The recent rise in RPG popularity within the gaming industry has been attributed to the popularity of the Final Fantasy series (or more specifically, Final Fantasy VII). Considering the engaging storylines, breathtaking cinematics and deep gameplay, Final Fantasy has always provided a solid experience since it debuted on the NES. Yet while North America received Final Fantasy with open arms, the screwy exclusivity deals of the old system meant that our FFII actually wasn’t the second title in the series. The second and third games were exclusive to Japanese shores, so the game that we’ve come to regard as Final Fantasy II was really Final Fantasy IV. Confused yet? Well, this bewilderment is about to be lifted, because Square’s about to release Final Fantasy Origins for the PlayStation, a compilation of the both the original and “real” Final Fantasy II. While both were additionally released as a set in 1994 in Japan, this new collection boasts improvements to the game. One of the more creative features of the Final Fantasy series was that plots didn’t build upon each other in sequence; instead, each title featured new characters, story and worlds to adventure in. The original Final Fantasy featured a world that found itself plunged into darkness. Thanks to the machinations of Garland and the four Beings of Chaos, numerous plagues, disasters and monsters have devastated the world. In fact, most regard this destruction as the end of the world. However, an ancient legend foretells of heroes that will take arms and combat this evil. Known as the Light Warriors, these four champions each bear an orb that holds the secret to destroying the Beings of Chaos. Final Fantasy II, by contrast, was set a land where a wicked emperor had taken over the throne of Palamecia and was quickly amassing an invincible army, bolstered by extra-dimensional demons. The Kingdom of Fynn, a small but powerful land, was the first to revolt against this force, but it was also one of the first to fall as well. Obliterating everyone in sight, the few survivors flee to a small town named Altair. Included in this escaping group are four childhood friends who’ve lost their homes and families and are forced to rely on each other. Both Final Fantasy games feature radically different systems for characters, especially during advancement. The first title focused on specific classes that were initially chosen by the player, each with specific abilities. Warriors, Thieves and Monks were the fighting experts usually found on the front lines, while the White, Red and Black Mages were the magicians of the group, casting protective and harmful spells. Later in the game, players would have the chance to upgrade these characters into more powerful versions of their class, becoming Knights, Ninjas, Masters or Wizards. However, there was very little overlap in skills or talents, meaning that your fighters wouldn’t be launching fireballs or throwing lightning bolts around. By contrast, the four friends in Final Fantasy II have no definable character class; instead, advancement is based solely on gaining experience by using abilities. While each one has a certain proclivity towards swordplay, magic, ranged attacks, etc., they all acquired their talents by specific use. For example, if you want a party that casts a lot of magic, you’d buy spells and cast them frequently, building up the magical ability of each adventurer. On the other hand, if you’d rather a physical party, equipping strong weapons and constantly attacking would be the way to go. Included within this remixed version of the two classic RPG’s are an augmented save feature, to allow the ability to save anywhere they want at any time. This may seem like a trivial element, but it’s one that modern players take for granted. The original titles limited saves to specific areas and certain items only, meaning that gamers would have to hope to reach a safe area to preserve their progress or heal their party. Additionally, a feature called Collections has been provided that gives players an extra glance into each game. Stocked with detailed information on monsters and items collected in the game, as well as artwork by the famous Yoshitaka Amano, this section is basically an encyclopedia on these two Final Fantasy Universes. Graphics and sound haven’t been forgotten either. While well animated on the 8-bit technology on the NES (or Famicom for FFII), technical limitations limited much of either game’s presentation. Thanks to the additional space provided by the PlayStation’s format, each game now hosts newly CG-rendered cutscenes explaining the intro of the game as well as vital moments during the story. Battle has undergone this facelift as well, with characters popping out in 3D as opposed to their 2D ancestors. Sound has also been bolstered from the basic MIDI squeezed from the old titles into full symphonic arrangements that manage to recreate the lightness of entering towns, the stress of random battles, and the significance of fighting archfiends or super-powerful demons. Any fan of RPG’s will probably want to keep an eye out for this collection, as Final Fantasy Origins should be released soon. Check back here for a full review! Questions or comments about the upcoming release of Final Fantasy Origins for the PlayStation? Talk to us! [ E-Mail Jeff 'Linkphreak' Haynes ] [ Comment in our Forums ]

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