RPG games were far and few between, or just not "RPGish" enough. The most important thing to come out of this were the first generation of Final Fantasy players.



BR: Final Fantasy IV can be considered the first true modern Final Fantasy. It featured a complex story that had actual pulp and texture. As the Dark Knight Cecil you embody a character who is torn between duty and conscience. Rightfully so, because the Empire he serves is evil as hell. Throughout the story you get this real strong sense of "responsibility" and the first true Final Fantasy theme.

There is no doubt that people will remember things such as Cecil becoming a Paladin, unwittingly destroying the Summoner's Village, the treachery and redemption of Kain, and the evil of Golbez. FFIV definitely brought the world alive through story and plot rather than new and unique technical elements. If you've never played it, this is definitely a great game to pick up on the Nintendo DS or on the Virtual Console. There's even a WiiWare game called Final Fantasy IV: The After Years that I've yet to play, but may be worth a purchase for a trip down memory lane.

We may have ranked this low, but often times while playing it I questioned - what makes this game so good? The story had major hits, but far more misses. The technical innovation was gone. It ended up just being a story.



MZ: To me, Final Fantasy VIII has always felt like the oddball out of the bunch. It departs from many of the traditional Final Fantasy standards, which in a way is a good thing. This is the first game in which they made the characters very realistic looking and the game’s story had a more mature political drive to it. The battle system and level up system were completely redone, and whether it was for the better or worse is still widely debated.

The inclusion of the junction system was hated by many fans of the series, but I found it to be genius and a very fun way to make your character stronger. By “drawing” more and more magic out from monsters your character would improve. Levels did not matter in the game as monsters leveled up with you, keeping your party in constant check. The Guardian Forces (Summons) played a more interactive role when you summoned them, which kept the player actively playing.

Above all this - what I think made this game really shine was that little mini-game called Triple Triad. I cannot tell you how many hours I spent just playing that stupid card game. It was so addicting! If Final Fantasy VIII didn’t have Triple Triad, I would’ve beaten the game’s main storyline in about 20 hours. Alas, I spent over 100 hours to beat it and a good sixty percent of that was spent in Triple Triad.



BR: Final Fantasy XII marked impressive technical heights and a new level of storytelling. That being said it isn't one that all players enjoyed. For every player that praised the game's technical merit and emulation of a single player MMORPG, another absolutely hated it. Most infuriating to many was the inclusion of Vaan as the main character when Basch or Balthier made far stronger choices.

Final Fantasy XII is to this date the one I spent the most time playing (besides FFXI). I couldn't get enough of it and had a blast with the gambit system and real-time battles. The hunting side-quests and Espers were an interesting and time-consuming touch, although many fans were disappointed to see the Ivalice summons over say Ifrit and Shiva. Graphically and script-wise the game was amazing and far beyond any other game in the series. Unfortunately the highly political plot and ultra-realistic characters and behavior didn't quite strike a positive chord with lots of gamers. My biggest qualm was that everyone's name was impossible to pronounce - it was a little over stylized. However as long as the series builds on this game and remembers to honor its roots, FFXII speaks powerfully for the future of the series.



MZ: Story was not a big factor for Final Fantasy V; it was very cliché and unmemorable except for a few key moments - mostly involving ExDeath. The real shining moment of this game was the job system. If I had it my way, I would’ve called this game Final Fantasy III v2.0. Compared to FFIII there were more jobs, each job was more refined, and you could create job combinations. The ability to level up your job classes as well as your character was brilliant. By leveling your class you could master one job and carry those abilities to another. On the other hand, this created a grind to level up job classes just to get those abilities. What saved this game from being lower was the overall challenge, without a doubt this is one of the harder Final Fantasy’s if you aren’t careful with leveling up and choosing the right job classes.



BR: I know this may come as a shock, but there were people that were damn tired of Final Fantasy after Final Fantasy VII and VIII. The series had seemingly abandoned its classic fantasy roots and gone totally sci-fi. Many long-time fans, myself included, were disillusioned by this and eagerly desired a return to those fantasy elements. Then Square-Enix brought out Final Fantasy IX.

It was intended to be an homage to every single Final Fantasy created. It featured elements from each and every story woven into the background. Whether it be the main villain of the original returning or a seemingly bizarre cameo. It also featured a return to the job system style of the Super Nintendo generation putting each character down a pretty specific path. While many people hated that, the story was a total slam dunk. Every single one of the characters seem to score big and most were overwhelmingly well received rivaling the popularity of FFVII's AVALANCHE members.

The game was also graphically amazing with a strong cartoonesque style and pure eye candy FMV. The only problem I had with this game was there was absolutely no care in the translation to English. Many of the homages and delights this game held were lost because of it. Luckily, it wasn't as bad as having the main character named Butz.




BR: If not for the original Final Fantasy, this would be the Final Fantasy title I've played the most times. While not a true core game, the fact that it is the only side game we felt needed to be mentioned and included says something to it. If I had to pick the best strategy RPG of all time it would be Final Fantasy Tactics hands down. The job system, map layouts, and overall composition made it both challenging and fresh. With the exception of Disgaea, I can't think of another strategy RPG that has come close.

