Ending screen of FFI, NES (original) version, English translation. Source: Hardcore Gaming
So, that was my first playthrough of Final Fantasy I. Before I leave the game, a few scattered thoughts.
Was it fun? Worth playing?
For a gamer who can enjoy rather than chafe at the simplicity of old games, sure! It was actually more enjoyable than I expected it would be, partly due to the fact that I played the remastered version which had changed the game mechanics. I’m not sure I could’ve toughed it out through the original, which had no Phoenix Downs and required you to lug KOed members back to towns for resurrection.
The story and world were pretty basic, of course, and as I noted in my “Who Are You?” roleplay discussion, the characters were more avatars than characters, as interesting as we made them out to be. The game really did have a certain charm, despite its stock fantasy simplicity; it did have many of the beloved game and story elements that have made Final Fantasy enduring. I could believe that FFI hooked enough players to rescue Square from near-bankruptcy. Even odd little things like the iconic black mage with the Jawa eyes contributed to making it just…a little…different.
The retro graphics and music were good bonuses.
Discussion of the story/world/ending (such as it was):
Now, about that story. One of the fun parts of Final Fantasy fandom are the worlds, characters, and plot. This game didn’t have much of the above, and what it did have was sketchy, but there were a few interesting head-scratchers to ponder. I gather that Dissidia Final Fantasy
So, spoilers ahead for the game ending, particularly the First Ever Final Fantasy Time Loop Mind Screw:
)
. (Whose main character’s default name, “Ryu,” I played as “Spoo.”)
?file=RyuIIIAdultBattleIdleSouthWest_Sprite.gif){kind=small}
, which required massive amounts of grinding, dragging dead characters back to towns for resurrection (no Phoenix Downs for you, sucker!), and conserving the precious few spells one could cast each day.