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Final Fantasy Origins

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Final Fantasy Origins
A PlayStation cover bearing the title "Final Fantasy Origins", with the titles "Final Fantasy" and "Final Fantasy II" below it. The illustration features a man holding a red sword horizontally in front of himself.
Cover art by Yoshitaka Amano
DeveloperSquaresoft
Publishers
Directors
  • Hideshi Kyonen
  • Katsuyoshi Kawahara
  • Kazuhiko Yoshioka
ProducerYusuke Hirata
ComposerTsuyoshi Sekito
SeriesFinal Fantasy
PlatformPlayStation
Release
  • JP: October 31, 2002
  • EU: March 14, 2003
  • NA: April 8, 2003
GenreRole-playing
ModeSingle player

Final Fantasy Origins[a] is a 2002 video game compilation developed and published by Square for the PlayStation. The package features remakes of Final Fantasy (1987) and Final Fantasy II (1988), the first two games in the Final Fantasy series originally released for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The compilation marks the latter game's first official release in the United States. The compilation's updates include enhanced graphics and audio, computer-generated cinematic sequences, quality-of-life improvements to the game mechanics, and unlockable artwork by Yoshitaka Amano. Final Fantasy Origins received generally favorable reviews for its enhancements to the two games and its price value, though opinions were divided on how well their designs held up against concurrent standards.

Overview

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Two images depicting the same scene: to the right is a quartet of characters aligned vertically, to the left is a large skeletal figure robed in purple, and beneath them is a menu beckoning one of the rightward figures to attack.
A comparison between the original version of Final Fantasy (top) and the remake in Final Fantasy Origins (bottom)

Final Fantasy Origins packages remade versions of the first two games in the Final Fantasy series: the original Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II released for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Both titles preserve the design of the originals while featuring substantial updates. The collection's presentation enhances the games' graphics toward 16-bit standards, with redrawn sprites and backgrounds as well as new computer-generated cinematic sequences.[1] The audio features rearrangements of the soundtracks' original compositions by series composer Nobuo Uematsu.[2] Quality-of-life improvements common to both games include a dash function for faster movement,[3] a temporary "Memo" save feature that allows the player to save at any time,[4][5] and adjustable difficulty settings; the original higher difficulty setting of Final Fantasy II is unlocked after completing the game once.[3][4] Extras include bestiaries that record encountered monsters and their statistics, listings of collected items, and unlockable galleries of artwork by Yoshitaka Amano.[6][7]

Development and release

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In July 2002, Square was reported to be planning remakes of Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II for the PlayStation, slated for a fall release in Japan. The titles would be sold separately, with a limited-edition package including both games and three action figures.[8] The compilation was developed with Yusuke Hirata as producer and with the direction of Katsuyoshi Kawahara and Kazuhiko Yoshioka, with Hideshi Kyonen serving as an additional director on the Final Fantasy remake. The cinematics were directed by Koji Wakasono and feature a score by Tsuyoshi Sekito. The cinematic for the Final Fantasy II remake features voice acting by Yukimasa Obi (as Firion), Takayuki Yamaguchi (as Leon), Kenta Miyake (as Gus), and Noriko Shitaya (as Maria).[9] The compilation was exhibited at the 2002 Tokyo Game Show, with an October Japanese release being confirmed.[10] The compilation was released in Japan on October 31.[11]

In January 2003, Square announced the compilation's upcoming April release in North America under the title Final Fantasy Origins.[12] A European release date of March 12 was announced later that month.[13] The compilation was released in Europe by Infogrames on March 14,[14] and in the United States by Square EA on April 8.[15] In its first month of release in the United States, it was the eleventh best-selling home console video game.[16]

Reception

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Final Fantasy Origins was met with "generally favorable" reviews according to the review aggregator website Metacritic.[17] Reviewers consistently highlighted its historical significance and value as a package. Chet Barber of Game Informer noted that the release granted American players the opportunity to enjoy the entire series, with Final Fantasy II having previously been Japan-exclusive, and praised the low price point and inclusion of secrets and unlockables.[20] Shane Bettenhausen of Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM), Brad Shoemaker of GameSpot, and Romendil of Jeuxvideo.com also emphasized the strong price value for two full-length games, with Shoemaker adding that the PlayStation 2's backward compatibility makes accessing the games easier.[19][22][23] Jeremy Dunham of IGN described it as possibly the best Square remake collection to date because of the extensive reworking of both titles into fully competitive 16-bit RPGs, elevating the games above "quick package jobs".[3] Tom Mayo of GamesMaster likened the experience to "watching a beautifully remastered and repackaged old movie", arguing that the two games were foundational to the turn-based console RPG genre.[21] Chris Hudak of X-Play framed the titles as "museum pieces" that have been carefully maintained and improved, noted that the package was the first official American release of Final Fantasy II, and concluded that the compilation "delivers the goods and shows that, even now, the current crop of high-gloss, tech tour-de-force games have ancestors that can and should be honored."[25] Bettenhausen labeled it "a nostalgic must-buy for Final Fantasy fanatics",[19] while Gary Steinman of Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine described it as an opportunity for newer players to examine the series' roots, though he suggested observing the first game as a historical glimpse rather than a compelling experience.[24] Romendil and a reviewer for Consoles + respectively positioned it as essential for die-hard fans of the genre and nostalgists for the series' NES period.[18][23] However, Justin Leeper of Game Informer argued the games would have been better suited to a Game Boy Advance compilation and that prior Square collections (such as Anthology and Chronicles) already surpassed them,[20] while Fennec Fox of GamePro concluded that only hardcore Final Fantasy fanatics would find the set worthwhile.[2][b]

