We give an exhaustive review of all modern deliveries of Final Fantasy, from the classic seventh iteration to the most recent Final Fantasy XV.
In case there was any doubt, this week and thanks to the demo of the long-awaited remake of Final Fantasy VII, we are talking about the most popular saga in history as far as Japanese role is concerned, an honor that could only dispute another legendary license also of Square Enix as is Dragon Quest. Both the impressions of the community and our own after 3 hours back in Midgar, it is confirmed that the very long wait to see this review of a great classic will be worth it, and that the Japanese company has put all the care of the world so that it lives up to expectations … that there is no doubt they are in the clouds.
But as we said, these expectations have never been low for Final Fantasy, a saga that despite everything, if it has had to suffer bumps of those that fortunately, has known to leave in the great majority of the occasions. That said, we will review all the “modern” deliveries, starting from, precisely, the original Final Fantasy VII, considered as not only one of the best JRPG in history, but one of the best games ever, and holy and strong of the 16-bit generation. Let's see, since then, which have been the most valued by specialized critics.
Potholes on the road
Although Final Fantasy has generally been a highly valued saga, that is not an obstacle for there to have been deliveries below what is required of this brand. It is also curious that three of the five worst valued major deliveries are the three that form the fable Nova Crystallis, turned into a trilogy without being clear if planned as such from the beginning, or by launching two subsequent deliveries to compensate for the poor reception of the first one, Final Fantasy XIII, which with an 83, is, however, the best of the three.
For Final Fantasy XIII-2, Serah was chosen as the protagonist, before a lost Lightning and an excessively linear first delivery, and the secondary missions were enhanced, showing an evident but insufficient progress to convince the press, currently having 79 in Metacritic. After this second iteration, Lightning Returns, returning the main protagonist of the trilogy and granting greater freedom, but to the detriment of the quality of the secondary quests and a plot that was deflating. Unfortunately, with a 66 this is the second worst rated installment of the franchise except for one: Final Fantasy XIV.
The original release of this MMO was anything but successful for Square Enix, with a shortage of unpublished content in a game of this genre and an interface capable of confusing the most learned of the massive online role. He started with an average score of nothing more than 49, but fortunately, Square Enix was able to exploit the potential that this game originally treasured.
Notable games, or more than that
Final Fantasy has also offered deliveries that, without being remembered as the best, are part of a group of notable games. The most recent, Final Fantasy XV (81), is one of them, surely affected by a more than rugged development that started from Final Fantasy XIII Versus to become the fifteenth main installment, one in which the story of Noctis and its Friends has as many fans as detractors, and it had as many virtues as weaknesses. On the one hand, the structure of the game convinced, open at the beginning to become more linear towards the end, to give more emphasis to the narrative, the combat and progress system, its technical section … They are all aspects that fully convinced, not thus some design decisions, surely heirs of a development that lasted for too many years.
The controversial Final Fantasy X-2 (85) is another of the games that are part of that group of solid deliveries, with an excessively Japanese flavor and a massive J-Pop presence that could take back many less habitual players. On the other hand, Final Fantasy XI (85) also received an identical note, being the first experience of the multiplayer franchise at a time when it was surely too early, but that was carried out in a way that was more worthy of despite the limitations of then. It is precisely Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (86) the next game on the list, a complete review of the MMO we talked about before and that was able to reap so much success, despite being only in English for Western countries, as for subsequently receive large expansions such as Shadowbringers or Heavensward.
Reaching Excellence
The rest of Final Fantasy deliveries are counted as outstanding, the first being Final Fantasy VIII (90), the remembered story of Squall and Rhinoa that conquered the entire public despite coming from one of the great classics of history . Currently we can find it remastered on several platforms.
After this eighth installment, we find three with the same note. On the one hand the also controversial Final Fantasy XII, which implemented so many novelties in the game system – it was the first installment for the 128 bits, if we excepted FF XI – that all those who came from the 32 bits saw a game too different from what They were used to. However, Square Enix itself has it in very high esteem as evidenced by its recent remastering that demonstrates that, despite the passing of the years, it is one of the deliveries that has aged better. The second is neither more nor less than Final Fantasy VII, classic among classics and surely the most beloved of the entire franchise, with permission from the tenth and sixth deliveries. It is precisely Final Fantasy X the third that coincides with that average score of 92, and that is that the adventure of Tidus and Yuna had everything a Final Fantasy has to have: characters, history, combat system, and why not say it, One of the best mini-games in the history of the franchise, which had little as a mini, the truth be told: blitzball.
And to conclude, the best Final Fantasy ever for critics is neither more nor less than Final Fantasy IX, with one of the best stories in the franchise and an unforgettable squad of characters: Yitan, Vivi, Princess Garnet, Steiner … He supposed also the return to the classic class system: thief, gentleman, black magician, white magician, etc. In spite of everything, fans were slightly disappointed to see how Square Enix remastered it when most believe it is worthy of a complete remake as is Final Fantasy VII.
All the main Final Fantasy, from best to worst
- Final Fantasy IX (94)
- Final Fantasy VII (92)
- Final Fantasy X (92)
- Final Fantasy XII (92)
- Final Fantasy VIII (90)
- Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (86)
- Final Fantasy X-2 (85)
- Final Fantasy XI (85)
- Final Fantasy XIII (83)
- Final Fantasy XV (81)
- Final Fantasy XIII-2 (79)
- Final Fantasy XIII Lightning Returns (66)
- Final Fantasy XIV (49)
