Closing Fantasy is now 35 years previous, and that feels a bit bit bizarre to say. Whereas not the primary RPG collection to ever grace a house console and even the primary Japanese-developed RPG, Closing Fantasy is, arguably, the JRPG. Everybody is aware of it, and everybody has performed no less than one.
There’s plenty of debate about what Closing Fantasy as a franchise actually is, and during the last 20 years, lots of people have felt disillusioned by big overhauls to fight or setting. However there isn’t any one sort of Closing Fantasy. I can’t actually consider every other collection that has modified as a lot and as usually as Closing Fantasy has. Proper again to its origins, Closing Fantasy has at all times managed to innovate, iterate, and reinvent.
Closing Fantasy has at all times managed to innovate, reiterate, and reinvent
And the place did all of this creativity begin? The unique Closing Fantasy on the Famicom in 1987. Now-legendary collection creator Hironobu Sakaguchi had lengthy wished to make an RPG for Sq., however following Dragon Quest’s runaway success in 1986, he seized the chance and pushed by way of the chances to make Closing Fantasy occur.
To have fun this momentous thirty fifth anniversary, I need to look again on the authentic six Closing Fantasy titles and see how each innovated and reinvented the wheel, paving the best way for different RPGs, in addition to forging a path forward to proceed to create distinctive masterpieces.
Closing Fantasy I – A Class Act
“The enjoyable in an RPG begins while you create a personality, in my thoughts,” designer and battle director Akitoshi Kawazu advised Jeremy Parish in 2012. Impressed by Ultima, Wizardry, and Dungeons & Dragons, the unique Closing Fantasy was the results of a staff of seven individuals at Squaresoft, headed up by Sakaguchi. The collection creator “made a concerted effort to be completely different” from Dragon Quest, and the sport’s job system is probably the defining a part of that distinction.
Stylistically Closing Fantasy was fairly completely different from different RPGs of the time. It wasn’t completely medieval and it was extra “fantasy”, therefore the title. However with the crystals, the 4 components, and the in-game class and job designs, it felt very completely different. Wizardry had achieved lessons and jobs earlier than, however Closing Fantasy simplified issues, and your 4 chosen lessons all acquired an improve as a part of the narrative within the sport’s most memorable second – assembly Bahamut, the King of the Dragons.
Warrior, Thief, Monk, White Mage, Black Mage, and Pink Mage. These are the six authentic jobs. You’re not taking part in as a warrior hero in Dragon Quest or the shipwreck-prone Adol in Ys, nope – you’re whoever you need to be.
the sport’s job system is probably the defining a part of that distinction.
The job system is likely one of the most iconic components of any RPG, and you can also make a fairly sturdy case for Closing Fantasy popularising it. Closing Fantasy III (no, not the SNES one) improved upon it tenfold by including extra jobs to the sport like Summoner, Ranger, Darkish Knight, and Dragoon, with Closing Fantasy V introducing much more iconic roles like Blue Mage and Samurai. Each video games make different enhancements to the system, however that is the place it began.
Additionally, ending a time loop? That’s acquired to be a fairly important second in video video games again in 1987. Hey, no less than in 2022 all of us (learn: these with a PS4 or PS5) acquired to kill Chaos.
Closing Fantasy II – That is our story
Actually, Closing Fantasy IV (sure, the SNES quantity II) is the sport that popularised the story-heavy aspect of Closing Fantasy. However Closing Fantasy II (the NES one – sustain!) is the one that actually began the pattern.
In plenty of earlier RPGs, the story was both barebones or the hero was a anonymous character that was left so that you can superimpose your self upon. Right here, you begin off with 4 distinct characters (you can provide them names, however their defaults are Firion, Maria, Man, and Leon) and, earlier than you even discover your toes, you’re thrust into an unwinnable battle and compelled to look at your social gathering die in entrance of you.
Dying permeates Closing Fantasy II’s story, which focuses on a revolt military who’re preventing towards the Emperor and an evil empire. Character’s jobs are set in stone, and the forged all have personalities and motives – fundamental, positive, however they’re there. However the success of the unique Closing Fantasy opened up the sequel to much more experimentation and a a lot darker story the place many named characters die (together with social gathering members).