The story as well is amazingly well thought out, although it takes a lot reading and delving to uncover the full thing. I absolutely dig a good ole fashioned church and class conspiracy, which the script writers crafted with finesse. I know when I was first playing it, I thought I was going to gather the stones and become the new Zodiac Braves. When it turns out the stones actually transform the holder into a powerful demon, my jaw hit the floor. It may be a little too political and dark for someone people, but the story was brilliant and its commentary on the government and church was bold. The artistic design as well was nothing short of iconic.

If you own a PSP I highly suggest you buy Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions. The game was relocalizes masterfully and features some really cool updates. The biggest surprise was Balthier appearing in the cast.



MZ: Probably the best Final Fantasy since VII, which is saying a lot. The story alone makes you feel completely connected with all the characters, especially Tidus and Yuna who are the heart of the story. Tidus is some poor lost soul who gets stuck on the world of Spira; he’s sort of like that dorky kid you remember at school that you just can’t help but like. He joins Yuna’s group who are trying to stop Sin, a giant monster that terrorizes Spira. Eventually a love forms between the two. I felt was the best love story seen in a Final Fantasy so far.

Also, the introduction of the Sphere Grid led to many, many hours trying to completely fill it out. The Sphere Grid is sort of a pathway to make your character stronger; by filling in certain nodes you either gained stat points or learned skills/magic. Late in the game your characters can learn from anyone’s starting grid thus making each character practically the same. This sounds bad but it takes a very long time to do and only if you have the patience. Similar to Final Fantasy VIII the summons, Aeons, in this game have an even more interactive role where you literally become the Aeon for a little bit. You have complete control of the Aeon as you would one of your characters.

What made this game really shine? I would say the story was a major factor and that the depth of the sphere grid was a big factor as well. The game’s story was apparently so well liked that it spawned a sequel that wasn't very well received yet. It did finally bring closure to the love story between Tidus and Yuna though.

BR: Breaking in here to say I loved Final Fantasy X-2. It wasn't anything like FFX, but it was fun and by no means a bad game. I enjoyed seeing the lighter side of Yuna and lord knows Rikku is pleasant on the eyes. I could have done without Payne though, whom is a male version of Squall. I still think the introduction to FFX-2 is the best FMV in Final Fantasy history - even if it is probably the main reason many players instantly began to hate the game.



MZ: Final Fantasy VI holds a special place in my heart as it was truly my first Final Fantasy. I played the first Final Fantasy when I was about four or five but never grasped the concept of it. It wasn’t until I picked up FFVI that I sat down and really played. It took me almost a year to beat since I was only seven or eight. This game holds many endearing qualities and I think the main highlight of it is the ensemble of characters it presents.

There really is no true main character in the game, but rather a cast of characters. Terra the misfit half human/esper, Locke the thief... ahem, Treasure hunter, Edgar the womanizing King, or Sabin the body building buff just to name a few. Each character is fleshed out and given depth and a reason behind their will to fight against the Empire/Kefka. Kefka is another gem of this game . The crazed, laughing, murderous clown is pivotal for making this game as memorable as it is. Everything else regarding the game such as game play and the battle system are easily forgettable, but it's the characters and story that draw you in. Final Fantasy VI will forever remain as the game that drew me into this series and will remain as one of the greatest games I’ve ever played.




MZ: Bet no one saw this coming! Final Fantasy VII broke onto the scene as the first 3D Final Fantasy debuting on Sony’s PlayStation. It is still considered as one of the greatest games of all time and if you play it now you will see why. You start off as the plucky character Cloud who joins AVALANCHE to blow up a Shinra reactor and from there it just keeps getting better and better. Once again the characters of the story make up the game. They are the driving force of it and not just the playable ones but the non-playable as well such as the Turks, Sephiroth, and Shinra. So many interwoven storylines created a beautiful tapestry story.

What also made this game great was Materia, those little orbs you collected would have you decide what you wanted your characters to be. You could have a dash of White Magic and overload on Black Magic? Or you could create a pure Fighter who knew a few Blue Magic skills or mix in a Summoner as well! The possibilities were endless!

With the game being such a technical achievement it isn't hard to see why this is considered number one. The game felt so massive with such a big world to explore. Who could also forget about the Chocobo racing? How many hours did I spend on racing? Way too many to count, even when I got my Gold Chocobo I still kept on racing because it was just that much fun. Games like these remind you that the graphics or FMV’s don’t have to be fancy or completely realistic. Final Fantasy VII to this day stands out as to what is truly important about the series. It isn't the graphics or overly smart plots, it is a combination of powerful gameplay elements with a tight story and memorable characters. FFVII embodies those things and that is the reason it is at number one.

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BR: And that does it for Final Fantasy Week. Keep coming back; we'd love to hear what you have to say. Although if you're anything like me for the next couple of days you'll have to tear yourself away from Final Fantasy XIII just to eat and shower. Happy playing!

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