The presentation upgrades were approved for elevating the original games without fully modernizing them. Barber observed that both titles' graphics approach Super NES standards, which he deemed impressive for NES titles. He also praised the CG sequences, audio, and soundtrack.[20] Dunham regarded the visuals as "great for what they are" despite the color palette and scaling effects not being up to concurrent standards, and singled out the remixed versions of the first game's tracks as "awesome".[3] Mayo stated that the graphics, sound, and gameplay had been polished "so much they gleam".[21] Hudak noted that the redrawn sprites were on par with the mid-series sequels, and he admired the new cinematics, though he found the shifts between the antiquated gameplay and impressive cinematics strange.[25] Shoemaker also characterized the visuals as equal to early Super NES games, and he praised the high-quality music reproductions and smoother technical performance compared to earlier Square collections.[22] Consoles + acknowledged the technical aspects as rudimentary, but affirmed that the series' strengths were present despite their lack of polish.[18] Romendil said that while the overhauled production values were more attractive than the originals, they remained below the PlayStation's best, such as SaGa Frontier 2 (1999).[23] Bettenhausen appreciated the "glossy" CG cinematics and rearranged soundtracks, though he wished for more battle animation and stronger spell effects for added "32-bit flair".[19] Fennec Fox commended Nobuo Uematsu's musical arrangements and described the "early-SNES caliber" graphics as having a "suitably retro cuteness" to them.[2] Steinman said that while the graphics were still short of PlayStation quality, the upgrade was sufficient to remove the games' "old-school ugliness" while retaining their "old-school charm".[24] The bestiaries, item listings, and art galleries were widely cited as an enticing incentive for dedicated fans.[2][3][19][20][23][25]

The gameplay received more mixed assessments. Barber reported that the gameplay was largely intact with only slight combat tweaks and added button maps, though he was annoyed at having to use the d-pad.[20] Dunham regarded the factors determined by the first game's adjustable difficulty level as a "nice touch", and appreciated the Memo save function and dash ability; for Final Fantasy II, he highlighted the expanded inventory and easier enemy encounters, while assuring traditionalists that the original difficulty setting is unlockable. He proclaimed the game's skill proficiency system as "proof that Square was always looking to improve," and described the "World Memory System" of memorizing keywords for later conversations as innovative for its time.[3] Mayo affirmed that the gameplay is as solid as it was in its original release, giving the compilation an appeal beyond retro gamers.[21] Hudak felt that the battles were still engrossing despite being challenging "almost to the point of dementia."[25] Romendil welcomed the lowered difficulty level compared to the originals and called the Memo save feature invaluable, though he still noted the second game's difficulty as formidable.[23] Greg Sewart of EGM found the first game's battle system basic but appreciated the second game's performance-based experience system for its strategic edge, while cautioning that both titles are extremely hard and may frustrate players accustomed to modern RPGs. Bettenhausen reported that the gameplay holds up well and enjoyed revisiting the first game on Easy mode.[19] Shoemaker said the gameplay would be vexing to newer players but will satisfy veterans of the genre. He observed that both games demand extensive leveling through random encounters, but was thankful for the quick loading times and streamlined combat, and noted that the second game introduced a precursor to the job systems seen in later games.[22] Fennec Fox found the first game's battles unrelentingly difficult and the second game's growth system obtuse enough that players may deliberately damage their own party to raise their maximum hit points.[2] Steinman described the first game's battle system as a "labor-intensive chore", yet praised the second game's action-based skill development as intelligent and still engaging.[24] Leeper criticized the insufficient improvements to the first game's pacing and the second game's opaque experience system and easy deaths, concluding the set would suit only hardcore fans.[20]

The narratives and characterizations were widely regarded as products of their time, with Final Fantasy II being generally preferred for its greater sense of development. Dunham characterized the first game as a simple tale that "definitely shows its roots in the 8-bit era" through its limited dialogue, while noting the second game's stronger focus on characterization, story, and plot.[3] Hudak described the first game's characters as "identity-challenged" and considered its story as merely a justification for a sequence of quests, but noted that the remakes' refined translations improved the dramatic writing.[25] Romendil regarded the first game's high fantasy setting as "Tolkien-esque", and said that the games' text being in English was only a minor issue due to the relatively modest storylines.[23] Sewart faulted the first game's "boring" plot and "personality-devoid" characters, while praising the second game as the series' first with particular characters who come and go as the narrative dictates.[19] Shoemaker considered neither game to have the narrative depth of Final Fantasy X, but deemed them fine for their time.[22] Fennec Fox dismissed the first game's story as rudimentary fetch-quest material while acknowledging the second game as more story-oriented.[2] Steinman described the first game as a bare-bones story with a limited quest, whereas the second game's story was "briskly paced" and "well-realized", and showed early signs of the dramatic storytelling that would define later titles.[24]

Notes

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  1. ↑ Known in Japan as Final Fantasy I & II Premium Package (Japanese: ファイナルファンタジーI・II プレミアムパッケージ, Hepburn: Fainaru Fantaji I・II Puremiamu Pakkeji)
  2. ↑ Fennec Fox of GamePro gave Final Fantasy Origins scores of 3/5 for "graphics", 4.5/5 for "sound", 4.5/5 for "control", and 3.5/5 for "fun factor".

References

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Citations

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  1. ↑ Kasavin, Greg (January 31, 2003). "Hands-on: Final Fantasy Origins". GameSpot. CNET Networks. Archived from the original on March 29, 2003. Retrieved October 10, 2003.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Fennec Fox (April 2003). "PlayStation / Review / Final Fantasy Origins". GamePro. IDG. Archived from the original on June 21, 2003. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Dunham, Jeremy (April 15, 2003). "PlayStation: Final Fantasy Origins". IGN. Archived from the original on June 7, 2004. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  4. 1 2 Squaresoft staff 2003, pp. 2–3.
  5. ↑ Squaresoft staff 2003, p. 13.
  6. ↑ Squaresoft staff 2003, p. 11.
  7. ↑ Squaresoft staff 2003, p. 24.
  8. ↑ "Final Fantasy remakes head to PSOne". GameSpot. CNET Networks. July 17, 2002. Archived from the original on October 1, 2003. Retrieved October 10, 2003.
  9. ↑ Squaresoft staff 2003, pp. 25–26.
  10. ↑ Torres, Ricardo (September 22, 2002). "TGS 2002: Final Fantasy I & II details". GameSpot. CNET Networks. Archived from the original on June 26, 2003. Retrieved October 10, 2003.
  11. ↑ "ファイナルファンタジーI・II プレミアムパッケージ" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved October 10, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ↑ Varanini, Giancarlo (January 10, 2003). "Final Fantasy Origins details". GameSpot. CNET Networks. Archived from the original on April 4, 2003. Retrieved October 10, 2003.
  13. ↑ "FF Origins en Europe". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). L'Odyssée Interactive. January 31, 2003. Archived from the original on March 14, 2004. Retrieved October 10, 2026.
  14. ↑ "FF Origins le 14 mars". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). L'Odyssée Interactive. March 4, 2003. Archived from the original on March 1, 2004. Retrieved October 10, 2026.
  15. ↑ Calvert, Justin (February 20, 2003). "Final Fantasy Origins release date announced". GameSpot. CNET Networks. Archived from the original on April 4, 2003. Retrieved October 10, 2003.
  16. ↑ "Charts". Game Informer. No. 124. Sunrise Publications. August 2003. p. 107.
  17. 1 2 "Final Fantasy Origins critic reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  18. 1 2 3 "Speedy: Final Fantasy 1 & 2". Consoles + (in French). No. 136. May 2003. p. 119.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sewart, Greg; Bettenhausen, Shane; Steinman, Gary (April 2003). "Review Crew: Final Fantasy Origins". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 165. Ziff Davis. p. 134.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Barber, Chet; Leeper, Justin (April 2003). "Reviews: Final Fantasy Origins". Game Informer. Vol. XIII, no. 120. Sunrise Publications. p. 85.
  21. 1 2 3 4 Mayo, Tom (April 2003). "Reviews: Final Fantasy Origins". GamesMaster. No. 132. Future Publishing. p. 103.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 Shoemaker, Brad (April 8, 2003). "Final Fantasy Origins Review for PlayStation". GameSpot. CNET Networks. Archived from the original on April 9, 2003. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Romendil. "Final Fantasy Origins". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). L'Odyssée Interactive. Archived from the original on February 3, 2004. Retrieved October 10, 2026.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 Steinman, Gary (April 2003). "Reviews: Final Fantasy Origins". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 67. Ziff Davis. p. 88.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hudak, Chris (May 12, 2003). "Final Fantasy Origins (PSX) Review". X-Play. TechTV. Archived from the original on May 19, 2003. Retrieved October 9, 2026.

Bibliography

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