Despite the fact that many of the authentic staff returned to make Closing Fantasy II, the sequel made some fairly main departures from the primary – and never simply in having outlined characters. I’m dancing round it, however Closing Fantasy II is probably the most divisive entry within the collection. The primary purpose for that is that it’s the one sport in the primary collection that does away with expertise factors (EXP). Kawazu, once more in command of the battle system, changed EXP with a reactive sort of levelling. If a personality makes use of a sword so much, they’ll regularly get higher with it. And if a personality takes plenty of hits, their HP goes up.
It’s… finicky, to say the least, however it’s the one huge a part of the early Closing Fantasy that Kawazu took with him when he went to develop the SaGa collection.
However Closing Fantasy II might need established probably the most Closing Fantasy issues – chocobos, Cid, the Ultima spell, the Genji armour, the Blood Sword weapon, Leviathan, and the theme of evil empires…
Not each innovation has to stay, which might be a part of the rationale why Closing Fantasy has by no means revisited this fashion of levelling (that and the above with Kawazu) or the key phrase system hasn’t actually returned. However Closing Fantasy II additionally established a quantity Closing Fantasy staples – chocobos, Cid, the Ultima spell, the Genji armour, the Blood Sword weapon, Leviathan, and the theme of evil empires all got here from II.
Regardless of its rocky place within the collection’ historical past, Closing Fantasy II was a showcase of the staff’s creativity and modern concepts, and whereas many collection hallmarks have come from this sport alone, others had been deserted.
Closing Fantasy III – I summon thee
Closing Fantasy III – which was really the final ‘lacking’ Closing Fantasy sport to get an official English model, because of a 3D DS remake in 2006 – is a bizarre one to speak about right here. Its defining function is that it expanded massively on FFI’s job system; there are actually 20 jobs as a substitute of simply six, and you can swap between them exterior of battle. In some ways, Closing Fantasy III was a return to what made FFI work so effectively whereas enhancing on these points. As FFI was a response to the unique Dragon Quest, III was a response to Dragon Quest III, which had a strong class system itself. Closing Fantasy wished to do it higher.
Closing Fantasy wished to do it higher.
If there are two jobs that really feel distinctive and distinctive to Closing Fantasy, I believe they had been fashioned right here – the Dragoon and the Summoner. So the Dragoon technically was launched in FFII as an ally named Ricard Highwind, however FFIII is the place it actually comes into its personal, all due to one phrase: ‘Leap’. Spears and lessons that use spears have appeared earlier than in different video video games, however the Dragoon is a selected sort of class, one which assaults from the skies and may keep protected from enemy assaults, all with a bonus towards aerial enemies.
Summoners, nevertheless, are much more vital. Summons, Aeons, Espers, Eidolons, Astrals, Eikons – Closing Fantasy is the collection for summoning big, ethereal creatures. And whereas different RPGs like Namco’s Tales collection or loads of Western RPGs have had summoners or summon spirits, Closing Fantasy’s model of summons feels particular. These creatures are sometimes plot-critical, depend on an unlimited quantity of energy, and make you are feeling superior when calling an enormous picture of an previous, wizened man onto the battlefield simply to rain thunder upon the sphere.
why would you battle an enormous hen with a knife and never as an armoured, leaping, spear-wielding skilled?
The sport actually inspired you to swap between jobs, however Closing Fantasy III additionally hints to make use of sure jobs at sure instances. There’s a boss that just about requires you to play as 4 Dragoons (it’s doable to win as different jobs, however it’s not enjoyable, let me inform you!). And whereas issues like which might be annoying, I believe it’s a fairly fascinating method of creating what a job is with out the characters having outlined personalities.
In spite of everything, why would you battle an enormous hen with a knife and never as an armoured, leaping, spear-wielding skilled?
Closing Fantasy IV – Actively Timed
That is it – arguably, Closing Fantasy IV (the primary 16-bit SNES entry) is the sport that actually put Closing Fantasy on the map. A minimum of earlier than that pesky eco-warrior Cloud Strife got here onto the scene and truly acquired the Closing Fantasy collection into Europe…
Closing Fantasy IV has, for its time, a fairly lovely character arc for its important hero, Cecil. A darkish knight employed by an evil empire, Cecil spends a lot of the primary a part of the sport going by way of an ethical dilemma, realising he’s slaughtering innocents all for the sake of his king, culminating in a scene the place Cecil, atop the aptly-named Mount Ordeals, atones for his sins and fights his personal reflection to develop into a Paladin.
