I think it’s fair to say that getting into the iconic Final Fantasy franchise nowadays may just be one of the most intimidating things that any RPG fan can attempt, with the series having its 16th mainline entry released earlier this month for the PS5. Now, a naive gamer may look at the title, Final Fantasy 16, and think that they have to play all fifteen prior entries before they dive into the newest title, but this luckily isn’t the case. Every mainline entry is totally standalone, so really, any game can be your first. But which one should be your first? Which Final Fantasy game serves as the best introduction to the franchise, the one that will immediately win you over and convert you into a diehard fan? Well, lucky for you, I think I’ve figured it out, so here’s my advice on which game you should choose to be your starting point on your adventure through the vast Final Fantasy franchise.
WHY NOT JUST START WITH FINAL FANTASY (1987)?
The obvious answer when you ask the question, “Which Final Fantasy should I start with?” is, of course, the very first game in the franchise, the 1987 NES classic, Final Fantasy. This is a perfectly fine starting point, but I wouldn’t necessarily advise it. The game is quite frankly, well, old, and whilst it might just be the exemplary NES JRPG, that doesn’t equate to it being accessible to a more modern audience, and especially newcomers to the genre. Not only are the graphics obviously severely dated, but the lack of any kind of interesting story or characters means that at times the main quest can feel like a bit of a slog.
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Not to mention, the game is littered with bugs and glitches that mean it ends up being a horrible introduction to the gameplay that the series is known for. Some stats and spells are completely broken, so half of the time you can’t trust what the game is telling you because it’s just a flat-out lie. Now, obviously, a lot of these problems have been fixed in the various re-releases, my personal favourite being the one found in Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls for the Game Boy Advance, but again it’s that lack of an engaging plot that kills it. If you’re not immediately enamoured with the gameplay, the first Final Fantasy could quickly rub you up the wrong way with just how much of a grind it can end up feeling like.
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So, what should you start with instead? Well, I think it depends entirely on what kind of Final Fantasy game you’re interested in. See, the series has changed dramatically since its inception, to the point where you can basically split it in two. There are the classic, 2D, turn-based JRPGs, and then there are the more modern, 3D games that are a lot more experimental with combat. What this means is that before you dive into the franchise, you should sit back for a second and figure out which of those two options interests you more. Don’t fret too much, because whichever one you choose, I’ve got a brilliant recommendation lined up for you.
IF YOU WANT TO PLAY A CLASSIC FINAL FANTASY GAME
Without a shadow of a doubt, the best 2D Final Fantasy game is Final Fantasy VI, originally released in 1994 for the SNES. Everything that I said the first game was lacking can be found right here. Its story is critically acclaimed, and often heralded as one of the best in gaming, meaning that even if you don’t immediately gel with the turn-based combat, there’s something else there to hook you, to ensure that you want to keep going until the very end. It’s widely considered to be one of the greatest RPGs of all time, and so there’s no better game to convert you into a true Final Fantasy fan.
Now, it’s probably reasonable to assume that you don’t own a SNES, so where else can you find this game, and what’s the best version to play? Well, in 2022, Square Enix released a “pixel remaster” of Final Fantasy VI on Windows, Android, IOS, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4, which upgraded the game whilst retaining its classic, retro art style. For newcomers, it’s arguably the best way to experience the game, but one other thing to note is that the GameBoy Advance port actually features some bonus content, so if you do happen to fall in love with Final Fantasy VI through the pixel remaster, then you can rejoice in knowing that there’s still more to seek out.
IF YOU WANT A MORE MODERN FINAL FANTASY EXPERIENCE
It’s worth saying as a general warning that typically, the more modern Final Fantasy games are often considered to be a lot worse than the ones that preceded them. As turn-based JRPGs became less popular, the series found itself entering an identity crisis of sorts, unsure what to do with itself and how to “fix” its “dated” gameplay. This resulted in games like Final Fantasy XIII, which is widely considered to be the worst in the entire franchise. If we’re talking about what the most accessible modern Final Fantasy game is, though, I’d have to give it to Final Fantasy X.
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Let it be known that I’m not saying that Final Fantasy X is the absolute best 3D game in the franchise, but instead that I think it is the best for newcomers, as a way of hooking them and converting them into fans of the series. It’s the series at its most simple and linear, making it the perfect starting point for those lacking in JRPG experience. On top of that, it features an engaging story and solid graphics, especially in the 2016 HD remaster that can be found on Steam, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One. It may not be the exemplar of the entire series, but for beginners, it may just be the perfect first title.
THE VERDICT
In conclusion, I think it’s fair to say that the best starting points in the Final Fantasy franchise are the sixth and tenth entries. Both capture what makes the series so beloved and iconic, whilst not being too complex or off-putting to those unfamiliar with the genre. I did consider putting arguably the franchise’s most famous entry, Final Fantasy VII, here, but ultimately I decided that its dated graphics were just too much of a strike against it and that the more modern art style of Final Fantasy X is far more likely to appeal to someone completely unfamiliar with the series.
Final Fantasy is one of gaming’s most beloved series for good reason, and I sincerely hope that anyone who decides to take their first leap into this dense, intimidating JRPG dynasty, whether it’s with one of my choices here or something completely out of left field, enjoys everything that these games have to offer. Despite all of its ups and downs, there’s nothing else quite like it, and the gaming world would certainly be a lot worse without it.
You can find out more about the upcoming release, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and other games coming soon in Aaron’s article about everything announced at Summer Game Fest 2023.
Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHICH
