Handheld gaming is more than a compromise of power and portability. Whether it’s the ability to play anywhere, multitask or hold an entire console in your hands, it’s a special experience consoles have never replicated. In a world where high resolutions and teraflops reign supreme, we take a look at a portable relic every month and reflect on what makes it memorable. Be warned, spoilers may occasionally populate these articles.
Final Fantasy is among the most popular RPG series ever launched, but this wasn’t always the case. Prior to the skyrocketing popularity of the franchise with Final Fantasy VII, only half of the games saw a western release. With an increased interest older games were given western localizations and facelifts and made available to a new audience, several years after the fact. Final Fantasy II was originally released in Japan in 1988. It has subsequently seen several American reiterations starting in 2003, with the third re-release for PlayStation Portable occurring in 2007 to celebrate Final Fantasy’s 20th anniversary.
In spite of its massive popularity there are a few divisive Final Fantasy titles and Final Fantasy II is one of them. Perhaps if it we were able to experience it closer to its original release more people might see it for the revolutionary title it is instead of a game with a bizarre character progression system. Personal ranking of Final Fantasy games puts on the lower tier, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad game, it simply means there are better mainline Final Fantasy games. But that aside, Final Fantasy II is an important game for the franchise. It may have experimented with gameplay mechanics that didn’t become mainstays, but it did introduce many staples that made some of the later entries so amazing.
Unlike its predecessor, Final Fantasy II begins with the player controlling three pre-designed characters with names. They have a run in with some Black Knights from the Palamecian Empire and things don’t go in their favor. They are rescued by Princess Hilda who is leading the rebellion against the empire, and after the three heroes are given a chance to prove themselves, Hilda welcomes them into the rebel army. Some of the quests early on don’t seem too different than what was present in the original Final Fantasy; get mythril to make better weapons, deal with this enemy airship, but things become much more dramatic as the war against the empire is huge part of a story. As such certain locations stop being accessible after the player progresses to a certain point because one of the costs of war is the destruction of some towns.
The three main characters are Firion, Maria and Guy. Firion the swordsman is the default main character though his role doesn’t seem any more prominent than the other two. Maria begins as an archer and Gus is a monk but his weapon of choice seems to be an ax. The fourth character slot is occasionally vacant but often occupied by a temporary character. There are six characters in total that fill the fourth spot throughout the game with different skillsets. Their presence is always dependent on the story; they join the party when it fits the narrative and depart once their purpose has been fulfilled.
Playing Final Fantasy II on PSP might not seem like anything happening in the narrative is that special, but try to imagine if this game was available in 1988 and compare it to the original. The rotating party members and dynamic approach to storytelling was far beyond that bare bones story and characters who have no identity whatsoever. In various discussions online it seems the most popular Final Fantasy games are six, seven and ten. Final Fantasy II is the entry that laid the groundwork for having memorable characters and placing the emphasis on storytelling. It changed up the formula quite a bit, and while not every change remained in subsequent entries, the narrative direction of Final Fantasy II is what allowed the series to evolve how it did which resulted in amazing emotionally-charged stories.
Final Fantasy games in general love experimenting with the character growth system. Most games use an experience point-based level system but will throw in some other variables like the sphere grid or a job system. Final Fantasy II does nothing of the sort. Final Fantasy II has a system where stats are increased based on what the character does, which is more similar to the SaGa games than other Final Fantasies. Skills with specific weapons increase by using that weapon, skills with magic increase by casting a spell. This system itself isn’t bad, but it’s such a grind in Final Fantasy II. Each specific spell or weapon type can be raised up to skill level 16, but it’ll take hardcore grinding to get anything that high. Completing the game and using the same weapon types the player might hit level 12 with a specific skill. In order to speed up growth, attacking your own party is the best exploit. Need more MP, cast osmose in your teammates. Same thing with HP, whittle down the enemy forces so they aren’t a real threat and attack yourself. This also increases weapon proficiency in the process.
The novelty of attacking your own teammates to get stronger is amusing initially, but loses its luster quickly, plus it requires an excessive amount of time to make it beneficial beyond an initial stat boost. To be effective against groups of enemies, magic needs to be extremely powerful and building up late game powerful spells to a level where they are useful will require a lot of grinding. The biggest positive about this system is the player is free to train each character to use any weapons or spell specialization they see fit. It’s an interesting idea and we wouldn’t fault the developers for attempting this, but it’s a system that thankfully wasn’t continued in later games, though SaGa games use a similar system that’s been further refined.
Outside of purists who want to experience the game exactly as it was in 1988, it’s a safe assumption that most people who were playing Final Fantasy II on PSP would want to see modernizations. The PSP version could arguably be called the definitive version. It includes the improved soundtrack and new cutscenes that were added in the 2003 Final Fantasy Origins collection. The Game Boy Advance version introduced new story content available in post game called Soul of Rebirth which is included in the PSP version. The PSP version includes more additional content including four new dungeons with character-specific equipment with new enemies and two new bosses. The graphics received a major facelift, and it’s personal opinion that out of all the different incarnations of the various classic Final Fantasy titles, the ones that were remade for PSP are the best-looking versions.
Final Fantasy II is a game where the personal level of appreciation increases each time it’s completed. The gameplay mechanics are standard fare for classic Final Fantasy. The character advancement system is an interesting idea and while credit should be given for trying something new, it’s a system that has been improved and used better in other games, and most players seemed happy about the return to and continued use of the level up system. The story may not be as fleshed out as some of the later entries, but was leaps and bounds beyond what was in the original Final Fantasy. Instead of simply focusing on an abstract idea of the world dying due to some mystical crystals, this dealt with the horrors of war and rising up against an evil empire, even if the emperor does end up dying and then becoming a god. It also deals with the death of significant characters which wasn’t a common topic in Nintendo games back in 1988. Because it doesn’t have the popularity of some of the later entries its music might not be as recognizable as songs like Dancing Mad, Maybe I’m a Lion or Clash on the Big Bridge, but there are some real gems tucked away in the original soundtrack.
The gameplay of Final Fantasy II might not hold up as well as some of the other entries nor is it the most memorable story in the franchise, but it’s an important game in Final Fantasy history. Its design was drastically different than its predecessor and while not all changes became mainstays for the series, this is where the emphasis on storytelling took center stage along with having a developed cast of characters. And we mustn’t forget this is where Chocobos made their first appearance. Some incarnation of Final Fantasy II is available on numerous platforms, with thePixel Remasterversion being the most accessible for modern platforms and also the one with the best music. Final Fantasy II is worth playing, both because it’s a fun game and also for the historical perspective on the evolution of Final Fantasy. None of the different American releases of Final Fantasy II are bad, but overall the PSP version is the best way to play Final Fantasy II.
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