However we’re probably not right here to speak concerning the story, as impactful or iconic because it really is. We’re right here to speak about maybe crucial factor Closing Fantasy has ever achieved for the turn-based RPG – the Energetic Time Battle system (ATB).
Hiroyuki Ito, who would later direct Closing Fantasy VI, IX, and XIII, got here up with the ATB system when watching Method One (as lead designer Takashi Tokita advised 1Up in an interview in 2013). Earlier turn-based RPGs meant inputting your whole character’s actions one after the opposite earlier than the motion performed out. In FFIV, although, every character and enemy has an (invisible) bar that fills up over time. When it maxes out, the participant can inform that character what to do. The pace of the ATB bar is decided by the character’s pace stat, and you can affect it with time-based spells like Haste.
Hiroyuki Ito, who would later direct Closing Fantasy VI, IX, and XIII, got here up with the ATB system when watching Method One
The inclusion of this formed the collection going ahead – not each single Closing Fantasy sport has used it (see Closing Fantasy X, XV, and the upcoming XVI), however this was a momentous growth in RPGs as a result of it sped up the motion whereas nonetheless remaining mounted to the style’s roots. You could possibly plan battles extra precisely and manipulate character pace to your benefit.
That is nonetheless one of the Closing Fantasy issues on the market right now, and never many different RPGs have used the ATB system – Chrono Set off, Parasite Eve, Grandia, and Little one of Mild are examples (and two of these are Squaresoft titles). However many 3D Closing Fantasy video games have used an iteration of it – XII’s Gambit system depends on order and forged time, and X-2 has different-length ATB bars relying on the job you’re taking part in as. If something, the ATB system allowed different RPG builders to experiment with the turn-based system that had been lengthy established at that time.
Closing Fantasy V – Journey and experiment
The center youngster of the SNES trilogy could be the least modern of the unique six, however Closing Fantasy V remains to be a fairly particular – and fairly vital – addition to the style.
Earlier than Closing Fantasy IX, Closing Fantasy V is probably the most iterative entry within the collection – once more returning to I and III’s job system, however as a substitute letting you play as a bunch of established, named characters. It’s additionally perhaps probably the most humble entry within the collection, provided that the primary character Bartz isn’t some grand hero (although there are some heritage issues occurring) however is simply an adventurer having enjoyable together with his greatest pal, Boco the Chocobo.
Bravely Default, Octopath Traveler, Fantasy Life, and plenty of extra video games owe Closing Fantasy V for his or her glorious job programs.
Let’s return to the job system once more, although, as a result of if I established it and III improved on it, then V is the definitive job system within the collection. Bravely Default, Octopath Traveler, Fantasy Life, and plenty of extra video games owe Closing Fantasy V for his or her glorious job programs. Even 30 years after its launch, Closing Fantasy V’s stage of customisation and freedom with its job system is superb, permitting you to not solely swap between lessons every time but additionally enabling you to cross-equip abilities between lessons as you stage them up. So this time, in case you actually wished to, you can play the sport with 4 Geomancers, and it might be completely viable. Earth bells for days, proper?
Actually, although, for the primary half of the sport, Closing Fantasy V is fairly cosy. Dragon Quest at all times felt (and nonetheless does) just like the cosier collection, although that franchise just about discovered its footing right here. Closing Fantasy V turns away from the darker narratives of II and IV and swaps them for a heartfelt sport about exploration and journey. A minimum of till you must battle the large tree on the finish.
Closing Fantasy VI – However what if we misplaced?
Okay, my goodness, the place do I begin with Closing Fantasy VI?
There’s nonetheless nothing actually like Closing Fantasy VI on the market. An RPG with no actual definable important character (although it’s completely Terra Branford). An enormous playable forged, every of whom (*coughcoughUmarocough*) has a robust backstory. A JRPG the place there are decisions that may completely alter your social gathering make-up? Oh, and also you lose about midway by way of the sport.
It is all about overcome adversity, and hope prevailing over despair.
Closing Fantasy VI is commonly hailed as the most effective within the collection, and for a lot of, many causes. It is all about overcome adversity, and hope prevailing over despair. The world is actually ripped aside in entrance of your eyes on the midway level, and also you (Celes Chere) are left to fend for your self and discover your pals. Associates who you’ve spent 15 or so hours with, who you assume you perceive and know every thing about. However you don’t. The second half of the sport is about displaying you that, and then you definately’ll perceive every thing that they did within the first half of the sport much more than earlier than.
That’s if you’d like. What makes Closing Fantasy VI so distinctive is that it’s about freedom and selection. The primary half of the sport splits you between three completely different events (for probably the most half) till all three sides come collectively to affix The Returners, a insurgent group seeking to take down the Empire. However while you take management of Celes within the World of Damage, you’re solely required to fulfill up with two different social gathering members. Actually, in case you actually need, you possibly can go and tackle the ultimate boss with simply Celes, Edgar, and Setzer. However then you definately’d miss out on Terra’s existential disaster. Or the rationale why Locke needs to avoid wasting everybody. Or that the beast youngster Gau’s father remains to be alive. Squaresoft created a sport the place everybody feels vital. Each single character has weight to them – and what number of different video games are you able to say have that?
What makes Closing Fantasy VI so distinctive is that it’s about freedom and selection.
Not solely are you able to go wherever you need and recruit whoever in what order within the World of Damage, the Magicite system means that you would be able to customise characters greater than ever earlier than. Edgar could be a proto-Machinist armed with a crossbow, a chainsaw, and a drill, however he may also be a magician who specialises in debuffing enemies. Or what about Locke, a super-fast thief who can mug the enemies and heal the social gathering?
Anybody may be something, even with their pre-established roles, and for the primary time within the collection, you possibly can decide your individual social gathering and never simply depend on the characters you’re given. You’ll be able to mould the staff to suit your preferences. Quietly, that’s the most important factor Closing Fantasy VI brings to the desk – not solely is it a sport about hope, alternative, and alter, however it permits you to expertise and do all of these issues your self.
The Closing (Fantasy)
Closing Fantasy’s improvements might need been extra delicate within the NES and SNES days, however they had been completely there. You’ll be able to see how every of those six entries has not solely influenced this collection, but additionally different RPGs – regardless that it was by way of dialogue with Enix’s Dragon Quest collection for a time.
no two entries are completely alike, even after they’re enhancing on each other
Dragon Quest, now beneath Sq. Enix, actually settled right into a rhythm across the time Closing Fantasy actually began branching out. I personally play Dragon Quest to really feel one thing very specific – one thing very heat and charming, and one thing that’ll make me smile. However Closing Fantasy has so many various variations beneath its umbrella that it actually will depend on my temper. No two entries are completely alike, even after they’re iterating and enhancing on each other (I and III, for instance).
These days, Closing Fantasy isn’t seen as a ‘Nintendo’ franchise – which is unusual as a result of it was for therefore lengthy. Squaresoft leaping ship to the disc-based PlayStation labored out effectively for the corporate, and Europe (and NA for some) finally acquired all of these NES and SNES video games that initially didn’t launch in English because of this. In order that’s acquired to be a win, proper?
Nintendo, at this level, has develop into the house of spin-offs or the basic turn-based Sq. Enix video games like Bravely and Octopath. Heck, even Dragon Quest feels very at residence on Change. This makes the Change a pleasant little console to get into the collection – both by choosing up one of many many Change remasters, or by testing a cute spin-off like World of Closing Fantasy (which, hey, if you’d like turn-based Closing Fantasy, there you go!). And the arrival of the Pixel Remaster assortment has lastly been confirmed, too.
Innovation is a part of Closing Fantasy’s id. That’s very true now provided that the PS5’s Closing Fantasy XVI is an motion RPG, however it has additionally at all times been true. What’s constant, although? Nicely, Cid, chocobos, moogles, sure weapons, armour, and a handful of different issues. Writing for Kotaku, Jason Schreier put it fantastically: “Closing Fantasy is outlined by the way it sounds… The chime of a menu cursor. The squeal of an NPC’s dialogue field. The thunderous jolt of a random encounter”. Theatrhythm Closing Bar Line ought to assist drive that time residence.
Closing Fantasy is no matter it needs to be. It at all times has been, and it at all times will likely be. What quantity will we be at in one other 35 years? Who’s to say (most likely XXX!), however nobody can predict what course Sq. Enix will go in subsequent.
Here is to there by no means being a remaining Closing Fantasy.
